Anime: Haibane Renmei

Being on every "recommended anime" picture list originating from 4chan or reddit, a lot of people say to watch this anime even though its not for everyone and evidently, not for me.

Story:
The first three episodes were cool and I thought they were the introduction, but it turns out HALF of the series is the introduction. I was super hyped starting this show after hearing about it and having it relate to Serial Experiments Lain (worked on by the same guy but not necessarily in a major way IIRC) but it was a major letdown that the story had a great setting without any movement with the characters.

Art:
It's got that "early 2000's" feel. Concept art is similar to SEL in style (just look them both up) This and the music kept me going.

Sound:
The music is so good, I've listened to it for weeks after I finished the show. Blue Flow is eerily nostalgic for me and brings warm feelings with the other background music doing the same.

Characters:
Characters aren't really touched upon other than Reki and Rakka who are the main focus of the show. Often times the characters seem flat and I couldn't care less what happens to them because I don't know enough about them even if they aren't the main focus of the show.

Enjoyment:
The last two episodes made it worth it, but its not worth dragging through the rest of them, trust me, I have done this. Stop at episode 4 if you don't like it. The show is essentially a framework for your own interpretation; they give you the mold to the show, you have to come up with everything else, like what do the festive nut colors represent other than the two explained? or why does the wall do what it does? or how did the regular people get there? The show never touches upon this because its too focused on its characters, and by characters I mean Reki and Rakka and NO ONE ELSE.

Overall:
I'm probably gonna get torn a new one for this review, but its as honest as I could get and sure, its been awhile but I wrote this without looking anything up to refresh myself. Again, this isn't for everyone. I expected a fantasy show and got a slice of life with characters who have wings instead

More than anything I've seen, what you get from Haibane Renmei depends on what you put in. While the small-scale, intricate details are shown, the series is content to simply suggest and hint at what it's truly about.

Fundamentally, Haibaine is a vision of another world, sprinkled with references to Christian mythology. The setting is a city surrounded by a high wall, and our leads are perhaps-reincarnated humanoids with wings and halos. We see them progressing and challenged, but without the context that would tell us what they're trying to achieve or why they're there.

Primarily this is a character-driven show, and that's where its greatest strength lies. We see very human interaction from . Unusually for a show with this focus, there is no romance (or rather, only very understated hints of it). This gives Haibane a thematically-appropriate innocence that adds to its charm - a charm compounded by the presentation. The animation is beautiful for its time (though now a little dated) - the characters' feathers and the intricate machinery of parts of the town are particular high points. The opening provides a good tour of the show, though the low-tech ending is a little disappointing. Music is superb; in particular, the opening and ending are haunting songs that match the feel of the show perfectly. The background music is also fittingly chosen, with different parts of the setting getting their own appropriate sounds. The voices too are wonderful, appropriately little-girl charming but each remaining distinct, while the older and worldier character (Reki) reveals just the right blend of innocence and experience.

But all this charm means little if Haibane fails to engage a viewer, and that depends greatly on its plot - or lack thereof. There is no unifying quest, no goal to unite the characters beyond day-to-day living. This all sounds like your typical slice-of-life show, but even normal human ambitions - passing their exams, learning new skills, getting rich - simply don't apply to the Haibane. They know exactly what they have to do (though not why, or what it means), and everything else is just marking time. I still found them easy enough to relate to, but I can well understand viewers who simply "don't get it".

While there is little external conflict as such, in the second half some dramatic personal conflicts arise, and the setting's arbitrary customs feed back into this. Everything remains decidedly small-scale, but we care about the characters enough that it's very involving, and the satisfying conclusion resolves everything (except what the show's all about). Given the large amount of characterization time in the first half, this adds up to a show that, while undeniably slow-paced, never actually drags. Haibane gives you time to think, and while its philosophical side could be seen as pretentious (or as an Evangelion-style mind screw, heavy on symbolism but signifying nothing), I found the series too charming to mind.

This is a beautiful show, elegantly presented, and with probably the sweetest cast I've seen. Its innocence reminds me of Kamichu, but it goes much deeper in its characterization, and to be able to do such character drama without the crutches of romance or plot makes it all the more magical. Its setting is gorgeously realized - but also disturbingly alien, and at times straining suspension of disbelief. A viewer willing to accept Haibane Renmei's premise will find themselves thoroughly rewarded, but the barrier may be too high for some.

Haibane Renmei was for a long time a very special show for being the only one that could be called slice of unlife. It plays out like a typical “nothing ever happens” type of story, when in actuality it takes place in the afterlife and shows a possible way for the soul to atone and move on. This is no longer the case since there are now more anime dealing with the same concept, such as Angel Beats and Death Parade. It is still the most down on earth of this bunch, but it’s also ignored by most for the same reason. Like most classics of the early 2000s it is very slow paced, it doesn’t have harem or waifu baiting, or plays out like a goddamn videogame.

With that said, it does a fine job at fleshing out the main characters without openly explaining what is going on about them. It’s all very indirect and why they can come off as generic at face value. I wouldn’t dare to say they use symbolism for showing us who they were before, but since amnesia is a big part of the mystery surrounding them you have to connect the dots. Does this mean the show is one big mysterybait which I always make fun of? Yes, but it’s done in a very indirect way so I give it a pass. They are not rubbing it in your face like they do in modern shows. You can ignore it altogether and you will still have an iyashikei type of show, something you watch to relax. You don’t want that? Okay, you still have the mysterybait and the world building and the character backdrops. What’s the deal with the cocoons and the feathers and the weirdly dressed priests? You can choose what you want and nothing will feel like you are being baited into watching further. That’s the beauty of the slow paced early 2000 anime. Both relaxing and mysterious at the same time.

Of course if you want something thrilling and full of excitement, you are not going to like the show. It will seem like a bunch of typical girls doing chores because they have nothing better to do. It’s like a journey of self acknowledgement where they are not actually going anywhere because they can’t leave the city. It’s like a detective story where there is no rush to find the answers. It’s like a drama where nobody is given much to be sad about. Yes, it can be boring and dull at times, but when you finish it and look back you realize a lot of mini things have happened. And no, it doesn’t even need 500 episodes of build up before it gets good. A dozen are more than enough, meaning it doesn’t overstay its welcome and it doesn’t give you blue balls for over a decade.

So it’s basically a slice of life about spirituality and people becoming better by having positive interactions with those around them, until they are ready to move to the next thing, whatever that is. So it’s not even slice of nothing happens, because there is legit progress with a solid ending. It’s not about doing pseudo-lesbian shit for 50 episodes, then they drink tea, eat cookies, and they are instantly able to play the guitar before they go back to doing more pseudo-lesbian shit for another 50 episodes.

Anyways, I recommend this show, not as something entertaining or exciting, but rather as relaxing and artsy. It’s not following the clichés of typical mainstream anime and it has substance without tiring the mind.

If you can stand a ton of uninteresting episodes, you might find Haibane Renmei an extraordinary anime experience. It'll charm you with great characters, unique story structure and excellent music. The last few episodes totally make up for the boring start.

Animation
Animation is great. It has a dark tone, which contrasts the laid-back and carefree theme of the show.
Angles and cropping make scenes look very artistic and well thought out. Here and there Haibane Renmei also manages to pull of a few quite impressive special effects.

Sound
Soundtrack is pure win in every aspect. It largely consists of simple piano melodies, that fit the show perfectly.
In my opinion a good soundtrack has to be made with the context in mind, and Haibane Renmei delivers in this aspect perfectly.
The ending and opening themes were also beautiful.

Story
This is where Haibane Renmei either shines or falls short, depening on your personal preference.
The thing is, that there is not much going on in Haibane Renmei. There is no clear good-evil placement, and the whole thing is pretty much like watching Big Brother with angels as contestants.
The story also doesn't even try to make sense of the setting.
It has a lot going against it, but I'll praise the writer doing things his own way and focusing on what he sees important, the characters.

Character
Characters are plentiful and the whole anime has been centered around character development.
Main attention of the show goes into the lives of a newborn Haibane, Rakka, and the oldest of the bunch, Reki.
While the two main characters receive a great deal of attention, other characters also have a fair amount of screen time, making every character feel meaningful.
Characters have multilayered personalities, and are quite believable.
When the main characters are together, they have a happy facade as in reality most of them are suffering from the inside. This complex character development and interaction makes Haibane Renmei very interesting to watch.
If you are looking for anime with good action to back up the characters, you should look elsewhere.

Value
It's a great collectors item, and if you enjoyed it, like I did, it has a lot of rewatch value.

This is my first review. I have watched many anime in many different styles. Yet this is the first one that I felt I had to review.

Animation 8/10

The animation was appropriate for the subject matter, this is not a fast paced or action related story. I did notice a few too many panning stills. While I can find these frame/ time savers distracting, their use in this story did not significantly impact my enjoyment.

Sound 10/10

The opening and ending scores were very appropriate for this story. The story line ST is great at setting a proper mood without being obtrusive.

Story 10/10

The writers were inspired. Hollywood and the American media could take a lesson from them. The mystery of the Haibane is intriguing, I was hooked from episode one and had to watched the whole series in one setting. The lack of action did not interfere in the slightest. The story line unfolds masterfully, as a mature and deeply insightful work.

Characters 9/10

One area I felt could have been explored a little more. The character development was well done. However, it could have been a little better. There were relationships and characters I would have liked to know a little more before the main conflict began.

Value 10/10

This one will stay in my collection. It's a rainy day treasure that I am sure will evoke many more tears.

Enjoyment 10/10

There are stories, myths, legends, and, fairy tales. These entertain, inform, teach, and explain. But when they have a deeper lesson or meaning we call them Fables or Parables. Haibane Renmei qualifies as the latter.

Pass this one by. It's bad anime. It's very boring. It's an[br]anime that will having you wish for the main characters to start dying just so SOMETHING will happen.[br][br]There are women.[br]There is crying.[br]There is routine.[br]There is talking.[br]There is no adventure.[br]There is no action.[br]There is no exploration.[br]There is no comedy.[br]There is no flying.[br]There is no conflict.[br]There is no violence.[br]There is no blood.[br]There is no gore.[br]There is no death.[br]There is no entertainment.[br]There is no fun.[br][br]No adventure:[br]One time someone left without telling the others first. [br][br]No action:[br]One time someone rode a bicycle.[br]Another time someone rode a scooter.[br]Once someone read a book.[br]There was this other time where someone literally cleaned a clock.[br][br]If haibane had action figures their primary feature would be action sleeping.[br][br]Routine:[br]At least 40% of this anime is about finding a job.[br][br] conflict:[br]opposition in a work of drama or fiction between characters or forces (especially an opposition that motivates the development of the plot)[br][br]I've seen more conflict in an episode of care bears than the whole run of haibane.[br][br]No exploration:[br]They never left the city. Nor did they fully explore the town, the wall, the temple, the togas, their memories, their dreams, the history of the dorm, the list goes on. They accepted things as they were and went with the flow.[br]