FLCL Progressive's debut episode, RE-STA: Inverted Dreams

Opening on what seems to be a desolate planet awash in mostly monochromatic colors, we follow what looks to be our headphones-sporting new central character, Hidomi not looking terribly well. Surrounded by destruction and detritus from what looks to have been a cataclysmic event that has left her equally as tattered. With each step, her form seems to also be exhibiting signs of damage. To the point where she loses both hands as the landscape is soon humming with the familiar incoming of a row of giant steam irons. No means of taking control when she stares into the eye of an alien giant. Only a moment later, the horn protruding from her forehead overtakes, leading to the emergence of an entirely new humanoid robot ready to take on the domestic hordes of normalcy. The buzz of an alarm goes off. Another vivid dream for a girl seemingly gone numb in a world so weaned on her particular brand of disconnect. Her headphones to block out the world, and "tsundere" demeanor, now an accepted part of the daily mosaic that it's only a matter of time before either she disappears, or is confronted head on with these nagging dreams of robots, irons, & guitars. Well, whaddaya know? It's a spiritual sequel!

So here we are at last, catching up with a proper introduction after Toonami's April Fool's event, which was passable at best. And my impressions here are largely no different, save for what scribe Hideto Iwai, and the FLCL team hint drop for us in regards to what happened to our favorite Space Fraternity misfit, and the children she pesters in the name of her own plans. In a town that in many ways resembles that of the original Mabase, we are introduced to a world that has seemingly embraced many corners of questionable maturity in the name of a new status quo. Hidomi's mom is hopelessly chipper, and wildly accepting of her daughter's disinterest to the point of systematic expectation. It has become such an expectation that even Hidomi's part-time diner job is strewn with patrons who praise and fawn over her apathy. These regulars, now an aged version of the generation of fans I have grown up around. It's to the point where upon introducing the franchise's (Wow. I actually said the F word regarding FLCL) latest Spacecop, the more focused and steadfast Cadillac riding, Jinyu, reflects a potentially startling reveal that the battle between factions over the youth of the Earth indeed continues on, and that the intergalactic troublemaker, Rahau Haruhara, is indeed on the prowl again for fresh potential.

We also get to know Hidomi's class, in particular her classmate, Ide who not only has a penchant for stories, but is sporting both glasses and a familiar head bandage. Potential does indeed attend this class, and that teacher's voice should ring a few fan bells. Also worth making a note of, is Hidomi's mother who may have dropped a huge hint regarding the whereabouts of an important character from the original series. Considering Hidomi's current predicament, it makes all the sense in the world.

Now, the episode does finally reveal its hand in regards to where she is and what she has been up to all this time. But the implications of it, made a deeper impression on me than anything else in the episode. Production value vacillates between on par with the original 1999-2000 OVA, and standard television work. But the notion that Haruhara, has indeed been secretly infiltrating the youth in the town, helping engender a population of overgrown infants, is a sobering one. Growing up under the auspices of more conservative leaderships, one of the most popular colloquialisms regarding playing the role, and "overtaking from the inside", has now taken on a borderline malevolent tone. Considering the Japan and the West of today, our dreams may indeed have found themselves corrupted by those eager to exploit for their own gain. Indeed, its seems that FLCL's needle might have indeed shifted, by presenting what could go wrong when unchained youthful exuberance finds itself subverted. It's an interesting turn in what largely felt like already well-treaded ground. So until the next installment, I remain a little ambivalent about the existence of this return, save for some lush animation, and the ever reliable soundtrack by The Pillows.

There is potential for a serious upending of the past, but like the sneak peek from April, all I'm getting here is a nice smell from the kitchen, and no dish in sight.

April Fool's Surprise! FLCL: Alternative, Episode One Impressions

Toonami, never a network to shy away from bold gestures on April Fool's may have outdone themselves last night as the regularly scheduled block was interrupted. Interrupted by the splashy colors, and familiar sounds of small city Japan, punctuated by a favorite pink haired rogue with a bass guitar. Production I.G.'s proposed to be released sequel series to the late 1990s OVA classic, FLCL, graced screens nationwide, and in subbed form!

Now it is important to note here that the episode in question, is the premiere to the THIRD season, which is slated for full unveiling in September. Which means we have no context for a lot of what is happening here. The second season, FLCL: Progressive, is set to air in June. So what we have here is a taster for the tone, pace, and feel of these new episodes as largely funded by America's own Ghost House Pro. So this, as suggested is something that should be wholly taken with a grain of salt. There really was nothing left to be said at the end of the OVA, so these new stories should be something that both resembles a bit of the past, but wholly their own animals.

And as such, the episode that aired is something a little closer in tone to the first two original video installments. Both equally grounded, punctuated by moments of unabashed weird. Introducing 17 year old high school student, Kana. An ordinary girl with her own brand of boredom about her hometown, as humanity seems to be more primed than before for space travel. This, naturally only bolsters her sense of disaffectedness as the endeavor seems wholly relegated to the rich and powerful. Space is indeed no place for ordinary dreamers like Kana, and her friends. But instead of wallowing, DIY defiance is in order as the quartet opt to create their own homemade bottle rocket complete with sequins, and gaudy adornments. Of course, this finds itself undone when a certain Raharu comes to town, seemingly back in town seeking a new N.O. channel, possibly within Kana's own noggin! 

Gone, is a lot of the snowballing references. Miles away, is the niggling creepiness of the original series' gaze. Taking a stand from a more feminine POV, is something that renders the whole episode a little more sweet and sentimental than the Enokido-penned original, and it sports an ideal mix of personalities in Kana's friends together with a sense of the driven which is in many ways the spiritual opposite of the perpetually trapped nature of Naota and friends last time around. 

And speaking of Naota..

Has he become the new Amarao-san? It certainly looks it.

In short, the episode is charming enough. And it is incredibly hard to even think we could ever recapture the literal spirit of a time when the internet was quite young, indie analog press was a thing, and a more isolated view of the world was more palpable. Raharu (aka Haruko Haruhara, seems to be the only real element that hasn't changed. She's both as wise, and as self-serving as she has always been.), appears not only to save the day, but to urge Kana and friends on as they seem to be on a pretty good track without her. It's an interesting contrast to a vision of post-Evangelion desperation to define onesself with a girlfriend or mother figure. Now, Kana does seem to carry something of a latent crush, but it doesn't factor specifically in this one. I'm guessing we have a basketball-centric episode in the wings. At any rate, what disarmed me most about this return noone asked for, was Kana, her buddy Pets, imposing, yet handy, Mossan, and teen gyaru mag idol wannabe, Hijiri. Their moments of bonding and creating, offer up a hopeful retort to the often trapped in ennui amber of Naota and crew. And while that could very well be seen as a negative, I'm willing to venture that there are new challenges to arise from this alternate setup. 

Yeah, I was undoubtedly worried. The original OVA, remains one of the last of its kind to truly move me back between 2000-2001. Tsurumaki and company helped fashion an appropriate closer to anime in the twentieth century with a crazy story about the value of nonsense in a world of often overwhelming sense. Again, one episode here isn't really enough to formulate a concrete opinion. But I will say here that Toonami's play was a bold, welcome one.

And hey, any new animation featuring The Pillows, is welcome to me.