The Ending Of FLCL Explained

The biggest impact FLCL made on anime and TV in general is how it uses crazy imagery to portray a heartfelt story of love and growing up. While FLCL has a lot of great symbolism throughout the seasons, it's most notable in the original run. With Naota's horn, Haruko's guitar, and plenty of other visuals, there are a lot of sexual innuendos. This is certainly an anime series for a mature audience, that's for sure. Meanwhile Canti, Naota's robot friend, is a representation of Naota's older brother, Tasuku. who lives in the US. Naota sees him as the ideal adult and role model. The character of Canti is designed to be comforting and non-threatening, and his behavior is that of a caring guardian.

In a detailed thread on Reddit, one user named Rfowl009 goes into great detail about the symbolism they noticed in FLCL. They highlight what many believe to be the main theme of FLCL, which is Naota's journey through puberty, attempting to understand the confusing concepts of sexuality and maturity. As u/Rfowl009 put it, "we are confused by everything we see [in FLCL] because we see it through the eyes of a 12-year-old who is being confronted by sexuality and the escalating complications of life for the first time." This theme is supported by the visually extreme body horror, as well as consistent moments when characters like Haruko, Mamimi, and even Naota's father, use sex to hide from facing their true feelings. The show further explores these ideas in season 2 and 3 through Hidomi and Kana's character arcs. 

It's safe to say that even with all of this analysis, all three seasons of FLCL are a conundrum that many people will find difficult to understand. Luckily, many fans claim that repeat viewings really help you make sense of the main storyline with Atomsk and Medical Mechanica, as well as the personal journeys of Naota, Haruko, and the other characters.