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Haibane Renmei

Title -  Haibane Renmei (灰羽連盟, lit. Charcoal Feather Federation)

Length - 13 episode TV series

Studio - Radix

US Distributor - Funimation Entertainment

Genre - Sitcom, drama, mystery, supernatural

Based on the original doujin Ōrudo-hōmu no Haibane-tachi/The Charcoal Feathers of Old Home, this series is not like anything else I have ever seen.  It starts out with Rakka falling or perhaps dreaming of falling.  She is embracing a crow who tries and fails to stop her fall.  Then it switches to Reki finding the cocoon as a new Haibane in an isolated room in Old Home where the Hainbane/charcoal feathers live.  From here the world is introduced slowly as Rakka finds out about it.  Some things are explained and some things are only hinted at.  The viewer is left to figure out some elements for him or her self.  The main story centers around Rakka's experience of her new world and her evolving relationships with the rest of the cast especially Kuu and Reki.

This show uses a very soft, almost pastel color palette with backgrounds that are almost like watercolor paintings.  The setting is unique and full of mysteries many of which are never explicitly explained for the viewer.  There are always mysteries.  The characters, especially Raka and rekki, are very well done and have depths that are not immediately apparent.