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[img]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/f/fe/FLCL_image.jpg/230px-FLCL_image.jpg[/img]
Title - FLCL (フリクリ)
Genre(s) - Action, Comedy, Dementia, Mecha, Parody, Sci-Fi
Studio(s) - Gainax, Production I.G
Episodes - 6
Episode Length - 25 min. per episode
Rating - PG-13 - Teens 13 or older
Airing Date - Apr 26, 2000 to Mar 16, 2001
Airing Status - Finished Airing
On Crunchyroll? -
No
Synopsis
Naota is a normal Japanese 6th grade boy (although a little cynical), but when his older brother leaves for America to play baseball, his brother leaves his homeless 17 year old girlfriend Mamimi behind. Mamimi is sending mixed signals and advances to Naota, and he doesn't know what to do about her. But to make matters worse, Naota's world is totally turned upside down when he is run over by a woman on a Vespa. During their first encounter, she hits him over the head with her bass guitar, which then causes a horn to grow out of his forehead. She calls herself "Haruko" and her presence changes Naota's life to even further insanity.
Characters
Haruko "Vespa woman, Raharu, Haru" Haruhara
Haruko Haruhara, 19 (or so she claims), is an energetic, spontaneous pink-haired girl from outer-space and investigator for the Galactic Space Patrol Brotherhood/Stellar Fraternity. Mamimi observes that she looks at least twenty years old but, considering that she is of an unknown alien species, neither Mamimi nor the viewer has a relevant frame of reference. She rides a yellow Piaggio Vespa (and is also known as The Wasp Woman, a pun on the word Vespa, which means wasp) and wields a blue, upside down strung, right-handed (but she is left-handed) Rickenbacker bass guitar model 4001 (similar to the 4001 used by Paul McCartney, whom she mentions in Episode 5), with a pull-cord motor on the back, as a bizarre weapon of sorts. Her guitar is able to shoot bullets, act as a rocket launcher, fly, and is used several times to open an N.O. channel in Naota's forehead.
Naota "Takkun" Nandaba
Twelve-year-old Naota Nandaba is the main character. His name is derived from the Japanese word for "honesty" and his father named him Naota because of that (Fooly Cooly). Unbeknownst to him, he has the "right kind of head" to be used as an N.O. channel. He is obsessed with appearing mature and attempts to act nonchalant. This is most expressed in his monologues which open and close each episode where he continues to claims that "nothing amazing ever happens here" despite the show's surreal and often absurd happenings. Naota idolizes his older brother Tasuku, carrying around Tasuku's baseball bat, and even hanging out with Tasuku's old girlfriend Mamimi. In Naota's mind, Tasuku is the epitome of what it means to be an adult, as opposed to the other adults in his life (e.g. his father, his grandfather, and his teacher) who he perceives as being immature. Much like Amarao, Naota is picky about his drinks (disliking drinks which are sour, bitter, or contain pulp) and hates spicy foods (note thought, he is told to "cut back on the sour drinks" by Amarao). His guitar is the Gibson Flying V which Haruko pulls out of his head in the fourth episode.
Mamimi Samejima
Mamimi Samejima, 17, was Tasuku's girlfriend, though she hits on Naota since his brother left Japan. She is a truant high school student with pyromaniacal tendencies; she also smokes a lot and spends most of her time under a bridge. She is often seen with a camera, and was once seen smoking worn cigarette with "Never Knows Best" written onto the paper.
She has the peculiar tendency to name people and things "Ta-kun (Or sometimes simply spelled as Takkun)," after her personal nickname for Naota's brother (and Naota himself). The "-kun" suffix is an informal and intimate honorific primarily used when addressing males of equal or junior status. Mamimi is likely using Naota as a substitute for Tasuku and therefore refers to him as "Ta-kun" which can be short for both Naota and Tasuku. (Naota is well-aware of the similarity between his nickname and his brother's name.) Mamimi also calls Tasuku "Tasuku-sempai" since he is an older classmate.
Tails' Opinion
Well, FLCL is somewhat of a cult classic around AA. If youve seen it I would say this is like the Pulp Fiction of anime. The literal story makes no sense really. The story is really as good as the symbolism you can pull out of it. The story itself is good but not great. There really isnt a lot to say because the show doesnt really make a lot of sense, which kinda turns me off of it. Its not bad, it just doesnt make a whole lot of sense. But, like I said, its about how you perceive everything. There is 10 different ways you can view the story but I have to rate whats literally on the screen, so I will say that its alright, but the potential is endless.
I give the story a 7/10
So the characters, the real foundation to any show in my opinion, are great. Haruko is outrageously dynamic. Naota is incredibly realistic, personality wise. Mamimi is hilarious and realistic. But as great as the characters are alone, they have to have a dynamic. Luckily, FLCL doesnt fail here. The dynamic the characters have is just that, dynamic. You can never guess how the characters are going to react to each other and you will always be entertained. Now usually, when the main characters are so good, you see a lack of development and thought put into the supporting cast. For the most part that isnt the case. The supporting cast only really do one thing though. When the main characters are getting on a serious note, one of the supporting cast members provide comic relief. When there seems to be a slight lull in the show, another member of the supporting cast members adds a slight feeling of mystery. Other than that though, the supporting cast is a little simple. They do what they are supposed to do, they do their job. That isnt a bad thing though. Just keeps it from perfection.
I give the characters a 9/10.
There isnt really a massive amount to be said about the art because its all praise. I'll keep it short and simple. The art was simple and innovative all at the same time. The characters artwork and action seems were solid. The background was beautiful. Overall, great. I cant fault a show for its release date, so although Im not a fan of older art its not a fault. The art is pretty much perfect for a show that is 14 years old.
I give the art an 10/10.
Overall, FLCL is really enjoyable. If you are watching the show, taking it a face value and dont want to critically think and take it for what it is, its a great show and youll enjoy it. If you want to really analyze the show, try to find every bit of symbolism and pick it apart. Youll enjoy it. Sadly, because the characters werent perfect and the story wasnt perfect I cant give this show a 10/10. I dont think its a 10 honestly. I feel its a little over hyped because, like I said, its a cult classic that I feel some people only like and recommend it because other rave about it. But enjoyment wise, great show. A little confusing at times if you look away or maybe even just miss something which keeps it from a perfect score enjoyment wise. Just know that honestly, this is a 9 that is as close to a 10 as it gets. But I have to be subjective.
In terms of enjoyment I give it a 9/10
Programmargorp's Opinion
Hello and welcome to another entry in the Series Highlight of AA Weekly. Joining me today (or perhaps me joining) we have Tails and his (probably) usual appraisal while I sit here and surprisingly praise a series for once!
From the director of the Evangelion rebuild films and one of my favourite studios of all time, we have a blast to the past this week with Gainax’s FLCL. Now, FLCL comes along as one of the weirder series that I should be bashing hard, but doesn’t come off as such.
So let’s start with the story of FLCL. Wait, there’s a story?
Basically, some dude gets whacked in the head by a guitar and starts sprouting crap from his head.
Yes, that is the legit synopsis of the story.
There isn’t really much to say in terms of the story for this series since there pretty much isn’t one.
Story wise, I generously rate this a 3/10
Onto the characters, they were actually done pretty well. In fact, this series actually had some of the better characters I’ve seen in pretty much any series. There honestly isn’t much to say besides the fact that the characters were above average.
Character wise I rate this a 6/10
Now, since this series was released back in the 2000s, I can’t exactly judge the art by today’s standards, nor can I judge it by year 2000’s standards considering I haven’t seen enough old stuff yet. However I’ll say that the art style is pretty nice.
Since I have nothing to compare against,
I’ll skip scoring that section today.
Now, onto enjoyment, that’s where FLCL really shines. If you look at this series from an objective point of view, it’s a massive piece of crap; the whole thing is pretty much a cluster of crap that doesn’t make sense. Switch that view to a subjective one and you end up with one of the most enjoyable shows I’ve watched in a while. Words don’t really do the enjoyment justice.
Seriously, I just enjoyed this series so much that I had to.
Enjoyment wise, I rate this a 10/10.
As usual, I'll wrap up this review with some finishing words. Namely, should you watch this series?
My answer, yes. Seriously, if you have any enjoyment with Gurren Lagann or Kill la Kill, it's about time you watched FLCL. Also, if you enjoy anything that features over the top action plus a story that makes no sense, but is awesome regardless, FLCL is for you.
Tails' Rating 9/10
Programmargorp's Rating 9/10
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Title - Owari no Seraph
Genre(s)- Drama, Shounen, Vampire, Supernatural
Chapters currently released - 24
Author – Takaya Kagami
Artist(s) – Yamato Yamamoto
Released - Sep 3, 2012 to ?
Status - Ongoing
Synopsis
One day, a mysterious virus appeared on Earth which killed every infected human over the age of 13. At the same time, vampires emerged from the world's dark recesses and enslaved mankind. Enter Hyakuya Yuuichirou, a young boy, who along with the rest of the children from his orphanage, are treated as livestock by the vampires. Even in captivity, Yuuichirou dreams big. He dreams of killing vampires. He dreams of killing them all.
Characters
Doesn't he look like a pokemon trainer here?
Yuuichirou "Yuu" Hyakuya
Yuuichirou Hyakuya is a member of Japanese Imperial Demon Army's Demon Moon Squad and the main protagonist of the Owari no Seraph series.
He was abandoned by his parents since he was a child and he ended up at Hyakuya Orphanage. Since then, the kids of this orphanage were his only family. A bit after while he was still a child, the vampires took him and the rest of the orphanage to their city to become "livestock." After Michaela gets possession of a map of the underground, both of them decide to escape the place with the rest of the children of the orphanage. However it is revealed that is was all a plan of Felid Bathory, one the Seven Founder, and the attempt to escape is frustrated leading to death of all the family except for him. After getting to the outside world he is found by Glen Ichinose, a captain of the Japanese Imperial Demon Army. In order to take revenge for his family, he decides to join the Japanese Imperial Demon Army to gain the power he needs.
Shinoa Hiiragi
Shinoa Hīragi is a member of Japanese Imperial Demon Army's Demon Moon Squad who was appointed to supervise Yuuichirou Hyakuya during his punishment.
Btw this is a boy, hard to tell in some of his tiles...
Michaela "Mika" Hyakuya
Mikaela Hyakuya is a deuteragonist (this is actually a word believe it or not… I googled it) of the Owari no Seraph series. Once a human, Michaela was turned against his will into a vampire.
Vandie’s Opinion
The story is well written even if it is one of your more slightly generic revenge plots. The first chapter sets the scene brilliantly and allows you to fully understand Yuu’s motives. Then you get out of that first chapter and you get a decent build up chapter or two before getting you to something you may or may not see coming.
I’ll be giving the story a rather impressive 7/10
The character’s themselves are very built up even in the early chapters to a rather impressive point. Takaya Kagami Cirtenly did a good job making a main character who has a rather generic back story into a fairly interesting MC who I will enjoy reading about as I get further into the manga. The major side characters are also quite interesting. Ranging from Shinoa who on multiple occasions tells Yuu that the army recommends he loose his virginity and help to repopulate the earth, even making fun of him because he’s not lost ‘it’ yet, to Yoichi who acts like a whiny little bitch half the time and a young but collected student the other.
The characters although interesting do fit in to the stereotypical personalities so I have decided to give them a 6/10
I starting to think that I will never be forced to review anything with bad art as this is yet another manga with better than average art. The nicest art I saw in this manga would probably be the more cinematic tiles that show the vampire city or the school where Yuu goes. Even if the characters do have a relatively standard but nice looking style the cinematic tiles certainly raise the rating of the art in Owari no Seraph.
The art was defiantly deserving of this 7/10
Overall it is certainly a good manga that I can definitively say I will continue reading with little to no uncertainty. I have loved reading this even if it isn’t one of the highest rated manga I have reviewed thanks to the interesting characters and brilliant story.
Overall Owari no Seraph receives a rather good 7/10.
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