The original FLCL was a wild and energetic portrayal of childhood through the eyes of its characters. Director Kazuya Tsurumaki’s personal experiences growing up gave birth to Naota, a boy who tries to downplay the chaos in his life. But in FLCL Alternative, Kana and her friends are refreshingly different. They fully embrace their lives and friendships, knowing that change is inevitable and that the world around them is falling apart. All they truly desire is for things to stay the same.

FLCL Alternative serves as a worthy sequel to FLCL, despite its imperfections and occasional confusion about Haruko’s role. Tsurumaki believed that a younger team with a fresh perspective was necessary for a successful sequel, and the Alternative team delivered. FLCLassic and FLCL Alternative both explore the journey to adulthood, but they are crafted by creators from different generations with contrasting views on growing up. FLCL is, above all, a personal expression of how it feels to be a kid thrown into a confusing world. While FLCLassic and FLCL Alternative differ greatly, they both embody the spirit of FLCL.

With its focus on dialogue, grounded storytelling, and slice-of-life elements, Alternative stumbles a bit when it comes to the climax. “Full Flat” feels more at home in its slow-paced and melancholic first half. The quiet moment between Kana and Haruko beside a vending machine is particularly enjoyable. However, as the series reaches its conclusion, Kana is suddenly tasked with saving the world. Unfortunately, the series leaves us uncertain about how she is meant to accomplish this. While Kana manages to create a portal through a long and meandering monologue that ultimately turns her into a Super Saiyan, it feels like a strange and somewhat awkward device that doesn’t quite hit the mark. Kana herself acknowledges the oddness of her monologue, saying, “I keep saying the word ‘love’.”

In addition, the ending disappoints as it fails to give us the heartfelt resolution of Kana and Pets’ friendship that we were all hoping for. Instead, Pets is already on her way to Mars, leaving Kana to shout her monologue from a distance. This melancholic tone, along with the preceding episodes, adds to the bittersweet atmosphere. However, it remains questionable whether going down such a bleak path was the best choice for Alternative. The series concludes with Kana trapping the world in an endless time loop, or at least that’s the most plausible interpretation.

FLCL Alternative’s finale leaves a lasting impression, even with its flaws. It showcases the unique coming-of-age journey of Kana and her friends, filled with heartfelt moments and unexpected twists. As we bid farewell to FLCL Alternative, we can’t help but appreciate the distinctiveness it brings to the FLCL universe.

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