From the same producer of Serial Experiments Lain, I respect how unique this was.
Unfortunately, as intriguing as the beginning feels, and ultimately the concepts are, the plots to deliver its message in the end are a bit dull. 6/10.
Girls with angel wings are incredibly cute and charming with the attraction of their wings alone and how they live with them,
but even though there's a decent amount of number to the cast, the only most sophisticated characters are arguably 2-4.
The main protagonist, Rakka, for being the focus of narration as one who questions the world.
And Reki for being the focus of the negative contrast to the meaning of Haibane. One who's suffering in hidden solitude to guilt.
Then, there's arguably, Kuu who's the first we meet to pass on, as she gained fulfillment to herself.
Finally, there's the Interpreter who's the most knowledgeable as the guide to the Haibane.
The other characters have very little personality or plots at all to their story.
There's the sleepy librarian who was a scared brat to Reki, Nemu.
Kuu, the youngest of the teenagers who's childish, curious and playful.
Hikari, the baker who is the cause of Rakka's static hair for using the halo box as a donut maker in the oven. She's kinda forgettable in the end.
Kana, the tomboy who enjoys mechanics, works at fixing clocks. I love her though.
Hyouko, a weird guy who helped Reki when she was depressed and I guess got struck by lightning when sticking a rod in the wall which almost killed him.
Followed by his jealous wannabe girlfriend Midori, the tsundere who doesn't forgive Reki, until she does in the end.
The mysterious world is very intriguing, but fails in the end for some remaining unknown answers, to end with a dull finale.
Suicidal reincarnations, being reborn as "angels", living in a secluded town, to then fly to heaven once they've forgiven or found fulfillment is great.
It's just odd how they're also humans in the town, with a wall surrounding, this between life and death world.
Who seemingly live there and aren't dead or reborn like the Haibane, I guess.
The first half of the series is Rakka trying out her group's jobs, to figure out which jobs she wants.
Since in this world, they have to serve like citizens, and are forbidden to go near or past the wall.
Even though they only can after their day of flight, which isn't revealed at first, thus giving the false impression that it was completely forbidden.
All the known knowledge is from the Haibane Communicator.
He's from an odd group with strict cult religious monk kind rules where they're the only ones who can step in and out of the town. He is the only one who can speak to them when he gives them permission, but his men aren't allowed to speak to them. Only he.
Only he knows the truths.
Which only Reki knows a lot, for being cared by him as a sinbound with partial black wings.
Until near the end due to figuring things out on her own, Rakka learns new things herself which he reveals to her whenever she realizes them.
Throughout the story, after Kuu flies away, Rakka becomes depressed.
She's barely met her for only a few days, but as a friend, she wanted to do more with her, and formed a strong connection as her "junior" in their short time. Some people are more sensitive to bonds.
Meanwhile, Rakka recalls her dream.
Of falling through the sky. Death by falling.
Not suicide, like I thought, I guess, because she's not fully sinbound, only somewhat in some point because she feels guilt of dying early, I guess.
Until she recalls her loved one, whoever they are, family, lover, friend, reincarnated as a crow, trying to save her, yet dying in the town later, as a crow.
Somehow, it's impossible to meet your past relationships, as the Communicator claims. I think because they're not of the living since they died.
Anyway. Rakka becomes depressed after Kuu's departure, so she develops partial black wings.
Reki helps her. Reki's own story is then slowly revealed.
She's lived here for 7 years, and for all that time, she's felt betrayed and alone, because all of them pass on eventually.
The first one who cared for her while everyone else feared her was Kuramori, but she, I guess obviously passed on as well.
Reki doesn't remember her dream clearly. Until the finale we see her painting come to life, with her false wish to die into Hell, hit by a train from suicide, once more.
Until she calls for Rakka, who saves her. Finally she asked for help, and someone did. Now not feeling alone, she's not sinbound anymore, and can move on herself in the end.
That's all fairly good, but not great.
The first half is a little boring. Hyouko and Midori are weird, and Rakka works while she's contemplating how to save Reki.
Reki's truth is very underwhelming from its delivery.
Rakka gives her the impression of her true name,
Which the inside of the walls has every Haibane's true name, because they're first reborn with a name of their dream, and then have their name evolved to their perseverance of their original name, which Rakka learns from Kuu's name by the Communicator.
Which is the whole misdirection cause of Reki's depression, until Rakka saves her.
To then, simply be saved by one person after 7 years, and... finally move on.
It's all very good on paper, but the plots and methods, along with the pacing and lackluster supporting characters and overall lacking better plots... disappointing.
Still interesting in the end, but I expected and hoped for better from its potential in the beginning.
There were some amazing scenes though.
Particularly Rakka's wings unleashing, and any moment she cried for herself or other, I had tears almost everytime.
I kinda enjoyed it all, but it's still a little disappointing how dull it was overall. |