We open on Mamimi narrating over the image of a fire, saying that she "saw God the other day." Oh dear, here we go.
It's actually revealed to be a video game being played on a Wonderswan clone. Interesting, given all the jokes about the Game Boy and its variants last time. Beats playing on the Game.com (the dot is silent) at least.
Anyway, as Mamimi plays her game; Naota is understandably less than amused that she's showing up at his school now. Also, nice hat. Bit different than the backward cap in the last episode; but we'll find out why later.
After his classmates insinuate that Mamimi is Naota's "waifu" (still a term I have no use for), he returns home to find out another horn is growing on the back of his head; and it's even larger than the last one!
Haruko then starts examining Naota in her nurse getup again. Also, it's been a while since I read her bio, but Haruko claims she's 19. Granted, she could be an unreliable narrator, but still.
Then, when Haruko takes up the persona of an angel rocker, Naota tells her to "quit acting like she's on Star Search." Anime fans in 2001 loved Star Search references, apparently.
Also, are those Kamina's glasses she's wearing? ... I just got another reason to love this.
As I've pointed out before, I always like it when something unique is done with the title card art; and each episode is related to the subject matter in some way. Disregarding the fire and smoke in my area right now, I do enjoy the title being written in surgical pins while crow feathers drift over the image of a sky full of ashes.
The next day, Naota is also less than amused by his father using Canti for menial labor; which his father just brushes off. So much ennui at only 11 years old: I can relate.
After a quick joke at his dad's expense for writing an EVA conspiracy book(nice one, Anno); Naota gives Mamimi an extra pair of flip-flops, since she apparently lost her shoes in the river trying to save a kitten known as "Takkun." While both Mamimi and Haruko are distinct takes on the
"manic pixie dream girl" character type, both have their own impact on the story and Naota's character as the anime goes on.
Anyway, after another run-in with Medical Mechanical; one of the guards starts ogling Haruko and her motorbike, saying "there's a lot of depraved people out there." Ironic, much?
I also like the bit of Haruko working on her brakes, as it appears the box had a small Gundam figurine inside. That's pretty nifty.
Through the viewfinder of her camera, Mamimi spots Canti wearing Haruko's angel costume by the riverbank!
I must say, that I just love this shot of Canti with his arms spread out; symbolically representing his wings before we actually see them as he stands on the roof of Mamimi's burnt-out old school.
After Mamimi witnesses Canti leap off the spire of the building, we then get a very amusing scene of Naota on Haruko's vespa by the seaside as his inner monologue continues. The fact that Naota is unimpressed by the circumstances of the last few days a good indicator of his character arc for this anime; and as we go on, I will continue to detail his growth.
This next sequence is unique: after the ad bumper, we're treated to an introspective look at Naota, Mamimi, Haruko and Canti: it reveals some of their ages, and in addition to Haruko being unknown in her age and Mamimi being 17, it turns out that Naota is 12. Been longer than I thought since I watched this, but as I said before, I can relate. The scene also reveals that Canti is a fan of Hustler, and the whole sequence is animated in the style of Studio 4-C and the late Satoshi Kon, which would later be echoed for the Panty and Stocking episode "Vomiting Point."
Canti then returns with some food from the 7-Eleven, and Mamimi gives him the title of the "lord of dark flames!" In case it wasn't already clear, she's definitely a few pepperoni short of a pizza pie.
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| Seven meter pilcher climbing up the Eiffel tower! |
Not only did Canti screw up getting Haruko's drink, Naota's grandfather also apparently wanted the Hustler with a centerfold of Anna Nicole Smith. I don't know what the reference was in Japanese, but that's kind of awkward given the starlet they're referencing died in 2007.
The next day, Naota and his friends go out and find out that an old boathouse has burned down as well! I wonder if there's any portal to the Upside Down in these parts.
Then, Naota sees Mami washing her clothes in the river and decides to walk her home that evening! As she drops her game system, Naota deduces that she was the culprit as she lights her cigarette!
As Naota pieces together everything that's transpired over the last few days, it turns out that another fire has broken out! ... I normally would make a joke about this, but given how many fires are happening in real life here; I'm just going to move on. Before I do, I will give credit to the visuals: again, the animation in this anime is just wonderful. GAINAX captures the emotions of the story wonderfully in this scene; and if you pay attention to the events of this episode, you're rewarded.
We also see just how messed up Mamimi is, since she's sitting in a circle of candles; burning cigarettes and has a crown of lighters as tribute to Canti! ... While the symbolism of this scene is heavy, it also shows how Mamimi deconstructs the character type I mentioned earlier. Even though the episode states the arsonist was never found, it's heavily-implied; but not outright stated that she was the culprit. It's also somewhat hinted that she's homeless (the day-old bread is essentially a cliché in Japanese media in a similar vein to how canned goods are here), and that her parents are absent if not outright dead.
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| Ah bom shiva, ah bom shiva, ah bom shiva... |
Anyway, Naota tries to return her game system; but Mamimi insists he keep it. She also confirms that this was her old school, and even if it burnt down; the memory, much like the ashes on the ground will never leave.
Canti also tries to hide in the burnt-out beams of the building; but it's not easy when you're a 7-foot-tall robot with a TV for a head. Especially one that wears a jacket with wings on it.
Then, as Mamimi kisses Canti, another object starts emerging from Naota's head; and this is another line that is actual dialogue from the episode: "It's bigger than before!"
This is furthered by Mamimi concurring "there's some weird fat thing coming out of Takkun!" Sometimes, the best jokes are the ones the anime already has.
The new threat is indeed a larger mecha than before. I may be having trouble screencapping this fight; but trust me when I say it's a lot of fun.
Things get even crazier when Naota is pulled into the maw in Canti's chest (it happens) as the visuals get even trippier!
Mamimi then accuses Canti of being an impostor, and he reverts back to his red color scheme! You'd think after all the time she spent playing that game, she'd understand that when the boss reaches that stage; it gains new abilities!
Canti uses Naota's energy to turn into a railgun to defeat the mecha, all while The Pillows' "Little Buster" plays in the background! I have seen this anime many times since I was 11, and even after 14 years later; I still love this scene.
After the task is done and the day is saved, Canti releases Naota; and once again, this is the actual line from Mamimi after that: "Takkun, you're all sticky!" This has to be the most fun I've had writing about this kind of innuendo since "The Dunsparce Deception."
As the authorities come to the remains of the high school, Naota comments that he doesn't know "where the lies end and the truth begins." I wake up almost every day saying words to that effect.
Once again, even though I don't normally cover next episode previews here, for this marathon I'll make an exception. The preview for the next episode, "Marquis di Carabas" has some narration about anime directors love cats (including one about some at GAINAX), including a joke about Mamoru Oshii loving dogs instead. Sometimes the thought process might be different than you might think. As I've pointed out before, while Oshii did approve of the live-action Ghost in the Shell, Hideo Kojima did not.
"Fire Starter" is a great second outing for FLCL. Even setting aside real-world circumstances; it does have a good blend of humor and drama to develop the story and characters, and the animation remains a creative delight after all this time.
Even disregarding the new dub trailer for "Pokémon I Choose You," I want to work on this marathon and other projects through out this month; so check back next time for my look at the next episode, "Marquis di Carabas!"
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