Spies, undercover missions, out-of-the-ordinary family matters, and all things wholesome and fun — Spy x Family immediately became a fan-favorite among anime watchers, especially to kids and those young at heart. After season 1 ended, it continued to be one of the most anticipated anime, and fortunately, we won’t have to wait much longer to see the next season. The second season of Spy x Family will premiere on October 7, 2023, with CloverWorks and WIT Studio coming back to animate it. Only a few sleeps to go before we can finally enjoy the thrills and mysteries of the Forgers’ lives! until then and for afterwards, here are five anime you can watch if you like (or love) Spy x Family:
The first on the list is The Yakuza’s Guide to Babysitting. If Spy x Family has Anya Forger, this anime has Yaeka Sakuragi, the only daughter of a Yakuza boss. She is being babysat by Tooru Kirishima, the right-hand man of the boss, and is known as the “Demon of Sakuragi” because of his somewhat violent nature. As time passes by, they get along better, and establish a friendship that’s more like a family. Like Anya, Yaeka also knows that Tooru’s job is unusual, but she doesn’t judge him or his history. On the other hand, Tooru became softer and more careful after he started babysitting Yaeka. From Yaeka learning how to bake a chocolate cake (because it’s Tooru’s favorite) to Tooru playing games with Yaeka and other kids at the playground — a lot of things changed in both of their lives and will continue to do so with their very wholesome bond.
Crunchyroll is streaming the anime and describes the plot as:
Kirishima Toru was accustomed to solving all problems through violence and was called “the Demon of Sakuragi.” One day, the boss of the Sakuragi family suddenly summons Kirishima and appoints him caretaker of his only daughter, Yaeka! A heartwarming comedy about a yakuza crime family’s right-hand man and the boss’ only daughter. The two of them are about to begin their new daily lives together!
©Kariatsukiya, Micro Magazine/Yakuza’s Guide to Babysitting Production Committee
Buddy Daddies is an anime all about assassins, parenting, and many family-related conflicts, but it is surprisingly easy to watch because of the humor. Despite having a lot of cool action scenes, the anime will also make your heart melt and trigger your emotions because of how wholesome it is. Partner assassins Kazuki Kurusu and Rei Suwa meet a young girl named Miri who they decide to take in after realizing that the father Miri is looking for was one of the men they killed. Each one of them has their own battles to fight, but at the end of the day, they will always look forward to coming straight home to the little family they built, which is very similar to Spy x Family.
Crunchyroll is streaming the anime and describes the plot as:
A parenting diary of assassin buddies?! Two assassin partners who never let their target get away somehow end up taking in a four-year-old girl. The hot and cool buddies start a family life with this cute, innocent girl. These assassins can handle any job with no problem, and yet, they find themselves struggling with this little girl. From feeding her to playing with her to taking her to and from nursery school, they’re always rushing around. But no matter how crazy their life is, when they have a job, they can’t turn it down. To further complicate things, the girl happens to be the secret love child of a heinous mafioso that they killed! Is it really possible to live as assassins and parents at the same time? Can this temporary family find happiness?
© KRM’s HOME / Buddy Daddies Production Committee
Next on the list is Kaguya-sama: Love Is War which surrounds the story of Kaguya Shinomiya and Miyuki Shirogane’s so-called war when it comes to love. This anime is focused and set in a high school, unlike Spy x Family, which has a different setting and focuses on life in general. However, these two series are kind of similar to one another because both protagonists keep secrets that they don’t want the other to know (or rather, they want to, but doing so would be like confessing, so it’s a no). These two hide a part of themselves from each other very much like the Forgers, so ready your mind as it may be, well, a little frustrating because these two really do a lot of thinking and planning just to have the other admit their feelings first.
Crunchyroll is streaming all seasons of the Kaguya-sama: Love Is War series and describes the plot as:
From a good family? Check! A good personality? Check!
Shuchiin Academy is where all these elite students with bright futures flock to.
As the two leaders of the student council, Kaguya Shinomiya and Miyuki Shirogane have supposedly fallen in love…
But after almost half a year, nothing has happened!?
They both have too much pride and can’t be honest.
Things have gotten troublesome, and they are now caught in a war of “How to get the other to confess their love first.” This is a whole new romantic comedy, following an outbreak of cunning warfare between two elite students in love.
© Aka Akasaka / Shueisha / Kaguya-sama: Love is War Production Committee
Saiki Kusuo is a high school student who is far from normal. He and Anya have a lot of similarities — they both have pink hair (though Anya’s is lighter), a pair of weird-looking things on their head, the ability to read people’s minds (although Saiki’s psychic powers are beyond compare), and both of them want to keep these abilities hidden from everyone. These two series will probably make you laugh and feel much better because of their hilarious characters and comedic scenes.
The Disastrous Life Of Saiki K. is available on Netflix, where the plot is described as:
High school sophomore Kusuo Saiki swore as a child that he would keep his psychic talents hidden, but his abilities still make his life difficult.
© Shuichi Aso / Shueisha, PK Gakuen
Listen To Me, Girls. I Am Your Father! is an anime that is not like Spy x Family where there are spies, action, and telepathic abilities, but if you want an anime that has family dynamics, then you might enjoy watching this one. Though there are funny scenes, this anime is more likely to make you shed tears as it can be quite emotional.
Crunchyroll is streaming the anime and describes the plot as:
Yuuta Segawa, a college student, suddenly becomes the guardian of his three nieces in place of his sister and her husband. The eldest niece, Sora, is a 14 year old in middle school with semi-long brownish hair decorated with a ribbon. The middle niece, Miu, is an elementary schoolgirl with blond pigtails. The youngest niece, Hina, is an angelic 3 year old attending daycare. This at-home romantic comedy illustrates the chaotic but heartwarming lives of these four characters in their tiny one-room apartment.
©Tomohiro Matsu, Yuka Nakajima / SHUEISHA, PPP
These are just some of the anime you can watch if you like Spy x Family. Have you watched any of these titles? If you haven’t, make sure to check them out, and maybe binge-watch them while waiting for the second season of Spy x Family to premiere! Let us know in the comments what you think about these anime if you decide to try them!
Featured image: Spy x Family
© Tatsuya Endo, Shueisha / Spy x Family Project