Haibane Renmei: should I get it?

DistantMemory · Post by **DistantMemory** » Sun Jun 12, 2005 11:13 am

You may not know this, but I'm really into religion and spirituality. I like reading about angels (sometimes), reincarnation, and the physical and spiritual worlds, which is what this series has. But for some reason I still have my doubts on whether I should get the series. Can you guys give me lists of all the pros and cons this series has? I'll be able to work out my decision from here a little easier.

Vagabond · Post by **Vagabond** » Thu Jun 16, 2005 4:01 pm

Personally, I highly recommend this series. It is one of the finest anime series I have ever seen. However, I will try to give as fair an analysis as possible for you.

Pros:
Very good animation - everything is in a unique sepia tone which gives the art a certain cozy elegance. The animation is very fluid as well.

Interesting characters - All the characters are unique and the relationships have a very realistic feel. The main attraction to the show is watching how they interact with each other and to their surroundings. The two main characters, Rakka and Reki, each have great psychological trials to overcome but it doesn't get too overdramatic. They wrestle a lot with the concept of depression, loneliness, death and forgiveness.

Soundtrack - The music has a very ethereal and soothing quality to it. The OP and ED themes are terrific, and I highly recommend getting them to get a general feel of the music.

Symbolism - A lot of imagination went into creating such a unique world and culture, and you can see that in the great amount of religious symbolism found throughout the series. What is so good about this series is how fluidly it is mixed in to the setting. Unlike a series like Serial Experiment Lain where you get a lot of jarring and confusing images that distract you from the story, Haibane Renmei has incorporates the elements directly into the story. The Haibane themselves are symbols. There is still plenty of personal interpretation, but you can also simply enjoy the story for what it is.

Cons:
Slow Pacing - Many of the episodes just cover the little things in life, and this is especially true in the first couple of episodes. Things start out really slowly and that might wear out some people's patience. The first couple of episodes just show how Rakka gets to know how things work, where to find a job, etc. The plot doesn't really kick in until the later half.

Lack of Action and Epic Plot - A lot of things are left unexplained, simply because alot of the time the characters themselves don't have the answers. Furthermore, if you are looking for an action-packed epic plot with plenty of twists and betrayals, I suggest another series. This is more of a slice of life anime, and most of the episodes just have the characters go through their day to day life. This is not an action-packed series, so don't expect any apocalyptic battles or conspiracies. There is a lot of mystery, but not a lot of threats. The world here is failry benign, and troubles come from psychological struggle rather than an external threat.

Ending - It sort of marks off the end of a relationship between Rakka and Reki and then ends at an optimistic note. Their main psychological problems are resolved, but one can imagine that other things can come along. The ending isn't a cliffhanger, but it definitely is somewhat open-ended.

I hope this helps.

DistantMemory · Post by **DistantMemory** » Thu Jun 16, 2005 5:34 pm

This does, trust me! "Slice of life" shows = good in my book. Thank you so much!

Ni-ban Neko · Post by **Ni-ban Neko** » Wed Jun 22, 2005 9:58 pm

In a word, yes. This series is just lovely and I highly recommend it.

Vagabond · Post by **Vagabond** » Fri Jul 08, 2005 5:46 pm

This does, trust me! "Slice of life" shows = good in my book. Thank you so much!

You're welcome. Glad I can help. If you are into "slice of life" anime, I would also recommend Neia_7 (thats pronounced Neia Under 7). Its made by the same person who makes Haibane Renmei. This series, however, is about aliens and has alot more humor. It chronicles the life of a poor cram student and how she meets and lives with an alien called Neia. They live above a bathhouse in a rural town, which is right next to an alien mothership. They say that it is an alien invasion, but the aliens seem more like immigrants because everyone is so blase about it. I highly recommend it.

Tell me what you think of Haibane Renmei after you watch it, OK?