Buddy Daddies

Buddy Daddies is an original Japanese anime action comedy television series animated by P.A. Works and produced by Aniplex and Nitroplus. It was directed by Yoshiyuki Asai and written by Vio Shimokura of Nitroplus, Yūko Kakihara and Yasuhiro Nakanishi, with Katsutoshi Kitagawa of Round Table composing the music. Katsumi Enami provided the original character designs, and Souichirou Sako adapted the designs for animation while also serving as chief animation director along with Sanae Satō. It aired from January to April 2023, on Tokyo MX and other networks.

Plot
Buddy Daddies centers on a family of three who are not related to each other: Kazuki Kurusu and Rei Suwa, assassins who live under one roof; and a little girl, Miri. She is the daughter of Kazuki and Rei's assassination target who ends up being picked up by Kazuki. After killing their target, Kazuki tells Miri that he is her father, to protect Miri from the truth.

Characters

 * Kazuki Kurusu (来栖一騎)
 * He is a 28-year-old assassin. Rei's assassin buddy who takes care of him. On duty, he focuses on collecting information in advance, and executing the plan. He has good communication skills, and likes gambling. He is good at cooking and cleaning. He had a wife, Yuzuko, who was pregnant with his child, but lost them due to an accident related to one of his missions.
 * He is a 28-year-old assassin. Rei's assassin buddy who takes care of him. On duty, he focuses on collecting information in advance, and executing the plan. He has good communication skills, and likes gambling. He is good at cooking and cleaning. He had a wife, Yuzuko, who was pregnant with his child, but lost them due to an accident related to one of his missions.


 * Rei Suwa (諏訪零)
 * He is a 25-year-old assassin who works alongside Kazuki, and becomes close friends with him. He specialises in combat on missions and tends to go over the top. He lets his hair down when off-duty and lives a hikikomori lifestyle, playing video games all night and sleeping during the day. He does not smile, due to his abusive upbringing by his father, the head of an assassin family. He slowly warms up to Miri and accepts his role as one of her fathers alongside Kazuki.
 * He is a 25-year-old assassin who works alongside Kazuki, and becomes close friends with him. He specialises in combat on missions and tends to go over the top. He lets his hair down when off-duty and lives a hikikomori lifestyle, playing video games all night and sleeping during the day. He does not smile, due to his abusive upbringing by his father, the head of an assassin family. He slowly warms up to Miri and accepts his role as one of her fathers alongside Kazuki.


 * Miri Unasaka (海坂ミリ)
 * A four-year-old girl who was sent away by her mother to be in the care of her biological father when her mother no longer wanted to care for her. It is revealed that her father was Kazuki and Rei's most recent target, whom they assassinated. Kazuki takes it upon himself to become her guardian with Rei warming up to the role later. She loves teasing and playing with Kazuki and Rei. She affectionately calls Kazuki and Rei her "Papas".
 * A four-year-old girl who was sent away by her mother to be in the care of her biological father when her mother no longer wanted to care for her. It is revealed that her father was Kazuki and Rei's most recent target, whom they assassinated. Kazuki takes it upon himself to become her guardian with Rei warming up to the role later. She loves teasing and playing with Kazuki and Rei. She affectionately calls Kazuki and Rei her "Papas".


 * Kyūtarō Kugi (九棋久太郎)
 * A cafe owner who supplies Rei and Kazuki with both jobs and information.
 * A cafe owner who supplies Rei and Kazuki with both jobs and information.


 * Anna Hanyu (羽生杏奈)
 * Teacher at the Aozora Daycare that Miri attends.
 * Teacher at the Aozora Daycare that Miri attends.


 * Yuzuko Kurusu (来栖柚子)
 * Kazuki's late wife who was killed by accident during one of his missions.
 * Kazuki's late wife who was killed by accident during one of his missions.


 * Karin Izumi (泉かりん)
 * Yuzuko's younger sister and Kazuki's sister-in-law.
 * Yuzuko's younger sister and Kazuki's sister-in-law.


 * Misaki Unasaka (海坂美咲)
 * Miri's mother. She is a prostitute who works as a singer at a struggling night club run by her abusive boyfriend. She comes to resent Miri due to an unplanned pregnancy and abandons her as a result. But when she's later diagnosed with throat cancer she has a change of heart. She's later killed when Ogino, disguised as deliveryman, guns her down in her own apartment; while dying in Kazuki's arms, she tearfully apologizes and says goodbye to a sleeping Miri.
 * Miri's mother. She is a prostitute who works as a singer at a struggling night club run by her abusive boyfriend. She comes to resent Miri due to an unplanned pregnancy and abandons her as a result. But when she's later diagnosed with throat cancer she has a change of heart. She's later killed when Ogino, disguised as deliveryman, guns her down in her own apartment; while dying in Kazuki's arms, she tearfully apologizes and says goodbye to a sleeping Miri.


 * Ryo Ogino (小木埜了)
 * An assassin and the main antagonist. He is a cold-blooded killer who kills without holding any feelings towards any of his victims. He is acquainted with Kyutaro and was involved in the incident that led to Yuzuko's death, and has a grudge against Rei for leaving his father's organization.
 * An assassin and the main antagonist. He is a cold-blooded killer who kills without holding any feelings towards any of his victims. He is acquainted with Kyutaro and was involved in the incident that led to Yuzuko's death, and has a grudge against Rei for leaving his father's organization.

Episodes
The opening theme song is "Shock!" by Ayase, while the ending theme song is "My Plan" by DURDN.

Crunchyroll has licensed the series outside of Asia, and they streamed it along with an English dub.

Production
According to Mitsuhito Tsuji and Toba Yosuke, Buddy Daddies is inspired by some of the anime staff members who have children.

Reception
At the 8th Crunchyroll Anime Awards in 2024, Buddy Daddies won the award for Best Original Anime. The series was nominated for Best Comedy, while Miri Unasaka was nominated for "Must Protect At All Costs" Character category.