Anime is limitless. Everything is possible in anime, and throughout the years, we have seen a wide variety of anime with unique storylines, characters, and strange ways to get their messages across. One of which is FLCL, which was first released in 2000. But is FLCL still worth watching to this day?
FLCL is a six-episode OVA that took the community by storm when it first came out due to its visuals, soundtrack, characters, and significant themes.
What Does FLCL Mean?
What does FLCL mean? I’m not really sure myself, but for starters, FLCL is the abbreviation of Fooly Cooly or Furi Kuri, which can be heard often in the anime’s six episodes.
It is a word that can mean so many things but is closely related to something adult and sexual based on the number of times Haruko or Naota’s father says it in the show.
FLCL is an avant-garde anime that has a lot going on: action, comedy, mecha, parody, and sci-fi all packed into one.
It starts off with a 12-year-old kid named Naota, who doesn’t have the most interesting life after his brother moves to America to play baseball.
This left Naota to watch over Mamimi, his brother’s ex-girlfriend, who has a malicious thing going on for him.
But Naota’s ordinary and boring days changed after a strange woman in her 20s suddenly hit him with her Vespa.
This woman introduced herself as Haruko, the alien, sometimes nurse, and sometimes intergalactic officer who likes to hit Naota’s head with her electric guitar. After hitting Naota, a robot suddenly emerged from his forehead!
From this point on, Naota began experiencing strange things with Mamimi and Haruko as they fought dangerous robots coming from the people close to them.
In a place where a giant flat iron (the Medical Mechanica Plant) can be seen towering over the town, Naota’s life will never be boring again.
Is FLCL Still Worth Watching?
Yes, FLCL is still worth watching to this day due to its unique visuals, amazing soundtrack, memorable characters, and significant themes that never get old.
FLCL is a cult classic anime that transcends time thanks to its abstract storytelling, unconventional pacing, and thought-provoking exploration of significant themes like adolescence, identity, and self-discovery.
Honestly, FLCL is an anime that is incredibly hard to understand but fun to watch, the more episodes you get yourself into. It will take you a lot of time to get FLCL, but it will be worth it in the end.
In addition, FLCL is still ongoing, so there’s still a lot more for viewers to look forward to. You can check out our complete FLCL watch order guide if you’re convinced to hop in on the fun!
FLCL Has Unique and Stunning Visuals
In a nutshell, FLCL’s visuals are an acid trip. It is chaotic but in a good and satisfying way.
FLCL is an anime that is ahead of its time, with unique and stunning visuals that can be overwhelming at times. The animation changes a lot, from manga to even South Park’s (yes, the cartoon) style, to convey its feverish energy.
Moreover, FLCL is very unpredictable, as it uses unconventional techniques for its fluid and creative animation. It almost seems like FLCL is an anime music video due to how random it is.
FLCL's Amazing Soundtrack
The Japanese alternative rock band The Pillows did a perfect job composing the music for FLCL. The music of FLCL is one of the best there is, making it an integral element of the show’s youthful and rebellious vibe.
Besides this, the music also provides more emotion and depth to the characters, which makes the viewing experience more enjoyable!
Also, whenever the music plays, you know an awesome and amazing thing is about to happen!
The Memorable Characters of FLCL
All the characters in FLCL will tickle your brain. They will live rent-free on your head for a lot of days due to how intriguing, amusing, and thought-provoking they are.
They don’t take themselves seriously, but they still leave a lasting impression.
You can only ask what the creators were thinking when they wrote about the characters.
Each of them is unique, but they all pack a punch for the viewers’ brains. They will keep you guessing due to their unpredictability.
By the time you finish the anime, you will still have a lot of questions about them.
FLCL: Significant Themes
Going through puberty is hard. We have a lot of things to go through as we transition from childhood to adulthood, and that’s what FLCL is all about.
It shows us Naoto’s coming-of-age, emotional turmoil, sexual awakening, search for meaning, and journey of self-discovery that all of us also get to experience in real life.
FLCL perfectly captures the challenges of growing up through the eyes of the characters.
For instance, Mamimi deals with alienation and loneliness; Naoto has to make mature decisions and assume responsibility; and Haruko boasts rebellion and non-conformity.
Understandably, FLCL’s themes can be very challenging to grasp. Because of this, most viewers would re-watch FLCL to dissect its symbolism and metaphors.
This is also the fun part of FLCL, especially if you’re the type of viewer who wants to understand the anime in its entirety.
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