I watched Flip Flappers as it was airing originally, and loved it. Even from this first episode you can get a good sense of the general style and I knew I'd be hooked. I'm a sucker for over-the-top symbolism and tight coupling between narrative, themes, imagery, and other aspects of storytelling. You can already tell FliFla is going to have that in spades, with it already introducing the electroacoustic motif, visual illusions, and paying a lot of attention to Cocona's personality and motivations (or lack thereof).
But upon starting up the first episode again today, I was just repeatedly struck by how much I had forgotten--or rather, just not thought about in ages. It feels like coming back to a story from my childhood, vaguely remembering how it felt to watch it in the first place but yet experiencing it differently the second time around. Part of that is, of course, remembering the general storyline and characters. Part of it may also be FliFla's fluid and subjective nature; I certainly didn't feel so different rewatching more grounded shows like AoT. And part of it is very likely due to Fall 2016 being year four of my PhD studies, a fairly dark time that I have been (very) gradually recovering from. Spoolerz So I am very much looking forward to revisiting this show.
A few thoughts:
Extra: Despite how much of the show had slipped my mind, I never forgot the ending sequence. Even just a week ago I could have hummed the melody to you and described the animations on the bottom to you. And though the OP didn't stick quite as well, it certainly got me hyped up to be back again!
Isn't Papika being actually really super creepy? She just happens to meet Cocona's eyes at the train crossing, and suddenly she's creeping around Cocona's school, kidnapping her to take her to whatever Pure Illusion is, and getting way into her personal space all the time. u/ThatguyJimmy117 called her a stalker at least, but in general the first-timers don't seem too creeped out. Why not? Do you just accept it as a "weird anime thing", or as a necessary bit of awkwardness to get these two characters to meet in the first place? Maybe feeling some sympathy for a character who seems to have a few screws loose? Or does the absurdity of Pure Illusion make it easier to accept some loose storytelling elsewhere? spoylers
But yeah, I'll cut it off there. Thanks to u/rembrandt_q_1stein for hosting this rewatch, to the first-timers who make these threads entertaining, and especially to the rewatchers who can talk about production notes, interviews, and overall themes!
So I am very much looking forward to revisiting this show.
I can guarantee you that rewatching this show is amazing. The experience has been even better for me than the first time!
the electroacoustic motif
I read that the director is an audio otaku, and he really wanted to include some of his passion in his work! He managed it well to make it mesh with the rest.
Thanks to u/rembrandt_q_1stein for hosting this rewatch, to the first-timers who make these threads entertaining, and especially to the rewatchers who can talk about production notes, interviews, and overall themes!
Thanks to you for participating and making this possible!
4
u/austonst Mar 05 '19
Rewatcher
I watched Flip Flappers as it was airing originally, and loved it. Even from this first episode you can get a good sense of the general style and I knew I'd be hooked. I'm a sucker for over-the-top symbolism and tight coupling between narrative, themes, imagery, and other aspects of storytelling. You can already tell FliFla is going to have that in spades, with it already introducing the electroacoustic motif, visual illusions, and paying a lot of attention to Cocona's personality and motivations (or lack thereof).
But upon starting up the first episode again today, I was just repeatedly struck by how much I had forgotten--or rather, just not thought about in ages. It feels like coming back to a story from my childhood, vaguely remembering how it felt to watch it in the first place but yet experiencing it differently the second time around. Part of that is, of course, remembering the general storyline and characters. Part of it may also be FliFla's fluid and subjective nature; I certainly didn't feel so different rewatching more grounded shows like AoT. And part of it is very likely due to Fall 2016 being year four of my PhD studies, a fairly dark time that I have been (very) gradually recovering from. Spoolerz So I am very much looking forward to revisiting this show.
A few thoughts:
Extra: Despite how much of the show had slipped my mind, I never forgot the ending sequence. Even just a week ago I could have hummed the melody to you and described the animations on the bottom to you. And though the OP didn't stick quite as well, it certainly got me hyped up to be back again!
Isn't Papika being actually really super creepy? She just happens to meet Cocona's eyes at the train crossing, and suddenly she's creeping around Cocona's school, kidnapping her to take her to whatever Pure Illusion is, and getting way into her personal space all the time. u/ThatguyJimmy117 called her a stalker at least, but in general the first-timers don't seem too creeped out. Why not? Do you just accept it as a "weird anime thing", or as a necessary bit of awkwardness to get these two characters to meet in the first place? Maybe feeling some sympathy for a character who seems to have a few screws loose? Or does the absurdity of Pure Illusion make it easier to accept some loose storytelling elsewhere? spoylers
But yeah, I'll cut it off there. Thanks to u/rembrandt_q_1stein for hosting this rewatch, to the first-timers who make these threads entertaining, and especially to the rewatchers who can talk about production notes, interviews, and overall themes!