FLCL (2000) (V)

Director:

Kazuya Tsurumaki

Writer:

Yoji Enokido (writer)

Genre:

Animation | Comedy | Drama | Fantasy | Sci-Fi

Plot:

A 12-year old boy named Naota one day meets a strange woman, riding a Vespa and wielding a big guitar. As soon as she appears, mysterious things start happening.

Plot Keywords:

Vespa | Guitar | Curry | Bass | Baseball

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Jun Mizuki	...	Naota Nandaba, Takkun the Cat (voice)
Mayumi Shintani	...	Haruko Haruhara (voice)
Izumi Kasagi	...	Mamimi Samejima (voice)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Steve Blum	...	Miyu Miyu, Masashi (voice: English version) (as David Lucas)
Chiemi Chiba	...	Kitsurubami
Melissa Fahn	...	Eri Ninamori (voice: English version) (as Heather Lee Joelson)
Yukari Fukui	...	Junko "Miya-Jun" Miyaji (voice)
Barbara Goodson	...	Naota Nandaba (voice: English version)
Hiroshi Ito	...	Shigekuni Nandaba (voice)
Mika Itô	...	Eri Ninamori (voice)
R. Martin Klein	...	Saku, Additional Voices (voice: English version) (as Bob Marx)
Steve Kramer	...	Shigekuni Nandaba, Train Announcer, Martians Baseball Player, Additional Voices (voice: English version)
Dave Mallow	...	Amarao (voice: English version)
Joe Martin	...	Kamon Nandaba (voice: English version)
Suzuki Matsuo	...	Kamon Nandaba (voice)
Chris McDougall	...	Additional Voices (voice: English version)
Akira Miyashima	...	Gaku (voice)
Tara Murphy	...	Additional Voices (voice: English version)
Kôichi Ôkura	...	Amarao (voice)
Ryan Ragland	...	Additional Voices (voice: English version)
Luis Reyes	...	Additional Voices (voice: English version)
Stephanie Sheh	...	Additional Voices (voice: English version)
Jessica Straus	...	Junko Miyaji (voice: English version) (as Jessica Stenuis)
Kazuhito Suzuki	...	Masashi (voice)
Mark Takeuchi	...	Additional Voices (voice: English version)
Rick Tetzlaff	...	Additional Voices (voice: English version)
L. Villa	...	Kitsurubami (voice: English version)
Kari Wahlgren	...	Haruko Haruhara (voice: English version)
Maggie Weidner	...	Additional Voices (voice: English version)
Yuriko Yamaguchi	...	Ninamori's Secretary (voice: English version)
Shizuki Yamashita	...	Additional Voices (voice: English version)
Agnes Yoshida	...	Additional Voices (voice: English version)

Also Known As:

Fooly Cooly (USA)
FuriKuri (Japan) (alternative title)

Runtime:

30 min (6 episodes)

Country:

Japan

Language:

Japanese

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Certification:

Spain:15 | Canada:18A | Australia:M | USA:TV-14 (cut version) | USA:TV-MA | UK:12

Company:

Gainax

Trivia:

Haruko refers to Naota as "Taro-kun" several times during Episode 1. Taro is perhaps the most generic name in Japan for a boy, and it used as a placeholder for unidentified Japanese males (like John Doe).

Goofs:

Factual errors: When there's a bird's eye view of the floor, 'medical mechanica' was misspelled 'medical meccanica.'

Quotes:

Haruko: [protecting Kitsurubami from shooting at Canti] CYBORG, MY BUTT!

Movie Connections:

References "Initial D: Second Stage" (1999)

Once is not enough

When I was watching FLCL for the first time, I had no idea what was going on. I'd never seen anything like it. So, the movie started switching gears from sweet and tragic to insane and funny, it really took me by surprise. Basically, I was holding on 'till the end because I wanted to know what it was all about. But even without that, it rocked. You may not be entirely sure at some moments why or how, but it rocks. The story starts off in a town that reminds one of one's own home town. The kid's are depressed, bored, and pretty much just drag themselves out of bed in the mourning. The adults are hyper, child-like and very annoying to the children of the town. But then she shows up. Like some kind of pop-metal not quite evil not quite good bubble gum haired goddess shows up and turns reality into chicken soup. This woman and the main character are somehow tied together through a story that involves sex, baseball, aliens, robots, secret government organizations and an underlying message about growing up and finding who you are.

The first time you watch it, you will not get it. I didn't, and most other people don't. When it's over, you only think about the crazy parts that made no sense, and you don't remember the deeper and sometimes creepy moments that kind of puts everything together. And even if you were able to get it the first time (*cough* not gonna happen.) this movie moves you more every time you watch it. It's the kind of thing you want to see again. It's extroadinarilly good. If you have an open mind, a little time, and feel like your out of place with the world (I'm betting you do. Everybody else does) then you will love this movie. Whether or not you understand it