Review of Haibane Renmei

With the original concept coming from the notorious artist Yoshitoshi Abe (character designer for Serial Experiment Lain, among the other things), Haibane Renmei comes from a pedigree that's both important and uncertain, as Abe, before this, had never worked on an animated series as the central "auteur" (I am totally using that word improperly, and in any other context i would shout at it being used so shallowly... but you get what I mean). What has resulted from this endeavor though is definitely worthwhile. Abe ultimately uses this series to meditate on the themes of sin, suicide, loss and afterlife, and while I have someuncertainties on the conclusions at which he arrives, as they can be a bit simplistic and not as complex as the setting he builds around them, they are presented beautifully and tell a story that is in its own rights full of likable characters and eerie mysteries.

Set in a city where humans and Haibane (winged beings, quite similar to angels, with no memory of their "past life") coexist, Haibane Renmei follows the life of one of those Haibane, using it as a pretext to slowly paint a picture of this unique setting.

The series uses the structural trappings taken from "slice of life" anime to present us with something that goes far beyond simple comedy or "moe". While there is no linear plot to speak of, the various stories told in the episodes help the viewer, little by little, to understand the full picture of this inventive afterlife pictured by Abe.

What is wonderful about Haibane Renmei is that, despite being mostly about exploring a setting, it never resorts to the shortcut of heavy-handedness. And I am not talking only about its complex and actually... "human" characters, but also about the direction and cinematography, that take their time and know when to make emotions simmer. This also translates to the very characteristic art-style that despite being quite rough and stylised also has a certain softness to it, which is supported by the muted and "autumnal" colour palette. Additionally, I find quite remarkable how Abe's visual style can smoothly transition from the sweetly melancholic to the dark and creepy in a matter of seconds without ever feeling dissonant. This makes it quite appropriate for this series, especially in the last couple of episodes, which delve in the darkest depth of the setting and characters.

There is a lot to like Haibane Renmei for, especially as it exists in a medium populated by so many series that over explain every single plot point and that rely on very heavy-handed characterization to convey their themes. In this context Haibane Renmei's delicate and intimate approach to storytelling shines even more, making it an extremely recommended watch, despite some uncertainties in how it handles its themes.