what is flcl anime about

by Creola Reichert 8 min read
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FLCL is a story following Naota Nandaba, a twelve-year-old boy whose suburban life is disturbed by the arrival of the mysterious Haruko Haruhara. Promotional artwork used on a number of DVD releases of FLCL featuring the three primary characters from the first anime, from top, Canti (the blue robot), Haruko, and Naota.

Is FLCL faithful to the anime?

FLCL is an anime about the transition out of adolescence. But the transition from the Japanese version to the US versions wasn't always faithful.

When did FLCL come out?

FLCL (Japanese: フリクリ?, pronounced Furikuri) is a series created by Production I.G and King Records. The original series aired in America on Cartoon Network's Adult Swim in 2003 several times. It aired on the channel's Toonami block from October 26, 2013 to January 25, 2014.

How do I understand FLCL?

I need help understanding FLCL! The key to understanding FLCL is to put it in chronological order. The anime starts with a monolithic industrial corporation that makes robots called Medical Mechanica, that are believed to be a big threat to the galaxy and especially Earth.

What is the plot of the story FLCL?

Plot FLCL is a coming of age story and revolves around Naota Nandaba, a 12-year-old, working class boy living with his widowed father and grandfather.

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What is the point of FLCL?

It's about a boy learning what the actual strength in adulthood looks like. That strength is implicitly connected to Naota's sexuality and emotions. When the series begins, Naota is little more than an emotionless wall.

Is Fooly Cooly a good anime?

FLCL is as close to a piece of literature as you're ever going to get with an anime series. Fast paced as it may be, the story beautifully presents a theme of growing into maturity, and accompanies it with stunning visuals I've yet to see surpassed.

Does FLCL have a plot?

Plot. FLCL is a coming-of-age story centering around Naota Nandaba, a 12-year-old, working-class boy living with his widowed father and grandfather.

Is FLCL kid friendly?

It sports a trippy animation style that also might not be totally palatable to younger kids. And yet, it's absolutely worth the watch when they're older, because there isn't anything else like it! Watch FLCL on Funimation!

What is FLCL anime?

FLCL ( Japanese: フリクリ, Hepburn: Furi Kuri, pronounced in English as Fooly Cooly) is an original video animation (OVA) anime series created and directed by Kazuya Tsurumaki, written by Yōji Enokido, and produced by the FLCL Production Committee, which consisted of Gainax, Production I.G, and King Records.

How many episodes are there in FLCL?

FLCL is a story following Naota Nandaba, a twelve-year-old boy whose suburban life is disturbed by the arrival of the mysterious Haruko Haruhara. The six-episode series was released in Japan from April 2000 to March 2001 alongside a manga and novel.

What is the first season of FLCL?

The first season of FLCL is a coming-of-age story and revolves around Naota Nandaba , a 12-year-old, working-class boy living with his widowed father and grandfather. His life in the city of Mabase is interrupted by the arrival of a Vespa -riding maniac named Haruko Haruhara. She runs over Naota then revives him with CPR before hitting him on the head with her left-handed, electric bass guitar (a blue, vintage Rickenbacker 4001) and proceeds to stalk him. Finding Haruko weaseling her way into his life as a live-in maid, Naota discovers that the head injury she caused created an "N.O." portal, which giant robots produced by a company known as Medical Mechanica emerge from periodically. The first of these robots is hit on the head by Haruko and becomes a friendly service robot later named Canti. Canti ingests Naota to assume the reddened form he first had when fighting the robots sent after him.

What is the hardest part of FLCL?

FLCL ' s localization director and script writer Marc Handler stated that localization of the script was the hardest part of the show. The in-jokes in the show included obscure pop culture references that had to be decoded and transferred to English audiences. One example was a reference to Cheerio, a discontinued soft drink in Japan, for the English release the choice was made to use a discontinued American soft drink at the time, Crystal Pepsi. Director Kazuya Tsurumaki responded to criticism of FLCL, stating "comprehension should not be an important factor in FLCL".

What did Tsurumaki do in FLCL?

Tsurumaki has said that he tried to "break the rules" of anime when making FLCL, for example, by choosing a contemporary Japanese band to provide the soundtrack, and patterning the style more after "a Japanese TV commercial or promotional video", creating a work that is "short, but dense-packed".

When will FLCL alternative be released?

FLCL Progressive premiered on June 3, 2018 on Adult Swim's Toonami programming block and concluded on July 7, 2018; FLCL Alternative premiered on September 8, 2018 and concluded on October 13, 2018. In Japan, Alternative and Progressive had theatrical screenings on September 7, 2018, and September 28, 2018, respectively. The first episode of FLCL Alternative unexpectedly premiered early at midnight on April Fools' Day on Toonami, airing entirely in Japanese with English subtitles. The day of the second season's US premiere, Toonami simultaneously announced via its Facebook page that they would be delaying the English subtitled versions of both new seasons until November 2018, in respect for the Japanese film format releases.

When will FLCL be released on DVD?

Warner Bros. released FLCL Progressive on DVD on October 1, 2019. It later released FLCL Alternative on DVD along with a Blu-ray combo pack of both sequels on February 4, 2020.

Synopsis

Naota Nandaba is an ordinary sixth grader living in a city where nothing amazing ever seems to happen.

Background

The original property rights of the anime were sold by Gainax to Production I.G in 2015.

What is FLCL on Hulu?

FLCL (Japanese: フリクリ?, pronounced Furikuri) is a series created by Production I.G and King Records. The original series aired in America on Cartoon Network's Adult Swim in 2003 several times. It aired on the channel's Toonami block from October 26, 2013 to January 25, 2014. The series is also available via Hulu, iTunes, and on Funimation's website.

Who produced FLCL?

FLCL was directed by Kazuya Tsurumaki and produced by the FLCL Production Committee, which included Gainax, Production I.G, and Starchild Records.

How old is Naota in FLCL?

FLCL is a coming of age story and revolves around Naota Nandaba, a 12-year-old , working class boy living with his widowed father and grandfather. His life in the city of Mabase is interrupted by the arrival of Haruko Haruhara, who runs over Naota with her yellow Vespa 180 SS scooter, gives him CPR, then hits him on the head with a blue vintage Rickenbacker 4001 left-handed. Naota discovers that the blow to his head created an " N.O. " portal, from which giant robots produced by a company known as Medical Mechanica emerge periodically.

Why does FLCL use iron?

FLCL uses the iron as a symbolic breakdown of "thought" by smoothing out the wrinkles as equated to the removing of the brain's wrinkles. For English localization, the Japanese team had to explain the concept because a direct translation of script did not convey the ideology.

What is the hard part of FLCL?

FLCL 's localization director and scriptwriter Marc Handler stated that localization of the script was the hardest part of the show. The in-jokes in the show included obscure pop culture references that had to be decoded and transferred to English audiences. One example was a reference to Cheerio, a discontinued soft drink in Japan, for the English release the choice was made to use a discontinued American soft drink, Crystal Pepsi. Director Kazuya Tsuramaki responded to criticism of FLCL, stating "comprehension should not be an important factor in FLCL ".

Why does Haruko use Naota?

Haruko uses Naota for her search for the Pirate King, Atomsk. She is at odds with Medical Mechanica, a monolithic industrial corporation. Naota is being watched by Commander Amarao, a special agent of the Bureau of Interstellar Immigration, who believes that Medical Mechanica is out to conquer the galaxy.

Storyline

Naota is a normal student living with his abnormal father and grandfather. One day, a seemingly insane girl named Haruko blazes in from out of nowhere on her Vespa, wielding an electric guitar with a buzzsaw! Haruko moves in with Naota under the pretense of being a housekeeper, but Naota knows there's something obviously strange about her.

Did you know

Though credited with a question mark, the voice of Miyu Miyu is provided by Evangelion director Hideaki Anno.

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By what name was FLCL (2000) officially released in Canada in English?

What is the anime FLCL?

FLCL (フリクリ?, Furi Kuri, pronounced in English as Fooly Cooly) is an original video animation series written by Yōji Enokido, directed by Kazuya Tsurumaki and produced by the FLCL Production Committee, which included Gainax, Production I.G, and Starchild Records. FLCL follows Naota Nandaba, a twelve-year-old boy living in the fictional Japanese suburb of Mabase, and his interactions with Haruko Haruhara, who arrives in the quiet suburb, drawn by the industrial town houses and the Medical Mechanica building. Tsurumaki has said that he tried to "break the rules" of anime when making FLCL, for example, by choosing a contemporary Japanese band to provide the soundtrack, and patterning the style more after "a Japanese TV commercial or promotional video," creating a work that is "short, but dense-packed."

What did Tsurumaki do in FLCL?

Tsurumaki has said that he tried to "break the rules" of anime when making FLCL, for example, by choosing a contemporary Japanese band to provide the soundtrack, and patterning the style more after "a Japanese TV commercial or promotional video," creating a work that is "short, but dense-packed.". Characters.

How old is Naota in FLCL?

FLCL follows Naota Nandaba, a twelve-year-old boy living in the fictional Japanese suburb of Mabase, and his interactions with Haruko Haruhara, who arrives in the quiet suburb, drawn by the industrial town houses and the Medical Mechanica building.

What is the anime FLCL about?

Anime's most rebellious show about being a teenager is no longer a teen. April marks 20 years since the first broadcast of FLCL (short for "Fooly Cooly," a term which itself doesn't really mean anything), a raucous and anarchic six-episode series that rewrote the animation rulebook with its whirlpool of contemporary pop culture, sucking in and breaking apart everything in its orbit like the "manly aestheticism" of John Woo, the bullet time of The Matrix, and even the cut-out cartoon style of South Park. It proved a lasting influence as a noted inspiration on other cultural behemoths, like Avatar: The Last Airbender and its sequel show The Legend of Korra. (Director Giancarlo Volpe said the crew was " ordered to watch every single episode .")

What is FLCL animation?

Similarly, the animation itself played fast and loose with any kind of rules. The characters and the world around them are equally flexible and fluid, as FLCL takes any shape that it pleases at any one moment: buildings bounce and rebound as people have fights within them, split screens actively intrude on the real world as characters are squished against them.

What does Naota say in the final episode of FLCL?

During the final episode of FLCL, Naota snaps at his family in another long meta-joke that "it doesn't matter what FLCL is," and that much is true. Like the teens at its center, it's defiant of authority, so often rejecting genre convention that trying to categorize it is a waste of time.

When did FLCL come back?

Following that last broadcast, the show made a surprising return in June 2018 with a second season and third season, titled FLCL: Progressive and Alternative, respectively, though expanding on the material and its sci-fi mythology had diminishing returns.

How many times can you watch Haruko?

Like the show itself, Haruko brings unpredictability into his life, as every episode brings some new scenario that almost defies analysis: You could watch each episode multiple times and still be left in the cold as to what it "means" or what, on a story level, the hell is actually happening.

WHAT IS FLCL?

The six-episode series focused Naota, a preteen living in the Japanese city of Mabase. He lives with his immature widower father Kamon and overly-proud grandfather Shigekuni. The young man constantly feels like he's in the shadow of his older brother, Tasuku, who left home to play baseball in America. Naota lives an average life, going to school with his friends and forming a complicated crush on his brother's self-proclaimed ex-girlfriend, Mamimi. But one day a mysterious, Vespa-riding, pink haired woman named Haruko Haruhara collides with Naota and causes a portal to open up in his head.

When did the FLCL series come out?

FLCL (or "Fooly Cooly" in the west) premiered in Japan in 2000, before making it over to the United States in 2003. The series received two sequels, FLCL Progressive and FLCL Alternative in 2018, Each of season has its own strengths, but neither sequel is as important or effortlessly introspective as the original show.

What is Mamimi's character development?

Mamimi surprisingly gets her own complex character development as the series progresses, providing an entirely different perspective on the what growing up means. Introduced as something of an outcast, her loneliness and apathy hint at deeper issues. Mamimi subverts the "cute but kooky" romantic lead as her manic moments become more problematic and possessive as the series continues. As Haruko becomes more of a presence in Naota's life and pushes him to grow up and become his own person instead of just trying to act like his brother, Mamimi's friendship with him is strained by her wanting him to be just that.

Is FLCL a cult hit?

FLCL went on to become an instant cult hit, thanks in part to its frantic and childish sense of humor. The frantic slapstick and winking meta-humor gives the show an endearing and memorable energy that's unmatched by anything else in medium, a palpable sense of fun. But through all the goofiness, absurdity and robot fights, viewers are forced to confront their own actions and whether they've been able to mature in their own lives - or are simply playing pretend, acting out a practiced impression of a grown-up.

What is the name of the robot in FLCL?

The anime starts with a monolithic industrial corporation that makes robots called Medical Mechanica, that are believed to be a big threat to the galaxy and especially Earth. Medical Mechanica captures the most powerful space pirate in the universe, Atmosk.

Why is Haruko furious at Naota?

Naota defeats the core and comes out now fully consumed by Atmosk’s power. Haruko is furious because she wants Atmosk’s power and tries to attack Naota. Atmosk leaves Naota which makes Haruko stop fighting.

What does Naota ask Haruko to teach him?

Naota shrugs off Amarao’s advice and ends up asking Haruko to teach him how to “bat” like her. Haruko pulls a guitar out of Naota’s head and they get to practicing. Medical Mechanica sends a bomb to earth one day, but luckily Naota saves the day by hitting it with his guitar.

Why did Haruko offer to become the housekeeper?

Haruko offered to become the housekeeper/maid so she could live there and study Naota’s N.O. channel more. After Naota rushes out of the house in frustration, he runs into Mamimi, and his head starts sprouting a horn, which then bursts out a robot and another robot’s hand. Understanding FLCL. Click to embiggen.

Does Haruko smack Naoto?

In seemed like mere coincidence, but Haruko noticed Naota had the “right head” for a strong N.O. channel. Haruko then smacks Naoto with her electric bass, which is not only used as a weapon, but it helps open up the N.O. portals in someone’s brain.

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Overview

FLCL (Japanese: フリクリ, Hepburn: Furi Kuri, pronounced in English as Fooly Cooly) is an original video animation (OVA) anime series created and directed by Kazuya Tsurumaki, written by Yōji Enokido, and produced by the FLCL Production Committee, which consisted of Gainax, Production I.G, and King Records. FLCL is a story following Naota Nandaba, a twelve-year-old boy whos…

Plot

The first season of FLCL is a coming-of-age story and revolves around Naota Nandaba, a 12-year-old, working-class boy living with his widowed father and grandfather. His life in the city of Mabase is interrupted by the arrival of a Vespa-riding maniac named Haruko Haruhara. She runs over Naota then revives him with CPR before hitting him on the head with her left-handed, electric bass guitar (a blue, vintage Rickenbacker 4001) and proceeds to stalk him. Finding Haruko weas…

Production

The first season of FLCL was directed by Kazuya Tsurumaki and produced by the FLCL Production Committee, which included Gainax, Production I.G, and Starchild Records.
Tsurumaki has said that he tried to "break the rules" of anime when making FLCL, for example, by choosing a contemporary Japanese band to provide the soundtrack, and patterning the style more after "a Japanese TV commercial or promotional video", creating a work that is "short, but dense …

Release

Six DVD compilations, each containing one episode, have been released in Japan by Gainax. In addition, a DVD collection box, containing all six DVD compilations, was released in Japan on August 13, 2005. Three DVD compilations were released by Synch-Point in North America. A DVD collection box, containing all the DVD compilations of the English episodes, was released on January 23, 2007, but have since gone out of print. In January 2010, Funimation announced that t…

Media

A three-volume novel series was written by the anime's screenwriter, Yoji Enokido, illustrated by Kazuya Tsurumaki and Hiroyuki Imaishi, and published by Kadokawa Shoten. The novels were released in Japan in June 2000, October 2000, and March 2001 respectively. The English-language versions were published by Tokyopop and were released in North America on March 11, 2008; September 9, 2008; and March 10, 2009 respectively. The novels cover all 6 episodes of th…

Reception

FLCL has received a mostly positive reception. The series has been described as "bizarre" and "surreal", and has been noted for its symbolic content, unusual plot, and its soundtrack composed by The Pillows. Its experimental nature has also been noted, which includes an entire scene made in the cutout animation style of animated American series South Park, or The Matrix-like camera rotatio…

Sequel series

Anime News Network reported on August 31, 2015 that the production studio Production I.G may have been planning a remake of the popular series after announcing their purchase of the rights to FLCL from production company Gainax. This led many to speculate on the potential of a remake or possible continuation of the series. According to Hideaki Anno, Anno's studio Khara was originally set to buy the rights to FLCL from Gainax. Before the deal was done however, Gainax s…

Further reading

• DuHamel, Brandon (February 24, 2011). "FLCL: The Complete Series Blu-ray Review". Blu-rayDefinition.com.
• "FLCL Vol. 1". Newtype USA. Vol. 1, no. 2. Houston: A.D. Vision. December 2002. ISSN 1541-4817.
• Johnston, Chris (November 2006). "FLCL Ultimate DVD Collection". Newtype USA. Vol. 5, no. 11. Houston: A.D. Vision. p. 151. ISSN 1541-4817.