Characters
Rakka (落下, Rakka; ラッカ) lit. 'falling'
Voiced by: Ryō Hirohashi (Japanese); Carrie Savage (English)
A new arrival at Old Home, Rakka struggles throughout the series to "find herself," and has trouble escaping from curiosity about her past. She forms many friendships, but her closest is with Reki. Rakka is very quiet and a bit on the withdrawn side. She spends a lot of time pondering her previous existence and the mysteries of what lies beyond the Walls, as well as the origin of the haibane.
Reki (礫, Reki; レキ) lit. 'pebble/small stone'
Voiced by: Junko Noda (Japanese); Erika Weinstein (English)
Reki is a mother figure to the other haibane of Old Home. Reki cannot remember her "cocoon dream," is troubled by her past at Old Home and by vivid and horrible nightmares, which she then paints in an attempt to figure them out. She hatched from her cocoon with black feathers, which she hides with medicine, and has been a haibane for seven years, longer than the others except for Nemu. Her job is to take care of the junior haibane at Old Home, who are called Young Feathers. Reki had a close relationship with Kuramori, the previous caretaker figure at Old Home who was the first haibane to accept her.
Kuu (空, Kū; クウ) lit. 'sky'
Voiced by: Akiko Yajima (Japanese); J-Ray Hochfield (English)
The youngest of the older haibane and the first to take her Day of Flight during the series. Kuu overcame her initial awkwardness to achieve a sense of peace. She develops a close friendship with Rakka and has been a haibane for two years. Outgoing and energetic, Kuu demonstrates surprising knowledge of the town and serves as a good role model for Rakka. She undergoes her Day of Flight halfway into the series, which brings Rakka into emotional tumult.
Nemu (眠, Nemu; ネム) lit. 'sleep'
Voiced by: Kazusa Murai (Japanese); Kirsty Pape (English)
The haibane who has lived longest at Old Home. Nemu's cocoon dream was of herself, sleeping, and her continued sleepiness is a source of teasing from the other haibane. She is an old friend of Reki, works at the library, and has been a haibane for nine years. Nemu is often the voice of reason and calm during times of trouble and, like Reki, holds back the secret of a troubled past. She is close with Sumika, the former senior librarian, and treats her like a younger relative.
Kana (河魚, Kana; カナ) lit. 'river fish'
Voiced by: Eri Miyajima (Japanese); Zarah Little (English)
A mechanically inclined tomboy, Kana works at the clock tower in the center of town. Kana has been a haibane for three years. Kana has a bit of a whimsical side to her as she reveals to Rakka that she wonders about the world outside the walls as well. She has an overeager personality, which causes friction with her grouchy master at the clock tower, but they have a shared passion for their line of work. Despite her confident attitude, Kana is sensitive and cares deeply for her friends, showing almost as much sadness as Rakka for Kuu's loss before grudgingly accepting it.
Hikari (光, Hikari; ヒカリ) lit. 'light'
Voiced by: Fumiko Orikasa (Japanese); Hunter Mackenzie Austin (English)
A serious haibane with a mischievous streak. She works in a bakery in town and has been a haibane for four years. Hikari has a tendency to be a bit forgetful, such as forgetting to tell Rakka to practice moving her wings before her trip to the Haibane Renmei Temple. She is depicted with an innovative side, such as experimenting at the bakery with the halo mold to make ring-shaped pastries. Austin, Hikari's English voice actor, described Hikari as "really shy, and always trying to help."
Hyōko (氷湖, Hyōko; ヒョウコ) lit. 'ice lake'
Voiced by: Chihiro Suzuki (Japanese); Josh Phillips (English)
Prominent member of the second, co-ed group of haibane in Glie who live at the Abandoned Factory on the opposite side of town from Old Home. Was a friend of Reki in the past, and was severely injured when they tried to cross the wall together. Upon first meeting Rakka, he accidentally upsets her with a remark about Kuu's recent Day of Flight. Despite his tough exterior, he is shown to be very kind, such as sending Rakka pastries and an apology note for the incident.
Midori (緑, Midori; ミドリ) lit. 'green'
Voiced by: Manabi Mizuno (Japanese); Stephanie Sheh (credited as Jennifer Sekiguchi) (English)
A haibane from the Abandoned Factory and a close friend of Hyōko. Has an ongoing grudge against Reki for her past endangerment of Hyōko but is willing to talk with Rakka and others.
The Communicator (話師, Washi)
Voiced by: Tamio Ōki (Japanese); Michael McConnohie (English)
A presiding official of the Haibane Renmei who gives spiritual advice and worldly assistance and, occasionally, imposes punishments on haibane who break the rules. The Communicator is the only person who can speak with the Toga on their visits to the town. He wishes for the Day of Flight to come to all the haibane successfully and feels concerned that Reki refuses to heed his advice and attempts to help her. Analyses have raised the possibility of the Communicator being a failed haibane.
Kuramori (暗森, Kuramori; lit. 'dark forest')
Voiced by: Aya Hisakawa (Japanese); Wendee Lee (English)
A haibane who cared for the young Nemu and Reki. Despite her delicate health, she was kind and helpful to them, especially to Reki in dealing with her black wings. Kuramori took her Day of Flight five years before the start of the series but remains vivid in the memories of Reki and Nemu, the only ones remaining to remember her. She is the oldest Haibane to be shown in the series.
Toga (トーガ, Tōga)
The Toga are the only people who can enter and leave the city of Glie at will. The Toga never speak, save for communicating in sign language to the Communicator (who represents the link between the citizens of Glie and the Haibane Renmei), and they never reveal their faces. Human and haibane alike are told to keep their distance from the Toga.
Sumika (スミカ, Sumika)
Voiced by: Tomoe Hanba (Japanese); Sharon McWilliams (English)
A librarian, senior of Namu. When Rakka first worked at the library, she planned to leave four days later for maternity leave. However, she remained in the library during winter.
