Audience reviews
20 · Sample from the first available page, separate from the total number of ratings.
Guthem
Haibane is well-crafted, and has a surprising ending. Yes, it does.
The facts are presented, some context is given, but then other statements emerge, and the previous issue remains unresolved. And this repeats itself. And repeats itself.
Trying to talk about this anime is talking about a dense story, which develops slowly. Knowing this, you choose whether or not to watch it.
MasI recommend you watch it; it will reward you in the end. This anime won't change your outlook on life, But if you think about it, there are many hidden details. Congratulations to the author.
As for details, they'll be presented later, so the beginning is about you getting to know the characters.
Regarding the characters, they are introduced in a certain order, with some being highlighted, and one character standin…
Read at the sourcebmzbmz
This anime is great at worldbuilding, with its unique setting which may be expected to be mundane but is actually really captivating. It is mysterious throughout making it interesting and similar to lain in the fact it can be slow (which some may not enjoy) until the last few episodes, it is worth watching it through if you don't mind this but some viewers may find this boring and that is fair!
The main characters in Haibane Renmei are well written with the protagonist Rakka undergoing a rollercoaster of emotions throughout the show and is equally confused as the viewer at times, with Reki being an all round great character perhaps even better than Rakka. But the story does tend to focus on these more heavily and this issue does apply to some other parts of the show where it feels like a…
Read at the sourceActimelizateya
Potential. Potential is the word that really defines this story. Unfulfilled one, and that’s just a shame. The capital sin of the series is the use of nebulous symbolism that ends up confusing the narrative, as it leaves too many open-ended questions. With what information we have, it is impossible to come to our own conclusions. It is a story that is very close to being excellent, but ends up falling short.
I will start with the parts that are not plot related and finish with real problem (the plot)
The visual department is cute. It has that early 2000s simple but effective look that makes it feel timeless. Some scenes, though, feel like they received a lot less detail than others but it does not affect the series negatively.
The music is very good, probably the best aspect, as it helps…
Read at the sourceleaveb2alone
[EN/PT-BR]
[EN]
Haibane Renmei is a complete mystery from beginning to end, with no clear answers; it's up to the viewer to decipher the work.
Haibane Renmei is an anime set in Glie—a walled city that houses both humans and Haibane, beings that resemble angels—. The plot revolves around Rakka, the newborn Haibane who arrived in Glie from a cocoon and is now trying to adapt to the new world and the daily life of the Haibane.
Although Haibane Renmei falls into the mystery category, it follows the category toas literally and presents only mysteries in its plot. I don't dislike anime like this; works like Serial Experiments Lain and Neon Genesis Evangelion have mysteries in their plots that are never fully answered and are left for the audience to interpret in their own way. Consider Haiba…
Read at the sourceTGFGG
Amazing, but not for everyone.
Haibane Renmei is a somber, melancholic show with a lot of emphasis put on its subtle themes. By making its themes subtle, it invites readers to reflect on them in their own lives. This makes Haibane Renmei feel like a nostalgic children’s storybook with important lessons.
This also explains why most of the bad reviews are from shonen fans. They hate how the story is slow, how it leaves tons to interpretation, and how it has a subtle portrayal of characters (Haibane Renmei doesn’t have “exposition characters” that tell the audience EXACTLY what’s going on, like many shonen do). And that’s fine; this show isn’t for everyone.
But for those who enjoy thinking about a show, Haibane Renmei is amazing. The dialogue, characters, religious (especially the overt…
Read at the sourcekylieqnn
So tender and delicate. The visual presentation is really unique. I love the uniqueness of the renmei and their mystical symbolism, the colors, the quiet but beautiful styling. It fits the story so well.
The visual trope of them as little angels is an instant grab, but the way it's actually implemented really cemented this as a great work for me. Angels are thought of as powerful, otherworldly beings who bestow blessings and salvation. Yet here, our little haibane are humble, lost, and suffering- the first episode we see Rakka getting her wings, and it is so visceral and intimate, the pain is so human. I watched this while I deal with an unknown ailment, and it brought me to tears the way she talks about her body and the sensations.
it definitely isn't a perfect masterpiece, the writin…
Read at the sourceBrollamarzolla
This anime is genuinely moving. It handles very dark themes with unexpected grace, and if you can identify with the struggles of Rakka and Reki, you will greatly appreciate its messages. It's one of those pieces of art that, if discovered at the right moment in your life, will leave a permanent mark.
I stopped giving numerical scores to the anime I watched some time ago, because I could never craft a real standard for myself to follow, and anyway I mostly use Myanimelist as a personal archive. In this case though, I felt compelled to write a review, especially after seeing some of the more negative ones.
Let's start with the more technical aspects.
The animation is sometimes sub-par, especially around the beginning of the second half, but the very strong sense of style of the characte…
Read at the sourceLunaPKL
While there were interesting themes covered through the story and the world-building is decent, there either wasn't enough time or the pacing didn't give me enough time to care about anyone besides Raka (MC). I came in expecting a haunting psychological horror, when really the first half is slice of life and the last half makes you cry and/or scared. The horror doesn't come from a big monster, but the internal feelings and expectations life forces you face. The animation wasn't anything special, with only a few scenes being visually interesting. The opening and ending songs are fineee. The dub was fineeee. This was just a fineee anime, nothing awful, and a few interesting bits. If you want a chill mid anime, this is it. If you want something that explores the themes in depth, super scary o…
Read at the sourceSmolBunniBoi
The word "transitionary" comes to mind when I think about the world-building present in this show. I had a great time watching it, it's slower pacing made the characters easier to get invest in with just 13 episodes. The themes imply some dark undertones but it goes perfectly in-line with the overall theme of forgiveness and being free. Certainly had me tearing up near the end and I deeply enjoyed both protagonists as I relate to them on a deeply personal level. The existential elements present in the show were presented in a slower and more gentle way than most shows that I've seen with themes like this which add more gravity to their meaning.
9/10 If you got an afternoon it's worth the watch!
Read at the sourcedababycounty1
felt like watching one piece with how many questions werent answered
lwk felt like watching kingdom s1 with the quality but good stuff for 2002 nice vibe but thought the show was gonna be deeper than this ngl
kinda scary vibe tho hollup. i dig it
first episodes were good but lwk fell off in the middle and they kinda forgot about everyone except raka and reka (?)
thought it would be like psychological and make me think things but the only thing it made me think was what are we even doing. how you gonna introduce some cool ass plot and then not even elaborate ?? i still dont know anything about the walls
Read at the sourceNo_Durian_6987
I have about 35 minutes to try to unpack this symbolic, emotional, complex piece of work before my lunch break is over. Is that making the most of my time on Earth? Maybe not, but it's something.
Haibane Renmei is a show that presents more questions than answers. The Haibane are vaguely angel-like beings who are born from cocoons (either as children or adults), possess no memory of who they are or their lives before (re)birth, are named after their dreams in utero, are confined to a closed-off town and are subject to a very particular set of rules: no going near the walls surrounding their town; no using money to purchase their secondhand clothing or really anything else - everything's kept track in a personal book; no speaking to the Haibane Renmei - a mysterious and masked group who see…
Read at the sourceSph1nxy
''I wish the day after today was today. And the next day, and the next day, too. I wish it was always today.''
I think about this every single day. Time really does fly.
Haibane Renmei is touching, intriguing; so many questions, unanswered; we are left to fill in the gaps; it's mysterious. Its slow pace is what makes it even more beautiful.
I watched it during the changing of the seasons, just as in the anime, when the warmth faded into cold. I found myself, like Rakka, slowly sinking into a quiet stillness.
I, too, have just found the one job I need to do. Like the Haibane, we all must work. They embrace their work with calm acceptance, and even Rakka found a job that felt meaningful, a way to be useful without feeling miserable. Will I find mine as well?
What will happen to the Hai…
Read at the sourceDontTouchMe777
It's hard to think of any anime that's had a bigger emotional impact on me.
I watched Haibane renmei when I was very young, around the time I made this account. I didn't think much of it at first, perhaps because I didn't see myself in the characters, or because I didn't see how they reflected real relationships with real people.
When I say see myself in these characters, I don't mean that I'm self-inserting in the story, I mean they're relatable, they feel real.
Every story beat, every moment with every character, they're not some moe anime archetype, they're not some over the top fantasy kawaii. They're people learning to deal with grief and ego, like everyone else. Overall, it's a 10/10. hard to deny it has flaws but Haibane renmei makes up for the flaws in what it does right.
Read at the sourceAquilarius
I was not sure what to expect from this anime before starting to watch it. I had never heard someone mention it before, not in a video or irl, I just saw it in my MAL recommendations and thought:"huh, that looks interesting". But I am very happy with what I got.
What immediately caught my eye was the art style. The anime has a style that is in a way comforting and simple. There are no overexagerated visuals or insane animation techniques, because this show doesn´t need them to keep your attention.
The thing about this show that kept making me want to watch the next episode was the mystery that surrounds it´s setting. We get thrown into this world and know nothing about it, but unlike other shows there isn´t a massive lore dump where a side character tells the main, and us, everything th…
Read at the sourcesillyfunnybug
Haibane Renmei is an example of amazing worldbuilding taking place in a setting that looks similar to what we're familiar with, but still unique in mysterious in so many cool ways. the pacing was so perfect, revealing little hints about what is going on in the first episodes, and then more comes flooding at you in the second half. i think it left the perfect amount of stuff left unknown.
the characters are all believable and behave in realistic ways for the most part. you become so attached to them so fast. i cried so much!!!
the opening/ending songs and the ost are all so beautiful and powerful. and the art is so charming, and the designs are cool and unique. and the story is satisfying til the end, and sums up nice and good.
such a good watch. and it's so short!! watch it!
Read at the sourceStrangestPotato
(excuse any mistakes made for my english isn's really all that)
This has to be the most creative anime i have scene by a landslide. It is one of those gems you come across by accident trying to look for something completely different.
This anime follows a girl who is born, with a pair of "charcoal grey" wings, into what we could consider afterlife in this universe. As she gradually acclimatises to this new world, she tries to understand the meaning of the dream she saw before she was born into this world. Assuming that the dream she saw is related in someway to her earlier life she must decide wether or not she is a "sinner". The idea of a sinner here seems to be different from the conventional idea of a sinner, in a more whimsical manner. The theme doesn't remain static, though, as it al…
Read at the sourceArticaArtica
An atmospheric and melancholic gem. Like all anime I watch, I seek to learn perspectives beyond my reach; and this delivers... A poetic reflection on finding peace in cycles we don't understand. Don't look for action, but for emotional depth and serene beauty. I really like the realistic design, both in the environment and the clothing. I recommend being as immersed as possible in the experience, watch it as if you were truly there. Please don't rush or have short attention span hyperactivity while watching anime, it's a relaxing journey, and there's nothing wrong with that. I give it a solid 9 because it contributes to my soul. Haibane Renmei HAS a message. It does. And it's very important for life.
Read at the sourceMidniteAndBeyond
This is my favorite of Yoshitoshi ABe's works, without question. He's known for being attached to very complex, often hard to understand stories that require you to theorize and piece together the symbolism of each episode long after you've finished it. This one definitely has its air of mystery as well, but it isn't as abstract as Lain or Texhnolyze in which I literally had zero clue what was going on. But at the same time, it doesn't spell everything out for you either and you'll be left to think about what it all meant, even after finishing the show. Not every question gets answered, but a conclusion can be found if you take time to think about it or go the extra mile to look into what inspired this story. It may not be the answers you were hoping for, but they're answers, nonetheless.…
Read at the sourceRacistCat
Haibane Renmei, is in my opinion the best show I have ever watched. I'm not even exactly sure for what reason, but something about this show really resonates with me. Everything from the atmosphere, to the art style, the music, the pacing, its all great. All packed into 13 episodes. The writing is well done. There's never one of those scenes where the writers cheap out and just have a character thinking in their head spelling out whats happening for you. There's never any unnatural scenes where they dump a ton of information on you because they couldn't be bothered to write it into the story. It's like you're right there with Rakka(the main character), learning along side her. You are just as clueless as she is, until she learns something naturally through her character progression. The sh…
Read at the sourceChrisDC
Notice: This show is labelled as "Mixed Feelings" due to its lack of a traditional plot, over-focus on dialogue, lack of action and missing narrative threats such as villains or world-ending events that must be dealt with.
These factors may turn off the average anime watcher, so you've been warned beforehand. That being said, let the review begin!
Atmosphere & Setting:
If I had to use one word to describe the feeling of the atmosphere and world, it would be sublime.
Haibane Renmei takes place in what looks to be a fantasy 19th-ish-century European-looking village surrounded by massive walls, where the main cast of Haibane (The angel-looking characters) exist alongside the humans. They live in an abandoned building called Old Home, take up charity work, and live without the use of money i…
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