Synopsis
A girl dreams of falling from the sky and awakens in a strange town, inside the Old Home where the haibane, those of small grey wings and halos, live. She has arrived like they did before her, born from a giant egg which grew from a fallen seed. And as is their custom this new haibane is named after her dream: Rakka, falling. It isn’t long before her wings burst painfully through her skin and the other haibane craft a halo for her, though it doesn’t want to stay put without help.
The home where the haibane live and the nearby town of humans are surrounded by a gigantic wall that is impossible to see over and beyond which it is forbidden to pass.
Impressions
This is a beautiful and poetic anime. It is a tale of discovery, of rebirth and repentance. It is a tale of separation and letting go. If this sounds overly dramatic or myserious then so be it. Haibane Renmei is difficult to categorize without giving away too much. It is better experienced without expectations.
I love the matter-of-fact way the series treats what would be a very odd premise. You get the feeling that this town is terribly old and life with the haibane is a comfortable routine with long forgotten questions. Rakka is cute and easy to like. And most of the other haibane are interesting if sometimes one-dimensional.
The art is gorgeous, engendering the same sense of wonder and discovery I remember from watching Ghibli films like Totoro and Laputa. It is wholly enchanting.
- 2003-05-06 18:53 -