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16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
It's All In Naota's Head, March 29, 2004
This review is from: FLCL (Fooly Cooly) - Vol. 2 (DVD)
Naota, the young teenager who is the central character in this imaginative series finds himself in the envious position of having two women dote on him. One of these is Ninamori, the young daughter of the mayor of Mabase, and the other is Haruko, an attractive 'alien' who has moved into his house as maid. Or this would be an envious position if Ninamori didn't want him to play the cat in the school play - Puss and Boots. And the perpetually effusive Haruko loves Naota for the space warp between the hemispheres of his brain. Ninamori has her own problems, a philandering father, a home that is falling apart, and a desperate need to hide her feelings behind a veneer of adult maturity. Like Naota, life has become too complicated and efforts to reign it in wind up creating new monsters that spring unbidden from one's brain. Haruko is that shaman who brings these things to the surface. Whether they be creatures from outer or inner space, we don't know, but like a mad psychiatrist, Haruko presides over their birth and their final demise. In the second episode on this DVD a baseball game becomes Haruko's metaphor, as she and Naota play on opposite sides in the game. Despite having his brother's bat, Naota seems unable to play, while Haruko, who hits equally well with both bat and base guitar, is apparently the next best thing to Mickey Mantle. Naota's frustration includes not just his failure at sports, but a dark jealousy over Haruko's relationship with his father. He hides behind his powerlessness, unwilling to take any risks, while Haruko keeps telling him that nothing will happen until he swings the bat. This is possible the zaniest series in modern anime. Haruko runs the gamut from being an object of innuendo to acting like one of those Zen masters that leap out of nowhere to hit you with a stick until you learn to avoid the beating. She has her own agenda, which might include saving the earth or turning the unsuspecting Naota into something greater than his own expectations. As of yet, the bemused viewer has no clue. Again, the series benefits from extensive director's commentary. Not that this ever quite explains anything, but it provides many reassurances that it is the series, and not the viewer, that is insane. Outstanding are and music fill out the bill, making FLCL a must see for the anime aficionado and amateur psychologist alike.
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17 of 19 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
GAINAX Masterpiece, September 13, 2003
This review is from: FLCL (Fooly Cooly) - Vol. 2 (DVD)
Simply the most amazing piece of artwork ever developed. From the stylized use of digitized manga to the amazing group of animators that worked on the projects. Tsurumaki's vision and depth is amazing (especially since he is right handed). Oh, and don't forget the amazing fight scenes with some of the most fantastic robots you can imagine. Watch as Naota finds his way from elementary school to adulthood with the help of Haruko and fights his way through his own feelings to discover that he should just be himself. On the path he has to fight his way through a myriad of amazing Medical Mechanicca robots. This disk also has my favorite "fight scene" of all time, as Naota finally swings away! The imagery and concept are amazing, and the animation is breathtaking. Couldn't pick better music either - The Pillows' music fits perfectly. Even though each disk is only 2 episodes, there is also an hour of commentary from Tsurumaki (director) that is nearly as riveting as the show itself. Also, a LOT of the nuances in the show are directed at Japanese culture and the anime biz. Even if you don't understand it all until afterwards, it is still an amazing show. Buy all 3 of them right now, because you will be begging for more the moment it ends.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Television, September 2, 2003
This review is from: FLCL (Fooly Cooly) - Vol. 2 (DVD)
This series is some of the best television you will find. It is one of the rare times that the script expects the viewer to be able to follow a story without conventional plot points or clichés. The graphic style is refreshing and unusual. Like "The Prisoner" or "The Singing Detective" this series is best understood after viewing the entire series. While there are some subtle culture references that we in the U.S. may miss, the story is universal and very human, despite Anime and Sci-fi trappings.
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