[TinyRedLeaf]

Originally Posted by Forsaken_Infinity

I don't think there was any real religious message given that the whole reincarnation and angel deal was more a means to present the story than anything. If anything, the suggestion that a life on Earth is preferable to being removed from the rebirth cycle was amusing. I wouldn't read too much into it though; it just so happens to be the point of the movie to suggest that life is worth it, however rough it gets.

It's not quite a "religious" message as it was an affirmation of a uniquely Japanese life philosophy known as enishi ( 縁 ), derived from Buddhism. Purapura described it towards the end:

Spoiler:

"Please remember that there are many people supporting you. Also, don't forget that you're a support for others as well."

This theme appears frequently in anime, typically expressed through an emphasis on group ethics and community harmony. In Haibane Renmei, a major character also makes the same observation, realising that everyone in her town plays a role supporting one another. The gratitude within the community is implicit; people seldom need to explicitly give thanks but, still, no one is ever taken for granted.

The theme also appears in one of the concluding episodes of Planetes, when another major character realises that every human shares an invisible bond (kizuna), which in turn implies that each person is responsible for the welfare of all other people, because everyone shares the same human fate.

In practice, the philosophy implements the Golden Rule: Don't do to others what you don't want others to do to you.

This was the lesson that Makoto learnt. Not just Makoto, but also his family, as well as friends like Hiroka. Everyone has his or her own demons and imperfections, but by supporting one another, the community as a whole finds the collective strength to survive. This is the same spirit that the world witnessed in the aftermath of the March 11, 2011 disasters, as shattered communities battled on stoically, despite the utter devastation around them.

Colorful explored this theme very well, not flinching away from its painful flaws, even as it shows how it provides people with the strength to carry on.