Haibane Renmei is one of those titles that you rarely come across in your anime life, you know, the ones that transform you and how you see the medium itself as well. I watch lots of different stuff because I know I'll come across a hidden gem or a novel detail even within average stuff. This series was so rewarding and touching, loved every minute of it. It's truly an artist's ace.
Let's start with why I think so:
1. This series can be watched on different layers, one naturally subjective to us as viewers, another related to the piece itself, and finally as an indirect continuum of Serial Experiments Lain. If you're looking at it in that third way, the experience will be mind extending, and will possibly answer some questions from the prior series, in the most gentle and humane way possible. Try that.
2. The art is so unique, I actually watch anime mainly for the visuals, which has its own narrative. Everything about the visuals here is so pleasing and encompassing in a haunting, eerie and childish way, it's the closest thing in anime to express an early Sigur Rós aesthetic and mood, but it's also part of a certain trend in Japan which I appreciate. It's remarkable as well in how they animated emotions in the face, very subtle. I think it's the closest thing to watching a child's drawing or dream come into life, remember that when it comes to the height of the final episode.
3. Two aspects make this powerful, the art of space/erasing, and containing serious or existential themes within inviting and calm atmospheres, it's way more hard to master this than most people assume. There's one single scene that struck me the most and exemplify this particular aspect. It's when Rakka was working in the Temple when invisible laughing children were walking above the water, the composition of every detail in that scene was shattering, I'll never forget it.
You owe your life to watch this.
