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Title: FLCL Vol. 1 (of 3)

Director: Kazuya Tsurumaki

Script: Yoji Enokido

Time: 60 min – 2 OVAs

Genre: Comedy

Distributor: Synch-Point

FLCL (pronounced fooly cooly) is a six-part OVA series created by GAINAX, the same company that brought the fan obsessed anime Neon Genesis Evangelion and Kareshi Kanjo No Jiyou, which is known in the states as His and Her Circumstances. Gainax, a company known for its outlandishly different series, definitely lives up to its name on this title. FLCL is about a confused 12-year-old boy named Naota Nandaba and the bizarre things that happen to him after his brother leaves for the U.S. to play major league baseball. For starters his brother’s 17-year-old girlfriend, Mamimi, has developed a new romantic interest in him and constantly hangs around him.

Many of the oddities that happen to Naota are intertwined with the female character Haruko, who claims to be a 19-year-old alien. During their first encounter, Haruko runs over Naota with her vesper knocking him out cold. Distraught that she might have killed him, she performs mouth to mouth resuscitation on him, reviving him. She then bats him in the head with her motorized bass guitar. Haruko’s homerun swing sends Naota cart wheeling through the air and later causing a huge square, horn-shaped bump to protrude from his head. That bump on Naota’s head is an important event in the series because, in a weird supernatural way, two giant robots burst out of it and do battle. With all this mayhem it is amazing to say that this is only the first OVA.

FLCL is one of those series that is really hard to describe why it is such a phenomenal viewing experience. The series is extremely weird, shocking, and boarders the line of incomprehensible, but that is all part of its draw. The insane antics of the characters focus laugher no matter how illogical the situation. Although by the end of the first two OVAs not much is explained and more questions arise, there is still a strong desire for more.

The artwork in FLCL is amazing and high quality since it is digital animation. The coloring is rich and vibrant, while the artwork is highly detailed from foreground to background. The only minor flaw to the series is that in certain scenes or when it is paused, fine lines became pixilated, but during continuous viewing it is rarely noticed.

The audio to the series is also well done with a nice array of sound effects that are rarely heard in animations. Besides the sound effects, the punk rock music played by the Japanese band The Pillows, perfectly complemented the series. The only flaw to the audio comes from the English dubs. Although the parts were well spoken, some of their voices do not match their characters. Naota’s voice actor, in particular, has too deep of a voice for playing the role of a 12-year-old.

To help better understand the series, Synch-Point has included special extras to the DVD. The extras include a booklet with translation notes that explain things that were said or seen in the series that were confusing. The booklet also contains a full printout of the manga sequence that was found in the second OVA, explaining the jokes that could have easily been missed while watching it. While this was itself a good bonus, the DVD contains a commentary for both OVAs, which explain some of the symbolism used in the series as well as some background information on the series and Japanese culture.

With a great soundtrack, great artwork, and interestingly different storyline, FLCL is a fantastic series but it is not for everyone. The unusual story and the wild antics may not sit well with all viewers. FLCL is one of those series that the viewer either loves or hates without any middle ground.

Anime Grade:

Story: A

Artwork: A

Audio: A

Extras: A

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