The rare breakout anime original, Buddy Daddies put a new spin on the classic found family dynamic. Kazuki Kurusu and Rei Suwa are professional assassins and roommates. During a job, they discover the child of one of their targets and decide to take her in.
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The girl believes that Kazuki is her biological father and the pair of assassins begin their toughest assignment yet — raising a little girl by themselves. Both of the adults in this strange family are struggling with tragedies from their past, but this new addition to their home will help them break out of their shells.
10Sweetness & Lightning
After the tragic death of his wife, Kohei Inuzaka is now raising his daughter Tsumugi alone. A teacher by trade and a suddenly single parent, Kohei has been ill-equipped for child-rearing and pretty much only feeds his daughter pre-packaged meals. After an encounter with one of his students, Kohei is inspired to learn how to cook, so he can properly care for Tsumugi. A story about the joy of cooking and the trials and triumphs of parenthood, Sweetness & Lightning is a delight the whole way through.
9The Way Of The Househusband
Although not focusing on parenting, The Way of the Househusband brings that intense professional background into a domestic setting. After falling in love with a businesswoman, Tatsu leaves the Yakuza life to become a househusband — taking care of the cooking and cleaning while his wife works. Tatsu approaches his daily chores with the same intensity and fearsome demeanor as he did his work in the criminal underworld, leading to frequent misunderstandings and hilarious encounters with the local townspeople. It’s an absurd comedy with a real heart at its core.
8Beelzebub
Delinquent high schooler Tatsumi Oga was down by the river one day and found a man floating within it. When he tried to pick up the man, he split in half, and out popped a small baby boy. Turns out this kid is the son of the demon king and Oga has now been charged with raising him, getting help from the child’s maid Hilda. It’s a unique premise for a battle shonen that provides plenty of opportunity for gags amidst the epic fight scenes.
7If It’s For My Daughter, I’d Even Defeat A Demon Lord
Adapted from a light novel series, If It’s for My Daughter, I’d Even Defeat a Demon Lord centers on Dale, a young but talented adventurer who has built up quite a reputation. Along his journey, he stumbles upon a devil child effectively left to die in the forest.
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Feeling he cannot abandon her and putting ribbons in her hair to hide her horns, he takes her in and becomes her father. The girl, called Latina, soon becomes the delight of the tavern Dale frequents and the pair begin a life of love and adventure together.
6Bunny Drop
After his grandfather passes, Daikichi Kawachi discovers that the old man had an illegitimate child — a six-year-old named Rin Kaga. The rest of the family treats her like an embarrassing secret. Angered by this, Daikichi decides to take her in despite knowing nothing about raising a child. Still, he is clearly committed to his new parental role, quitting smoking and reducing his work hours to put more effort into Rin’s well-being. It’s a story about how love evolves and the work it takes to be a single parent.
5Wolf Children
While in college, Hana fell in love with a mysterious man who turns out to be a werewolf. As the name Wolf Children implies, the pair eventually get married and have two children who can shapeshift between human and wolf forms. When the children are still young their father is killed while out hunting, leaving Hana to raise her fantastical kids by herself. Throughout the series, the children Yuki and Ame will learn more about both sides of their nature and try to find the place where they feel they truly belong.
4Somali And The Forest Spirit
A far more fantastical take on the subgenre than Buddy Daddies, Somali, and the Forest Spirit tells the story of a world run by spirits and other creatures of legend. When an ancient Golem comes across a human girl all by herself, he becomes her protector as humans in this world are nearly on the brink of extinction.
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While the pair quickly bond and form a strong relationship, their time together has a ticking clock as Golem will cease functioning in about one more year.
3Tokyo Godfathers
One of the all-time classic anime films, Tokyo Godfathers is required viewing for any self-respecting weeb. The story takes place on Christmas Eve when three homeless people come upon an abandoned baby while digging through the garbage in search of presents. Along with the baby are a trail of clues to its parents’ identities. The trio set out to find the parents and begin a gritty, dangerous, but ultimately heartwarming journey resulting in a unique a delightful Christmas tale that should be put right alongside the Western classics.
2The Yakuza’s Guide To Babysitting
Known and feared as a demon in the criminal underworld, Toru Kirishima is a fearsome fighter whose love of combat often causes trouble for his yakuza boss. All out of options for how to contain Kirishima’s bloodlust, his boss gives the enforcer his toughest assignment yet — watching over and caring for his daughter Yaeka. Yaeka is immediately taken with Kirishima, who quickly learns how to embrace his softer side and put the young girl’s needs before his own. It’s an adorable show with just enough action to break up the pastry eating and walks to school.
1Spy X Family
It’s the show that set Buddy Daddies up for success. Known only as Twilight, the greatest spy in the world is charged with creating a family so that he can infiltrate the nation’s most prestigious elementary school. His new adopted child is secretly a telepath, and his new wife agrees to marry him to keep up appearances, so she can continue her double life as a professional assassin. While the parents’ careers bring in plenty of action, the joy of the series comes from the dynamic of this odd family unit.
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