Haibane Renmei

Studio: Radix 
Year: 2002
# of Episodes: 13
Genre: 

Synopsis: [Anime News Network: Haibane Renmei ]

"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 females 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."

Afterthought 

I put off this series for a long while, perhaps much longer than I should have, even though the name came up every so often. So I finally sat down one day and marathon-ed it. What can I say, it left me a little melancholic but also a little hopeful at the same time. 

To me, Haibane Renmei is a fairytale with a touch a Edgar Allan Poe, the tone of the series is calm and serene, but also mysterious and dark at key points. The beginning episodes give us a glimpse into what life is like for the Haibanes in the little town,  nothing dramatic happens, but the mundane events are calming and even entertaining. As the story progresses, the plots evolves around two characters and their inner struggle to understand and to come to terms with one's own existence.

»SPOILER«

I think the part that needs better rationalization is perhaps why Rakka was so emotionally shaken about Ku's departure, it felt a little sudden considering how little screen time Ku had during Rakka's initial stay and the interaction between the two characters hadn't been particularly impressionable. Though rather than a inherent flaw, it's probably a perspective issue, it could be speculated that because Rakka was not used to the idea someone might disappear without warning she felt uncertain about her own existence, while others have been living with the fact long enough to accept it.

The story is driven by emotion and symbolism rather than plot per se. So even though many questions can be asked, there is never a definite answer. The exact nature of the Haibanes, who qualifies to be a Haibane, who are the Togas, as well as what's beyond wall is never explicitly stated. But that is not to say the series is flawed through its ambiguity, at least to me, what's implied is enough to satisfy any need for answer. Quite the contrary, I think too much transparency will only disrupt the magic feel of the series, it's a story that needs to be felt, not merely said.  

»SPOILER«

What it means to be Sin-bound is only vaguely implied. My take on it is that those who commit suicide is probably born into the Haibane world as the "tainted", while the world itself can be thought of as purgatory in Christianity. Only when one is forgiven by others as well as oneself, can he or she finally move on, to enter heaven or to join the reincarnation cycle. When Reki finally reached out for help, her barrier surrounding her existence broke down and she was ready to go beyond the wall. Similarly, when the crow guided Rakka to the well, she recovered the part of her dream that was lost and was forgiven for the hurt she caused. The Toga is implied as those are permanently stuck purgatory because they were not forgiven for their "sins" in time, so they became proxy between the living and the dead.

I don't want to spoil too much, but Haibane Renmei has a most unique approach to the subject of existence, death and reincarnation, especially within the realm of anime. It's a story that really drew me in, made me wonder and left me feeling a little warm on the inside. Accompanied by beautiful soundtrack, it's a memorable series perfect in its own way.  

Rating

Story: 8.5/10

Character: 8/10

Animation: 7.5/10

Music: 9/10

Directing/Style: 9/10

Enjoyment: 9/10

Overall: 8.5/10