CAA: Christian Anime Alliance

So I finally managed to buy the Haibane-Renmei boxset yesterday using the coupon I got in the e-mail from Borders.Since it was 40% off of any
DVD boxset that meant I only had to pay $80 instead of the $120+ tax
it would have normally have been.
The price is the only reason I haven't bought it before.Other than that
I was always interested in adding it to my collection.It's one of those shows that I have wanted to see in a long while.
Main reason is because it is done by the creator of Serial Experiments Lain which is my #6 favorite anime of all time(one above Cowbooy Bebop).
One of the extras that the first DVD came with was a booklet that told a bit about the anime and how it came to be and also something about the basics of the world of Haibane-Renmei and the main characters.
I plan on starting with ep.1 tommorrow.

That booklet is one of the best extras ever put into a DVD. I love it.

Suggestions for watching Haibane Renmei:

1. Watch it in the original Japanese (with subtitles if needed, of course). Although many people swear by the dub, I felt that the dub didn't do the sub justice. There are a lot of intonations that are very important...

2. This has to be one of the tightest anime series ever written. Almost every spoken line or image has a deeper meaning... often understood better in the second viewing, rather than the first.

3. Like SE Lain, this series develops slowly. Be patient. Things will begin to take off when you least expect them to... and again, there isn't a throwaway line in the whole thing.

4. The music is wonderful -- consider headphones if you dare.

5. Keep an open mind... Yoshitoshi ABe may not be a Christian, but from this series, you wouldn't be able to tell...

Enjoy!!

Wow, that's a pretty steep price considering you could have gotten all 4 volumes at RightStuf for $36.00. Was the booklet and box really worth the extra $40.00?

That's weird ... it's not listed as a special either. I wonder why the price is so low...

ClosetOtaku wrote:3. Like SE Lain, this series develops slowly. Be patient. Things will begin to take off when you least expect them to... and again, there isn't a throwaway line in the whole thing.

Totally agree. This anime, like the video game ICO, is not for everyone. If you find philosophical, slow stuff boring, then I'm afraid you might find this a waste of money. I, for one, love it thoroughly (it comes second only to FMA in my mind). Many things will be much more understandable a second time through, so I'd definitely recommend watching it more than once to catch nuances and such. Also, once you've finished the series, the wikipedia article on it is quite an interesting read

Ok to backtrack some.It was a one time 40% off coupon on ANY DVD boxset at Borders.The offer was for only Monday and Tuesday.
The normal price was $119.99.
Interesting I also saw the uncut version of Naruto when I was there.

I didn't like it:I LOVED it.This was one of the best animes I have seen.
What surprised me though was Reki.I really liked Reki from the start.
I think her cigarette smoking kinda makes her seem to be a different type of person from what she really is.She's really sweet.

mitsuki lover wrote:What surprised me though was Reki.I really liked Reki from the start. I think her cigarette smoking kinda makes her seem to be a different type of person from what she really is.She's really sweet.

Reki is the anti-hero, the person who goes about everything the "wrong" way, setting in motion the events for the story. Her smoking is indicative of her self-destructive behavior. She is sweet and caring, but her fear and anger frequently rise to choke her from enjoying what life she has.

A couple links to check out:

The Haibane Renmei doujin collection. The first two doujin cover the first episode and a half. The real gem is the "Extra Edition", that covers a critical portion of young Reki's life.

Sekai no Hajimari, with the Old Home Bulletin Board. Probably the best discussion on the web of Haibane Renmei.

Finally, right here at CAA, see SP1's Haibane Renmei Curriculum, a series of bible studies based on HR.

Glad you enjoyed the series!!

I loved this series. I really made me cry when I understood the meaning behind it all. Definately something I will always love.

I still need to buy the second and 3rd dvds though

There are four DVDs in all.

I...started and then stopped at episode 5. I'm not sure why I stopped half way through but I really loved what I saw.

I need to rent the other DVD's from Netflix.

What is so amazing about it is that the producer of the anime decided to
animate it after only reading the first two chapters of the manga it was based on.

Any way I found a personality quiz at,I believe,Quizilla and came out as
Hikaru:

mitsuki lover wrote:Any way I found a personality quiz at,I believe,Quizilla and came out as
Hikaru:

This means, of course, you are impulsive, fond of experimentation regardless of the consequences, and suck your thumb at night when you sleep.

mitsuki lover wrote:Any way I found a personality quiz at,I believe,Quizilla and came out as
Hikaru

If possible, could you give the link to the quiz?