haibane

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		Haibane Renmei is the story of a group of angel-like creatures who live together in a mysterious, walled–off village. These Haibane, as they are called, dwell among the human villagers, following a curious set of rules, such as not being able to wear other than second hand clothing, and having to work in a variety of odd jobs. They are angel-like in having wings (though they cannot fly,) halos, and an indefineable airiness and purity. Unlike angels, their origins and fate are unknown to them, and some Haibane have decidedly unangelic traits such as smoking and fighting. The initial focus of the 13 episode series is the new-born Haibane, Rakka. The name means “falling” in Japanese, and is taken from her disturbing pre-birth dream. It is through her eyes that we see; what is new and strange to her is likewise to us. Circumscribed by a gray wall that none but the birds may pass, the little world of the Haibane is rendered like beautiful a watercolor in soft shades of green, gray, and brown. With character designs by Yoshitoshi Abe, the artwork is exceptional, and does much to create a half-familiar, half-alien world. Rakka’s tentative exploration of her surroundings, the quirky social customs and the complex emotional lives of her fellow Haibane fills one with wonder, enchantment, and sometimes unease. The music is graceful and poignanabt. As one writer said, it must be something like this that real angels listen to. Anime excels at the creation of worlds like our own, yet somehow unlike. For the Haibane, life is an enigma. Where they come from, where they are going, and who or what they are all things unknown. Facing such a mystery, they live their lives not in quiet desperation, but in appreciation of the bright miracles of everyday life. Oddly, theirs is a world not dissimilar to our own, in that human life is also a mysterious coming and going. We are insulated from the disturbing truth of our own mortality by a longer life than the Haibane, and a world more cluttered with distractions and diversions. But their fate is also ours, and Haibane Renmei delicately but forcefully reminds us that our world is ephemeral, and our time fleeting. This is an exquisite series, quietly rewarding the patient viewer with emotional intensity and subtly realized characters. Each Haibane has their own story, perspective, and fate. Watching those fates spin out is engrossing, suspenseful, and cathartic. The impression Haibane Renmei makes is lasting and deep, leaving luminous images in mind and memory. A beautiful series that belongs in any aniume collection.
		Studio: Geneon Format: DVD Episodes in series: 13 Series Completed: No Number of DVDs: 4	Audio Tracks: English, Japanese Subtitles: English Genre: Drama Ages: 13+ Cautions: Brief violence and nudity Reviewer: George Core Collection: High School, Adult