FLCL

FLCL (Furi Kuri) is a six series OVA (original video animation) series. The series was first created by Kazuya Tsurumaki in 2000. Tsurumaki also directed the series. Gainax was one of the producers of the series, and has since become known for such excellent animes as Neon Genesis Evangelion, which Tsurumaki was also involved in. There is a manga of FLCL that was created first, and it has been remarked to be much more violent, with a darker overall feel.

Synopsis

FLCL is the story of a boy named Nandaba Naota. He is a 12 year old boy that lives with his strange father and grandfather in an imaginary tranquil city known as Mabase in Japan. Naota’s life is very routine, with school and his grandfather and father’s dictates dominating his life. He is very vocal in the opening episode, complaining about how boring his life is, and how he wishes it were different. Things turn different for Naota in a bizarre way, as a girl runs over Naota with her Vespa and then hits him upside the head with a guitar.

Naota rather quickly discovers that the hit on the head opened up a strange portal which allows him to pass physical objects from one point to another in a form of transference. When Naota arrives home after this strange incidence, he finds the very girl that whacked him working as a live-in maid.

Her name is Haruhara Haruko, and she is an investigator for the Galactic Space Patrol from outer space. Her pink hair is easily noticed and it is often remarked that she looks older than she is. She has the ability to open N.O. Portals, such as the one she opened in Naota’s head. She has no problem using a 12 year old boy to further her gain. The purpose of her mission is kept shrouded in secrecy as this short anime goes on.

Misc. Info

FLCL has been likened to a piece of art, because it is such a short series, everything is tightly organized and every word matters. Much like a short story, it all pulls together to create a story about coming of age and all that implies. Most anime fans have stated that when they first watch FLCL they end up spending a few days digesting it in their head. The visuals jump between being classic anime and being like what a child would see. The more you think about FLCL, the deeper you realize the story and plot line truly goes.

The most amazing part of FLCL has been noted as being the music. The background music was mainly written and preformed by The Pillows, a Japanese rock band that has since soared to heights on the rock music charts. Some of the tracks from FLCL were used on their hottest album and the FLCL soundtrack sells almost as many copies as the series itself does. Most animes are not known for their music, but for their story, but FLCL is one of the very few exceptions.