FLCL: Shoegaze is the fifth season of the long-running FLCL anime franchise, produced by Production I.G and Adult Swim’s production arm Williams Street, animated by NUT, and directed by Yutaka Uemura from a screenplay by Kenta Ihara. It premiered on Adult Swim’s Toonami programming block in the United States on October 1, 2023, running for three episodes through October 15, 2023. Set ten years after the events of FLCL Alternative, Shoegaze is the only season in the franchise not to feature series mainstay Haruko Haruhara, instead centering on a new 15-year-old protagonist, Masaki, navigating adolescence in a new town.
Like every prior FLCL season, music plays a defining role: the Japanese rock band the pillows, who scored the original 2000-2001 OVA and its sequels, returned once again for Shoegaze — this time contributing an entirely new set of songs written specifically for the new characters, rather than reusing material from earlier seasons.
Quick Facts
| Title | FLCL: Shoegaze |
| Type | Anime miniseries (3 episodes) |
| Director | Yutaka Uemura |
| Composer / Music | the pillows |
| Release date | October 1–15, 2023 |
| Where to stream | Max, Adult Swim, Prime Video |
| Genre | Coming-of-age, Action, Sci-fi |
Score & Music
Music for FLCL: Shoegaze was announced in July 2022, with Production I.G confirming that the pillows — the Japanese rock band whose music has been inseparable from the FLCL franchise since its original 2000 OVA — would return to score both Shoegaze and its sister season, FLCL: Grunge. Vocalist Sawao Yamanaka noted that while the original FLCL theme focused on protagonist Naota’s identity, the new songs for Shoegaze were written to reflect its new cast of characters instead. Unlike earlier FLCL seasons, which recycled tracks from the original OVA soundtrack, Shoegaze uses an entirely new set of the pillows songs. The band also performed the season’s ending theme, “About a Rock’n’Roll Band.”
Shoegaze Soundtrack by Episode
Here are the confirmed the pillows tracks featured in the first two episodes. You can listen to them on Apple Music, Amazon Music, and YouTube.
Episode 1 – “Furu-Bari (Full Barricade)”
- That’s a Wonderful World (song for Hermit)
- Galathea
- Split Emotion
- Subtropical Fantasy
- Message
- Ladybird Girl
- New Animal
- About a Rock’n’Roll Band (ending theme)
Episode 2 – “Gene-Bato (Generational Battle)”
- Tokyo Zombie (The Knock Came at Dead of Night)
- Subtropical Fantasy
- Alice in the City
- Galathea
- Revival
- Message
- Starry Fandango
- Ameagari ni Mita Maboroshi
- About a Rock’n’Roll Band (ending theme)
(External link: The Pillows Return to Provide Music for FLCL: Grunge, FLCL: Shoegaze – Anime News Network)
Where to Stream
FLCL: Shoegaze aired on Adult Swim’s Toonami block and is available to stream on Max (formerly HBO Max) and the Adult Swim and HBO Max Amazon Channels via Prime Video.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who composed the FLCL: Shoegaze soundtrack?
The music for FLCL: Shoegaze was written and performed by the pillows, the Japanese rock band that has scored every season of FLCL since the original 2000-2001 OVA.
Who directed FLCL: Shoegaze?
FLCL: Shoegaze was directed by Yutaka Uemura, who also directed FLCL Alternative, with a screenplay by Kenta Ihara.
Where can I watch FLCL: Shoegaze?
FLCL: Shoegaze is available to stream on Max and the Adult Swim and HBO Max channels on Prime Video.
How many episodes does FLCL: Shoegaze have?
FLCL: Shoegaze consists of three episodes, which aired weekly from October 1 to October 15, 2023.
Does Haruko Haruhara appear in FLCL: Shoegaze?
No. FLCL: Shoegaze is the only season in the entire FLCL franchise that does not feature series mainstay Haruko Haruhara.
Is FLCL: Shoegaze connected to the original FLCL series?
Yes. Shoegaze is the fifth season of the FLCL franchise and is set ten years after the events of FLCL Alternative, though it introduces an entirely new cast of characters.
Related reading
For more, see our Anime Soundtrack hub, Prime Video soundtracks, and TV Soundtrack hub.