Small village, encased by huge walls... oh and with angels... Biblical reference much?
The Haibane are people who are born from a cocoon and grow wings. This is all set inside a rather large village surrounded by a great wall. Only the birds can leave the city, everyone else including the Haibane must spend there lives within the village. The village is full of normal people and the Haibane live away from the city and commute to the village.
The actual story of Haibane Renmai follows the life of a new born Haibane. When inside there cocoon the New born have a dream, they are then named after their dream. The main character of this Anime is called Rakka as in her dream she was falling, and.. as we all know, Rakka means falling in Japanese... right? None the less the story starts with Rakka being introduced to her fellow Haibane, the rules of the village and its customs.
Rakka is a timid little creature, unsure and almost helpless. You cant help but want her to find her place in this new world, and wonder how she came to be there in the 1st place. The supporting cast around Rakka don't make much of an impact apart from Reki, who is basically Rakka's guardian. Both are interesting and memorable characters. The other Haibane however were not so much, but the Anime is only 13 episodes long. I would have liked to seen more character development, and learned more about the other Haibane. But reviewers cant be choosers.
I found Haibane very relaxing and easy to watch. I haven't watched an Anime like Haibane in a good while. No action, no love. It was just a very enjoyable and touching story about redemption and breaking free of past sins and mistakes. And I'm aware that sentence makes it sound very overbearing. However I can promise you its not, you can watch Haibane without really looking at the symbolism behind it and just enjoy. But I've watched Evangelion... symbolism slaps me in the face after that damn thing.
The animation is nothing spectacular, same as any Anime that has been released within the past 2 or 3 years. Which means its nice, just noting spectacular. That's not a bad thing, just no extra points on this front. The music is fitting for the story and is used very well. The opening and closing themes are not what I usually like in an Anime however it suited Haibane perfectly,
Haibane Is a lovely tale of a girls journey to find her place and free her self of the feeling of guilt she has following her. Its a tale that most can relate to, because I'm sure everyone has something they regret and feel guilty about... even if its not as dramatic and ominous as the ones in Haibane. Anyone who appreciates the different genres of Anime out there should defiantly make some time to watch Haibane, Its a tale that will be imprinted on your memoires, and your top Anime.
8.4/10
Danny
