Tadaima, Okaeri – Anime Review & Episode Guide

Masaki and Hiromu are a happily married gay couple. The two met during university, fell in love, and started a family together. They have one son, Hikari, an adorable toddler with boundless enthusiasm. Masaki and Hiromu are proud parents who cherish their child. They constantly dote on Hikari, showering him with love and attention. Whenever Hikari does anything, even the tiniest gesture, his parents celebrate as if they've just witnessed a significant milestone.

Masaki is a stay-at-home parent whose primary responsibility is raising his son. He spends time with Hikari each day, attending to his every need. As a result, Hikari has formed a deep attachment to Masaki. Hikari's affectionate nickname for Misaki is "Ma-cha". Hiromu is a working parent in a corporate job. After work, he's delighted to return home and enjoy bonding time with his family. Hikari admires Hiromu and views him as his hero. His nickname for Hiromu is "Papa".

In this universe, each human is born into different societal classes. Hiromu is an "alpha", a privileged class with a well-respected reputation. His husband Masaki is an "omega". One of Masaki's distinctive features is that he can be impregnated and give birth as a man. However, omegas are viewed as less superior than alphas in society. Many acquaintances have negative reactions when they discover Masaki is an omega. His marriage is also frowned upon since Hiromu had been expected to marry another alpha, not an omega.

Due to Masaki's status as an omega, he frequently faces prejudice. Masaki and Hiromu moved away from their old home because the environment was hostile. They relocated into a pleasant suburban neighbourhood, hoping the conditions would be suitable for raising a family. Thankfully, their neighbours are supportive. Masaki and Hiromu befriend Yuki, a college dropout living next door. Yuki forms an unexpected friendship with Hikari and enjoys spending time with the toddler. Hiromu's coworker, Matsuo, also visits the couple and keeps them company.

Tadaima, Okaeri stands out due to its positive depiction of same-sex parenting. I'm astonished to see a married gay couple raising a child in a suburban neighbourhood, which defies the traditional family structure in Japanese society. While the story leans into many cliches, it's still refreshing in a genre with no other representation. Some anime titles are reluctant to confirm that two men are in love, whereas Tadaima, Okaeri breaks cultural barriers and celebrates same-sex families. Wow, this series is incredibly bold!

As a slice-of-life anime, Tadaima, Okaeri focuses on lighthearted antics. Each episode contains playful moments that capture the joys of raising a child, like playing hide-and-seek or decorating a Christmas tree. Hikari, the wide-eyed toddler, is an adorable rascal! From the endearing speech pattern to the enthusiastic reactions, his childlike innocence will make you giggle. Other scenes depict the family's domestic routine. Masaki and Himoru meet neighbours, make friends, and settle into a cozy suburban life. The series emphasizes their ordinary habits, portraying them as a well-adjusted married couple.

Tadaima, Okaeri can be sickeningly sentimental. It's heavy-handed with delivering positive affirmations, inspirational messages, and saccharine dialogue. For me, the sappiness is too much. The series has only one flavour, and its excessive sweetness becomes stale. The story fails to create dramatic tension because every conflict is resolved happily, often with a neatly packaged moral lesson. If there's a sad moment, a character will offer reassurances five seconds later. Tadaima, Okaeri suffers from predictability since it always chooses the feel-good outcome.

Tadaima, Okaeri is one of the first BL omegaverse anime series. Full disclosure: I'm not well-versed in this niche. I only have a basic grasp of A/B/O lore. Despite my limited knowledge, I understand the story enough without feeling confused. The series explains most concepts, and my imagination fills the rest of the gaps. Basically, Masaki belongs to the "omega" class, which society considers inferior. One of the unique traits is that he can give birth as a man. Omegaverse stories polarize the community due to the problematic tropes, but I don't know enough to comment.

From my perspective, Tadaima, Okaeri seems inoffensive. The anime sanitized its plot to appeal to a mainstream audience, so I never felt uncomfortable. The omegaverse backstory adds complexity to the narrative, especially in the later episodes. A prominent topic is discrimination. As Masaki and Hiromu face various forms of prejudice, there are parallels to the hardships that same-sex families encounter in real life. I appreciate the social commentary. Even though Tadaima, Okaeri started as a slice-of-life comedy, it reveals substance beneath the cheerful exterior.

The last few episodes focus on an intriguing storyline. While the drama lasts longer than usual, the plot still suffers from simplicity and doesn't explore its themes deeply. For the most part, I don't overthink during this series. Instead, I laugh at the lighthearted jokes and gush over the cute exchanges. I also grow attached to the characters and feel comforted by their family love. It's empowering to see this happily married gay couple thriving as parents. Although the storytelling may be too basic, Tadaima, Okaeri is still an enjoyable BL anime with heartwarming charm.