Fooly Cooly (FLCL) and other "Mindfuck" anime

[Destroit]

Just odd. Something I've noticed. Everyone loves FLCL, everyone who watches anime say it's in their top five. But nobody even ever knows what it's actually ABOUT. I even had the leader of the Anime Club at MCC try to tell me that there is no coherent plot-line...WTF? It has one of the most rich and deep plots in anime history. I would even be willing to bet that the trifecta of "Mind fuck" anime consists of FLCL and Serial Experiments: Lain (BOTH tied for first as FLCL deals with existence and human behaviors on a microcosmic level whereas Lain deals with existence and tries to explain it in its entirety on a macro-cosmic grandiose level) and then Paranoia Agent in third (deals with fear, the causation of such, the impact of fear on society as a whole. Don't want to say too much to spoil it)

So I think what I'm asking is...am I the only one who fully understands FLCL?

I want to help anime viewers! I think this thread should be a discussion about mainly FLCL but also any other "Mind-fuck" psychological anime series (Paranoia Agent, SE: Lain) that have been unclear to you.

So everyone, as Naota's father asks, what does "fooly cooly" really mean? What do you think the series is about?

Oh and Spoiler alerts! This means YOU, Iris! You're still in the middle of watching it

Just odd. Something I've noticed. Everyone loves FLCL, everyone who watches anime say it's in their top five. But nobody even ever knows what it's actually ABOUT. I even had the leader of the Anime Club at MCC try to tell me that there is no coherent plot-line...WTF? It has one of the most rich and deep plots in anime history. I would even be willing to bet that the trifecta of "Mind fuck" anime consists of FLCL and Serial Experiments: Lain (BOTH tied for first as FLCL deals with existence and human behaviors on a microcosmic level whereas Lain deals with existence and tries to explain it in its entirety on a macro-cosmic grandiose level) and then Paranoia Agent in third (deals with fear, the causation of such, the impact of fear on society as a whole. Don't want to say too much to spoil it)

So I think what I'm asking is...am I the only one who fully understands FLCL?

I want to help anime viewers! I think this thread should be a discussion about mainly FLCL but also any other "Mind-fuck" psychological anime series (Paranoia Agent, SE: Lain) that have been unclear to you.

So everyone, as Naota's father asks, what does "fooly cooly" really mean? What do you think the series is about?

Oh and Spoiler alerts! This means YOU, Iris! You're still in the middle of watching it

[Destroit]

I dunno, something that is always debated upon with FLCL among fans: Who ACTAULLY burnt down the elementary school where Mamimi met Naota's brother. Actually they met on the day of the fire. They insinuate who it probably was but never fully say. I know who I think it was, but how about other people. Thoughts?

I dunno, something that is always debated upon with FLCL among fans: Who ACTAULLY burnt down the elementary school where Mamimi met Naota's brother. Actually they met on the day of the fire. They insinuate who it probably was but never fully say. I know who I think it was, but how about other people. Thoughts?

[Rev.Reverence]

I started watchin' flcl on Adult Swim...& I missed like 2 or 3 episodes, & totally got lost.

Never herd of the second show mantioned...

...however, PARANOIA AGENT rocked...saw most of it on A~S~...quite some time ago.

I think, peoples are made lazy in the mind by too much pop culture...&/or, many just started out way dumber than they can possibly admit to themselves...(that is normal for average iqs to do.)

(edit: was gonna' fix a typo, but it was cool.)

Edited May 6, 2010 by Rev.Reverence

[Destroit]

I started watchin' flcl on Adult Swim...& I missed like 2 or 3 episodes, & totally got lost.

Never herd of the second show mantioned...

...however, PARANOIA AGENT rocked...saw most of it on A~S~...quite some time ago.

I think, peoples are made lazy in the mind by too much pop culture...&/or, many just started out way dumber than they can possibly admit to themselves...(that is normal for average iqs to do.)

(edit: was gonna' fix a typo, but it was cool.)

Watch ALL of FLCL. Normally I don't tell people to watch things dubbed in English, but FLCL is one of those rare exceptions. There certain subtleties and nuances in the English version that are not expressed to our, erm, "understanding" fully in the subbed version. It's not a "heartfelt" and artsy.

You can watch all six episodes on www.veoh.com I believe. I'm sure you can also find them on Anime Freak.

Watch all six and come back to discuss! I can promise you will not be disappointed! It will change how you view people and social interactions between them. It's also the most ridiculous and glorified intergalactic-love-story known to mankind .

I have all the DVDs, I can probably burn them for you or maybe lend them out.

Paranoia Agent is amazing but you CANNOT skip episodes or watch them out of order. That's all I (and anyone else who has seen it in its entirety) will say.

I can also promise you that you personally would love Serial Experiments Lain. It explains, well, everything. It's very interesting. It's also heavily cyber-punk-goth. Lain Iwakura is one of my favorite anime characters of all time. It has more symbolism and shrouded mystical metaphors that link up directly to science in it than most brains can handle. There are two types of people who DON'T love Lain: People who HEAVILY religious OR non-religious and people who simply cannot grasp the concept of it. They'll never show Lain on Adult Swim because it is too much and too deep for most Americans to handle .

Watch ALL of FLCL. Normally I don't tell people to watch things dubbed in English, but FLCL is one of those rare exceptions. There certain subtleties and nuances in the English version that are not expressed to our, erm, "understanding" fully in the subbed version. It's not a "heartfelt" and artsy.

You can watch all six episodes on www.veoh.com I believe. I'm sure you can also find them on Anime Freak.

Watch all six and come back to discuss! I can promise you will not be disappointed! It will change how you view people and social interactions between them. It's also the most ridiculous and glorified intergalactic-love-story known to mankind .

I have all the DVDs, I can probably burn them for you or maybe lend them out.

I can also promise you that you personally would love Serial Experiments Lain. It explains, well, everything. It's very interesting. It's also heavily cyber-punk-goth. Lain Iwakura is one of my favorite anime characters of all time. It has more symbolism and shrouded mystical metaphors that link up directly to science in it than most brains can handle. There are two types of people who DON'T love Lain: People who HEAVILY religious OR non-religious and people who simply cannot grasp the concept of it. They'll never show Lain on Adult Swim because it is too much and too deep for most Americans to handle .

Edited May 6, 2010 by Chernobyl

[Rev.Reverence]

I'll check it out...I have plenty of time tomorrow

{edit}

Oh, snaps...it's only 3 hours...

I will start after veggie store & finish be this time tomorrow, for certain...(note: my dork card, is not in danger, it's a tabletop card)

Edited May 6, 2010 by Rev.Reverence

[Destroit]

I'll check it out...I have plenty of time tomorrow

{edit}

Oh, snaps...it's only 3 hours...

I will start after veggie store & finish be this time tomorrow, for certain...(note: my dork card, is not in danger, it's a tabletop card)

Yes, that is what is so epic about FLCL; it is only six episodes. Trust me, not only is six episodes sufficient, they would ruin it by adding any more. It only needs six . I'll end it at that, don't want to give too much away.

Yes, that is what is so epic about FLCL; it is only six episodes. Trust me, not only is six episodes sufficient, they would ruin it by adding any more. It only needs six . I'll end it at that, don't want to give too much away.

[DJ Nocker]

It doesnt matter if you get FLCL's message...the anime sucked.

Sorry I hate most anime but the ones like FLCL are the worst. Although I wont lie, I am a fan of Excel Saga, its my guilty anime pleasure. probably because it makes fun of everything...like me lol

[freydis]

This is one of my favorite mindfuck animes.....

[Destroit]

It doesnt matter if you get FLCL's message...the anime sucked.

Sorry I hate most anime but the ones like FLCL are the worst. Although I wont lie, I am a fan of Excel Saga, its my guilty anime pleasure. probably because it makes fun of everything...like me lol

Why though? What didn't you like about it?

Why though? What didn't you like about it?

[Destroit]

This is one of my favorite mindfuck animes.....

Yeap!

Like I said in the original post. Fooly Cooly + Serial Experiments: Lain + Paranoia Agent = Trifecta of Mindfuck Anime.

Lain didn't take off in America as much as it should have because the concept is too abstract and deep for your average pie-in-the-face Family-Guy-Watching American to grasp.

Yeap!

Like I said in the original post. Fooly Cooly + Serial Experiments: Lain + Paranoia Agent = Trifecta of Mindfuck Anime.

Lain didn't take off in America as much as it should have because the concept is too abstract and deep for your average pie-in-the-face Family-Guy-Watching American to grasp.

[DJ Nocker]

Why though? What didn't you like about it?

It was trying to be pretentious in a comedic way which does not work.

S.E. Lain was alright though.

Edited May 6, 2010 by DJ Nocker

[Destroit]

It was trying to be pretentious in a comedic way which does not work.

S.E. Lain was alright though.

Point taken. The reason it was like that is because it's playing off of people's natural tendency towards being pretentious. It is a little too random and over the top for some people though. It's incredibly artsy though and has two of the best monologues in anime ever (one in the first episode from Samejima and one from Naota in the last episode). I also love the depth of the characters, but HATE Naota's dad .

Point taken. The reason it was like that is because it's playing off of people's natural tendency towards being pretentious. It is a little too random and over the top for some people though. It's incredibly artsy though and has two of the best monologues in anime ever (one in the first episode from Samejima and one from Naota in the last episode). I also love the depth of the characters, but HATE Naota's dad .

[pomba gira]

Have never watched Serial Experiments Lain or Paranoia Agent... well, I saw one episode of the latter but didn't watch more 'cos I wanted to see it from the beginning, and still haven't got around to it. Anyway, FLCL has to be watched, re-watched, and meditated upon. If you don't have the patience to do this... if it doesn't catch you on the first viewing so you WANT to do this... most of it will be lost on you. Personally, I love it. And the soundtrack is awesome... it's my "get your lazy ass moving" music of choice. I usually hate "coming of age" stories, but FLCL transcends the genre in a variety of amazing ways.

[n0Mad]

It's been a long time since I've seen FLCL. It wasn't really my thing. Lain on the other hand, loved it! It is deep, but not too hard to grasp. Well, I got it anyway. Haven't seen Paranoia Agent yet, but it's on my list.

I will agree with Nocker though, Excel Saga is one of the best anime series of all times. It's the one that got me into anime to begin with.

[DJ Nocker]

Point taken. The reason it was like that is because it's playing off of people's natural tendency towards being pretentious. It is a little too random and over the top for some people though. It's incredibly artsy though and has two of the best monologues in anime ever (one in the first episode from Samejima and one from Naota in the last episode). I also love the depth of the characters, but HATE Naota's dad .

See I loooove artsy stuff, I just didnt dig FLCL... Or any animated show that tries to be deep/meaningful/whatever.

[Eevee]

I haven't seen the whole FLCL series in a few years. So I can't give the best input.

[n0Mad]

I've always seen it referenced: Furi Kuri

[Eevee]

I've always seen it referenced: Furi Kuri

Its both.

[f0rged]

This is one of my favorite mindfuck animes.....

Definately my all-time favorite anime. I have two lain dolls that used to sit in my back window (one being her school uniform and the other her pajamas, hehe)

[Rev.Reverence]

Yes, that is what is so epic about FLCL; it is only six episodes. Trust me, not only is six episodes sufficient, they would ruin it by adding any more. It only needs six . I'll end it at that, don't want to give too much away.

Seen...stories don't HAVE to be 80 hours long all the time...look at AKIRA...

Anyway, FLCL has to be watched, re-watched, and meditated upon. If you don't have the patience to do this... if it doesn't catch you on the first viewing so you WANT to do this... most of it will be lost on you. Personally, I love it. And the soundtrack is awesome... it's my "get your lazy ass moving" music of choice. I usually hate "coming of age" stories, but FLCL transcends the genre in a variety of amazing ways.

I got that after episode 3...because, I missed 5 minutes as peoples arrived...this'll take a few watchings for sure...

[pomba gira]

I've always seen it referenced: Furi Kuri

Its both.

'cos, you know, a soft /r/ sounds like an /l/ to coarse American ears...

[Az_]

Ok... thats it... I am starting up Anime night one way or the other. I have full sets of FLCL and Lain... Paranoia Agent not so much... that one just didn't do it for me. Got tons of other Anime but those two are definitely worth while... OOOhhhhh Elfin Lied... thats another one that can mess you up.... yeah.... ooooooohhhhh.

[Eevee]

I haz a list of anime series I am planning on getting. The first being Shin Chan closely followed by Witch Hunter Robin and then Samurai Champloo (with some more following that).

[Az_]

I haz a list of anime series I am planning on getting. The first being Shin Chan closely followed by Witch Hunter Robin and then Samurai Champloo (with some more following that).

Errrr.... Shin Chan is one of the longest running series around... You gonna be busy for a long time... Plus... a lil Shin goes a long way...

Witch Hunter .... coolish.

Champloo... very cool. Have... I think. Not so much Mindfuck... but definitely trying a new style... It didn't go over very well in Japan... They were kind of sick of Samurai shows over there. Which is unfortunate cuz it was a good show. If it wasn't for its popularity over seas it would have been canned after the first season.

[freydis]