In much the same way that when I saw Pitchfork name Outkast’s Bombs Over Baghdad as the best song of the ‘oughts, I’d find it hard to argue with anyone who wanted to declare FLCL the best anime of the same 10 years.
Without it, I doubt this website would exist, as it came at the exact time when my interest in anime was flagging and it was so energetic, so exactly what cartoons should be, that I even considered ordering the DVDs from Japan despite not owning a DVD player at the time.
So what do I mean when I say it’s exactly what cartoons should be? Well, FLCL is notable for being one of the few modern anime that noted cartoon curmudgeon John K actually had nice things to say about. While I don’t agree with everything he says, since he started his blog he has firmed up some thoughts in my mind about what I like (and dislike) about cartoons. Thoughts probably put there back when I was watching Tony Robinson’s Stay Tooned! as a teenager.
One of the key posts in that process, was his “What Is A Cartoon?” post. It’s no coincidence that FLCL fulfils at least three of those criteria and probably gets the butt stabs in too (certainly every other part of body gets stabbed, whacked and ground at some point or other). Unlike a lot of fans my age who got into anime as an extension of science fiction fandom, my entry point was an extension of a love of cartoons and comedy, namely Urusei Yatsura. So I’m much more disposed to anything that throws some slapstick, funny drawings and crazed movement my way, rather than sci-fi talking heads or politics.
Yes, there is a science fiction-y plot in FLCL and a heap more metaphor about puberty, but that is really just background dressing for silly, violent, sexy animation. And being repeatedly hit in the head with a bass guitar. Even when you’re not luxuriating in frantic action, the still scenes are invariably laid out in a manner that is at least visually pleasing, but more often than not, funny in themselves.
I’ve seen people complain that it’s too weird, too hard to understand or most bizarrely, “not anime”. These are people who’ve had it ground into them to expect narrative, and that every little detail will be described to them. They also have no joy in their hearts. If you can’t find something to love in FLCL, then cartoons probably aren’t for you.
Criminally out of print in the US, despite the massive popularity from its Adult Swim airings, you can still purchase it the UK and Australia.
So there you go. The best anime of the last 10 years.