FLCL is Gainax’s ensemble piece, following the genius of EVA and Kare Kano. It is radically different from those works. To say “Maybe this is Gainax’s attempt at succeeding in the areas where Evangelion failed…” seems to demean its accomplishment, because this is new territory (and also, End of Eva won me over, eradicating the flaws of the TV series and more than clearly summing up the series’ intent in an artful and explosive presentation; few works [maybe The Sky Crawlers] aspire to the level of that film and succeed, but EoE nails the visual embodiment [and the human struggle with] what Keat’s described as “the perpetual virginity of the human soul”).

(So aside from that tangent) I can agree on some level, however: Eva sprawled itself out (unnecessarily?) over 26 episodes and (now) multiple films… FLCL condensed itself (with utter conviction) into 6 episodes: If it is a distillation of Gainax’s skill, perhaps it is also a refinement. Gurren Lagann might be able to match the series’ in a comparison of pure style, but they are fundamentally different in the depths they explore: Gurren Lagann is more an ode to the human spirit, an exuberant portrayal of the human drive to (instinctually?) evolve, adapt–aim for the top (and in its own setting, we realize within the first arc that piercing the heavens is always within the story’s grasp). But FLCL? It’s dark, man. But hell, darkness is fun.

On a technical scale, FLCL is marvelous, too. The melding of music and animation puts many shows to shame, as a lot of comments have pointed out. And the pacing is brilliant: Even for its fierce momentum, nothing in FLCL feels forced. All chaos is (most convincingly) manipulated to the utmost effect ; all messiness is presented with uncompromising exactitude.

Calling it “random” misses the point; to those who say its tone fluctuates unjustifiably, I say look to “The Departed”, and tell me if you still think drama, severity, and violence can’t be ever light, ever comical, yet wholly engrossing. “Random” does not even bother to describe the paradox; it also fails to appreciate it.

So yeah: most of the humor here takes place on that level of irony. FLCL throws out the rules; Gainax has given us something that for its precise mastery is very much akin to live-action classics. I hope that even people baffled by its frenetic pace can see the reasoned beliefs tying it together (David Lynch, anyone?), and understand that ever-steady hands are guiding us through the sea of human madness.

One of my favorite things about FLCL is that it works on probably 3 levels at least:

- its innovative and wacky style
- its knowing winks, references, and symbols
- its painful story of puberty and adolescence, which is sometimes more implied than actually told.

Intellectually, the whole tri-level thing keeps me coming back, but when I watch it the appeal is more visceral.

Any one of those is valid, so I don’t think you need to have such an apologetic tone in the last part of your post. You “get” it, you love it, so… love it! I know I do. The beauty of Fooly Cooly is that you can take all the time you want to delve deeper because there’s so much to see.

When I think of FLCL, I always think of episode three (I think 3 — it’s the Ninamori episode) and how it nailed all three. The meaning of “getting hit by Haruka’s bike” that horrified Naota’s dad, the fake glasses, the heartbreaking fight in school with the cat ears, the old-school cartoon chase music, and the moment that he’s swallowed by Canti and “Little Busters” starts right on cue. That shit is gold! It makes me want to go watch it right now.

@ojisan: there was a guy cosplaying as Amarao complete with eyebrows at Ayacon in ‘05. He ended up making more pairs of them and selling them to people!

@clazy: yes. And your friend is a genius!

@steelbound: the dub’s impressive, both in terms of acting and getting the gags across the culture gap. It’s inevitable that some stuff is lost in translation, but the results with this one are better than most.

@kadian1364: you seem to share my admiration for the cream of the Gainax crop but I think FLCL is the most consistent and inventive. That said, Kare Kano was stunning apart from the ending…Toradora! did follow the same template, albeit on a smaller scale. RahXephon is a title I strongly recommend, but its reputation as an Evangelion clone is only partly true. It deserves more credit than that. FLCL on the other hand has inspired a lot but nothing has been able to touch it.

@coburn: watch Kare Kano. Really. Then be prepared to read the manga to see what happens after the abrupt ending! As kadian says, it’s pretty special up to that point. Like Toradora, but with the Anno touch.

@Wildcard: rewatching it works wonders. Honestly. I honestly believe the answers are very much there, but it takes a bit of head-scratching to get there.

@Peter S: I couldn’t agree more. The symbolism and so forth is a big part of it, although the references may go over some people’s heads if they haven’t seen the other anime shows in question. But then, the sheer energy and imagery is a shining example of what the animated medium is capable of.

Second half coming up…

Two ways to introduce it:

I hand them the disks. “This is a story about a boy coming to terms with adolescence.” Then I walk away chuckling.

Or “First thing, a bored kid is being hit on by his older brother’s girlfriend, and then another girl comes out of nowhere and runs him over with her scooter. Then she whacks him with her bass guitar. Then two robots pop out of his head and start to fight …”

Between one or the other, you’ll have a brand new anime fan! I hope, since I’ve never actually tried it. Stupid friends who ignore my wisdom …

I love it a great deal despite my initial uncertainty and confusion (a common reaction to the series I believe), but I can’t pretend to understand it all. Still, under the level of superficial visual enjoyment, I think it will always be sympathy for characters like Naota which pushes it from entertaining diversion to a genuine favourite.
It interests me that you recommend marathoning it all in one go, as it’s something I’ve never quite done and have been meaning to for sometime. Perhaps it may change my understanding and enjoyment of the series?

Anyhow, roll on part 2.

Kare Kano is my personal favorite of the three, though I’m assuredly outnumbered by Eva and FLCL fans. If you do ever see it, you have to know going in, it’s not going to end well. Gainax ran out of budget and they were counting on a continuation season that never came. I choose to overlook this, but I know it sours the experience for most people. Still, for ~18 episodes, Kare Kano is something special.

@ Kadian: I’d argue that RahXephon is more consistent, thematically cohesive, and overall a tad less special. And I really need to get round to Kare Kano someday.

Although I have yet to see it, RahXephon is, by most accounts, not only Eva inspired but the more consistent, thematically cohesive, and overall superior work. For Kare Kano, a frank and honest portrayal of adolescence and the changes that happen with growing up, Toradora! can be argued as a modern successor, narrower in scope but sharing many parallels in structure and dramatics, with the addition of resolution.

However, what makes FLCL so great is that nothing I have ever seen or heard about approaches a reproduction. It collects so many stylized elements together, the zany animation, unforgettable characters, fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants direction, overwhelming original j-rock tunes, and powerfully resonant themes, and capably integrates them into one master work. It is so singularly unique that not only does it defy imitation, it is actually accurately defined as inimitable. FLCL is one for the ages.

I’ve often thought that FLCL has held up amazing well but maybe the better explanation is that it was just why ahead of it’s time