Mamimi Samejima is one of the standout characters in the cult classic anime FLCL, also known as Fooly Cooly. This six-episode OVA series packs a lot into its short runtime, and Mamimi plays a crucial role throughout. Right from the first episode, we’re introduced to her as the girlfriend of Tasuku—Naota Nandaba’s older brother. When Tasuku suddenly leaves for the United States, Mamimi doesn’t just feel the loss; she becomes deeply emotionally entangled with Naota, almost as if he’s a replacement or a lifeline in her turbulent world.

Now, Mamimi Samejima isn’t your typical character. She’s complex, layered, and definitely carries a few emotional scars. One of the most striking things about her is her connection to fire—literally. She’s often seen with a lighter in hand, which she affectionately calls “Ta-kun,” a symbolic stand-in for her absent boyfriend. Cigarettes are practically a part of her uniform, and the smoky scent clinging to her clothes adds to her mysterious aura. It’s not just a habit—it’s a metaphor. Fire represents control, destruction, and sometimes comfort for her. And honestly, that says a lot about where she’s at mentally.

As the story unfolds, Mamimi Samejima starts showing more of her inner struggles. She’s melancholic, yes, but there’s more beneath the surface. Her fear of growing up, her sense of being lost without Tasuku—it all comes out through her conversations with Naota. In a way, he becomes her sounding board, someone she can confide in even though he’s just a kid. And while it might seem one-sided at first, this relationship actually helps Naota grow too. Through Mamimi Samejima’s vulnerability, he begins to understand emotions more deeply, navigating his own coming-of-age journey.

What makes Mamimi so compelling is how real she feels. Sure, she acts out, she’s impulsive, and her obsession with fire raises eyebrows—but who hasn’t felt like they were clinging to something just to keep from falling apart? Her erratic behavior isn’t random; it stems from a deep need for meaning, identity, and connection. That’s why, despite her flaws, viewers often find themselves rooting for her. Mamimi Samejima may be troubled, but she’s also searching—searching for love, for purpose, for a place where she fits.

From a personality standpoint, Mamimi Samejima lines up closely with the ESFP type—Extroverted, Sensing, Feeling, Perceiving. At first glance, she might not seem like the life of the party, but she does crave emotional connections and thrives on sensory experiences. Think about her fascination with fireworks: loud, bright, fleeting—just like her emotions. She lives in the moment, reacts impulsively, and follows her heart, sometimes to her detriment. That’s classic ESFP energy: vibrant, spontaneous, and deeply feeling.

And then there’s the Enneagram angle. Mamimi Samejima strongly resonates with Type Four—the Individualist. Fours are introspective, creative, and often feel different from everyone else. They long for authenticity and dread mediocrity. Sound familiar? Mamimi retreats into music, art, and her own internal world because reality doesn’t quite match what she feels inside. She’s not just sad—she’s yearning. For uniqueness. For depth. For someone who truly gets her.

Her attachment to Naota? It’s not just about filling a void left by Tasuku. It’s deeper than that. It’s about being seen. Accepted. Understood. And that’s a core desire for Type Fours. Even when she seems distant or moody, it’s because she’s protecting a fragile sense of self. Privacy isn’t just preference for Mamimi Samejima—it’s necessity.

So, putting it all together, Mamimi Samejima stands out not just because of her style or her quirks, but because of her emotional truth. Whether you see her as an ESFP living in the now or a Type Four searching for identity, one thing’s clear: she brings depth, unpredictability, and heart to FLCL. Her journey isn’t neat or tidy, but it’s honest. And in a show as surreal and fast-paced as FLCL, having a character like Mamimi Samejima grounds the chaos in something real.