Anxiety is something that just about everyone can understand and relate to. In more recent years, there have been a ton of fantastic anime that grapple with the topic of social anxiety. Netflix's Komi Can't Communicate is a more recent popular example, but it's far from the only one.
There are both lighthearted shows like Komi Can't Communicate that portray anxiety in a relatable yet humorous way, and darker shows like Welcome To The NHK that mix realistic humor with a much more crushing and heavy tone. Regardless of what fans are after, the niche of social anxiety anime has something worthwhile to offer.
Updated on May 23rd, 2023 by Casey Coates: This list has been updated to trailers, openings, and video clips.
10 Welcome To The NHK
Welcome To The NHK is a dark, humorous, and often crushing take on the reality of social anxiety. In particular, Welcome To The NHK tackles the hikikomori phenomenon that's widespread in Japan through the lens of its protagonist, Tatsuhiro Satou. He's a shut-in of four years before he meets Misaki Nakahara.
Tatsuhiro becomes the subject of Misaki's research in the hopes that it'll help him learn how to re-integrate with society, both working more for their own interests than the other's. Welcome To The NHK deals with themes of depression, social anxiety, and caring for oneself in a world that doesn't seem to care.
9 Watamote: No Matter How I Look At It, It's Your Guys' Fault I'm Not Popular!
First-year high school student Tomoko Kuroki has more life experience in her high-school dating simulators than she does in the entirety of Watamote. This slice-of-life high school comedy tackles themes of social anxiety and trying to navigate romance as a teenager. However, Watamote is also infamously cringeworthy.
There are quite a few scenes in Watamote that are, for one reason or another, hard to sit through. Tomoko's feelings of social anxiety and utter failure to navigate social situations are depicted in a relatable but painful and over-the-top way. Additionally, Tomoko's mindset in many situations feels reminiscent of an incel.
8 Hitoribocchi No Marumaru Seikatsu
The process of transferring schools is incredibly daunting, especially when young. Most people can relate to this struggle or at least understand how anxiety-provoking it might be. Hitoribocchi no Marumaru Seikatsu, commonly referred to as Hitoribocchi, depicts it wonderfully.
Not only has Bocchi Hitori's only friend moved away for middle school, but she also won't resume being Bocchi's friend unless she can befriend her entire class. Charming and relatable, Hitoribocchi's characters show meaningful, satisfying growth over the course of the anime.
7 Komi Can't Communicate
The social anxiety anime that recently rose to popularity on Netflix, Komi Can't Communicate centers on Komi getting Tadano's help to reach her goal of making one-hundred friends. Tadano offers to help, despite his own plans for the year: causing as little trouble as possible and simply blending in.
Tadano's goal immediately becomes impossible, after Komi sits next to him and is crowned the most beautiful girl in class before she utters a single word. Komi and Tadano interact with many colorful classmates and characters throughout Komi's journey of learning to communicate. Many fans note Komi and Tadano's relationship as a high note for the anime.
6 Senryu Girl
While Senryu Girl doesn't focus inherently on social anxiety, it still grapples with communication struggles and learning how to make connections despite them. Nanako Yukishiro is an average, cheerful sixteen-year-old girl, but she's mute and only communicates through senryuu, poems similar to haiku.
Nanako becomes friends with former delinquent Eiji Busujima, who changes his ways after discovering his love for senryuu poetry. Senryu Girl focuses on their relationship and their day-to-day antics. Aside from Nanako, Senryu Girl features other characters who live with social anxiety and can only communicate in a non-verbal manner as well.
5 Hinako Note
Hinako Note's titular protagonist, Hinako Sakuragi, becomes extremely anxious when she tries to talk to new people, despite desperately wanting to make connections with others. Inspired by a play she saw, Hinako moves to attend Fujiyama High School after learning of the school's prestigious theater program.
As if working through her social anxiety wouldn't be hard enough, it turns out the theater program for Fujiyama High has been on hiatus for a while. If Hinako wants to learn the ropes, she'll need to make a group herself. Hinako Note is a cute and fluffy anime about Hinako making friends and gaining their support as she grows and comes out of her shell.
4 Words Bubble Up Like Soda Pop
Although Words Bubble Up Like Soda Pop is a movie rather than a full-length anime series, it still deserves a recognition when mentioning anime that tackle social anxiety. The main characters, Cherry and Smile, both have their own insecurities they try to hide from the world.
Smile is insecure about being judged by others, while Cherry has social anxiety and prefers the comfort of his headphones over reality. The two connect and help each other confront their personal insecurities throughout the course of the film, making Words Bubble Up Like Soda Pop a warm and light-hearted romantic comedy.
3 Recovery Of An MMO Junkie
For viewers who love gaming alongside anime, Recovery Of An MMO Junkie touches on the disconnect between one's online and offline personas. Moriko Morioka turns to the world of online gaming after losing her job, playing a chivalrous and charming male character who's the opposite of her real-life self.
While online, Moriko meets Lily, the opposite gender persona of the male lead, Yuuta Sakurai. Both of them have trouble conversing in reality, but Recovery Of An MMO Junkie doesn't allow them to remain online, anonymous friends forever. Enjoyable and relatable throughout, the anime expertly balances exploring social issues and the actual MMO side.
2 March Comes In Like A Lion
Rei Kiriyama, the protagonist of March Comes In Like A Lion, is a pro shogi player who struggles with loneliness and a lack of personal fulfillment in life. Rei lives on his own at only seventeen and doesn't properly care for himself until he meets a trio of sisters named Momo, Hinata, and Akari.
Akari, the oldest sister, notices Rei's struggles and becomes determined to help him work through them. Thanks to the familial bond Rei forms with the three sister over the course of March Like A Lion, he works to overcome his own issues. Rei also comes to realize that everyone is dealing with their own misfortune and coping in their own ways.
1 My Roommate Is A Cat
Even anime fans who aren't into animals praise My Roommate Is A Cat for the way it portrays the relationship between the show's main duo. Subaru is a shy, anxious author who shut himself away from the world after losing his parents, only coming out for necessities or to visit his parents' graves.
It's on one of these trips that Subaru meets Haru, a stray cat that Subaru ends up taking in. Though he's barely able to care for himself, Subaru makes Haru a priority and learns how to value both himself and human connections along the way. My Roommate Is A Cat provides great insight into the inner workings of both main characters' minds, highlighting their points of view.
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