Haibane Renmei is about a girl, Rakka, who is one of a special breed of people called The Haibane. The Haibane are angel-like humans, with grey wings on their back, halos over their head, and are born from cocoons. One of the most interesting things about them is that they did have a former life, but they cannot remember as a Haibane.
Each of the Haibane get their name from what they saw in a dream they see while inside their cocoon. In Rakka's dream, she was falling from the sky as a crow tried to pull her back, but yet she refuses. After she is born, an older and somewhat mysterious Haibane, Reki (pebble or gravel), gives her the name Rakka (fall).
Ruled under the Haibane Renmei (Charcoal Feather Federation), Haibanes can unforunatley only use and have things that other people don't want. Also, they have to work but can't obtain money .. so everything they make is recorded in a small book. But the worst thing is that the Haibane and other human townspeople can't leave the current town they are in, which is surrounded by a massive wall guarded by the mysterious Toga people, who are the only ones allowed to go in and out.
The episodes in Haibane Renmei follow Rakka's daily life, around other Haibane, and around other people in the mysterious town, as she adapts to the new life style while still trying to remember her own. She pays much attention to the crows, as they are said to carry lost memories over the wall surrounding the town..
I feel Haibane Renmei is the best anime I've ever seen. Its a very good drama anime, among the likes of Serial Experiments Lain (In which the creator helped work on). I wouldn't recommend it to everyone, however, as its storyline is somewhat slow and there are no fight scenes included. But for those who enjoy slow stories like myself, this is a must see. I rate it 5/5.
