FLCL Alternative

FLCL Alternative is an original animated series directed by Katsuyuki Motohiro and co-produced by Adult Swim and Production I.G. with FLCL creator Kazuya Tsurumaki serving as supervisor. Hideto Iwai served as writer of the series and Yoshiyuki Sadamoto served as character designer. Voiceover/ADR for the series was recorded by NYAV Post and directed by Michael Sinterniklaas. It is the second of four sequels to the original FLCL: FLCL Progressive, FLCL: Grunge and FLCL: Shoegaze..

On March 20, 2018, a teaser for the two new seasons was released and it was revealed that FLCL Progressive will premiere on Adult Swim's Toonami block in June of 2018, followed by Alternative in September. Adult Swim initially planned to simulcast the English subtitled version of each episode at adultswim.com as they aired. However, the release of the subbed versions of Progressive and Alternative were pushed back to November to align with the Japanese release. In Japan, FLCL Alternative aired as a feature film, opening in theaters on September 7, 2018.

After the first English subbed episode of the series unexpectedly premiered on Toonami as a special April Fools surprise. The English dubbed episodes premiered on Adult Swim's Toonami block from September 8, 2018 to October 13, 2018, with reruns continuing to air on the block through December 1, 2018. The series is rated TV-14-DLSV on Adult Swim.

Plot
The series centers on the misadventures of 17-year-old Kana, a high school junior who spends her days hanging out with her besties, Mossan, Hijiri, and Pets. They live unremarkable lives, until the day a Mecha falls out of the sky, along with a strange woman named “Haruko.” Her plans for Kana and her friends involve the force known as “ATOMSK.” Kana will have to risk everything to decide whether or not to help… like she really has a choice!

Broadcast History
In the United States, the series aired on Adult Swim's Toonami block from September 8, 2018 to December 1, 2018. In Japan, FLCL Alternative will not be broadcast on television, as both Alternative and FLCL Progressive were released as compilation theatrical films in September of 2018.


 * United States (Adult Swim) — April 1, 2018; September 8, 2018 - December 1, 2018; September 2, 2023

Toonami Broadcast History
At 12:00 AM on April 1, 2018, the first English subbed episode of the series unexpectedly premiered on Toonami as a special April Fools surprise. This episode marked the first time a full-length Toonami series or movie aired with Japanese audio and English subtitles. This episode actually premiered before FLCL Progressive. The English dubbed episodes of Alternative premiered on Adult Swim's Toonami block on September 8, 2018 at 11:30 PM. After the series finale made its premiere on October 13, 2018, reruns began airing on the block. FLCL Alternative moved to the 2:00 AM time slot on October 27th. The series was removed from the lineup following the December 1, 2018 broadcast and was subsequently replaced in the lineup by Megalo Box.

In preparation for the premiere of FLCL: Grunge on September 9, 2023, Toonami will be extended by half an hour on September 2nd so that FLCL Alternative can air in its entirety during a 3 hour marathon from 12:30-3:30 AM.


 * Toonami (United States) — April 1, 2018; September 8, 2018 - December 1, 2018; September 2, 2023

Toonami Marathons
FLCL Alternative only had one marathon appearance during its run on Toonami, the FLCL Alternative Marathon on September 2, 2023.