FLCL
subtitle
Review by: Craig "My Head A-splode" Norris
Length: 6 episode OAV
Genre: Comedy, mecha
Watched: 1-6, subbed
Just what is FLCL? Is it a comedy? Is it poignant social commentary? Is it a parody? Is it a coming-of-age story? Is it a product of heavy drinking and/or drug use by the folks at Gainax? Or is it a slap in the face to all the amateur philosophers who claimed to "understand" Neon Genesis Evangelion? The simple fact of the matter is: no one is quite sure what it is. Even the characters themselves aren't quite sure what FLCL is supposed to be. So how can an anime that didn't even find its own identity become one of the most talked-about titles in recent history?
Plot synopsis: Naota is a grade-school student living a peaceful, normal life in the town of Mabase in the shadow of the giant Medical Mechanica factory. Until the day Haruko Haruhara runs over him with her Vespa and smacks him upside the head with her guitar. Now he's got an alien as a live-in maid, robots coming out of his head, and a guy with huge eyebrows warning him to stay away from it all. One by one, sinister agendas in the town are revealed, and life for Naota will never be the same.
Artwork: The character designs and some of the facial expressions are unmistakably Gainax, calling to memory other projects such as Kare Kano and Abenobashi Mahou Shotengai. Backgrounds are of average quality, with some looking noticeably better than others. Some fight scenes look a little sloppy, but the style actually compliments the semi-serious tone. If Neon Genesis Evangelion is the shining diamond of Gainax's artistic achievement, then this OAV ranks somewhere between a ruby and a tanzanite.
Music: At first, I hated the soundtrack. But after hearing some of the songs again, it started to grow on me. Much like the OAV itself, I can't give the music a solid definition. It has elements of every kind of rock you can imagine, from metal to alternative, from classic to contemporary, from grunge to garage jams. The group behind it all, The Pillows, certainly showed off their creative range with this soundtrack. It is a very unique and innovative approach to a soundtrack, and while I'm not going to buy it any time soon, I appreciate it on an artistic level.
Characters: This OAV does a marvelous job with characters, developing them as normal people and inserting them into extraordinary situations. Naota, the main character, is antisocial and cynical, and tries hard to act more mature than his years. He was very easy for me to relate to, because that's exactly how I was at that age. He is uneasy about change, and does not like being the center of attention. So, understandably, his life becomes much more difficult when robots start popping out of his head. Though he keeps to himself mostly, he is often seen hanging out with his brother's girlfriend Mamimi. After Naota's brother left for the United States to play major league baseball (and no, his nickname is *not* Godzilla), Mamimi latched onto Naota to fill the void. She is a very irresponsible girl who skips classes almost every day, and sees Naota as a kind of plaything to help pass the time. Haruko is the alien girl who waled Naota with her guitar, causing robots to suddenly begin jumping out of his head. She has a very intense and fickle personality, seeming to alternate using her feminine wiles between Naota and his father. Her motives are a mystery, and are even muddled a bit in her own mind. Canti is the first robot that came from Naota's head. He first emerged as a powerful fighting machine, but after his television head was influenced (thwacked) by Haruko's guitar, he became a passive servant. However, when another robot threatens the city, Canti consumes Naota and uses him like a conduit to regain his fighting spirit. When the fight is over, Naota is ejected from Canti in various, sometimes gag-inducing ways. Ninamori is a classmate of Naota's whose world is turned upside down when her father, the mayor, becomes involved in a scandal. She is very insecure about handling the problem, and hides that insecurity behind an aloof attitude. Amarao is an agent of the Bureau of Interstellar Immigration; sort of like the Men in Black without the cool suits and shiny ray-guns. He seems to know the most about Haruko's purpose, as well as the truth behind the Medical Mechanica factory. It is clear that he had some sort of past relation with Haruko, and his own past somewhat mirrored Naota's. As a result, he takes interest in Naota, trying to make him steer clear of Haruko. Instead of using characters simply as a means to advance the plot, FLCL makes their personalities really jump to the forefront, transforming them from two-dimensional globs of paint into people that you might pass on your way to work every day.
Plot: For a six-episode OAV, there's a hell of a lot going on. Each character seems to be dealing with his or her own personal plot. As a result, the OAV is just overloaded with stuff, some of which we don't have time to stop and think about before we are forcibly moved on to something else. Because of this, I don't find it confusing so much as I see it overcrowded. I really think comprehension of the OAV among the standard anime viewer would increase exponentially if it had been spaced out over a few more episodes.
CHICKS!: Not much to see here. The centerpiece of chickness is Haruko, who at times acts like an older sister to Naota, but most of the time is just whacked out and crazy. She has a pretty nice figure, pinkish hair, and expressive yellow eyes. If a break from the norm is what you crave, I guarantee that an evening with Haruko would be a far cry from a run-of-the-mill date. Mamimi's high-school figure is worth noticing, but she seems to be too much of a drain on whomever she digs her claws into. She shows very little ambition, and may even be a delinquent pyromaniac. I detect copious amounts of emotional baggage with her, so approach at your own risk. These are the only two (legal) chicks that are seen with much regularity, and neither strikes me as particularly good catches.
Overall: After considerable thought, I can say beyond the shadow of a doubt... that I have no idea what's going on here. What I am sure of is that this is an anime that breaks away from just about every convention, attempting to carve its own niche in anime history. With so many fans lauding its off-beat approach, it's apparent that Gainax might be on to something. For me, personally, it was a nice diversion, but I couldn't help feeling cheated by the show's lack of identity. If you don't mind a bit of disorientation, FLCL is worth checking out. It will fuck your mind and tickle your funny bone all at the same time.
IN A NUTSHELL:
+ Superb character development
+ Innovative soundtrack
+ Off the beaten path
- Too much too fast
- Lack of identity
Rating: 8/10
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