Ask John: Will There Be More FLCL?

Question:
Is there a chance that more episodes of Fooly Cooly will be made? The show was very short and the way it ended makes it possible for more to be made.

Answer:
In their 20 year history, Gainax Studios has only produced two sequel series (excluding marketing spin-offs like video games and computer CD-ROMs): the second season of Mahoromatic and Top wo Nerae! 2. Typical of Japanese TV series sequels, the second Mahoromatic series premiered only nine months after the conclusion of the first series. On the other hand, the second Gunbuster OAV series will be released 14 years after the conclusion of the first series. The sixth FLCL OAV was released more than 3 years ago in Japan, so it could be said that it’s either long passed its optimum window for the release of a sequel, or a second series may still be announced sometime in the indefinite future.

While FLCL was moderately successful in Japan, it doesn’t seem to have made a lasting impact on the Japanese market or fan community. Previous Gainax productions including Gunbuster and Nadia and Evangelion are still relevant and current in Japan based on their continued marketing and TV re-broadcasts. FLCL, however, seems to have entirely vanished from the headlines of the Japanese anime community. The series was intended to be six episodes, and having completed its planned length, Gainax seems contented to move on to new projects.

However, that’s not to say that American consumer demand may not influence the studio. It’s hard to deny that Gainax Studios has little hesitancy over milking its cash cows. One need look no farther than the oversaturation of official Evangelion merchandise produced, ranging from hentai calendars and mahjong games, to classical music CDs that simply have an Evangelion logo on their covers. While there may not be enough interest in Japan to convince Gainax to produce more FLCL, I have little doubt that a generous offer from an American sponsor would encourage the studio to bring FLCL out of retirement.