Buddy Daddies – Anime Review & Episode Guide

Kazuki and Rei are professional assassins working together as a team. Kazuki is the brains of the operations, whereas Rei brings skilled gunmanship. Their handler, Kyu, pretends to run a bar as a facade. Secretly, Kazuki and Rei meet with him to collect intel on their upcoming missions.

In addition, Kazuki and Rei are roommates who share an apartment flat. Kazuki does most of the household errands. He is a talented chef who enjoys preparing daily meals. In contrast, Rei barely contributes. He is a shut-in who enjoys playing video games or exercising in his free time. His latest gaming obsession is Morio Kart 2.

For the latest assignment, Kazuki and Rei must assassinate the leader of a human trafficking organization. The undercover mission goes awry when a young child suddenly appears near them, throwing the plan into chaos. Despite the disruption, Kazuki and Rei successfully murder their target. However, they discover the little girl is the estranged daughter of the dead man. Since she has witnessed the gunfight, Kazuki and Rei don't want the police to find her. Instead, they adopt the orphaned kid and become her caregiver.

The four-year-old girl is Miri. She used to live with her mother. However, Miri's mom abandoned her and instructed the child to live with her dad instead. Miri was supposed to contact her father at the hotel, but the assassins killed him before their family reunion. Kazuki and Rei don't know how to get in touch with Miri's mother, who is a secret mistress. They try to get information from Kyu. However, he is upset after their latest botched mission. Kazuki and Rei decide to keep Miri's existence a secret.

Miri brings much liveliness to Kazuki and Rei's lives. These two single men are inexperienced with parenting, so Miri presents many new challenges. They struggle to do their work and care for her needs simultaneously. Despite the complexities of raising a child, Miri grows close to her two guardians. She likes calling them Papa Kazuki and Papa Rei. Over time, the three form a close relationship, developing an unusual family unit. Kazuki and Rei cherish Miri, treating her like their actual daughter.

Buddy Daddies has earned the reputation as the BL version of Spy x Family. Both stories contain similar themes around crime and parenting. They also include quirky comedy, endearing characters, and heartwarming interactions. However, a notable difference is that Buddy Daddies features a male pairing who shares fatherhood responsibilities. The series challenges the tradition that a family must consist of one man and one woman. Instead, it showcases a child raised in a loving home with two same-sex guardians.

Buddy Daddies focuses on the joys, challenges, and chaos of parenthood. Raising a child can be a stressful experience, which the anime depicts comically. The plots are typically mundane, like a field trip to the zoo or the first day of preschool. Yet, the series injects its signature lighthearted humour to bring these everyday scenarios to life with hilarity. Each zany episode contains cheerful jokes, silly mischief, and entertaining mishaps. Beyond the playful antics, Buddy Daddies emphasizes sentimental ideas about nurturing family bonds.

The anime's strength lies in its endearing protagonists. Every character has a well-defined personality marked by charming eccentricities. Kazuki brings lots of paternal warmth and boisterous energy. His over-the-top reactions are often the source of comedy. Rei complements his partner with a dry, sarcastic demeanour, adding deadpan humour to their exchanges. As the antithesis of parenthood, his growth as a caregiver is a riveting journey. The heart and soul of Buddy Daddies is the adorable Miri. Her childlike sweetness serves as the heartwarming centrepiece of the story.

I appreciate the implicit LGBTQ+ messaging embedded in Buddy Daddies. The series never outright expresses that Kazuki and Rei are a gay couple. In fact, their interactions remain platonic without even a hint of homoeroticism. Yet, the anime takes a subtle stance by validating Miri's bond with her fathers. She recognizes these two men as her parents despite having no blood relation. They live happily together, sharing many scenes of domestic bliss. Buddy Daddies speaks volumes about gay parenting and chosen families without labelling the storylines as such.

Despite its LGBTQ+ undertones, Buddy Daddies is not a BL anime series. There's zero romance between the male leads, whose relationship never goes beyond co-parents. At most, they have a platonic bromance. In fact, the story confirms Kazuki's attraction to women multiple times. He never gives any inclination to seeing Rei as more than just a buddy, and vice versa. From a BL perspective, Buddy Daddies is unsatisfying. It focuses on other aspects of their relationship, such as trust and mutual support. Yet, the story offers no possibility of fantasizing about them as lovers.

Since my reviews are focused on BL, I must dock points from Buddy Daddies for its lack of romance. I have watched other stories about gay parenting that express their themes boldly. In contrast, this series alludes to the concept without making a definitive statement. Many anime fans are so starved for BL that they champion Buddy Daddies, interpreting tiny morsels as representation. However, the limited content isn't enough to please me. I still enjoy this delightful series for its charm, humour, and enthusiasm. Overall, it's a solid anime that leaves a positive impression.