Tsunami Jones' Weekly Review: Haibane Renmei

[Tsunami Jones]

Hey all! Well, I kinda ended up missing last week completely instead of just being late . . . sorry 'bout that. Anyways, here's the first of this week's reviews!



Haibane Renmei (a.k.a. Charcoal Feather Federation) spoilers = light



In a walled town where no one except a small group of people are ever allowed to come and go, humans live side by side with a race of angelic-like beings called the Haibane. The Haibane, are born out of large cocoons, and unfortunately, have no recollection of their past except for a single dream.

Haibane Renmei begins with (well, it doesn’t exactly start this way, but I don’t want to spoil what comes before this) the finding of a new cocoon by the Haibane that live at the “Old Home.” And as this doesn’t occur very often, it is a joyous occasion for all of the Haibane living there. The cocoon soon hatches, and out drops a young girl, who like the rest of the Haibane, cannot remember anything of her past, not even her name. They quickly begin taking care of her, and soon enough she has her halo and her wings sprout, and they giver her the name “Rakka” (all of the Haibane’s names come from the dream they had while in the cocoon). And quickly enough, they begin showing her what her new life is going to be like, and where the Haibane’s place in the social order of the town is.

Needless to say, this sets up a very interesting premise for a show. And a very interesting show it is, as it’s rich with symbolism and mystery. The animation for the show is excellent, and is supported by an amazing selection of music, which is some of the best I’ve heard in an anime. The character designs have a nice approach of being simple and realistic, which I have to say I enjoyed very much for the show, and some of the scenery is simply beautiful.

Not everything is good however. To me, some of the characters personalities were rather weak, and we’ve seen them before at least a dozen other times. Fortunately though, Rakka is a very interesting character, with a good personality, along with Reki, the troubled Haibane that quickly befriends Rakka after taking care of her after she emerges from her cocoon.

Also, a thing happened to me with this show that has never happened to me before. I have never before gone into watching a show with no expectations and come out feeling disappointed in it.
To me part of it was, “Where’s the rest of the series?” It’s a thirteen episode series, and it felt to me like it ended half-way through. Things were just starting to pick up. And unfortunately, this leaves many of the mysteries that are presented early on left unanswered. Now, the show is ripe with symbolism, and from this you can attempt to answer (or at least create theories) some of the questions that are presented throughout the show. Who were the Haibane? What becomes of them when they mysteriously disappear on the “day of raising?” Now some of you who have seen the series might think of me as daft for asking these questions about the show, and I have my own speculations on them, I’m just not going to post them here because I don’t want to spoil anything. But I personally think that the show should have been a few more episodes, and gone to the day of Rakka’s raising. But maybe, none of these questions presented really matters in the end.

So in the end, I’m still going to recommend seeing Haibane Renmei (which by the way, is done by the same guy who did Serial Experiments Lain). I personally however, will never add it to my anime collection unless I win Powerball or something equally insane, so I suggest attempting to rent it or borrow it before deciding to purchase it. It is though, one of the best drama anime series that I’ve seen, and I will give it 4 out of 5 stars because of that.

[Rhyevaln]

Unlike Mr. Jones (btw, keep up the good work), I saw Haibane Renmei and it's now sitting on my shelf in it's box set. I thought the show ended on a fairly good note. (But more would be welcome!)

It's a 6 of 5 in my book...if I had one... and kept score in it. Anyhow, like Mr. Jones said, I too would "recommend seeing Haibane Renmei " ( and from me, more so!)

[dokool]

Unlike Mr. Jones (btw, keep up the good work), I saw Haibane Renmei and it's now sitting on my shelf in it's box set. I thought the show ended on a fairly good note. (But more would be welcome!)

It's a 6 of 5 in my book...if I had one... and kept score in it. Anyhow, like Mr. Jones said, I too would "recommend seeing Haibane Renmei " ( and from me, more so!)

Agreed. I got into Haibane Renmei after seeing VicBond's video, and instantly fell in love with the series. For a show in which precious little happens, it's done quite well. Seeing a half-dozen Rakkas at Anime Boston this weekend was very reassuring that other people are getting into the series...

-DOKool

[Aethylla]

I don't know. I have to agree with Mr. Jones on this one. Haibane Renmei is an okay anime but not really worth buying. It's a drama and very slow. Don't get me wrong, i enjoyed watching all of it. I mean the concept is original and interesting enough. However, it's not the type of anime that one will watch over and over again. It's more of a watch-and remember-it-anime then a buy-it-anime.

[Jnzk]

Personally I loved the series and have seen it 3 times already. I liked the way they didn't give you all the answers but enough clues to make your own interpretations about the world and the Haibane. A must buy IMO. o:3

[Navi en Grey]

Its a very good anime series that is a great continuation for Abe... but I like Texhnolyze better ...

[Tsunami Jones]

Woot, discussion!

Unlike Mr. Jones (btw, keep up the good work), I saw Haibane Renmei and it's now sitting on my shelf in it's box set. I thought the show ended on a fairly good note. (But more would be welcome!)

Thanks for the complement. And the show definitely did end on a good note. More of it would be so nice to have though. I would probably end up buying the show if it was more "fleshed" out in around 26 episodes or so.

I don't know. I have to agree with Mr. Jones on this one. Haibane Renmei is an okay anime but not really worth buying. It's a drama and very slow. Don't get me wrong, i enjoyed watching all of it. I mean the concept is original and interesting enough. However, it's not the type of anime that one will watch over and over again. It's more of a watch-and remember-it-anime then a buy-it-anime.

Just from everyone's reactions to the show, it's definately one that you should try to see before purchasing it, as it really isn't everyone's cup o' tea.

[SnhKnives]

Seeing a half-dozen Rakkas at Anime Boston this weekend was very reassuring that other people are getting into the series...

-DOKool

or that everyone decided to cheap and cosplay a halo and a robe.....


but seriously i might check this series out, it looks very interesting. UNtil now all i heard was bad things from it. I even heard that Vic didnt like the series but only did the video cause he found a song that matched it so well. Oh well I will have to see.

[Otohiko]

Put it this way: it's an excellent character-development series, but it teases you with the possibility of a broader storyline which isn't really there.

That said, this one's gotta be in my top 10 anime. It has excellent art and awesome, emotional characters. Very sad series, too.

So yep, as I've said about a bunch of other series - give it a chance and see if you like it for yourself. You won't know whether it's worth it or not just from a review. For me, it'd be more than worth it

[angelx03]

Seeing a half-dozen Rakkas at Anime Boston this weekend was very reassuring that other people are getting into the series...

-DOKool

or that everyone decided to cheap and cosplay a halo and a robe.....


but seriously i might check this series out, it looks very interesting. UNtil now all i heard was bad things from it. I even heard that Vic didnt like the series but only did the video cause he found a song that matched it so well. Oh well I will have to see.

Haibane Renmei is an "acquired-taste" series. I remembered that they showed the first 4 episodes in our RIT Anime Club and half the people liked and the other half the people hated it so it sort of balances out. I'm one of the people who liked it.