Atomsk

Atomsk (アトムスク^?, Atomusuku), also known as the "Pirate King" (海賊王, Kaizoku-Ō) is an enigmatic character; all that is really known for certain about him is that he can manifest entire star systems through his body with N.O. power, which Haruko Haruhara desires for herself. He takes on the form of a massive, phoenix-like creature.

Appearance[]

He resembles a giant, glowing, red bird whose wings span for miles in almost all appearances on Earth. He has a nose ring on his upper beak identical to Haruko’s bracelet. However, when he emerges from Haruko in FLCL Progressive, he takes on the form of a glowing, red, human-like silhouette with no distinctive features, except for the symbol representing him and two white eyes, suggesting that he may have some degree of shapeshifting abilities. He is also incorrectly described once by Commander Amarao in FLCL. This version of him is seen from behind in space with a different, human-like form, with glowing, green lines similar to veins on a maroon colored body, and still retains a fiery, red glow on his head, resembling wild hair.

Personality[]

The only time Atomsk "interacts" with any characters is when staring blankly at Haruko after her failed absorption of him in Progressive. She attempts to hit Atomsk several times, but he is so strong that her attacks are stopped by the air around him. Frustrated, she begins to demand that he let her take him, but her words quickly devolve into tearful sorrow from his rejection. Through all of this, Atomsk does not do anything, arguably making this a non-interaction, though he does wait until Haruko attempts to hug him to leave, the action revealing that Julia Jinyu was the host that allowed his form to change.

Story[]

Background[]

Atomsk, also known as the "Pirate King," is an enigmatic character, apparently the most powerful "space pirate" in the galaxy. His N.O. is great enough to steal entire solar systems. His physical appearance is that of a bird-like creature resembling a phoenix. He has a nose ring identical to the metal ring on Haruko's bracelet, which allows her to detect Atomsk's presence or the activation of N.O. in general. Atomsk's power makes him a target for both the Fraternity and Medical Mechanica, the latter of which successfully captured him at an unspecified point in time before the series begins. In response, Haruko is sent to track him down, ostensibly to capture him on the behalf of the Fraternity, though in truth she wishes to take his powers for herself, regardless of the damage she causes along the way.

FLCL[]

Since Atomsk can travel through N.O. channels, Haruko makes her way to Earth searching for people with minds that can provide a strong enough N.O. channel for Atomsk to travel through in order to escape from Medical Mechanica. Upon finding Naota Nandaba, she strikes him on the head with her bass guitar to open an N.O. channel through which Canti and a host of Medical Mechanica robots begin to emerge; unbeknownst to her, Atomsk escapes from Medical Mechanica inside of Canti and remains trapped within. By using Naota as a catalyst, Atomsk is able to manifest his power through Canti and battle the Medical Mechanica robots.

During the climax, Naota emerges from Canti having absorbed Atomsk's power and briefly battles Haruko, who reveals her true desire to eat Atomsk and acquire his power. However, the fight ends abruptly when Naota releases the power, confessing his love for Haruko and kissing her. Atomsk emerges from Naota's head and, spreading his wings, opens an N.O. Channel through which he travels to an unknown destination. Soon after, Haruko departs Earth in pursuit.

FLCL Progressive[]

At some point after FLCL, Haruko finally tracks down Atomsk, seemingly battling him in space just beyond Earth's atmosphere. Haruko successfully absorbs his power, causing an eruption of shooting stars that an older Naota and Mamimi witness. However, moments after absorbing him, the energy surrounding Haruko appears to split into two distinct individuals, one resembling herself with the other seemingly becoming Julia Jinyu.

Hidomi Hibajiri dreams of running through a ruined city covered in white ash with her body decaying, as several Medical Mechanica factories approach on the horizon, ironing out the wrinkles of the world. She eventually comes across what appears to be the desiccated body of Atomsk lying prone in a desert of ash. As she approaches his head, he opens his eye and fixes it on her; her headphones shatter and spiraling machinery emerges from the horn on her head, rebuilding her body into a mech that resembles an advanced, futuristic version of Canti, which allows her to confront and battle the approaching factories. In Fool on the Planet, Atomsk returns to Earth. Haruko attempts to absorb him, but fails and winds up releasing both him and Jinyu.

FLCL Alternative[]

Atomsk is largely absent from the plot of the third season. Haruko and the main cast are more focused on the immediate danger that Medical Mechanica imposes, though that eventually leads to his partial inclusion. Similarly to when Canti powered up in FLCL, Kana Koumoto's forehead bears Atomsk's symbol when using her N.O. channel to its full extent. Medical Mechanica's irons seem to have an overriding program tailored towards Atomsk, causing one to bear his symbol on the wrist pushing it, diverting it off course to pursue his presence via Kana's N.O. channel. Kana's hair also begins to resemble wispy orange flames in this state, similar to that of Atomsk's red hair. Unlike other characters using his power, however, she does not become enveloped in his energy.

FLCL: Grunge[]

In the first episode, Haruko asks where Atomsk is as she attacks the Medical Mechanica building. In the final episode, he emerges from beneath the Medical Mechanica building after she destroyed the robot that prevented her from getting closer to the building. After staring at him in amazement, Haruko gets on her Vespa to chase after him, before he eventually turns into a large ball of energy and quickly flies off into space.

FLCL: Shoegaze[]

In the third episode, a flying worm-like creature appears, initially in a gigantic form, but later in a tiny form. The worm gave Masaki Aofuji the ability to travel between parallel universes. According to Masaki, the worm refers to itself as Atomsk.

Powers[]

Atomsk is, presumably, the most powerful being in the series. He is so powerful, every time he is absorbed or captured, he always manages to escape. When someone absorbs him, they gain a glowing aura like his. His N.O. is said to be capable of stealing entire solar systems, he can possess other beings, and can survive in outer space. His N.O. can also be borrowed by other characters in the series who have N.O. channels to power up, giving some of them the permanent ability to use an N.O. aura in battle without his assistance.

Items[]

Atomsk owns a right-handed 1961 Gibson EB-0 in a cherry-red finish, but he himself is never shown using it. Rather, it is borrowed by various characters through N.O. channels throughout the series.

It is unknown where, when or how he came to possess it.

Relations[]

Haruko Haruhara[]

Haruko chasing after Atomsk is like a metaphor in the show, comparing Haruko to a teenager that longs for adulthood. Haruko has an obsession with him and in Progressive, said she had been "chasing him for so long." She desires his power, but she may be hiding her true feelings for him. She broke down emotionally when Atomsk rejected her, but still wants to have him again.

Julia Jinyu[]

Jinyu loves Atomsk and longed to see him again. She said she was flying through space with him but was left behind. She desires to preserve his freedom. She was also his host body when he was confronted face-to-face by Haruko, and hugged her as she cried during his escape.

Behind the Scenes[]

The director's commentary explains that Haruko's bracelet is a remnant from the original story, in which Haruko was a space officer and Atomsk was her prisoner with whom she fell in love. They scrapped the idea but kept the bracelet, and a few discreet references to Haruko's past.
Commander Amarao portrays him inaccurately, imagining Atomsk's appearance as a humanoid male figure with fiery red hair when he describes him to Naota. In an interview, the director clarifies that Atomsk's true form is indeed that of the bird, and Amarao's mental image was of a man because he believed that Atomsk and Haruko were lovers, which was later exposed to be false; Amarao looks very surprised when he sees Atomsk's true form.

Gallery[]

Trivia[]

Atomsk is named after the novel Atomsk, by Carmichael Smith (a pseudonym of Paul Myron Anthony Linebarger, better known as Cordwainer Smith). In the director commentary on the third DVD, the director states that he is unsure as to how it's really pronounced (in FLCL it is pronounced "atom-isk" or "atom-osk").
The term “Pirate King” is also used in the popular manga, One Piece.
Atomsk is finally voiced in episode 1 of FLCL: Shoegaze, which is provided by voice actor Michael Sinterniklaas.