What's important to understand about FLCL is that when FLCL was initially released in April of 2000, it was viewed as the cumulative avatar of the Studio GAINAX treatment given to an original title.
Unlike today where many anime are adaptations of visual novels, light novels, and (in a trend that is actually becoming more and more rare) manga, in the late 90's to 2005, it was more common for studios to create their own franchises. Especially Studio GAINAX who primarily released only original titles (exceptions being given obviously to Mahoromatic and KareKano (KareKano of which was actually a stark contrast to the original source material, which was far less comedy oriented and far more romance oriented))
Yoji Enokido, who wrote the script for FLCL, has always been known as an experimental storyteller, as he would show in later works such as RahXephon, Ouran Host Club, Melody of Oblivion, and Star Driver. He would also go on to release FLCL in novel form in a few months after the show was released in June of 2000.
Kazuya Tsurumaki, the director, was a protege of Hideaki Anno, and animation director for Fushigi no Umi no Nadia, as well as assistant director for Evangelion and director for KareKano in 1998.
He also would direct Diebuster in 2004.
If we recall the original directional style of KareKano, alongside He Is My Master, Gun/Diebuster, the first half of Evangelion, as well as Abenobashi Mahou Shoutengai and Mahoromatic, we see a progressive trend that would give GAINAX it's unique taste in the anime industry, a taste that can be seen in the recent hit, Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann, a series released just a few years ago. (Many GAINAX characters would make guest appearances in the episode with the hotsprings where they appear in bunny suits)
Moving on.
The manga for FLCL was written by Hajime Ueda in late 2000. Unfortunately, Ueda, not being associated with GAINAX directly, didn't quite capture the GAINAX feel that gave it it's unique flavor.
FLCL as a whole was the child of Yoji Enokido, and would be the rock that would later define his writing style in experimental scriptwriting, so it's clear to see why the manga doesn't live up to the original title's prestige and can come across to some (many) as...well...confusing.
vlenbo
Maji de watashi etc etc, is the name.
Maji de Watashi ni Koi Shinasai
Spinoff to They are my Noble Masters by Minato Soft.
<message edited by Satsujinki on Monday, July 09, 2012 8:18 AM>