ECP Flash Forward: FLCL Progressive 3 - "Skipping Stone" (June 16, 2018)
What I watched: The third episode of FLCL Progressive, an anime series created by Katsuyuki Motohiro and Production I. G., based off the original FLCL created by Kazuya Tsurumaki and Studio Gainax. “Skipping Stone” was directed by Yuki Ogawa and written by Hideto Iwai. The episode first aired on adult swim on June 2, 2018 at 11:30pm, with the English dub cast featuring Kari Wahlgren, Allegra Clark, Xanthe Huynh, and Robbie Draymond. The Japanese version was aired as a compilation movie that first screened on September 28 of the same year, with a voice cast starring Mayumi Shintani, Miyuki Sawashiro, Inori Minase and Jun Fukuyama. Progressive is currently available for streaming on the adult swim page in the US and on VOD elsewhere.
Starring: Jun Fukuyama voices Ide, the male semi-lead of Progressive, in Japanese. He is perhaps best known for voicing the lead role of Lelouche in the bonkers Code Geass mecha series, as well as the lead in the Persona 5 TV adaptations. He has a very young-looking photo on his ANN Encyclopedia page, but is actually in his 40s.
The English voice of Ide is the similar young-looking and prolific Robbie Daymond. Before this, I most recently heard Daymond as the annoying but endearing voice of Chai in Hi-Fi Rush. He also voiced Joe in the Digimon Tri revival movies, which I think means we’re best friends now.
What happened: In our now-customary opening dream sequence, an unusually chipper Hidomi crash-lands into a field of electrical wires. She talks about wanting to consume the flesh of her friends, hornily and in a high-pitched voice. A bunch of little Jinyus fall from the sky, saying that they’ve warned her about the Vespa woman. The area fills with water, pulling up a bunch of humanoid figures, who are crushed by a giant fist. A super-deformed Hidomi swims towards the surface. This shit is weird, man.
In real life, we find ourselves at the beach for an episode. Ide and company are ogling Haruka and Jinyu, who are both wearing revealing swimsuits. Mori introduces his girlfriend Aiko to the other two boys, a very demure, very moe girl with long silver hair and an emotional-support plant. Marco and Ide can’t quite believe it.
With the boys aware, the only people left to put sunscreen on Haruka are Jinyu and Hidomi. I think I’ve read fanfic like this. Jinyu splashes on tanning oil, saying it’s revenge for Haruka stalking her the past months. Haruka gets roped into a beach volleyball game, and delivers a meteor-like strike. Hidomi asks Jinyu what she really wants, and she describes a former boyfriend who disappeared on her. This is implied to be Atomsk, who both of the alien ladies are chasing. Jinyu turns the question back on Hidomi, and she can’t answer it.
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