Created during the height of Gainax's success, FLCL was essentially a breeding ground for creativity. The studio had hired tons of young and new talent, and now had the money to experiment with digital animation. As such, FLCL tries it's hardest to bend, break, and defy the rules of anime. It's animation is as abstract as it is creative and expressive. Tsurumaki himself patterned the show more akin to a TV commercial, citing how much action and info they pack into such a short time. It gives the show a loud and rebellious sort of energy, fitting perfectly with it's themes. In a way, FLCL was meant to be a rejection of standard anime at the time. It's plot and themes are meant to parallel common anime tropes of the time, especially the ones of it's predecessor, Evangelion. In an era where every anime was taking a more dark and psychological approach to storytelling, FLCL throws those ideas out the window, while still managing to convey a powerful and deep message of encouragement. If a show like Evangelion was about people falling to their inner demons, FLCL is a show about people winning against them, and I love it. It's just one of this anime's many shows of style and personality.
The show also likely wouldn't be the same if it weren't for it's phenomenal soundtrack. To amplify the show's already punk-like attitude, Tsurumaki decided that rather than creating an original score, FLCL's soundtrack would be almost entirely comprised of contemporary rock music. Thanks to Gainax's connections with King Records, Tsurumaki was able to get licensing to use the latest four albums by alt-rock band, The Pillows. They were also commissioned to do two original songs for the show, those being Ride on Shooting Star, and I Think I Can. I could go on about the band's history in general (I have, actually.), though I'll only mention what they do in relation to FLCL. Needless to say, their music perfectly fits the show's expressive and warm atmosphere, giving it a loud and nostalgic sound. Be it grungy fight songs, or calming ballads, their music's almost always somewhere in the show, and this anime just wouldn't be FLCL without it.
As for themes, FLCL touches on many topics. Love, relationships, pain, creativity, and most notably, maturity. It's a show filled with characters chasing ideals they don't understand, only to find solace in what they have now. It's a series that celebrates both the ordinary, and the unordinary. It's an unfiltered show of artistic passion, be it through the animation, the writing, or the music. It's a message that reminds me to balance out emotions, to look at things clearly, to be independant, and to keep moving forward. There's just so many things this show is about, that I can't really summarize it without spoiling things. It's something you have to experience yourself.
FLCL is just an anime that means a lot to me. It's a work of art, filled with an almost undescribable amount of love and passion. Whether you see it as a flashy mecha anime, an introspective look at adolescence, or one big Pillows MV, it's no doubt a classic, and one of the most iconic animes of the era. I love this show.
The show also likely wouldn't be the same if it weren't for it's phenomenal soundtrack. To amplify the show's already punk-like attitude, Tsurumaki decided that rather than creating an original score, FLCL's soundtrack would be almost entirely comprised of contemporary rock music. Thanks to Gainax's connections with King Records, Tsurumaki was able to get licensing to use the latest four albums by alt-rock band, The Pillows. They were also commissioned to do two original songs for the show, those being Ride on Shooting Star, and I Think I Can. I could go on about the band's history in general (I have, actually.), though I'll only mention what they do in relation to FLCL. Needless to say, their music perfectly fits the show's expressive and warm atmosphere, giving it a loud and nostalgic sound. Be it grungy fight songs, or calming ballads, their music's almost always somewhere in the show, and this anime just wouldn't be FLCL without it.
As for themes, FLCL touches on many topics. Love, relationships, pain, creativity, and most notably, maturity. It's a show filled with characters chasing ideals they don't understand, only to find solace in what they have now. It's a series that celebrates both the ordinary, and the unordinary. It's an unfiltered show of artistic passion, be it through the animation, the writing, or the music. It's a message that reminds me to balance out emotions, to look at things clearly, to be independant, and to keep moving forward. There's just so many things this show is about, that I can't really summarize it without spoiling things. It's something you have to experience yourself.
FLCL is just an anime that means a lot to me. It's a work of art, filled with an almost undescribable amount of love and passion. Whether you see it as a flashy mecha anime, an introspective look at adolescence, or one big Pillows MV, it's no doubt a classic, and one of the most iconic animes of the era. I love this show.
