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Title: Haibane Renmei
Genre: Drama
Company:Triangle Stuff/Pioneer
Format:13 episodes
Year:2002
It's a dream...I'm falling. These thoughts flow through Rakka's mind as she finds herself devoid of all her memories, falling mysteriously into a world she has never seen. She arrives on the planet, |
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"Even I need to light up now and then"
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surrounded by a cucoon, she is no longer human but instead a Haibane. She breaks free from her enclosement and is accepted into the world by a fellow Haibane and one thread of her future, Reki.
Dawning upon herself a pair of wings and a halo, Rakka is soon exploring the new reality of her self. - summary by Otaku Alex
Otaku Alex
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Plot
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C. Development
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Music
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Animation
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Premise
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Mean
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10
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10
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10
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10
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10
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10+
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I don't even know where to begin. From its classy stylish old-air appeal to its daring themes of fulfillment and abandonment, and finally to its flawless perfectly paced plot, this is truly the best animé ever made. Every episode
made me regard myself and my own life, analyze my own actions and my most intrinsic and personal needs. As you watch Haibane Renmei, you will draw paralells to your own experiances and hardships, and may even find yourself driven to change yourself for the better. In the words of As Good as it Gets, this animé
,
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"Hurry...must...get...tampons"
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"makes me want to be a better man."
One of the most unique fatures of this animé is its ability to appeal to almost any audience. Whether you love animé, or you detest all mass media, every person in the world will be able to find something in common with the charismatic
cast of characters. You will be able to generalize personality types within the cast and see how they play off eachother, much like in your own personal life. Yet, I sense it is enough for my own personal praises and that I must begin to review its quality, not just describe it.
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Both the plot and Character Development are textbook in their perfection. The original story draws you in from episode 1 and engulfs you within the universally believeabe world of the Haibanes. Each episode progresses the story, allowing for personalities
to converge and reflect. It is important, though, to realize that this is not a situational animé, and thus each episode does not have a conflict-resolution like structure. Instead, it can be said that episodes are relative climaxes that serve either to add an important element into the world, or to
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"I don't think the halo hat will catch-on"
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further individual and interpersonal relationships. On that note, the greatest asset of this animé is its amazing capacity to reveal Charcters as multi-dementional beings with complex past and present, rather than obstinate and stagnant
bodies to play off one another. The story is also reveled in such a believable and gradual manner, that this animé has found the perfect balance between anticipation and boredom.
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The quality of the music and animation in this animé go without question. The soundtrack accentuates the mood perfectly with songs such as Refrain of Memory, and Ailes Grises, both of which are within my top-ten for animé music. Anyone who has seen the series will tell you that the animation is superb. The haziness of
the atmosphere added to the specific use of dull greytones and cool coloring all add to the effect of the video, creating a sense of thoughtful introspection as well as depression and difficulty (all three of which are readily present).
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"I shall now leach off your kindness HA!"
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I have rarely seen an animé handle its premise quite as skillfully as Haibane Renmei. Plot points and background info are only presented when needed and effective to highlight events of the present, and yet, upon the completion of the animé, one has a full sense of the character
backgrounds and the forces motivating them. It is both rewarding and relieving to see all loose ends tied up at the conclusion (something that is lacking from all too many animés).
Surely all of us have faced abandonment and isolation in our lives, we have feared the unknown and have wanted to cry out for help. Are we truly dependant on those closest to us; if we cry out, will they come.
It is these painful psycological questions that Haibane Renmei wishes to answer...in style. There is a bit of wisdom for every person to find within Haibane Renmei, no matter age or disposition.
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