FLCL: Initial Proposal, Early Treatments, And Draft Story Scripts (Eps #1,2,6)

Transcribed from the FLCL Archives

[Early Design Sketches of Mabase from the FLCL Archives]

Author’s Note: This is a digital transcription of the planning notes, initial proposal, and script-style episode summaries (#1,2,6) for FLCL. These were printed in the book The FLCL Archives, the Japanese version of which is scanned at the link. There is an English version of this book that was published; however, it is rare, and no scan exists. To compensate for that, this document transcribes the English translation of these documents to make them available for study and text searching.

As such, this is not my own translation of the text; in a few places for clarity I have added my own notes, designated ‘AN’. It is a very robust source for data on the evolution of the show’s plot, themes, and characters, as well as gleaning ‘intent’ behind the finished product. May it be of value to you!

---

Initial Planning Notes

[AN: An assembly of non-linear thoughts Tsurumaki jotted down. Really, don’t worry about the first part, and it gets way more coherent after this]

[First Page]

? Hotel Male — Female Encounter — Conflict → Crescendo M → CM → Gas accident → Three women talking → Man at work → Woman at work Respective → Three women talking → Man at work → What the?

• N.O phenomenon also occurs in Mamimi's midst

• Space alien speaking in Osaka dialect → Seems sketchy at first, but at the last moment nonchalantly blurts out some Osaka-speak.

#1:

• A boy who earns pocket money by performing a form of fortune-telling similar to Kokkuri-san*

• Takes daily detours with his big brother's girlfriend, who invites him to the summer festival

• As they're riding together on a bike they witness a UFO crash. Meet a woman claiming to be from space and a robot mouse

• Mind gets stolen. Dream?

• Teacher finds out about his fortune telling job and questions him. He ends up telling the teacher's fortune.

• It's different than usual. A black creature emerges from the teacher's head and she faints.

• Haruhara and the robot appear. Boy's mind gets taken hostage and he ends up boarding the robot and doing battle.

• When he returns home from police questioning (is retrieved by brother's gf), Haruhara is at his house waiting for him.

• "You dweeb, dontcha know I've come here to protect Earth's peace?"

# 2:

• Newly appointed female teacher isn't reaching the students Last episode's incident, a curse → Similar incident occurs

• Online RPG "Evilive"

• Memory of an aborted fetus in the woods ——— Distrust of parents ——— Sympathy

• N.O transformation occurs in Evilive game → Aborted baby from memory Battle

• Fraternity

• A detective (No. 8) investigating Evilive arrives before a man identifying himself as "Sakamitsu".

• CIA make contact (RB)

• The boy and space girl bicker constantly, as usual

# 3.

• No. 8 is pulled off the case by the CIA N.O-ification continues to spread.

• No. 8's connection to an estranged old friend

[Second Page]

Adults (Kids) | Adults (Adults)

-Haruharu | -Teacher

-Shisan¹ (Father) | -No 8

-Female Teacher | -Canti

——— ——— ——— ——— ——— ——— ——— ——— ——— ———

Kids (Kids) | Kids (Adults)

-Shisan’s friend | -Shisan

-Mamimi | -Mamimi’s Friend

• Mind Police

• Mind - NO

• To think To decide

• Picks up a stray cat Who needs parents? I'll be the parent.

#2:

• Father says he's getting remarried to a woman claiming to be from space → Distrust of father Newly appointed female teacher Overly enthusiastic and doesn't get anywhere.

• A video game to relieve stress. Online game--"Evilive"

• Rumor of a cat living in the woods

• Supposedly it will tell you the truth

• Distrust of parents They sympathize and hit it off immediately. Brain-dead father. Must make decision on behalf of deadbeat mother.

• Rumor that those who meet the forest cat-god die

• Brain death and N.O manifestations

• Canti diligently hunts for minds

• Female teacher. Memories from childhood. Led into the woods by a white cat, she discovers an aborted fetus at a small shrine inside an empty jam jar.

• Father wouldn't tell her the truth — Absolute distrust

• Female teacher starts to think she can reconcile with father — Shisan closes it with a gag.

[Third Page]

#3

• Shisan fights with his friend over a minor issue. The detective investigating the NO incidents (No. 8), lingering ties with a betrayed old friend.

• He chases after the black robot that appeared at the site of the NO incident

• Meets Shisan

• CIA, investigating the "Gyakko" virus

• Expansion attachment "Canaxis" appears Frigate

• The end of summer More than 1000 people have become NO manifestations

# 4.

• Mamimi winds up dropping out of school. A cool friend. An upperclassman starts following Mamimi around. Mamimi gets chewed out by her teacher and fires back: "I quit." A rough scene... It turns out the upperclassman was into her good friend → Crying

• Police VS Canti Canaxis. A diplomatic notice from Fraternity

[Fourth Page]

#5

• Fraternity sends in another unit.

• Is Haruhara de-N.O.-ifying? Mind is activating

• A grade school kid appears to have made Haruhara even stronger. (Little Sister) — Pantagruel Giant Battleship

• Has come to retrieve "Gyakko" → Internal conflict at Fraternity Strategy Unit

#6

• Haruhara becomes an adult — She worries

---

New Animation Project "Gaki wa Wakatchana”² (Working Title), Version 1 - 3/31/1999

All the grown-ups around me are idiots. So I've got to be the one who's got it together. Or do I?

Before you can become a good adult, you've gotta be a good kid

• Slapstick comedy with a smart-alecky elementary school kid and a free-wheeling older girl

• Robot beat-'em-up action

• Slightly bittersweet juvenile coming-of-age sci fi

• A “living room drama”³

[STORY]

A robot of unknown origin runs amok in the small town of Mabase. A wayfaring housekeeper, Harahara Haruko, shows up randomly and takes down the robot with her bare hands.

Haruko turns up at the home of motherless elementary school student Nandaba Naota, whose father and grandfather take a liking to her despite her selfishness and audacity, giving her free rein to run amok.

Samejima Mamimi, the high-school-aged girlfriend of Naota's brother, continues to come and go from the Nandaba residence despite the brother's absence, and even she expresses admiration for Haruko, to the chagrin of the strait-laced Naota.

As giant robots hunt Haruko down and a weak runaway robot named Canti joins the mix, Naota gets caught up in the slapstick madness.

Naota cooperates with Haruko even while bickering with her, and eventually they bring the robot plot to a conclusion. Little by little we start to uncover Haruko's secrets.

[CAST OF CHARACTERS]

— Harahara Haruko (20) 

Wayfaring housekeeper who shows up on a Vespa. 

Apparently unable to stop her vehicle properly, she's constantly running people over. Selfish, audacious, irresponsible. On top of that, violent and moronic. Does what she wants how she wants, makes mountains out of molehills - a troublemaker. Talks to self frequently. Beautiful, of course (tall).

In actuality, she is a rookie operative of the Galactic Space Police Brotherhood "Fraternity" (she is a space alien, and a sort of Superman-type).

Allegedly, she is conducting an undercover investigation of the robot technology being developed by enormous medical equipment manufacturer Medical Mechanica (abbreviated "M.M.").

Uses blunt weapons such as bats and guitars.

Receives orders via pager.

— Nandaba Naota (12)

A self-proclaimed "Tensai-chan" (Genius Boy) in the sixth grade, whose sights are set on passing the entrance exam for a prestigious private junior high school. 

Considers the adults in his midst (including his own father) to be idiots, and often puts on airs of being mature and hard to impress. 

Thinks it's cool and mature to act pragmatically, weighing gain versus loss. 

Doesn't get along with Haruko, who is irresponsible and audacious. 

Has a slight crush on Mamimi.

"That's stupid." "For crying out loud... Freaking adults."

"What are you talking about?" "Quit pestering me."

"Quit meddling in my business. Let me be me- isn't that enough?"

— Samejima Mamimi (16) 

The girlfriend of Naota's older brother (who is away from home playing baseball overseas). 

The kind of kid who used to get bullied and now poses as a jock.

Has a nonchalant, dimwitted vibe. Only able to communicate with Naota's brother by phone, which has recently caused a buildup of stress. This causes her to start seeking Naota's attention. 

Quick to take people's remarks seriously, easily impressionable. Smoker. Likes handheld games. 

Speaks with a dull drawl: "Ughh, okay already! Ay-okay!"

"I 'unno, beats me."

— Canti (Robot)

A black, two-meter-tall prototype robot produced by Medical Mechanica. Scouted by Haruko after parting from the M.M. facility, he becomes her subordinate.

A diligent and attentive good sport. Likes cats. Smokes cigars. Uses polite speech regardless of who he's addressing. For unknown reasons, his body contains a small cockpit space. Has a large scar on his head, which is related to a traumatic event.

In love with Haruko. Works odd jobs to cover his expensive fuel and battery costs.

Hobbies are baseball (he joins the neighborhood sandlot team) and poetry.

*Need to think about why he parted from M.M. Did he escape? Was he tossed out? If we contrive a background story will it complicate things too much later?

— Father (46)

A retiree of corporate life who now runs a small-town bakery. Constantly coming up with new specialty baked goods. Carefree and happy-go-lucky. Speaks with a tone of superiority but isn't actually very persuasive. Appears considerate but can be pushy and overenthusiastic about weird things. Looks like Matsuo Suzuki with glasses. A deadbeat dad. "Adopted son-in-law".

— Grandfather (70)

An elderly Edokko (Tokyo native) who has started to lose his marbles. Frequently hurls insults at the father, but is kind to Naota. Regards the older brother's baseball talent as a point of pride. Haruko becomes their housekeeper under the pretense of providing care for the grandfather, who has started to go senile. There's also a sense that he uses his senility to justify bad behavior.

IDEAS

• Naota and the grandfather get suspicious of the dad and Haru-Hara's relationship, start peeping.

• A quadrupedal twin robot. Body is a different color on top and bottom. Rotates back and forth, and whichever side is up is the side that speaks (Yoshida Sensha-style⁴).

• A protection group that randomly appears to champion robot rights on Canti's behalf. 

• Your stupid battle wrecked our house! The family shows up at Mamimi's home (a multiple

• dwelling complex). 

• Fraternity sends down another agent. Haruko's rival. Cat-versus-dog type of relationship.

• A pushy upperclassman makes advances on Mamimi, she claims to be dating Naota as an excuse to turn him down, upperclassman gets involved in their business.

• An accident causes a nuclear satellite to come crashing toward the earth, but it gets knocked back with a metal bat.

• In a fit of senility, the grandpa goes wild with a Japanese sword. Afterward he temporarily comes back to his senses and says something profound.

• Mamimi is pestered by bad kids. Haruko happens to be passing through and runs over.

• The bad kids, resolving the situation.

• Naota mistakenly thinks his dad has been replaced with a fake, and clobbers his dad in the face with a bat. His concerned teacher comes to counsel him.

• Part-timer girl at the bakery. Pretty girl with glasses. But a Kuzuhara-san (the Enomoto character)⁵. Private life is a mystery. 

• Small humanoid pack robots. Individually very cute; squirm and fidget when captured. Fire should always be blasting out of the muffler of Haruko's Vespa.

• Mamimi's handheld video game, "Faista" (Fire Starter), is Sim City in reverse: set fire to a city that just keeps growing.

• Mamimi copes with stress by setting fires. Naota is the only one who realizes, and decides that he must hang out with her to keep an eye on her and get her to stop. Is this love? Or something else...?

• The Nandaba's cat – a fat, black-and-white tabby (12 years old) – speaks to Naota in a hallucination (or in a dream). Appears in the form of a man in a cat mask and judo gi and offers life advice. The Cat Inside⁶.

• Mamimi sees Canti at the riverbank in the rain caring for an abandoned cat, and falls for him. The slow turning of the seasons. 

• Snow accumulates on a distant mountain range. Cold mornings.

• Naota's room--used to be occupied by both him and his brother, so there's a bunk bed with the bottom bunk empty. 

• Haruko's entrance scene: Suddenly hits Naota with her Vespa. Asks the dazed Naota for directions.

---

New Animation Project "Gaki wa Wakatchana” - Version 2, Undated

[AN: This section is a repeat of the last section, with handwritten additional note and ideas in the margins. The new content is reproduced here, with the section headers they belong under; in the original these would be merged with the old text]

- Nandaba Naota

Even at his cram school, he’s a brilliant student in the top ranks

Always studying from a vocabulary notebook

Habitually scribbles notes with mechanical pencil

Initially put off by her but gradually becomes drawn to her as story progresses

Extreme sweet tooth (justifies this immaturity by saying “it’s good for your brain”)/ can’t swim/ unlucky

“You’re one to talk”

“Anta”, “Omae”, “Mami-nee” “Jii-chan”, “Tou-chan”

- Samejima Mamimi (--- Nandaba Kouta⁷)

Lives in a multiple dwelling complex by the river/ father is an engineer for MM, always comes home late

Likes to take photos (Hiromix fan) / Konica BM 3.0⁸ / but doesn’t do self-nudes

Has tendency to flash toothy smiles

“Takkun”, “Takkun’s dad”, “Haruko-san”

- Canti (Robot)

Head is plainly a TV / Has lost his memory

Has cockpit space only big enough for a small child to board. Naota ends up inside. Is an autonomous robot, but having a person aboard allows him to operate at peak performance by making use of a children’s unique capabilities

- Father (-- Nandaba Masatoshi)

Changes his business every day / says he wants to get remarried, to Haruko / matter-of-factly drives a classic car, geeks out about it to Haruko

“Nao”, “otosan”, “Haruko-san”

- Ninamori Eri (12)⁹

Naota’s Classmate, a model student who’s also in Naota’s cram school class

Sees Naota as a rival, chides him at every turn

- Grandfather

Nandaba Shigekuni / Always wears a jersey

Played baseball as a boy

Tells stories from the good old days that may or may not be true

Slightly mean to Mamimi out of jealousy

Tends to snicker

IDEAS

• Naota gets introspective while on a railway bridge on the route to school. The sound of the river.

• The MM research facility lights up prettily at nighttime, 6:00 PM siren.

• Shrine at top of long stone staircase in the mountains behind the house, you can see the ocean in the distance, downstream from the river (beyond MM)

---

Project Proposal - 4/24/1999

ORIGINAL ANIMATION PROPOSAL "Furi Kuri" (Working Title)

-Direct-to-Video Animation

-Coming-of-Age Sci-Fi Action Comedy 

-Mini-series, 30 minutes per episode, six episodes in total

All the grown-ups around me are idiots. So I've got to be the one who's got it together. Or do I? Before you can become a good adult, you've gotta be a good kid.

Planning: GAINAX

Created by: Kazuya Tsurumaki and GAINAX

Scenario & Screenplay: Yoji Enokido

Visuals: Yoshiyuki Sadamoto, Tadashi Hiramatsu 

Director: Kazuya Tsurumaki

• Slapstick comedy with a smart-alecky elementary school kid and a free-wheeling older girl

• Robot beat-'em-up action 

• Juvenile coming-of-age sci-fi

• A "living room drama"

[STORY]

A robot of unknown origin runs amok in the small town of Mabase. A wayfaring housekeeper, Harahara Haruko, shows up randomly and takes down the robot with her bare hands.

Haruko turns up at the home of motherless elementary school student Nandaba Naota, whose father and grandfather take a liking to her despite her selfishness and audacity, giving her free rein to run amok.

Samejima Mamimi, the high-school-aged girlfriend of Naota's brother, continues to come and go from the Nandaba residence despite the brother's absence, and even she expresses admiration for Haruko, to the chagrin of the strait-laced Naota.

As giant robots hunt Haruko down and a weak runaway robot named Canti joins the mix, Naota gets caught up in the slapstick madness.

Naota cooperates with Haruko even while bickering with her, and eventually they bring the robot plot to a conclusion. Little by little we start to uncover Haruko's secrets.

[CAST OF CHARACTERS]

-Nandaba Naota (12)

A self-proclaimed "Tensai-chan" (Genius Boy) in the sixth grade, whose sights are set on passing the entrance exam for a prestigious private junior high school. 

Considers the adults in his midst (including his own father) to be idiots, and often puts on airs of being mature and hard to impress.

Thinks it's cool and mature to act pragmatically, considering gain versus loss.

Doesn't get along with Haruko, who is irresponsible and audacious - but...

Relationship with Mamimi might also surpass her relationship with Naota's older brother (of whom she's the GF).

-Harahara Haruko (20)

Wayfaring housekeeper who shows up on a Vespa.

Apparently unable to stop her vehicle properly, she's constantly running people over. Selfish, audacious,irresponsible. On top of that, violent and moronic. Does what she wants how she wants, makes mountains out of molehills - a troublemaker. Talks to self frequently.

Beautiful, of course (tall). 

Of course, there is a secret to her true identity. 

Allegedly, she is conducting an undercover investigation of the robot technology being developed by enormous medical equipment manufacturer Medical Mechanica (abbreviated "M.M.").

Uses blunt weapons such as bats and guitars. 

Receives orders via pager.

-Samejima Mamimi (16) 

The girlfriend of Naota's older brother (who is away from home playing baseball overseas). 

Has a nonchalant, dimwitted vibe. Only able to communicate with Naota's brother by phone, which has recently caused a buildup of stress. This causes her to start seeking Naota's attention. 

Quick to take people's remarks seriously, easily impressionable. Smoker. Likes handheld games.

-Canti (Robot)

A black, two-meter-tall prototype robot created by M.M. Scouted by Haruko after parting from the M.M. facility, he becomes her subordinate. 

A diligent and attentive good sport Likes cats. Smokes cigars. Uses polite speech regardless of who he's addressing.

For unknown reasons, his body contains a small cockpit space.

In love with Haruko?

Works odd jobs to cover his expensive fuel and battery costs.

Hobbies are baseball (he joins the neighborhood sandlot team) and poetry.

-Father (46)

A retiree of corporate life who now runs a small-town bakery. Constantly coming up with new specialty baked goods. Carefree and happy-go-lucky. Speaks with a tone of superiority but isn't actually very persuasive.

Appears considerate but can be pushy and overenthusiastic about weird things.

A deadbeat dad. "Adopted son-in-law", but his wife has left him.

-Grandfather (70)

An elderly Edokko (Tokyo native) who has started to lose his marbles. Frequently hurls insults at the father, but is kind to Naota. Regards the older brother's baseball talent as a point of pride. Haruko becomes their housekeeper under the pretense of providing care for the grandfather, who has started to go senile. There's also a sense that he uses his senility to justify bad behavior.

-Miyu Miyu (Cat)

A fat cat (male). 

Elderly cat living with the Nandabas.

---

Episode 1 Script - 4/27/1999

By Yoji Enokido

———

FOOLY COOLY

#1 A Kid Wouldn't Understand

Images of a town resembling a video game map–

"A few years ago, a big factory popped up in the middle of our town. All the adults are really happy about it. All gleefully working there. They're so clueless. They call themselves adults, but they're still kids on the inside. Just like my dad, deep down they're just immature little children.”

"I only know one real adult, and that's my brother. He's a baseball player, currently training in America. Of course he's gonna be a pro player someday. A major leaguer, at that, I'm sure of it. My brother's the only one who doesn't have to go to work at that stupid factory in town.”

"I'm leaving things at home in your hands, so long and good luck," he said, and took off to the States. 'Look after dad,' he said. 'Look after gramps,' he said. 'And lastly..."

X  X  X

An attractive high school-aged girl, Mamimi, rests silently against a wall playing a portable video game. The aforementioned game screen-like images turn out to be from Mamimi's game, "Fire Starter".

It's the front entrance to an elementary school. Dismissal time. (Or alternatively, starting time.)

As Naota tries to leave with his classmates, he is caught by Mamimi, who has been waiting for him.

"You're here again?" Naota snaps. "Did you cut class again?"

Ignoring his questions, Mamimi pulls Naota along.

His classmates look on as they leave. "That's Naota's rumored you-know-what." "Nah, that's his brother's girlfriend." "Then how come she comes to see him every day?" "Think those two are smooching 'n stuff in private?" "No way."

X  X  X

A bench on a hill that overlooks the town.

Taking advantage of their privacy, Naota and Mamimi are already juicily locking lips.

On closer inspection, it's more like Mamimi is forcing herself upon Naota. But not in a serious way--she has the bearing of someone merely teasing a younger boy.

"I'll have it, y'know," Mamimi threatens. "I'll have your kid."

"You can't make a kid just by kissing, dummy," Naota lightly fires back.

She says she and Naota's brother used to spend time here a lot.

Naota gives her some cigarettes his brother left behind.

Mamimi gazes out at the town while having a smoke. They have a clear view of the MM factory. (Mamimi's father is an employee.)

Whenever Mamimi gets lonely, she's quick to bring Naota here as a substitute for his brother. She clutches onto him like a stuffed animal. She says if she doesn't, she'll overflow.

"What do you mean? What will happen?"

"Something amazing." 

-What's that supposed to mean?

She says I'm just a stand-in, but really she likes me, Naota thinks. Or at least, she wants someone to cling to. She's a child, after all.

X  X  X

The two are on their way back home.

"Wonder if he'll come back to Japan soon."

"You know what?" Naota interrupts awkwardly. "In America, my brother's..." The two share a gaze in the middle of the street.

Just then, the sound of an approaching engine roars loudly.

Naota gets run down by a reckless Vespa.

"Wa-wa-wa-wa-wa-wa-wa...!"

Mamimi, suddenly holding a camera, photographs the incredible scene.

Naota is dazed and bleeding from the head.

The rider of the Vespa seems to contemplate whether or not she should flee, but then realizes she's been spotted by Mamimi with her camera-

"It's all right," she says after a pause, and rushes over.

 She removes her helmet - it's Haruko.

"Ow," Naota mutters weakly.

"Oh what the heck, you're alive, that's good. Welp.” She takes off.

X  X  X

Naota's home, the Nandaba residence. A bakery.

Naota arrives, still bleeding.

Naota's grandpa is asleep in a back room. Their pet cat Miyu Miyu, is there as well. 

The grandpa proudly anticipates the brother's success

X  X  X

Naota searches his brother's desk drawer (for Mamimi’s sake), but there are no cigarettes left.

X  X  X

For some reason Haruko is present, picking at her dinner.

"What's she doing here eating dinner?"

According to his dad, she'd come to buy some baked goods and while she was browsing she worked up an appetite for a meal, so the dad insisted she come in.

Naota: "She's a hit-and-run driver."

"Ooo," Haruko says vapidly. "Now I remember, you're that smart-mouthed kid from before who was fooling around with that high schooler."

"Fooling around?" The dad glares at his son.

"No, she's talking about Mamimi. We just happened to be together."

"So Mamimi's her name, that cute little thing."

"She's the girlfriend of his big brother, who's in America now." 

"Oh my, nice going, li'l bro. So that's your game, make her yours while he's out of town."

It goes on like this, the fact that she ran him over with her bike remaining unsettled.

Furthermore, the dad, who has fallen in love with Haruko at first sight, goes as far as inviting her to live with them.

"If you'll have me, please be my second wife."

"Oh my, but if I have my pick I'd prefer someone young. I'm going to be Takkun's bride."

Miyu Miyu listens on.

X  X  X

Naota walks down the hallway, fresh from a bath, when–

Suddenly he hears a voice coming from his room, and he stops in his tracks.

"...Seems like he's still blaming him for his mother going away."

"There's nothing to worry about. He's a boy, after all." The response seems to be Haruko's voice, but who is this other person?

Naota throws the door open forcefully, and–

There in the room is Haruko, looking up at the stars through the window.

And there on the small veranda is the cat, Myau Myau [sic].

No one else is there. The sound of a wind chime.

So who was Haruko talking to?

The cat lets out a single meow and disappears behind the roof.

"... What are you doing here? Don't just barge into people's rooms."

"Is that a letter from your brother?"

On the desk is a piece of air mail, its envelope torn.

"I hope you didn't take the liberty of reading it."

"So there's something in there you don't want people reading?"

“...”

Big brother's letter. He's apparently gotten a new girlfriend in America (or maybe he's surrounded by them). Mamimi is of course still unaware of this.

"So you're really planning to stay here?"

"Your father said it was all right." [Looking at bunk bed] "! hear you're on bottom so I'll take the top."

"Don't take everything the old man says seriously, stupid."

"Do you hate me?"

"I hate all grown-ups that still act like kids."

At this moment, the father calls from the other room. 

"Naota, Mamimi's here."

X  X  X

Mamimi shows up to visit Naota, despite it already being nighttime. She tries to get Naota to come out. The dad stands before her with a cheery smile, but momentarily glares at Naota and says, "You better not be serious about this," threatening him with the kitchen knife he's holding.

X  X  X

A park at night.

Naota tells her that the cigarettes left by his brother have run out.

Mamimi tells him that she got so lonely she finally overflowed.

"Tell me what that means. What will happen?"

Mamimi embraces him the way she always does when teasing him, but tonight there's something different about her. She's serious.

She looks like she really wants Naota. 

Naota of course retreats.

X  X  X

Meanwhile, an alarm is sounding inside the MM factory. A piece of "medical equipment" has reportedly "escaped".

X  X  X

At the same time, Haruko is still watching the stars from the veranda when her bracelet starts "reacting".

(The bracelet, which has the broken remains of a chain attached, is actually a handcuff used by the Galactic Space Police.)

Haruko leaps down from the second-story window, gracefully landing on her Vespa. There's more to her than meets the eye.

X  X  X

Mamimi makes an advance on Naota.

Suddenly, a seemingly haywire robot appears. It's the escaped "medical equipment".

The robot's rampage causes Mamimi to faint. 

Naota, unable to even faint, is in a desperate pinch.

Suddenly Haruko appears and bashes the robot in its apparent weak point using her guitar.

The robot - Canti - shuts down.

Naota is taken aback at Haruko's unexpected heroic act. Her gallant figure is adult, dazzling, and attractive.

X  X  X

The next morning.

The dad bakes. Canti helps.

Naota says his goodbyes and heads out for school.

"Morning," greets Mamimi, who has been waiting.

The two walk to school together.

"About last night..." Mamimi starts awkwardly.

The two share a gaze in the middle of the street. Just then, the sound of an approaching engine roars loudly.

Naota gets run down again by Haruko's reckless Vespa driving.

 "Wa-wa-wa-wa-wa-wa-wa...!"

Mamimi, suddenly holding a camera, photographs the incredible scene.

---

Episode 2 Script - Version 1 - 6/2/1999

By Yoji Enokido

———

#2 FIRE STARTER

Haruko is riding her Vespa again, teasing a couple in a sports car.

(For instance, she could be riding in practically a bikini, attracting the gaze of the male driver.)

The sports car flips pitifully and is totalled. 

Haruko gives a wicked smile. Her Vespa picks up even more speed. The MM factory lies on the road ahead.

The car bursts into flames.

In a video game, a car burns. The entire town burns.

It's the screen of a portable game, "Fire Starter".

It starts to rain.

The Nandaba residence. Naota watches the rain and Canti from the window, and has a brief flashback. 

X  X  X

Naota had gone to the school nurse's office to consult her about the robot that had come out of his head, but couldn't get her to listen.

X  X  X

The phone rings. Naota takes the receiver. 

“Hello... What, what's wrong?...Aww come on, what a pain in the butt..." 

It is apparently Mamimi on the other end. A call comes in on call waiting.

"... Yes? What, what's wrong?...Aww come on, what're you doing?!" 

This time it is apparently Haruko on the other end.

Naota hangs up the receiver. "...Man, everybody sucks." 

Naota's dad, Kamon, grabs him as he tries to leave the house.

"Are you meeting Haruko somewhere?"

Naota ignores him and leaves.

Regarding this suspiciously, the dad speaks to Canti, who is at work in the bakery: "You follow after him and see what he's up to." 

In the pouring rain, Mamimi plays(?) under the bridge by the river, dressed in her school uniform.

She is barefoot and soaking her feet in the shallow riverbank, sitting on a rock playing her portable game.

Naota has his umbrella up and a paper bag in hand. He produces a pair of sandals from the bag, and hands them to Mamimi.

She says her shoes got swept away in the river while she was playing.

“Don’t you think it’s time you grew up?”

Mamimi tries to get Naota to "play" with her before leaving, but he says he's too busy, as she's not the only one who's summoned him. Mamimi gets a lonely look in her eye. 

Suddenly they hear a dog barking. They find the dog huddled in the corner of a boat shed.

Mamimi asks Naota to find something for it to eat, but Naota tells her to find it herself, and coldly takes his leave. 

After Naota leaves, Mamimi stays there clutching the dog for a while. "Takkun..."

Naota stops at the MM factory, where he signs to have Haruko released. She had been captured while trying to break into the factory on her Vespa. Haruko is pouty and covered in bruises. Of course, she shows no hint of remorse.

--Why am I the only grown-up on this entire planet? Naota sighs as he bails her out.

The MM factory security guard is Mamimi's father, and he addresses Naota with familiarity. Naota, reflecting on what he and Mamimi do in private, is internally shaken. Haruko detects this and responds with a cool-headed remark.

Mamimi continues clutching onto the dog. The dog, however, is apparently very hungry.

Just then, a large shadow approaches Mamimi from behind. She turns, and standing there is the giant form of Canti. Despite her oddness, even Mamimi is at a loss for how to react, when…

Canti offers her the bread he was carrying.

"Is this for him?"

The rain conveniently lets up at this time, and a single ray of sunlight shines through the thick cloud cover like a spotlight, illuminating Canti. His body, freshly washed by the rain, sparkles like a god (or so it appears to Mamimi). Hallelujah.

"It's God... You're God..." Mamimi is overcome with emotion. (Perhaps the dog runs off after eating the bread?)

Mamimi follows after Canti, bringing her to the front yard of the Nandaba residence. She encounters the grandfather, Shigekuni, on the front stoop, and he coldly sends her away.

Evidently, Shigekuni dislikes her.

In contrast, when Haruko is brought home by Naota, both the father and grandfather fawn over her, to her delight. Naota takes notice of what's happening at the Nandaba residence as well as Canti's protective gaze over Mamimi.

(Maybe he actually is God?)

The next day. Naota is coming home from school. He sees Mamimi by the river, being bullied by some female classmates. The classmates take Mamimi's shoes and let them get swept up by the river.

Naota realizes for the first time that this is why Mamimi is always calling him up saying she's lost her shoes - she's being bullied.

Naota starts yelling and the bullies scatter.

X  X  X

Having seen and been seen, the two grow awkward.

That night. A fire breaks out near the Nandaba residence. It's the house of one of Mamimi's bullies.

Rumors spread that it was an act of arson. Naota believes Mamimi to be the culprit.

The police show up for questioning, but Naota says he knows nothing.

Naota decides that to stop Mamimi from setting fires, he must stay with her at all times.

Could it be she's already hitting other houses?

Naota grows anxious and sets out to look for her.

X  X  X

He finds Mamimi on the bridge. In the distance, flames light up the sky. Mamimi is playing her Fire Starter game.

Watching the fire, she comments on how pretty it is. (She continues making remarks that leave it unclear whether she's talking about the game or the actual fires.)

This time it is Mamimi who says "See ya" and takes off.

X  X  X

Mamimi starts heading in a direction away from her home, and Naota chases after her. Mamimi lights a cigarette.

Without thinking, Naota tries to stop her, but just then, he experiences another "spell".

X  X  X

Haruko's bracelet starts to react again.

X  X  X

MM's dog robot emerges from Naota's head. (The dog that had one foot severed last time).

The dog-bot strikes a match and tries to start a fire. 

Haruko and Canti rush to the scene. Canti battles with the dog-bot, but is suppressed. 

Haruko, too, is unable to overcome the dog robot's bewildering power. The dog robot goes ballistic, and Haruko and Mamimi are placed in danger.

At this time, Naota is swallowed into the body of Canti. Canti's "mood" changes. In one fell swoop, his dopey disposition is replaced with one of an intelligent combat robot. Haruko sees Canti in this state and dons a serious expression.

"Atomsk... It's you..."

X  X  X

Meanwhile, Naota, surrounded by darkness, discovers he has merged with Canti. He concludes that he has been chosen as Canti's pilot. Canti suddenly takes the offensive, but the combatants' capabilities are evenly matched.

"Isn't there any stronger weapon?"

"There is," says the voice of Atomsk, "but it's dangerous. And when you use it you'll lose consciousness. It might even put your life at risk."

"I don't care, make it happen," says a fervent Naota. Cool.

X  X  X

A missile-like object launches at high speed from Canti's abdomen. "N. Launcher!" The missile damages the dog-bot and returns. Canti repeats the onslaught.

The dog-bot just barely manages to catch the missile-like object, revealing... the projectile is Naota himself, who has lost consciousness after entering "Hard-Cell Mode".

Haruko and Mamimi see this. "All right, go for it!" Unconcerned for Naota's safety, Haruko cheers Canti on.

Mamimi is dazzled by Haruko's coolness, and before she knows it they're both cheering together.

The N. (Naota) Launcher at last destroys the dog-bot.

X  X  X

Inside Canti, Naota regains consciousness.

"I... won?"

X  X  X

Naota separates from Canti. "I've been chosen. I'm the only one who can use this robot," he concludes.

Mamimi sees the scar on Naota's head and mutters, "I bet that hurts..."

---

Episode 2 Script - Version 2 - 6/8/1999

#2 FIRE STARTER

The hospital. After having a robot grow out of his head, Naota has come of his own volition to get an X-ray.

"You've got a hole in there all right. Your head is like a sieve right now."

The nurse's voice rings familiar as she makes her shocking claims, and Naota discovers that for some reason, it's Haruko.

"What are you doing here?!"

But Haruko seems to know something about this place. 

In the screen of a video game, a car burns. The entire town burns.

It's the screen of a portable game, "Fire Starter".

Naota is on his way home. A fire occurs. Naota sees Mamimi nearby.

[Subtitle]

Nandaba residence. An MM agent shows up, asserting ownership over Canti. Kamon insists that this is no robot, but a TV. Then someone claiming to be an NHK bill collector shows up, followed by the Human Rights Commission, and the bakery descends into chaos.

It starts to rain. Naota watches the rain and the chaos unfolding in the front yard from the window, and has a brief flashback.

X  X  X

Mamimi plays Fire Starter while hugging onto Naota from behind. She tells him that a few years ago, there was a big fire in Mabase that burned down the home of the classmate who was bullying her.

"I 'used to' get bullied," she says.

X  X  X

The phone rings.

In the pouring rain, Mamimi is playing(?) under by the river under the bridge in her school uniform. She plays Fire Starter while hugging onto a puppy from behind. She is barefoot, and soaking her feet in the shallow riverbank.

Naota has his umbrella up and a paper bag in hand. He produces a pair of sandals from the bag, and hands them to Mamimi.

She says her shoes got swept away in the river while she was playing with the puppy. Incidentally, she addresses the puppy as "Takkun".

"Don't you think it's time you grew up?"

Mamimi is setting the town on fire in Fire Starter.

"Don't tell me you actually started that fire..." Naota regards her with suspicion.

Mamimi tries to get Naota to "play" with her before. leaving, but he says he's too busy, as she's not the only one. who's summoned him. Mamimi gets a lonely look in her eye. She asks Naota to find something for it to eat, but Naota tells her to find it herself, and coldly takes his leave.

After Naota leaves, Mamimi stays there clutching the dog for a while.

Naota stops at the MM factory, where he signs to have Haruko released. She had been captured while trying to break into the factory on her Vespa. Haruko is pouty and covered in bruises. Of course, she shows no hint of remorse.

- Why am I the only grown-up on this entire planet? Naota sighs as he bails her out.

The MM factory security guard is Mamimi's father, and he addresses Naota with familiarity. Naota, reflecting on what he and Mamimi are always doing in private, and fearing she may be an arsonist, is internally shaken. Haruko detects this and responds with a cool (biting) remark. However, she also appears to have reassessed Naota's personality. "Still, you came for me," she says, seeming secretly glad.

Mamimi continues clutching onto the puppy. The puppy, however, is apparently very hungry.

Just then, a large shadow approaches Mamimi from behind. She turns, and standing there is the giant form of Canti. Even the strange Mamimi is at a loss for how to react, when…

Canti offers her the bread he was carrying. 

"Is this for the pup?"

The rain conveniently lets up at this time, and a single ray of sunlight shines through the thick cloud cover like a spotlight, illuminating Canti. His body, freshly washed by the rain, sparkles like a god (or so it appears to Mamimi).

Hallelujah.

"It's God... You're God..." Mamimi is overcome with emotion. (Perhaps the dog runs off after eating the bread?) 

Mamimi follows after Canti, bringing her to the front yard of the Nandaba residence.

After eating the bread, the puppy runs off somewhere.

"Takkun is always quick to take off."

She encounters the grandfather, Shigekuni, on the front stoop, and he treats her meanly. Evidently, Shigekuni dislikes Mamimi. Or rather, he is jealous because she's the older brother Tasuku's girlfriend. He lies to her childishly and bullies her, an old man showing no ounce of maturity.

In contrast, when Haruko is brought home by Naota, both the father and grandfather fawn over her. Haruko is pleased. Naota takes notice of what's happening at the Nandaba residence as well as Canti's eyes watching over Mamimi. But he becomes slightly jealous of Canti, because Mamimi regards him as a god.

The next day. Naota is coming home from school. He sees Mamimi by the river, being bullied by some female classmates. The classmates take Mamimi's shoes and let them get swept up by the river.

Naota realizes for the first time that this is why Mamimi is always calling him up saying she's lost her shoes--she's being bullied.

The bullies leave. Mamimi realizes Naota saw everything.

X  X  X

Having seen and been seen, the two grow awkward. 

Naota returns home and overhears another conversation between Haruko and the mystery man (Miyu Miyu).

That night. A fire breaks out near the Nandaba residence. It's the house of one of Mamimi's bullies.

Rumors spread that it was an act of arson. Naota believes Mamimi to be the culprit.

The police show up for questioning, but Naota says he knows nothing.

He hears that the fire was started with a cigarette. His suspicion towards Mamimi deepens.

The police get a tip that a high school girl likely to be the culprit has been spotted near the highway. They rush to the scene in a patrol car. Not good, Mamimi will be caught.

But just then Haruko appears on her Vespa, initiating a chase with the patrol car. The patrol car flips and explodes in flames.

Seeing this, Naota suspects Haruko meant to save Mamimi, but he isn't very certain about it. For now, he chases after Mamimi.

X  X  X

He finds Mamimi on the bridge. In the distance, flames light up the sky. Mamimi is playing her Fire Starter game.

Watching the fire, she comments on how pretty it is. (She continues making remarks that leave it unclear whether she's talking about the game or the actual fires.)

This time it is Mamimi who says "See ya" and takes off.

X  X  X

Mamimi starts heading in a direction away from her home, and Naota chases after her. Mamimi lights a cigarette.

"Mamimi, what have you..." Just as Naota tries to tell Mamimi he knows she's the arsonist, an MM robot appears from inside his mouth. (Does Mamimi faint again?)

X  X  X

Haruko's bracelet starts to react again. She leaps to the scene, Canti in tow.

X  X  X

The MM robot that has appeared is the one whose hand was severed last time.

Haruko and Canti rush to the scene. Canti battles with the dog-bot, but is suppressed.

Haruko, too, is unable to overcome the dog robot's bewildering** power. The dog robot goes ballistic, and Haruko and Mamimi are placed in danger.

At this time, Naota is swallowed into the body of Canti Canti's "mood" changes. In one fell swoop, his dopey disposition is replaced by one of an intelligent (god-like) combat robot. Haruko sees Canti in this state and dons a serious expression.

"Atomsk... It's you..."

X  X  X

Meanwhile, Naota, surrounded by darkness, discovers he has merged with Canti. He concludes that he has been chosen as Canti's pilot.

X  X  X

Mamimi comes to.

Unaware that Naota is now inside, she confesses to Canti, thinking he is God. The arson, her loneliness, et al.

Naota hears Mamimi from inside Canti and sympathizes with her. He decides he must spend more time with her in the future, and protect her.

X  X  X

Canti suddenly takes the offensive, but the combatants' capabilities are evenly matched.

"Isn't there any stronger weapon?"

"There is," says the voice of Atomsk, "but it's dangerous. And when you use it you'll lose consciousness. It might even put your life at risk."

But Mamimi and Haruko need saving.

"I don't care, make it happen," says a fervent Naota. Cool.

X  X  X

A missile-like object launches at high speed from Canti's abdomen. "Kinder Kugel!" The missile damages the dog-bot and returns. Canti repeats the attack.

(In actuality, the ammunition is Naota himself, who has lost consciousness after entering "Hard-Cell Mode", but this is still a secret.)

Haruko and Mamimi see this. "All right, go for it!" Haruko cries, cheering Canti on.

The N. (Naota) Launcher at last destroys the dog-bot.

X  X  X

Inside Canti, Naota regains consciousness.

"I... won?"

X  X  X

Naota separates from Canti. "I've been chosen. I'm the only one who can use this robot. I must protect Mamimi..." he concludes.

Mamimi sees the scar on Naota's head and mutters, "I bet that hurts..."

A patrol car arrives, siren blaring. Naota and Mamimi share a worried look, but-

"What're you two doing? Let's cheese it."

Haruko lets them on her Vespa and the three take off into the night, back to town. Canti soars alongside them, escorting.

---

Episode 6 Script - 7/6/2000

#6 FLCLIMAX (WORKING TITLE) 

A few days later. The MM factory is still in the grip of a giant hand.

MABASE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

"There has been an evacuation advisory for those living in the vicinity of the MM factory," says Miyaji. "You are not to go near the factory under any circumstance. They say that big machine caused a lot of trouble in town before..."

Gaku, Masahi, and Ninamori observe an empty seat. It's Naota's.

"Absent again...?"

After school. Riverbank.

Mamimi is searching for Takkun, the cat. He emerges from a patch of tall grass, but Ninamori just happens to be passing through on her way home. Mamimi recoils from Ninamori's arrival. (Mamimi is the less emotionally mature one of the two.)

"We've decided to keep that cat at my house," says Ninamori.

"But he's my Takkun."

Takkun, Mamimi calls to the cat, but he unpityingly runs over to Ninamori.

"Unlike you, I actually take proper care of him," says Ninamori. "You have to go all in if you love something."

Mamimi is unable to retort.

The MM factory belches steam and shifts a bit, but soon comes to a halt. Amarao and company are observing this.

"It's stuck mid-way..."

If MM initiates their plot to flatten the entire earth, the planet is done for.

Amarao gets intel that MM lost a robot's core unit in the previous battle. The Immigration Bureau initiates an all- hands search for it.

Left behind by even Takkun the cat, Mamimi is all alone. 

While alone, she discovers a mysterious robot by the river. (In actuality, this is the MM robot's core unit.)

Naota is cutting class and just idling around. He sneaks a pack of cigarettes from a vending machine. Ever since the last incident, he's been inconsolably angry with Canti, Mamimi, and the world around him in general.

He encounters Amarao, who is in the midst of searching for the core unit. Naota scrambles to hide his cigarettes.

"If you're a grown-up you should know. Raharu is an alien. Work with us." Amarao tries to win Naota over. Considering a scenario in which the core unit can't be found and falls into the hands of MM, he proposes holding Canti in protective custody. If the situation calls for it, he plans to use Canti as a bargaining chip with MM.

Naota learns that Haruko is a space alien, but he is also aware that he is drawn to her vitality and charm. And she likes him, too (or so Naota still thinks). 

Naota is perplexed by the fact that he himself was Canti's bullet. He puts a cigarette in his mouth and tries to light it,but it just won't light.

Yeah, who cares what happens to the earth? Naota thinks. If Haruko needs me, we'll make a lovers' getaway to space!

"Not that it matters, but you have to breathe in or the cigarette won't light," Amarao says.

Mamimi starts looking after the little living machine she picked up. She names it Takkun. The mechanical Takkun starts to grow, little by little.

→What if Mamimi gets a phone call from Tasuku and he completely breaks her heart, and that somehow spurs the machine's growth? Like maybe she breaks her phone in a fit of anger and the machine absorbs it.

Mamimi attaches a collar to Takkun so he won't get away this time. 

Naota returns home, having resolved to ditch the planet earth, but–

He overhears Haruko talking to Miyu Miyu. "I'll never forgive them..."

It was the Mabase MM factory that created Canti. In other words, it was they who turned Atomsk into Canti.

Haruko, who normally conducts her business like it's merely "a job", seems genuinely enraged at MM this time. She speaks in an uncharacteristically serious tone. I'l crush that MM factory! But destroying it from the inside is impossible. (She attempted to break in with her Vespa in Episode 2. There's no way in.) But what about destroying it from the outside? If she can do it before they make their move, she might have a chance. 

And if she can destroy the factory, she says, she'll accompany Atomsk (Canti) back to space.

Naota, eavesdropping, is shocked by this. Haruko liked some other guy, not him! And here he'd secretly resolved to flee to space with her....Guess there's nothing great in this world after all.

Using a tracker, Amarao finally finds the core unit he's been searching for. However- 

"What's happened here...?"

Because Mamimi has been raising it, the core unit/Takkun has taken a humanoid (teenaged boy) form, already evolved to the point that it can walk around on its own. (Like in Gamera 3?)

The core unit/Takkun and Mamimi make a lovers' getaway.

Night. Nandaba residence.

Naota and Haruko talk bunk-to-bunk.

→Haruko tells him about the guy she's fallen in love with, explains that the bracelet is actually a handcuff which indicates the location of her beloved, etc. Says that she's found where he is.

The next day.

At last, the core unit merges with the MM robot. (Meanwhile Mamimi, who is attached to mecha-Takkun via his collar, gets swallowed into the robot.)

The iron-shaped factory starts to move. (Mamimi in pain?)

X  X  X

Kamon brings Haruko and Canti to the field of battle in a Citroën. He tells old stories about Naota's mother (like how Kamon gave up on going to space with her so Naota could be brought up on Earth, etc. → And Naota still wanted to abandon Earth and run off to space alone with Haruko?)

X  X  X

Meanwhile, Amarao tries to recruit Naota's help in securing Canti. MM is on the move. At this point, a trade-off is the only way they might protect the earth.

As if in compliance with this, Naota makes his way to Canti…

X  X  X

Naota once again merges with Canti and acts as his ammunition. This is more for Haruko's sake than for the sake of the earth.

Naota turns into Launcher-Canti's cannon shell and attacks the factory, but a tough battle unfolds.

X  X  X

"What the hell are you doing?!" Amarao grumbles indignantly. "Are you trying to betray Earth?!"

X  X  X 

Naota returns to the inside of Canti's body. There, he has a momentary vision(?).

A distant planet. It's a stark, creepy world whose entire surface is flat, with countless enormous irons moving back and forth. Haruko is locked in battle there, along with an unknown boy (Atomsk). The boy fights with a guitar in hand…

X  X  X

Undiscouraged, Naota urges Canti to fire again. He fires again.

A guitar--the one which should be in Naota's bedroom-- emerges from his head. With that in hand, they finally destroy the MM robot's core unit and rescue Mamimi.

Night. Nandaba residence.

The final night with Haruko. Naota and Haruko again lie in bed, talking bunk-to-bunk.

"I really liked Mamimi until you came along..."

"You're still a kid, Takkun, don't sweat it."

X  X  X

When Naota awakens, Haruko and Canti are gone. Her bracelet is left behind on his desk. Thinking of Haruko, Naota starts to cry.

X  X  X

Quite surprisingly, Kamon comforts him. 

A few months later. Spring.

Naota has become a middle school student. The MM factory has shut down, allegedly due to an accident. A monologue divulges what has since become of Tasuku and Mamimi.

Something moves inside Naota's pocket. He pulls it out and-it's Haruko's bracelet. The chain is pointing up toward space. Naota gazes up at the distant sky.

END

1. AN: Probably obvious, but Shisan was Naota’s name very early in production

2. AN: Translates as “The Kid Doesn’t Get It”

3. AN: So the original Japanese here (お茶の間ドラマ) translates as “Tea Room Drama” which might be a reference to a 1992 manga that recieved a 1993 TV Drama adaptation. Still, the general idea of a “drawing room play”, of tight scenes with everyone in one room, might not be too far enough under either translation.

4. AN: A manga-ka who grew into popularity in the 1990’s with gag comics, often featuring robots. I do not know which specific character this is a reference to, alas.

5. AN: A reference to the character Kuzuhara, from the 1997 sex comedy manga Enomoto; Kuzuhara is a cold & standoffish woman who is secretly a dominatrix. In the Gainax Interviews, Tsurumaki cites Kuzuhara as an initial inspiration for Haruko, but by this point Haruko’s character had drifted away from that.

6. AN: Probably a reference to a 1986 novel of the same name by William S. Burroughs. Its definitely what the Japanese says, but it does seem like an oblique reference to make.

7. AN: Probably a draft name for Naota’s older brother

8. AN: “Hiromix” was the pen name of 90’s photographer Hiromi Toshikawa, who popularized a sort of youthful female ‘selfie culture’ that was a trend in photobooks and magazines in the 90’s. The Konico camera mentioned here was a model she was famous for using.

9. AN: Ninamori does not appear at all by name in the previous sections; she is added handwritten with her own section here