FLCL

Naota Nandaba is an ordinary sixth grader living in a city where nothing amazing ever seems to happen. After his brother Tasuku leaves town to play baseball in America, Naota takes it upon himself to look after everything Tasuku left behind—from his top bunk bed to his ex-girlfriend Mamimi Samejima, who hasn't stopped clinging to Naota since Tasuku left.

Little does Naota know, however, that his mundane existence is on the verge of being changed forever: enter Haruko Haruhara, a Vespa-riding, bass guitar-wielding, pink-haired psychopath whose first encounter with Naota leaves him with tire tracks on his back and a giant horn on his head. Though all he wants is some peace and quiet, when Haruko takes up residence at his parents' home, Naota finds himself dragged into the heart of the greatest battle for supremacy that Earth—and quite possibly the entire universe—has ever seen.

[Written by MAL Rewrite]

Haruhara, Haruko Main

Shintani, Mayumi Japanese

Samejima, Mamimi Main

Kasagi, Izumi Japanese

Nandaba, Naota Main

Mizuki, Jun Japanese

Canti Supporting

Ninamori, Eri Supporting

Itou, Mika Japanese

Takkun Supporting

Mizuki, Jun Japanese

Amarao Supporting

Ohkura, Kouji Japanese

Kitsurubami Supporting

Chiba, Chiemi Japanese

Nandaba, Kamon Supporting

Matsuo, Suzuki Japanese

Miyu Miyu Supporting

Anno, Hideaki Japanese

Cook, Justin Producer

Satou, Hiroki Producer

Nishizawa, Masatomo Producer

Tsurumaki, Kazuya Director, Storyboard, Key Animation, Creator, Planning

Reviews

Jan 18, 2026

bob-weebington

Recommended

FLCL really pops out and hits you in the face with its in-your-face weirdness. It is just full energy full throttle all the time. The outro is really good on this one too.

When I watched this for the first time, I remembered a time a college friend had described to me episode 4 of FLCL and I thought it was his dream it was so weird. It all came back to me. Yes, this show is really weird.

You will probably be able to tell from the 1st episode whether this is a hit for you or if it's just too high-energy and annoying.

Then there are ... all sorts of people going into symbolic coming-of-age meanings for all the wacky events but I didn't pay much attention to that.

Reviewer’s Rating: 8

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Aug 26, 2025

theo1763

Mixed Feelings

FLCL has to be one of the weirdest anime I’ve ever watched, and that’s saying something after finishing Neon Genesis Evangelion. The story is completely off the wall. A middle school kid named Naota gets hit in the head by a Vespa-riding alien girl with a bass guitar, and then giant robots literally start coming out of his head. That’s not even an exaggeration. And then from there it just keeps stacking up with cookie-cutter government agents, baseball standoffs, family drama, and this huge factory in the background that looks like a giant iron. Most of the time, I had no idea what was happening, ... but I was laughing so hard I didn't really mind. It's like the writers threw in everything they could think of into a blender and decided to call it a story.

The characters are just as bizarre as the plot, but they're what really kept me invested. Naota is a fairly interesting kid who tries to be older than he actually is throughout the entire series and typically gets hurt or embarrassed in some fashion in every episode. His father is a complete perverted psycho who doesn't even attempt to behave like an actual parent, and Mamimi is an entirely different train wreck. She's clingy, unstable, and maybe even a pyromaniac, but she brings to the show this strange mix of being melancholy and funny at the same time. Haruko is just chaos, and it's clear she's not exactly looking out for Naota's best interests, which made their relationship dynamics really unstable. And then there's Amarao, who cracked me up every time he showed up with his ridiculous eyebrows and his stumbling attempts to act like he's in control. All of the characters are unique and weird in their own way, and even when the plot wasn't making sense, they were always a joy to behold.

As far as animation goes, FLCL is a lot of fun to watch. The action sequences are wild and creative, but the facial expressions are what really got me. The faces twist and overact in ways that are comedy gold, almost like there's a cartoon within the anime. The pacing is also absurdly fast, like the show is rushing from one idea to the next without ever pausing. The soundtrack is maybe my favorite part, however. The Pillows' grunge rock songs fit the tone to a T and bring a coolness to the show that balances out all the insanity being tossed about on screen. I watched the English dub, and I thought the voices were great, Haruko's especially. The cast did a great job of bringing across the comedic timing and energy of the show, and the madness was all the more fun to get through because of it.

What I wasn't expecting was how, underneath all the insanity, there are moments that actually do feel a little meaningful. I've heard some people say FLCL is about growing up or puberty, and I can understand where they're coming from, but for the most part, it just struck me as chaos with a veneer of comedy over it. And yet despite that, there's something about it that sticks. Gainax has a way of making anime that are surreal, experimental, and like nothing else on the planet, and FLCL is no exception. I had no idea what was happening half the time, but I had fun along the ride anyway. With the off-the-wall characters, witty dialogue, frenzied fight scenes, and cool soundtrack, it's one of those shows that's hard to shake from your mind after watching. Personally, it's a solid 7 for me out of 10.

Reviewer’s Rating: 7

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Jan 31, 2025

LuxuriousHeart

Not Recommended

Ooh... I'm NOT going to make a lot of friends with this review, but oh well! I actually remember watching this series as a kid. There's a lot of anime that I've watched as a kid, that don't immediate come to mind. This is one of those series, and for a good reason. I likely repressed the memory. It jogged back when I looked for more anime series to watch, and this was recommended.

From what I know, people speak highly of this series. I remember watching it with my brother, and it wasn't a fun time. He really ... liked it, and I really disliked it. I absolutely hated this show. The characters were unlikable. The MC's dad was a terrible guy, the depressing red haired girl, and the random new girl was just gross and weird. I remember hating every character, except the MC and his brother. Take in mind, I only remember not hating his brother because his brother wasn't on the show. This show probably has one of the most unlikable casts of all time. Seriously, how is it possible that everyone is unlikable.

And no, I don't mean that in a scumbag way. There are characters who are objectively terrible people, yet they manage to be entertaining. In a way, it feels like there's a purpose for them being unlikable. Think Helter Skelter with Lilico. Lilico's very unlikable and a terrible person, but that's the point of her character. That's what makes the story good. With this, they're unlikable personalities actively drag the story down.

I personally don't recommend this anime. It's basically "random BS go!" the anime series. And the characters aren't even likable with their randomness. They're terrible and disgusting people. I seriously couldn't stand watching this show, and I watched the entire thing because my brother really liked it. I don't know. This show just put me in a foul mood every time I had to watch it.

Reviewer’s Rating: 2

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