Family bonds are often at the heart of great anime stories. One of the most poignant relationships explored in many anime series is that between father and daughter. There is something universally moving about watching the dynamics between a father trying to raise and connect with his young girl. Anime series that delves into father-daughter relationships captures all the laughter,growth, conflicts, and tears that come with parenthood.
10 Best Anime About Family
From Summer Wars to Spy x Family, here are some of the best anime shows about family that you should be watching right now!
Many of the most beloved and critically acclaimedslice-of-life anime serieshave highlighted father-daughter relationships and the journey of those characters growing closer. The anime genre allows these stories to play out in poignant, exaggerated, and relatable ways all at once. Each series brings its own humor, drama, and insight into families while also capturing the unique wonder of little girls and challenges for fathers.
8Nagomu & Itsuka (Deaimon)
My Anime List (MAL) Score - 7.6
Deaimon: Recipe for Happiness
Why Watch Deaimon?
Deaimon: Recipe for Happiness serves up a slice of life with a sprinkle of sweetness, where the secret ingredient is the tender, evolving bond between anot-quite-father and an almost-daughter. When Nagomu returns to Kyoto to run his family sweet shop, he finds a little girl, Itsuka, waiting for him.
The story is all about Nagomu trying to figure out his place in the family business again and forming a bond with Itsuka, who’s super passionate about becoming a master at making delicious treats. This balanced storytelling helps viewers connect with the characters on a personal level. It’s a pretty chill series that gives you a peek into life in Kyoto, the ins and outs of a sweet shop, and the ups and downs of being like a family.
Release Date
Episode Count
Where To Watch
Aug 06, 2025
CRUNCHYROLL
7Kirishima & Yaeka (The Yakuza’s Guide to Babysitting)
My Anime List (MAL) Score - 7.8
The Yakuza’s Guide to Babysitting
Why Watch The Yakuza’s Guide to Babysitting?
The Yakuza’s Guide to Babysitting is the kind of story that takes the hard edges of a crime syndicate’s world and rounds them out with the unexpected softness of a makeshift family. Kirishima Tooru is the main guy here, and he’s known for being the Demon of Sakuragi. Yet, life has a funny way of throwing curveballs, and Tooru’s comes in the form of a little girl named Yaeka. She’s the daughter of his boss, and now, his boss wants him to be her babysitter. Talk about a career change!
This anime is all about the day-to-day hilarity and heartwarming moments that happen when a man, used to living by a code of fists and fear, has to navigate the world of bedtime stories, school lunches, and tearful outbursts over scraped knees. Tooru and Yaeka’s relationship is the heart of the show as they both navigate this new dynamic. She teaches him that there’s more to life than theyakuza’s code, and he learns what it means to truly care for someone else.
Jun 14, 2025
6Kakushi & Hime (Kakushigoto)
My Anime List (MAL) Score - 8.0
Kakushigoto
Why Watch Kakushigoto?
Kakushigoto is an anime that mixes a dash of secrecy with a generous helping of heart. The title is a play on words that can mean hidden things but also sounds like a father’s job when spoken aloud in Japanese, and it’s also the main character’s name, Goto Kakushi, making it a pun that reflects the central theme of the show.
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Kakushigoto is a heartfelt romp through the lengths a parent will go to protect their child’s innocence, all while juggling the colorful chaos of the manga industry. The parent is a manga artist known for his somewhat inappropriate and vulgar content. Meanwhile, Hime herself is a beacon of blissful ignorance and the source of Kakushi’s inspiration and worry.
Jul 18, 2025
AMAZON PRIME VIDEO
5Maruo Nakano & The Quintuplets (The Quintessential Quintuplets)
The Quintessential Quintuplets
Why Watch The Quintessential Quintuplets?
The Quintessential Quintuplets is about the story of Fuutaro Uuesegi as he embarks on aharemrom-comadventure, tutoring the Nakano quintuplets—Ichika, Nino, Miku, Yotsuba, and Itsuki—who are as beautiful as they are abysmal at academics. Yet, the narrative delves as much into the complexities of father-daughter bonds as it does into its romantic and humorous elements.
Maruo Nakano, the girls' stepfather, is a successful but distant doctor who hires Futaro in hopes of securing academic success for his daughters. He’s strict, very much into discipline, and expects results, a stark contrast to the more carefree personalities of the quintuplets. The series touches on the idea that family relationships are complex and that love can be shown in many different ways, even if not always understood or appreciated. The Quintessential Quintuplets is a story filled with comedic moments, misunderstandings, and emotional turns.
Season Count
Jun 09, 2025
4Dale & Latina (If It’s for My Daughter, I’d Even Defeat a Demon Lord)
My Anime List (MAL) Score - 7.1
If It’s for My Daughter, I’d Even Defeat a Demon Lord
Why Watch If It’s for My Daughter, I’d Even Defeat a Demon Lord?
If It’s for My Daughter, I’d Even Defeat a Demon Lord is a heartstring-tugging tale that throws a seasoned adventurer into the unexpected role of a parent. Dale, a highly skilled adventurer known for taking down the fiercest of monsters, stumbles upon a tiny, adorabledemongirl named Latina in the forest. She’s been abandoned and has a broken horn, which sparks an instant protective instinct in him.
The series, which is both an anime and a light novel, is a charming mash-up of fantasy adventure and sweet slice-of-life. The title isn’t just a catchy phrase; it’s a literal declaration of Dale’s commitment to Latina. He’s willing to lay down his sword, turn his back on the adventurer’s life, and, yes, even take on a demon lord if it means keeping her safe and smiling.
Jun 15, 2025
3Loid & Anya (Spy X Family)
My Anime List (MAL) Score - 8.5
Spy x Family
Why Watch Spy X Family?
Loid & Anya are thedynamic duoat the heart of the hit series Spy X Family, which cleverly blends the thrills of espionage with the quirks of domestic comedy. The anime follows the story of Loid Forger, a master spy who operates under the codename Twilight, and his adopted daughter, Anya, who, unbeknownst to him, is a telepath with the ability to read minds.
Anya is the wildcard in the family dynamic, often using her telepathy to stay one step ahead or to inadvertently create more trouble for Loid. Despite her powers, she desperately wants to help Loid with his mission and maintain her newfound family. The interplay between Loid and Anya is central to the charm of Spy x Family. Their scenes often oscillate between touching moments of genuine connection and laugh-out-loud instances of subterfuge gone awry.
Jul 15, 2025
2Daikichi & Rin (Usagi Drop)
My Anime List (MAL) Score - 8.4
Bunny Drop
Why Watch Usagi Drop?
Usagi Drop is a story that captures the unexpected shifts life can throw at you, distilled in the form of a charming and deeply moving anime series. It begins with Daikichi Kawachi, a30-year-old bachelorwith a comfortable but unremarkable life, who attends his grandfather’s funeral only to discover that the old man left behind a 6-year-old daughter named Rin. In a whirlwind of emotion and against the reservations of his more traditionally-minded relatives, Daikichi impulsively decides to take Rin into his care.
What follows is a beautiful and touching portrayal of what it means to be family. The narrative is a tender exploration of the day-to-day adjustments, challenges, and joys of raising a child. Daikichi’s journey is one of self-discovery and selflessness as he steps into the role of a parent. The anime navigates through his transformation from a single man with no child-rearing experience to a devoted guardian who rearranges his life for the sake of Rin.
Jul 08, 2025
Crunchyroll
My Anime List (MAL) Score - 8.9
Clannad: After Story
Why Watch Clannad: After Story?
Ushio and Tomoya’s relationship in Clannad: After Story is a deeply moving part of what many consider to be one of the mostemotionally impactful animeseries ever created. After a series of heart-wrenching events, including Nagisa’s death during childbirth, Tomoya becomes a single father to their daughter, Ushio. Initially, Tomoya is overwhelmed by grief and unable to properly care for Ushio, leading him to entrust her to Nagisa’s parents.
The story takes a turn when Tomoya finally decides to take responsibility and form a bond with his daughter. Tomoya’s character growth is evident as he learns to overcome his past, his fears, and his sorrow to become a loving and devoted father. Ushio, with her innocent charm and resemblance to Nagisa, becomes the catalyst for Tomoya to confront his pain and find redemption in parenthood. Their interactions range from bittersweet to uplifting, showcasing the healing power of family and the resilience of the human spirit.
