List of FLCL episodes
The episodes of the Japanese original video animation series FLCL were directed by Kazuya Tsurumaki and produced by the FLCL Production Committee, which included Gainax, Production I.G,[1] and Starchild Records.[2] The English adaptation was licensed by Synch-Point,[3] [needs update] which released the DVDs and soundtrack.[4] After Synch-Point went out of business, Funimation licensed and re-released the series on Blu-ray and DVD.[5][6] The story follows Haruko Haruhara, a sociopathic alien drawn to the fictional Japanese suburb of Mabase by the Medical Meccanica building while weaseling in the lives of twelve-year-old Naota Nandaba in the first season and fourteen-year-old Hidomi Hibajiri in the second season as pawns in her agenda to acquire the being called Atomsk.
The first-season episodes aired in North America on Cartoon Network's Adult Swim programming block from August 4[7] to August 13, 2003.[8]
Six pieces of theme music are used for the episodes; five opening themes and one closing theme. All the theme songs are by Japanese rock band the Pillows. The opening themes are: "One Life", used in episode one, "Instant Music" in episode two and three, "Happy Bivouac" for episode four, "Runners High", utilized in episode five, and "Carnival" in episode six. The closing theme is "Ride on Shooting Star", the series' main theme song, used for all episodes. Geneon Entertainment has released three original soundtracks encompassing the aforementioned songs, with soundtracks titled Addict, released on January 20, 2004, King of Pirates, released on September 7, 2004, and FLCL No. 3, released on June 7, 2005.[9][10][11]
Six DVD compilations, each containing one episode, were released in Japan by Gainax.[12] In addition, a DVD collection box, containing all six DVD compilations, was released in Japan on August 13, 2005.[13] Three compilations were released by Synch-Point in North America. A DVD collection, containing all six was released on January 23, 2007.[14][15] The series was re-picked up for distribution by Funimation in 2010 and released again on DVD and on Blu-ray in February 2011.[16]
In 2016, two new seasons totaling 12 episodes were announced as a co-production between Production I.G, Toho and Adult Swim.[17][18] The second season, FLCL Progressive, premiered on June 3, 2018, on Adult Swim's Toonami block, while the third season, FLCL Alternative, premiered on September 8, 2018. In Japan, Alternative and Progressive had theatrical screenings in September 2018. The first episode of FLCL Alternative unexpectedly premiered on April Fools' Day 2018 at midnight on Toonami in Japanese with English subtitles.
Two additional seasons were ordered by Adult Swim in March 2022, which were announced on Toonami's 25th anniversary, titled FLCL: Grunge and FLCL: Shoegaze.[19] Grunge aired from September 10 to 24, 2023, while Shoegaze premiered on October 1 of the same year.
Series overview[edit]
| Season | Episodes | Originally aired | Title | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First aired | Last aired | ||||
| 1 | 6 | April 26, 2000 | March 16, 2001 | FLCL | |
| 2 | 6 | June 3, 2018 | July 7, 2018 | Progressive | |
| 3 | 6 | September 8, 2018[a] | October 13, 2018 | Alternative | |
| 4 | 3 | September 10, 2023 | September 24, 2023 | Grunge | |
| 5 | 3 | October 1, 2023 | October 15, 2023 | Shoegaze | |
Episodes[edit]
Season 1 (2000–2001)[edit]
| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by [b] | Written by [b] | Storyboarded by [b] | Japanese release date | English air date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | "Fooly Cooly" Transliteration: "Furi Kuri" (Japanese: フリクリ) | Masahiko Ōtsuka | Yōji Enokido | Kazuya Tsurumaki, Hiroyuki Imaishi, Yoh Yoshinari | April 26, 2000 | August 5, 2003 |
| 2 | 2 | "Fire Starter" Transliteration: "Faisuta" (Japanese: ファイスタ) | Ken Andō | Yōji Enokido | Masayuki | June 21, 2000 | August 6, 2003 |
| 3 | 3 | "Marquis de Carabas" Transliteration: "Maru Raba" (Japanese: マルラバ) | Shouji Saeki | Yōji Enokido | Shouji Saeki | August 23, 2000 | August 7, 2003 |
| 4 | 4 | "Full Swing" Transliteration: "Furi Kiri" (Japanese: フリキリ) | Masahiko Ōtsuka | Yōji Enokido | Nobutoshi Ogura | October 25, 2000 | August 8, 2003 |
| 5 | 5 | "Brittle Bullet" Transliteration: "Burabure" (Japanese: ブラブレ) | Shouji Saeki | Yōji Enokido | Hiroyuki Imaishi | December 21, 2000 | August 12, 2003 |
| 6 | 6 | "FLCLimax" Transliteration: "Furi Kura[c]" (Japanese: フリクラ) | Masahiko Ōtsuka | Yōji Enokido | Kazuya Tsurumaki, Tadashi Hiramatsu, Hiroyuki Imaishi | March 16, 2001 | August 13, 2003 |
Season 2: Progressive (2018)[edit]
| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Animated by | Directed by | Written by | Storyboarded by | Original air date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | 1 | "Re:Start" Transliteration: "Saisuta" (Japanese: サイスタ) | Production I.G | Kazuto Arai | Hideto Iwai | Kazuto Arai | June 3, 2018 |
| 8 | 2 | "Freebie Honey" Transliteration: "Furihani" (Japanese: フリハニ) | Production GoodBook | Toshihisa Kaiya | Hideto Iwai | Toshihisa Kaiya | June 10, 2018 |
| 9 | 3 | "Stone Skipping" Transliteration: "Mizukiri" (Japanese: ミズキリ) | Production I.G | Yuki Ogawa | Hideto Iwai | Yuki Ogawa | June 17, 2018 |
| 10 | 4 | "LooPQR" Transliteration: "Rarirure" (Japanese: ラリルレ) | Production I.G | Yoshihide Ibata | Hideto Iwai | Yoshihide Ibata | June 24, 2018 |
| 11 | 5 | "Fool on the Planet" Transliteration: "Furupura" (Japanese: フルプラ) | Signal.MD | Kei Suezawa | Hideto Iwai | Kei Suezawa | June 30, 2018 |
| 12 | 6 | "Our Running" Transliteration: "Awaran" (Japanese: アワラン) | Production I.G | Hiroshi Ikehata | Hideto Iwai | Hiroshi Ikehata | July 7, 2018 |
Season 3: Alternative (2018)[edit]
| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Animated by | Directed by | Written by | Storyboarded by | Original air date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 | 1 | "Flying Memory" Transliteration: "Fura Memo" (Japanese: フラメモ) | NUT | Yutaka Uemura | Hideto Iwai | Yutaka Uemura, Hiromi Taniguchi | April 1, 2018 (April Fools, Japanese) September 8, 2018 (English) |
| 14 | 2 | "Grown-Up Wannabe" Transliteration: "Tonaburi" (Japanese: トナブリ) | Revoroot | Yutaka Uemura | Hideto Iwai | Kiyotaka Suzuki | September 15, 2018 |
| 15 | 3 | "Freestyle Collection" Transliteration: "Furikore" (Japanese: フリコレ) | Revoroot | Yutaka Uemura | Hideto Iwai | Nobukage Kimura | September 22, 2018 |
| 16 | 4 | "Pit-a-Pat" Transliteration: "Pitapato" (Japanese: ピタパト) | NUT | Yutaka Uemura | Hideto Iwai | Jun Shishido, Hiromi Taniguchi, Yutaka Uemura | September 29, 2018 |
| 17 | 5 | "Shake It Off" Transliteration: "Furisute" (Japanese: フリステ) | Revoroot | Yutaka Uemura | Hideto Iwai | Keisuke Kojima | October 6, 2018 |
| 18 | 6 | "Full Flat" Transliteration: "Furufura" (Japanese: フルフラ) | NUT | Yutaka Uemura | Hideto Iwai | Toshiro Fujii | October 13, 2018 |
Season 4: Grunge (2023)[edit]
| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Storyboarded by | Original air date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19 | 1 | "Shinpachi" (Japanese: シンパチ) | Hitoshi Takekiyo | Tetsuhiro Ideka | Hitoshi Takekiyo | September 10, 2023 |
| 20 | 2 | "Shonari" (Japanese: ショウナリ) | Hitoshi Takekiyo | Tetsuhiro Ideka | Hitoshi Takekiyo | September 17, 2023 |
| 21 | 3 | "Orinoko" (Japanese: オリノコ) | Hitoshi Takekiyo | Tetsuhiro Ideka | Hitoshi Takekiyo | September 24, 2023 |
Season 5: Shoegaze (2023)[edit]
| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Storyboarded by | Original air date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22 | 1 | "Furu-Bari (Full Barricade)" (Japanese: フルバリ) | Yutaka Uemura | Kenta Ihara | Naoto Uchida | October 1, 2023 |
| 23 | 2 | "Gene-Bato (Generational Battle)" (Japanese: ジェネバト) | Yutaka Uemura | Kenta Ihara | Fumie Muroi | October 8, 2023 |
| 24 | 3 | "Far-Fre (Far Friend)" (Japanese: ファーフレ) | Yutaka Uemura | Kenta Ihara | Taku Kimura | October 15, 2023 |
Compilation films[edit]
In September 2018, Toho theatrically released the FLCL Progressive and FLCL Alternative sequel seasons as compilation films. They are exclusive to Japan.
| No. | Title | Directed by | Written by | Japanese release date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "FLCL Alternative: The Movie" Transliteration: "Gekijō-ban Furi Kuri Orutana" (Japanese: 劇場版 フリクリ オルタナ) | Katsuyuki Motohiro (chief) Yutaka Uemura | Hideto Iwai | September 7, 2018 | |
| A film compilation of the FLCL Alternative television season. | |||||
| 2 | "FLCL Progressive: The Movie" Transliteration: "Gekijō-ban Furi Kuri Purogure" (Japanese: 劇場版 フリクリ プログレ) | Katsuyuki Motohiro (chief) | Hideto Iwai | September 28, 2018 | |
| A film compilation of the FLCL Progressive television season. | |||||
See also[edit]
Notes[edit]
- ^ The first episode of FLCL Alternative premiered unannounced in Japanese audio with English subtitles on April 1, 2018 at midnight ET as part of Adult Swim's April Fools' stunt. The date reflects the proper first run broadcast of the series.
- ^ a b c Information is taken from the ending credits of each episode.
- ^ The Japanese title is actually an alteration made by Haruko on the phrase "funi funi, funi kura" (フニフニ. フニクラ). The episode's title is not meant to have any actual significance.[20]
References[edit]
- ^ "FLCL". Work List. Production I.G. Retrieved 2009-06-09.
- ^ "FLCL". Starchild. Retrieved 2009-06-09.
- ^ "FLCL". Production. Synch-Point. Archived from the original on 2005-01-01. Retrieved 2009-06-09.
- ^ "Geneon announces new soundtracks". News. Anime News Network. Retrieved 2009-06-09.
- ^ "Funimation Adds Gainax, I.G's FLCL Anime on Blu-ray/DVD (Updated)". News. Anime News Network. Retrieved 2012-09-01.
- ^ "Watch FLCL – Watch Anime & Live Action Streaming Episodes & Video Online". Funimation. Retrieved 2012-09-01.
- ^ "Cartoon Network Takes Prime, Total Day Crown for Kids 2-11, Kids 6-11". Time Warner (Time Warner). Retrieved August 1, 2006.
- ^ "FLCL on Cartoon Network in August". Anime News Network. 2003-06-29. Retrieved 2008-01-10.
- ^ "Fooly Cooly OST 1: Addict". Amazon. Retrieved 2008-01-10.
- ^ "Fooly Cooly OST 2: King of Pirates". Amazon. Retrieved 2008-01-10.
- ^ "FLCL (Fooly Cooly) OST 3". Amazon. Retrieved 2008-01-10.
- ^ "FLCL – Goods" (in Japanese). Gainax. Archived from the original on 2007-12-16. Retrieved 2008-01-10.
- ^ "フリクリ DVD-BOX" (in Japanese). Retrieved 2008-01-10.
- ^ "FLCL Ultimate Edition Details". Anime News Network. 2006-09-05. Retrieved 2008-01-10.
- ^ "FLCL – Ultimate Edition DVD Collection". Amazon. Retrieved 2008-01-10.
- ^ "North American Anime, Manga Releases for February 2011". Anime News Network. 2011-01-15. Retrieved 2011-06-03.
- ^ "Toonami to Co-Produce 2 New FLCL Seasons". Anime News Network. Retrieved 24 March 2016.
- ^ "ANIME EXPO 2017: FLCL 2 AND 3 FIRST DETAILS, RELEASE WINDOW ANNOUNCED". IGN. July 2, 2017. Retrieved March 20, 2018.
- ^ Otterson, Joe (March 17, 2022). "Adult Swim Celebrates 25th Anniversary of Toonami, Orders Two New 'FLCL' Seasons and 'Housing Complex C' (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved March 17, 2022.
- ^ "Director's comment" FLCL: Groundworks, pg.19
General references[edit]
- "List of FLCL episode titles" (in Japanese). Gainax. Archived from the original on 2015-05-06. Retrieved 2008-01-10.
- "FLCL – Full Episodes and Clips streaming online". Hulu. Archived from the original on June 3, 2011. Retrieved June 3, 2011.
- FLCL: Groundworks (in Japanese). − An official artbook.
External links[edit]
- Official Gainax website (in Japanese)
- Official Adult Swim website