Review of Haibane Renmei

I remember reading that this was one of those anime full of symbolisms and all I could think was, “Oh my god, this is gonna be one of those 3deep5me anime, isn’t it?” But I’m so glad (and grateful) to have taken that leap of faith. It wouldn’t really be an exaggeration to say this anime has touched my soul either with all its themes of existentialism, redemption, and just discovering if we are worth more than our sins and shortcomings. In spite of it not being as trippy as something like Serial Experiments Lain, Haibane Renmei still offers an abundance of symbolic imagery discussing theaforementioned themes of existentialism, but never really offering a concrete answer. The characters look like angels, but no religious undertones are ever inserted, and yet ideas like faith and forgiveness are discussed nonetheless. There’s also a melancholic vibe throughout the plot and its characters, but like many things in the anime (including the character backstories), it is subtly implied and requires the audience to probe deeper on their own. And in doing so while journeying with these guiding angels, you might perhaps rediscover something about yourself and your purpose in life.

For myself, Rakka and (especially) Reki’s journeys in the anime resonated with my experiences battling my anxieties about existential nihilism, questioning my purpose and usefulness in this world. As mentioned, Haibane Renmei does not offer a real answer, but much like a prayer, it’s a very tranquil anime that offers comfort for whatever darkness residing in your heart.

I’m trying to keep this short review as vague as possible because this anime is a journey you best explore on your own. It helps that the protagonist, Rakka, starts out as one of those characters who are ignorant of the world in the anime, so you’ll be traveling alongside her on equal footing, learning new plot information as she does.