Haibane Renmei
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Episodes (13)
- 1EP 1
Rakka dreams of falling and is born from a cocoon into the Haibane world
Oct 10, 2002A girl dreams of falling through the sky while a crow attempts to save her. She wakes up inside a giant cocoon and emerges to find winged, haloed beings called Haibane. They name her Rakka, as all Haibane lack memories prior to their cocoon birth and are named after their dreams. The group provides Rakka with a newly forged halo that slides off her head and requires temporary strapping. After the others depart for the night, Reki remains to assist Rakka with the painful process of her wings erupting from her back. Rakka falls asleep while Reki cleans the blood from her new feathers.
- 2EP 2
Rakka explores Glie town and learns Haibane Renmei rules near the mysterious Toga traders.
Oct 24, 2002Rakka tours Old Home with new friends, meeting the Young Feathers children. She then visits Glie with most Haibane, excluding Reki, to observe human society. Rakka discovers strict regulations enforced by the Haibane Renmei, including mandatory labor, ownership of only discarded human goods, and a ban on currency. Instead, members track finances in special notebooks. The town and countryside are enclosed by a massive wall, accessible only to traders known as Toga. Communication with these traders is restricted to a masked figure called the Communicator, who uses sign language. Rakka feels uneasy observing the Communicator and crows near the walls. Upon returning to Old Home at night, an exhausted Rakka is found waiting for by Reki, who watches her until she falls asleep.
- 3EP 3
Rakka visits Reki, meets the Communicator, and buys pancakes with Kuu
Nov 7, 2002Rakka discovers Reki is an artist after finding her waking from a nightmare, though Reki refuses to share her work. Rakka then visits the Haibane Renmei temple, where she meets the Communicator and receives approval as a new Haibane. He provides a notebook for purchases and advises her to seek employment. Upon returning to Old Home, Rakka finds Reki working with the Young Feathers. To encourage the children to eat their carrots, Rakka volunteers to buy pancakes from the bakery where Hikari works. Kuu joins her, expressing faith that all Haibane will eventually fly. At the bakery, they learn Hikari used a halo mold in a cooking experiment, which explains the unusual effect Rakka's halo has on her hair.
- 4EP 4
Rakka and Kana handle trash duty, discuss city walls, and visit a clock tower shop in Glie.
Nov 14, 2002Rakka accompanies Kana to explore employment opportunities, starting with morning trash collection and defending against crows. Kana explains that birds are the only creatures capable of flying over the city walls, suggesting they must remain free. They visit a broken clock tower on the Old Home campus before heading to Kana’s workplace, a large clock tower and shop in the center of Glie. Her employer is a strict older man who secretly values her work and worries about her leaving. After cleaning up a mess left by repair workers, the pair visits a balcony that offers the highest view in town, excluding the walls. Upon returning home, Kana receives a set of tools from her boss to repair the Old Home clock tower.
- 5EP 5
Rakka and Nemu explore the library and encounter Hyoko from the Abandoned Factory
Nov 21, 2002Rakka assists Nemu at the library, where they meet Sumika, a pregnant librarian who asks about the experience of birth. Rakka searches for information regarding the world beyond Glie’s walls, but Sumika notes she found no answers either. Nemu reveals she is crafting a gift for Sumika using an old, damaged book titled “The Beginning of the World.” While walking, they observe Reki having a hostile interaction with Hyoko, a Haibane from the Abandoned Factory. Nemu explains that Reki and Hyoko ran away together previously, resulting in a ban from each other’s territories. The following day, Nemu and Rakka complete the rewritten book, filling in missing story gaps and adding details about Haibane origins and Nemu’s personality.
- 6EP 6
Rakka finds her birth room while Kuu departs during a rainstorm
Nov 28, 2002Rakka seeks housing in the dilapidated Old Home, receiving a winter coat from Kuu. She notices Kuu’s flickering halo, and Kana reveals the coat was Kuu’s first self-purchase, noting Kuu’s tendency to imitate older companions with poor results. Rakka locates a room marked on Kuu’s map, feeling an immediate sense of familiarity. Kuu, waiting inside, identifies it as Rakka’s birthplace and thanks her for her influence before leaving. A rainstorm strikes that night, and Kuu disappears. Reki suggests Kuu may have used her Day of Flight to leave the walls. The Haibane don raincoats and search the Western Woods, where they discover Kuu’s halo, now cold and dim.
- 7EP 7
Rakka notices black spots on her wings as winter approaches and Kuu remains absent.
Nov 28, 2002It has been a month since Kuu’s Day of Flight, and with winter approaching, Rakka refuses to believe she will not return. While cleaning Kuu’s room, Rakka discovers sickly black spots appearing on her own wings. Distressed, she visits town for food and meets Hyoko, who is relieved Reki did not disappear, though Rakka remains upset about Kuu. Upon returning to Old Home, more spots emerge, causing Reki to worry. Rakka cries in Kuu’s room as Reki embraces her and provides special medicine from an elderly tree. Reki explains that Haibane who forget their dream in the cocoon become sin-bound, missing their Day of Flight. She reveals she was once sin-bound and haunted by nightmares, struggling to remember her own dream.
- 8EP 8
Rakka hides her wings and confronts her existence after fleeing a store incident
Dec 5, 2002Hikaru provides Rakka with wing covers to protect against the cold atmosphere, but Rakka wears them solely to conceal her wings. Following Reki’s assistance in moving Kuu’s bed, Rakka questions her purpose, prompting Reki to advise self-discovery. The pair joins the Young Feathers for winter shopping. After the owner mentions Haibane bring good luck, a customer attempts to touch Rakka’s wings, causing her to flee. Tripping on the pavement, Rakka loses a cover, which a man returns before she runs into the Western Woods. Guided by crows to an old well, she recalls a dream about her cocoon, feeling both nostalgic and amnesiac regarding the crow she saw within it.
- 9EP 9
Rakka discovers a crow’s meaning, faces a riddle, and falls ill after touching the wall.
Dec 5, 2002Haibane search for Rakka, who realizes the dead crow symbolizes a past-life connection. Toga rescue her from the well but withhold information about Kuu, causing distress. Rakka hears Kuu’s voice behind a cold wall, but the Communicator catches her touching it. With a sprained ankle, she is led home. The Communicator explains the crow’s purpose and notes Rakka’s sin-bound status due to her hidden black-spotted wings. He presents the Circle of Sin riddle, suggesting that recognizing sin removes it. Rakka questions this paradox. Reki and others find her, noticing her cold body from the wall contact. Rakka becomes ill, and Reki takes her home to care for her. Hints suggest Reki faced a similar past situation, leading her to lament her perpetual loneliness.
- 10EP 10
Kuramori and Rakka at the Abandoned Factory: Reki’s Assigned Duties
Dec 12, 2002A flashback reveals Kuramori and Remu witnessing Reki’s birth with black-spotted wings, leading to Kuramori’s promise to stay by her side. Kuramori introduces Reki to the Communicator, who names Reki and instructs Kuramori on preparing special medicine. After Kuramori falls ill, Reki and Nemu care for her, prompting Kuramori to assign Reki the duty of caring for newborn Haibane in the guest room. In the present, Reki seeks the Communicator’s help for the ailing Rakka, learning that Rakka is no longer sin-bound and that Nemu worries about her. Rakka recovers after taking the medicine. As punishment for touching the wall, Rakka receives a job gathering light leaves for halos and purifying rusted name tags. Hyoko and Midori extend tentative friendliness from Abandoned Factory to Old Home, while Reki reassures Nemu not to feel like a burden.
- 11EP 11
Rakka confronts Hyoko's past and Reki's isolation while seeking answers in the library.
Dec 12, 2002Rakka meets Hyoko and Midori at an abandoned factory, where Midori reveals Hyoko nearly died due to Reki during a past escape. Underground, Rakka hears Kuu’s voice in flowing water. Her Communicator warns that Reki rejects help and has little time left, prompting Rakka to vow assistance despite likely never seeing her again. With Nemu ill, Rakka visits the library and finds a petrified book Sumika attributes to magic. She becomes distressed when Reki suggests their time together is temporary. The narrative highlights Rakka’s determination to aid Reki amidst growing separation and mysterious magical phenomena affecting their surroundings.
- 12EP 12
Haibane purchase bell nuts for the Passing of the Year Festival while Reki seeks Hyoko's forgiveness.
Dec 19, 2002Haibane visit town to buy bell nuts for the Passing of the Year Festival. Reki gives Hyoko a gift early to apologize for involving her in personal issues. Hyoko and Midori reveal Reki wedged the wall during rain to find Kuramori, causing Hyoko to nearly die. The Communicator explains that Day of Flight arrives when true identity is realized, giving Rakka a tablet with her name. He also provides Reki’s name tablet for Rakka to deliver later. The Circle of Sin notes that others must recognize one's sin since self-forgiveness is impossible. During the festival, Haibane distribute bell nuts to townspeople. Rakka takes Midori to Old Home to show Reki yellow fireworks from Hyoko at the Abandoned Factory, symbolizing forgiveness.
- 13EP 13
Reki's World Prayer Epilogue: Rakka Discovers Reki's True Name and Struggle
Dec 19, 2002Rakka finds Reki’s studio painted like her cocoon dream and gives her a wooden tablet with Rakka’s true name, causing Reki despair. Reki, who has regretted being born for seven years, exiled herself and distrusted others, hoping to save herself by always supporting Rakka. She expels Rakka, confronts a crumbling stone version of herself, and relives her dream. Rakka reads Reki’s diary, learning that Reki sought to protect her. Returning to the studio, Rakka is blocked by the manifestation until Reki calls out, making it vanish. Rakka saves Reki from a foggy train image. Reki departs on her Day of Flight, an unforgettable event for all Haibane. As spring approaches, Rakka sees two cocoons sprouting from the ground inside a room.
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Frequently asked questions
- How many episodes does Haibane Renmei have?
- Haibane Renmei has 13 episodes.
- When did Haibane Renmei come out?
- Haibane Renmei came out in 2002.
- Which studio made Haibane Renmei?
- Haibane Renmei was produced by Radix.
- Who directed Haibane Renmei?
- Haibane Renmei was directed by Takahiro Oomori.
- Is Haibane Renmei finished?
- Current status of Haibane Renmei: Finished.