DVD Review: FLCL Progressive

 

The ever-so mixed sequel to the beloved Gainax anime FLCL (pronounced as “Fooly Cooly” for those unaware) has arrived on home video…on DVD only. FLCL: Progressive is only the latest victim to the ever-growing trend of television properties only receiving a home media release on DVD. To fans of anime, however, this is something of an anomaly. Most anime these days are frequently released on both Blu-ray and DVD, with many licensees shifting to the former format. With Warner Bros. at the helm of this release (whose track record for anime on DVD is, quite frankly, not the best), is FLCL: Progressive‘s DVD release worthy of a place on the shelves of anime fans? Let’s dive in and take a deeper look.

From a quality standpoint, the release looks pretty decent in all honesty. It’s not high definition, but certainly high quality for sure. The show’s 16:9 aspect ratio remains ever so intact, appearing the same as it did on television. The colors and aesthetic of the show are definitely there, albeit in a lower definition that makes them appear flat.

The menu screen is nothing to write home about for sure. The cover art lazily appears on top of a yellow background. However, the combination of the two does look appealing to the eye. Additionally, the short snippet from “The Pillows” played over the menu is definitely music to my ears. The menu is ultimately functional and pleasing to the senses, which is about all a menu screen needs to be.

Fans of the show’s original Japanese-language dialogue can rest easy this time. The audio track is fully present, alongside actual English translated subtitles. Of course, the English dub adaptation is also here, alongside closed caption subtitles for the hearing impaired. Both tracks offer talented performances by vocal artists that bring additional life to the animation.  Interestingly enough, the subtitles are not locked to one specific audio track. One can play around to their heart’s content with all the various combinations of audio and subtitles that the set has to offer. This being somewhat of a rarity for anime in North America, it’s one feature that makes the release stand out from the rest.

The set’s two bonus features (“Meet The Creators” and “The Pillows”) are most certainly interesting to watch. Each of the features documents what all went into the making of the series in a well-put-together manor. However, both features have been widely available for free on platforms such as YouTube and Amazon for months now. Another thing to note is the features are largely subtitled (and non-removable as well), which may be a detractor to some.

Ultimately, the set is a decent attempt but honestly feels as though it’s begging for something more. However, the set is better than nothing at all. If this is the only physical release for this show than so be it. At roughly $15 (which, in all honesty, is quite cheap for an anime home media release), the set may be worth the gamble for those with a curiosity for the sequel to a beloved piece of animation, but if one’s not a particular fan of the main presentation itself, it’s probably for the best that they save their hard-earned cash and skip this release.

Purchase FLCL: Progressive at fine retailers such as Amazon, Walmart, and RightStuf.

For an in-depth analysis regarding the show itself, check out our season review of FLCL: Progressive here.