Haibane Renmei Volume 2

The shy and obedient Rakka is gradually settling into her new life as a newborn haibane in the picturesque town of Glie. In this, the second volume, she finds herself working in the town’s local library whilst trying to learn more about her new life and surroundings. A little more is revealed about her friend and confidante Reki and she learns about the mysterious moment of a haibane’s life known as the Day of Flight. The day spent with Nemu in the library yields some interesting theories and discussion and we learn that it is not only Old Home that is a haven for these strange and mysterious beings.

The subtitle of this disc, Wings of Sorrow, indicates straight away that it has a more melancholy atmosphere than the first; the introductions to the main characters have been made and the emphasis has shifted towards bittersweet and quite powerful drama. Without giving away too much, the Day of Flight, occurring with the backdrop of an ominous thunderstorm, is especially moving and demonstrates with eloquence and restraint the various ways in which individuals cope with the disappearance of one of their own. The exchange between Rakka and Reki in the seventh episode is especially insightful, revealing more about Reki’s life as a Haibane and the nature of their community in general. Personally, Reki is becoming the most interesting character of all, not only because of her own life and personality but because she seems to have a few answers to the questions that Rakka has about her own existence.

The philosophical themes are gradually getting more pronounced, and the whole atmosphere is taking on a slightly darker tone with Rakka’s loss being genuinely touching. Despite this, the serene rural setting and breathtaking animation appear somehow comforting and whether it’s in the idyllic town of Glie itself or the tumbledown cosiness of Old Home, life goes on. The plot continues to unfold at its own pace so there are still many countless questions have yet to be answered, but in all honesty I really don’t mind. It is a strangely compelling experience to learn about the town and the Haibane through Rakka’s eyes and experience the events that take place as she experiences them.

In Summary

Haibane Renmei is quickly becoming one of my all-time favourite series. Although the meaning behind the strange journey that Rakka has embarked on shows no signs of becoming clear, just enough details are being explained to keep the viewer’s interest while keeping the core of the story veiled in mystery. The characters, music and visuals are such that the sedate pace is more or less irrelevant and makes every moment of it an absolute gem.