FLCL - General Discussion

[Meredith Quill]

Discuss FLCL Here!

[Lantern7]

Bumping up because Toonami will be airing the first edition — six episodes — starting at midnight. If you’ve never watched it . . . watch it. I remember when it was originally released. Lots and lots of dada mixed with action, deep themes, parody, and The Pillows providing music. “Ride On Shooting Star” is a huge earworm in the end credits. Ditto “I Think I Can” in the finale.

I’ll be DVRing the episode. I wouldn’t know where to get Crystal Pepsi though. That got rereleased months ago. Never occurred to me to stock up on that for the return of FLCL.

[Sandman87]

Speaking of Crystal Pepsi, here's a lovely quote from its creator David C. Novak:

Quote

It was a tremendous learning experience. I still think it's the best idea I ever had, and the worst executed. A lot of times as a leader you think, "They don't get it; they don't see my vision." People were saying we should stop and address some issues along the way, and they were right. It would have been nice if I'd made sure the product tasted good.

Yeah, you might want to look onto that when you make a product where the taste is the main reason for people to buy it.

[Lantern7]

I vaguely remember that it tasted like “regular” Pepsi. But I’m a bit weird.

Is there anywhere online with deep analysis of this anime?

ETA: I just realized I gave the wrong time. The episodes air at 11:30.

Edited April 14, 2018 by Lantern7

[SVNBob]

8 hours ago, Lantern7 said:

I vaguely remember that it tasted like “regular” Pepsi. But I’m a bit weird.

 

As am I then.  Because it tasted "regular" to me back in the day.  And I think when I picked up a bottle of the re-release too.  So, yeah.

 

8 hours ago, Lantern7 said:

Is there anywhere online with deep analysis of this anime?

Not sure how deep at a quick glance, but there is an analysis on the AV Club.  https://tv.avclub.com/flcl-fooly-cooly-1798170985

And there's this series from an anime blogger/YouTuber that I like where he did episodic posting, starting with his impressions on the series from memory.  https://myswordisunbelievablydull.wordpress.com/2009/05/06/flcl-a-recollection/  (Links to the first post, tag at the bottom for the rest.)

Edited April 15, 2018 by SVNBob

[Sandman87]

Watching the first episode again, I noticed for the first time that Mamimi is left handed. And so is Haruko. Wonder why I never saw it before.

Also, the [SG] on the bat reminds me of the [as] logo now.

[Lantern7]

Just checking to see who has been getting reacquainted with the anime. I’ve been DVRing . . . but I did notice Toonami took out the post-credits teasers. Kinda sucks, but since “Ride On Shooting Star” is intact, maybe I shouldn’t complain.

[Sandman87]

My favorite episode. Toilet humor and a South Park shout-out (the Kenny keychain); what's not to love?

[Lantern7]

Anybody keeping up? Next week, the finale will run at 45 minutes. Memorial Day weekend, Toonami will run all six episodes. I’m assuming that the new stuff runs the following week.

[Sandman87]

That was my second favorite episode. The big fight at the end is a perfect example of just how surreal anime can be.

[SVNBob]

2 hours ago, Sandman87 said:

The big fight at the end is a perfect example of just how surreal anime can be.

This whole damn show is a perfect example of just how surreal anime can be.

[Lantern7]

I liked The Pillows providing the music for the original series. Is anybody here familiar with them more intimately? The only song titles I know are "Ride On Shooting Star" (end credits ear worm) and "I Think I Can" (played in the finale's climax). I recognize the music, but I don't have any titles to go along with them.

Oh, and if you ever curious what The Pillows look like . . . here you go.

Edited May 19, 2018 by Lantern7

[Lantern7]

We're getting FLCL: Progressive in two weeks. The sneak preview on April Fool's Day was for the first episode of Alternative. Anyway, this came up tonight to whet your appetite:

Also, in case you haven't been watching FLCL, here are the behind-the-scenes clips:

 

 

[Lantern7]

Going into Progressive, here are the Pillows giving a brief history about their time with FLCL . . .

[Lantern7]

From the first teasers of Progressive, I like Haruko's look. It's like she looks more adult, yet I can't really say why that is with words.

I got a sketch of Haruko years ago. I'm thinking that I should print references for Conti and Naota. And maybe the eyebrow guy.

[lathspel]

Really, no replies about Progressive ep 1?

Hitomi is detached from reality because her father’s out of the picture.  Unfortunately, two different guitar-packing ladies have taken an interest in her involvement, and as a result, at least parts of her apocalyptic nightmares are starting to come true.

I wasn’t sure how the pace and structure of this ep would hold up to FLCL classic.  For me the jury is still out, at least until next week. 

[Lantern7]

I was getting to it, @lathspel. ?

Basically, this feels “same, ‘cept different,” in the sense that Hitomi is detached like Naota was, but it’s not a total gender-flip of the original . She get a “fairy godmother” (for lack of a better term) who mows her down with her car. But it’s implied that Haruko is doing the same thing with a boy, and she’ll be in conflict with the other woman soon. I’ll say this about the boy . . . I think his friends suck harder than Naota’s, and that’s saying something. Fat dude in skirt beats “Pervert! He’s a pervert! PEEEEERRRRRRVVVVEERT!!!”

ETA: Haruko was in disguise as a schoolteacher , occasionally showing porn to Hitomi’s class. Just wanted to throw that in.

Edited June 4, 2018 by Lantern7

[Sandman87]

Feels like they're emulating the first series by throwing the same things in, but without really understanding what made it great. Just going down the checklist. "Incomprehensible story? Check. Disaffected teen? Check. Gas powered guitar? Check. Teacher who's not quite sane? Check. Kids getting hit by a vehicle? Check. S****** parent who runs a shop? Check. Weird robots? Check. Haruko? Check..."

I liked Hitomi's self-image as a pink ghost.

Haruko the Porn Teacher takes the adolescent sexual subtext and makes it outright text.

 

10 hours ago, Lantern7 said:

I think his friends suck harder than Naota’s

Skirt Boy reminded me of the Boondocks episode where Riley ends up wearing a Gangstalicious skirt and belly shirt and carrying a Gangstalicious purse.

[Lantern7]

Mother's Basement analyzes FLCL. In five words: "It's Okay To Feel Stupid."

[lathspel]

I get the same feeling that we’re still in emulation mode rather than making something new.  Partly I’m missing a “moment”, like the first time Lord Kanti flew  

But I like that I can’t really tell if it’s IDE or Hitomi who are special, or if they both are.  It’s going to end with her connection to humanity being key, I feel. 

[Lantern7]

I'm thinking we'd need to see the whole thing first before properly critiquing. Strange shit happens, and it's not random because we went through that with the original FLCL years ago.

This week: beach fun! The fat guy Mori basically rents a girl for the day!! Watermelon smashing! I know, that's more about Japanese culture. I know that I dig Jinyu basically being Haruko's polar opposite.

[Sandman87]

1 hour ago, Lantern7 said:

I'm thinking we'd need to see the whole thing first before properly critiquing.

I disagree. The original was enthralling, even though I had no idea what was going on. This just...exists.

 

1 hour ago, Lantern7 said:

The fat guy Mori basically rents a girl for the day!!

There's a term for that, but I forget what it is. And she appears to be Amarao's daughter. At least I think that was him, worrying about where the plant went.

[lathspel]

That was my favorite ep yet.  I’m cautiously optimistic that we’ve turned the corner on Progressive.  

I think I like it a lot more now that it’s Ide and Hitomi finding each other, and not some kind of unrequited feelings (at least for now).

[Lantern7]

I'll need to rewatch. Also, it looks like Conti died for our sins. I kinda liked that guy.

Last week, I didn't catch that the fake girlfriend's dad was Amarao. I like how he's wearing a hat, so you can't tell if he has eyebrows or not.

[Sandman87]

So if Conti is still around, what about Naota? I expect he'll pop up at some point in a non-central-character kind of way. And now that Conti is there, I finally have someone in the show that I might give a rat's ass about. Unfortunately he looks kind of dead/disassembled.

Every time someone talks about "the plant", it gives me Trigun flashbacks.

[Lantern7]

Reminder: FLCL has been moved to 11:30 to replace Dragon Ball Z Kai.

ETA: When the season gets a marathon, I’ll probably record the whole thing and watch it in one shot. While I’m trying to unspool the last two episodes, I have a merchandising idea: actual irons that look like Medical Mechanica. And when you press the steam button, it makes the alarm sound.

Edited July 1, 2018 by Lantern7

[lathspel]

Finished Progressive.  It was really pretty, but I’m not sure what I got out of it.   Was it really about Hidomi and Haruko both trying to get the man they wanted?  I’m going to have to digest further.  

[Lantern7]

Trailer for Alternative.

[Lantern7]

Not episode-related, but worth mentioning: limited-edition FLCL merchandise is available in Japan.

[Lantern7]

Bumping up because Alternative kicks off this Saturday. Also, I still have the subbed episode on the DVR from April Fool’s Day.

[Lantern7]

So . . . anybody got favorite characters from Progressive?

[AnimeMania]

Definite lack of boys in this one. Funny, the girl with the phone took some upskirts of the model when she bent over.

[Terrafamilia]

I have no idea where this is going but I'm liking the opener better than Progressive's. I'm calling the giant new mall as having something to do with/the equivalent of Medical Mechanica. The Map Pin from Outer Space created a monsterbot which, after being initially defeated, grows, a la Power Rangers, into a Hollowbot (Bleach shout out).

[Sandman87]

Even after a second viewing, it still looks like Haruko wandered into a perfectly watchable episode of K-On!, then proceeded to crap things up.

[Lantern7]

Question: how do you guys feel about Haruko in general? I mean, I get that she can be too obsessive and selfish, but she's lot of fun to watch, whether she's hitting a boy with her Vespa, turning a class into a cult, or devouring her main rival. And Kari Wahlgren always sounds like she's having a blast voicing her. "MAMA LIKE!!!!!"

Oh, and I want to call the heavier girl in Alternative Sunny. Like the Thousand Sunny of One Piece, she seems fueled mostly with cola. Would that be too mean?

[lathspel]

Second time around, I like this ep even better.  It’s just a fun vibe with these friends.  I hope Haruko doesn’t mess things up more than necessary.

There’s a shot of her near the beginning, maybe continuity from Progressive?

[Matt K]

It didn't really feel like FLCL but that said I did like what we got, it just more slice of life than I would have expected.

[lathspel]

This week got really slice of life, to the point that the robot was pretty underwhelming.  

It occurs to me that perhaps AS is using FLCL’s name recognition as an opportunity to be not just shonen...?

[Lantern7]

It does feel less FLCL than the other two volumes. That's not bad .  . I like these girls. Is it wrong that I want to refer to Mossan as "Sunny," because like the Straw Hats' ship, she's fueled mainly by cola? It could use more rampaging mecha, but Kana's hesitancy to make adult plans and Haruko's antics are okay as well.

Edited September 25, 2018 by Lantern7

[Terrafamilia]

Why does Haruko break out in a rap number? Because she can.

[lathspel]

I begin to see why this season is Alternative - it’s subverted my expectations at every turn.  

I still can’t tell if Haruko is happy or frustrated that she’s not triggering what she expected from Kanna.  After harvesting emotional turmoil for so long, either she’s made a big mistake, or she’s found something even better.

It took me a minute to realize why the basketball bot was a bull.  I guess Jordan’s huge everywhere.

[lathspel]

E5:  Pets triggers the terminal core, but this time it doesn’t make contact with the iron.  Was anyone else expecting her to be the PM’s daughter?

Also, Kana gets called out for being a general butt-insky, has a charming postscript where it’s all ok, and then a post-postscript where really, it’s not.  I didn’t see that coming.  

[lathspel]

E6:  The Pillows play the 8-bit Alternative theme while Kana goes Magical Girl on the iron.  It’s possible she drags Mars into low Earth orbit, which if I understand orbital mechanics is long term problematic.

The good news is that Haruko finally got Kana to do her thing.  The bad news is that it’s possible that Haruko orchestrated Pets leaving the planet to get that result.  Or at least I wouldn’t put it past her.  

Later I’ll raise a glass to Haruko’s bass, hors de combat in this episode.  I’m sure she’ll find a new one eventually.  

[Vermicious Knid]

For all that Progressive was the third series it seemed to be the sequel to the original much more than Alternative. There is absolutely no point to Alternative. And yes Kana, you are that annoying. Progressive was better but so much of it went unexplained it feels unfinished. My fanwank, Hidomi is Naota's daughter.

[Sandman87]

As far as I'm concerned, the only reason to watch Alternative and Progressive is to listen to the Pillows.

[lathspel]

Really my number one complaint about both series is that the Pillows weren’t front and center more.  They still leaned on some of their original hits (like Little Masters) too much.

I liked Alternative once I realized it was its own thing and not really FLCL.  I think it’s the closest to non-Shonen that AS has ever shown.  

[Lantern7]

Crunchyroll will be running Progressive and Alternative subtitled.

I forgot to mention that I met Kari Whulgren at Anime NYC in November. Got an autograph and a picture. I don't think I shared this right away because I always feel like a putz meeting famous people.

.

[Lantern7]

In case you didn't see hear, we're getting two more editions of FLCL: Grunge and Shoegaze. Here's a tiny bit of animation from Grunge:

 

[Lantern7]

Grunge is set to air starting September 9. Here's the trailer:

In case you didn't know, Toonami is running the original FLCL now . . . so I'm thinking we'll slide through that, get a Labor Day weekend marathon (probably My Adventures With Superman), then skip Progressive and Alternative before we get Grunge.

Does anyone think that more than one season dilutes the awesomeness of the original edition? I'm good with seasons 2-3, but I get the criticisms.

Edited July 23, 2023 by Lantern7

[Lantern7]

On 7/23/2023 at 1:27 AM, Lantern7 said:

 . . . so I'm thinking we'll slide through that, get a Labor Day weekend marathon (probably My Adventures With Superman), then skip Progressive and Alternative before we get Grunge.

I wasn’t far off. There will be marathons for Progressive and Alternative on August 26 and September 2, respectively.