On Christmas Eve, four-year-old Miri Unasaka arrives in Tokyo completely alone, in search of her father. The bright lights and merry atmosphere guide Miri to a big hotel and a man with a delicious-looking cake. However, the child has just unknowingly walked into the center of an elaborate, foolproof plan for assassinating a dangerous mafia boss.
Professional assassins Kazuki Kurusu and Rei Suwa live together, fleeing memories of their grim childhoods and avoiding emotional connections. When their mission goes awry and they end up bringing Miri home, there is only one reasonable thing to do: return Miri to her mother. But the girl's innocent laugh and pure worldview quickly enamor her to Kazuki, who secretly enjoys playing a parent, and it is not long before Rei's impenetrable heart makes room for Miri.
Miri's every move is unpredictable, and Kazuki and Rei find raising an energetic child harder than any of their missions. Although it presents a great risk to their careers, Kazuki and Rei—both assuming the affectionate nickname "papa"—decide to provide Miri with a normal childhood despite all the odds stacked against them.
[Written by MAL Rewrite]
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KANLen09
In a P.A. Works' board meeting: Producers: Hey, did you know that there is this popular show called Spy X Family making waves recently? It's the story of a family of spies raising an orphan child. I bet we can make an imitation of that! Mitsuhito Tsuji and Toba Yosuke: Not to worry, if that is your primary concern, we got you covered. For we have a story to tell of the same, but different! P.A. Works has for almost its lifetime as the designated "original anime" studio, produced some hit-or-miss shows of the last few years, that watch any one of them, you'll know that it's unmistakablythe studio's signature trait. And this season, together with director Yoshiyuki Asai (of Jun Maeda's Key anime adaptations that went from bad to worse), scriptwriter Vio Shimokura of Nitroplus (of last Winter's haphazard Tokyo 24th Ward) and series composer Yuuko Kakihara, the "shameless copy" that is Buddy Daddies comes to knock the hearts of people the same like in Spy X Family, and in a good way.
At first glance, I bet you can even tell from less than an inch away that Buddy Daddies and Spy X Family feels awfully similar, from the unlikely family nature down to raising the said child herself. But in this show's case, it's down to producers Mitsuhito Tsuji and Toba Yosuke for solely anchoring the show's themes, having the real parenting experience to tell its generic story with a unique plot. The reason being, that the former was at the point of just starting a family himself, and the idea of having assassins, whose paths are normally covered in blood and death, raising children, would make for an interesting story plot. This is aided by the latter mentioning that 'becoming a family is a big theme' in the story, and that he thought it would be interesting as a work to be able to create a sense of comedy with such fine details, using the expertise of their staff to ascertain the intricate levels of parenting, with Tsuji specifically proclaiming "to include a lot of 'parenting'" in the anime.
As for what Buddy Daddies is all about, as opposed to Spy X Family of a spy husband and an assassin wife with the obnoxious and playful child, it's the idea of same-sex assassins taking care of the exact same obnoxious and playful child. 28-year-old Kazuki Kurusu and 25-year-old Rei Suwa, both are buddy assassins who serve and complement one another in the areas that they are well-versed in: Kazuki on intel and execution from his good communication, with the slight negative on his gambling that is a deterring factor on his overall luck; Rei on combat agility and style of coolness, though he lives like a NEET who plays his video games all night, leaving household duties to Kazuki, who gets annoyed easily at his incompetence when it comes to cooperation in the house. And no thanks to the typical assassination mission that they have been entrusted to take care of their targets, they are left with the clueless addition of a child: 4-year-old Miri Unasaka, wandering alone without her parents, only to unknowingly step into the prohibited line of "guns and smokes ablazing" that eventually, is taken in by both assassins to take care of her, thinking that both Kazuki and Rei are her quote "biological" fathers. The perfect gangster househusband like Gokushufudou a.k.a The Way of the househusband's Tatsu, with the perfect Yazuka caretaker like Kumichou Musume to Sewagakari a.k.a The Yakuza's Guide to Babysitting's Toru Kirishima, along with Spy X Family's Anya Forger, makes for a combination that is the definition of "same same, but different".
The "unlikely parents raise a child together" trope is quite old, it's even shown in Western media as early as the late 1980s with the 1987 film "Three Men and a Baby", which only proves that this trope has been used as a basic structure in TV and film for decades. How Buddy Daddies used this generic story structure to wield into this plot, producer Toba Yosuke mentions that the idea of having assassins, whose paths are normally covered in blood and death, raise children was interesting. Furthermore, two men raising children who aren't related by blood is a modern story where values are diversifying, he thought that a 'family not related by blood' and 'two people of the same sex raising a child' are both great themes. This is exemplified by producer Mitsuhito Tsuji exclaiming that both Kazuki and Rei have either "lost love in the past" or are the kind "who doesn't know love," that has their self-humanly examination changed, slowly but surely, thanks to Miri. Adding to that, the Buddy Daddies are basically new to raising children, so he thought it would be interesting to see how they would deal with her with the challenges further compounded due to their occupations, which Yosuke clarifies that "they are in the shadows and can't talk to anyone about their position." But still, things like childcare and such, both Kazuki and Rei embraced Miri to the max, no matter how obnoxious she can be, acting just like kids of her age to give her the world at large.
This is so, because both Kazuki and Rei lived very different lives before becoming buddy assassins: Kazuki was expecting a child with his wife (Yuzuko), until tragedy struck of his hidden job profession that caused his pregnant wife's death, and he has the survivor's guilt since then. For Rei, he is the son of his own family assassin organization, led by his father Shigeki, whom the cafe owner Kyutaro "Kyu-chan" Kugi is the organization's covert mission's center handler to due out missions for both him and Kazuki. Anything that doesn't satisfy his father's standards of a professional assassin, Shigeki would strike after his own son, and he got so annoyed and overburdened, that he left the organization, which is where he met Kazuki in the first place. That, with Miri's arrival from the unfortunate circumstance of being the buddy assassin's target, and her mother Misaki earning her life as a prostitute and despising the fact that her unplanned pregnancy with Miri was a mistake, lunging the overly enthusiastic 4-year-old towards the buddy assassins, thereby converting them into Buddy Daddies.
But once the "Family Story of Two Killers and a Girl" converge together, it becomes a story of how to juggle jobs with parenting, though this is of the extreme approach being of assassins and fathers. The one negative sentiment would be that it focuses more on the comedy than on the actual parenting, its strongest selling point being glossing over what would otherwise be a generic comedy. Playing up the fish-out-of-water angle, delving into the hijinks of two guys who are vastly out of their depth, but rarely touches on their unexpected career, despite the clear potential of such a unique premise. From there, these two contract killers have to take on their most harrowing assignment yet: parenting, which is rare and lack any sense of real danger. No doubt that they are entirely unequipped for fatherhood, struggling to learn the ins and outs of basic childcare -- understandable, considering the nature of their professional experience. Miri, their charge, can be irritating on occasion, but this adds a certain level of realism and charm to her character. The result is a series that, while serviceable as a comedy, fails to meet its full potential. But, if you don't necessarily care about the intricate details in-between, this show is truly yet another P.A. Works' care and thought put at 110% of the heartwarming and comedic elements (especially with Miri's bonds together with the Buddy Daddies) that will make one feel the "aww" feels, coupled with happiness and sadness when the assassin angle takes over, threatening to derail the trio's unkempt family life. It's full of action, drama and comedy enough to keep viewers interested from start to finish, and it's all a good and refreshing time, especially in this kinda mild Winter 2023 season of not a lot of standouts.
As usual, you can always count on P.A. Works to deliver the best of their production caliber, and not once did I ever feel disappointed at the studio continuing to be experimental with their many ideas, even if it does work or not. Great action and impressive visuals round out the animation side of the show.
The music is yet another highlight of the show. The OST by Katsutoshi Kitagawa of Round Table, it's one of the most unique this season, combining funk with Western-like inspirations. If you're wondering why the OP song "Shock" is THAT good and catchy, it's composed and sung by Ayase of Yoasobi fame. The Vocaloid songwriter has always been tasked together with singer Ikura as the famed duo group producing theme songs for shows like Beastars, the most recent being Gundam: Suisei no Majo a.k.a The Witch of Mercury, and already set on next season's Oshi no Ko, for his breakout title to be this OP song, it's just the perfect song for such a show like this. This, like the ED song "My Plan" by DURDN, I love the city-pop-like feeling that this emits, especially when this couples with Miri's easy-going nature that's of her plan. And honestly, both songs are not just great, but there for a reason, which is to showcase the heart pangs of the Buddy Daddies and Miri in their respective perspectives.
A clone/carbon-copy of Spy X Family, that Buddy Daddies is not, even if it's that close of a comparison to call it the "Dad" version of it. Really, we're only just starting 2023, and this show is more than just one of the best shows of the season. It's fun, it's endearing, it'll make you feel like you're a parent (even if you are or not), and above all, it's just a great anime to watch with kids, if you have any.
P.A. Works, I humbly welcome you into 2023 with a shotgun's bang, right out of the gate. Give Buddy Daddies a watch, you will DEFINITELY NOT be disappointed.
SpRayquaza11
Finally, a child who acts like a child, not a moeblob who only exists to fan the meme engines and churn out popularity. It may be a lesser-known fact (Due to everyone hating on my spy fam review since it was a negative one), but I really did not like Spyx family after the first 6 episodes, They did everything ideally, just like buddy daddies over here, by first introducing some badass and sabotage specialists, helping us get used to the action then dropping the Kid who is actually adorable, behaves like a kid, makes mistakes like one and is essentially the reason for changing hertwo daddies for the better. In spy family however, Even after going through two Cours we are effectively stuck in a forever loop, the main character's parents are the same as when they have introduced no development, no interesting arcs nada, only the same gags which use the same formula and only when Anya is on screen does watch anything make sense. Buddy daddies help us taste gag humor, adorableness, and character growth all in a neat small package while actually giving us good tips and insights on childcare, In spyfam it's completely natural for a kid see you practice extreme violence while also reading your most obscene thoughts XD.
Plot 8/10
Kazuki and REi were initially hitmen with no regard for anyone or anything The whole procedure of them initially thinking of miri as a pain, to eventually getting attached to her and also growing to genuinely care for her shows us the journey of these two hitmen who slowly get changed by their daughter, the kids usually are molded by their parents but it was nice to see like in real life , children do tend to bring out the best in their parents., Some of the Rei Hitman arcs were rushed over and Kazuki eventually was kind of the main focus (I guess since his story is a little more vanilla).I liked the fact that unlike generic anime hypocrisy, the mother too got a second chance just like Kazuki and rei.
Characters 9/10
Small but neat package of characters, the side characters other than kyuu chan are relatively uninteresting and the main villain is a classic cliche type of guy. The character development arcs were quite nice .... it was rushed but they managed to get the point across and the growth was made apparent.
Sound and VA 8/10
I liked the OP{ and ED both , they are quite the bangers and have clearly gotten the highest budget , the ED is full of MIRI DRIP and helps its rewatcha ability , the Voice Acting is amazing especially Miri and most of the Gags are able to land because of the VA s. OST is average.
Animation and art 7/10
generic PA works art style, the animation can climb a few points depending on the importance of scenes , but is otherwise pretty standard.
Although it does not have the budget of spy family I feel is a much better childcare anime , spyfam may slightly edge it out as a comedy anime , but buddy daddies is still an amazing show which manages to stay in the realm of reality and yet still be an interesting watch. I can easily recommend it to everyone.
Mcsuper
I know, the first thing anyone brings up when talking about Buddy Daddies is that it’s like Spy X Family, and while I get that sentiment, there are quite a few fundamental differences between the two. If you value more slice of life, over the top comedy, Spy X Family will be more of the anime for you. If you value more of a focus on child-rearing, Buddy Daddies may the anime for you. Buddy Daddies does have its share of plot development, which was a common complaint for Spy X Family, but I can’t say that the plot development was particularly ground-breaking or welldone overall, but it did nail some of the emotional moments nicely.
To provide a gist of the story, four year old Miri Unasaka wanders through modern day Japan one day looking for her father, and ends up smack dab in the middle of an assassination plot that goes wrong, and ends up being taken in by the two assassins, Kazuki Kurusu and Rei Suwa. This newfound task of balancing taking care of a child while continuing on their jobs as assassins is understandably difficult, but they make it work, and raise Miri well. Needless to say, they work in a dangerous environment, and the moral ambiguity of keeping Miri around even when she would be increased danger was an effective theme that was explored as well. The effort at a meaningful plot was there, but I think the season was too short get through all the conflict that was explored.
The main thing I did appreciate about this show was that it’s decently realistic, especially with Miri just being a normal little kid. Yes, she was a little annoying at the start, but many kids are loud and obnoxious when they’re little, and Miri portrays a semi-realistic little kid. Kazuki and Rei also slowly grow into their father roles, and I did enjoy the slower development for them in terms of taking care of a child. They started out lazy and not wanting to take care of Miri, but little by little they come around to love her, and likely would willingly lay down their life for her. The cast definitely grew on me as it went along, which made the increased stakes near the end of the show more effectively executed due to that. I genuinely felt worried for them at times.
There’s a good mixture of themes at play here, as there’s a balance between comedy, action, slice of life, and a bit of suspense as well. The strongest themes to me were probably the slice of life comedy aspect, as the moments where Kazuki, Rei, and Miri just hang out together were quite wholesome, but the underlying assassin plot did play its role as well, and while it got a little darker than I expected, the villains weren’t all that great, as their motives aren’t all that interesting.
Production for this show was alright, with some decent animation and direction overall. The sound direction was a little weird at times, as some of the action scenes, especially at the beginning, had very goofy music that didn’t really fit the tense atmosphere, but it got better with time. OP and ED are also quite good.
Overall, a relatively enjoyable series with its ups and downs story-wise, but I still had a good time with it. If you’re looking for a wholesome comedic series, you’ll get that, but if you’re also looking for some action and emotion mixed in, it’ll deliver as well. It’s not anything insanely special or ground-breaking, but it’s something I’d recommend for sure.
SomeApplePie
“Wholesome”, “spoiler-free” (vague) review for those with short attention span: Buddy Daddies has great emotional beats and some good character dynamics. There are also a few things that it delivers quite well given its non-traditional family setting and its more grounded approach to child raising. However, the series also drastically fails to fully commit to its setup and often reverts to convenient plotlines for emotional impact. Restricted to only 12 episodes to show its full take on the recently popular crime-childcare genre, it still managed to somehow stick the landing but also ended with a lot of missed potential. Perhaps, it could be somuch more if it has more episodes but given what we have, nothing really stood out in the end. It doesn't mean it is unworthy of being watched though. Buddy Daddies is still an enjoyable and often heartwarming show with its own charm to deliver in the found family trope.
For those who want me to elaborate (yes, there will be spoilers):
● Being a child in anime
When it comes to shows where a little kid is set as one of the story’s main characters, I usually look forward to how they will write the child since, most of the time, younger children are placed on the sidelines while the whole story revolves around the adults. Of course, this is just fine depending on the story’s purpose but I also appreciate it if the narrative actively includes children without them being mere plot devices. After all, children are smarter than they seem. However, having this type of younger child main characters may often be difficult to portray in media (if you are writing an isekai, you can probably just cheat and put an adult into a child's body). Stories like these would require kid characters with their own motivation and perspective in the story without losing a significant part of their childishness or any distinguishable trait in their personality.
Watching Buddy Daddies, I was led to believe that Miri is one of the most realistic kids in anime. I partly agree with these claims on a surface level. In a way, Miri is pretty spot-on as a 4-year-old kid -- which may be due to how P.A. Works had incorporated the actual experiences of their staff and their kids into the show. She is cute, annoying, and adorable as most children can be and as the plot demands it. However, and this is where my disappointment starts, I also felt that the writing for her lacks the characterization I initially expected from her role in the show. Throughout the series, the best way I can describe Miri is that she is a caricature of a real child. She can be more cute, more annoying, and more adorable exactly because she is oftentimes an exaggerated representation of what we usually attribute children to be. Even her often illogical cheerfulness and ignorance despite her surroundings are also part of this exaggeration (it is also convenient to the plot as it avoids difficult questions from the child). This makes it harder to pinpoint what makes Miri her own unique character outside of her just being a “realistic” kid. In fact, she often felt like an amalgamation of all the obvious things we see in children packed into one. And it worked. We have another child who is quite believable as a kid but also does not actively become anything more than a convenience.
Of course, this is not entirely a bad thing. As I’ve said, it depends on the story and the story of Buddy Daddies only needs a “realistic” child to work around the energy it’s going for, and Miri as a plot device seems to work well enough in the show itself. However, given this and the way she is written, Miri's behavior will undeniably be shoved down to the viewers since she is also made to appeal using her "realism" as a kid. That's her whole schtick. Understandably, less tolerant viewers might not find her as adorable as the creators expected her to be, but for others, Miri, as a more general depiction of a 4-year-old, might actually be more relatable.
● Family story of two hitmen and a girl
With how Miri is written, Buddy Daddies expectedly centers its narrative around Kazuki and Rei’s struggles as parents and as individuals while Miri drives their motivation for change. This brought the series into a more grounded and familiar territory. Kazuki and Rei are hitmen and both are inexperienced at parenting (Rei more so) but the charm of the series lies within these moments, too, where the parents struggle to be parents.
The series is at its best when Kazuki and Rei interact with Miri. Both of Miri’s papas have rather good and heartfelt moments with her which solidifies a lot of the blooming relationship between parent and child. The shenanigans which ensue and the often emotional moments which it brings are what really shine in the show. Buddy Daddies also dwells on the more realistic aspects of parenting and this helps bring more of that sense of relatability to the show, especially for viewers who are parents or who are looking to be one.
Buddy Daddies also introduces a more non-traditional family setup given how two same-sex parents are taking care of a child. I find the concept of this quite refreshing within the anime childcare genre. Moreover, Kazuki and Rei being both Miri’s fathers weren’t made fun of or made to be different by other characters within the show. One can expect that sending Miri to daycare would bring in more questions and the typical homophobic remarks, but there was none of that. They made it feel normal because it is and I like that kind of representation (however, as I would tackle more below, the show also comes with quite a few issues of its own in this regard).
● Entertaining and spontaneous adoption
Buddy Daddies started with high energy and some absurd action moments in its first two episodes. P.A. Works fight scenes are mostly good and viewers might be reminded a bit of Akiba Maid War (another P.A. Works original from last season) whenever Kazuki and Rei do their hitman job. The show’s jazzy, spy-esque music also adds a lot to the energy of the series. There might be some minor gaps in the animation and the backgrounds are sparse especially when there are more movements but P.A. Works did a great job with the budget they had.
Going back to the story itself, Buddy Daddies seemed like a pure comedy at first glance. Indeed, the first two episodes give the vibe of a darkly comedic show with how nonchalant Rei kills off people, especially in the first episode where he killed Miri's father while the child happily jumped into Kazuki's arms. Killing off the father is a wild and spontaneous set of circumstances that contributed to the comedy and tone of the show but also added flimsiness to the "adoption" excuse, at least in the first two episodes.
Around Episode 3, we are introduced to Miri’s mother, Misaki, who sent her daughter alone to find her father. The writers show Misaki as regretful of her motherhood due to her difficult situation in life which gives her more nuance and promises a lot more from her character in future episodes (or perhaps not). Anyway, the main point of this episode is that it establishes the found family by giving a more valid reason why they should stay together. Behind the scenes, both Kazuki and Rei’s past played a role in their eventual decision. Kazuki decided to take in Miri due to his own wife and unborn child dying in the past while Rei, as shown in the flashback in the same episode, is reminded of his abusive father and how much he doesn’t want to be like him after Miri stated that the role of fathers is to protect their child. Since Miri’s mom won’t have her, Kazuki and Rei (although not explicitly) made the decision to take care of her in Episode 3 which solidifies the family right from the start.
I think Episode 3 is one of the show’s strongest episodes although I also felt that the family was easily established together by convenience and lack of commitment. For a show which focuses on parenting more realistically, I expected more struggle from Kazuki and Rei from letting Miri stay with them given their job and their past. I should say that the emotional attachment from the main trio is rather quick to establish without much constraint (more so for Kazuki who settled willingly into the “mother” role in the family) but I also acknowledge that this isn’t really a major gripe in the first part of the show. It also goes along with Buddy Daddies’ spontaneity and overall tone. However, this convenience and lack of commitment also reared its head stronger than before at the latter part of the series, and I think that’s where the show began to be quite disappointing.
● Rushed, sloppy and convenient drama
The latter part of the series is where the story shifts gears and ventures into a more serious route. Kazuki and Rei’s conflict as hitmen centers around whether they can change for the better. How they decide on this is the main focus of this part of the series. However, the convenience and lack of commitment I mentioned before are more apparent here since outside of its family and child-raising dynamics, everything feels less cohesive in terms of writing the more dramatic, hitmen aspect of the show.
What really disappointed me is how it handled its last few episodes. Frankly, the show started to reveal more of its loose structure in Episode 7 where it speedruns through Kazuki’s past and character conflict without much of the buildup. This episode also included two female characters, Kazuki’s wife and his sister-in-law, who are introduced within a single episode (with Kazuki’s wife revealed to die from a tragic incident) to just help resolve Kazuki’s grief and then promptly forgotten for the rest of the series. However, the final nail in the coffin is Miri’s mother, Misaki, being re-introduced in the latter part of the show.
Misaki came back after almost a year only to be revealed that she is now dying from cancer. The last time she was seen was in Episode 3 and although that episode gave a bit of nuance in regards to the role of a mother, especially in contrast to how Kazuki willingly became the “mom” of the household, it also felt like it leaned towards a more antagonistic view of the “irresponsible” mother. Anyway, not only did the show give Misaki cancer but also made her regret her choices and wish for change in regard to sending Miri away. The writers opted for a cheap sympathy move which became truer for Misaki since after giving the woman cancer, they also shoot her off in the next episode she was re-introduced!
Episode 11 is one of the worst episodes of the show because none of what happened there is necessary. Meaning, the family can still stay together without the already dying Misaki being killed off by another assassin. It just felt so much like tragedy for tragedy’s sake. It felt almost emotionally manipulative. But it was convenient, isn’t it? Now, Misaki cannot take away Miri from Kazuki and Rei. Now, the family can stay together without any difficulty or complexity. This also made me rethink the whole purpose of the show. There is nothing wrong with plot devices but when you have the majority of female characters in the story like Miri, Misaki, Yuzuko (Kazuki’s wife), and Karin (Kazuki’s sister-in-law) be mere plot devices to drive the development of the two male leads, I have to admit some bullshit. I can say the writing is bad especially when the choice to avoid the easy, convenient but problematic path is an option.
But what now? In the same episode, Kazuki and Rei announced that they are now going to become a real family! Very apt. The woman's body is not cold yet. But we shouldn’t care about how the family came together again this time (first by killing Miri’s dad, now by killing her mom). The most important thing is the found family being together again (we have to stay wholesome here, people!). Okay, so let's leave it as it is for the time being and discuss the finale of the show.
Rei’s final confrontation with his father leaves a lot to be desired. For context, Rei’s father was never shown to care about his son in the entire series (not like he’s present much anyway). But in the finale, Rei’s father seemed to have a change of heart. I understand Rei’s choice of not killing his father (defying the cycle of violence and all that) but one of my major criticism is that his father still feels unpunished, especially in contrast to how the story had treated Misaki. It is also assumed that after that confrontation, Rei’s father never bothered with the family again even though he had been shown as strict in acting on the organization’s ideals and had been a significant part of Rei’s trauma. Again with the show’s convenience and lack of commitment. It is quite disappointing from a writing standpoint, especially when it could have been more.
● The “Buddy” Daddies
There’s quite good development between Kazuki and Rei as individuals (Rei more so) and as parents to Miri. However, I felt like the show barely show us Kazuki and Rei growing together or caring for each other outside of being co-parents to Miri, even just platonically. To explain further, Kazuki and Rei had been living together even before Miri came into their lives. When Misaki came and took Miri away, I thought they will continue to stay together since even without the child, the two can be a family unit. I mean, what were those family developments for? But, disappointingly, the first thing they thought was to leave and pursue their separate goals. This made previous family moments ring hollow. There seemed to be no care between them. Not even a struggle to let the other leave.
I know we are not going to get an actual gay couple. P.A. Works had been forcing the narrative of Kazuki liking women from the first episode until the last (of course, bisexuality exists but given how P.A. Works had been shoving this narrative I don’t think so). However, I also felt that them being queerplatonic or just “buddies” (for the straights) was barely explored well enough either, especially given the way P.A. Works seemed afraid to depict them as “too gay” by not giving them actual moments to acknowledge their care for each other. It is just frustrating. The writers just can't commit to anything. In fact, almost all emotional moments in the show centered between Kazuki or Rei being with Miri but almost never without Miri. There are some moments in the end but it also felt sudden and half-baked given how unexplored it is in previous episodes.
I also expected a bit more balance and less heteronormative view in the household roles. I mean, Rei did improve, to be fair, but for most of the show, Kazuki is obviously given the role of the stereotypical mother in anime. It did lend to the comedy but again, it could have been more. Honestly, everything could have been more in this show, and I wish it did since I actually enjoyed it overall. But it ended without lasting impact. There is no feeling of it being earned. The lack of commitment and the extreme amount of conveniences just made me disappointed.
● I guess, a summary of this review:
Could Miri’s character be more than just a plot device? Yes.
Did the series successfully show Kazuki and Rei as buddies? No.
Did the series successfully show Kazuki and Rei as gay? No.
So, what are they? Gay.
Do you think the show handled Misaki well? No.
Is the ending rushed? Yes.
Are you disappointed with the show? Yes.
Do you think Buddy Daddies could be better? Definitely.
Did you still enjoy it? Yes.
Do you think there will be another season? I don’t think so.
Hellmika
Eng: I was soooo sad when I saw that this anime is only for one season! It's one of those animes that you watch and leave with a warm heart and a sugary mouth, the two daddies are so cute even though they're not a gay couple, still, the story is very interesting, it has its degree of emotion and plots, because at the beginning of the anime you're like: "Omg how cute!!!" In the end, you're crying hahah but anyway, Buddy Daddies is one of the best anime about family and don't even tell me that it's a copy of Spy x Family because theyare COMPLETELY different, the only thing in common is having a little girl as the protagonist. If you're having a bad day, watch this anime, I'm sure seeing Papa Rei and Kazuki taking care of little Miri and her saying she loves them will make you happy again.
Pt-Br:
Eu fiquei tãoooo triste quando vi que esse
anime é de apenas uma temporada! Ele é um daqueles animes que você assiste e sai com o coração quentinho e com a boca açucarada, os dois papais são tão fofos mesmo não sendo um casal gay, ainda sim, é bem interessante a história, tem seu grau de emoção e plots, pois no início do anime você está: "Omg que fofos!!!" No final, você está chorando hahah mas enfim, Buddy Daddies é um dos melhores animes sobre família e nem venha me falar que é uma cópia de Spy x Family pois eles são COMPLETAMENTE diferentes, a única coisa em comum é ter uma menininha como protagonista. Se você está tendo um dia ruim, assista esse anime, tenho certeza que ver Papa Rei e Kazuki cuidando da pequena Miri e ela dizendo que os ama vai te deixar feliz novamente.
melissachansan
In my opinion, Buddy Daddies defies expectations as the original anime of the season. Often compared to Spy X Family or generic BL tropes, it is some of but simultaneously none of that. Refreshingly, its take on the meaning of family, responsibility and love are taken seriously, despite its hilarious premise, and does not shy away from its dark themes. Buddy Daddies contains a perfect balance of heart-warming family scenes, incredibly attractive characters and graphic violence with fairly realistic consequences (aside from how and why Rei never gets turned into honeycomb). For those not comfortable with brightly coloured, well animated but bloody bloody fight scenes,that may not be for you. But for the young adult audience who doesn’t mind a few adult moments or aren’t triggered by LOTS of guns, you will have a blast. Heck, it even makes me want to have a child for myself. If the Japanese government have sponsored this anime to entice people to raise families, it’s nearly working. Masterpiece indeed!
Vinyl_Senpai
This show is extremely entertaining. I know a lot of people hate on this show for riding on the same coat tails as Spy x Family, but you should definitely not judge this show for that sole reason. This show is extremely well paced, and it has great dub, and sub. The visuals are nothing short of perfect, the comedy is extremely effective, and over all I had a lot of fun laughing my way through the show. Also when the action kicks in it does not hold back which I commend. The only detraction from the show is the lack of action when thechild comes into the picture, I wish the two main characters professional life didn't take as much of a backseat as it did, but this was needed in order to bond the three main characters closer together.
Love this show, definitely check it out!
Paul-A-Bear
When I was first recommended this anime by someone, I thought it weird at first. I mean you can't blame me with a name Buddy Daddies. However, it looked really cute and wholesome so I decided I want to try it out! What I got was something unexpected, a combination of both cute and butt-kicking action. Lets get some reviews outta the way! Firstly the story of this anime was pretty well created and progressed well through the anime. I love how the anime just went straight into the action while slowly unfolding the truths and pasts of our beloved characters. I don't know howone can make such a profession seem like a decent way of life :o The characters themselves are unique and have their own characteristics. I absolutely love their personalities and the way they act.
I think that this anime really surpassed my expectations, and I gradually fell in love with this show and was just waiting every week for a new episode! The final episode really got me as well, with that certain end scene and I ust love when shows include that <3
SolalAnime
Unlike "Spy x Family", "Buddy Daddies" is a one season anime, so the story is shorter. In Spy x Family the story is slow and no character evolves, unlike Buddy Daddies which shows us the evolution of each character during the anime. (especially in episodes 7, 8 and 12.) The story, the characters and especially the ending of this anime are fabulous! Animation- 7/10 (the animation is ok) Art Style- 8/10 (the style of the anime is like "Link Click") Story- 9/10 (the story is like "Spy x Family" but its still original) Characters- 9/10 (Rei is a really good character) OP- 8/10 ED-8/10 End- 10/10 (perfect end)This is my first review.
rea
NGL I was hesitating to watch this anime (not a fan of bl), well i'm glad that it's not gay. There's no hint of a romance between the two "daddies", they just live together. There aren't even any cringe gay-baiting moments or jokes, and no character in the show automatically assumes they are in a relationship when they see them with a little girl who calls them both "papa". The first thing anyone brings up when talking about Buddy Daddies is that it’s like Spy X Family, and while I get that sentiment, there are quite a few fundamental differences between the two. Whereas SpyX Family takes a more comedic approach to the primary family unit with some fun and suspenseful spy thrown in, Buddy Daddies feels far more real. Kazuki, Miri, and Rei slowly become a family not out of convenience but rather thanks to the genuine bond that they can feel taking shape between them. Despite its short thirteen-episode run, i can say that Buddy Daddies dedicates enough time to its three main characters and most important that their development to have the viewer getting teary-eyed and feeling. I love how the anime just went straight into the action while slowly unfolding the truths and pasts of our beloved characters. Yes, I'm giving this a 10, if you ask me which one i like more between spyxfam or this, i can say buddy daddies win. Well ofc i love both of the anime but i feel buddy daddies more interesting for me personally, buddy daddies contains a perfect balance of heart-warming family scenes, incredibly attractive characters and graphic violence with fairly realistic consequences. I really enjoy the animation and aesthetics of this anime. It's colorful and everything/everybody stands out.
Aragane
"Buddy Daddies" is an original anime series that fails to deliver the action it promised but instead offers one of the most wholesome experiences that an anime can give. Not to say that the action is not well animated or such, as we are talking about studio P. A. Works here. Much like Jackie Chan's The Spy Next Door from 2010, the show isn't about the action, although anything that has him tends to have action choreography nonetheless. So, animation quality-wise, the studio did not fall short in that aspect. The story follows two men, Rei and Kazuki, who use their respective abilities to dovarious tasks in the underworld of Japan. In fact, both are highly valued professionals. That is until a girl named Miri enters their life. The narrative is fascinating and well-written. It has a sufficient ratio of action, comedy, and character growth.
While the animation and character designs are more than mediocre, the battles are not that scary or exciting. There is a significant lack of stakes in most of the fights, and the overpowered abilities of the protagonists make it worse, leaving some bored. But at least the comedy and Miri's cuteness salvage the viewers' interest.
One of the standout parts of the series is its execution of the premise. Even a Jackie Chan movie from more than a decade ago has many similar points to this show. But this show has developed its story in a neatly packaged arc that finished in a single season.
The sound effects and music, while being acceptable, do not add that much excitement or intensity to the show. The voice acting is praiseworthy, with some actors, like Miri's, sounding like they fit the age and character. The opening and ending themes might be one of the few things that haven't failed to amuse me each time. "SHOCK!" by Ayase might be one of my favorite openings this season.
The characters themselves are engaging and well-developed. Rei and Kazuki are not just one-dimensional criminals. They have depth and complexity that might make them relatable. Miri is not just a token mascot character, and as a daughter adds so much to the story.
Overall, "Buddy Daddies" is a show that will disappoint viewers if they seek the actions and those Shounen factors in it. This is a well-executed original anime, although it might appeal more to older audiences. So if you're looking for more thrill and excitement, look elsewhere, as this is a comfy show at its heart.
Black4Cat13
Two homies taking care of a child is one of my favourite troupes (Found Family!) so of course this anime warmed my heart! It's a very nice chilling anime with some action and drama, enough to make the story interesting. Also, taking care of this little gremlin will be chaotic so I find myself laughing with the scenarios and the daddies reactions. For me, the music is catchy, the animation is good enough, the main characters very lovable and the story is fine. If you're looking for a life-changing/epic/deep anime, this is NOT for that. Just enjoy some wholesome interactions and relax!
hontonides
Buddy Daddies made by PA Works. The anime was great, is a Wholesome Slice of Life anime with some blood Action added. The anime talks about the importance of family, regardless of being blood related or not. The animation was really nice as well for the story. Since it is an OG anime i thought it was going to be bad but it was actually well done IMO The Voice acting was good, specially Miri's Voice (one of the main charac.), like really really nice voice acting. OST was mellow which i like with a jazz type of beat. The Opening and Ending theme werenice too, but for me it was the Ending theme that I enjoyed listening the most .
I had fun watching this anime ,it was very wholesome IMO
Overall the anime was good, the anime only have 12 Eps which you can binge watch in one sit and i dont think youll regret it. :)
EnshourT_
This series made me act like a parent even though im still incredibly young, the power of a child really brings out your parent instincts. This is such an amazing show, just seeing your own child grow by your side is already the best if not, one of the best feeling you could have as a parent along with seeing her/him smile and be happy. So far I prefer this over Spy X Family, the premise is almost the same but the Relationship between the three of them is way more precious, and their circumstances are better in my book than its supposedly "Rival" Spyx Family.
I really like the fact the child acts like a child, extremely annoying, in high spirits, too much energy it feels way more believable and grounded of sorts, but its not her that made me like this show, its the dads. Them trying to adapt a new life creating this so called "family" is just way too stimulating for me. The thought of being able to raise a child, witnessing the ups and downs and cherishing those moments is extremely wholesome.
The emotional parts hits where it really hit, the wholesome parts also hit where it hits, the partnership/dynamic of the dads along with the daughter is just adorable.
It is similar to Spy x Family but don't compare both for your own enjoyment and either one is by no means better than the other.
For an Original Anime this was really surprising, it exceeded my expectations and thoroughly enjoyed it. A solid 9 or just high 8 and thank you for this short review.
RudolfTostarrica
I was pleasantly surprised by Buddy Daddies. It delivers much more than I expected in almost every aspect. It remains interesting, tender, and relaxing throughout its duration. I love the dynamics between the characters. Between the two protagonists, between each of them and Miri, between Miri and any other character... The ones involved in the crime, the daycare characters... Even Miri's mother has her own little arc and charisma. They are all well-developed, and it's very enjoyable to see how their relationships evolve. The art and animation are high quality and perfectly match the tone of the series. All the settings have a lot of charm. Iloved that there are many details from real life, such as all the logistics involved in living with a young child. The paperwork and the difficulty of enrolling them in daycare, the need for various specific items that you wouldn't otherwise buy, and having everything labeled with their name... They have also made the conflict that arises from living with someone who doesn't want to do their share of the housework.
The gold star is for creating the most realistic characterization of a 4-year-old girl (if not the only one). Miri feels like a real child (fun, respectful, and intelligent... in other words, a minority in our society) in the way she behaves and reacts. They have completely avoided the common and disgusting lolicon tendency that we often see in anime, and at the same time, they have added many details that bring her to life and give her personality. The main success has been adding enough childlike characteristics without exaggerating them.
On the other hand, the premise is a bit misleading, in my opinion. The headline "two hitmen adopt a 4-year-old girl" sounds like a bad joke, but most of the time they are not working. Their work doesn't seem to affect them mentally in any way (Rei has family problems, not problems because he's a hitman), and they don't have any run-ins with the law or with the relatives or associates of their victims... They could have been bank robbers, poker players, brokers, or Vodafone salespeople. It only takes someone from their work environment to hold a grudge against them and cause problems in their family trio to produce a similar effect.
For me, the weakest aspect is the one related to the criminal world, especially the action. Not very believable. It seems like an American movie, with the bad guys shooting far away from the protagonists, who always have the luck that everything turns out well for them. It's not bad per se, but it doesn't stand out and even has some incredibly unrealistic situations. For example, an experienced hitman holds a shotgun, has the protagonist less than 5 meters away, and misses several shots... The reason? Just to continue the series...
There is too much contrast between the two facets of the protagonists' lives. The mundane life of living together as friends and taking care of the house, as well as a 4-year-old girl, is well portrayed. Importance is given to the little things that eventually have an impact and are relatable to everyone. Meanwhile, the part of "being a hitman who kills whoever they are told to in order to earn a living and live in a luxury apartment with all the comforts one desires" is almost treated as a joke. It's not poorly executed enough to detract from the series, but the truth is that, for me, it was unnecessary.
Despite noticing the flaws I mentioned, I really enjoyed this little anime, which turned out to be a great surprise. One of those short, interesting, well-executed, and well-rounded ones.
queenbananya
Spectacular. This little show brought so much more than anyone expected. Don't let it fool you into thinking it's just a funny SOL-- it is, but that's not there is to it. It's also about love. About family. About healing and grief, About letting yourself move on with life when you don't think you deserve it. Embracing and seeking change, for yourself and those that are important to you. All in 12 episodes, amongst laughter, tears, squeals and groans when the much too realistic 4 year old spills the laundry detergent and ruins breakfast. This show isn't perfect. It doesn’t have enough time to resolveall the plot within 12 episodes, it aims for realism in some aspects, while a more unrealistic approach might have worked better, or vise versa. Some might find switches from the lighthearted scenes to the serious ones (we ARE dealing with two assassins, and the show does not forget this, even if you do) bizarre, but they are intentional to highlight the kind of life our two mains lead. Assassins during the day, where their life could end at any given day, while at home, their domestic life awaits, seeming almost like a fantasy.
And yet, despite its flaws, the end result is a beatiful, heart-wrenching depicture of two broken men whom, with the unexpected help of a little girl, learn to change. To even want to change. Hadn't considered such a thing was possible. Mundane happiness wasn't the sort of things assassins could attain. But they crave it. One of them does (Kazuki). The other, Rei, who had never known an ounce of familial love in his life, who did not even know how to smile--cheers, eventually. Screams at the top of his lungs for his little girl at a school event. The growth of this character is tremendous. Ah, excuse me while I cry over the scene again.
All in all, wonderful, wonderful show. I'd recommend it to anyone.
karpuzi
A very sweet and heart-warming story about two men from traumatic backgrounds and a dangerous life finding love and happiness with their unexpected, very cheerful little daughter. This anime, while at first expected to just be a funny, light-hearted story, also deals surprisingly well with trauma, especially familial. When I first started watching Buddy Daddies, I expected a casual, silly watch, with occasional fun fight scenes, not unlike Spy x Family. It's still quite fun and endearing, don't get me wrong, but I was (pleasantly) surprised by the sadder storylines that came along. I guess it was to be expected that two men that workas hitmen wouldn't have the happiest of backgrounds. I believe showing realistic depictions of how trauma can affect someone, no matter how long it's been, and how it's important to stop generational trauma, is very important and human. Maybe if you want something lighter and less emotional this might come off as a bit too heavy for you.
The growth of the two main characters is very well written. You can see them slowly getting their life together and becoming happier and more affectionate as the story goes on. It's also amusing to watch them go from a new-parent-panic to a proper family.
The anime not only shows a same-sex parent family in a positive light (which is very important), but it also highlights how past trauma shouldn't forbid people from moving on, having a family, and being happy.
When it comes to original anime without a manga to be based off of, it tends to be a gamble. But this anime has great art and animation, as well as endearing (and realistic) characters and an interesting story.
A lovely watch, overall, that will make you both laugh and cry. Expect to get attached to this little family!
SamayuJung
Spy X Family but with crime, mystery, childcare... no this is just like Spy X Family. This review would not be written if it didn't feel fit that Buddy Daddies (2023) deserved some recognition. The plot follows two bros working together in crime who happen upon a child wondering amongst their care. But one thing that can be appreciated, is that the child actually acts and speaks like one. Even with no manga, the anime tells the story with perfect pacing. While hardcore fans of Buddy Daddies do wish the series was longer, The anime does it's job and is entertaining at least. All three castmembers felt well rounded and had some depth to their character. They all felt realistic and relatable and it was enjoyable getting further along through the series to get to learn more about them and their lore. Each character had a different design to match their personality.
The conclusion to the series felt neat and not rushed. The ending felt satisfying and there were not any plot holes.
Furthermore, Buddy Daddies (2023) was a great addition to the Winter 2023 lineup. I will most likely re-watch it soon, and can strongly recommend it to any anime fan.
OrdinaryOp
As a "rival" to Spy x Family, Bubby Daddies has much in common. However, I'd like to say that even though I really like Spy x Family, I'd much prefer rewatching this over that latter. The humor is balanced and doesn't seemed forced and isn't over the top as it is in Spy x Family. The main characters Kazuki, Rei and even Miri are very likable and are more than just their generic tropes. Miri especially, as she is one, if not the best portrayal of a child I've seen in anime. She's very realistic, with interests, how curious she is and how she actswith other characters. I especially like what Kazuki and Rei go through to provide for her and the struggles of learning to parent a child. They don't just "get the hang of it" day one and that is as realistic as it can get with real life.
Animation- 8/10 (Honestly, I expected the animation to be clunky and not very good, but I was pleasantly surprised!)
Art Style- 7.5/10 (Not the most unique art style, however, nothing to scoff at.)
Story- 8.5/10
Characters- 9/10 (The character development with both Kazuki and Rei was probably the best thing to watch through this anime. Especially Rei's. He's easily my favorite character.)
End- 10/10
This anime had me kicking my feet, smiling and even ranting to a friend in ways other anime's haven't. If you're just looking for a comfy anime with a found family aspect and lovable characters, Buddy Daddies can and is the next anime for you!
