The Essentials

Name: Haibane Renmei
Genre: Fantasy, Drama
Episodes: 13
Released: October 9, 2002 – December 18, 2002
Based On: Dōjinshi Haibane Renmie and The Haibane of Old Home by Yoshitoshi ABe
Director: Tomokazu Tokoro
Produced By: Radix, Fuji TV, et. al.
US Distribution By: Geneon

Major Japanese Cast

Rakka: Ryou Hirohashi
Reki: Junko Noda
Nemu: Kazusa Murai
Kana: Eri Miyajima
Hikari: Fumiko Orikasa
Kuu: Akiko Yajima
Washi: Tamio Ohki

Major English Cast

Rakka: Carrie Savage
Reki: Erika Weinstein
Nemu: Kirsty Pape
Kana: Zarah Little
Hikari: Hunter MacKenzie Austin
Kuu: J-Ray Hochfield
Washi (The Communicator): Michael McConnohie

Scores

Animation: 8/10 (x 4 = 32 pts)
Story: 10/10 (x 4 = 40 pts)
Music: 9/10 (x 4 = 36 pts)
Coherence/Story Arc: 10/10 (x 2 = 20 pts)
English Dubs: 9/10 (x 1 = 9 pts)
Gut Score: 10/10 (x 5 = 50 pts)

Total: 187/200 (93.5%)

Review

Haibane Renmei is about a girl who suddenly arrives in an old building via a large cocoon. Once she “hatches,” she finds herself surrounded by girls with small wings and halos. The girl doesn’t know who she is, where she came from, or anything about her past, but she is able to remember how to do some things, such as walk, talk, eat, ride a bike, etc. Upon hearing the dream that the girl had when she was in her cocoon about falling, the others name her Rakka, which means “to fall.”

Rakka finds out that she is what is called a Haibane like the rest of the girls in the building. Like her, they all came in a cocoon, and don’t remember anything before they arrived. They live in a town surrounded by a large wall, which they aren’t even supposed to go near and neither they, nor anyone else in the town is allowed to leave.

The Haibane are also treated like a special class by the town. They can have jobs, but only at certain places, and aren’t allowed to carry money, carrying a notebook in which they write down how much money they have earned and spent. However, the citizens of the town also regard Haibane as something special and which can bring good luck.

However, being a Haibane isn’t easy for Rakka, as she must deal with one of her friends disappearing, as well as dealing with pains from a past life she doesn’t even remember.

Haibane Renmei has an air of mysteriousness throughout the series as one never truly learn what the Haibane are, why certain people seem became Haibane, or why they suddenly mysteriously leave, though there are explanations for what the metaphor is supposed to signify.

While the story is told mostly from Rakka’s point of view, and is indeed largely based around her growth as a Haibane, the story also focuses, if not primarily so, on her best friend Reki, something which one doesn’t fully realize until the last half of the series.

Haibane Renmei combines excellent storytelling with pretty good animation and an unusual, though fitting, musical score. While the entire story is, in part, a metaphor, it is still largely a coming-of-age story which is refreshing in both it’s uniqueness and quality. Haibane Renmei is definitely a show that just about any anime fan could enjoy.

First Watched: May – June 2007
Do I Own: Yes
Do I Recommend: Yes