Haibane Renmei/Characters

A list of the important characters appearing in Haibane Renmei and their tropes

Tropes That Apply to All Characters:

Holy Halo: Subverted. The halo does not indicate that they are angels, although speculation says otherwise.
Laser-Guided Amnesia: No Haibane remembers their pasts, but remembers how to speak, do daily tasks, etc.
Meaningful Name: Kana=River Fish, Kuu=Air, Reki=Little Stones, Hikari=Light, Nemu=Sleep, Rakka=Falling, Hyoko=Ice Lake.
Nakama: Especially the Haibane in Old Home.
Wings Do Nothing: They have wings, but are unable to fly.
Winged Humanoid

Rakka

Voiced by: Ryo Hirohashi (JP), Carrie Savage (US)

The main character, for all intended purposes. Rakka is the newest Haibane. She is the youngest of the main characters, and throughout the series, she develops close friendships with all the characters, but especially Reki and Kuu. After Kuu's Day of Flight, Rakka becomes Sin-bound because of her inability to accept Kuu's departure and move on. With Reki's help, she eventually overcomes her grief. Later, a crow guides her outside of the boundaries permitted by the Charcoal Feather Federation, and she falls down a well and breaks her leg. She is rescued by a Toga, but she must serve a punishment for her crime. She now has to collect the materials used to make materials for the Haibane's halos and clean the interior of the wall.

Audience Surrogate
Break the Cutie: During her Sin-bound phase.
Curtains Match the Window
Genki Girl: Even after Kuu's Day of Flight.
Idiot Hair: Her hair succumbs to high amounts of static during the first couple episodes. It eventually calms down.
Naive Newcomer: At first
The Pollyanna

Reki

Voiced by: Junko Noda (JP), Erika Weinstein (US)

The second-oldest Haibane in Old Home. She arrived in Old Home Sin-bound and was ostracized as a result. Only Kuwamori showed her any kindness at first, but eventually Nemu warmed up to her. When Kuwamori took her Day of Flight, Reki felt abandoned and ran away to the Abandoned Factory, where she befriended Hyoko. She talked Hyoko into helping her escape and when she was caught, she was forbidden from ever setting foot on the Abandoned Factory grounds. She almost fails to achieve her Day of Flight, but fortunately Rakka helps her achieve salvation.

Becoming the Mask: She thought being nice to Rakka would help her. She just didn't realize how much Rakka would return the favor.
Broken Bird: And how!
Cool Big Sis
Dark and Troubled Past
Deuteragonist
Heroic BSOD
Railroad Tracks of Doom: Her dream.
Room Full of Crazy
Smoking Is Cool
Stepford Smiler

Hikari

Voiced by: Fumiko Orikasa (JP), Hunter MacKenzie Austin (US)

Another one of the older Haibane at Old Home, Hikari works at the oldest baker in town. Very cheerful and bright, she is the one who gives Rakka her halo. She has her mischievious side though, which Rakka finds out after they return the halo mold to the Renmei Communicator.

Genki Girl
Meganekko
Team Chef: She cooks for the Haibane of Old Home when Reki isn't available.

Kana

Voiced by: Eri Miyajima (JP), Zarah Little (US)

A hyperactive, tomboyish young Haibane, Kanna works as an assistant mechanic in the town's clock shop and clock tower. She is the most outspoken and brash of the Old Home Haibane, and can suffer from a strong stubborn streak when the mood takes her. Has a strong vendetta against the crows that steal Old Home's garbage, though not without good reason.

Brilliant but Lazy: She's always late to her job, on purpose.
Deadpan Snarker
Genki Girl: Not overtly so, but applies nevertheless.
Tomboy
Wrench Wench: Single-handedly fixed the clock tower at Old Home.

Kuu

Voiced by: Akiko Yajima (JP), J-Ray Hochfield (US)

Before Rakka arrived, Kuu was the youngest Haibane. At one point, she attempted to appear older by trying out Hikari's glasses and wearing clothes that were not her size. Next to Reki, she is the one Rakka is the closest to, so when she ascends, Rakka is quite devastated

Airplane Arms: Her favorite way to run. She even does it in the opening credits.
Ascend to a Higher Plane of Existence: Literally
Genki Girl: You never see her frown.
It's All Junk: Gives her coat to Rakka.
Kindhearted Cat Lover
Sacrificial Lamb
Tomboy: Subverted, she looks like a boy, but still acts quite girlish.

Nemu

Voiced by: Kazusa Murai (JP), Karen Strassman (credited as "Kirsty Pape") (US)

The oldest Haibane in Old Home, Nemu works as a librarian in the town library. Something of a researcher and amateur writer, she easily falls asleep quite often during the day, irregardless of how much activity she's actually had. Nemu was the one to discover Reki after Reki had already hatched from her cocoon and had sprouted her wings. While the two young Haibane did not get along at first due to Nemu feeling frightened and alienated by Reki's black, sin-bound wings, the two bonded while watching over Kuramori when she was sick.

Bunny Ears Lawyer: Despite her constant naps, she actually does do phenomenally good work at her job.
Not a Morning Person
Sleepyhead: Nemu has a reputation for constantly falling asleep.

Renmei Communicator

Voiced by: Tamio Ohki (JP), Michael McConnohie (US)

The leader of all the Haibane, the Communicator is also the only one allowed to communicate and trade with the strange Toga, who come from outside the town walls to trade with the town. While stern, he truly cares for all his charges, and is instrumental in helping Rakka and Reki's character growth.

Cool Mask: Wears a spoon-like mask.
The Faceless
Good Shepherd: In his capacity as a quasi-religious leader for the Haibane, he is very much this.
Reasonable Authority Figure: Turns out to be a good source of advice and wisdom for Rakka and Reki.

Kuramori

Voiced by: Aya Hisakawa (JP), Wendee Lee (US)

The primary caretaker of the Young Feathers years ago, Kuramori was at first the only person to accept Reki and truly care for her.

Parental Substitute / Team Mom: To both Reki and Nemu years before the start of the series.
Posthumous Character: Already had her Day of Flight years before, but still has some effect on the events in the series.

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