Review of Haibane Renmei

What is the meaning of ones existence? 
What does it mean to be human - or in this case, a Haibane? 

It’s a short anime which manage to touch the very deep rooted philosophical questions of human existens - the meaning of life. It’s story told much like a slice of life - but much like a pendulum swing, it goes from being very bright and beautiful to very melancholy and sad. All too very similar to our own life as humans. During the short period of time we get to involve ourself in what it means to be a Haibane - a being who haslost all memory of previous life and now has to stay in a town closed of from the world surrounded with high walls - much like a closed cage. They have strict rules and guidelines and are to live separated from the humans of the town. Their existence come to the world thought an egg and after waking up from a dream which bears deeper meaning to their individuality. This dream - will stay as keystone for the show to grow and explain further on the meaning behind the cast and much like a family they love and fight among themself.



This anime is very special in this regard that - all of these philosophical questions and very underlying, hidden beneath the shows characters laughter and suffering. The show is tainted with symbolism everywhere and - the more you spend on thinking of the meaning behind things, the more you are blessed with the beauty of the show. 



This was my 2nd viewing and- I still pounder the questions of humans existens. What matter is that we as humans have to find our own meaning, find our own set of tools to paint on the blank canvas we are given. Cause that’s the only thing we can do since death is unavoidable. The Haibane has to face the same reasoning as I just did- to find value in life by themself.