FLCL: A thorough analysis of the strange intersection of youth and robots

FLCL - The intersection of youth and chaos

■ Public Media

OVA

■ Original Media

Anime Original

■ Release date

April 26, 2000

■Frequencies

half an hour

■ Number of Episodes

Episode 6

■Original Story

GAINAX

■ Director

Kazuya Tsurumaki

■ Production

Production IG Gainax

■Works

©1999 GAINAX/KGI

■ Story

The time is... probably the present day. The place is Mabase. It's just another provincial town, but what sets it apart is the ridiculously large plant of medical equipment manufacturer Medical Mechanica (MM), which stands tall on a hill.

Nandaba Naota is an ordinary sixth grader, but he meets a high school girl alone on the riverbank after school. The girl is Samejima Mamimi, his older brother's girlfriend who is studying abroad.

That day, Naota, who was with Mamimi, was suddenly run over by a charging scooter (Vespa). "Thank you, mammoth!"

■Cast

・Nandaba Naota/Mizuki Jun/Haruhara Haruko/Shintani Mayumi/Samejima Mamimi/Kasagi Izumi/Ninamori Eri/Ito Mika/Nandaba Kamon/Matsuo Suzuki

■ Main staff

・Screenplay / Enokido Youji ・Character design / Visual concept / Sadamoto Yoshiyuki ・Chief animation directors / Hiramatsu Yoshifumi, Imaishi Hiroyuki, Ogura Chinri ・Art director / Ogura Hiromasa ・Storyboards / Tsurumaki Kazuya, Hiramatsu Yoshifumi, Saeki Akishi, Masayuki Masayuki, Yoshinari You, Imaishi Hiroyuki, Ogura Chinri ・Direction / Saeki Akishi, Otsuka Masahiko, Ando Takeshi ・Color design / Takaboshi Harumi ・Editing / Asano Makiko ・Music / Mitsumune Shinkichi, the pillows
・Sound producer: Toru Nakano ・Sound effects: Toru Noguchi (anime sound)

■ Main Characters

・Nandaba Naota The main character. A sixth grade elementary school student who talks like an adult and is quite cheeky. He always carries a bat.

・Haruhara Haruko Heroine No. 1. Age unknown (self-proclaimed 19 years old). A tall beauty who quickly becomes close to Naota. She wields a guitar and is a very dangerous person. Her favorite car is a Vespa.

Samejima Mami: Beautiful heroine no. 2. A high school sophomore. She is Naota's older brother's girlfriend, but has a suspicious relationship with Naota. She has a smoking habit. She's a chubby, pheromone-like girl.

・Ninamori and Erinaota's classmate. Class representative.

・Kanchi is a (supposedly) highly functional robot.

■Subtitle

・#01／"FLCL"
・#02／"Fiesta"
・#03／"Maruraba"
・#04／"Furikiri"
・#05／"BraBra"
・#06／"Free Club"

■The appeal and evaluation of FLCL

FLCL is an anime series released as an OVA in 2000, and its unique worldview and storytelling have captivated many fans. Created by director Kazuya Tsurumaki in collaboration with GAINAX and Production IG, the series tells a story of the chaos of youth and growing up, while successfully drawing viewers in with its eccentric visuals and music.

Story and Themes

FLCL is set in a provincial town called Sose, which could be found anywhere. However, the town is home to a huge plant run by a medical equipment manufacturer called Medical Mechanica, creating a mysterious space where the ordinary and the extraordinary intersect. The protagonist, Nandaba Naota, is a sixth-grader who shocks those around him with his mature behavior. His daily life is turned upside down when a mysterious high school girl named Haruhara Haruko suddenly appears. With her guitar, Haruko hits Naota with a "no-con" into his head, shaking up his life.

The theme of this work is the confusion and growth of youth. The appearance of Haruko forces Naota to reexamine his own feelings and relationships with those around him. Additionally, his complicated relationship with Mami Samejima, his brother's girlfriend, is also an important factor in promoting his growth. FLCL depicts the pain and joy of youth, while also symbolically expressing the various problems people face in the process of growing up.

character

Each character in FLCL is unique and charming. Naota's setting as a cheeky, mature elementary school student is refreshing, and viewers can empathize with him by following his growth. Haruko is a mysterious beauty of unknown age, and her words and actions add essential spice to the story. Mamimi is Naota's brother's girlfriend, but she also has a suspicious relationship with him, symbolizing the complexity of youth. Sub-characters such as Ninamori Eri and Kanji also play important roles that enrich the story.

Visuals and Music

The visuals of FLCL are very unique and impressive, with character designs by Yoshiyuki Sadamoto and animation directors Yoshishi Hiramatsu, Hiroyuki Imaishi, and Chinri Ogura. In particular, the visual of the giant robot "Eva" born from Haruko's guitar makes a visual impact. In addition, the backgrounds by art director Hiromasa Ogura are also an important element in enhancing the atmosphere of the story.

The music was provided by Mitsumune Shinkichi and rock band "The Pillows," and the emotional sound that matches the story's development captures the hearts of viewers. In particular, the music by The Pillows matches the worldview of FLCL, helping viewers to become immersed in the story.

Evaluation and impact

FLCL has been highly praised by many fans for its unique worldview and storytelling. In particular, the theme of adolescent confusion and growth has resonated with many viewers. The fusion of visuals and music has also been praised, and FLCL has attracted attention not only as an anime but also as a work of art.

FLCL's influence has also extended to the anime industry, particularly in subsequent works by director Kazuya Tsurumaki and the staff at GAINAX, and its success has also served to reaffirm the potential of the OVA format.

■ Recommendations and related works

If you enjoyed FLCL, we also recommend the following works:

Recommended Works

・"Evangelion"
This anime was produced by GAINAX and, like FLCL, was created by Kazuya Tsurumaki. It depicts themes of youth and growth, and the fusion of visuals and music is stunning.

・"Kill la Kill"
The work was produced by the FLCL staff and features unique visuals and storytelling, as well as the common theme of adolescent confusion and growth.

・"Devilman Cry Baby"
Like FLCL, this work was produced by GAINAX staff and depicts the themes of youth and growth. The fusion of visuals and music is also impressive.

Related Titles

・"FLCL Alternative"
This work was created as a sequel to FLCL, and will feature new characters and a new storyline. It will delve even deeper into the world of FLCL.

・"FLCL Progressive"
This work was created as a sequel to FLCL, and will feature new characters and a new storyline. It will delve even deeper into the world of FLCL.

Conclusion

FLCL is an anime that depicts the confusion and growth of adolescence, and its unique world view and storytelling have captivated many fans. The fusion of visuals and music is also stunning, and it is appreciated not only as an anime but also as a work of art. For those who enjoyed FLCL, we also recommend works such as Evangelion, Kill la Kill, and Devilman Cry Baby. In addition, FLCL's sequels, FLCL Alternative and FLCL Progressive, can also be enjoyed as works that delve even deeper into the world of FLCL.