Komi Can’t Communicate is one of those anime shows where the supporting cast has the responsibility of carrying it on their shoulders, considering that the main character, as the title suggests, can’t speak for the majority of its runtime. As Shoko Komi tries to get over her social anxiety and moves towards her goal of making 100 friends, the rest of the characters present at Itan Private High School stand out as they try to help the titular protagonist on her journey.
Thankfully, Tomohito Oda gave each side character vibrant and distinct personalities of their own, and the anime brought them to life with performances that are easily the heart and soul of the entire series.
8Hitohito Tadano
Voiced By Gakuto Kajiwa / Kyle McCarley
Male high school students do not have the greatest track record when it comes to their portrayal in anime, as while sometimes they go a bit too overboard in expressing their love for female characters, other times they are shown as awkward individuals you do not want to spend much time with. But Hitohito Tadano breaks the mold by being a guy who exudes wholesomeness, genuinely caring about helping Komi out on her mission without any ulterior motives.
His helpful nature also shines in various other situations, ranging from agreeing to clean the classroom to straight-up refusing to go on a field trip he was really looking forward to just so Komi could feel better. He’s often the connecting tissue between Komi and the rest of the cast, making him someone worth calling a friend who will always come through, regardless of the scenario.
7Ren Yamai
Voiced By Rina Hidaka / Cristina Vee
When Ren Yamai is introduced in Komi Can’t Communicate, she is not really a likable character and is actually quite antagonistic due to her actions, going as far as kidnapping Tadano to ensure he stays away from the newly found love of her life. However, as the anime progresses, she starts to grow on you through her unacceptable but amusingly over-the-top behavior that serves as the driving force behind many of the show’s comedic gags.
Of course, her perverted ways are also quite refreshing, considering that the majority of anime out there puts that burden on the male characters, making her someone who would go to great lengths to get what she wants, despite being caring, at least to some extent, deep down.
6Omoharu Nakanaka
Voiced By Rumi Okubo / Cherami Leigh
While her constant fighting with Yamai is always enjoyable, Omoharu Nakanaka has a lot more going for her as a character who takes her imagination a bit too seriously to cope with her loneliness in real life. With her eye patch, glove, bandages, and uniform jacket cape, she has one of the most unique character designs at Itan Private High School, and her fantastical outlook on life makes her a highly memorable member of Komi’s friend group whenever she is on the screen.
The majority of other characters in Komi Can’t Communicate do not really have any hobbies that make them stand out from one another, which is where Nakanaka being a gamer comes in as a welcome addition. That resulted in an entertaining gaming session between the group at Nakanaka’s place, as she gets out of her comfort zone and invites her newly made friends over, having a great time in the process.
5Nene Onemine
Voiced By Ruriko Aoki / Casey Mongillo
Since the majority of students at Itan Private High School are obsessed with trying to win over Komi’s heart, it would have gotten a little frustrating if not for excellent characters like Nene Onemine. Coming in as a breath of fresh air, Onemine can easily read the room and assess any situation, helping her friends out whenever she can through reliable advice without trying to take any credit for it.
There is a sense of warmth that the character exudes, making it seem like whenever she is on the screen during any kind of problem that the other characters are facing, things will end up being alright in some shape or form. She is also a great wingwoman for Komi, as the moment she realizes that the protagonist initially feels uneasy about her spending time with Tadano, she comes up with an excuse and steps away, respectfully giving them their required space.
4Makoto Katai
Voiced By Shin’ichirō Kamio / Jacob Hopkins
By the time Makoto Katai enters the scene, Komi has made enough friends to keep her comfortable in various scenarios, giving room for another character with communication problems to shine. Initially coming across as an intimidating guy who almost everyone is scared of, Katai shows that beneath his tough exterior lies a soft and gentle person who finds it extremely difficult to break the ice and make friends.
Katai also gives Tadano more character growth, showing that he is not just helping Komi because of his potential romantic motives and would agree to help anyone who has trouble making it through high school. The mutual friendship proves helpful for Katai as well, as he unexpectedly but seamlessly blends in with the rest of the group thanks to Tadano, making him an amazing addition to the Komi Can’t Communicate character roster.
3Shisuto Naruse
Voiced By Katsuyuki Miura / Ryan Colt Levy
Although Shisuto Naruse makes his entrance quite late in the anime, his introduction remains one of the most hilariously memorable due to how outlandish it is, perfectly showcasing his narcissistic personality in the funniest of ways. The episode dedicated to Naruse’s introduction is quite possibly the most amusing Komi Can’t Communicate has ever been, but as he learns the hard way that not everyone is infatuated with his ridiculously good looks, the character development is a treat to watch as well.
Once he partially gets over his narcissism, he becomes friends with Tadano and Katai, resulting in an unforgettable field trip group that may have seemed out of place at first, but the chemistry between the three characters somehow just works.
2Ayami Sasaki
Voiced By Minami Takahashi / Stephanie Sheh
Until the field trip episodes, the majority of friends who Komi hangs out with had already become recurring characters, but there is only so much you can do with the usual cast. So, to keep things fresh, Komi Can’t Communicate introduces Komi’s field trip group, which consists of duo Ayami Sasaki and Mikuni Katō. But while the latter feels a lot more uptight with her plans, the former just goes with the flow and focuses on having the best time possible with her friends.
Aside from being a wingwoman who will make sure her friends get every opportunity they can to spend time with their crushes, Sasaki also has extraordinary yo-yo skills, resulting in an exciting rescue sequence during the field trip that brings the group closer together.
1Najimi Osana
Voiced By Rie Murakawa / Skyler Davenport
Najimi Osana is someone who kick-starts almost every activity in Komi Can’t Communicate, and without their enjoyable presence, the protagonist would actually not be able to get out of her comfort zone and have new experiences. While Tadano takes a more gentle approach with Komi, Najimi is the one who keeps pushing her friends into trying new things, being an essential catalyst that keeps the series going with activities ranging from a cultural festival to heading to the pool.
Friends with literally everyone at Itan Private High School, Najimi is easily the best character in Komi Can’t Communicate due to their ability to make the most out of any situation. The anime’s character roster owes the majority of its memorable moments throughout the school year to Najimi, because hanging out with them ensures that you will always have fun, regardless of the scale of the activity itself.
