What started it all... My intro to anime.

To start things off, i had seen anime before this but at the time i still just though they were cartoons. i had seen Trigun, Cowboy bebop, yuyu hakushu, and inuyasha. basically things that toonami aired in early 2000. at the time i was around 10 so to me it was just really detailed cartoons with violence(after Re-watching these series years later i had a better opinion and love for them). Even at the age of 10 i was drawn to This new show, its art style was cartoony yet still better than anything else available to me. the music, perfect. the impression, Lasting.

Title: Fooly Cooly, FLCL, Furi Kuri
Airdate: April 29, 2000
Studio: Gainax
Episodes: 6
genre: Action/Comedy/Choas(is that a genre)

Plot- Enter Naota Nandaba,Main character and our point of view through the series, a 12 year old boy that finds everything mundane "nothing amazing happens here, everything is ordinary"(episode 1), and tries to hard to be an adult. early in the series he is attacked by a women, Haruko Haruhara, a pink haired women wielding a guitar(left-handed Rickenbacker bass). this moment is the catalyst for the rest of the zany moments in the series, and the intro for the deeper coming of age story. For example, Harukos introduction which is sudden and random, is an allegory for the sudden entrance into puberty. With each new character, we see a different stage of life and the problems inherent with growing up. Aside from the deeper meaning though the series, over six episodes manages to entertain with mecha battles, funny dialogue, and great art.

Animation-From episode one, the animation style instantly drew me in, its gritty rough yet colorful look Enthralled me. Its unique art style also fit well with all the action, which was smooth and fluid, able to make something as simple as running look awesome. while Fooly Cooly has a main art style to it, it didn't shy away from experimenting(This s studio gainax after all), going from a more gundam animation style to even south park.

Story/Characters- while the story is confusing and has alot of random points, each segment was enjoyable as they reached their respective conclusions. The backstories and interactions of the other characters were always welcome, whether it be Mamimi the heartbroken awkward teenager that turns her attention to her ex boyfriends younger brother(naota), or Ninamori the mayors To-adult-for-her-age daughter that acts like it doesn't bug her that her parents are divorcing. Each episode stepping up the scale and adding to the enjoyment, and each character being relate-able to someone.

Soundtrack-Now, in this specific field I can not give enough praise. The soundtrack, done by the Alternative/Rock band The Pillows, almost seems like it was the basis for the writing. It meshes so perfectly with anime that it is impossible to imagine the show without it. the soundtrack is also great standalone without the anime. below is a full link of soundtrack

FLCL soundtrack

my personal favorite is Carnival. 

REwatch value: While this series is great I recommend breaks between viewings, that said it definitely holds rewatch value. 

Audience: just about anyone that has experience with anime, and is used to the zany ways of anime.

  

Final verdict: All in All, this series is fantastic. It follows the Rule of Cool, and is accompanied by a great soundtrack, with a fun and colorful animation style and a story that many can connect with, this series is and always will be one of the greatest. i give it:
4 out of 4 Rickenbacker bass strings