Interpreting Haibane Renmei

Although it came out in 2002, I only recently got a chance to watch Haibane Renmei…

What I found interesting about Haibane Renmei is that, throughout the series, the same question is forever lingering in our minds (and Rakka’s too); what are the Haibane? The first clue we get to answering this question comes in episode 5, with the unreadable book entitled “The Beginning of the World,” as well as the book that Nemu shows Rakka describing a made-up version of the origins of the Haibane. According to this version, the Haibane were the first beings that God created in his own image. But, when their imperfection became evident, they were cast aside and isolated to make way for the more perfect humans. Although this was clearly speculation on the part of the characters, who themselves don’t know what the Haibane are, I thought it might have been an attempt by the creators to indirectly tell the audience that this is indeed what the Haibane are.

However, with the ending of the series, a different, more likely theory about the Haibane comes up. Also, the way in which Haibane Renmei’s final episode plays out is a prime example of the differences between anime and most American TV shows and movies. By the end of the series, do we finally get the answer to the question we were craving since episode 1, namely “what are the Haibane?” Much to my surprise, the series ends not with startling answers to this question, but instead, it focuses on the inner conflict and subsequent resolution of one of the characters, Reki. After Rakka is able to help Reki overcome her inner demons, Reki’s Day of Flight comes, and after she’s gone, the series ends with the rest of the Haibane continuing life as usual, still without fully comprehending what they are. We do get one vital clue within Reki’s past: her dream of being run over by a train is evidence that perhaps the Haibane were humans who committed suicide in their previous life, and are reborn as amnesiac Haibane in order to achieve a certain inner strength and overcome insecurities they had in their previous life (some extreme cases become Sin-Bound) before taking their Day of Flight into heaven. Rakka’s fuzzy memories of a previous life, as well as the person she once knew coming back to her as a bird, are more evidence. But still, by the end of the final episode, we still do not get any clear-cut answers.

If an American TV show ended like Haibane Renmei, with the initiation and growth of one character rather than giving all the answers and perfectly wrapping up the plot, viewers would be outraged. But as many of us know, anime has a different function than American shows, as I discussed in a previous post.

With the ending of the series, I have some idea of the message that Haibane Renmei is trying to give: it’s okay to live quite well without knowing all the answers. Just as Rakka and the other Haibane don’t know what they are, most people in real life have many unanswerable questions about the world and themselves. But in spite of this they, and we, can still live on and do good, just like Rakka’s decision to save Reki and become caretaker in her place. Living your life to the fullest and helping others is more important than knowing all the answers. In general, Haibane Renmei is an anime that leaves a lot open to viewer interpretation =)