Buddy Daddies
Synopsis — from MyAnimeList
On Christmas Eve, four-year-old Miri Unasaka arrives in Tokyo completely alone, in search of her father. The bright lights and merry atmosphere guide Miri to a big hotel and a man with a delicious-looking cake. However, the child has just unknowingly walked into the center of an elaborate, foolproof plan for assassinating a dangerous mafia boss. Professional assassins Kazuki Kurusu and Rei Suwa live together, fleeing memories of their grim childhoods and avoiding emotional connections. When their mission goes awry and they end up bringing Miri home, there is only one reasonable thing to do: return Miri to her mother. But the girl's innocent laugh and pure worldview quickly enamor her to Kazuki, who secretly enjoys playing a parent, and it is not long before Rei's impenetrable heart makes room for Miri. Miri's every move is unpredictable, and Kazuki and Rei find raising an energetic child harder than any of their missions. Although it presents a great risk to their careers, Kazuki and Rei—both assuming the affectionate nickname "papa"—decide to provide Miri with a normal childhood despite all the odds stacked against them.
Audience Consensus
Audience reception is largely positive, with many appreciating the show's unique blend of action and heartwarming parenting themes, and the realistic portrayal of children. However, there's a notable split regarding the believability of the child character and the seamless integration of its diverse genres, leading to some confusion about its narrative direction.
Strengths
- Realistic portrayal of children's behavior and the challenges of parenting.
- Strong emotional beats and character development, particularly in the parent-child dynamic.
- Enjoyable blend of genres including comedy, action, and heartwarming slice-of-life moments.
- High-quality production values including animation, voice acting, and music (OP/ED).
Weaknesses
- The child's behavior is sometimes perceived as unrealistic or plot-device-like, leading to a disconnect from the serious themes.
- The narrative struggles to seamlessly transition between serious action/thriller elements and lighthearted comedy/slice-of-life scenes.
- The plot can feel confused or underdeveloped, with some critics finding the pacing or story progression weak, especially given the short runtime.
- Some action sequences are criticized for being unbelievable or undermining the show's grounded tone.