:FLCL

{{Main|List of FLCL characters{{!}}List of FLCL characters}}

The first season of FLCL is a coming-of-age story and revolves around Naota Nandaba, a 12-year-old, working-class boy living with his widower father and grandfather. His life in the Japanese city of Mabase is interrupted by the arrival of a Vespa-riding maniac named Haruko Haruhara. She runs over Naota then revives him with CPR before hitting him on the head with her left-handed, electric bass guitar (a blue, vintage Rickenbacker 4001) and proceeds to stalk him. Finding Haruko weaseling her way into his life as a live-in maid, Naota discovers that the head injury she caused created an "N.O." portal, which giant robots produced by a company known as Medical Mechanica emerge from periodically. The first of these robots is hit on the head by Haruko and becomes a friendly service robot later named Canti. Canti ingests Naota to assume the reddened form he first had when fighting the robots sent after him.

Haruko claims she is an alien investigator from the Galactic Space Police Brotherhood, and her presence places Naota and those around him in danger. The Interstellar Immigration Bureau's Commander Amarao, whom Haruko has a history with, asserts rather that she is an apathetic seductress seeking a space-manipulating being called Atomsk who was partially contained within Canti. Every time Naota is absorbed by Canti, Atomsk is gradually brought to Earth. As Atomsk is held in Medical Mechanica's custody and Haruko ultimately places Earth under threat, the company eventually turns their factory stationed on the planet into a doomsday terraforming device, attempting to have Naota and Canti absorbed by the doomsday device's Terminal Core. Haruko's plan fails as Naota ends up becoming Atomsk's host and then releases him into the universe after a brief battle that ends Medical Mechanica's attack on Earth. Haruko follows after Atomsk, and Mabase returns to some normalcy.

Haruko returns to Earth many years after her failed attempt to contain Atomsk in the first season, although she did manage to absorb him sometime in between these events. Placing herself as a middle school homeroom teacher, Haruko targets a 14-year-old girl named Hidomi Hibajiri through her classmate and eventual love interest Ko Ide. Haruko finds opposition in both the headphones Hidomi wears and Julia Jinyu, a more stoic offshoot of Haruko that splintered from her during her initial attempt to control Atomsk's power. Haruko eventually eats Julia to restore herself, and uses Ide to get to Hidomi. Like before, this causes conflict between Medical Mechanica and the Interstellar Immigration Bureau, as the latter was reverse-engineering Canti's technology to utilize the N.O. channel's energies for their own use. Atomsk appears on Earth as planned, but Haruko ends up failing again with a freed Julia taking her leave. Haruko regains her composure and is finally convinced to give up her obsession over Atomsk as completely unrequited, as Hidomi and Ide begin their relationship while Mabase rebuilds after much of it was destroyed by Medical Mechanica.

Haruko enters the life of high school student Kana Koumoto and her friends as she became a mentor of sorts to Kana in helping the teen's transition into adulthood as Medical Mechanica begins its assault on Earth. While helping Kana resolve some issues as one of her friends leaves for Mars, Haruko ends up on another planet as a direct result of Kana's reverse N.O. portal that they used to transport Medical Mechanica's plants off the planet. The season takes place before the events of all the other seasons currently present.

Haruko manipulates the mob-run town of Okura in a scheme to infect Medical Mechanica with a virus and steal Atomsk from them. In the process, she influences the lives of three working kids: Shinpachi, Shonari and Orinoko, before taking off after Atomsk on top of Medical Mechanica's plant. The season takes place between the events of Shoegaze and the first season.

Masaki is a teenager who sees ghosts that nobody else can see, including a large ghost bird perched atop a tower. Harumi joins him in exploring the tower after it is locked down by the Bureau of Interstellar Immigration. Kana Koumoto (from the third season) is now a 27-year-old adult working for the bureau and is called in to assist in getting the teenagers out. After setting off an explosion, the teenagers find that the tower extends into N.O. space. The bureau chief admits that the purpose of the tower is to reconnect the dimension they are currently in with a separate one that split away 10 years ago and he hopes that with enough emotional turmoil he can get Masaki to trigger the N.O. device and merge them back together. After Harumi is shot and Masaki realizes that he loves her, his N.O. field begins the merger in which Harumi realizes that she is actually from the other dimension, a colony on Mars. As Masaki calms, the merger fails, and a large snake-like entity appears. In the closing credits, Masaki is able to jump dimensions through N.O. space to visit the Mars colony. He explains that the worm-creature helps him do so and its name is Atomsk.

The first season of FLCL was directed by Kazuya Tsurumaki and produced by the FLCL Production Committee, which included Gainax, Production I.G,{{cite web|url=http://www.productionig.com/contents/works/04_/000088.html|title=FLCL|work=Work List|publisher=Production I.G|access-date=December 19, 2013|archive-date=December 20, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131220035311/http://www.productionig.com/contents/works/04_/000088.html|url-status=live}} and Starchild Records.{{cite web|url=http://www.starchild.co.jp/e/special/library/032.html|title=FLCL|publisher=Starchild|access-date=December 19, 2013|archive-date=April 2, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120402051200/http://www.starchild.co.jp/e/special/library/032.html|url-status=live}}

Tsurumaki has said that he tried to "break the rules" of anime when making FLCL, for example, by choosing a contemporary Japanese band to provide the soundtrack, and patterning the style more after "a Japanese TV commercial or promotional video", creating a work that is "short, but dense-packed".{{cite web|url=http://www.pulp-mag.com/archives/6.03/flcl_05.shtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060508110103/http://www.pulp-mag.com/archives/6.03/flcl_05.shtml|title=PULP : : The Manga Magazine : : 6.03 FLCL|archive-date=May 8, 2006|access-date=March 24, 2016}}

FLCL{{'}}s localization director and script writer Marc Handler stated that localization of the script was the hardest part of the show. The in-jokes in the show included obscure pop culture references that had to be decoded and transferred to English audiences. One example was a reference to Cheerio, a discontinued soft drink in Japan, for the English release the choice was made to use a discontinued American soft drink at the time, Crystal Pepsi.{{cite web|url=http://www.anime-tourist.com/article.php?sid=34|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040305000511/http://www.anime-tourist.com/article.php?sid=34|archive-date=March 5, 2004|title=Anime Tourist Interview: Behind the Scenes of FLCL.|publisher=Anime Tourist|url-status=usurped|access-date=July 24, 2013}} Director Kazuya Tsurumaki responded to criticism of FLCL, stating "comprehension should not be an important factor in FLCL".{{cite web|url=http://www.production-ig.com/furiKuri.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021220121354/http://www.production-ig.com/furiKuri.html|archive-date=December 20, 2002|title=FURI KURI|publisher=Production I.G|access-date=July 24, 2013}}

The Medical Mechanica building featured is in the shape of a large iron. The character Amarao describes Medical Mechanica's goal as the destruction of all thought. FLCL uses the iron as a symbolic breakdown of "thought" by smoothing out the wrinkles as equated to the removing of the brain's wrinkles. For English localization, the Japanese team had to explain the concept because a direct translation of script did not convey the ideology.{{cite web|url=http://anime-tourist.com/article.php?sid=33|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040116113414/http://anime-tourist.com/article.php?sid=33|archive-date=January 16, 2004|title=Interviews: Anime Tourist Interview: Behind the Scenes of FLCL|publisher=Anime Tourist|url-status=usurped|access-date=July 24, 2013}}

{{Main|List of FLCL episodes{{!}}List of FLCL episodes}}

The six-episode series was released in Japan from April 26, 2000 – March 16, 2001. It originally debuted in the United States on Adult Swim in August 2003, where it managed to gain a significant cult following{{Cite web|url=https://www.polygon.com/2016/3/24/11301854/flcl-season-two-new-episodes-toonami|title=Anime classic FLCL getting new episodes on Toonami|website=Polygon|date=March 24, 2016|access-date=June 7, 2018|archive-date=June 12, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612142740/https://www.polygon.com/2016/3/24/11301854/flcl-season-two-new-episodes-toonami|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=http://goboiano.com/everything-we-know-so-far-about-this-years-surprise-sequel-flcl-2/|title=Everything We Know so Far About This Year's Surprise Sequel: FLCL 2|access-date=June 7, 2018|archive-date=June 12, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612142254/http://goboiano.com/everything-we-know-so-far-about-this-years-surprise-sequel-flcl-2/|url-status=usurped}} and was widely acclaimed, despite its short length.{{Cite web|url=https://nerdist.com/flcl-concert-tour-the-pillows-adult-swim/|title=Adult Swim Celebrates FLCL's Return with a Concert Tour Featuring the Show's Music | Nerdist|access-date=June 7, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612162053/https://nerdist.com/flcl-concert-tour-the-pillows-adult-swim/|archive-date=June 12, 2018|url-status=dead}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.inverse.com/article/14880-what-to-expect-from-flcl-seasons-2-and-3-on-adult-swim|title='FLCL' Remake on Adult Swim: What to Expect|date=April 27, 2016 |access-date=June 7, 2018|archive-date=June 12, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612141335/https://www.inverse.com/article/14880-what-to-expect-from-flcl-seasons-2-and-3-on-adult-swim|url-status=live}} The series would continue to air on the network in the following years, including reruns on the network's Toonami programming block from October 2013 to January 2014,{{Cite web|url=http://operationrainfall.com/2013/09/30/flcl-returns-toonami/|title=FLCL Coming to Toonami|date=September 30, 2013|access-date=June 7, 2018|archive-date=June 12, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612142236/http://operationrainfall.com/2013/09/30/flcl-returns-toonami/|url-status=live}} and in April 2018 (to promote the then-upcoming release of Progressive and Alternative).{{Cite web|url=http://comicbook.com/anime/2018/04/04/flcl-returning-to-toonami/|title='FLCL' Returning to Toonami|date=April 4, 2018 |access-date=June 7, 2018|archive-date=June 12, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612143111/http://comicbook.com/anime/2018/04/04/flcl-returning-to-toonami/|url-status=live}} The series is also available via iTunes, adultswim.com and Funimation's website.

Six DVD compilations, each containing one episode, have been released in Japan by Gainax.{{cite web|url=http://www.gainax.co.jp/anime/flcl/goods.html|title=FLCL – Goods|language=ja|publisher=Gainax|access-date=January 10, 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071216112407/http://www.gainax.co.jp/anime/flcl/goods.html|archive-date=December 16, 2007}} In addition, a DVD collection box, containing all six DVD compilations, was released in Japan on August 13, 2005.{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B0007XVET6/|title=Amazon.co.jp: フリクリ DVD-BOX|date=July 6, 2005 |language=ja|access-date=January 10, 2008|archive-date=September 24, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200924144140/https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B0007XVET6/|url-status=live}} Three DVD compilations were released by Synch-Point in North America. A DVD collection box, containing all the DVD compilations of the English episodes, was released on January 23, 2007, but have since gone out of print.{{cite news|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2006-09-05/flcl-ultimate-edition-details|title=FLCL Ultimate Edition Details|work=Anime News Network|date=September 5, 2006|access-date=January 10, 2008|archive-date=December 24, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071224114651/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2006-09-05/flcl-ultimate-edition-details|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000ION2I0/|title=Amazon.com: FLCL – Ultimate Edition DVD Collection|website=Amazon|date=January 23, 2007|access-date=January 10, 2008}}{{cite web|url=http://www.rightstuf.com/rssite/main/news/individual/;jsessionid=J34WRCQcbKrUbh4mP4EULA**?ForumThreadName=FT0000000582&Offset=0&ReturnTo=Archive|title=Notice: FLCL Ultimate DVD Collection|publisher=The Right Stuf International|date=August 29, 2008|access-date=September 15, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081205164221/http://www.rightstuf.com/rssite/main/news/individual/;jsessionid=J34WRCQcbKrUbh4mP4EULA**?ForumThreadName=FT0000000582&Offset=0&ReturnTo=Archive|archive-date=December 5, 2008|url-status=dead}} In January 2010, Funimation announced that they had acquired the license for the series and would be releasing it on DVD and Blu-ray Disc in February 2011.{{cite web|url=http://blog.funimation.com/2010/01/2010-roll-out-riot-day-3-of-5-flcl/|title=2010 Roll-out Riot: Day 3 of 5 – FLCL | The Official Funimation Blog|publisher=Funimation Entertainment|access-date=January 6, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100109182407/http://blog.funimation.com/2010/01/2010-roll-out-riot-day-3-of-5-flcl|archive-date=January 9, 2010}} Shortly after, it has been released in Australia and New Zealand by Madman Entertainment on a 3-disc DVD set and on Blu-ray Disc.{{cite web|url=http://www.madman.com.au/catalogue/view/4620/flcl-collection-slimpack|title=Flcl Collection (Slimpack)|publisher=Madman Entertainment|access-date=August 3, 2013|archive-date=July 6, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130706020146/http://www.madman.com.au/catalogue/view/4620/flcl-collection-slimpack|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://www.madman.com.au/catalogue/view/14625/flcl-complete-collection-bluray|title=Flcl Complete Collection (Blu-Ray)|publisher=Madman Entertainment|access-date=August 3, 2013|archive-date=July 3, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130703111848/http://www.madman.com.au/catalogue/view/14625/flcl-complete-collection-bluray|url-status=live}} It is also licensed in the United Kingdom by MVM Films.{{cite web|url=http://www.mvm-films.com/AnimeTitle?ID=15|title=FLCL Collection – MVM Entertainment UK|publisher=MVM Entertainment|access-date=August 3, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180301010354/http://www.mvm-films.com/AnimeTitle?ID=15|archive-date=March 1, 2018|url-status=dead}} The series also aired in the United States on Cartoon Network's Adult Swim programming block from August 4{{cite web|date=August 12, 2003|url=http://www.timewarner.com/newsroom/press-releases/2003/08/Cartoon_Network_Takes_Prime_Total_Day_Crown_for_Kids_211_Kids_611_08-12-2003.php|title=Cartoon Network Takes Prime, Total Day Crown for Kids 2–11, Kids 6–11|publisher=Time Warner|access-date = August 1, 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120427010129/http://www.timewarner.com/newsroom/press-releases/2003/08/Cartoon_Network_Takes_Prime_Total_Day_Crown_for_Kids_211_Kids_611_08-12-2003.php|archive-date=April 27, 2012}} to August 13, 2003.{{cite news|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2003-06-29/flcl-on-cartoon-network-in-august|title=FLCL on Cartoon Network in August|work=Anime News Network|date=June 29, 2003|access-date=January 10, 2008|archive-date=December 11, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081211065747/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2003-06-29/flcl-on-cartoon-network-in-august|url-status=live}}

A three-volume novel series adaptation was written by the anime's screenwriter, Yoji Enokido, illustrated by Kazuya Tsurumaki and Hiroyuki Imaishi, and published by Kadokawa Shoten. The novels were released in Japan in June 2000, October 2000, and March 2001 respectively. The English-language versions were published by Tokyopop and were released in North America on March 11, 2008; September 9, 2008; and March 10, 2009, respectively. The novels cover all 6 episodes of the anime, introducing elements that were not present in the original production.

{{Graphic novel list/header

| Language = Japanese

| Width = 70%

}}

{{Graphic novel list

| VolumeNumber = 1

| RelDate = June 1, 2000{{cite web|script-title=ja:フリクリ 1|url=http://www.jbook.co.jp/p/p.aspx/1590210/s/|language=ja|publisher=Kodaka Shoten|access-date=December 27, 2012|archive-date=December 21, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131221135316/http://www.jbook.co.jp/p/p.aspx/1590210/s/|url-status=live}}

| ISBN = 4-04-423601-1

| LicensedRelDate = March 11, 2008{{cite book|title=FLCL Volume 1 (v. 1)|isbn=978-1-4278-0498-3|last=Enokido|first=Yoji|date=March 11, 2008|publisher=TokyoPop }}

| LicensedISBN = 978-1-427-80498-3

| ChapterList =

| Summary =

}}

{{Graphic novel list

| VolumeNumber = 2

| RelDate = October 1, 2000{{cite book|script-title=ja:フリクリ 2|url=http://www.jbook.co.jp/p/p.aspx/1638625/s/|language=ja|publisher=Kodaka Shoten|access-date=December 27, 2012|archive-date=December 21, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131221135700/http://www.jbook.co.jp/p/p.aspx/1638625/s/|url-status=live}}

| ISBN = 4-04-423602-X

| LicensedRelDate = September 9, 2008{{cite book|title=FLCL Volume 2|isbn=978-1-4278-0499-0|last1=Enokido|first1=Yoji|date=September 9, 2008|publisher=TokyoPop }}

| LicensedISBN = 978-1-427-80499-0

| ChapterList =

| Summary =

}}

{{Graphic novel list

| VolumeNumber = 3

| RelDate = March 1, 2001{{cite book|script-title=ja:フリクリ 3|url=http://www.jbook.co.jp/p/p.aspx/1700864/s/|language=ja|publisher=Kodaka Shoten|access-date=December 27, 2012|archive-date=December 21, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131221135120/http://www.jbook.co.jp/p/p.aspx/1700864/s/|url-status=live}}

| ISBN = 4-04-423603-8

| LicensedRelDate = March 10, 2009{{cite book|title=FLCL Volume 3 (Fooly Cooly)|isbn=978-1-4278-0500-3|last=Enokido|first=Yoji|date=March 10, 2009|publisher=TokyoPop }}

| LicensedISBN = 978-1-427-80500-3

| ChapterList =

| Summary =

}}

{{Graphic novel list/footer}}

A two-volume manga adaptation was created by artist Hajime Ueda. The manga interprets the series with certain elements altered and removed, and tells the events of the anime using a reductive art style and unsteady pacing. Jack Kotin defended the unique artstyle of the manga, saying "It can be crudely drawn at times, but this style fits in well with the overall story and atmosphere...".{{cite web|url=http://www.teenreads.com/reviews/flcl-volume-1|title=FLCL, Volume 1 – Teenreads|publisher=Teenreads|access-date=August 4, 2013|archive-date=September 24, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924122105/http://www.teenreads.com/reviews/flcl-volume-1|url-status=live}}

The manga was published by Kodansha and serialized in monthly Magazine Z from December 25, 1999, to March 26, 2001. The two volumes were released on October 23, 2000, and August 23, 2001, respectively.{{cite web|script-title=ja:フリクリ（１）|url=http://www.bookclub.kodansha.co.jp/bc2_bc/search_view.jsp?b=3490343|language=ja|publisher=Kodansha|access-date=December 27, 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131220020620/http://bookclub.kodansha.co.jp/bc2_bc/search_view.jsp?b=3490343|archive-date=December 20, 2013}}{{cite web|script-title=ja:フリクリ（２）|url=http://www.bookclub.kodansha.co.jp/bc2_bc/search_view.jsp?b=3490629|language=ja|publisher=Kodansha|access-date=December 27, 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131220080719/http://bookclub.kodansha.co.jp/bc2_bc/search_view.jsp?b=3490629|archive-date=December 20, 2013}} The manga was re-released in bunkoban format with the two volumes labeled {{Nihongo|"Jō"|上|First}} and {{Nihongo|"Ge"|下|Final}} in two individual box sets titled "Kodansha Box". Jō volume was on May 7, 2007, and the Ge volume was released on June 4, 2007.{{cite web|title=フリクリ（上） 講談社BOX|url=http://www.bookclub.kodansha.co.jp/bc2_bc/search_view.jsp?b=2836165|language=ja|publisher=Kodansha|access-date=December 27, 2012|archive-date=May 8, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130508184122/http://www.bookclub.kodansha.co.jp/bc2_bc/search_view.jsp?b=2836165|url-status=live}}{{cite web|title=フリクリ（下） 講談社BOX|url=http://www.bookclub.kodansha.co.jp/bc2_bc/search_view.jsp?b=2836173|language=ja|publisher=Kodansha|access-date=December 27, 2012|archive-date=May 8, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130508190733/http://www.bookclub.kodansha.co.jp/bc2_bc/search_view.jsp?b=2836173|url-status=live}} An edited tankōbon version of the manga that was released in box sets, were released on January 10, 2012, and February 9, 2012, respectively.{{cite web|script-title=ja:フリクリ（上）|url=http://www.bookclub.kodansha.co.jp/bc2_bc/search_view.jsp?b=1389254|language=ja|publisher=Kodansha|access-date=December 27, 2012|archive-date=January 20, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120120163657/http://www.bookclub.kodansha.co.jp/bc2_bc/search_view.jsp?b=1389254|url-status=live}}{{cite web|script-title=ja:フリクリ（下）|url=http://www.bookclub.kodansha.co.jp/bc2_bc/search_view.jsp?b=1389262|language=ja|publisher=Kodansha|access-date=December 27, 2012|archive-date=December 20, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131220020253/http://bookclub.kodansha.co.jp/bc2_bc/search_view.jsp?b=1389262|url-status=live}}

The English-language editions of the manga was released by Tokyopop on September 16, 2003, and on November 4, 2003, respectively.{{cite web|title=FLCL Volume 1|url=http://tokyopop.com/dbpage.php?page=product&productid=1714|publisher=Tokyopop|access-date=December 30, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031003171458/http://tokyopop.com/dbpage.php?page=product&productid=1714|archive-date=October 3, 2003}}{{cite web|title=FLCL Volume 2|url=http://tokyopop.com/dbpage.php?page=product&productid=1715|publisher=Tokyopop|access-date=December 30, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031005160405/http://tokyopop.com/dbpage.php?page=product&productid=1715|archive-date=October 5, 2003}} In March 2011, Dark Horse Comics announced to re-release the manga in omnibus edition.{{cite news|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2011-03-07/dark-horse-adds-angelic-layer-tokyo-babylon-omnibuses|title=Dark Horse Adds Angelic Layer, Tokyo Babylon Omnibuses|work=Anime News Network|date=March 7, 2011|access-date=March 7, 2011|archive-date=March 9, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110309203723/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2011-03-07/dark-horse-adds-angelic-layer-tokyo-babylon-omnibuses|url-status=live}} The omnibus edition was released on May 16, 2012, and includes remastered story pages, a remastered script, and bonus color pages.{{cite web|title=FLCL Omnibus TPB|url=http://www.darkhorse.com/Books/18-934/FLCL-Omnibus-TPB|publisher=Dark Horse Comics Inc.|access-date=February 2, 2012|archive-date=February 20, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120220144135/http://www.darkhorse.com/Books/18-934/FLCL-Omnibus-TPB|url-status=live}}

File:The Pillows Shibuya Club Quattro 2003.jpg in 2003]]

Six tracks of theme music are used for the episodes; five insert songs and one closing theme, all by Japanese rock band the Pillows. The battle themes are "Advice", "Little Busters" and "I Think I Can"; the opening themes are: "One Life", used in episode one, "Instant Music" in episodes two and three, "Happy Bivouac" in episode four, "Runners High", in episode five, and "Carnival" in episode six. The closing theme of each episode is "Ride on Shooting Star", the series' main theme song, used during ending sequences in which appears Yukiko Motoya and a Vespa.

Geneon Entertainment has released three original soundtracks encompassing the songs by the Pillows, and the score by composer Shinkichi Mitsumune. The first soundtrack, titled {{Nihongo|FLCL No.1: Addict|フリクリNo.1 アディクト}}, contains tracks featured in the first three episodes of FLCL. The soundtrack was released on October 4, 2000, in Japan and January 20, 2004, in the US.{{cite web|url=http://www2.gainax.co.jp/shop/index.cgi?rm=detail&id=730|title=フリクリサントラ全巻セット（No.1~3）|publisher=Gainax|language=ja|access-date=December 24, 2011|archive-date=April 26, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120426071057/http://www2.gainax.co.jp/shop/index.cgi?rm=detail&id=730|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0000UX5OI/|title=Amazon.com: Fooly Cooly OST 1: Addict|website=Amazon|access-date=January 10, 2008|archive-date=September 24, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200924144141/https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0000UX5OI/|url-status=live}} The second soundtrack, titled {{Nihongo|FLCL No.2: King of Pirates|フリクリNo.2 海賊王|Furi Kuri No.2 Kaizoku-ō}}, contains tracks featured in the last three episodes of FLCL. The soundtrack was released on July 25, 2001, in Japan and September 7, 2004, in the US.{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002CHJ14/|title=Amazon.com: Fooly Cooly OST 2: King of Pirates|website=Amazon|access-date=January 10, 2008|archive-date=September 24, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200924144142/https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002CHJ14/|url-status=live}} This volume features several audio dramas, with the cast of FLCL playing the various parts. Due to the dramas included, this album acts as a sequel of sorts to the anime. The third soundtrack, titled {{Nihongo|FLCL No.3|フリクリNo.3}}, is a compilation of the first two soundtracks, featuring only music by the Pillows. The released on June 8, 2005, and June 7, 2005, in the US.{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0007OY30C/|title=Amazon.com: FLCL (Fooly Cooly) OST 3|website=Amazon|access-date=January 10, 2008|archive-date=September 24, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200924144142/https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0007OY30C/|url-status=live}} Unlike the previous two soundtracks, the songs are the original vocal versions from the band's LPs. A fourth album title {{Nihongo|FooL on CooL generation|フールオンクールジェネレーション|}} was released in September 2018 with music used in Progressive and Alternative.

{{Track listing

| headline = FLCL No.1 Addict

| total_length = 49:42

| extra_column = Arranged by

| title1 = Last Dinosaur

| extra1 = The Pillows & Zin Yoshida, Jun Suzuki

| length1 = 0:23

| title2 = Ride on Shooting Star

| extra2 = The Pillows & Yoshida, Suzuki

| length2 = 2:21

| title3 = Sad Sad Kiddie (Off Vocal Version)

| extra3 = The Pillows & Tatsuya Kashima

| length3 = 2:04

| title4 = Carnival (Off Vocal Version)

| extra4 = The Pillows & Yoshida, Suzuki

| length4 = 1:37

| title5 = Runners High ~FLCL Ver.~

| extra5 = The Pillows & Kashima

| length5 = 1:38

| title6 = Instant Music

| extra6 = The Pillows & Kashima

| length6 = 3:16

| title7 = Stalker (Off Vocal Version)

| extra7 = The Pillows & Kashima

| length7 = 2:35

| title8 = Rever’s Edge (B-6)

| note8 =

| length8 = 2:49

| title9 = Stalker Goes to Babylon

| note9 =

| length9 = 4:03

| title10 = One Life

| extra10 = The Pillows & Kashima

| length10 = 4:08

| title11 = Pain (A-7)

| note11 =

| length11 = 2:42

| title12 = Comedians' Galop from The Comedians by Kabalevsky" (listed as Kabalevsky from "Clown" ~ Gallop in the tracklist)

| note12 = Composed by Dmitri Borisovich Kabalevsky

| length12 = 1:38

| title13 = Hybrid Rainbow

| extra13 = The Pillows & Kashima

| length13 = 3:58

| title14 = Selfish-b (B-6)

| note14 =

| length14 = 2:13

| title15 = Pink (A-6)

| note15 =

| length15 = 1:39

| title16 = Beautiful Morning with You (Off Vocal Version)

| extra16 = The Pillows & Yoshida, Suzuki

| length16 = 1:35

| title17 = Sleepy Head (Off Vocal Version)

| extra17 = The Pillows & Yoshida, Suzuki

| length17 = 1:04

| title18 = Bran-New Lovesong (Off Vocal Version)

| extra18 = The Pillows & Kashima

| length18 = 1:58

| title19 = Come Down (Off Vocal Version)

| extra19 = The Pillows & Yoshida, Suzuki

| length19 = 2:06

| title20 = Advice ~FLCL Arrange Ver.~

| extra20 = The Pillows & Yoshida, Suzuki

| length20 = 2:13

| title21 = Little Busters

| extra21 = The Pillows & Kashima

| length21 = 3:43

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = FLCL No.2 King of Pirates

| total_length = 60:00

| extra_column = Arranged by

| title1 = Crazy Sunshine

| extra1 = The Pillows & Zin Yoshida, Jun Suzuki

| length1 = 4:06

| title2 = White Ash

| extra2 = The Pillows

| length2 = 1:19

| title3 = Taxi (Drama)

| extra3 =

| length3 = 10:00

| title4 = Nightmare (Karaoke)

| extra4 = The Pillows, Zin Yoshida, and Tatsuya Kashima

| length4 = 1:02

| title5 = Patricia (Karaoke)

| extra5 = The Pillows, Zin Yoshida, and Tatsuya Kashima

| length5 = 1:38

| title6 = Memory of Summer

| extra6 = Shinkichi Mitsumune

| length6 = 2:21

| title7 = Blues Drive Monster

| extra7 = The Pillows

| length7 = 3:25

| title8 = Funny Bunny

| extra8 = The Pillows, Zin Yoshida, Jun Suzuki, and Tatsuya Kashima.

| length8 = 3:37

| title9 = Mamiko (Drama)

| extra9 =

| length9 = 3:04

| title10 = Ohgiri (Drama)

| extra10 =

| length10 = 4:55

| title11 = Harumi (Drama)

| extra11 =

| length11 = 1:51

| title12 = High Risk

| extra12 = Shinkichi Mitsumune

| length12 = 1:46

| title13 = Weekend

| extra13 = Shinkichi Mitsumune

| length13 = 2:37

| title14 = Being Bitten (Drama)

| extra14 =

| length14 = 7:17

| title15 = Another Morning

| extra15 = The Pillows

| length15 = 4:36

| title16 = Last Dinosaur

| extra16 = The Pillows

| length16 = 3:44

| title17 = I Think I Can

| extra17 = The Pillows, Zin Yoshida, Jun Suzuki, and Tatsuya Kashima.

| length17 = 2:59

| title18 = One Life

| extra18 = The Pillows

| note18 = hidden track

| length18 = 4:10

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = FLCL No.3

| total_length = 55:28

| extra_column = Arranged by

| title1 = Sad Sad Kiddie

| extra1 = The Pillows

| length1 = 3:12

| title2 = Sleepy Head

| extra2 = The Pillows

| length2 = 3:02

| title3 = I Think I Can

| extra3 = The Pillows

| length3 = 3:00

| title4 = Blues Drive Monster

| extra4 = The Pillows

| length4 = 3:26

| title5 = Carnival

| extra5 = The Pillows

| length5 = 3:50

| title6 = Come Down

| extra6 = The Pillows

| length6 = 2:09

| title7 = Crazy Sunshine

| extra7 = The Pillows

| length7 = 4:08

| title8 = Stalker

| extra8 = The Pillows

| length8 = 2:37

| title9 = Nightmare

| extra9 = The Pillows

| length9 = 1:43

| title10 = Funny Bunny

| extra10 = The Pillows

| length10 = 3:37

| title11 = Beautiful Morning With You

| extra11 = The Pillows

| length11 = 5:43

| title12 = Advice

| extra12 = The Pillows

| length12 = 2:15

| title13 = Runners High

| extra13 = The Pillows

| length13 = 2:46

| title14 = Hybrid Rainbow

| extra14 = The Pillows

| length14 = 4:00

| title15 = Little Busters

| extra15 = The Pillows

| length15 = 3:46

| title16 = Last Dinosaur

| extra16 = The Pillows

| length16 = 3:46

| title17 = Ride On Shooting Star

| extra17 = The Pillows

| length17 = 2:22

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = FooL on CooL generation

| total_length = 50:34

| extra_column = Arranged by

| title1 = Spiky Seeds

| extra1 = The Pillows

| length1 = 3:07

| title2 = I Think I Can

| extra2 = The Pillows

| length2 = 3:00

| title3 = The Third Eye

| extra3 = The Pillows

| length3 = 3:58

| title4 = My Foot

| extra4 = The Pillows

| length4 = 4:58

| title5 = You Stood There, Like an Angel

| extra5 = The Pillows

| length5 = 3:12

| title6 = Freebee Honey

| extra6 = The Pillows

| length6 = 3:35

| title7 = Non Fiction

| extra7 = The Pillows

| length7 = 3:20

| title8 = Fool on the Planet

| extra8 = The Pillows

| length8 = 6:13

| title9 = Last Dinosaur

| extra9 = The Pillows

| length9 = 3:46

| title10 = The Sun that Will Not Rise

| extra10 = The Pillows

| length10 = 6:17

| title11 = Thank You, my Twilight

| extra11 = The Pillows

| length11 = 4:31

| title12 = Star Overhead

| extra12 = The Pillows

| length12 = 4:37

}}

File:Haruko's Vespa.jpg Super Sport 180 moped and a left-handed Rickenbacker 4001 bass guitar, both of which are used by Haruko in the series.]]

FLCL has received a mostly positive reception. The series has been described as "bizarre" and "surreal",{{Cite web|url=https://io9.gizmodo.com/10-anime-that-will-change-your-life-1615805628|title=10 Anime That Will Change Your Life|date=August 4, 2014 |access-date=June 7, 2018|archive-date=June 12, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612143919/https://io9.gizmodo.com/10-anime-that-will-change-your-life-1615805628|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://opuszine.us/posts/random-nerdery-the-city-the-city-higher-power-flcl-expanse-legion|title=Random Nerdery: The City and the City, Higher Power, FLCL, the Expanse, Legion|date=March 31, 2018|access-date=June 7, 2018|archive-date=June 12, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612141654/https://opuszine.us/posts/random-nerdery-the-city-the-city-higher-power-flcl-expanse-legion|url-status=live}} and has been noted for its symbolic content,{{Cite web|url=https://wiki.rit.edu/display/05052130220101/Guitars%2C+Drinks%2C+and+Eyebrows+-+FLCL+Symbols+With+Deeper+Meanings|title=Guitars, Drinks, and Eyebrows – FLCL Symbols with Deeper Meanings – FA: Visual Arts: Anime – 0505-213-02 (20101) – RIT Wiki|access-date=June 7, 2018|archive-date=September 24, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200924144528/https://wiki.rit.edu/display/05052130220101/Guitars%2C+Drinks%2C+and+Eyebrows+-+FLCL+Symbols+With+Deeper+Meanings|url-status=live}} unusual plot,{{Cite web|url=https://whatculture.com/tv/20-best-anime-tv-series-of-all-time?page=19|title=20 Best Anime TV Series of All Time|date=April 5, 2016|access-date=June 7, 2018|archive-date=June 12, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612141135/https://whatculture.com/tv/20-best-anime-tv-series-of-all-time?page=19|url-status=live}} and its soundtrack composed by the Pillows.{{Cite web|url=http://comicbook.com/anime/2018/05/29/flcl-the-pillows-us-tour/|title='FLCL' Bringing the Pillows on a US Tour|date=May 30, 2018 |access-date=June 7, 2018|archive-date=June 4, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180604072010/http://comicbook.com/anime/2018/05/29/flcl-the-pillows-us-tour/|url-status=live}} Its experimental nature has also been noted, which includes an entire scene made in the cutout animation style of animated American series South Park,{{Cite web|url=http://www.southparkwillie.com/SPinfo/SPrefs.htm|title=South Park References in Other Media|access-date=June 22, 2018|archive-date=July 7, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180707083058/http://www.southparkwillie.com/SPinfo/SPrefs.htm|url-status=live}} or The Matrix-like camera rotation tricks.{{Cite web|url=http://uk.ign.com/articles/2002/09/30/flcl-1|title=FLCL 1 – Ign|date=September 30, 2002 |access-date=June 22, 2018|archive-date=September 24, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200924144148/https://www.ign.com/articles/2002/09/30/flcl-1|url-status=live}}

Christopher McDonald of Anime News Network called it "downright hilarious" and "visually superb" with great music, citing the packaging of 2 episodes per DVD as the only weakness of Synch-Point's original release.{{cite news|last=McDonald|first=Christopher|title=FLCL DVD 1 review|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/flcl/dvd-1|work=Anime News Network|access-date=August 10, 2007|archive-date=August 13, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070813003608/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/flcl/dvd-1|url-status=live}} Robert Nelson of THEM Anime Reviews gave the anime 4 out of 5 stars, stating "FLCL may not have a straightforward or deep plot. It may not have complex characterizations. Hell, it may not have any meaning. But FLCL does succeed in its true objective. It is fun to watch!"{{cite web|last=Nelson|first=Robert|title=FLCL|url=http://www.themanime.org/viewreview.php?id=43|publisher=THEM Anime Reviews|access-date=December 27, 2012|archive-date=January 22, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130122023624/http://themanime.org/viewreview.php?id=43|url-status=live}} Chris Beveridge of Mania gave it an A−, stating "FLCL is something that allowed those involved to try a wide variety of styles and techniques and does come off as quite experimental. But nearly everything worked in their favor and you end up with three hours of nearly break neck speed action, comedy and commentary on modern life."{{cite web|last=Beveridge|first=Chris|title=FLCL Complete series|url=http://www.mania.com/flcl-complete-series_article_126452.html|publisher=Mania|date=March 3, 2011|access-date=December 27, 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130122221556/http://www.mania.com/flcl-complete-series_article_126452.html|archive-date=January 22, 2013}} Brian Ruh praised the series, stating "It was very frenetic and kept pushing the envelope on what was possible in Japanese animation."{{cite news|last=Ruh|first=Brian|title=Brain Diving The Filth and the Furi|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/brain-diving/2011-02-22|work=Anime News Network|date=February 22, 2011|access-date=December 27, 2012|archive-date=November 7, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121107001240/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/brain-diving/2011-02-22|url-status=live}}

IGN columnist Davis Smith reviewed the anime shortly after its English premiere. In the article, Smith praised the series' unusual story telling, extremely high quality animation and the soundtrack provided by the Pillows; rewarding the series a score of 9 out of 10 concluding, "Logic dictates that FLCL should be an undisciplined and unaffecting mess, given all the insanity that its creators are attempting to weld into a functioning whole. Yet while it's hard to explain exactly why, it works. It entertains me. At times, it makes me laugh; at times, it makes me a little misty-eyed; at times, it makes me want to scream and howl and light things on fire and break windows with baseball bats and yes, maybe even buy a Vespa. That's the kind of success that you just can't argue with."{{cite web|last=Smith|first=David|title=FLCL Vol. 1|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2002/09/30/flcl-1|website=ign.com|date=September 30, 2002 |publisher=IGN|access-date=June 7, 2016|archive-date=August 8, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160808034925/http://www.ign.com/articles/2002/09/30/flcl-1|url-status=live}}

From January 3 to February 7, 2012, Hayden Childs, of the online magazine The A.V. Club, composed a six-part weekly analysis and review of each FLCL episode in celebration of The Legend of Korra's then upcoming third season, a series that was heavily influenced by FLCL{{'}}s animation style. In the article, Childs gave an extremely positive review of the series, understanding it as a surrealist inspired coming of age story,{{cite news|last=Crandol|first=Mike|title=FLCL DVD 3 – Review|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/flcl/dvd-3|work=Anime News Network|access-date=July 28, 2018|date=July 31, 2003|archive-date=July 28, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180728223206/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/flcl/dvd-3|url-status=live}} stating "For all of its wild and initially bewildering aspects, the major purpose of FLCL is the impressionistic and often naturalistic documentation of Naota's passage into maturity."{{Cite web|url=https://www.avclub.com/flcl-fooly-cooly-1798170985|title=FLCL: "Fooly Cooly"|last=Childs|first=Hayden|date=January 3, 2012|website=avclub.com|publisher=A.V. Club|access-date=June 6, 2016|archive-date=June 18, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160618115902/http://www.avclub.com/tvclub/flcl-fooly-cooly-66724|url-status=live}}

Avatar: The Last Airbender director Giancarlo Volpe has stated members of his staff "were all ordered to buy FLCL and watch every single episode of it."{{cite web|url=http://flaming-june.org/videos/Audience%20Question%20&%20Answer%20Pt.%202.wmv|title=Audience Questions and Answer Part 2 at the San Diego Comi-con 2006|publisher=Flaming June|access-date=May 7, 2008|format=WMV|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080414152845/http://flaming-june.org/videos/Audience%20Question%20%26%20Answer%20Pt.%202.wmv|archive-date=April 14, 2008|url-status=dead}}

Chainsaw Man creator Tatsuki Fujimoto has stated in his 3 million copies sold thank you letter to fans that Chainsaw Man is a "wicked version of FLCL".{{Cite web |last=Luster |first=Joseph |title=Chainsaw Man Manga Shreds Through 3 Million Copies in Circulation |url=https://www.crunchyroll.com/anime-news/2020/08/03-1/chainsaw-man-manga-shreds-through-3-million-copies-in-circulation |access-date=August 9, 2022 |website=Crunchyroll |language=en-us |archive-date=December 27, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201227192219/https://www.crunchyroll.com/anime-news/2020/08/03-1/chainsaw-man-manga-shreds-through-3-million-copies-in-circulation |url-status=live }}

On August 12, 2003, a Time Warner press release noted the success of Cartoon Network: FLCL "ranked No. 42 among all shows on ad-supported cable among adults 18–34". Also in 2003, FLCL won third place for Best Animation Film at the Fantasia Festival.{{cite web|url=http://www.filmthreat.com/festivals/1239/|title=Damon Packard Wins Major Award at Fantasia|publisher=Film Threat|access-date=August 4, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130913004255/http://www.filmthreat.com/festivals/1239/|archive-date=September 13, 2013}}{{cite web|url=http://www.aintitcool.com/node/15846|title=Cool News FANTASIA 2003! Festival Winners Announced!!|publisher=Ain't it Cool News|access-date=August 4, 2013|archive-date=November 11, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131111191506/http://www.aintitcool.com/node/15846|url-status=live}} On February 24, 2007, FLCL was nominated for "Best Cast", and won "Best Comedy Series" and "Best Short Series" at the first American Anime Awards show.{{cite news|title=American Anime Awards Winners|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2007-02-24/american-anime-awards-winners|work=Anime News Network|date=February 24, 2007|access-date=August 10, 2007|archive-date=August 22, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070822001918/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2007-02-24/american-anime-awards-winners|url-status=live}} Anime Insider ranked FLCL 4th in their list of the best English-licensed anime of all time in November 2007.{{cite journal|date=November 2007|title=Top 50 Anime|journal=Anime Insider|issue=50|page=63|publisher=Wizard Entertainment}}

{{Main|FLCL Progressive{{!}}FLCL Progressive|FLCL Alternative{{!}}FLCL Alternative|FLCL: Grunge{{!}}FLCL: Grunge|FLCL: Shoegaze{{!}}FLCL: Shoegaze}}

On August 31, 2015, Anime News Network reported that Production I.G may have been planning a continuation or remake of the OVA series after announcing their acquisition of the rights to FLCL from production studio Gainax.{{cite web|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2015-08-31/production-i.g-acquires-flcl-rights-for-ventures-such-as-anime-remake/.92335|title=Production I.G Acquires FLCL Rights For Ventures Such as Anime Remake|access-date=March 23, 2018|archive-date=March 23, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180323160324/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2015-08-31/production-i.g-acquires-flcl-rights-for-ventures-such-as-anime-remake/.92335|url-status=live}} According to Hideaki Anno, his animation studio Khara was originally set to buy the rights to FLCL from Gainax before Production I.G. However, before the deal was finalized Gainax suddenly raised the asking price causing the deal with Khara to fall though.{{Cite web|url=https://twitter.com/khara_inc/status/1211398615261798400|title=株式会社カラー on Twitter: "これまでどこにもお話ししてこなかった経緯をきちんと説明しておきたい、との思いから寄稿させていただきました。ご一読いただければ幸いです。 【庵野秀明・特別寄稿】『エヴァ』の名を悪用したガイナックスと報道に強く憤る理由 | ダイヤモンド・オンライン"|access-date=January 19, 2020|archive-date=January 8, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200108230504/https://twitter.com/khara_inc/status/1211398615261798400|url-status=live}}

On March 24, 2016, via Toonami's official Facebook and Tumblr pages, it was announced that 12 new episodes of FLCL would be produced in cooperation with Production I.G.{{cite web|title=Toonami to Co-Produce 2 New FLCL Seasons|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2016-03-24/toonami-to-co-produce-2-new-flcl-seasons/.100222|website=Anime News Network|access-date=March 24, 2016|archive-date=March 25, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160325065842/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2016-03-24/toonami-to-co-produce-2-new-flcl-seasons/.100222|url-status=live}}{{cite web|title=ANIME EXPO 2017: FLCL 2 AND 3 FIRST DETAILS, RELEASE WINDOW ANNOUNCED|url=http://uk.ign.com/articles/2017/07/02/anime-expo-2017-flcl-2-and-3-first-details-release-window-announced|website=IGN|access-date=March 20, 2018|date=July 2, 2017|archive-date=March 9, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200309231934/https://uk.ign.com/articles/2017/07/02/anime-expo-2017-flcl-2-and-3-first-details-release-window-announced|url-status=live}} The episodes were split into two individual seasons: {{Nihongo|FLCL Progressive|フリクリ プログレ|Furikuri Purogure|"FLCL Progress"}} and {{Nihongo|FLCL Alternative|フリクリ オルタナ|Furikuri Orutana|"FLCL Alterna"}} which served as sequels to the popular series, which was initially broadcast on Adult Swim in August 2003.

The synopsis of the first sequel season was published by Adult Swim:

{{blockquote|In the new season of FLCL, many years have passed since Naota and Haruhara Haruko shared their adventure together. Meanwhile, the war between the two entities known as Medical Mechanica and Fraternity rages across the galaxy. Enter Hidomi, a young teenage girl who believes there is nothing amazing to expect from her average life, until one day when a new teacher named Haruko arrives at her school. Soon enough, Medical Mechanica is attacking her town and Hidomi discovers a secret within her that could save everyone, a secret that only Haruko can unlock.

But why did Haruko return to Earth? What happened to her Rickenbacker 4001 she left with Naota? And where did the human-type robot 'Canti' go?}}

FLCL Progressive, the sequel series, featured the return of original character designer Yoshiyuki Sadamato (as his respective role) and original series creator Kazuya Tsurumaki, who supervised the project. Hideto Iwai wrote the scripts, and Katsuyuki Motohiro served as chief director on the project, with each episode featuring a different director: Kazuto Arai, Toshihisa Kaiya, Yuki Ogawa, Yoshihide Ibata, Kei Suezawa, and Hiroshi Ikehata.{{cite web|title=Staff&Cast – 劇場版「フリクリ プログレ」公式サイト|url=http://flcl-anime.com/progre/caststaff/|access-date=March 21, 2018|archive-date=March 21, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180321130923/http://flcl-anime.com/progre/caststaff/|url-status=live}} The animation was produced mostly by Production I.G, but studios Production GoodBook and Signal.MD handled episodes 2 and 5, respectively. The Pillows contributed to the series soundtrack,{{cite web|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2016-07-03/character-designer-yoshiyuki-sadamoto-rock-band-the-pillows-to-return-for-flcl-sequel-series/.103910|title=Character Designer Yoshiyuki Sadamoto, Rock Band The Pillows to Return for FLCL Sequel Series|work=Anime News Network|access-date=July 3, 2016|archive-date=July 5, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160705134443/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2016-07-03/character-designer-yoshiyuki-sadamoto-rock-band-the-pillows-to-return-for-flcl-sequel-series/.103910|url-status=live}} although the score was primarily composed by R・O・N from music production company VERYGOO.

FLCL Alternative, the third season, once again saw the return of character designer Yoshiyuki Sadamoto, composer R・O・N (with tracks by the Pillows), scriptwriter Hideto Iwai, and supervisor Kazuya Tsurumaki. Katsuyuki Motohiro, as well, returned as chief director, although Yutaka Uemara was the only director, and Kiyotaka Suzuki served as assistant director. Production I.G, Revoroot, and NUT produced the animation for the series.{{cite web|title=Staff&Cast – 劇場版「フリクリ オルタナ」公式サイト|url=http://flcl-anime.com/alterna/caststaff/|access-date=March 21, 2018|archive-date=March 21, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180321192747/http://flcl-anime.com/alterna/caststaff/|url-status=dead}}

FLCL Progressive premiered on June 3, 2018, on Adult Swim's Toonami programming block and concluded on July 7, 2018;{{cite web|title=FLCL 2 & 3 Video Reveals Titles, June 2 Premiere|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2018-03-20/flcl-2-and-3-video-reveals-titles-june-2-premiere/.129243|website=Anime News Network|access-date=March 20, 2018|date=March 20, 2018|archive-date=March 20, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180320230821/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2018-03-20/flcl-2-and-3-video-reveals-titles-june-2-premiere/.129243|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.theverge.com/2016/3/25/11304134/flcl-anime-new-seasons-2017-cartoon-network-toonami|title=Cult anime series FLCL is returning for two new seasons|date=March 25, 2016|access-date=March 23, 2018|archive-date=June 12, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612162243/https://www.theverge.com/2016/3/25/11304134/flcl-anime-new-seasons-2017-cartoon-network-toonami|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2016/03/24/adult-swim-partners-with-production-ig-for-flcl-seasons-2-and-3|title=Adult Swim Partners with Production I.G for FLCL Seasons 2 and 3|author=Eric Van Allen|date=March 24, 2016|work=IGN|access-date=March 25, 2016|archive-date=March 24, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160324190928/http://www.ign.com/articles/2016/03/24/adult-swim-partners-with-production-ig-for-flcl-seasons-2-and-3|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2016-03-24/toonami-to-co-produce-2-new-flcl-seasons/.100222|title=Toonami to Co-Produce 2 New FLCL Seasons (Updated)|work=Anime News Network|access-date=March 25, 2016|archive-date=March 25, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160325065842/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2016-03-24/toonami-to-co-produce-2-new-flcl-seasons/.100222|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://www.avclub.com/article/adult-swim-announces-two-new-seasons-cult-anime-hi-234318|title=Adult Swim announces two new seasons of cult anime hit FLCL|work=The A.V. Club|date=March 25, 2016 |access-date=March 25, 2016|archive-date=March 25, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160325094311/http://www.avclub.com/article/adult-swim-announces-two-new-seasons-cult-anime-hi-234318|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2017-07-02/flcl-2-3-trailer-reveals-more-staff-2018-premiere/.118348|title=FLCL 2&3 Trailer Reveals More Staff, 2018 Premiere (Updated)|work=Anime News Network|access-date=July 3, 2017|archive-date=July 3, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170703054629/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2017-07-02/flcl-2-3-trailer-reveals-more-staff-2018-premiere/.118348|url-status=live}} FLCL Alternative premiered on September 8, 2018, and concluded on October 13, 2018.{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/Toonami/?hc_ref=ARR8RVLkSxPmXhUw_jIDdd1fz-PBtJl1E4Qx6pZm0scWGS8qjHHVWL7raGBz-RikN5E&fref=nf|title=Toonami|website=www.facebook.com|access-date=March 23, 2018|archive-date=September 24, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200924144528/https://www.facebook.com/Toonami/?hc_ref=ARR8RVLkSxPmXhUw_jIDdd1fz-PBtJl1E4Qx6pZm0scWGS8qjHHVWL7raGBz-RikN5E&fref=nf|url-status=live}} In Japan, Alternative and Progressive had theatrical screenings{{cite web|url=http://gigazine.net/news/20170703-flcl/|title=アニメ「フリクリ」の続編・劇場版「フリクリ2」の2018年全国公開が決定、さらに「フリクリ3」制作も|work=Gigazine|date=July 3, 2017 |access-date=December 18, 2017|archive-date=July 3, 2017|archive-url=https://archive.today/20170703054208/http://gigazine.net/news/20170703-flcl/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2017-07-02/flcl-2-3-reveals-more-staff-theatrical-format-in-japan/.118354|title=FLCL 2&3 Reveals More Staff, Theatrical Format in Japan|access-date=March 23, 2018|archive-date=June 12, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612135851/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2017-07-02/flcl-2-3-reveals-more-staff-theatrical-format-in-japan/.118354|url-status=live}} on September 7, 2018, and September 28, 2018, respectively.{{cite web|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2018-03-20/flcl-alternative-progressive-anime-japanese-video-reveals-cast-september-debut/.129269|title=FLCL: Alternative/Progressive Anime's Japanese Video Reveals Cast, September Debut|website=Anime News Network|access-date=March 20, 2018|archive-date=March 21, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180321132311/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2018-03-20/flcl-alternative-progressive-anime-japanese-video-reveals-cast-september-debut/.129269|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://natalie.mu/eiga/news/274448|title=劇場版「フリクリ」正式タイトル解禁、林原めぐみら新キャストも発表（動画あり） – 映画ナタリー|trans-title=Announcement of FLCL Theatrical Version official title reveal, Megumi Hayashibara cast|language=ja|website=Natalie|publisher=Natasha|access-date=March 23, 2018|archive-date=March 22, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180322000202/https://natalie.mu/eiga/news/274448|url-status=live}} The first episode of FLCL Alternative unexpectedly premiered early at midnight on April Fools' Day on Toonami, airing entirely in Japanese with English subtitles.{{cite news|url=http://comicbook.com/anime/2018/04/01/toonami-april-fools-day-anime-stunt-react/|title=Internet Reacts To Toonami's April Fool's Day Anime Stunt|last=Valdez|first=Nick|date=April 1, 2018|work=Anime|access-date=April 1, 2018|language=en|archive-date=April 1, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180401144434/http://comicbook.com/anime/2018/04/01/toonami-april-fools-day-anime-stunt-react/|url-status=live}} The day of the second season's US premiere, Toonami simultaneously announced via its Facebook page that they would be delaying the English subtitled versions of both new seasons until November 2018, in respect for the Japanese film format releases.{{Cite news|url=http://www.crunchyroll.com/anime-news/2018/06/02-1/adult-swim-delays-japanese-versions-of-flcl23-until-november|title=Adult Swim Delays Japanese Versions of 'FLCL:2/3' Until November|work=Crunchyroll|access-date=June 4, 2018|language=en|archive-date=June 3, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180603062756/http://www.crunchyroll.com/anime-news/2018/06/02-1/adult-swim-delays-japanese-versions-of-flcl23-until-november|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2018-06-02/toonami-delays-flcl-progressive-flcl-alternative-anime-english-subtitled-version-to-november/.132387|title=Toonami Delays FLCL Progressive, FLCL Alternative Anime's English-subtitled Version to November|work=Anime News Network|access-date=June 4, 2018|language=en|archive-date=June 3, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180603062801/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2018-06-02/toonami-delays-flcl-progressive-flcl-alternative-anime-english-subtitled-version-to-november/.132387|url-status=live}} Warner Bros. released FLCL Progressive on DVD on October 1, 2019.{{Cite web|url=https://www.animationmagazine.net/home-entertainment/adult-swims-flcl-progressive-scoots-to-dvd-oct-1/|title=Adult Swim's 'FLCL: Progressive' Scoots to DVD Oct. 1|date=July 15, 2019|access-date=July 16, 2019|archive-date=July 16, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190716024329/https://www.animationmagazine.net/home-entertainment/adult-swims-flcl-progressive-scoots-to-dvd-oct-1/|url-status=live}} It later released FLCL Alternative on DVD along with a Blu-ray combo pack of both sequels on February 4, 2020.{{Cite web|url=https://www.animationmagazine.net/home-entertainment/cult-hit-anime-flcl-progressive-alternative-rides-home-feb-4/|title=Cult Hit Anime 'FLCL: Progressive & Alternative' Rides Home Feb. 4|date=November 25, 2019|access-date=November 26, 2019|archive-date=November 27, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191127231940/https://www.animationmagazine.net/home-entertainment/cult-hit-anime-flcl-progressive-alternative-rides-home-feb-4/|url-status=live}}

Two additional seasons were ordered by Adult Swim in 2022, which were announced on Toonami's 25th anniversary, titled FLCL: Grunge and FLCL: Shoegaze. Both seasons premiered in 2023.{{cite web |last1=Otterson |first1=Joe |title=Adult Swim Celebrates 25th Anniversary of Toonami, Orders Two New 'FLCL' Seasons and 'Housing Complex C' (EXCLUSIVE) |url=https://variety.com/2022/tv/news/toonami-flcl-housing-complex-c-1235207955/ |website=Variety |access-date=March 17, 2022 |date=March 17, 2022 |archive-date=March 17, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220317160450/https://variety.com/2022/tv/news/toonami-flcl-housing-complex-c-1235207955/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite tweet |number=1504490938399350795 |user=Clarknova1 |title=Housing Complex C, a new original horror anime premiering this year from Akatsuki. FLCL: Grunge from Montblanc, FLCL: Shoegaze from Production I.G X NUT, both premiering NEXT year! Prepare yourselves for some WILD rides. And new music from the pillows of course.}} On October 7, 2023, it was announced there are no plans for further FLCL seasons.{{cite web | url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/daily-briefs/2023-10-07/adult-swim-jason-demarco-we-wont-be-making-any-more-flcl/.203223 | title=Adult Swim's Jason DeMarco: 'We Won't be Making Any More' FLCL | date=November 15, 2023 }}

{{Reflist|2}}

{{Notelist}}

• {{Cite news|last=DuHamel|first=Brandon|url=http://www.blu-raydefinition.com/reviews/flcl-the-complete-series-blu-ray-review.html|title=FLCL: The Complete Series Blu-ray Review|work=Blu-rayDefinition.com|date=February 24, 2011}}
• {{Cite news|title=FLCL Vol. 1|work=Newtype USA|volume=1|issue=2|date=December 2002|location=Houston|publisher=A.D. Vision|issn=1541-4817}}
• {{Cite news|last=Johnston|first=Chris|title=FLCL Ultimate DVD Collection|magazine=Newtype USA|volume=5|issue=11|page=151|date=November 2006|location=Houston|publisher=A.D. Vision|issn=1541-4817}}
• {{Cite news|last=Horn|first=Carl Gustav|url=http://pulp-mag.com/archives/6.03/flcl.shtml|title=FLCL|work=Pulp|volume=6|issue=3|page=1|date=March 2002|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020615105115/http://pulp-mag.com/archives/6.03/flcl.shtml|archive-date=June 15, 2002}}
• {{Cite news|last=Horn|first=Carl Gustav|url=http://pulp-mag.com/archives/6.03/flcl_02.shtml|title=FLCL|work=Pulp|volume=6|issue=3|page=2|date=March 2002|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020624041402/http://pulp-mag.com/archives/6.03/flcl_02.shtml|archive-date=June 24, 2002}}
• {{Cite news|last=Horn|first=Carl Gustav|url=http://pulp-mag.com/archives/6.03/flcl_03.shtml|title=FLCL|work=Pulp|volume=6|issue=3|page=3|date=March 2002|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020624041715/http://pulp-mag.com/archives/6.03/flcl_03.shtml|archive-date=June 24, 2002}}
• {{Cite news|last=Horn|first=Carl Gustav|url=http://pulp-mag.com/archives/6.03/flcl_04.shtml|title=FLCL|work=Pulp|volume=6|issue=3|page=4|date=March 2002|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020624041731/http://pulp-mag.com/archives/6.03/flcl_04.shtml|archive-date=June 24, 2002}}
• {{Cite news|last=Horn|first=Carl Gustav|url=http://pulp-mag.com/archives/6.03/flcl_05.shtml|title=FLCL|work=Pulp|volume=6|issue=3|page=5|date=March 2002|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020624042415/http://pulp-mag.com/archives/6.03/flcl_05.shtml|archive-date=June 24, 2002}}

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