FLCL (AKA Fooly Cooly, Furi Kuri) is a Gainax anime so weird that you really have to watch it to get it.
It's a comedic slice of life that is heavy on adolescence, specifically around the age of 11-12
About growing up and learning to be yourself and touches on relationships and changes in one's life, naota (de MC) is a kid who hates adults and thinks he is mature and tries to be cool.
Everything is “normal” according to naota until haruko comes along, a vespa riding alien who has come to earth and seems to mess with naota so she can get what she wants… atomsk the pirate king, who is being held in Medical Mechanica (MM) which is a corporation which factories look like a giant clothing iron.
Its only 6 eps—just go watch it.
What FLCL Means to Me
I first watched FLCL when i was about 12 or 13 i can't really remember, but the perfect age, being around Naota's age lol. I remember really clicking with it, which I did a lot with weird stuff I couldn't really grasp properly such as evangelion. The overall weirdness, art style and backgrounds with washed out bright yellows and greens mixed with a beautiful soundtrack by the pillows which enhances the experience 10 fold no doubt, their music is loud rock with soft moments within, it's hard to explain but iykyk
Even though FLCL is set in autumn, it reminds me of cold summer nights and sunny winter days.
Naota reminds me of myself alot, especially when i was his age, hating adults but simultaneously wanting to be one more than ever—as i thought i was mature for my age, maybe i was idk. it's also similar to Ninamori but not the same.
One of the first scene that really stuck with me was when Naota and Mamimi are laying down by the bridge, not sure why just that zoom out and the patches of grass really captivated me for some reason
As of my rewatch, the never knows best scene reminded me of when i was younger, getting up in the early AM’s going to the airport, the world still dim with only streetlights cutting through the darkness. It evoked the same feeling as late-night drives along the coast.
Furthermore It brings back memories of a particular spot I used to visit with an ex—those freezing nights where the air was so sharp, my hands were completely numb. In a way, it mirrors Mamimi’s bridge, where she and Naota hang out
I don't remember my exact first impression of it or where i saw it first (maybe The Cartoon Cipher vid?) i just remember thinking it was cool af
Watching the school play rehersal scene, I saw a reflection of myself—not in the way I once thought Naota was me when I was younger, but in how I tend to hold myself back. I hesitate, afraid of embarrassment or judgment, even when I know it might not happen. But sometimes, it does. Either way, I need to push through, at least when the risk isn’t guaranteed… or maybe im thinking this the wrong way…. fuck.
Overall fooly cooly means so much to me it has impacted my life in many ways that maybe i dont notice all the time but being able to relate to it makes it even more unique to me… its so special that i actually tried to write something competent this time instead of my usual pick a topic im into and do the least amount of research and write a couple nonsensical paragraphs and call it a day… and later cringing at how bad they are….. Which ill probably do with this aswell im not sure—but i actually tried this time.
(i used chat gpt after writing everything just to help me break repetitive habits such as overusing “reminded me of”, or “also” or “this scene” and to refine certain sentences which i think is bad since i didnt write them but i wont get better if i just keep writing the way i do…. which is horribly)
FLCL & Growing Up
I think flcl shows how growing up is horrible but beautiful, annoying and a mess at times.
Its bizarre plot, fast-paced insanity, and rapid shifts in tone are overwhelming—one second you’re wondering, Who is Atomsk? The next, you’re asking, Why is there a giant fucking clothing iron? Then, Why is there a robot coming out of Naota’s head?! None of it makes sense at first, but that’s the point. All these questions and weird stuff happening right before you… yet its on purpose, its okay to feel confused. That’s exactly what Naota is feeling, confused on whats happening to him, for example the N.O. bumps on his head which are weirdly shapen and on his forehead after being hit by Haruko,They embarrass him, just like the changes in his body that he can’t control such as voice cracks or random boners.
There’s this moment when Naota swings his bat at the meteor ball, but he needs Canti’s help to pull it off (or what Naota litteraly calls for... Tasuku). That stuck with me. It made me think about how, sometimes, no matter how much you push yourself, to deal with or accept something, you still need help—and that’s okay. You can’t do everything on your own, and that’s a powerful message.
“Stupid adult who doesn't know how to grow up.” - Naota
One of the visual representations of Naota’s growth is the sour drink—Fujiya Lemon Squash (if you’re curious). At the start, he rejects it completely, tossing it to the ground. Later, he forces himself to drink it, trying to convince himself that hes grown up. But by the end, in the final scene with Ninamori at the vending machine, he accepts that he simply doesn’t like it. Showing true maturity.
This contrasts with Amarao, an adult who still refuses to eat spicy food
Haruko is many things, an alien, a representation of tasuku (naota’s brother), and a love interest and a mother type figure.
She comforts him at times, like when he breaks down because she left without saying anything.
In terms of the representation of Tasuku, Naota sees Haruko as him multiple times, for example when the first fight scene happens.
“just for a flash, she looked like my brother”
She along with canti fill this role, maybe her hitting things with her guitar (like a bat) is another reminder to him (excluding when she played baseball ofc).
One of the big parts of why i think this or i guess another example is when Haruko is teaching him how to play baseball (giving him tips atleast to improve). She acts nicely and holds the bat behind him showing him the ways, looking up and aiming at the star…
Amarao (eyebrows guy), who represents what Naota could become. He was just like Naota once, and he was used by Haruko too. In a way, he’s a glimpse into Naota’s potential future—the part of adulthood Naota doesn’t want to acknowledge.
Art Direction
The art and animation in FLCL is increidble… im an artist but not a great one so take all this with a grain of salt… ive never animated anything like this before.
The fight scenes are smooth and sooooo nice to look at, its like im busting a nut, all the small details and well choreographed stuff is so nice, going from different areas and shit…. Or even the Haruko fight scene with Amarao where its almost like a John Woo scene…. Which John Woo was mentioned in one of the end credits so lol.
The constant change in artstyle… even in small ways such as colors face shape or a different artists style is a very nice touch and ofc when they change it all together such as the south park scenes or Shinya Ohira wobble scene aswell as the manga scenes that are limited animation but so fast paced along with the music make it seem like there is way more going on, like Kamon (father) rolling around its hard to take in everything you're seeing.
The cartoony almost looney tunes movement at times or the 3d stuff aswell adds to FLCL’s energy in a really fun way.
One of my favorite aspects is its use of color, The watercolor backgrounds give everything a bright, dreamlike quality, sometimes with a blooming effect, most backgrounds are super simple usually leaving a lot of white area which may seem bad but really isnt, makes the characters stick out a little more while still making you look at how beautiful the scenery is.
When its dark there is no white ofc but real nice dark blues and purples(?, not sure im a little colorblind tbh haha) depending on scenes and how the mood is set characters colors may be more vibrant or less saturated like when its rainy and dark under the bridge with a sad Mamimi. Other colors such as when the whole city is this nice red but when the meteor ball explodes the sky clears with a nice deep blue. Or one of the main colors in the later episodes light yellow and orange like the hand and the iron
Small things i noticed on rewatch
Never really understood what N.O. meant until this rewatch
Haruko’s Davida dm helmet (that is not mentioned as one of her items in the fandom wiki btw)
Fire starter robot similar to jet alone from evangelion
Takkun (cat) has mio mao ahh movement
Always thought the scene where Haruko crashes into MM that she was in like a weird dimension almost dream like where that hallway resides—but no, I just forgot she literally crashes into MM.
Misc and reanimated
doodle from my notes
I still dont think im good at writing and feel ill regret alot of this, not portraying what i feel properly and maybe i still don’t fully understand certain aspects. But in a way, that’s kind of fitting for FLCL.
i'm currently growing up. I'm 16 so I'm going through the motions of my brain developing… i'm noticing more meaning in the media i love that blew over my head when i was 13 or 14. My emotions are all over the place, but I just have to keep moving forward… FLCL is one of the best pieces of media ever and if you (who is totally reading this) haven't watched it you're missing out.
As for Reanimated—as of writing it is finished but not released. From what ive seen i dont think i like it.I love the idea of reanimation projects, but from what I’ve seen, I don’t think I’ll like it. i dont like half the artstyles. The music theyve been releasing (outside of the Pillows covers) are nothing like flcl and the fact they made an op is kinda stupid. I do like some small things about it, but overall, it doesn’t feel like FLCL to me.
Also i didnt touch on alot of stuff i wanted to such as relationships, Ninamori’s character and others as much as i wanted to but because im not sure if i properly know how to write about it yet but go check out hiding in public’s FLCL vids especially the “they're fake.” video
