Short Review: Hanbane Renmei
Jul. 15th, 2007 06:43 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
jeriendhalSummary: A young girl who will shortly be named Rakka finds herself falling headfirst through the sky towards a great walled city. A crow attempts to save her, but is forced to leave her to her fate. She awakens from this dream to find herself instead floating in a large coccoon, which she breaks out of to find herself part of the Habane Renmei, literally "Charcoal Feather Society". All of whom have small wings with charcoal feathers growing out of their backs and artificial halos floating over their heads.
Why they were born in this manner, why they must serve the people of the city, are allowed nothing new to wear or own, are forbidden from leaving, yet are beloved by the city's citizens all the same, is a mystery. All they know is that one day they will all have a chance at their "Day of Flight", the time when they pass out from the city's walls, leaving their halos behind.
Review: This show is why Japanese animation attracts so much attention from the West. I'm trying to imagine anything like this short series being produced in the United States, and I can only shake my head. There's practically no action at all in HR. Mostly its focus is on Rakka learning the unusual Haibane customs and finding her place in the world. Visually speaking its gorgeous. The city itself feels old, in the manner of the Japanese notion of "The Europe of Dreams". The walls are moss covered, the bricks are stained, and the tiles are a bit chipped, but it all comes together into a warm, welcoming whole. The most modern device in the series in a Vespa motor scooter. Everything else could be from the 40's or earlier (though one rebellious young Haibane does go about on a skateboard and wears a hoody)
Actually, what the series mostly resembles is the computer game MYST. Except the puzzles are philosophical, not mechanical. And the people, even the mysterious Haibane, are certainly more human.
Why they were born in this manner, why they must serve the people of the city, are allowed nothing new to wear or own, are forbidden from leaving, yet are beloved by the city's citizens all the same, is a mystery. All they know is that one day they will all have a chance at their "Day of Flight", the time when they pass out from the city's walls, leaving their halos behind.
Review: This show is why Japanese animation attracts so much attention from the West. I'm trying to imagine anything like this short series being produced in the United States, and I can only shake my head. There's practically no action at all in HR. Mostly its focus is on Rakka learning the unusual Haibane customs and finding her place in the world. Visually speaking its gorgeous. The city itself feels old, in the manner of the Japanese notion of "The Europe of Dreams". The walls are moss covered, the bricks are stained, and the tiles are a bit chipped, but it all comes together into a warm, welcoming whole. The most modern device in the series in a Vespa motor scooter. Everything else could be from the 40's or earlier (though one rebellious young Haibane does go about on a skateboard and wears a hoody)
Actually, what the series mostly resembles is the computer game MYST. Except the puzzles are philosophical, not mechanical. And the people, even the mysterious Haibane, are certainly more human.
