[TrashMan]

It's always hard to make a movie out of a series. Especially if the series is awesome. How can you compress 26 episodes of awesomeness (roughly) into just an hour and a half?

You don't.
Instead you either tell a different story, or really abbreviate the whole story (mercilessly cutting out a lot of stuff) and use your greater budget to bring out the ambiance that really characterized the show.

Problem is, it rarely turns out good. the series have a lots of characters, and usually a lot of time to flesh them out and have them grow.
A movie can't really do that.
I can only name one or two good movies that were made fro ma series.

EDIT:
Just watched FLCL. WTF??  The whole thing is retardedly f*** up, drowing in crack.

[Liberator]

Not really, wait a week and watch it again.

Bear in mind it has an overarching theme, I won't tell you what, but see if you can grasp what it is.

[TrashMan]

Not really, wait a week and watch it again.

No thank you. Why would I want to do that? It already failed if I have to watch it twice just to figure out what is going on.

On to the next anime!

[Gortef]

Maybe its' me but I never liked sport animes. They are always so forced.

Meh, mebbe true. But they always manage the make the events intense enough to satisfy my exitement. Also as I said, on some of those series there are truly magnificent characters.

[Liberator]

Not really, wait a week and watch it again.

No thank you. Why would I want to do that? It already failed if I have to watch it twice just to figure out what is going on.

On to the next anime!

Remember though, this was made by the same studio that made Evangelion, and you still don't understand that either.  Just watch it again after you have had time to digest it and it'll make more sense.

[TrashMan]

I know, which is precisely my point. A movie/series/book fails if I have to watch it 10 times. That means it didn't present it's plot coherently enough. More importantly, it failed to captivate me enough to even want to watch it again.

Either way...what should I watch next...hmmmmmm

[Colonol Dekker]

Thundercats

[Thaeris]

FLCL is strange indeed. I've read several reviews of it and noted the commentary with hopes of better understanding the objectives of the series. Ultimately it often comes down to the meaning you apply to what you've watched; hopefully that meaning is useful. In that sense, the given production often becomes like a piece of literature (which several animes are based off of anyway). I think of reading "Lord of the Flies" in high school when saying this: I compiled an abstract meaning for the text which was really quite different than what most people figured. Of course, it was high school, so I don't think all that many of the students really put too much effort into serious literary analysis...

In terms of "WTF," here's what most certainly has to be said of FLCL:

Spoiler:

Poor kid. Essentially raped throughout the course of the series...

In regards to looking at an anime more like literature, a series like Code Geass actually becomes better when viewed in such a manner. I've noted NGTM-1R's comments and feel they have some validity, as there are some definite inplausibilities in certain plot/environment aspects. I liked the series because it actually reminded a lot of Frank Herbert's "Dune" (which due to his subject matter is often very strange as well...) in many regards, but that's a discussion in itself. Taking in directly what you see is important, but being able to extrapolate some depth in the production is also highly (or even most) important. I thought even Gurren Lagann did that to some degree...

But TrashMan's right: it takes a while to find any purpose to FLCL...

-Thaeris

[terran_emperor]

Ranma 1/2
DNAngel
InuYasha eps 1-12
Chrono Crusade
Street Fighter 2V (ADV dub from Video Tape)
Street Fighter 2 Movie
Ghost In The Shell
Neon Genesis Evangelion + Movies
Tenchi Muyo OVA 1-3
.Hack//Sign
.Hack//Liminality
Animatrix
Martian Successor Nadesico
Gundam Wing + Endless Waltz
Full Metal Panic
Full Metal Panic Fumoffu (DONT ASK)
Azumanga Dioh
Ah! My Goddess!
Tsubasa: Resovoir Chronicle
Cardcaptor Sakura (Subbed)
Sailor Moon (Subbed)

***
Not Sure if Tokusatsus count...but
Kyoryu Sentai Zyuranger
Jikuu Senshi Spielban
Choujinki Metalder
Uchuu Keiji Shaider

***

You mean like the Cardcaptor Sakura one? I believe that took place after the ending of the actual anime series.

Actually i think he's refereing to Evangelion Death and Rebirth...

Besides dont forget that many Tokusatsu (essentially Live Action Anime) Movies are essentially blown up versions of episodes from the TV Series. I mean the Metalder Movie and the vaious Showa Kamen Rider Movies could very easily have been episodes of the TV Series

[Mongoose]

Not really, wait a week and watch it again.

No thank you. Why would I want to do that? It already failed if I have to watch it twice just to figure out what is going on.

You already failed by missing the point. You're not supposed to get FLCL the first time.  Or maybe even the second.  But after a few rewatches, everything should become fairly clear.  And the pleasure's in the rewatching, because FLCL is essentially awesomeness in a can. Just sit back, turn off your brain, and embrace the insanity.   If nothing else, rewatch it to see the ridiculously awesome animation direction again, particularly that long and loving tribute to the Daikon opening animations at the end of episode 5.

[TrashMan]

You already failed by missing the point. You're not supposed to get FLCL the first time.  Or maybe even the second.  But after a few rewatches, everything should become fairly clear.  And the pleasure's in the rewatching, because FLCL is essentially awesomeness in a can. Just sit back, turn off your brain, and embrace the insanity. 

I am the one missing the point? 

[Thaeris]

I think it makes the point I stated earlier more apparent. It is what it is. Now you have to find the point it has for you. That's my take...

So I'd say you haven't missed the point at all. You have yet to determine one...

-Thaeris

[Mongoose]

You already failed by missing the point. You're not supposed to get FLCL the first time.  Or maybe even the second.  But after a few rewatches, everything should become fairly clear.  And the pleasure's in the rewatching, because FLCL is essentially awesomeness in a can. Just sit back, turn off your brain, and embrace the insanity.

I am the one missing the point? 

My point is that, by utterly closing your mind to any show that requires more than one viewing in order to completely understand, you'll never get any of the points that FLCL presents, and you'll wind up missing out on a whole list of other fantastic series in the process.  Personally, I find that series which just about require at least one more viewing are those I like the most, because of how highly rewatchable they are and how much they reward the attentive viewer.  I've sat through FLCL at least ten times, and each time, I've managed to catch at least one Easter egg I'd never noticed before, or pick up on some hilarious bit of dialogue that I'd glossed over...and that's not even mentioning the more thematic elements of it.  If a director can keep you coming back and picking up on new material, they've done a damn good job.

[BloodEagle]

I know, which is precisely my point. A movie/series/book fails if I have to watch it 10 times. That means it didn't present it's plot coherently enough. More importantly, it failed to captivate me enough to even want to watch it again.

 

Either way...what should I watch next...hmmmmmm

Check out GunGrave.

[Flaser]

You already failed by missing the point. You're not supposed to get FLCL the first time.  Or maybe even the second.  But after a few rewatches, everything should become fairly clear.  And the pleasure's in the rewatching, because FLCL is essentially awesomeness in a can. Just sit back, turn off your brain, and embrace the insanity.

I am the one missing the point? 

My point is that, by utterly closing your mind to any show that requires more than one viewing in order to completely understand, you'll never get any of the points that FLCL presents, and you'll wind up missing out on a whole list of other fantastic series in the process.  Personally, I find that series which just about require at least one more viewing are those I like the most, because of how highly rewatchable they are and how much they reward the attentive viewer.  I've sat through FLCL at least ten times, and each time, I've managed to catch at least one Easter egg I'd never noticed before, or pick up on some hilarious bit of dialogue that I'd glossed over...and that's not even mentioning the more thematic elements of it.  If a director can keep you coming back and picking up on new material, they've done a damn good job.

IMHO FLCL is a lot like Pulp Fiction. I tried watching it as a kid, and didn't "get" it all.... I was not in the right frame of mind. FLCL can't be watched with expectations of a "coherent, concise" message.

The whole OVA is an allegory about leaving childhood. The protagonist faces issues that were simply "not part of childhood", like guns, violence, real (trusted) friends and relationships, dealing with the opposite sex and sexual tension. This is done in a nonsensical, cheek-in-tongue manner that thanfully doesn't take itself seriously.

Naota tries to be "serious" and "grown up" all the time as a defense mechanism against his dysfunctional family and utterly irresponsible father. What he doesn't realize is that he's still just a child and instead being a grown up is just a child who "plays a grown up".

The robots, Medical Mechanika, Atoms and so on are a more literal allusion to his repressed urges, the hormonal urges of a teenager and finally the repressed feelings his situation creates in him. They literally burst out of his head, out of his subconsciousness and wreak havoc upon his little make-believe life of "responsible boredom". Only when he finally accepts his urges, his "repressed self" is when he can truly grow up....

...and KICK ASS!

Literally, and allegorically...

...to an awesome rock soundtrack by the "Pillows"!

* Flaser hums to himself....

ORANGE no SLIDE utsusu sora
SPONGE no PRIDE burasakete

SPIDER
kike totta sono yokan wa
kakusanakuta tte ii n da
iro no tsuita yume mitai na

....
....

Orange slide, the sky that it reflects
Sponge's pride, being dangled

Spider
The apprehension that was caught alive
It's okay even if I don't hide it
I want to have colored dreams

All in all the main reason why I think Trashman doesn't "get" FLCL is that it's a very Avant-garde OVA.

[TrashMan]

My point is that, by utterly closing your mind to any show that requires more than one viewing in order to completely understand, you'll never get any of the points that FLCL presents, and you'll wind up missing out on a whole list of other fantastic series in the process.  Personally, I find that series which just about require at least one more viewing are those I like the most, because of how highly rewatchable they are and how much they reward the attentive viewer.  I've sat through FLCL at least ten times, and each time, I've managed to catch at least one Easter egg I'd never noticed before, or pick up on some hilarious bit of dialogue that I'd glossed over...and that's not even mentioning the more thematic elements of it.  If a director can keep you coming back and picking up on new material, they've done a damn good job.

In other words, it's like modern art?
Thank God you explained that. Now I'm damn sure I'll never watch it again.

If I spend hours watching an ink blob I will see something. That doesn't make it art or deep and meaningful. If you stare into anything for hours you'll start seeing things - your mind will make you see things to keep you from going insane.

Doesn't matter if it's the directors, writers or animators fault OR if it's planned like that from the beginning. The book/movie/series fails if I have to watch it 10 times. If I *want* to watch it again because of awesome story/characters, that's good. Bonus points for that.

If it didn't deliver in the first try, it didn't present the plot coherently and in a simple way. Why should I give it a second chance? Why would I watch it again? Why would I WANT to? You make it sound like re-watching it 10 times is a amazing experience and good use of time. I don't think so.

[Mongoose]

In other words, it's like modern art?
Thank God you explained that. Now I'm damn sure I'll never watch it again.

I didn't say that.  Not once.  Nor will I.  It's nothing like the sort of "modern art" you're decrying.

Doesn't matter if it's the directors, writers or animators fault OR if it's planned like that from the beginning. The book/movie/series fails if I have to watch it 10 times. If I *want* to watch it again because of awesome story/characters, that's good. Bonus points for that.

But my argument was that one should want to watch it that many times, at least ideally.  That's how much value both myself and many other people place on its quality.  You apparently see things differently.

If it didn't deliver in the first try, it didn't present the plot coherently and in a simple way. Why should I give it a second chance? Why would I watch it again? Why would I WANT to? You make it sound like re-watching it 10 times is a amazing experience and good use of time. I don't think so.

Again, in my opinion, it is an amazing experience, though I can see now that it'd be utterly lost on you.  The whole joy I've found in the medium of anime is how many plots out there aren't of the blindingly simple sort that even a ten-year-old would be able to piece together on the first attempt.  That isn't to say that shows of that type can't be enormously fun, but I'm generally significantly more interested in the sorts of shows that I can sink my mental teeth into, shows that leave me thinking about them for several days after I've finished watching them. 

Do yourself a favor and read what Flaser posted.  All of those themes are packed into the six episodes of FLCL, and they're all handled intelligently and skillfully.  The show isn't entirely clear to most people the first time around, nor as it meant to be...just as its main theme of adolescence is the most unclear period in most people's lives.  Yet once you understand what's going on, you see how everything really was tied together from the very beginning.  Most of the imagery in the show (besides the stuff that's just thrown in to be hilarious or look cool) has a particular symbolism or meaning to it, and being able to pick out those sorts of things on repeated viewings is what makes shows like FLCL so damn fun, at least for me.  After all, if you got everything you possibly could out of one viewing of a series or movie, why would you ever bother rewatching it, or even owning it?

You know what, I won't bother derailing this thread further arguing with you.  Go and watch your shounen plots, and leave the thinking to the big boys.

[TrashMan]

The whole joy I've found in the medium of anime is how many plots out there aren't of the blindingly simple sort that even a ten-year-old would be able to piece together on the first attempt.  That isn't to say that shows of that type can't be enormously fun, but I'm generally significantly more interested in the sorts of shows that I can sink my mental teeth into, shows that leave me thinking about them for several days after I've finished watching them. 

Ahh...so complex plots and deeper meanings cannot be delivered in a more coherent way?
Bollocks.  I watched quite a few movies and animes that left me with enough mind chewing material for at least a weeks worth of pondering.

I get what you're trying to say, but IMHO, you got your priorities mixed up. A medium - any medium - should deliver it's message as cleary as possible.

Do yourself a favor and read what Flaser posted.  All of those themes are packed into the six episodes of FLCL, and they're all handled intelligently and skillfully.

Maybe they are. Maybe they are not. 
Did the writer planned for that or is the symbolism only there by accident?  People can read anything from everything. Do I find hte smae things in the work as you? Give me any book and some time and I will find  hidden meanings and deeper truths to last you a lifetime.
Do you understand why I don't love such work much?

You know what, I won't bother derailing this thread further arguing with you.  Go and watch your shounen plots, and leave the thinking to the big boys.

Ahh..the intelectual approach.
Alas, this work is too "sophisticated" for me. Just like modern art. How ever can I live with myself now?

FYI - I rather like Sinen. I'm jsut not much a fan of useless mind scre:

The Mind Screw is basically a work that relies so heavily on symbolism that the immediate response afterwards is "What the heck was that?!?!"

These works practically beg for fans to invent their own improbable theories about Epileptic Trees and such.

While some fans can make arguments over what the symbolism means, and what everything represents, many mind screws will pad themselves with meaningless sequences to make the audience work even harder. Arguments over which sequences are significant are common.. Don't expect the writer to be very helpful. And if the show has supplemental materials, don't expect them to be much help either. (If, by some miracle, they are helpful, you've got yourself a Mind Screwdriver.) The more decipherable symbolism tends to focus on the perceptions people have of one another. And puberty.

Also known as Mind ****, for those that don't mind the profanity.

[Thaeris]

There's no reason to bother watching something again if you truly didn't like it or have no desire to find a reason or meaning for it. In that case, TrashMan's opinion of FLCL is perfectly valid.

Again I think of literature. Although I never read it personally, I knew those who read the book "Brave New World" for Advanced Literature in high school. Very few of them actually enjoyed it, even after analysis of the various interperetations of the novel.

Thus, let it be. A discussion over the meaning of a work is one thing, but trying to force your precieved meaning of that work of upon someone else who has no interest in the matter is a little rude. Not everything is for everyone...

Safety on the spoilers, though. Usually I don't mind spoilers, but FLCL has such a shock factor that it's better to keep insight to a minimum unless using spoiler tags.

As far as easily enjoyable goes, though, I would most definately recommend Moribito/Seirei no Moribito. An English dub only exists for the first 10 episodes (which were very well performed). Aparently, Adult Swim cut production after the first 10 episodes for no apparent reason. That said, you'd have to watch the rest in Japanese. The sub-work is good, though, so not too many details should be "lost in translation." I've never seen a better rendered series, either. The visuals are truly superb.

-Thaeris

[Colonol Dekker]

Stop this topic from becoming a "you don't get this programme blah blah" slang match or i'll lock it down quicker than a missouri state trooper >