TV-Series
Description
Ko Ide is a young middle school student living in the city of Mabase and a classmate of the main heroine Hidomi Hibajiri in the second season of the FLCL series. He initially appears as an upbeat and somewhat aimless teenager who has a noticeable crush on Hidomi, often trying to impress her or get her attention. His life revolves around school and making money through various part-time jobs, including working in a junkyard where he builds and sells machinery.

Ko Ide’s most prominent role in the story is that of a pawn and a catalyst for the extraordinary events that unfold. His high N.O. channel potential is discovered and exploited by Haruko Haruhara, who poses as his homeroom teacher. Through his emotional reactions and feelings for Hidomi, Haruko is able to trigger his N.O. abilities, causing bizarre objects and mechanical creatures to burst from his forehead. This makes him a key tool for Haruko in her attempts to locate and manipulate Hidomi, whom she targets as the primary vessel for her plans.

Despite being manipulated, Ko Ide is fiercely loyal and protective of Hidomi. His infatuation with her serves as both a weakness and a source of strength, driving him to endure physical pain and confusion. Over the course of the season, he develops from a naive and easily swayed boy into someone who takes independent action. By the climax, he gains the resolve to confront the antagonistic force Medical Mechanica on his own terms in order to save Hidomi, showing significant personal growth.

In terms of abilities, Ko Ide possesses a powerful N.O. channel that allows Haruko to summon a variety of objects and creatures from his head. This ability is directly linked to his emotional state, particularly his feelings for Hidomi. Though he has no control over the manifestations initially, his portal can also be used to reverse polarity, as seen when a flowerpot is dropped on his head, which ends up pulling other characters into a factory. His role is primarily supportive, but his actions have major consequences for the plot.

Ko Ide’s key relationships include his unrequited crush on Hidomi, which evolves into a genuine bond of mutual care and laughter. He is also closely tied to Haruko, who uses him as a pawn but also serves as the catalyst for his involvement in the strange occurrences. He interacts with other classmates like Marco, and his encounters with Julia Jinyu further complicate the dynamics. Throughout the series, he balances his ordinary school life with the increasingly bizarre and dangerous situations, ultimately emerging as a more determined and self-aware individual.