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FLCL. Just your average Slice Of Life.

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TheHandle United Earth from Stockholm Since: Jan, 2012 Relationship Status: YOU'RE TEARING ME APART LISA
United Earth
#1: May 23rd 2012 at 4:39:03 PM

FLCL. 'Tis one of the awesomest series ever created. And the title is a blatant case of blatant lies, of course.

There is another, older thread, but it had an IBM-ish vibe to it and has been dead for a few months, so I chose to let it be.

Today I was inspired to write a backstory for Atomsk. As part of a crossover with MLP: it occupies most of the second chapter and justifies why Rahal (who is an actual feline in this universe), attacked my Naota stand-in (who is introduced quite throughly in the first chapter). Anyway, writing this fic has renewed my interest in this series, which I'm going to rewatch just to get all my facts and characters and moods right. If anyone here knows of any development on the fanon and speculah side of things, I'd really be interested in finding out. Good fics to read would also be nice.

And of course, links to good lyrics translations and critiques of The Pillows' songs would also be very welcome. Dat waz some memorable music. Here, Runner's High, also known as "Brace Yourselves, Guitar Incoming"*

edited 23rd May '12 4:40:33 PM by TheHandle

Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.
KrazyKopter Bitter person in the shadows.... Since: Apr, 2011
Bitter person in the shadows....
#2: May 23rd 2012 at 6:30:52 PM

It wouldn't hurt to revive the old thread and lock this one, but if I recall, there are two threads about this series.

Regardless, FLCL is one of the best animes ever. The story is really simple, yet clever and surreal (it's really about that awkward period everyone has/had to go through, cranked Up To Eleven), the animation is really stylish and amazing, and the English dub is one of the greatest ever made (helps that the creator chose the V As himself.)

Despite [as]'s profound love for it, I only saw most of it once back in 2003. I bought the entire OV As recently so that makes me happy.

"Pancakes. Oh, I blew it." - Joel Hodgson Nobody better lay a Butterfinger on my 3DS!
MarkThis Since: Jan, 2012
#3: May 24th 2012 at 12:32:10 AM

It is said that FLCL uses every single camera angle in the book, and the variety of animation styles it displays is amazing. If it weren't for their color schemes and Limited Wardrobe, it would be very hard to identify the characters as they stretch and sequeeze, gain and lose detail, and so on.

And while other works who address the sheer terror that is teenage sexuality either refuse to face the problem and turn it into a rom-com farce, or an idealized drama, or they face the problem of displaying kids in sexually explicit situations. I think FLCL is very clever in that it manages to give the viewer a good feel for the conflicted emotions and compulsions one feels as the owner of a young body, yet never gets more explicit than some ear niblling and a kiss. Metaphors are such wonderful things.

 

ComradeClaus Archangel of Beza-Dan from Hecatomb Palace Since: Feb, 2011
Archangel of Beza-Dan
#4: May 24th 2012 at 2:13:49 AM

"you gotta learn to swing the bat"

i was so wtf when i say all the japanese culture refs, like nosebleeding Bridge Bunny s & that shampoo ring, took years to figure it out [learned about the nosebleed thing in Naruto Sexy Jutsu]

Slaying all enemies in the Name of the Goddess of the Force!
TheHandle United Earth from Stockholm Since: Jan, 2012 Relationship Status: YOU'RE TEARING ME APART LISA
United Earth
#5: May 24th 2012 at 2:20:50 AM

[up]How old are you?

And the shower bath cap was something you could figure out from FLCL itself: in episode 3, when ninamori showers in Naota's house, she's using one.

There might be more details you missed, though, and for that I recommend this awesome site of awesomeness, which made some amazingly insitefulinsightful reviews.

Okay, I'm rewatching the first episode. That first dialogue has become so much more understandable to me right now, including the facial expressions and voice tones that used to seem so disconnected. It's not just the extra information from the later episodes, it's also, well... human existence. It's amazing how much depth Gainax can give their characters by not explaining every action they take. It feels like watching actual, live humans. It's amazing.

And I have a question: Why in the world, in Watsoinian terms, would there be a factory that keeps metric fucktons of steam pent up inside, to release at periodical intervals?

edited 24th May '12 2:36:35 AM by TheHandle

Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.
fillerdude Since: Jul, 2010
#6: May 24th 2012 at 3:11:36 AM

I really should rewatch this.

TheHandle United Earth from Stockholm Since: Jan, 2012 Relationship Status: YOU'RE TEARING ME APART LISA
United Earth
#7: May 24th 2012 at 3:31:27 AM

[[It is said that all the animators of Avatar The Last Airbender were required to watch fall of FLCL, and it shows]]. Imaishi Homage Time!

...

I AM SHOCKED TO FIND THAT THE SEQUENCE IS NOT AVAILABLE ON YOUTUBE!. You'll have to watch the episode on Nicktoons. Sorry.

Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.
porschelemans Avatar Sakaki Ignore cat from A Giant Hamster Ball Since: Sep, 2012 Relationship Status: You're a beautiful woman, probably
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#8: Sep 15th 2013 at 1:01:28 PM

I just ordered this off Amazon for €11. Was I right to do so?

I'm so sorry that my avatar doesn't appear fully in the shot, but the cat was threatening the photographer.
Discar Since: Jun, 2009
#9: Sep 15th 2013 at 1:33:38 PM

That's a pretty good deal for the whole series. I mean, it's only 6 episodes, so it's not like a jaw-droppingly good deal, but I don't think you'll regret it.

Just watch it all at once. It's kinda crazy, so you can lose track quickly if you wait too long between episodes.

Writing a post-post apocalypse LitRPG on RR. Also fanfic stuff.
Fluid Since: Jan, 2001
#10: Sep 15th 2013 at 1:44:14 PM

Chances are you'll lose track anyway, but it's quite enjoyable anyway. The animation style is very frantic, and so is the humor. In that respect, it's probably a good thing that it's such a short show.

porschelemans Avatar Sakaki Ignore cat from A Giant Hamster Ball Since: Sep, 2012 Relationship Status: You're a beautiful woman, probably
Avatar Sakaki Ignore cat
#12: Sep 20th 2013 at 3:56:56 AM

GUNS!

I'm so sorry that my avatar doesn't appear fully in the shot, but the cat was threatening the photographer.
Willbyr Hi (Y2K) Relationship Status: With my statistically significant other
Hi
#13: Sep 20th 2013 at 10:25:26 AM

FLCL's one of the best anime purchases I ever made. The manga's really good as well, but in a darker direction.

porschelemans Avatar Sakaki Ignore cat from A Giant Hamster Ball Since: Sep, 2012 Relationship Status: You're a beautiful woman, probably
Avatar Sakaki Ignore cat
#14: Sep 20th 2013 at 11:51:01 AM

I didn't find FLCL to be as chaotic or as mind screwy as people make it out to be. It reminded me of Looney Tunes to quite an extent, not that that's a bad thing. In fact, beyond the general art style used for most scenes, and the Japanese voice acting and names; it reminded me much more of an american cartoon than your typical Japanese anime, with its wacky, over the top slapstick humour and an altogether fragile, if not non-existent, Fourth Wall.

I would say it was good having seen Neon Genesis Evangelion beforehand though, as I did notice a fair amount of subtle metahumour derived from the fact that FLCL was one of the first things Gainax did post NGE, and hence is also the exact opposite of NGE. In fact, I found a lot of the humour to stem from general Gainax nerdiness, as that is really what it is, a celebration of all things nerdy. From the guitars to the cars to the references to other shows, everything about FLCL spouts a glorious fountain of nerdiness, and I appreciate that.

The soundtrack wasn't amazing like everyone says it is, but it was pleasant enough and went with the show, and the closing theme had a great opening guitar line, but I can't say I shall be rushing out to buy The Pillows entire discography any time soon. Shonen Knife are better tongue IMHO

Still, very much worth my 10.93€, £9.23, $14.77, ¥1471.04, MXN$188.73, AUD$15.74, ₹919.01, or whatever the value is in any other currency you happen to understand the best.

I'm so sorry that my avatar doesn't appear fully in the shot, but the cat was threatening the photographer.
kiukiuclk from 3.1415926535897932384626433832795028841971693 Since: Feb, 2013 Relationship Status: My TiMER is ticking
#15: Sep 20th 2013 at 11:04:44 PM

[up] Yeah, it lacked the Evangelion effect of looking like it meant something. I mean, you know it's random.

imadinosaur Since: Oct, 2011
#16: Sep 21st 2013 at 2:06:55 AM

You say that, and yet it actually has the same plot as eva (sorta kinda), just squeezed into six episodes.

Violence is the last refuge of the incompetent.
porschelemans Avatar Sakaki Ignore cat from A Giant Hamster Ball Since: Sep, 2012 Relationship Status: You're a beautiful woman, probably
Avatar Sakaki Ignore cat
#17: Sep 21st 2013 at 8:49:22 AM

I wouldn't so much say NGE looked like it meant something as that it was something that you can ascribe your own meaning too if you so wish. Nobody's going to try to find deep meaning in FLCL.

I'm so sorry that my avatar doesn't appear fully in the shot, but the cat was threatening the photographer.
Mullon Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: And here's to you, Mrs. Robinson
#18: Mar 24th 2016 at 9:17:26 PM

Guys...

Never trust anyone who uses "degenerate" as an insult.
Soble Since: Dec, 2013
#19: Mar 24th 2016 at 9:37:39 PM

That looks rather ominous. I haven't clicked the link out of fear.

edited 24th Mar '16 9:45:34 PM by Soble

I'M MR. MEESEEKS, LOOK AT ME!
wehrmacht belongs to the hurricane from the garden of everything Since: Dec, 2010 Relationship Status: YOU'RE TEARING ME APART LISA
belongs to the hurricane
#20: Mar 24th 2016 at 9:39:54 PM

Production I.G is producing 2 new seasons (6 episodes each) for adult swim.

The article mentions doesn't mention any staff, but I think someone in a different thread said some guy who directed the psycho pass movie is directing. idk

either way I don't have high hopes for this given that the people responsible for the original series are at trigger.

edited 24th Mar '16 9:47:32 PM by wehrmacht

Hylarn (Don’t ask)
#21: Mar 24th 2016 at 9:43:22 PM

Yeah, none of the same staff, and the new staff hasn't done much anime. You should probably be worried

Soble Since: Dec, 2013
#22: Mar 24th 2016 at 9:49:28 PM

And now I've clicked it.

This isn't going to be pretty.

[up]And none of that bolds particularly well either.

I mean, actually, I'm pretty optimistic about this, at least until we get a trailer. FLCL had a couple of loose ends I'd gladly watch these new seasons to see tied up. I remember being a little unsatisfied and depressed at what became of Mamimi, since she just left the cast behind and we later see Naota living normally, in a scene strangely similar to an earlier one with Mamimi.

I don't think we ever saw the true Atomsk outside of concept art, that always kind of bugged me. So again, more self-fulfillment.

And, wow, this actually got funding. That gives me some hope for a third season of Big O!

But

Is it just me, or is announcing two seasons of a new show a terrible idea? You must have real confidence in it succeeding, because that strips away a great deal of tension for the first half.

And as one of the comments said, isn't FLCL a "self-contained satire that ended exactly where it needed to?" As much as you'd want a second season, it ended right where it was intended. It was short but sweet, the plot and characters all engaging, but contained within six glorious episodes.

So I mean, yeah, two seasons of twelve episodes? Really? This good thing was six episodes, so maybe if we give it double that, it'll be even better! Funny, I hear people often complain that certain shows don't give their story arcs enough room to breath, but it feels like the opposite here.

If they really want to do this, how about we kickstart Big O's third season while we're at it? I thought AS didn't have time or resource for 'weird' anime anymore.

I'M MR. MEESEEKS, LOOK AT ME!
wehrmacht belongs to the hurricane from the garden of everything Since: Dec, 2010 Relationship Status: YOU'RE TEARING ME APART LISA
belongs to the hurricane
#23: Mar 24th 2016 at 9:55:24 PM

So I mean, yeah, two seasons of twelve episodes?

Maybe I was unclear or I just misread the article, but my understanding is that we're getting 2 seasons of 6 episodes for a total of 12 episodes. Which is basically a one-cour anime, except split in two.

I remember being a little unsatisfied and depressed at what became of Mamimi, since she just left the cast behind and we later see Naota living normally, in a scene strangely similar to an earlier one with Mamimi.

It's been years since I've seen FLCL, but I feel like that was exactly how it should have been. FLCL is about growing up, and growing up means some things don't end up the way you want them.

edited 24th Mar '16 9:57:39 PM by wehrmacht

TheAirman Brightness from The vicinity of an area adjacent to a location Since: Feb, 2011 Relationship Status: Historians will say we were good friends.
Brightness
#24: Mar 24th 2016 at 9:56:00 PM

[up]This is correct.

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wehrmacht belongs to the hurricane from the garden of everything Since: Dec, 2010 Relationship Status: YOU'RE TEARING ME APART LISA
belongs to the hurricane
#25: Mar 24th 2016 at 9:59:04 PM

I feel like FLCL was perfect the way it was. Really don't see the point in making more. If this was Trigger I might have some faith that they'd be able to make a meaningful continuation of the story, but it's not so I'm not expecting much.


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