Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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29 of 30 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Refreshing, October 31, 2003
What attracted me to this series was the artistic connections to Serial Experiments - Lain, which was an outstanding example of what anime is capable of out of genre. What kept me from getting to it when it first came out was that, depending on the review I looked at, it either sounded humdrum or was painted as a 'magical girl' story. Now that I've seen this first DVD I can report that it is neither what I expected nor what the critics reported, but something quite unique.A young girl finds herself plummeting through the air only to wake up unexpectedly in a strange bed surrounded by people with wings. She discovers that, like her, each has awoken from a dream to find themselves in the Old Home with no memory of the past. And like them, she grows wings and acquires a halo. The remainder of these four episodes follow Rakka as she adjusts to her new like and discovers the world of the Haibane, the Old Home in which they live, and the town of Glie, which forms their boundaries. There are countless mysteries. Rakka and her friends like, Kuu, Hikari, Kana and Reku, only know the way things are, but have no idea how this came to be. Thus the origins of the Haibane (charcoal feathers) and their role are mysteries. They exist within the walls of Glie, where no one, Haibane or normal human is allowed to enter the outside world. Only birds and the masked Toga (traders) can to so, and the Toga may not speak. Amidst this, the Haibane themselves carry on, working in the town and living off its largess with surprising acceptance and a great deal of charm. And charm is what this series has a surfeit. The Haibane and the townsfolk all seem bounded together in a supportive fashion, which is almost, a model of what most of us would think of as a perfect community. It doesn't take long before the viewer becomes complete enchanted. Not just with the story, but the art, acting, and music as well. Despite all the signs that things are not really as they appear you will find yourself hoping that things will go on just as they are, that the glimmer of light here will prevail. What the future will bring, I can't say. But I hope we get add least a few more DVD's of the tranquility and almost Zen-like atmosphere that permeates these first episodes. This is a delicate story that unfolds in the pastel shades of some wonderful artwork and character design. In any case, I believe you will find the originality of the story and its characters refreshing and worth pursuing.
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24 of 25 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Amazon's review falls short, September 24, 2003
As an artist I am in love with this series. The world is richly portrayed, and unique in it's blend of asian, european and fantastic elements. The story is slow to develop but in a good way, there is a gentle, soft telling of a tale here which is rare and unique, and the characters and unfolding plot are better for it. You can't watch this series without becoming aware of the obvious care and devotion the artists have put into it. This is an animation which evolved from a written story, which evolved from a piece of poetry, so maybe there is some literary aspect of it that failed to engage the Amazon reviewer. But don't believe it, there is a lot going for Haibane Renmei beyond it's artwork. The story, the characters, and the world they live in have depth and heart. It compares favorably to some of anime's great titles, notably "Spirited Away," "Castle in the Sky," "Lain," and "Key the Metal Idol." If you liked any of these, you will enjoy Haibane Renmei. I strongly recommend it.
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17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Deep, thoughtful, sometimes dark, wonderful anime, May 2, 2004
Like his earlier work "Serial Experiments: Lain", "Haibane Renmei" starts out apparently slow, then builds like the proverbial snowball to an astonishing finish. The web of drama and mysticism in this series has to be one of the tightest I've seen in anime. Almost every conversation reveals, in the most subtle manner, the hopes and fears of the characters involved. At first, the town of Guri seems to be an idyllic paradise. Then... This is "real life". We get to know the characters in "Haibane Renmei" like we do our own co-workers and neighbors: one encounter at a time, day by day, each day a little more revealing than the last. For some of us, our life goals and beliefs about God take years to understand; it is the same for Rakka. "What are the Haibane?" is a question that is asked, and never quite answered, throughout the series. That's the point. It is up to us to take in all the information and decide. This series is not for mecha-lovers, or for impatient action fans, or for anyone who can't sit still for 13 episodes without a building blowing up or a legion of aliens taking over. This is a series to ponder. Like life, it must be experienced forwards, but can only be understood backwards. That is why multiple viewings are common among HR fans: there are so many layers to delve through. We start, as Rakka does, confused as to where we are, what our purpose is. We experience incredible highs and devastating losses. We find friends who know what we've been through, and other well-meaning people who love us despite our weaknesses. We don't quite understand some of the processes, the "ground rules", of the world around us. And we learn that the world is not always a safe place. Probably one of the most "human" animes ever produced.
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