CAA: Christian Anime Alliance

anyone seen it, ive seen 3 episode so far and it seams pretty cool, i think what draws me to it besides its great art is its totally a mystery, i mean even the charcters in the show dont really know whats going on, at least so far. caint wait too see more. by the way i found out about from megatokyo.

Oh yes, this one is near the top of my list in "must see new animes". I love the animation style, and the concept seems really intriguing. I'm hoping to check it out soon. Shinja, did you see Fred's artwork of his own Haibane? And what did you think of the characters on the anime? Is the character development deep and involved?

Spiritsword wrote:Oh yes, this one is near the top of my list in "must see new animes". I love the animation style, and the concept seems really intriguing. I'm hoping to check it out soon. Shinja, did you see Fred's artwork of his own Haibane? And what did you think of the characters on the anime? Is the character development deep and involved?

no havent seen freds haibane yet must go look for that now, yeah the characters are pretty deep, infact most of the story as much as i have seen deals entirely with the characters and the world they live in. you keep wanting to watch it because its like a mystery, you want to find out what the haibane are and why thier there.

Sounds awesome! I can't wait to try it. Tell you what, you go check out Fred's artwork of Memai--

http://www.fredart.com/fredart/artpage.php3?src=&ft=sk&fn=109

--I'll go check out the anime (in a couple days), 'kay?

Spiritsword

I just picked it up. I heard about it from megatokyo too. But I didn't know if I was gonna like it, but I figured that If I liked Serial Experiments Lain I was gonna like this one. It's done by Yoshitoshi Abe the guy who did Lain. But I just wanted to get the dvd by itself, again not sure if i was gonna like it. But all I could find was the special box set with the first DVD. Well was I glad I got the box set, It's great one of the best animes I've ever seen! I can't wait for the second DVD too come out! This is a must see!

I watched the first 5 episodes I think... but the pace is too slow, so I lost interest in it.
But I agree about the art, it's great.
It's just not my type of anime

Yea, I forgot to say that it's not for everyone. But If you have a taste for this kinda anime it's a real treat!!

I've seen all 13 episodes of Haibane, and to answer Spiritsword's question, yep, the character development is exceptionally deep. Rakka and Reki have some especially memorable moments. The plotline is very intriguing and never really spelled out for you, making it kind of ambiguous like Abe's Serial Experiments Lain. It's also highly emotional... there were several points where I was crying throughout the series. ^^

Not to mention, this anime has some very deep Christian themes. At times, it almost seemed like an allusion or an analogy to Christianity... I'm planning on watching it again now that it's out on DVD and writing a full-fledged analysis of the story from a Christian viewpoint. Yoshitoshi Abe is a master of symbolism and it shows clearly in this anime. ^_^

Anyway, it's excellent and I think that almost anyone here would enjoy it. Yeah, it's a little slow, especially at first, but it's definitely worth the time it takes to watch. ^__^ (The ending, however, is absolutely heart-pounding material, so it's strange how the pace fluctuates so much.)

Can't wait to get DVD 1 in the mail... ^~

I've read alot on this one. I would really like to see it. Does anyone know where to get a japenese copy?

I would like to see it as well, though I wish it was longer than 13 eps.

Thanks for the synopsis, Nekomi. I didn't realize it was only 13 ep.'s long. That's good because it will make it more affordable, but it's bad because I'll probably end up wanting more. I'd be interested to hear your analysis of Christian themes in Haibane. I know the characters resemble angels, but I wasn't sure how strongly the series reflected Christian ideals. We'll have to discuss it when I get done watching the series.

Spiritsword

welp just finished the sieries and it has now become on of my all time favs. it had a very good ending that summed the sieries well. i do wish it had been longer, but somthings are better kept short and to the point.

Ehh...I read in an interview with Mr. Abe in Animerica and he said he was trying to go against some things of religion...I'm not sure, I'll have to read it again....so when I heard that, I decided I wouldn't buy it, but if it's almost like a Christian anime...then I'll defiently buy it
I'm so confused
As Kenshin would say "Oroo......." *swirly eyes*

well its not a Christian anime, but it does have alot of Christian symbolism. i would go into more but the would spoil the anime and im not very good at explaneing things.

GOOD christian symbolism (Tactics Ogre: Knights of Lodis) or BAD christian symbolism *coughEVA*cough

well its not symbolism in a messed up way like eva( sorry i watched 5 minutes of eva and that was too much) its very well done i think.

I agree. ^__^ The symbolism was very strong and positive. ^_^ As for going against "religion", that's probably true... however, in the show, there is a difference made between religion and faith. "Religion" is defined as an impersonal belief system, where faith is a personal choice following a revelation in one's life. In light of these definitions, ABe does speak against religion and hypocrisy, but I would definitely say he promotes genuine faith. ^_^

What do you guys think? Am I way off base? ^_^;

My brain was starving in the intelectual entertainment department. If this show is anything like lain, I'm going to have to check it out! (I looove Lain!)

*SQUEE!!!!!!!* See my user name! Wheeeeeee!

For laziness sake, I'm going to repost on this board what I posted on another message board... my reivew... my post of happy Haibane Renmei-ness!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I first saw this anime, the first two episodes, at Anime Expo. Got to see it both sub and dub. I recently got a DVD player and I bought the first DVD, which has the first four episodes. Waiting for the rest of the 13 episode series to come out.

I'm in love!

Haibane Renmei... it's so good... It might become as big as my Trigun obession, and that's saying a lot.

It's a sad, beautiful fantasy about angelic like beings who are born into a town where they must live among humans. The town is walled, and no one leaves the town. The Haibane (or "charcoal feathers"/ "ash wings") have no memory of the lives they lived before hatching from their cocoons, though it's implied that they did live somewhere, as humans at some point, beyond the wall.

There is an organization which communicates with traders from the outside world, the Haibane Renmei (Charcoal Feathers Federation). They enforce several rules that the Haibane must follow, and they also protect the Haibane.

I've read spoilers for the rest of the series, but I still can't wait for it to come out. It's just so... "me". It's sad and beautiful, and the visual style... the scenery and tone of the anime - reminds me of looking at Renaissance art. It's just...goregous!

I highly recommend it!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Yes. I NEED to see the rest of this anime... NEEEEEEEEEED!

A friend gave me a copy of a recent issue of "Anime Insider", which contained an interview with the creator. Haibane Renmei is not specifically Christian. The author wanted to not have the Haibane, nor the humans of the town of Glie, to be of any particular religion. He stated, morever, that though not a Christian himself, that he is "not against Christianity".

I, myself, would say that the Christian imagery and symbolism in the anime is definitely of the good variety.

Have you seen his other big anime, "Serial Experiments Lain"? How similar are they?

Yeah... I just saw the first one... That scene with the wings was pretty graphic... Nothing worse than, say, mononoke... Well, actually, it was because it was so focused and so incredibly detailed... It sounds like she's giving birth (or maybe like something we shouldn't be seeing) and it can be embarassing to have her scream playing really loud and people just wonder what's going on... But it was only one event. I really want to see the whole show.

Haibane Renmei is the most wonderful work of anime I have ever seen.....well ok mabye I won't go that far but it's pretty good. It's like one of the first animes I've bought on DVD since I was without A DVD player for so long! I was iffy about getting this one but Piro(or Fred) From Megatokyo said every MT Reader must get Haibane Renmei and since I was buying my first anime DVD's I wanted them to be good one's. So taking A chance I got the speical Edition Box set with the first DVD and two Beautiful Pencil Boards!! But Piro has good taste it was great I fell in Love with the characters (Rakka most of all!) Right away and it pulled my hair and wouldn't let go!!! So I loved it and I'm really, really waiting for the second DVD!! I Think Yoshitoshi ABe Is gonna take the place of Shinchiro Wantanabe as My fav. Anime Director if he keeps this up I loved Lain and HB is one I am really loving. I still haven't seen all of Lain but What I've seen I love!

Nabeshin is your favorite director? Have you seen the last ep of Excel? Or PPP? Nasty stuff... He loves to push buttons, and really has made some offensive stuff...

But he's got a wicked cool afro (hehehehe)

Nabeshin with the Wicked cool afro, yo wrote:Ore wa Nabeshin AFURO ga oniai
Oteire kantan araippa
FUWAFUWA atama ni onna wa ICHIKORO
Otoko wa dare demo furi kaeru

I am Nabeshin, my afro suits me
Easily repairable - Course and Rough
To my light and airy head - Girls once came
Who is the man they turned their heads for?

MOJAMOJA no KURUKURU no
CHIRICHIRI no GUSHAGUSHA de
AFURO ga ichiban

MOJAMOJA no KURUKURU no
CHIRICHIRI no GUSHAGUSHA de
AFURO ga ichiban
MOJAMOJA no KURUKURU no
CHIRICHIRI no GUSHAGUSHA de
DUWA DUWA DUWA DUWA
DUWA DUWA DUWA DUWA DU---

Touseled and wound up and
Frizzly and disheveled
Afros are #1
Touseled and wound up and
Frizzly and disheveled
Doo wa, doo wa, doo wa, doo wa,
Doo wa, doo wa, doo wa, dooooo

(special thanks to stinkin http://www.animelyrics.com)

Ok, I know this isn't goof off, but I couldn't resist... The NABESHIN made me do it!

You Talking To Me Bobtheduck? Well if you are Nabeshin is not my fav. director never even heard of the guy and I haven't seen the last ep of Excel, Or PPP. I haven't even seen those animes. But HB is not Directed by Nabeshin but it's not exaclty directed by ABe either but he created it if you get what I mean by Director and Creator... IF you were not talking to me then forget what I said.

ok, benu, you said "Shinchiro Wantanabe" by which I think you meant "Shinichi Watanabe"

In Japanese word order, that's "Watanabe Shinichi"

Get it? Although it is weird for him to turn ni into n because the two aren't that closely related, but he probably did it from the romaaji... oh, I suppose that it could be "shi-n-i-chi", duh...

Aside from Excel and PPP, he made Galaxy Police (Tenchi GXP) and Gravitation. You probably know Tenchi GXP and not gravitation, because Gravitation has some very strong homosexual themes...

Is galaxy police what your were talking about saying "shinchiro watanabe" was your favorite director?

Shinchiro Wantanabe did cowboy bebop

Shinja wrote:Shinchiro Wantanabe did cowboy bebop

Ah... It's actually shinichiro, that's why his name didn't show up in IMDB... His stuff is pretty, un-Japanese... I mean, Cowboy Bebop and Macross Plus were both very much in the style of an American action movie... And both of these are enjoyed by people who are difinately not anime fans and garnered many fans in the US.

Actually, um... Is this the same director as Excel? Because in his little bio on IMDB it says his nickname is "Nabeshin" which is the nickname for Excel's director (with his afro)

It could be that two directors with very similar names could have the same nickname... ?? Or maybe the info on IMDB was wrong... Excel and PPP were very very Japanese, and were not even close in style to MP and CB... Ok... I'm officially confused... I guess I shouldn't trust IMDB when it comes to anime...

They have the ability to moderate american released movies and sort of with TV shows, but foreign stuff is probably out of their league even for Movie nuts like them...

By the way, you're sig is very threatening... It's like:

"Cast your bread upon the waters" **pulls out gun** "Punk..."

Better

It's only 13 episodes long. That's it. It's over.

I've seen the first 3 discs of Haibane Renmei, and I also think it's an excellent show. I would hesitate to say there's Christian allegorical symbolism versus saying that it upholds Christian themes and principles. As a reminder, an allegory is a literary/film device used the show that one character or idea represents another (i.e. Aslan is Christ according to Lewis; the Ring is maybe representative of sin or Gandalf is essentially an angel, though Tolkien didn't intend to do allegory). As I haven't seen the last disc, there's maybe some things that I am just not aware of, but thus far for me, I would have to say the show mainly upholds Christian ideals/principles rather than having anything that's blatantly allegorical. Alot of people say this is a show where nothing happens or very little happens (thus they tend to turn away from it), but really a lot DOES happen! As we know, you cannot have a story without a conflict. However, alot of people forget that the conflict can take many forms: man (i use "man" generically) vs. monster, man versus idea, man versus natural order (weather/science), but there's also man versus himself (what would be also called "internal conflict") This show is very much about internal conflict and how the characters respond to and are changed by their own confusions, convictions, and beliefs about themselves and the world aroudn them. As a result, they do in fact experience struggle and change, such as with how devastated and eventually determind Rakka becomes after a certain event greatly impacts another character's place in the show. Anyways, just some things to maybe be aware of! All in all, this show is wonderful, and for me personally, very "relaxing"; in other words it doesn't bring with it the suspenseful stress and tension that other shows do. Not that that's a bad thing, but it was a surprising and welcome change of pace with Haibane! Hope any of this helps!