It's not hard to understand. Forget the symbolism for a minute: 1. Haruka is a galactic cop searching for Atomsk, the pirate king. She's supposed to apprehend him, but secretly she wants to devour his life force, which would make her something like a demigod. 2. Medical Mechanica, an alien empire/corporation has captured Atomsk & is holding him in a "factory" on Earth, which is in fact some kind of weapon they plan on using soon. 3. Haruka plans to teleport him out by turning someone's head into a portal. She finds a perfect candidate in Naota Mandaba, an elementary school kid. She must whack him in the forehead with her bass guitar to activate the portal. 4. Medical Mechanica tries to thwart her by sending giant robots through his forehead. 5. Atomsk is able to somehow project his lifeforce into Canti---a captured MM robot, whenever it "devours" Naota. This combo is used to fight off the MM robots. 6. Amaro & Kitsurabame are agents of some secret Earth organization trying to fight both MM AND Haruka. They are on to Haruka's plan to devour Atomsk. The rest is teenage shenanigans, neurotic adults, random symbolism, sexually-loaded sight gags & Japanese pop culture references. Oh, and some of the most amazing animation you will ever see.
This is something hella important! In Aki's 'everything you didn't know' for FLCL I tried to point out how the drinks symbolize more than she noted - or, less, kindof? Being okay with being a kid, understanding the pace at which you should mature, and accepting your own preferences as parts of yourself over social influence are all parts of growing up in and of themselves.
+Korey Nedza I think the adults in the series act extremely childlike, and it makes you wonder what lies in the future for naota. Are adults just playing out or replaying events of their adolescence over and over in different ways trying to fill voids that were made, and paper over the significant cracks? Is there a redemption out there? This to me is flcl.
I discovered this anime when I was in hospital for some strange heart related issue. I didn't have cable, I didn't even have a computer so no internet. I first saw it then sitting in my hospital bed and wondering just what the hell this was. I liked the art style and I LOVED the music so in spite of my dad trying to get the remote from me I held tight and watched it. Pretty sure it was the last episode too because I remember Naota's dad saying about how hard it was to be in manga form. I asked my best friend about it and she told me about the show, we were still in high school and she had been watching adult swim for cowboy bebop and blue sub 6 so this was back in early 2000/2001 or so. But I'm rambling. This show brings me back to a very special summer in my life where I realized a lot of stuff about myself. I changed dramatically and it was one of the most profound years of my life. Seeing the show took me back to that special summer. One where I had genuine friends. Hung out with people my own age well after dark without my obsessively protective mother around. A time in my life where I actually felt like a person. Not a kid and not some "dumb teen". it was a time where I felt free to go out and do stuff by myself without anyone holding me back. Where I could have long, deep, thought provoking conversations about jack shit and stay out all night with someone I barely knew then wake up in the early morning and go do it all again. The last time I was truly free. Plus "Hybrid Rainbows" was the very first song I learned in Japanese. My school finally gained internet and I found a site not stopped by the school firewall where I could listen to that song on mp3. God the net was different 16 years ago.
For me, a lot of my interpretation of FLCL is based around the concept of morality and choice: ranging from spicy curry/ big noodle containers or mild curry/ trustable noodle brands,all the way to literally picking between what's good for others or yourself and the very concept of "bad" and "good" choices. What's especially amazing about this series to me is how no matter what, nothing is really stilted on one side of an issue or the other, nothing is obviously the "right" choice or the "wrong" decision. Even the episode where things aren't what they seem on face value regarding what Naota sees through the folding screen, eventually its shown in a more balanced light, giving a less stilted air about how the viewer should feel towards the situation as a whole. This doesn't just reinforce the previous feeling most might feel about what he saw and went through, and it doesn't just deny that feeling either to those that still felt stuck onto that initial feeling of betrayal and angry and even confusion. It's so open to interpretation not even the characters know how they feel about their situations half the time. Overall, this series is a big "what the fuck is going on" moment that never ends, which is the perfect homage to real life and growing up, but somehow, contrasting moments like the spicy curry and bread scene, or the first time we see Haruko beating the shit out of a big baddie with her rad guitar, or the tender hugging scene/s, or even the batshit crazy big eyebrows, all together make up one cohesive, digestible and satisfying series that I'm happy to see getting some major TLC it's way. Peace friends, stay weird.
Well said! The Guitar beating/s are actually what really, “turned Me on,” to this series; And, I feel you fully captured the essence of FLCL: Ultimately, leading Me to Understand that You, Sapphire, are truly a true Fan!!! Pillows!!! “Hybrid Rainbow,” She Is Perfect!!! God Bless you for Being You!!! ------------------ Musick!!!
Its one long sexual metaphor. The horns growing out of Naota's head are symbolic of erections, Haruko telling Nao to swing the bat is her way of telling him to take a chance and go for what he wants, he sees his father fucking Haruko and gets jealous becasue that is what he wants. It goes a bit deeper, in episode 3 Ninamori basically lays out the plot when she tells Nao about his character in her play. Haruko is using Nao to her own ends, she doesnt really think much of him but is using him to achieve her own goals, but Nao transcends that and takes the power for himself.
For me, the message I got out of the show was that everyone matures at different rates, and that it's okay to be more immature than the people around you, because that immaturity will blossom into something beautiful once you meet the right person.
God, I remember watching this when I was 10 (I'm turning 17 this year) and I was placed into Foster care, well I had to live with my aunt bcuz of family problems. She was always into anime, always trying to get me into anime like Death Note. But I'd stay up super late watching Bleach, F.M.A, Cow boy beep bop, then Fooly Cooly. I wouldn't say my life was shit at that time but it was better then what other kids had in the world. Whenever I saw the stupid Star Child pop up I knew it was F.L.C.L and the art work was wtf to me, everything was wtf to me, I was 10. But I have to say this anime helped me at that time, it helped me understand the situation I was in and growing up. Even now I still listen to The Pillows XD I never met anyone else irl that even knew of the anime but I'm happy to find this Chanel and knowing I'm not the only one who loves this just as much as I do. I'm also fucking hyped about the new seasons!!!
Just finished watching FLCL and your words of “accepting randomness” is basically why I think this show has the audience and a unique charm. A lot of relatability and parallels to our lives as we are born into and thrown this chaotic world. We shouldn’t really question it nor want to rushed out of it. Simply live in our youth and weirdness
Your whole explanation of why it is so loved is so spot on, I watched this when i was 14 and I connected with it so much exactly because of what you said. I didn't even realize exactly why it meant so much to me and hit me so hard but your explanation made it so clear and it was enlightening.
this was a beautifully done breakdown of my favourite show, I realize what a challenge it mustve been to talk about this anime in 5 minutes but you did it justice. Respect.
+jorja taylor One thing is always true. You wont know if you like it till you watch it. I loved it the first time I saw it and it's still one of my favorite anime of all time but I can understand how some will see the radically shifting visual styles as pure gimmick. Which it is. Oh so gimmicky goodness. Like sugar shot into your brain with a bazooka.
They way you explained FLCL was right on point and to honest this is one of the few animes that I love and has actually taught me that life can be difficult and unexpected but you just got to accept it and keep moving forward because tomorrow will be a brighter and better day but only if you want it to be.
missed this anime for the longest time so glad to hear its coming back. you're right about just sitting there late at night waiting for something to come on that's entertaining
I love flcl because it was random and funny i have never been able to understand a lot of it but found its portrayal of characters strangely relatable because i was experiencing similar things at the time
Hearing videos like this with such thought provoking interpretations are always lovely to hear I never saw flcl that way but then I again, my mind was not open enough but hey I will rewatch it maybe ill be surprised.
I'm so glad I watched this video bc I can finally appreciate it more as just watching it once really leaves you with this "what have I just watched" vibe.
FLCL is an exact reflection of an adolescent's frame of mind. It has everything a kids wants and experiences, but has no organization or cohesive train of thought. Just like when you were in sixth grade and you learn about algebra for the first time, you had no idea wtf is going with the letters a, b, x, and y. But assuming you had a fun teacher, you went along with it. Or if you had a shitty teacher, you daydreamed about random things before the class ended. There was no plot, but only a continuation of the next series of events. Much like how your childhood had no plot but just a series of events. However, I will still never finish this anime because it bored me half way through the third episode.
I haven't watched it fully in years, but I want to again soon. Even now, I still get this vague "innocence lost" feeling from it. It truly is one of my favorites. I'm heading off to college soon and I've been getting this vibe that I should watch it again to make me feel more comfortable in this life transition I am making. It really is bizarre that such a random and abstract series can bring out the same emotions in people. (also, this show made me want to get a yellow vespa).
when I was going through puberty i was really able to relate to this anime and understand each episode and finding it funny af from the uncontrollable boners to getting myself to drink coffee to become more mature trying to smoke being through relationships and when i finished watching it i realized how silly i was and tbh if i don't think i will be able to understand it the same way i did back then
Omg Aki's about to hit 300k!!! Also FLCL has a special place in my heart because of the way it relates to my experiences not all of it but in some in a way... (sorry if that sounds weird)
Wow, I literally watched this for the first time this week, having been saving it or a treat. I loved it so much and think I managed to follow it. Pure love.
Hi Aki! wanted to start by saying huge fan! now, Honestly? I think that the new seasons will be awesome! Yes its a new team, but honestly bringing in the original creator plus the broadcasting network that originally put FLCL on air makes this the best chance for new seasons that are on par if not better than the original. I loved everything the original gave me, and now it can be extended! I have the ability to fall in love with my favorite characters all over again! Hope you read this and enjoy just one perspective.
Good video. FLCL is my most beloved piece of media, and in my opinion one of the greatest things to ever grace our television sets. Also, you're right, the new season will be missing something dearly since The Pillows will likely not be reprising their role as the music that carries the show. But that's also why I'm excited! I'm positive that the new director is very much aware of the importance that the music had in FLCL, and for that reason, who says we can't be gifted with the next "The Pillows"? There's so much wonderful music in the Japanese underground scene that I'm sure we can stumble upon something really special.
Lol I remember when I was young, I was bored that I was switching channels randomly that night. When I appeared in toonami, I seen FLCL. I was like "wtf..?". It was so funny. When my mom came in, I quickly switched to Disney channel. She think I was suspicious about what I was watching. It was really random. FLCL is so funny xD
The thing is -- from start to finish it is in your face, spastic, has a robot with a Halo, and for the love of God - a protagonist wielding a bass guitar! I love your vids and I was so happy you covered this... TWICE! The fact it exists -- it IS a work of art. If we think back to our kids, how ODD were we all as kids, right? Keep up the great works!
I DIDNT EVEN KNOW THEY WERE MAKING MORE FLCL FUCKING YYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
Thank you, I now completely understand my first anime I ever watched and the first time I stayed up late. This has made me want to rewatch the series, now knowing the name of it.
Ahh I just finished FLCL a few days ago. Was so confused and overwhelmed and tried making sense of what seemed to be a nonsensical plot, BUT something in me was really intrigued by the show as a whole. I think it was mainly the animation and art style as well as the charismatic characters but I actually liked the show despite being so lost. Maybe I will give it a re-watch so I can understand and appreciate it more.
Regarding season2&3... The biggest question is, is there anything left to explore, thematically? Yes, the plot could go on, but does it have to? Could it make its point any clearer? Maybe (and I hope so), it'll be so radically different, shifting its narrative into unexplored territory. The second biggest question is, can they deliver more of FLCL with such poignant style?
From what I understand, it's not going to be a direct continuation of Naota's story. The focus will be on a teenage girl named Hitomi, who apparently has a very powerful N.O. channel, just like Naota. Haruko will be back, though, so there's that. I think it's for the better. Naota's story pretty much ended on a nice note, so there was no reason to go back to him.
I really felt this when i was in elementary school. I watched this series as a very young kid, always alone and stayed awake late on school nights. I always felt like i couldnt relate to anyone since my life went differently than all of my cousins and peers. Not sure what I’m trying to say, but this series always hit home. Always made me feel peaceful but sass
I feel like it's weird to nobody in the comments bring up how naota is realistically, being sexually abused and manipulated by both the prominent women in his life, and the show being by his PoV feels intentionally made to be easy for the audience to go along with it, but the theme becomes clearer as the show goes on.
one of my favorites. no one ever mentions the evil plot to iron flat all of the brain wrinkles throughout the universe. that is my favorite metaphor in the show. in my mind it speaks to the forced or guided molding of mentality through the coming of age process and those forced expectations you spoke of. i also loved the little nod to serial experiment lain, another one of my favorites. great work on your videos, love the humor, keep at it and stay well.
I absolutely adore FLCL. Not only is it my favorite anime, but my favorite piece of media period. I've probably seen it 30 or so times since first discovering it in '11 and I was able to figure out what it was about (or at least my interpretation) on the first viewing, but it did take me until Naota swung the 'bat' at the end of ep. 4 and when it finally dawned on me, I pretty much started crying because I related to it so much. I'm very skeptical of the new seasons, but also incredibly excited for them. I'm fully prepared for the episodes to suck, but I still can't wait to see them. I don't have a problem with those who say that they don't get it or even those who say that they hate it. It's incredibly weird and I actually appreciate the fact that it's so polarizing. The people who I take issue with are the ones who are apathetic about it. I can't understand how anyone can watch FLCL and not have a strong opinion about it one way or the other. I do have to disagree with your last statement about The Pillows. I love The Pillows. They're my second favorite recording artist, right after Jonathan Coulton and I love FLCL all the more for introducing me to their music. However, since it's a new chapter in the story, with a new protagonist, I think that it would be more appropriate for a new, younger band in the same genre to do the music. Personally, I'd like it to be either Kana-Boon or AKFG.
I saw FLCL when I was 12 or 13. I loved it and I saw a lot of myself in Naota and it actually taught me that it was normal for me to feel weird and uncomfortable with growing up. Ages 11-15 are the worst most uncomfortable times for everyone.
I saw this when I was in college and it just spoke to me because of everything that you said. Life is weird and sometimes it feels like the expectations you have to live up to are equally crazy, especially since no one told you about all of them when growing up. That being said, I think it ended really well and adding more seasons would ruin it for me.
I watched this anime in my sophomore year of college--which was a really rough time for me emotionally regarding having to grow up--so I myself was able to relate to it on that level you brought up. Everything in FLCL felt so out there and like nothing had any sense to it. But that's what being thrown into an adult life feels like. To me, FLCL can be interpreted to show how most young adults aren't properly prepared for the chaos that comes with growing up and exploring who you are as an individual as well as trying to figure out how you fit into the world. The hormones that fall into maturing and the irresponsibility of some adults really fit in with what I was feeling at the time. It's definitely an anime I'm glad I watched.
This show touched my soul. I felt lost before finding this show before I started high school. Once having watched it, it helped in some way. What sucks is once I finished I felt lost again like as if Haruko left me here on earth. Fucking love FLCL!
Yup, pretty much what I got from flcl. Just a growing up story, where the random shit resembles the feeling of randomness and chaos that you feel while growing up. I love this anime. Absolutely adore it. More then once I had to wipe a tear away because of it striking a personal chord with me. And fuck me, the music! Man, it fits perfectly. Yeah, I truly think it's a work of art I'm not that happy with a second or third season. My reason is simple: don't add more to 'perfection', you can only taint it. Of course I'll watch it and of course I hope that it'll be good. ...Insanely skeptical of that being the case, however
Oh wow. I loved FLCL back in the day, but the shows you mentioned run in alongside it in Adult Swim were during an airing that happened much later. My memories of FLCL are from the early 2000s -- 2003, I think? -- when Inuyasha was still airing new episodes. I think other anime like Kikaider, Lupin, and perhaps Blue Gender were airing at that time too. It just goes to show how some anime, no matter how old they are, remain at the forefront of popularity long after its conclusion. I'm glad it's getting another season. All my childhood favorites are making a glorious comeback! I'd love for Japan to keep up this momentum. I do have to say, however, it would be a dream if we ever got Outlaw Star to air again!
I didn't say this anime is bad, I'm just saying most good anime with only one season are really good that people start saying they want another season which usually ends up pretty bad. Don't assume next time.
Ok let me rephrase my comment then. I like FLCL a lot but I'm afraid that their 2nd season will be bad like most really good animes that went bad after their 2nd season.
For me, FLCL was a wild ride where I related to the swirling chaos and ever changing subjects. The interesting thing about it, though is that sometimes you can make it fun and interesting, even if just for a small moment, creating a memorable instance that you can look back at fondly as you move forward. That being said, I haven't looked into what'll be in the new seasons, but I just don't know how they'll continue it.
I want to thank you for this video. I watched Fooly Cooly when I was 13 and ended up with a love/hate relationship with it. I loved it because it was so random yet relatable, but I hated it because the rest of my friends didn't understand it and made fun it. Your video helped me rekindle my love for you his anime and I'm super pumped for the new seasons. Thank you.
Fooly Cooly left me with an odd feeling of satisfaction and craving for more. I felt like a glutton, filled with content but not finished, craving that little bit more. No anime has done those 2 things for me and I really hope that FLCl season 2 and 3 will deliver as much confusion and epicness that season1 did.
I don't think the people who don't understand FLCL or just outright refuse to admit that there's a plot aren't used to allegory. It's strange considering that a lot of popular, acclaimed anime (especially out of Gainax) jaunts forth into the often puzzling world of metaphor, but FLCL really lives and dies by its symbolism. Another thing is that FLCL for all its bombastic guitar whacking, forehead erection, robot on robot, alien vespa action, it really is extremely subtle. There is meaningful dialogue that slips by at moment's notice. The frame will focus in on facial expressions, slight twitches, and other small gestures only momentarily to match the tone of a scene, and it's far too easy to miss a lot even if you're watching it dubbed or are fluent in Japanese. Speaking of tone, it's integral. Characters say one thing but mean something else, and it's the tone of the scene that ends up really speaking the truth. No one's words can be taken at face value. "Nothing out of the ordinary happens here. Everything is perfectly normal." As if. Listening to the characters isn't enough. FLCL forces you to get to know them and understand their motivations and their emotions. After all, growing up and going through puberty is an emotional moment. Ironically part of the reason FLCL is so strange and off the wall is because it, much like growing up, is very irrational; that's just my opinion though. ONE LIFE~
Beautifully said , however there will always be people who don’t understand the plot of the implications , it’s too subtitle for them , like it was for us when we were kids , assuming you saw this show on adult swim. If once they do understand , it would be a really inspiring moment for them xD.
i is a masterpiece,and i dont think the new seasons will be as well made....they with probobly be good-but the origanal is amazing-if this new season(s)turns out as good as the first one i will be prestantly suprised! your amazing aki! keep doing what you doing!
This video was perfect for helping me discribe to a new comer exactly what the hell Fooly Cooly was. The beautiful phenomenon of brilliance and madness sewn together that still sits in my top 3 all time anime. Thanks
I have one more episode to watch of Fooly Cooly and I am very excited that there is going to be a season 2 and 3 :) And I had to watch five times to understand what is going on in the show :p and Aki your amazing!!!
I love staying up late watching this show fooly cooly was so random and crazy I love all of it down to the crazy eyebrow man cannot wait to see what they come up with I'm hoping it is going to be as good as the original
I enjoyed it but not because I ever got any meaning out of it. I related to some parts of it for sure but I think what I loved about it was the animation style [adore Gainax and Trigger] and just how strange everything was. Even though you could boil down characters into their schtick, they each still constantly surprised me and were very much unique characters. It was fun.
Fooly Cooly was the very first anime I ever fully watched. I would stay up late Saturday nights to see it come on Toonami. This anime is absolutely number one on my list. And will forever be. To be honest, I don't want this work of art to become mainstream or noticed by many. It deserves the best fan base, with people who truly enjoyed every minute of every episode. Oh the manga was great too. P.S. I will buy that moped one day. P.S.S. The Pillows got me into Japaneses music. "I think I Can." Makes me cry to this day.
Fooly Cooly is the ultimate level of randomness making it a work of art and also a allegory on the struggles and "transformations" we suffer when growing up especially in our teen years!
im with akidearest, I love FLCL and cant wait till the new seasons come out but im not gonna let the hype get to me with all the new and unknown stuff going into it.
the reason i loved this anime was because the art style was so gorgeous and even though the series was so random and there was so much going on i couldn't help but love it. i still have no idea what it really is about, though.
I just watched this series last week, over the course of 6 days, and I really liked it. Sometimes, I watch a movie or a series, and I immediately think to myself "Man, I need to watch that again!", and that's exactly what I thought after finishing up the 6th episode. That was for two reasons: 1. I felt I'd need to watch it again to pick up on more of the symbolism, background details, and foreshadowing, and 2. Because it just had that much charm & rewatch value, and 3. I simply liked it that much, despite not always being sure what was going on I think the main reason I liked it (besides the kick-ass soundtrack and animation, that is), is because it made for a very unique viewing experience, because my brain was constantly switching between "abstract art" mode and "wtf Japan randomness" mode constantly, and it feels like both ways of watching it just work. If I watched it on a relatively stress-free day, then I could pick up on the symbolism, background details, and general love put into the show, but on the other hand, if I watched it on a busier day, then I'd simply sit back and get lost in the show's weirdness. After watching it for the first time, I could go on for hours.
I actually just saw this anime recently on the recommendation of some friends, and even with a single viewing under my belt, I was definitely captured by the surreal atmosphere that enveloped the series. While not my favorite anime, I definitely really appreciate it.
It's not hard to understand. Forget the symbolism for a minute:
1. Haruka is a galactic cop searching for Atomsk, the pirate king. She's supposed to apprehend him, but secretly she wants to devour his life force, which would make her something like a demigod.
2. Medical Mechanica, an alien empire/corporation has captured Atomsk & is holding him in a "factory" on Earth, which is in fact some kind of weapon they plan on using soon.
3. Haruka plans to teleport him out by turning someone's head into a portal. She finds a perfect candidate in Naota Mandaba, an elementary school kid. She must whack him in the forehead with her bass guitar to activate the portal.
4. Medical Mechanica tries to thwart her by sending giant robots through his forehead.
5. Atomsk is able to somehow project his lifeforce into Canti---a captured MM robot, whenever it "devours" Naota. This combo is used to fight off the MM robots.
6. Amaro & Kitsurabame are agents of some secret Earth organization trying to fight both MM AND Haruka. They are on to Haruka's plan to devour Atomsk.
The rest is teenage shenanigans, neurotic adults, random symbolism, sexually-loaded sight gags & Japanese pop culture references.
Oh, and some of the most amazing animation you will ever see.
allyourmoney thank you
Thank you this is just what I was looking for
Not all heroes wear capes. Thanks dude
Thanks
but what about the other seasons
It is a masterpiece.
1. All of us feel lonely or lost
2. Life never prepares us. It falls on us randomly and how we respond will shape us.
too real.
Ya’ll need to go outside.
fooly cooly is also equally about NOT growing up and not becoming mature.
This is something hella important! In Aki's 'everything you didn't know' for FLCL I tried to point out how the drinks symbolize more than she noted - or, less, kindof? Being okay with being a kid, understanding the pace at which you should mature, and accepting your own preferences as parts of yourself over social influence are all parts of growing up in and of themselves.
+Korey Nedza
I think the adults in the series act extremely childlike, and it makes you wonder what lies in the future for naota. Are adults just playing out or replaying events of their adolescence over and over in different ways trying to fill voids that were made, and paper over the significant cracks? Is there a redemption out there? This to me is flcl.
They draw contrast by having the adults act shamelessly like kids while the kids strive to be more mature and be involved in more mature things.
That sounds low key boring
@@vraisairs9201 wrong
Haruko and Mr. Eyebrows blatantly tell the general story the whole time, it's just that you don't know if they are lying.
But the question is. What is fooly and cooly?!?
Kon-neko Eldeen sex?
It’s furi kuri Check wiki
In spanish actualy is Fury Cury
It's that foolie coolie, ya know coolie foolie foolie coolie kinda coolie foolie it's foolie coooooooooolllliiieeee.
Kon-neko Eldeen who cares if its fooly or if its cooly
I discovered this anime when I was in hospital for some strange heart related issue. I didn't have cable, I didn't even have a computer so no internet.
I first saw it then sitting in my hospital bed and wondering just what the hell this was. I liked the art style and I LOVED the music so in spite of my dad trying to get the remote from me I held tight and watched it. Pretty sure it was the last episode too because I remember Naota's dad saying about how hard it was to be in manga form.
I asked my best friend about it and she told me about the show, we were still in high school and she had been watching adult swim for cowboy bebop and blue sub 6 so this was back in early 2000/2001 or so.
But I'm rambling. This show brings me back to a very special summer in my life where I realized a lot of stuff about myself. I changed dramatically and it was one of the most profound years of my life. Seeing the show took me back to that special summer. One where I had genuine friends. Hung out with people my own age well after dark without my obsessively protective mother around. A time in my life where I actually felt like a person. Not a kid and not some "dumb teen". it was a time where I felt free to go out and do stuff by myself without anyone holding me back. Where I could have long, deep, thought provoking conversations about jack shit and stay out all night with someone I barely knew then wake up in the early morning and go do it all again.
The last time I was truly free.
Plus "Hybrid Rainbows" was the very first song I learned in Japanese. My school finally gained internet and I found a site not stopped by the school firewall where I could listen to that song on mp3. God the net was different 16 years ago.
this comment feels like a dream thought this was posted some 2-3 years ago this being seven years old makes it even idk what to say damn
For me, a lot of my interpretation of FLCL is based around the concept of morality and choice: ranging from spicy curry/ big noodle containers or mild curry/ trustable noodle brands,all the way to literally picking between what's good for others or yourself and the very concept of "bad" and "good" choices. What's especially amazing about this series to me is how no matter what, nothing is really stilted on one side of an issue or the other, nothing is obviously the "right" choice or the "wrong" decision.
Even the episode where things aren't what they seem on face value regarding what Naota sees through the folding screen, eventually its shown in a more balanced light, giving a less stilted air about how the viewer should feel towards the situation as a whole. This doesn't just reinforce the previous feeling most might feel about what he saw and went through, and it doesn't just deny that feeling either to those that still felt stuck onto that initial feeling of betrayal and angry and even confusion. It's so open to interpretation not even the characters know how they feel about their situations half the time.
Overall, this series is a big "what the fuck is going on" moment that never ends, which is the perfect homage to real life and growing up, but somehow, contrasting moments like the spicy curry and bread scene, or the first time we see Haruko beating the shit out of a big baddie with her rad guitar, or the tender hugging scene/s, or even the batshit crazy big eyebrows, all together make up one cohesive, digestible and satisfying series that I'm happy to see getting some major TLC it's way. Peace friends, stay weird.
Well said. :-)
Well said!
The Guitar beating/s are actually what really, “turned Me on,” to this series; And, I feel you fully captured the essence of FLCL: Ultimately, leading Me to Understand that You, Sapphire, are truly a true Fan!!!
Pillows!!!
“Hybrid Rainbow,” She Is Perfect!!!
God Bless you for Being You!!!
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Musick!!!
Holy shit your channel has grown so much. I saved this video a couple years ago and just came back to it to listen again. Congrats I'm glad
tbh I still don't understand it
rsvp jcp Same
Its one long sexual metaphor. The horns growing out of Naota's head are symbolic of erections, Haruko telling Nao to swing the bat is her way of telling him to take a chance and go for what he wants, he sees his father fucking Haruko and gets jealous becasue that is what he wants. It goes a bit deeper, in episode 3 Ninamori basically lays out the plot when she tells Nao about his character in her play. Haruko is using Nao to her own ends, she doesnt really think much of him but is using him to achieve her own goals, but Nao transcends that and takes the power for himself.
nathan papp xD
Still dont get it
For me, the message I got out of the show was that everyone matures at different rates, and that it's okay to be more immature than the people around you, because that immaturity will blossom into something beautiful once you meet the right person.
God, I remember watching this when I was 10 (I'm turning 17 this year) and I was placed into Foster care, well I had to live with my aunt bcuz of family problems. She was always into anime, always trying to get me into anime like Death Note. But I'd stay up super late watching Bleach, F.M.A, Cow boy beep bop, then Fooly Cooly. I wouldn't say my life was shit at that time but it was better then what other kids had in the world. Whenever I saw the stupid Star Child pop up I knew it was F.L.C.L and the art work was wtf to me, everything was wtf to me, I was 10. But I have to say this anime helped me at that time, it helped me understand the situation I was in and growing up. Even now I still listen to The Pillows XD I never met anyone else irl that even knew of the anime but I'm happy to find this Chanel and knowing I'm not the only one who loves this just as much as I do. I'm also fucking hyped about the new seasons!!!
I love FLCL.
Bebop*.
And yeh i agree with everything you said
now u are 22(age)
i hope u did well in your life
@@sarimabbas4559 thinking the same thing
Your comment is 6 years old. So we're the same age. I turn 24 next week.
"Those Eyebrows..."
I know right... Just like Rock Lee 😌 awesomeness
@@skotttownzend6931 except rock lee's are real. and rock lee is a real man. unlike this pathetic doof
Just finished watching FLCL and your words of “accepting randomness” is basically why I think this show has the audience and a unique charm. A lot of relatability and parallels to our lives as we are born into and thrown this chaotic world. We shouldn’t really question it nor want to rushed out of it. Simply live in our youth and weirdness
They better bring back the pillows. That ending song is what kept me going
+SouL Animation
+akidearest i love your anime character of you i think it suits you well. your so adorable!
"Season two and three is nothing without the pillows." -Aki
I COMPLETELY AGREE! The music made FLCL's most feel stabbing moments amazing to me.
I just enjoyed it. that's it
Your whole explanation of why it is so loved is so spot on, I watched this when i was 14 and I connected with it so much exactly because of what you said. I didn't even realize exactly why it meant so much to me and hit me so hard but your explanation made it so clear and it was enlightening.
I watched this when I was 9 and I had no idea what the fuck was going on
me to
this was a beautifully done breakdown of my favourite show, I realize what a challenge it mustve been to talk about this anime in 5 minutes but you did it justice. Respect.
I just hope The Pillows will return with the new seasons!
Fooly Cooly looks nice I might watch it
same
do it
+jorja taylor One thing is always true. You wont know if you like it till you watch it. I loved it the first time I saw it and it's still one of my favorite anime of all time but I can understand how some will see the radically shifting visual styles as pure gimmick. Which it is. Oh so gimmicky goodness. Like sugar shot into your brain with a bazooka.
Be prepared, when she says fast paced she should've said hyper-pace. Think Excel Saga, Kill La Kill, & even Gurran Lagann to a point...
+jorja taylor you haven't lived until you watched it
Fooly Cooly was my first anime and tbh I always thought of it as a metaphor for puberty
+Raven Marks Because it is.
The chaos and the emotions, they surpisingly work together
I fucking love FLCL ,. It's what brought me back into watching anime lol. So much teenage angst I love it.
They way you explained FLCL was right on point and to honest this is one of the few animes that I love and has actually taught me that life can be difficult and unexpected but you just got to accept it and keep moving forward because tomorrow will be a brighter and better day but only if you want it to be.
I really only watched 0:08-0:09.
missed this anime for the longest time so glad to hear its coming back. you're right about just sitting there late at night waiting for something to come on that's entertaining
I love flcl because it was random and funny i have never been able to understand a lot of it but found its portrayal of characters strangely relatable because i was experiencing similar things at the time
i had a whole vlog for this but akiderest put it in perfect words i cant come close to
"it's my favorite anime" I think I'm in love 😍
Hearing videos like this with such thought provoking interpretations are always lovely to hear I never saw flcl that way but then I again, my mind was not open enough but hey I will rewatch it maybe ill be surprised.
one of my all time favorites and ive seen it like 30 times and yeah the pillows have to be apart of season 2 and 3
0
I'm so glad I watched this video bc I can finally appreciate it more as just watching it once really leaves you with this "what have I just watched" vibe.
FLCL is an exact reflection of an adolescent's frame of mind. It has everything a kids wants and experiences, but has no organization or cohesive train of thought. Just like when you were in sixth grade and you learn about algebra for the first time, you had no idea wtf is going with the letters a, b, x, and y. But assuming you had a fun teacher, you went along with it. Or if you had a shitty teacher, you daydreamed about random things before the class ended.
There was no plot, but only a continuation of the next series of events. Much like how your childhood had no plot but just a series of events.
However, I will still never finish this anime because it bored me half way through the third episode.
Ezra Zurita there doesn’t have to be a plot to have a good time. Just like FLCL
i love the art style it carries your eye no matter how much you want to change it and couldnt change it
pillows just released an new albumn a few days ago btw.
I haven't watched it fully in years, but I want to again soon. Even now, I still get this vague "innocence lost" feeling from it. It truly is one of my favorites.
I'm heading off to college soon and I've been getting this vibe that I should watch it again to make me feel more comfortable in this life transition I am making. It really is bizarre that such a random and abstract series can bring out the same emotions in people.
(also, this show made me want to get a yellow vespa).
when I was going through puberty i was really able to relate to this anime and understand each episode and finding it funny af
from the uncontrollable boners to getting myself to drink coffee to become more mature trying to smoke being through relationships and when i finished watching it i realized how silly i was and tbh if i don't think i will be able to understand it the same way i did back then
Omg Aki's about to hit 300k!!! Also FLCL has a special place in my heart because of the way it relates to my experiences not all of it but in some in a way... (sorry if that sounds weird)
"Leave the wrinkles in" is way more profound than most people would probably guess.
Wow, I literally watched this for the first time this week, having been saving it or a treat. I loved it so much and think I managed to follow it. Pure love.
I haven't seen fooly cooly but it sounds really good
yus
It's amazing
+Isaiah Conover Same. Might watch it.
watch it
adderx3 K.
Hi Aki! wanted to start by saying huge fan! now, Honestly? I think that the new seasons will be awesome! Yes its a new team, but honestly bringing in the original creator plus the broadcasting network that originally put FLCL on air makes this the best chance for new seasons that are on par if not better than the original. I loved everything the original gave me, and now it can be extended! I have the ability to fall in love with my favorite characters all over again! Hope you read this and enjoy just one perspective.
Good video. FLCL is my most beloved piece of media, and in my opinion one of the greatest things to ever grace our television sets.
Also, you're right, the new season will be missing something dearly since The Pillows will likely not be reprising their role as the music that carries the show.
But that's also why I'm excited! I'm positive that the new director is very much aware of the importance that the music had in FLCL, and for that reason, who says we can't be gifted with the next "The Pillows"? There's so much wonderful music in the Japanese underground scene that I'm sure we can stumble upon something really special.
It was announced that The Pillows would be returning
DManVI I saw that! It's super exciting, hopefully season 2 will do the original justice.
I hope you're right, I really do
Theres quite a lot to say about FLCL, it really is a masterpiece, pretty much everything about it defys whats expected of the medium.
Lol I remember when I was young, I was bored that I was switching channels randomly that night. When I appeared in toonami, I seen FLCL. I was like "wtf..?". It was so funny. When my mom came in, I quickly switched to Disney channel. She think I was suspicious about what I was watching. It was really random. FLCL is so funny xD
.-.
When i was younger i would just keep the channels up.... I had no shame
The thing is -- from start to finish it is in your face, spastic, has a robot with a Halo, and for the love of God - a protagonist wielding a bass guitar! I love your vids and I was so happy you covered this... TWICE! The fact it exists -- it IS a work of art. If we think back to our kids, how ODD were we all as kids, right? Keep up the great works!
FLCL season 2 and 3?! I literally just started tearing up. Nothing gives me the feels like classic fooly cooly
+Chrexter When is season 2 and 3 coming out?!?!?!
+Angel Locklear I've read it's going to be late 2017
+Chrexter Damn so long
+Chrexter thanks for telling me when gonna go cry for the new seASONS-
I just liked the animation and the fast paced action and battling with robots. I don't think its that much of a masterpiece. nice vid.
I DIDNT EVEN KNOW THEY WERE MAKING MORE FLCL
FUCKING YYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
+ildiran
calm down
+Clara Randles NEVAR!
Thank you, I now completely understand my first anime I ever watched and the first time I stayed up late. This has made me want to rewatch the series, now knowing the name of it.
Love this anime
Ahh I just finished FLCL a few days ago. Was so confused and overwhelmed and tried making sense of what seemed to be a nonsensical plot, BUT something in me was really intrigued by the show as a whole. I think it was mainly the animation and art style as well as the charismatic characters but I actually liked the show despite being so lost. Maybe I will give it a re-watch so I can understand and appreciate it more.
Regarding season2&3... The biggest question is, is there anything left to explore, thematically? Yes, the plot could go on, but does it have to? Could it make its point any clearer? Maybe (and I hope so), it'll be so radically different, shifting its narrative into unexplored territory.
The second biggest question is, can they deliver more of FLCL with such poignant style?
From what I understand, it's not going to be a direct continuation of Naota's story. The focus will be on a teenage girl named Hitomi, who apparently has a very powerful N.O. channel, just like Naota. Haruko will be back, though, so there's that. I think it's for the better. Naota's story pretty much ended on a nice note, so there was no reason to go back to him.
+gothicMCRgirl why the fuck is the story not following naota fuck this new girl
+Warriors still won't win thank you for agreeing
I've never seen the show let alone heard of it but now I'm thinking of watching it because of this episode of your RUclips channel
I would disembowel myself in front of a pizza hut if aki replies
LMFAOO
BM Rave my love for aki is not a joke neither is my love for pizza hut
I guess she didn't☺️😏😶
That feel when senpai hasn't noticed you...
Mai Silver good thing she didn't because I'd be deaded
I really felt this when i was in elementary school. I watched this series as a very young kid, always alone and stayed awake late on school nights. I always felt like i couldnt relate to anyone since my life went differently than all of my cousins and peers. Not sure what I’m trying to say, but this series always hit home. Always made me feel peaceful but sass
No Pillows no FLCL.
This is why is subbed! Insightful commentary and an introduction to new stuff i never heard about.
1:57 NOSTALGIA!
I feel like it's weird to nobody in the comments bring up how naota is realistically, being sexually abused and manipulated by both the prominent women in his life, and the show being by his PoV feels intentionally made to be easy for the audience to go along with it, but the theme becomes clearer as the show goes on.
Pillows in season 2 and 3 confirmed.
The very first time I watched FLCL, it confused the hell out of me. Now, I know. Thank chu, Aki! :3
Wait, they're making more FLCL? ???? ?
Trill Gates yep
SHIT YEA
one of my favorites. no one ever mentions the evil plot to iron flat all of the brain wrinkles throughout the universe. that is my favorite metaphor in the show. in my mind it speaks to the forced or guided molding of mentality through the coming of age process and those forced expectations you spoke of. i also loved the little nod to serial experiment lain, another one of my favorites. great work on your videos, love the humor, keep at it and stay well.
I absolutely adore FLCL. Not only is it my favorite anime, but my favorite piece of media period. I've probably seen it 30 or so times since first discovering it in '11 and I was able to figure out what it was about (or at least my interpretation) on the first viewing, but it did take me until Naota swung the 'bat' at the end of ep. 4 and when it finally dawned on me, I pretty much started crying because I related to it so much. I'm very skeptical of the new seasons, but also incredibly excited for them. I'm fully prepared for the episodes to suck, but I still can't wait to see them.
I don't have a problem with those who say that they don't get it or even those who say that they hate it. It's incredibly weird and I actually appreciate the fact that it's so polarizing. The people who I take issue with are the ones who are apathetic about it. I can't understand how anyone can watch FLCL and not have a strong opinion about it one way or the other.
I do have to disagree with your last statement about The Pillows. I love The Pillows. They're my second favorite recording artist, right after Jonathan Coulton and I love FLCL all the more for introducing me to their music. However, since it's a new chapter in the story, with a new protagonist, I think that it would be more appropriate for a new, younger band in the same genre to do the music. Personally, I'd like it to be either Kana-Boon or AKFG.
Or polkadot stingray of you’ve heard of them.
I saw FLCL when I was 12 or 13. I loved it and I saw a lot of myself in Naota and it actually taught me that it was normal for me to feel weird and uncomfortable with growing up. Ages 11-15 are the worst most uncomfortable times for everyone.
I won't say I hated it, but I couldn't get into it I didn't like it and no matter how many times I watched it I just can't get into it or like it.
Same here
Me neither it was too much
I saw this when I was in college and it just spoke to me because of everything that you said. Life is weird and sometimes it feels like the expectations you have to live up to are equally crazy, especially since no one told you about all of them when growing up. That being said, I think it ended really well and adding more seasons would ruin it for me.
I'm I the only one who used to walk around school with brown construction paper over my eye browns?
Lol
Wtf dude?
lol
I watched this anime in my sophomore year of college--which was a really rough time for me emotionally regarding having to grow up--so I myself was able to relate to it on that level you brought up. Everything in FLCL felt so out there and like nothing had any sense to it. But that's what being thrown into an adult life feels like. To me, FLCL can be interpreted to show how most young adults aren't properly prepared for the chaos that comes with growing up and exploring who you are as an individual as well as trying to figure out how you fit into the world. The hormones that fall into maturing and the irresponsibility of some adults really fit in with what I was feeling at the time. It's definitely an anime I'm glad I watched.
they got the pillows!!! :)
This show touched my soul. I felt lost before finding this show before I started high school. Once having watched it, it helped in some way. What sucks is once I finished I felt lost again like as if Haruko left me here on earth. Fucking love FLCL!
Yup, pretty much what I got from flcl. Just a growing up story, where the random shit resembles the feeling of randomness and chaos that you feel while growing up. I love this anime. Absolutely adore it. More then once I had to wipe a tear away because of it striking a personal chord with me.
And fuck me, the music! Man, it fits perfectly. Yeah, I truly think it's a work of art
I'm not that happy with a second or third season. My reason is simple: don't add more to 'perfection', you can only taint it. Of course I'll watch it and of course I hope that it'll be good. ...Insanely skeptical of that being the case, however
Oh wow. I loved FLCL back in the day, but the shows you mentioned run in alongside it in Adult Swim were during an airing that happened much later.
My memories of FLCL are from the early 2000s -- 2003, I think? -- when Inuyasha was still airing new episodes. I think other anime like Kikaider, Lupin, and perhaps Blue Gender were airing at that time too.
It just goes to show how some anime, no matter how old they are, remain at the forefront of popularity long after its conclusion. I'm glad it's getting another season. All my childhood favorites are making a glorious comeback! I'd love for Japan to keep up this momentum.
I do have to say, however, it would be a dream if we ever got Outlaw Star to air again!
Season 2 and 3? It's not gonna be good.
No, it's gonna be good. You have no taste in anime
I didn't say this anime is bad, I'm just saying most good anime with only one season are really good that people start saying they want another season which usually ends up pretty bad. Don't assume next time.
+TheDarkwolfr look who's talkin
Ok let me rephrase my comment then. I like FLCL a lot but I'm afraid that their 2nd season will be bad like most really good animes that went bad after their 2nd season.
+TheDarkwolfr ...Ok.got it.
For me, FLCL was a wild ride where I related to the swirling chaos and ever changing subjects. The interesting thing about it, though is that sometimes you can make it fun and interesting, even if just for a small moment, creating a memorable instance that you can look back at fondly as you move forward.
That being said, I haven't looked into what'll be in the new seasons, but I just don't know how they'll continue it.
Nice video! Do one on OYASUMI PUNPUN!!!
+cherry violet Is that Rap Monster in your picture? ARMYYY
Adina Psyche Yass, ARMYs Everywhere~~
(Plus your profile picture fits your comment so well, lol)
cherry violet Yess I love how this fandom is so large.The boys deserve it c: (That's from the anime Yuru Yuri, very funny eue)
I want to thank you for this video. I watched Fooly Cooly when I was 13 and ended up with a love/hate relationship with it. I loved it because it was so random yet relatable, but I hated it because the rest of my friends didn't understand it and made fun it. Your video helped me rekindle my love for you his anime and I'm super pumped for the new seasons. Thank you.
One of the only truly great anime
MegaFunnymonkey123 fr
Neuroticmancer sub was better
Fooly Cooly left me with an odd feeling of satisfaction and craving for more. I felt like a glutton, filled with content but not finished, craving that little bit more. No anime has done those 2 things for me and I really hope that FLCl season 2 and 3 will deliver as much confusion and epicness that season1 did.
Sub is easier to understand
Bismuth LD how
I really like Fooly Cooly! It's really unique!
I don't think the people who don't understand FLCL or just outright refuse to admit that there's a plot aren't used to allegory. It's strange considering that a lot of popular, acclaimed anime (especially out of Gainax) jaunts forth into the often puzzling world of metaphor, but FLCL really lives and dies by its symbolism.
Another thing is that FLCL for all its bombastic guitar whacking, forehead erection, robot on robot, alien vespa action, it really is extremely subtle. There is meaningful dialogue that slips by at moment's notice. The frame will focus in on facial expressions, slight twitches, and other small gestures only momentarily to match the tone of a scene, and it's far too easy to miss a lot even if you're watching it dubbed or are fluent in Japanese.
Speaking of tone, it's integral. Characters say one thing but mean something else, and it's the tone of the scene that ends up really speaking the truth. No one's words can be taken at face value.
"Nothing out of the ordinary happens here. Everything is perfectly normal."
As if. Listening to the characters isn't enough. FLCL forces you to get to know them and understand their motivations and their emotions. After all, growing up and going through puberty is an emotional moment. Ironically part of the reason FLCL is so strange and off the wall is because it, much like growing up, is very irrational; that's just my opinion though.
ONE LIFE~
Beautifully said , however there will always be people who don’t understand the plot of the implications , it’s too subtitle for them , like it was for us when we were kids , assuming you saw this show on adult swim. If once they do understand , it would be a really inspiring moment for them xD.
i is a masterpiece,and i dont think the new seasons will be as well made....they with probobly be good-but the origanal is amazing-if this new season(s)turns out as good as the first one i will be prestantly suprised! your amazing aki! keep doing what you doing!
I actually hated this anime the first time I watched it .
Same but then I watched it a second time, still didn't really understand it but I really like it now I'm planning on watching again
This video was perfect for helping me discribe to a new comer exactly what the hell Fooly Cooly was. The beautiful phenomenon of brilliance and madness sewn together that still sits in my top 3 all time anime. Thanks
I have one more episode to watch of Fooly Cooly and I am very excited that there is going to be a season 2 and 3 :) And I had to watch five times to understand what is going on in the show :p and Aki your amazing!!!
I was 16 when watching it and instantly understood understood it. If you like foolycooly you might enjoy equally raunchy Gurren Lagann.
I love staying up late watching this show fooly cooly was so random and crazy I love all of it down to the crazy eyebrow man cannot wait to see what they come up with I'm hoping it is going to be as good as the original
WHAAAAAT!?!?!?
More FLCL episodes upcoming?
This literally made my day.
I enjoyed it but not because I ever got any meaning out of it. I related to some parts of it for sure but I think what I loved about it was the animation style [adore Gainax and Trigger] and just how strange everything was. Even though you could boil down characters into their schtick, they each still constantly surprised me and were very much unique characters. It was fun.
Pure genius and I'm a student of Aldous Huxley.. there's that. Absolute effing genius, thank you Kazuya Tsurumaki.
Fooly Cooly was the very first anime I ever fully watched. I would stay up late Saturday nights to see it come on Toonami. This anime is absolutely number one on my list. And will forever be. To be honest, I don't want this work of art to become mainstream or noticed by many. It deserves the best fan base, with people who truly enjoyed every minute of every episode. Oh the manga was great too.
P.S. I will buy that moped one day.
P.S.S. The Pillows got me into Japaneses music. "I think I Can." Makes me cry to this day.
Fooly Cooly is the ultimate level of randomness making it a work of art and also a allegory on the struggles and "transformations" we suffer when growing up especially in our teen years!
im with akidearest, I love FLCL and cant wait till the new seasons come out but im not gonna let the hype get to me with all the new and unknown stuff going into it.
the reason i loved this anime was because the art style was so gorgeous and even though the series was so random and there was so much going on i couldn't help but love it. i still have no idea what it really is about, though.
I just watched this series last week, over the course of 6 days, and I really liked it. Sometimes, I watch a movie or a series, and I immediately think to myself "Man, I need to watch that again!", and that's exactly what I thought after finishing up the 6th episode.
That was for two reasons: 1. I felt I'd need to watch it again to pick up on more of the symbolism, background details, and foreshadowing, and 2. Because it just had that much charm & rewatch value, and 3. I simply liked it that much, despite not always being sure what was going on
I think the main reason I liked it (besides the kick-ass soundtrack and animation, that is), is because it made for a very unique viewing experience, because my brain was constantly switching between "abstract art" mode and "wtf Japan randomness" mode constantly, and it feels like both ways of watching it just work.
If I watched it on a relatively stress-free day, then I could pick up on the symbolism, background details, and general love put into the show, but on the other hand, if I watched it on a busier day, then I'd simply sit back and get lost in the show's weirdness.
After watching it for the first time, I could go on for hours.
HELL YEAH new seasons I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR YEARS!!
I actually just saw this anime recently on the recommendation of some friends, and even with a single viewing under my belt, I was definitely captured by the surreal atmosphere that enveloped the series. While not my favorite anime, I definitely really appreciate it.