A dream of falling from the sky... and then birth. Rakka is born from a large cocoon into the Old
Home, greeted by a group of girls with small wings on their backs and shining halos above their heads.
Soon Rakka’s own wings grow, a halo is placed on her head and she is told that she must work in
the nearby town of Grie. She soon realizes that the town and the entire world they live in are
confined behind the Wall, a tall, impenetrable wall that none except the mysterious Toga are allowed
to exit.
(Source: Anime News Network)
~~~__Making Use of the Show, Don't Tell Technique__~~~ ~~~img360(https://66.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mb1cxmp5ff1qfqwgno1_r1_500.png)~~~ Show, Don't Tell is a writing technique where in actions speak louder than words. It's a technique that is often used for works that are meant to be open for interpretation. The creator of Haibane Renmei; Yoshitoshi ABe, loves using this technique. He's used it in Serial Experiments Lain and he's also used it in this anime. If you've watched Serial Experiments Lain then you might know how confusing is is. Haibane Renmei is a show that does not cater to everyone's taste. Like ABe's Serial Experiments Lain, It is a show that is truthfully difficult to recommend to people simply because of its style of writing. It doesn't really stand as one particular genre because of its atmosphere and the only way you can truly enjoy this anime is if you appreciate the atmosphere which it has.
Soaring towards the ground, a lone crow flies frantically in pursuit of a falling girl. Clutching desperately to her white dress, the poor creature struggles in vain to slow her descent. Touched by the crow’s efforts, the peaceful girl lovingly embraces the concerned soul, assuring the animal that all will be fine and thanking it for the worry. The crow, now aware of its powerlessness, ascends back up into the heavens, allowing the girl to fall in tranquillity, awaiting her next journey. A journey of self-discovery. A journey of acceptance. A journey of forgiveness. Self-discovery. Acceptance. Forgiveness. The driving forces behind Yoshitoshi ABe’s 2002 cult-classic, Haibane Renmei. A true gem of a series and a shining example of what the medium is truly capable of, Haibane presents the viewer with a narrative unbound by genre convention and is one created out of a genuine love and passion for artistic expression. Through its evocative atmosphere and setting, Haibane Renmei is a show that enchants the viewer immediately into its world. Awaking from her dream, the falling girl finds herself entrapped in a cocoon before eventually breaking herself free, with no recollection of her life before this event, or of any knowledge of this new world she finds herself in. Given the name Rakka, the other girls who find her, called the Haibane, inform Rakka that she is now a Haibane herself; an angelic being adorning a halo and a pair of wings. The rest of the series sees the newly born Haibane learn more about the world in which she has been placed into and seeking untold answers about the circumstances of herself and the Haibane at large. While Haibane Renmei may seem like a simple show at a surface level glance, it is deceptively so. Haibane Renmei is a series that presents the viewer with many questions about the world and origins of the Haibane but provides very little answers for any of them, and this is certainly one of the main pieces of criticism I see many people have regarding this series. While perhaps it may have been interesting to learn more about the world and to have many of the mysteries the show presents us with explored, I believe in doing so would strip Haibane of one of its greatest assets. Its ambiguity. Haibane is a series shrouded in ambiguity and this is certainly one of the most engaging things about Haibane’s narrative. The show respects the viewer’s intelligence and slowly drip feeds the audience small and subtle pieces of information as the show goes along, aiding in our understanding of what the Haibane really are, allowing the audience to piece together things for themselves. The ambiguity of the show is only enforced by the sense of history the show constantly protrudes from itself too. The Haibane often refer to old customs that they follow, simply because the previous generation of Haibane did so too, or of folklores and beliefs carried throughout the seemingly tranquil town the Haibane share with the humans. In the fourth episode of the show, Kanna, a fellow Haibane, informs Rakka of a book she found containing the work of an unnamed figure, and in the proceeding episode, Nemu writes a book as a gift to her friend about the creation of the world and how the Haibane came to be. The constant references to old figures of the past, or of days gone by cements the narrative with a greater sense of mystery, as the answers the audience, and by extension, Rakka seek, are buried by the mutability of time. It aids in enhancing the mystery of the show, and the viewer truly feels all the more alienated about the world and the true nature of the Haibane as a result, instilling a truly evocative setting, while aiding in Haibane’s inherently captivating nature, making the viewer wish to seek the answers they want all the more. It gives the series a kind of “magical” fantasy-like setting about itself. This sense of history is also present in each locale the Haibane occupy. Each location, from the town, to the Old Home in which the Haibane live, are all run-down, old, and feel as if they have had years of unknown history behind them. As a result of the watercolour paint aesthetic used for the walls, it gives the show a “muddy” vibe, and just by looking at the different sites, can the viewer understand the level of history and decay each place has endured, which, again, aids in enhancing the mystery of the show. Ultimately, Haibane’s purposeful ambiguity is used as a means to explore one of the show’s core themes of self-discovery, as the protagonist Rakka desperately seeks answers about the true nature of her circumstances and the world in which she has been placed into, much like the viewer who understands nothing about this world initially either. I would argue that Haibane’s lack of definitive answers about the functionality of its world and the mysteries it presents us with, parallels that of the real-life. Much like Rakka, we often find ourselves questioning the viability of what it truly means to be “alive”. What is it like when we die? What does it mean to “be”? What even IS life? Haibane manages to juggle these heavy themes of existentialism in such a way to never feel overbearing or to drown the viewer in nihilism either. It’s there for those viewers who enjoy such thematic exploration but used subtly enough that those who don’t care for such things to look past it if they so wish. But, even though Haibane Renmei requires the audience to piece things together for themselves, I wouldn’t put forward the argument that Haibane Renmei is an incredibly enigmatic series, as I’ve seen others argue from time to time. As I’ve already mentioned, the show drip-feeds the viewer constantly with small pieces of information, which not only acts as an incentive to watch more and keep engaged with the work in order to pick up on such things but allows the viewer to grasp what Haibane attempts to communicate. The ambiguity in the series serves an obvious function in not only theme exploration but in character drama which I’ll get into more a bit later, so in my eyes, I can’t really agree with the notion that the ambiguity is a “flaw”. As Momo, the creator of Metacritic for Anime once said, “If you can’t see the value of ambiguity, then you’re gay” which is the ultimate checkmate argument! Haibane’s use of ambiguity also gives the narrative a strange sense of pervasive uneasiness. The second episode of the series, while starting off itself pretty calm and relaxing, reveals things to the audience about the nature of the Haibane and their rules that result in this aforementioned unease. We learn that the Haibane must live separate from the humans, that the entire town is enclosed in a giant wall in which nobody may enter or leave, and the Haibane must stay away from said wall, and that the Haibane are only allowed to use items that no longer have any use to humans, hence the reason as to why they resort to second-hand clothing stores for any necessary items. As a viewer, we never learn the exact reasons as to why the Haibane are treated as such, or why they have to abide by such rules. There’s a constant sense of looming danger or paranoia lurking in the air, which only grows in intensity as the narrative develops. The overall sense of uneasiness is achieved by making the viewer feel nervous somehow; afraid of some over lurking power or threat that they can’t explain, and thus we seek comfort naturally in Rakka, who shares in the same circumstances as we do, allowing the viewer to grow a greater sense of attachment to her as a result of such. One thing that I certainly appreciated more during my re-watch of the series was just how much thought was put into the first half of the show regarding the heavy use of foreshadowing for future events. The earliest parts of the series offer the audience small yet important subtleties that play a larger role later on, such as in the second episode when Rakka innocently asks Reki what her dream inside the cocoon was, whereupon everyone present at the table goes strangely quiet and the mood becomes much more hostile, cluing the viewer in that despite Reki’s seemingly kind front, she is ultimately a troubled person. Or in the case of episode four when Kuu’s boss asks Rakka if Kuu is going to “disappear”. While the viewer would take this line in the literal sense initially, it takes on a whole new meaning later on in episode six when one of the Haibane takes their Day of Flight; a process in which the Haibane moves on from the world and goes, supposedly, beyond the walls. And there are plenty of other examples of this as well. The use of foreshadowing not only indicates thought put into how the narrative is structured but also makes it more rewarding for a viewer to experience as they piece things together, enhancing the level of engagement with the work at hand. I’ve seen many people remark that the show only begins to be of any true value in the second half of the series, where the aforementioned Haibane takes her Day of the Flight, as the narrative henceforth centres more so around a continuous drama, and the themes of self-discovery, acceptance and forgiveness are explored in more depth during this period too. However, to make such a claim would be silly in my eyes. The first half of the show is devoted to establishing the world, and the customs of the Haibane, all the while adding layers of characterisation onto some of the cast in their own standalone episodes. During episodes four and five, Rakka accompanies two different Haibane who befriend her, in their work to see what job would be best suited for her, and in both instances, the viewer learns a substantial amount about how the world in which these characters occupy functions, as well as their outlook on it too. Kana’s work involving the fixing of clocks has obvious allusions to the mutability of time, a pervasive concept throughout the narrative, and she even projects some level of introspection into her life as a Haibane too. Nemu, working in a library in episode five with extremely old books that are practically falling apart, once again aids in the sense of history the show permeates, but it also provides the audience with Nemu’s creation story about how the Haibane came into existence, which of course alludes heavily to that of religion, something that is explored much more in the latter half of the series. While certainly the earlier parts of the series still retain that level of uneasiness I mentioned before, the show is still somewhat light-hearted for the most part, depicting each character as being incredibly cheery, all of which seem perfectly happy going about their daily lives. This is what makes the sudden shift in tone in episode six all the more hard-hitting, as the mood built and established early on, is flipped entirely around, ramping up the sense of unease even more, and making the events felt upon Rakka all the more impactful as a result. Without the first-half’s build up, the latter part of the series would not nearly be as effective. The show also exhibits a plethora of symbolism as well, with perhaps the heavy use of crows being the most prolific example of such. Acting as a direct parallel to the Haibane, the crows in this world are said to carry important things, as they are the only creatures capable of flying over the walls and into the outside world. However, the crows also possess an inherent danger about themselves too, due to the colour of their wings, which in turn factors into the narrative as we learn that a Haibane who comes into contact with the walls will be surely punished. The crows can be seen as a metaphorical representation of “the truth” of the world, due to their ability of flight and their freedom, which is interesting to think about when we consider the most of the Haibane’s general disdain for the creatures. In episode two, Kanna remarks that she “hates crows” which could be taken at face value as in a couple more episodes we see her fighting against them as they keep pulling out all of the trash from the furnace, creating a mess, but also as a statement of her fear of the unknown as the crows can be seen as holding the “truth” about the world. Most of the Haibane in the series seem perfectly complacent about their role in the world and do very little in actually finding their true purpose, with the exception of Rakka, whose opening dream sees her embracing a crow into her arms, and therefore embracing the idea that she is not afraid of seeking the unknown, as she does do in the show. But the crows also act as a means of acceptance for Rakka in the latter half of the series, as one aids her in her quest for self-discovery, which is used to provide the viewer with hints about how Rakka originally ended up in this world, and what the crow in her dream was attempting to accomplish. As such, the crows embody the idea of self-acceptance and forgiveness and help to develop Rakka’s character in the seventh and eighth episode in creative and interesting ways. What really ties the show altogether and gives the series emotional weight are indeed the wonderful cast of characters, all of which manage to be insanely lovable. Each occupant of Old Home has great chemistry, and you really feel as if these characters truly do like one another, with plenty of wit and banter thrown between them, all of which is adorably charming. There are also plenty of cute moments between the cast too which made me develop a big dumb smile on my face, such as when Kana wakes Rakka up early in the morning by pulling on her halo, as Rakka flails her arms up and down; a moment that always made me laugh, and there are plenty more of this in the show, giving it a real sense of character and likability. While some of the members of Old Home get some level of screen time and development, such as the aforementioned Kana and Nemu, some of the cast are completely neglected, such as Hikari who doesn’t really add much to the plot, or Kuu, who, while certainly playing a larger role, is used more so as a means to kick-start the drama in the second half. The crux of the narrative and its emotional weight relies on the relationship between Rakka and Reki and each of their respective inner turmoils and character arcs. To begin with, their friendship is one that feels completely genuine, as Reki seems to sincerely care about the well-being of Rakka, as she constantly looks after her. After learning about Reki’s own past, and the hardships she had to endure, does the viewer understand her desire to be there for Rakka, as a fellow Haibane did for her when she was younger. As such, when the roles are reversed, and Rakka has to help Reki, does it take on a greater sense of sincerity and emotional engagement. Reki’s journey of self-acceptance and learning to finally forgive herself for her past mistakes is easily my favourite element of the entire show and consistently had me engaged throughout. I believe the reason as to why her arc and struggles are as effective as they are being because she is just simply an extremely likeable person. Her earnest love for the other Haibane, her kindness, are all things that help the viewer feel sympathetic towards her character and lends itself naturally to give her more emotional weight. Rakka, likewise, is a strong protagonist for a series such as this. Like the viewer, Rakka understands nothing about this world, and therefore we experience the world through her eyes. Everything Rakka learns, we learn. Everything she experiences, we experience. This is what helps drive the emotive insecurities of her character in the latter half of the show even more, as the viewer shares in the pain and sense of alienation she feels as being apart of this world. Rakka’s character arc is all about learning to, like Reki, come to grips with her sin, and learning to forgive herself for what she did in her previous life. Both characters are extremely strong and are able to hold the show together by themselves, emitting boatloads of heart at the same time. While watching the series, however, it becomes apparent that the show was made on a pretty tight budget! The show often looks really rough around the edges, and plenty of times the character designs were completely off model or simply looked ugly in some scenes, despite how good the designs actually are for the show. In plenty of the accompanying artwork pieces, the character designs themselves look damn beautiful! Even in the few sequences in which the animation gets more fluid, such as in episode four when Kanna and Rakka are riding on a bike to get to work on time, or episode seven when Reki is walking with all of the children from Old Home, the art often takes a hit as a result, and looks bizarre. However, that’s not to say that the show is without merit in the visual department. As I’ve already expressed, the water-colour paint aesthetic used does a good job at moulding each locale and is one that I personally love. Moreover, there were a few scenes that were beautifully crafted. Take for example the scene in the first episode in which Rakka grows her wings. It’s a disturbing, visceral sequence, as the wings penetrate and pierce through her back, and has some unique shots too, such as the one where the wings, concealed in darkness, protrude outwards. Mixed with the music, the scene is perhaps one of the most unique and memorable in the entire show, as well as perhaps the medium at large. Speaking of music, Haibane Renmei boasts one of my all-time beloved soundtracks and is nothing short of what I would consider beautiful. Each track wonderfully enhances the scenes that they’re utilised in and adds onto the show’s overall sense of ambiguity and mystery. Free Bird may perhaps be my favourite piece of music from any anime ever; it’s truly a wonderfully memorising piece of art. To conclude, Haibane Renmei is a beautiful show and one I have come to love upon re-watching. While certainly, I had enjoyed the show after my first viewing last year, it was only until now was I truly able to appreciate Haibane and was completely engaged with the entire work, even almost tearing up at the show’s cathartic ending scene. Haibane Renmei is a stunning example of what anime is capable of, and a true testament that you can create something so wonderful with such a seemingly simple concept and idea. Attempting to communicate my thoughts and newly found love for this show is something I find hard to properly articulate, as Haibane Renmei evokes such raw and genuine emotions in me. It’s truly a show with a lot to unpack and discover, and I barely even scratched the surface level of what the show deals with as well as the plethora of other themes the anime dabbles in too. Haibane Renmei is a series I give the highest of recommendations to and I believe is the epitome of drama, representing universal themes in a mature and interesting manner. Life is neither pure white nor pure black, but a beautiful charcoal grey.
Habaine Renmei Anime Review Episodes: 13 Genre: Slice of Life, Fantasy? (Hard to tell, you’ll see why later) Disclaimer: To this date, Haibane Renmei is my favorite anime ever. I wanted to start my reviews off with something special to me, so here you go. Plot: 9.5/10 The plot of Haibane Renmei is kind of hard to describe. It’s pretty much a slice of life series for the first half of the show, so there’s really no plot to be found. The show opens with a scene of a girl falling through the sky. She is approached by a crow who seems to want something. The crow tries to help the girl from falling, but the girl accepts her fate and then she wakes up. This girl is Rakka. She was born as a Haibane, an angel-like creature with wings and a halo, in the town of Glie. Other Haibane surrounds her egg and help her get accustomed to her new life in Glie once it hatches. For the first couple episodes, Hakka follows the other Haibane around to their workplaces so she can find out more about the town. She finds out that humans live alongside the Haibane peacefully, but the Haibane aren’t allowed to do certain things. (Like using anything that is new). She also finds out that there’s only one way to leave the town. That way is if you’re a Haibane and you’re magically get called to leave by some “higher being” outside the walls. Rakka ends up spending most of her time with Reki, the Haibane that first discovered Rakka’s egg. She then finds out the meaning of sin-bound, which is a Haibane who’s doomed to never leave the town because they can’t remember their dream in the egg and can’t come to terms with living in Glie. Since Hakka wake up before her dream finished, her wings grow a black tint and she’s marked as sin-bound. (Reki is also sin-bound). The rest of the series is spent trying to figure out who Reki and Hakka are as characters and why some people are sin-bound and others aren’t. Art/Animation: 8/10 This series was made in 2002. People tend to dismiss anime from the 1900’s and early 2000’s because of their outdated art styles and animation. The first anime that comes to mind who’s art style still holds up is Monster. That said, the art and animation for this series are really good for 2002. The dark and gritty color palette really sets the tone of the bleak atmosphere the series gives off. There’s also a couple of problems with the animation. A series can never be perfect, and Haibane Renmei is not an exception. Here and there you can see some problems with the animation, but overall it is good. The only problem I really had with the art, is that since the colors were so dark, after awhile it can be perceived as boring. Music: 10/10 The soundtrack was composed by Ko Otani. Not much to say about that. Guy’s amazing. I’ve fallen asleep many times listening to the soundtrack ;P Characters: 8.5/10 A good anime needs good characters and Haibane Renmei has quite the small cast. There are a lot of background characters, but only a few who are named. Most characters in the series are there to serve a specific purpose but I kind of wish some weren’t there for someone else’s convenience *Cough* Kuu *Cough* The only reason why she was in the anime was to develop a different character. The two characters I specifically remember after watching the series are Reki and Rakka. It’s not a coincidence that they were the best characters by far. Rakka is amazing because she’s the most human out of most people there. A lot of people in the town give up on trying to escape and settle down, but Rakka routinely questions her own existence and why she and Reki are doomed and not other people. Reki is really the main character of this series even though it’s from Rakka’s point of view. And I can’t say anything else without spoiling it. Overall Score: 9/10
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What does death have in store for us? The easiest way to explain Haibane are to call them Angels, for wings and halo together undisputably helps to form the image of an angel.As if to support that, Haibane are considered to be ones who have been blessed by god.Nobody knows where Haibane comes from, nor do they know where they take off to.They might be the reincarnations of dead people.Haibane are beings whose very existence is a big question mark.The everyday lives of such unique and blessed beings is such a tempting and cute topic, but if that's the assumption one forms before watching the series, they'd either end up being disappointed, or surprised._Haibane Renmei_ is a show that offers quite the unexpcted content from the first impression. Much like the ashen colour of the wings of the Haibane, the series is neither white nor black, but deep grey.The blessed beings are said to be protected by the walls of the city, they're not to even touch the wall, let alone go beyond them.They'yre given second hand items to use.These are rules a Haibane should follow.The human side see this optimistically.The Haibane, however, are always searching for the reasons.What exists beyond the walls?Why shouldn't they ever go out? Nobody knows, or rather, nobody explains.The peaceful life beyondthe walls, however, does not necessarily help everyone.Rakka, for one, is troubled by the overwhelming peace which is too much for her belief that she's a sinful being, and Rekki is practically chained to the life inside walls.What appears to be a good life helps them only little.For the Haibane who do not have past memories, what few they remember or experience is all they have.Even the seemingly ridiculous notion of being sinful for not being able to remember their dream while in the coccoon is important to them, as the dream itself gives them an identity.Thus the limited life inside the walls are psychologically taxing on them, only the degree varies for individual.Birds, who are the most free, being synonymous with their lost things is much ironical and beautiful in that regard.The lost memories are free, while what they still have is chained.The Haibane are thus troubled, everyone in their own way.Rekki is weighed down by the guilt and regret of her past actions, Rakka can't totally fit into the world.They all want some form of hope, which is hard to obtain.Even in the end, all it reaches is a form of half baked happiness for them.The resulting internal chaos of all this is cumulative.Even Rakka's feeling that the very existence of her should be erased from the world feels right sometimes that its sense of reality is shocking.The abyss inside them is not visible to the outside, but is darker and deeper than anything else.The Haibane are seeking answers to questions and salvation which doesn't exist to begin with. That said, what makes _Haibane Renmei_ special is not just the intense feelings, but the narrative structure as well.Intensity is often conveyed by using psychological, narrative or visual chaos, for which anime such as _Neon Genesis Evangelion_, _Serial Experiments Lain_ and _FLCL_ are some fine examples._Haibane Renmei_, however, is different.It uses the simplest of narration methods and forms a simple structure anyone can understand.Still there's much beyond surface level, but the approach taken is linear yet effective.Another thing, which can arguably be a good or bad thing, is the enigmatic nature of everything.Except for the bare minimum that concerned the daily lives and the past of the Haibane, everything is left unsaid.Nothing can be said about what kind of existence Haibane are, nor do they bother to explain what the Haibane Renmei is.Much about the walls, temple, world outside, or even the fate of the Haibane that have taken flight is unknown.One can argue that this is a plothole, but a much better explanation should be that the anime focuses on 'now'.The process is thus much smoother, and the possible chaotic nature is controlled.Much is left ambiguous and for the audience to think. _Haibane Renmei_ is not the first or only anime to deal with such a theme.What makes it intriguing is the way it forces the watcher to think about the past, present and future by revealing the simplest and truest of life's problems and worries.The theme and narration completely overshadows the beautifully done technical side, which does not happen very often.However, owing to its quality, it might probably appear in lists such as "Elite Anime" more often than not.I would be more than happy to call it such, but that would also make me redefine the word elite at the same time.In the end, it is yet another beautifully done brilliant anime which is often underappreciated and delivered unnecessary criticism.The anime, in truth, explores the delicate minds and makes you think seriously about even the simplest of things, and is an unmissable watch for everyone who is into stuff like that.
Originalmente feito por Yoshitoshi Abe em forma de doujinshins, publicado de Agosto de 2001 a dezembro de 2003, sendo encerrado no terceiro volume da série, “Haibane Renmei” foi adaptado para o formato de anime enquanto ainda estava sendo publicado, este foi transformado em animação pelo estúdio Radix, e foi ao ar pela Tv Fuji no dia 10 de Outubro, 2002. O anime apesar de ser bem falado é bem pouco conhecido pelo mainstream dos consumidores de animação japonesa, sendo então, um verdadeiro tesouro escondido com apenas 13 episódios de exibição. Ele é mais comentado e falado entre os “otakus” que se voltam a consumir as produções mais antigas, tais como: Neon Genesis Evangelion, Cowboy Bebop e Serial Experiments of Lain, este também criado pelo Yoshitoshi Abe em meados de 1998 e adaptado para anime no mesmo ano. Portando pode-se dizer que Haibane Renmei é um anime cult, pois ele se encontra em nicho de consumo onde geralmente, quem os consome pede por um anime mais complexo e de uma melhor produção no geral. Como foi dito anteriormente, a animação que é chamada também por “Ailes Grises” tem apenas 13 episódios de exibição, o que apesar de ser curto fecha muito bem todo o anime, com inicio, meio e fim, tudo bem feito, não mexeria eu nisso, porém, tendo a pensar um pouco agora que o universo e as personagens poderiam ter sido expandidos e mais desenvolvidos, coisa a qual certamente deixaria a história muito melhor, mas isso seria um bônus ao meu ver, e não algum tipo de correção a qual eu faria, porquê o anime trabalha a história muito bem, ele nos entrega creio que o essencial, mas não o todo, há sim suas pontas soltas que deveriam ter sido respondidas, contudo, pode-se relevar, mas é algo que deveria ter sido trabalhado. Os cenários são muito bonitos, o clima de Ailes Grises é de reconforto, paz, e serenidade em um cenário rural no anime, outra coisa é a animação que deixa um pouco a desejar, é uma animação mediana/bom, se a animação deixou a desejar, trilha sonora e composição dela neste anime pode chamar de maravilha, pois tudo relacionado a este foi muito bem trabalhado e produzido, trilha sonora excelente que combina muito bem com a animação e fora muito bem utilizada, Kou Otani era o encarregado da parte musical na produção, o qual não só entregou um bom trabalho como foi além do esperado, os vocais e performances de Masumi Itou com Aki Hata são magníficos também. A história divide-se em duas partes, a primeira começa no episódio 1 terminado no 6, onde primeiro apresenta o mundo, seus mistérios, personagens de maneira suave e calma. A segunda parte é onde está, talvez, a mensagem da obra. Tal parte volta-se ao psicológico das duas principais personagens: Rakka e Reki, sendo a segunda uma Haibane mais velha e a outra uma mais nova. “Haibane” é um termo dado a pessoas com aparência angelical, com asas e aréolas, as quais não se lembram de suas vidas passadas, somente tem sensações das coisas ao seu redor em relação a seu passado esquecido, no episódio 6 em questão acontece um evento inesperado chocando Rakka ao ponto de desenvolver-se nela uma depressão reativa, fazendo-a se fechar a todos em sua volta, mantendo-se em uma solidão e melancolia, devido ao evento chocante aliado a sua depressão, esta desenvolveu a “doença do pecado”, fazendo as asas ficarem negras, depois de alguns incidentes, a garota descobre estar perdida em um enigma chamado “Anel dos pecados”, uma espécie de fase onde a pessoa se encontra remoendo o seus erros do passado, chamados de “pecados” dentro da obra, somente após uma introspecção sobre seus erros com ajuda de um pássaro que representava o seu erro, contando também com ajuda de um ancião, que ajudou-a, libertou-se esta da sua doença pois a própria havia se imputado tal doença, e o único meio dela se libertar era se perdoando consigo mesma pelos seus “pecados” passados e somente assim podendo seguir com sua vida normalmente, isso remete a pessoas de nosso mundo as quais simplesmente não se perdoam por seus erros devidos em um passado longínquo ou recente, ruminando eles ao ponto de criarem uma cicatriz emocional e até problemas sociais. Agora se Rakka, teve uma ajuda e tinha dificuldades emocionais consideravelmente fáceis de resolver, Reki encontra-se em um polo totalmente diferente, desde o seu nascimento, a personagem nunca teve uma vida como Haibane muito fácil. Sua vida fora marcada desde sua concepção com a doença dos pecados, ainda criança, sofria discriminação de suas colegas por causas de suas asas negras, também era atormentada sempre por pesadelos ao dormir, somente Kuramori, sua professora ficava ao seu lado e posteriormente Nemu, sua amiga; Entretanto, ocorreu um evento o qual separou Kuramori de Reki, esta não compreendendo o fato ocorrido achou ter sido abandonada, com isso ela se aliou a um grupo perigoso e causou um incidente que culminou em uma punição para ela e um dos seus amigos, depois do fato ocorrido, a garota ainda abalada devido ao evento foi novamente rejeitada pelo grupo e mandada embora, voltando a sua antiga moradia. Com toda uma história muito conturbada e dificuldades desde de muito cedo, Reki devido a seus problemas emocionais e a partir de suas frustações em relações criou uma depressão Endógena, fazendo assim procurar se isolar de todos, criando uma profunda solidão e uma negação completa das suas emoções, atingindo uma completa e amarga desconfiança de todos ao seu redor, isolando a si mesma ao ponto de não querer a ajuda de ninguém ao seu redor, mesmo tendo uma extrema necessidade de ser ajudada. Já na fase adulta, ela ainda continuava tão machucada que ao final da série ainda se via presa ao “Anel dos pecados”, e só ia mergulhando em tamanha amargura e tristeza a qual procedeu em um ataque de fúria e raiva contra Rakka por sua inveja a ela por ter se livrado da doença dos pecados, contudo no clímax final da obra, a própria Reki já tendo desistido de sua vida, não encontrando mais uma saída recorreu em um grande pedido de socorro a Rakka, pedido esse determinante para a cura de sua doença, produzindo a tão sonhada libertação de seu ciclo de tristeza e solidão. Haibane Renmei quer nos dizer e ensinar mostrando os exemplos de Rakka e Reki que, nunca, de nenhum modo devemos nos culpar incessantemente por erros de nosso passado, mas que devemos perdoar a nós mesmos para ir em frente, jamais se isolar devido a nossos problemas pois isso, como é mostrado na vida de Reki, em nenhum momento a ajudou, mas a prejudicou de tal forma que fez se isolar de todos a sua volta e acima de tudo: sempre confie nos outros ao seu redor, peça ajuda pois andar sozinho em nossas vidas é como decretar nossas mortes, pois como seres sociais iremos ter a necessidade de termos alguém ao nosso lado para nós ajudar e nunca devemos cometer os erro de achar-nos fortes o suficiente para ir contra nossas emoções, tal como Reki achou que o fosse, mas que devemos sempre contar com a ajuda e ter a confiança de sermos ajudado.
Eu curti bastante Haibane e a história num geral e os personagens me agradaram bastante, eu pensei que o drama do anime não seria interessante e isso me preocupou no começo, mas na sua reta final tudo melhorou bastante.. Vou logo dizendo que a Opening de Haibane é uma das coisas mais lindas e profunda que eu já ouvi, e foi incrível a sensação que eu senti ouvindo a OP pela primeira vez. E me fez ficar com um imenso vazio depois que terminei de assistir! A animação é bem bonita pra um anime de 2002 e sem contar que é bem fiel ao material original.. img1000(https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/798291340495945752/801965792764756009/yande.re_525718_sample_abe_yoshitoshi_haibane_renmei_rakka.jpg) Acho que a primeira parte do anime mesmo sendo lenta, faz parte de sua apresentação, mostrando restrição tonal para caracterizar a natureza submissa de seu cenário e imitando o que é uma solidão melancólica e cheia de melancolia, que é expressa de maneira diferente ao longo do anime. img1000(https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/798291340495945752/801960501071315014/yande.re_27328_sample_abe_yoshitoshi_haibane_renmei_rakka_reki_haibane_renmei_wings.jpg) A história de Rakka e Reki serve apenas para atualizar os temas, tom, atmosfera, ambiente, " o anime não conta situações", entrelaçados nos dispositivos literários narrativos, conotações temáticas e uma resolução interna supostamente catártica. Para empurrar o espectador a dar um significado maior ao que está sendo mostrado. É a maneira do anime de projetar seus temas principais, como autoconsciência, auto-reconhecimento e auto-aceitação em nós. Os personagens não são os mais profundos já escritos, mas todos têm suas sensibilidades que os fazem se sentir humanos. Embora as implicações existencial e psicológica estejam intrinsecamente ligadas, é a psicológica que prevalece na mensagem / moral do anime. img1000(https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/798291340495945752/801962071536173136/yande.re_27320_sample_abe_yoshitoshi_haibane_renmei_hikari_haibane_renmei_kana_haibane_renmei_kuu_ha.jpg) O objetivo principal do anime é aprender a colocar sua autoconsciência acima de suas tendências autodestrutivas, encontrando seu próprio equilíbrio psicológico. Trata-se de examinar as partes mais profundas da sua psique e usar concretamente essa nova epifania, alterando sua abordagem da realidade e finalmente poder viver no mundo exterior, qualquer que seja. img1000(https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/798291340495945752/801964229472026714/1601908833333514-2.jpg) O suicídio se torna óbvio no final (e mesmo antes disso), mas a coisa toda "Day of Flight" tem mais a ver com como lidar com o aparentemente incognoscível do que qualquer outra coisa, e como o anime defende a "aceitação" em vários níveis, é apenas natural.
In my opinion, there are two different ways one can view this anime. 1. A plain old fashioned SoL with a healthy dose of mystery. 2. A redemption story ( ~! reki's as well as rekka's !~ ) If the anime had focused more on either of these ways and handled the distribution of information accordingly it would have been a 10/10 for me. However, it tries to be a bit of both simultaneously while skimping on the world building as well as some of the character's backstories. Who are the toga? how old is the renmei? why are the haibane treated like second class citizens as far as their material status is concerned while simultaneously (and to my astonishment) being given the same dignity that human beings are given. Why are they confined within those walls? what is the significance of the ruins? How did they get there? A lot of these questions are left unanswered and that would have irked me a lot if it weren't for the following: 1) The opening credits are pretty nice, the song is great and upbeat with a hint of nostalgia. The visuals are ordinary throughout the show however that did not hamper the experience in any way, heck it might have enhanced the mystery and psychological element of it. The ed was simple but captured the eeriness that the show had in its 13 episode run. 2) I was on the edge of my fucking seat for most of the anime because of the atmosphere that the visuals and the OSTs produced together. I do not understand myself how I managed to actually expect something thrilling or horrifying from a fucking SoL, and this is not me complaining, I am actually praising the showmakers for coming up with this ingenious way of writing an SoL that made me look forward to the next episode despite having a slow pace. 3) As far as the backstories of the characters are concerned, the showmakers basically go down the amnesia route where usually more details are revealed as time goes by. However in this particular show they just dont give much of a shit until the very end and only in the cases of reiki and rakka do they bother giving details of some significance. I would have preferred if they had actually made reiki the protag as she was more interesting and the details surrounding her life are intriguing to say the least. Also.~! kyuu was not the main focus and hence her ascendance was something that I could not really give much of a shit about but the characters of the story did and they felt loss and grief.... but due to the aforementioned reason I could not sympathise a lot!~ 4) Early on I was paying a lot of attention to the symbolism, ~! fallen angels, clock maker, baker , ruins , library lore etc !~ but as we reached the end I did not see it amount to anything so I settled with it being present just for le cool aesthetics. And thats fine too I guess. Some of the sequences in the second half were well executed. ~! Rakka getting rid of her sin bound status as well reiki doing the same with the help of rakka !~were actually events that I will remember when I think about the show ,for the forseeable future. Conclusion: The ambience fucking killed it for me, hands down the best part of the show. Reiki and Rakka were characters that complement each other very well. Pacing was slow but thats not necessarily a bad thing. The montage towards the end of the OP credits where all the main girls are shown together along with the music peaking at that particular moment, will be pretty memorable. Worldbuilding was lacking. Some characters could have been more well written if the anime producers had tried to stretch it a bit longer than 13 eps. And overall it was a very good experience. 8-8.5/10 for me
~~~img(https://starcrossedanime.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Haibane-Renmei-Banner.png)~~~ [Yoshitoshi ABe](https://anilist.co/staff/96991/Yoshitoshi-ABe) is, or at least should be, a pretty recognizable name. You've no doubt seen his work and influence across many series while watching anime. From the illustrations for the original novels of *[Welcome to the N.H.K.](https://anilist.co/manga/35249/Welcome-to-the-NHK/)* and *[All You Need Is Kill](https://anilist.co/manga/48511/All-You-Need-is-Kill/)* to providing original character designs for the technological horror series *[Texhnolyze](https://anilist.co/anime/26/Texhnolyze/)* and *[Serial Experiments Lain](https://anilist.co/anime/339/Serial-Experiments-Lain/)*. ABe's art has a distinctive, gritty quality to it that you don't often see in modern Moe-fied anime. And for me that begs the question: What kind of stories is he trying to tell with this art? Well it seems we have our answer. Directed by [Tomokazu Tokoro](https://anilist.co/staff/104571/Tomokazu-Tokoro), animated by the now defunct studio [Radix](https://anilist.co/studio/81/Radix) and created/storyboarded by Yoshitoshi ABe I give to you *Haibane Renmei*. So without further ado let's talk about some cute angel girls within a not-so-cute story. **Be warned, this review contains spoilers for *Haibane Renmei*. These will be marked and spoiled. You have been warned**. ~~~img(https://starcrossedanime.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Haibane-Renmei-1.2.jpg)~~~ # __~~~Visuals~~~__ Visually *Haibane Renmei* doesn't stand out much. The designs, scenery and general aesthetic all come from the mind of Yoshitoshi ABe, giving it a very consistent aesthetic. In many series the lighter comedic scenes can be at odds with the heavier more emotional ones, leading to the viewer feeling like they are watching two different shows. Sometimes this happens because a series puts all the effort into battles, making them feel distinctly different from daily life, other times its because the production is simply an inconsistent mess. Luckily *Haibane Renmei* suffers from neither of these issues. There is a despair behind the comedy and a hope behind the despair that unites the two into a single consistent vision. And for a heavily thematic and picturesque work like *Haibane Renmei* that is *incredibly* important. Sadly though this comes at the cost of well... animation. I wouldn't say *Haibane Renmei* is a poorly animated show. Though only because that would imply it's animated much at all. About 50% of *Haibane Renmei* is simple standing dialogue while another 40% is mostly basic movement ala walking or running. In addition to this many of the available video sources are rather blurry. And as for the remaining 10%? Well if I'm being honest that's actually pretty good. When *Haibane Renmei* goes at a scene it goes *hard*. The problem is that it really only does so at the very start and end of the series. It strikes your interest early, pulls you in and gets you invested in the narrative, and then waits until the end for a grand payoff. In a way this might be the point. The scenes stand out so much that they make very strong impressions, lasting with you long after the series ends. That said I wouldn't necessarily call *Haibane Renmei* a bad looking show either. Earlier I described it as "picturesque" and you may have wondered what I meant by that. I use the word to mean series with evocative, striking and beautifully composed still images. Single frames packed with detail and emotion that stick in your mind. These are effectively postcard memories, though it's not entirely accurate since *Haibane Renmei* doesn't use the iconic pastel chalk style among other aspects. Still, I hope you get the idea. This is a series that thrives off of gorgeous and detailed backgrounds, good lighting and expressive composition. Now personally I tend to prefer the more kinetic and active style of animation since if the narrative isn't engaging the visuals can still carry, see this seasons *takt op.Destiny*. Luckily however *Haibane Renmei's* narrative is fantastic and the picturesque style fits it like a glove. Speaking of narrative, lets talk about that! ~~~img(https://starcrossedanime.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Haibane-Renmei-8.8.jpg)~~~ #~~~__Narrative__~~~ To me this is easily the best part of *Haibane Renmei* but it also the most difficult to talk about. At least without spoilers that is, though I will save those for the end. At it's core I believe *Haibane Renmei* to be a relatively simple story. One about learning to love and forgive yourself. About learning that its ok to ask for help and that depression doesn't make your any less of a person. That you, the viewer, deserve to be happy. There are a lot of other themes and subjects tied into that of course. *Haibane Renmei* explores this idea through the lens of both community and religion, the benefits and problems of both plain to see. Yet because *Haibane Renmei* is such a character focused story neither of those dominate the narrative all that much. They are simply present, their effects felt through the characters. Now if hearing that these themes are present and core parts of the narrative concerns you, I don't blame you. Religion can be a very difficult topic to tackle with any kind of nuance. But I can say with confidence that *Haibane Renmei* does it well. I never felt like I was being preached at, that I was being told "Religion is [Insert Adjective]". For example throughout the series our two leads interact with the local religion in two very different ways. One is constantly being uplifted and supported by it, showing the positive effects that the structure and community of religion can bring. The other meanwhile is constantly being put down and pressured by it, coming to hate herself in the process. This being the effect of not achieving their lofty spiritual goals and blaming herself for that. This is how *Haibane Renmei* explores every facet of its setting. Speaking of setting I have yet to explain anything about *Haibane Renmei's* actual world or premise! The basics are this: The Haibane are young boys and girls born with wings in the town of Glie. They have no parents because they are born from a cocoon, with only a dream to define them. They cannot leave because Glie is surrounded by tall, impenetrable walls through which only the Renmei may travel. The only way for the Haibane to leave is to live and work in Glie, to meet and experience its people, to contribute and to look inward until they learn to understand and accept themselves. Our story begins when one Haibane, named Rakka, is born. We follow her first year in Glie. We watch as she learns and grows, as she interacts with and effects those around her and, eventually, helps them understand themselves. Yes *Haibane Renmei* is a very simple story. There are no grand plots or sprawling kingdoms, no heroes or antagonists. It's just the first year of one girls life and the last of another's in a small town behind some walls. But it's presented with such earnestness, such emotion, that you can't help but be engaged. I fear putting this here because it may turn some people off but I feel it needs to be said: I think that if you have experienced depression at any point in your life, you will understand what *Haibane Renmei* is doing here. And that you will be able to understand it and empathize with its characters in the exact way it wants you to. And if not? Maybe it will help you understand those who have a bit more. Either way I think its worth experiencing this dark but ultimately hopeful story. ~~~img(https://starcrossedanime.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Haibane-Renmei-1.7.jpg)~~~ #~~~__Characters__~~~ This brings me to the characters! While the story was simple and straight forward in its goals, an unornamented plate upon which the experience is served, the characters are the meal. How's that for a food metaphor huh? What I'm saying is that the characters are anything but simple and they will be the primary focus of the story. These are not static people. Kuu, Kana, Nemu, Hyouko, all of them grow and change as the story progresses. However the main focus, the ones who get a vast majority of the screen time and development, are our leads Reki and Rakka. More than anyone else *Haibane Renmei* is *their* story. So while the rest of the cast is good, don't expect their screen time to be balanced. I know I was a bit sad to see my girl Kana fade to the background a bit after her focus episode. Sadly this is where I have to venture into spoiler territory if I want to have any kind of meaningful discussion about these two. If you haven't seen the show yet, don't read this. Seriously. Don't. Read. The long story short is that these two are fantastic characters with great arcs that each affected me personally, albeit in different ways. Disclaimer out of the way, in we go! ~!First before we talk about Rakka and Reki we need to lay out *Haibane Renmei's* metaphor of depression. This is the "Circle of Sin" and while I personally don't like the label of "Sin" I'm willing to chalk it up to complex translation. At its core the Circle of Sin is this idea of self-acceptance and perpetuation. "To recognize Sin is to be free from sin", sounds like a paradox right? But not to me. When I first heard this, and thought about it in reference to depression and self-hate, it felt more like it was telling me the first step. That until you recognize you have a problem, that you are hurting, that you *need help*, you cannot move forward. That the only way to address your sin, your depression, is to accept it exists in the first place but not to dwell on or let it define you. With that lets move on to our lead, Rakka. This is who I meant previously when I mentioned "positive experiences" with religion. Throughout the story we see Rakka reaffirmed and supported by the Renmei. They answer her questions, give her structure and ultimately purpose in Glie. And in her darkest moment, at the bottom of a well of depression in both the literal and figurative sense, it is the Renmei who support her and get her out. She is also the one through whom we are first introduced to the Circle of Sin and the first to find the answer. She learns, through the bird, that she wasn't alone in her previous life. That there was at least one person, the bird, who cared for and tried to save her. And in recognizing that, in recognizing this single loving connection, she becomes perfectly positioned to help our other lead, Reki. In case you hadn't put it together, Reki is the one with nothing but negative experiences. During her time in Glie the Renmei have only put more and more expectations on her. But rather than see those as attempts to help, at providing structure, Reki interprets them as mandates. She sees them as a set of rules laid down from on high. And that unless she conforms to them, unless she acts like a "Good Haibane" like the ~~scripture~~ Renmei tells her to she won't be free. Reki sees this as a constraint rather than a suggestion. Combine that with her own issues of pushing people away, of feeling undeserving of love or friendship, and you can see how she becomes trapped in the riddle. And how Rakka, through experiencing it herself, is able to understand and connect with her. Is able to make her acknowledge that she is loved. So what does all of this mean and why am I rambling on about it in the character section? Well its all setup for a bit of speculation on my part that will hopefully put my perspective in clear view. I viewed Glie as Limbo and the Haibane as children, or people in generally really, who committed suicide. That their dream in the cocoon is a representation of how they died, either by train or jumping off a building. And that their time in the city is meant to help them grow and confront those feelings, accepting, confessing and repenting for the "Sin" of suicide. All presented through a metaphor for lingering depression. This is why I think *Haibane Renmei* is religious. It's why I think that the story and characters are simple, but with depth for those looking. And its why I really love and connect with these characters.!~ So yeah, that got a bit personal in there but that's why I enjoy these characters. I think that for anyone who has ever experienced depression, who has questioned their worth, their stories hit home. And that with a little bit of empathy *Haibane Renmei's* cast becomes a beautiful door to a subject most people are afraid to talk about or have little experience expressing. And for all its production woes, that's worth experiencing. Despite some uh... slower pacing in the middle. That's right I had to get at least one negative in all this gushing, the pacing can be a bit slow in the early Slice of Life segments. Sue me. ~~~youtube(https://youtu.be/cA3-7e2NXCg)~~~ #~~~__Audio__~~~ Jesus that got heavy! How about we talk about some music now? And what better place to start than with the man himself: [Kou Ootani](https://anilist.co/staff/100072/Kou-Ootani). This guy is incredible. Not only has he worked on the original *Mobile Suit Gundam Wing* and *Outlaw Star* he was also responsible for the hauntingly beautiful sounds of *Shadow of the Colossus*. And on a brief listen through his other works that seems to be a sort of calling card of his. These slow, grand, almost religious sounds pieces of music. Of course this is by no means his only genre. It does seem however to be something he enjoys and it fits *Haibane Renmei* like a glove. Take for instance the track ["Ethereal Remains"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GaF66L4S7UU). The imagery the soft bells, wordless vocals and childlike backing sounds evoke is, to me, nothing other than a church. And this powerful imagery is present throughout the ost. On top of that *Haibane Renmei* makes fantastic use of reoccurring motifs. For example lets take a look at 3 of my favorite songs: ["Ailes Grises"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lCgQZFMG3Mg), ["Garasu no Yume"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MgmtOUmrjz4), and ["Nightmare~Parting~Loss"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AvjYbo9lxYg). The first is a purely instrumental piece, and a pleasant one at that. Growing in intensity as it slowly roller coasters it's way up the scale, it's one of the core melodies of *Haibane Renmei*. But now listen to "Garasu no Yume". Can you hear it? That same rising and falling, only now accompanied by a voice, an active participant in the melody and story rather than simply listening along? And finally we have the third, a much more somber rendition. No more active singing. No more pleasant piano or whimsical, hopeful extra notes. Just a solemn close to the journey, slowly fading. Of course there are more examples but I don't want to spoil the show through music. Finally lets talk about the use of vocal tracks because *Haibane Renmei* has a lot of them. So far you have heard 2 such tracks, "Ethereal Remains" and "Garasu no Yume". And both of those are great! But let me introduce you to a few more such as the ED, ["Blue Flow"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Fo2myUedaU) performed by, I believe, Aki Hata. An almost ethereal piece that really brings you into the otherworldly nature of the story. Or the character themes such as the elegant "[Ashita e Modorou"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=it-UKLpnKg4) for Nemu or the quiet and restrained ["Mayoi no Kotori"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OHbv4oI6az8) for Rakka. There's a quirky rendition of the motif I mentioned above in ["Sora ni Arigatou"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oubgso1UUQ0) for Kuu. Anyways the point is that *Haibane Renmei* has a really good ost that fits its setting well. Maybe you aren't interested in classical or chamber music, maybe you want something heavier. But for me? This is great. ~~~img(https://starcrossedanime.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Haibane-Renmei-2.2.jpg)~~~ #~~~__Managing Expectations__~~~ And with that the review is done and we arrive at the personal section of this review! This is basically my spot to sit, put down the reviewers hat and just talk about any old part of the show I felt was important. This isn't particularly structured. **There will be spoilers**. If that doesn't interest you, then skip! This has no effect on my final score. But if you want to try and understand me a bit more before you see my conclusion, read on! ~!For those of you that have followed me for awhile you might be aware that I recently reviewed a show called *Sonny Boy*. For those that aren't the long and short of it is this: I really *really* did not like that show. And I didn't like it because it felt like a mess, like there wasn't a clear vision behind it. That *Sonny Boy* just kept adding more and more things without any care for how they all fit together, that it asked questions with no intention of answering. Hearing that you might be surprised, and understandably confused, as to why I enjoyed *Haibane Renmei* so much. Well the answer is simple: *Haibane Renmei* properly managed my expectations. What does that mean? To make it simple, it means I never felt like there was an unresolved Chekov's Gun situation. I never felt like *Haibane Renmei* introduced me to a concept, made me think it was important, and then never elaborated on it. Of course there are things such as the Walls, the Renmei, the Tags, etc. There are plenty of things that *Haibane Renmei* doesn't explain. But the difference between them for me is that the Walls, the Renmei, the Tags, they were never the focus. Even in the episodes they were introduced or partially explained in, it was always done as a backdrop to Reki and Rakka's story. And that story always stayed safely confined to the walls of Glie. It never made me ask "What was beyond the walls" because I never thought we would go beyond them. Contrast that to *Sonny Boy* where every episode seemed to introduce a new concept. Whether it be traversing worlds, the rules or rewards of those worlds or the society the kids had built up between worlds, there were plenty of things to explore. And explore *Sonny Boy* did! It often talked about the rules or introduced worlds as the primary focus of the episode. It built entire character dynamics around the rule of the world it was taking place in. But as the show progressed it never answered any of the questions it asked. It only every introduced more... and more... and more... and eventually I got fatigued. I stopped caring about the worlds, the rules or the kids. Anyways I didn't start this to clown on *Sonny Boy* so lets get back to *Haibane Renmei*. Because the bounds of the story were set so clearly so early on it allowed me to stay focused on what mattered. My mind never wondered to beyond the walls or the ancient past. It stayed rooted on Reki and Rakka. Of course it hinted at some things, such as the fate of Haibane who don't have their Day of Flight, and we saw glimpses of something more such as the spirit within the Wall or the tags. And I can definitely say I wish some of those were expanded on more, I think they were a missed opportunity. But they are so far removed from Reki and Raka that I can't find it in me to be that upset about them. It's just a good show.!~ ~~~img(https://starcrossedanime.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Haibane-Renmei-7.2.jpg)~~~ #~~~__Conclusion__~~~ All in all, how was *Haibane Renmei*? Does it have it's issues despite my personal gushing? Would I recommend you watch it in spite of that? The answer to those are "Very", "Yes" and "Of course". *Haibane Renmei* isn't a perfect series. Sometimes its visuals suck while other times its evocative and haunting. Sometimes a specific arc or story can go on for one episode to long and I start to feel like we've lost the main thread. But the in the episode right after that we get back on track and I can't help but *care* about these little bird girls. So yeah. Please watch *Haibane Renmei*. And if it affects you in the ways it affected me, please let me know. I love hearing that people actually read these. See you next time!
I first got into the anime scene in 2005, when I was 12 years old, but at that time, I hadn't gotten into the habit of finishing shows. I would just watch any episode of an anime I could find and that was it, often leaving them unfinished due to other obligations, like school or helping around the house. It wasn't until the early 2010s that I started getting into watching more anime and actually finishing them depending on what I was into at the time. Over time, I began to cultivate my tastes and figure out which anime I liked and which ones I didn't. I even gave some shows that I didn't think I'd like a chance, and I found some real diamonds in the rough. But there are some anime where people absolutely rave about them and get showered with nothing but positive reviews. One of those anime is Haibane Renmei, a show that, if you told my 12-year-old self I'd watch and consider one of my favorite anime ever, she'd probably call you crazy. I honestly wouldn't have touched something like this if not for a former blogger I followed praising it to high heaven. And honestly, I can totally see why he, and other people I know of, loved it. Not gonna lie, Haibane Renmei is one of my favorite anime of all time. The premise goes as follows: In a mysterious, walled town called Glie, winged people known as Haibane co-exist among normal humans. Haibane are born from cocoons, wear halos, their grey wings are small and flightless, and are not allowed to leave Glie for any reason, as only the Federation is able to do that. One such Haibane, Rakka, is born in a decrepit boarding house called Old Home, inhabited by other female Haibane who help her out and teach her the ways of Glie. Every Haibane is expected to work in Glie and contribute, meet various people, and look inward until they learn to understand and accept themselves. But although Rakka is happy with her new life, she is constantly plagued with questions: What was her life like before she came to Glie? Does she even deserve to be here? Haibane Renmei focuses on her journey as she interacts with others and even helps them understand themselves. One thing is to be made very clear: If you're looking for a fast-paced anime with high octane action, explosions, loud characters, and a grand, sprawling plot that gets bigger and bigger as it goes on, this is absolutely not the show for you. Haibane Renmei is very clearly meant to be a grounded, down-to-earth, spiritual slice-of-life story and a deep character study, where the characters learn the ins and outs of the town they live in, the rules it establishes, and the things they themselves learn from being in Glie. Plus, the anime restrains its scope to just one location, and does intentionally leave some things unexplained, such as what the walls exactly are, what the Federation really is, and some minor details, with the creator, Yoshitoshi Abe, going on record saying that he did that on purpose, so fans could conjure up their own theories and let their imaginations run wild. Basically, Haibane Renmei is a show that respects its audience, knows what it wants to be, and doesn't try to bite off more than it can chew (Take note, Sonny Boy). With the story being so subdued and down-to-earth, the animation obviously reflects this. As far as animation goes, Haibane Renmei isn't the best looking show out there, with half of it just being still images of the characters talking, and half of it being basic movements like running or walking. But that doesn't necessarily mean its art style or animation is outright bad. The muted colors and washed out appearance give the anime a very rustic look, fitting for how old and antiquated the town of Glie and everything in it is. The backgrounds are all very well painted and well drawn, the characters have unique, grounded designs, and the anime makes great use of lighting and expressive composition, letting the animation say more than the characters themselves do on occasion. But you're not going to find super bright colors that pop right off the screen. The soundtrack is also very subdued but fitting for the show's atmosphere and themes, with heavy usage of soft piano pieces, religious-sounding chamber music, and even...low-key accordions? But the soundtrack strikes a good balance between being both whimsical and somber when the atmosphere calls for it, and some BGMs sound like straight-up 8-bit music you'd find on an NES game. Not even kidding. But the real heart and soul of the series is the cast of characters. Now, because the anime deliberately refuses to go deep into their backstories, viewers will probably find them dull at first. But over the course of 13 episodes, viewers gradually get to know each character, their strengths, flaws, skillsets, and how they go about their day and interact with the world around them, and none of them really fit neatly into the typical anime archetypes. The characters of Haibane Renmei all feel like people you'd meet on the street, and their struggles and growth are all portrayed with earnest realism. This is an anime that takes nothing for granted, especially in regards to the main two characters, Rakka and Reki, who grow and change throughout the show, and the anime really goes out of its way to make you care about them. I don't expect every single character in a medium to have layers upon layers of depth, just enough to make me want to care about them and root for them, even as they go about their daily lives and work to come to terms with their own issues, and in my opinion, Haibane Renmei absolutely hit a home run with its ensemble. Honestly, I can't really think of any real flaws that Haibane Renmei as a show has. I have no issue with certain aspects being left unexplained, as Haibane Renmei focused only on the things that mattered and delivered on those aspects. I had no problem with the slice-of-life parts, as even though they're not as deep and emotional as the series' second half, I thought they served their purpose well and actually made me care about the Haibane and the world they live in. But I can definitely see people getting bored with the series' slow pace, religious themes, refusal to answer questions, and lack of action. I know I probably would have, had I seen it when I was a younger kid. Or put off by the gory presentation of Rakka's wings growing out in the first episode, but that's the only bloody scene in the entire show, and nothing else like that happens afterward. Fans of the series have conjured up all kinds of theories as to what the Haibane are, what the town is, and so on, and while I don't mind letting my imagination run wild in regards to the show's lingering mysteries, I'm still perfectly satisfied with Haibane Renmei as is. Seriously, it says a lot that most anime nowadays think boiler-plate isekai, over-the-top non-stop action, non-stop nudity, and power fantasies are a good substitute for actual substance, conflict, and interesting and relatable characters that you can actually care about. All in all, Haibane Renmei is an amazing anime that absolutely deserves its status as a revered classic, and there is no excuse for you to not check it out.
This review contain spoilers. The first thing I'd like to make clear in this review is that it is going to be really about my personal experience watching the show rather than an "objective" analysis. This is important because I feel that if had watched this in another moment of my life or even in a different mood, perhaps I would have a different opinion about it. Haibane Renmei is the second work by Yoshitoshi ABe i've seen, the first being Serial Experiments Lain, a show heavily packed with strong symbolism, confusing events and conclusions, deep philosophical reflections and dark themed aesthetics throughout the entirety of the show. So it was a little surprising to find out that Haibane started as a much more calm and wholesome anime, almost like an iyashikei slice-of-life. The first 5 episodes can be described as a slow-paced and charming anime that is meant to bring a subtle discussion about a new beginning, getting used to a new life, making friends, trying to find a job, and all of that with a sweet touch of Christian imagery. For me, that already was enough for a very enjoyable experience, given the marvelous characters, art direction and soundtrack. But soon enough, I knew that it wouldn't be like this until the end, as several mysteries and conflicts begin to appear in episode 6, when the "Day of Flight" arrives for Kuu, one of the girls living in Old Home. This is described as a bittersweet event, as on the one hand it is something expected and natural to happen, and on the other hand it is a representation of a 'temporary' loss of a friend. The tone of the anime is changed as Rakka struggles to accept not having Kuu around and starts to lose her meaning to live, and the questions "what's beyond the walls?", "what are the Haibane?", "where do they come from?" become way more relevant for the narrative. This sudden change of tone got me really interested to see what more this anime has to offer, and the following episodes that goes on about how Rakka finds a way to redeem herself with the help of the unconditional support from Reki and the bird really exceeded my expectations. Later on, Reki also struggles to find her own redemption, and the final resolution is very satisfying, with beautiful written and very heavily emotional scenes packed with symbolism and grace. Usually after finishing a show like this one, I love to read theories, explanations and reviews that fans have written about it. But for Haibane Renmei, I'm 100% satisfied in not objectively understanding what every symbolism means, as I know that they are just a way to show us the messages about hope, forgiveness and time, that for me, are the most beautiful part from this show. The art, the soundtrack, the character designs, the music are all stunning.
Everything feels right in the world of Haibane Renmei. The comfort of something lived in is incredibly clear with 'old home'. It reminds me a little of the setting for Hirokazu Koreeda's After Life in its run down homeliness. A very nostalgic and comforting setting. img220(https://affinityforanime.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/haibane6.jpg) img220(https://www.film-rezensionen.de/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Haibane-Renmei-Szene-1.jpeg) Ultimately everything in the show and worlds feels right even if ~!nothing is explicitly answered and the main mystery rightfully never is.!~ However, my second watch illuminated for me why the world felt right in addition to just knowing it felt right. The crows mirror the Haibane ~!in the way they deal with the bins for example. The idea that kana mentioned in ep4 of not spoiling them and not letting them stay and eat from the bins too much or they might forget to fly over the walls and be truly free.!~ I feel old home and its rules that affect the Haibane ensure comfort but not full complacency ~!to leave that wish to move on from it.!~ To quote Kana from ep4 roughly: ~!Feed them like that, and what’ll you do if they become dependent and can’t live outside this town? There are rules for crows, too. You can’t spoil them. Birds, well– in this world, they’re the only creatures allowed outside the walls. If, by feeding them, we create a place where they can survive without any struggle, they’ll inhabit only this town and maybe they won’t fly freely anymore. Maybe the crows would be happy, but…I would pity them.!~ img220(https://i.imgur.com/1qmQm4n.png) I also feel the rule of having the Haibane work gives them a feeling of contribution, and having them get second hand items not only creates a homely vibe but makes them appreciate the kindness of the humans when they go that extra mile. The rules, the jobs, the walls and everything else all add to this sense of community and feeling of contribution, with the bells adding to that. Ultimately it leads to the Haibane being satisfied but not spoiled. ~!You get the master of the clocktower helping out Kana for example.!~ Also the toga ~!are definitely Haibane who never took their day of flight, the rewatch made that very clear to me. I felt that fact was cruel, but it's more of a warning than insensitivity in my opinion. It's more to accentuate the need to move forward like Reki did.!~ Continuing on ~!about the days of flight. From this rewatch I now believe Kuramori definitely got her day of flight the day she saw Reki and Nemu getting along while trying to look after her and cook. it's incredibly sad that Reki felt abandoned by it when that was the opposite of what Kuramori would have wanted.!~ Overall, I just find this to be an incredibly powerful exploration of self forgiveness, noticing those around you, giving people freedom but still giving them that comfort zone to thrive, and fear of asking for help. ~!I also found the idea of Reki ending to be nice, very relatable, in the sense where sometimes you wonder if you actually are kind to people for the sake of it or if you just want to feel better about yourself if that makes sense. I liked the way they wrapped that idea up. I love that she became what she strove to be. Her true name 'Reki' then meaning the stepping stones taken by Haibane on their day of flight. Poetic.!~ Reki is a fantastically realised character.~! An illustration of the specific kind of - for lack of a better word - selfishness that comes with being trapped in your own negative thoughts. You become obessed with your own lows and forget others exist at times. You wonder if everything you do is to feel good about yourself as opposed to be good. You wonder as Reki does.!~ ~!>what if I ask for help from the bottom of my heart but no one answers!~ what if no one understands. ~!Rakka is also a strong illustration of noticing those around you who care. Moroever, Nemu is the character who quietly cares. Kuu is what growing up is. Becoming your own person and being OK with that, not just imitating others.!~ This show is ultimately life affirming, in spite of, yet also because of, its subject matter. Also want to shout out ABe for his art and for writing this. I recommend searching up his art for this (and other shows like Lain), it's stunning. This review is rather poorly structured, looks ridiculous with all of the spoiler warnings, and there is probably more I can say. But hopefully I get across some of what I want to here.
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--- ~~~ # __Haibane Renmei__ img220(https://i.imgur.com/vkgWSFB.png) _Embracing Hope in the Face of Nihilism: A Journey Through Purgatory and Beyond_ ~~~ --- __Review:__ Hibane Renmei is a captivating anime series that stands out for its unconventional storytelling and unique artistic style. The show presents a blend of a mystical atmosphere and a story that defies traditional conventions, which engages the viewer's imagination. With each viewing, the abstract presentation of the series invites the audience to uncover its hidden symbolism and meanings, resulting in a personal and unique experience. Haibane Renmei is likely one of those shows that you are either going to love or hate. The city of Glie serves as a haven of peace, where Haibane and humans coexist in harmonious serenity. Yet, beneath its tranquil exterior lies a theocratic society, steeped in religious symbolism and imbued with spiritual undertones. The Haibane, with their angelic presence, are viewed as privileged beings, and the city's walls are regarded as sacred monuments. Through the interactions between the communicator and the outside traders, a spiritual atmosphere pervades every aspect of life in Glie. ~~~ img(https://i.imgur.com/0tnoco1.png) ~~~ >“Inside my mind, there’s a beautiful cup. A very beautiful, clear cup. And tiny drops kept falling into it: 'drip, drip, drip', slowly but steadily, everyday. And today, I felt the cup had finally become completely full.” – Kuu The journey of each Haibane in this world is shrouded in mystery. Each one emerges from a cocoon with a dream, which serves as a cryptic clue to their past life. For instance, Rakka's dream shows her falling and a bird trying to save her. This dream is the only piece of evidence of their former existence, and its significance becomes clearer as the story progresses. However, some Haibanes have no memories of their past, including their dreams or cocoon origins, and are referred to as "sin-bound." Despite the ethereal atmosphere portrayed in the first half of the series, hints suggest that there is a deeper, more unsettling aspect at play. The first episode of Haibane Renmei displays this with its body horror, as the sprouting of a Haibane's wings is depicted in a deeply discomforting scene. ~~~ img800(https://i.imgur.com/24wyMuq.gif) ~~~ As the story unfolds, the mystery of the Haibane's existence begins to unravel, revealing that they are perhaps children who passed away prematurely in their previous lives. Offered a second chance through their existence in Glie, they strive to experience what they never had the chance to before. However, the Haibane's time in this purgatory is plagued by the challenges of reconciling with their past lives and "sins." The sin-bound Haibane represent the most tragic extreme, children who took their own lives in their former existence and find themselves trapped in a cycle of nihilism. Unable to get a grasp on their past and move forward, they remain stuck in an endless loop, struggling to find meaning and purpose in their existence. If this cycle goes on for long enough, they may lose sight of it all. ~~~ img(https://i.imgur.com/QuSBIS2.png) ~~~ >“Perhaps this is what it means to be bound by sin. To spin in the same circle, looking for where the sin lies, and at some point losing sight of the way out.” – Renmei Communicator The walls of Glie are revered as sacred monuments, serving as both protectors and jailers for the Haibane. Standing as the gatekeepers to the outside world, they regulate all that enters and exits Glie. The guardians of the walls impose stringent restrictions, and no one is permitted to cross the threshold unless they meet the required standards. These towering structures symbolize both security and confinement, balancing protection with captivity, reminding the Haibane of the limitations placed upon them. They are so sacred that if a Haibane is caught even trying to approach them, and dare they touch them, they will be punished. ~~~ img(https://i.imgur.com/nrUR2rm.png) ~~~ >“This is my cocoon dream. The nightmare that has been tormenting my existence in this world. I was walking along this path. I remember cold winds stinging my cheeks that were wet from tears. I heard a sound from far away. But I was too tired to think. I remember wanting to become a stone. A stone that doesn’t feel pain. Or sorrow.” – Reki Haibane Renmei delivers a powerful message amidst its bleak and melancholic depiction of life in Glie. The anime challenges the notion that moving on is impossible and instead asserts that embracing hope is a fundamental aspect of the human experience. Far from being a trait of the naive, hope is portrayed as a force that exists beyond our struggles and can lift us out of a repetitive and meaningless existence. The heavy themes explored in the show are treated with empathy and sensitivity, imbuing the anime with a deep sense of humanity that transcends mere entertainment. Haibane Renmei inspires viewers to hold on to hope and to never give up in the face of adversity. ~~~ img(https://i.imgur.com/nmBfRc5.jpg) img(https://i.imgur.com/IKYohbj.png) ~~~ >“Somewhere, that’s not here, in a place I can’t remember, I was obsessed with the idea that I was all alone. I thought that nobody would care, or even miss me if I vanished from the face of the Earth. I wanted to disappear. Then I had a dream about falling from the sky. I just remember that the bird was in the dream with me, and that the bird was someone in the form of a bird, trying to call me back. I now know that I was never alone.” – Rakka --- Haibane Renmei delivers a powerful message of hope, reminding viewers that amidst their struggles, they are not alone and that there is support and comfort to be found in their experiences.
__Haibane Renmei__ With a lot of the same team as Serial Experiments Lain, Haibane Renmei may appear to be the sister to Serial Experiments Lain -- but with Lain imposing such high expectations: is it unwise to expect anything greater than a disappointment? **Breaking Expectations** The first episode of Haibane Renmei is a DREAM (not entirely literal), I HIGHLY recommend you at least watch the opening sequence, it's absolutely fantastic (although some may say generic, I don't care!!). Nothing is "perfect," but as far as I care this was a perfect first episode (I would go into more depth but spoilers + next paragraph). **World Building** The world building in Haibane Renmei is SO DAMN GOOD DAWG, it's completely "show don't tell," whenever something is told, it has its reason to be told (sounds simple but so many shows get this wrong sob). In some parts the world building is a bit overbaring, but in retrospect I think that's fine: it's more of a slight whiplash from being introduced to such a familiar but different world (when it comes to how things work). The world is solid and concrete, the only things that change with it is how it's perceived (more on this later). **Slice of Life??** Yes and no!! During a portion of the show there's a lot where "nothing happens," I like to call this part of it Slice of Life. It was a good slice of life, but I'm not too much of a slice of life fan... -- HOWEVER, these episodes are still great, and the show would be WORSE if they didn't exist! They develop the character and world SIGNIFICANTLY, and future episodes of the show rely on you knowing and feeling for these characters!! Again, the slice of lifey episodes are great, they're just worrysome at first when you don't know how the show will turn out. **Characters!** Honestly apart from the one that I feel bitter about, I thought all of the characters were absolutely lovely! Even the children who all share one braincell turned out to be great little guys! Perhaps it's because the show is presented from the perspective of a special kind of person, but I feel like the show would be worse if any of them were removed (much like the slice of lifey episodes)!! This also pairs well with how great the: **EMOTION** was!! I'll try not to get too in-depth (to avoid spoilers), but I thought the acting/emotion shown in this show was fantastic!! Now, now, lets make a little note: > At a point I was in sheer depression; I wasn't feeling *sad* from the junk they were showing. I wanted to feel more emotion... I was more than fine with everything apart from any sadness or whatnot shown regardless since I was used to it, but after this plead was made, a miracle happened!! (this miracle is described in the "ENDING" paragraph). **Compliments &/ Notes:** - The first episode has such a morbidly.. satisfactory(?) scene, it's pretty nasty but it's also sooo neattttt - Apart from the scene listed above, this show isn't rated R! - Don't read the card that appears after the title in the opening -- it spoils some things that happen in the episode!! - There was one part that I personally didn't like simply because I couldn't relate to how the characters felt over it. They were upset over something I hardly knew - It's adorable **THE ENDING!!** As I have stated before: it's rare for an ending to be good, and far rarer to ever be satisfying. The ending to Haibane Renmei is... to put it simply: THE BEST ENDING IVE EVER SEEN TO ANY MEDIA!! The EMOTION, the WORLD, the CHARACTERS, EVERYTHING came together in this ending to create an ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL & FANTASTIC ending!! When I say *everything* comes together, I do pretty much mean that literally; the execution is more than I could have ever hoped for! ❤️ It's hard to even articulate what I mean by this because it's unheard of for an ending to be this good, so I *won't* be attempting to explain it. This ending was fantastic and I can't do it justice with static and spoiler-free text. **Conclusion** Although the slice of lifey episodes were tough when blind, the ending gives a 'perfect' conclusion. It doesn't just make everything prior "worth it," it makes it all absolutely fantastic because it all played a role in the wonderful finale. This is *not* to say that everything before watching the finale is part of some trial to witness greatness, you shouldn't be watching this *only* for the ending!! It's hard to say I recommend Haibane Renmei, it's moreso that I feel like it's almost a **necessity** that you watch it -- or at least watch the first episode whenever you're comfortable
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Haibane Renmei es para mí una obra de carácter agridulce, sumergida entre múltiples matices de grises,
pues no consigue consolidarse en su totalidad como blanca o negra, al igual que las alas de nuestra
protagonista, Rakka. Los haibane me parecen un concepto curioso y, de cierta forma, un tanto irónico.
Las Haibane son un grupo de chicas que comparten similitudes con figuras angelicales debido a la
presencia de su característico par de alas y brillante aureola. Estos tan intrigantes seres, cuyo
origen, propósito y destino son completamente desconocidos, son confinados dentro de las gruesas
paredes de una muralla. Es precisamente esta descripción la que genera hincapié en un sinfín de
cuestionamientos que parecen no tener respuesta.
Es a partir del fatídico evento del "día del vuelo de Kuu", una muy preciada amiga, que Rakka comienza
a desarrollar gran inquietud por tan despreocupado estilo de vida y, aunque esta comprende que el día
de vuelo es un suceso de gran importancia en el ciclo de vida de un Haibane, es para ella muy
complicado de asimilar. Posterior a dicho acontecimiento, Rakka tendrá que confrontarse a sí misma
para enfrentar el pecado que le aflige y así encontrar la redención.
Durante los últimos episodios del anime, la atmósfera cambia drásticamente, tornándose opaca y
sombría, ahora con Reki como protagonista. Reki es, evidentemente, mi personaje preferido: una joven
que ha permitido ser consumida por su propia oscuridad. Es incapaz de pedir el auxilio de otros por
miedo a ser traicionada, abandonada o rechazada. La aversión a sí misma tiene origen en su propia
existencia carente de pureza. Es gracias a la intervención e incondicional afecto de Rakka que Reki
puede perdonarse, encontrar el propósito de su existencia y entender el significado de su verdadero
nombre.
Finalmente, llega el momento de partir para Reki. Ahora puede cruzar las sofocantes murallas,
recorriendo el vasto mundo con tan libres y hermosas alas, dejando atrás a una Rakka llena de
esperanza e ilusión por el futuro. No profundice especialmente en el resto de personajes, pero admito
tener un especial cariño por ellos. La banda sonora, la animación, la atmósfera y la dirección son
elementos que considero destacables y enriquecedores para esta experiencia. He quedado fascinada con
el cierre de Reki, el aprendizaje de Rakka y la resolución del resto de personajes.
Haibane Renmei felt like a horrifying story at first because it answered a question I've always had about death. That being, if we keep our memories in the afterlife. The series outright says no for the most part. Alongside the mystery of the Haibane, Rakka appears as someone different from the rest. No matter how much the same people are in the world, there will always be those few who see things differently, and who often make an impact in our history. Rakka became someone who came to question this new life. She sees that the Haibane all came to terms with forgetting who they were in their past lives, that they are fine starting over in this new place, despite that at some point, they will once again disappear for good. It was wonderful for her at first. You can see the point where, despite Rakka's sadness in forgetting who she was and who she loved, she finally decided to open up, and to try to embrace this new life, after Kuu literally pulls her out of her insecurities and into the open. Slowly but surely, Rakka felt that she could find happiness. She finds a home, gets a sense of belonging, and begins adjusting to her life as a Haibane. Despite this, sometimes she looks out into the town at night, and wonders if she lived an honest enough life to deserve this. Alongside this, her memories did not completely go away. Still, reality came crashing down when she began to learn more about the Haibane. In Rakka's case, she witnessed a flight from a distance, and learned about this to the point it shattered her. She figured what is the point of being alive here if she won't remember who she was, and is going to go away again to who knows what other world. I saw where Rakka was coming from. I would be frightened because I find value in the memories and people I meet. It makes it even worse to know that not even life as a Haibane could feel it mattered if it also leads to a strange place afterwards where this is more mystery as to what really happens next. Where did we come from, and where are we going to go? Reki is a person who acts differently than how she really feels. Abe wrote her as a way to show the sorrowful ways he used to be before things got better for him. There were many parallels between Rakka and Reki. In the Doujins that Abe originally made before the anime, there are more examples to show for this. Reki reminds me of Kusonagi from the Sky Crawlers, in that they both know the truth about what their destinies are, hide it from the people, and eventually come to a self-destructive ultimatum. Some of the Haibane, such as Reki, knew what their time of flight meant. Maybe as a way to not worry the others, Reki did not tell them about their time of flight. Not only that, when the Haibane prepare to take their flight, they do not tell anyone about it. This reminds me of the theory that some dogs hide from their owners shortly before death to spare them grief. Another point about the wings is when Reki explains them. They are not white, or black, but charcoal grey. I think it's a good representation of the overall look and structure of this series. That is because there is a lot of mystery; a lot for all sorts of people to come up with interesting interpretations. Things aren't obvious. Things are not Black or White. There is a mysteries charcoal grey in the middle to a lot in this series. The tallest walls in Haibane Renmei were not the myterious walls themselves that surrounded them, but the mental walls Reki had to overcome about herself. What is interesting about potential darkening of a Haibane's wings is that it is similar to the mental state of a human. Stress can ruin your body; our organs. Like them, it's about finding our own salvation to return our body to its healthy self. The bond between Rakka and Reki is clearly a precious one. Sometimes, I person can so convincingly tell you how they think they really feel, but deep down, we feel it has to be a lie because there are too many contradictions. It didn't make sense to Rakka. Their dynamic is one of her trying to understand Reki's innermost feelings Haibane Renmei was a very personal project for Yoshitoshi Abe. He said the story worked because he picked the right time in his life to write it. It started as a doujin because his creative process was something he felt would not work with the demands of the manga industry. He wanted to tap into his memories and subconscious. As a result, he wrote ideas down on the spot, and developed them from there. He didn't intentionally write this to follow any kind of religion, but he did find the story religious itself. This is because he explored the memories of his troubled passed, and how he came to find clarity. To me, Haibane Renmei is Abe's Angel's Egg. This is because of their religious similarities. The huge difference is that while Angel's Egg felt more like the manifestation of a man's dying faith turned into a surreal animated film, Haibane Renmei is more optimistic and hopeful as a story about finding salvation. When it comes to the background art, I appreciate how immersive, expansive, and detailed it is. Such as in Texhnolyze, which Abe also worked on, the background art gives you a really good mental picture of the world of Haibane Renmei. It feels as if you see everything that Rakka sees. Not only that, later on in the series, there was a great deal of effort of showing you the world again as it was covered in snow. This adds to the world building, and how the viewers are given an adequate understanding of the average life of a Haibane. I felt a familiarity to the setting because of the background art, and if I were to be there, I would know where to go, and also where not to go. I wondered to myself if I'd be fine living in a world like this as a Haibane. There are some aspects of their lives that seem questionable. Humans exist in this world also, though many of them see the Haibane as lucky charms, or objects. This bothered Rakka because they were seeing her as less than human. Rakka becomes more isolated when she considers her situation. The worker in the café realized that she was eating more at his business. The Haibana realized she wasn't really eating with them anymore. They also noticed that even after a month, Rakka still could not deal with loss in this world. You can see the lack of acceptance and delusion in Rakka. She still tried talking to the deceased, and continued to clean their room. She was unable to let go. She was so caught up in this she was hearing voices at times. It is one thing to start over in a new world as a brand new person with no recollection of the past. On the other hand, there is something else that bothered Rakka. She seemed to have kept some form of memories about her former life. Still, there was something about these memories that left hope inside of Rakka. Someone overcame this world to reach out to her. Something seemed to feel as if it had defied the impossible. One of my favorite characters is the crow. It felt comforting, with a sense of relief, that though Rakka only had vague memories of the people in her former life who loved her, There was a sort of miracle that took place. Rakka wasn't as alone as she thought at first. Even though she couldn't remember clearly, and even though she felt beyond depressed severely, there was someone out there who called for her. Someone out there who remembered her, and pulled her out of her misery. An unknown hero. The viewers don't know who is deserving of praise, but the love of the crow is inspirational. Haibane Renmei is a bittersweet story, but it warms the heart to see how the characters find resolve, get out of their miserable situations, and come to terms with acceptance so that we can finally move on with our lives. I love the things that the crow stood for. That we should love someone, but to also love them so strongly that it encourages them to do the same for another. We need to clear the smudges on our feathers. Many of us are carrying Black wings too, in a sense. I have black wings. I'm in a fight against myself, and I don't know if I can win, but I am going to try. I don't have a crow. And not all of us need one. They say the stronger the water, the stronger the swimmer. The harder the battle, the stronger the warrior. (There is an AMV video essay version of this on my page from my YouTube channel for anyone interested.
_I tried to keep this review as spoiler-free as possible._ Handling a series whose themes are revealed through ingenious symbolism can be a tricky venture, as it's all too easy to fall into one extreme, wether it be overexplaining the concepts your narrative touches upon or not offering enough clues to decipher the message you're trying to convey, respectively creating a rather pompous story that forces its exposition down your throat and leaves nothing left for interpretation, or leading to a frustrating experience that might fail to keep you interested. Fortunately, Haibane Renmei manages to strike a pretty nice balance between those two extremes by only lifting the veil ever so slightly, maintaining an air of mystery throughout its entire narrative: the pieces of the puzzle are there and it's up to the viewer to place them in the right spot, or rather in the spot they think they fit in. Haibane Renmei's character driven events revolve around personal conflicts, the fruits of uneasy and distressed minds whose only redemption lies within others. It's an unfortunately very common struggle, especially for younger people, to find their place in the world, to get the feeling they belong to something meaningful, to discover or create their own purpose in life. No matter how good life can be, the existential vacuum of modern humanity is always around the corner, as the show exemplifies through its main character. Achieving a sense of belonging can only be done through self-acceptance. We see through Rakka how living a life shaped by other people's expectations leads to a loss of belonging. We see through Kuu that trying to emulate others creates a hole in your identity. We see through Reki that blame and isolation lead to a sort of learned helplessness. What are unsolved anguish and apprehensions if not walls stopping us from reaching self-actualization? Haibane Renmei does a good job at portraying mental distress and anxieties of different kinds. Pairing very real mental issues with symbolic writing allows the show to not feel preachy, pretentious or moralizing. It offers simple yet meaningful and powerful messages: it's not healthy to sweep your issues under the rug, dealing with them should always be the answer, no matter how much time it might take. The various characters of the show each carry their own message, Rakka by refusing to simply be what other people want her to be, and Kuu by the abnegation of conformism in order to fashion her own identity. While all these characters' conflicts remain compelling, the highlight of the cast is definitely Reki, who the second half of the anime focuses on the most. Unable to accept herself, she lives a life full of guilt and sorrow. Unable to be vulnerable, she can't call for the help she desperately needs. Even though the series has a great atmosphere, thoughtful themes filled with hope and a very good cast of characters, it doesn't come without some unfortunate flaws. The biggest culprit is its pacing. The first 2 or 3 episodes of Haibane Renmei are extremely slow and don't offer a very gripping introduction to the story. On top of this, while the bittersweet but hopeful ending of the series is very satisfying, the last couple episodes, which deal with the conclusion of Reki's story, feel rushed. This creates an overall messy pacing: by the time you get hooked to the show, it's almost already over and it suddenly starts sprinting to the finish line without waiting for you. The slow pacing of the first few episodes wouldn't have been so bad if the visuals looked good, but they don't. The character designs are completely fine, characters in Haibane Renmei aren't supposed to look special, but everything else is just basic. Animation is extremely stiff, characters often look a bit wonky, some scenes towards the end of the anime aren't animated, and I found the backgrounds to be very unpleasant to look at. And it is a shame, because while visuals don't make a good show, they help elevate it. Haibane Renmei's very contemplative and meditative nature would've had a much stronger impact if it was paired with good art, giving life to its beautiful world and enhancing its narrative. In short, Haibane Renmei is a very solid story about being given a second chance at life and dealing with your personal issues by relying on others, being vulnerable and asking for help. This strong narrative, unfortunately undermined by poor production, still very much deserves all the praise it's being given and is definitely well worth the watch.