Haibane Renmei Series Thoughts
Haibane Renmei is one those rare shows that focuses almost entirely on the characters, but not in the typical way anime, or really most forms of entertainment do. It's a show that places the viewer in an ambiguous world with ambiguous rules, but fills it with such grounded characters that eventually you look past the initial confusion, and learn to focus on the characters. It's a show that feels like it never preaches to the viewer, and while there are some concrete themes, what one person gets from viewing may be very different from another's viewing.
The characters are biggest strength of the show. It's worth noting that while all the characters are mostly likable, none of them feel like they were tailor made to be likable, if that makes sense. While the two main leads Rakka and Reki and their relationship lead the thrust of the narrative, everyone feels very grounded and real, despite the majority of the cast having halos and wings. Despite what you may think however, the show never draws a clear line to modern religions.
I'm sure the mythology that lies underneath the character focused story may be discernible, but it's not the main reason anyone should watch Haibane Renmei. It may not be for everyone, but if you find yourself tiring of traditional anime tropes, then I would highly recommend it.
