FLCL

Well, due work being horrendous plus a couple new hobbies I've been away from Anime for a while.  Due to unfortunate circumstances that this isn't the place for, I find myself with free time again, so tonight I rewatched a series which was, when I first watched it, my favorite series of all time. It was the second series (after Neon Genesis Evangelion) to hold that title, and held it for about 7 years, until I saw Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann.  So, without further ado:

FLCL:  S

FLCL is a series that often stands out to American audiences as being 'one of those weird Japanese things that doesn't make any sense.'  The reason for this is that it's a series that does not explain itself.  The introduction that I was given for it was a single sentence that adds just enough context to the raw randomness of the series to make it not only enjoyable but also deeply and brilliantly symbolic: "This is a story about growing up."

The thing that strikes me the hardest about the series is its atmosphere, a unique blend of an unusual art style and the soundtrack provided by The Pillows, all guitars, bass and drums, carrying the emotion and nostalgia of adolescence.

The series is short, six episodes in total, and thus with the exception of Naota, our protagonist, development is simple and direct, but as I've mentioned, the series is laden down with symbolism, from the very subtle to the extremely obvious, in a way which greatly rewards repeated viewings, not only do little actions mean more and little details show up, but the very characters themselves are symbols, and their relationships with each other will remind almost anyone of loves and losses they've had, and that is the true brilliance of the series.

Like all series I truly adore, I hesitate to try to explain the plot, mostly because it would involve trying to explain about an alien corporation sending robots to earth through portals created inside people's heads, and how this relates to a normal middle school student and a strange woman on a vespa with an electric bass that she  hits people in the head with.

No, really, these are the major plot points.  I won't bother trying to explain about the Space Pirate King and how the Space Police are after him and how that figures into the series.

FLCL's only flaw is the dedication it requires to really get the most out of it.  More than most series, this is one you'll want to watch twice, maybe five or six times, maybe even more, to really get what it's about.  Fortunately, it's shorter than most series, and the music alone makes it worth watching over.  Go check it out.