“The advance is hip right now but the original has a place in my heart”
In lieu of Progressive’s finale premiering this evening, I figured I’d finish the trifecta and do another homage to FLCL Classic with the boy who kicked it all off: Naota.
It’s been an interesting shift change with Progressive’s tonal and narrative changes from the original, but there’s something about the original that will always resonate with me. So here’s that throwback to nostalgia and a brief glimpse at what 90s character design gave us as a burgeoning cult fave
There’s no love lost in the rush of familiarity and nostalgia, for me, with the release of both FLCL Alternative and Progressive’s first episodes. That being said, Alternative really stuck out to me with it’s first episode so I decided to pay tribute to one of its protagonists: Kana.
I feel the titling of the new seasons feels quite apt and have been handled beautifully as well as artistically in their own ways. Alternative’s pacing does feel like an alt-music version of the original season of FLCL which is a feat unto itself. I can’t speak highly enough of it. I can’t wait for more and encourage you all to experience it for yourselves :)
The 2018 sequel seasons to the original FLCLOVA may not have the same level of animation quality, but FLCL Progressive demonstrates how a character like Haruko can function as a perfect villain, and FLCL Alternative reminds us that the show is at its best when focusing on the theme of adolescence.
Ultimately, the strengths and flaws of the FLCLsequels bring new insight into how the franchise works as a whole.
