You miss Spy x Family, right? Well, who doesn’t? That’s why you are looking for the best anime like Spy x Family because you want to watch shows like that. The show perfectly combines comedy, humor, spy fiction, and action. The storyline, the plot, the aesthetics, the mind games, and the family dynamics, every little detail is on point. There is no way you can’t love this show!
As a Spy x Family fan, I know how one wishes to rewind time and have a chance to watch it for the first time again. Trust me, I feel you. I remember the joy, tension, and excitement I felt while watching the show. Naturally, my heart didn’t want the last episode to end. I spent hours and hours on the internet in search of similar shows so that I could fill the void.
I admit I was close to almost giving up the search. However, after watching many shows, I eventually had a list. Hence, if you also happen to be looking for anime similar to Spy x Family, I got you covered! In this article, you will find some recommendations that are very similar to what Spy x Family was. So, let’s get started!
Best Anime Like Spy x Family in 2023
13. Bunny Drop
The similarities between Bunny Drop and Spy x Family are uncanny. It starts with a single man figuring out how to raise a child while a woman comes in to assist. The child, also a girl, in this case, is adopted, just as in Spy x Family. Although this one has a slow approach, focusing more on daily life learnings, it still has a beautiful and wholesome representation of a family.
Bunny Drop is a josei anime featuring a strange story of a young man living alone with nothing meaningful to do. One day, he gets the news of his grandfather’s passing. He visits his family house for the funeral, where he comes across a little girl who seems quite depressed. He’s told that she’s his grandfather’s illegitimate child. Everyone refuses to accept her, but he announces that he’ll take her in and raise her as his own. Thus his boring life remains no more!
12. Full Metal Panic
Full Metal Panic and Spy x Family have subtle yet noticeable similarities. In both shows, the relationship between the male and female protagonists gradually improves with time. Both are set in Cold War times. A spy thriller set in the Victorian era.
The plot of this action anime is based on a special operation with three different officers, Sousuke Sagara and Kurz Weber, under the command of Mellisa Mao. They all happen to be working at an anti-terrorist, private military organization. This special task that was given to them was to protect a spirited Japanese high school girl. One of the officers takes admission to the same high school as one of her classmates for constant surveillance. And we witness her relationship evolve with the girl throughout time.
11. Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid
Once again, Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid has similarities to Spy x Family’s family dynamic. In both shows, there is a family of three in which the child has some suspicious superpowers, and the adults take care of them. It’s a peaceful, full-of-life fantasy anime; if it’s your type, then you’d totally love it.
The story of Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid revolves around three characters, Miss Kobayashi, her dragon maid, and the ever-adorable Kanna. The story begins as Miss Kobayashi is having a regular day at her house, but just as she opens her door, a dragon appears, soon transforming into a human. One thing leads to another, and eventually, she lets the dragon, who has transformed into a maid, stay at her house. It’s a mind-bending story and mainly showcases the effects of living with a dragon maid.
10. Kaguya-sama: Love Is War
Kaguya-sama: Love is War and Spy x Family are both comedy masterpieces. Their main characters have a questionable past and have secrets that they cannot share. However, unlike Spy x Family, there are many psychological games in Kaguya-sama: Love is War!
Talking about the aesthetics of both shows, they are pretty identical. Peak comedy with a blend of humor throughout the series will make your eyes tear out laughing. But most importantly, the characters are incredibly wholesome and enjoyable.
The plot of this show comprises two main characters, Kaguya Shinomiya and Miyuki Shirogane, two top representatives at the renowned Shuchiin Academy. Both of them are in love with each other, but they refuse to be the ones to accept this and propose to the other. Give it a watch to find out where they end up and whether one of them finally gives in and confesses their love!
9. The Millionaire Detective – Balance: UNLIMITED
The story of The Millionaire Detective and Spy x Family might be different, but the style of their animation, the plot twists, the suspense, and the detective aspect makes them almost identical. Plus, the traits of their characters resemble quite a lot too. If you’re into spy action that’s also comedic, this is the show for you.
This detective anime show follows the story of an extremely wealthy man, Daisuke, who is posted at the Modern Crime Prevention Headquarters. There he meets a man, Haru, who is to be his partner in solving cases. Haru is the total opposite of Daisuke; he dislikes how the rich detective thinks he can use his wealth to solve cases. It’s challenging for them to work together, but they must find a way to forget their differences to work together peacefully and prevent crimes.
8. Barakamon
If we are talking about the best anime like Spy x Family, then I have to add Barakamon because it’s similar in a way that it also displays a child playing an essential role in changing a male adult’s life. The show showcases a beautiful parent-to-child relationship leading to an adult finding a different meaning in life.
Barakamon is a story of an aspiring calligrapher, Seishu, who is talented but with narcissistic traits. One day, a veteran criticizes his work and calls it unoriginal, which he doesn’t take lightly, and ends up punching the guy. As punishment, Seishu’s father sends him to the countryside, where he comes across this little girl who will forever change him.
7. Kakushigoto
This show similarly portrays a father-daughter duo but in a more wholesome way. This shonen anime is more about the beautiful relationship that a father and a daughter possess, which is definitely enough to melt one’s heart! With each passing day, they make each other feel special, make efforts for each other and share a beautiful bond like no other.
Kakushigoto is a tale about a father and a daughter. Despite living together, the father manages to hide his true profession, being a manga artist known for his raunchy content, and beliefs from his daughter. However, he loves his daughter and wants the best for her, hence thinks her child should be oblivious to his other life. But how long can the truth remain hidden?
6. Kotaro Lives Alone
The representation of children in both the shows, Kotaro Lives Alone and Spy x Family, is almost identical. The youngsters are full of wisdom, and adults have difficulty controlling them.
Kotaro Lives Alone is a story of a kid, Kotaro Sato, and his neighbor, Shin Karino. Karino one day witnesses Kotaro on the road greeting him out of nowhere. This makes him think about the child worryingly. Hence, he decides to follow the kid to his house one day. As he arrives, he realizes that the kid is not very different from his own self, full of wisdom and mature to some extent. This comes as a surprise to this neighbor, who finds out that the child lives alone.
5. Princess Principal
Princess Principal is one of the best anime like Spy x Family because they have similar aesthetics. Both are set in a European/Victorian Cold War era. Both are spy thrillers, but Princess Principal focuses on the dramatic portrayal more, while Spy x Family is a light, feel-good comedy.
This historical anime features a unique, adventurous story revolving around five girls from the prestigious Queen’s society who work as undercover spies, secretly planning to overthrow their kingdom as many conflicts were going on at that time in London.
An experienced driver leads this group of these girl spies, each of whom possesses a unique survival skill. The whole purpose behind this group’s particular set of skills is to survive in this dark world.
4. Listen To Me, Girls. I’m Your Father!
Listen to Me, Girls. I’m Your Father! and Spy x Family portray a father’s struggle and how he manages to keep up with his adoptive, troublesome daughters. However, this show has a rather tragic approach.
The plot of this story is based on a college student who, after the death of his parents, was raised by his sister. Later in life, when his sister gets married and has her own kids, she asks him to babysit her daughters for some days as she was going away with her husband on a business trip. As they were returning, tragedy hit her sister and her husband, the plane went missing, and all passengers were presumed dead.
So following this calamity, her brother then decides to adopt her daughters, as her sister once adopted him, and take care of them in her absence.
3. Hinamatsuri
Hinamatsuri carries several undeniable similarities with Spy x Family, but some may consider Hinamatsuri better. Both shows portray a male character as a father with a rather suspicious occupation, raising an adopted girl with superpowers. But the characters in Hinamatsuri have more depth, making this seinen anime series more enjoyable. The art style of both shows is quite comparable too.
The story of Hinamatsuri begins when a large capsule-type thing falls on a yakuza member’s head. He gets curious and opens the capsule, only to find a young girl with blond hair and blue eyes inside. She’s only aware of her name and that she possesses immense telekinetic powers. The protagonist adopts the girl and lets her use her powers freely most of the time. Thus begins a most wholesome father-daughter tale!
2. Sweetness & Lightning
What makes Sweetness & Lightning one of the best anime like Spy x Family is the fact that it revolves around a similar family dynamic. The plot of this slice of life anime focuses on a single father striving to improve his daughter’s life as he discovers different aspects of life that are often forgotten. Apart from the story, the female protagonists of both shows look very similar to each other.
The story of Sweetness & Lightning consists of a single male father who, after his wife’s death, decides never to let his daughter down and will always keep her happy. He makes small efforts for her, like cooking her favorite meals, but this turns out difficult as he isn’t much of a cook, and he also has a job as a teacher that takes up most of his time.
So, when one of his students, Kotori, invites him to her family restaurant for a nice meal, he happily accepts. But he soon realizes that the restaurant is mostly closed because Kotori’s mother is away for work. So, the father-daughter duo decides to come often after Kotori asks them to, so the three can share a nice home-cooked meal!
1. The Yakuza’s Guide To Babysitting
You’ll enjoy The Yazuka’s Guide To Babysitting if you like being shown the different dimensions of an opposite father-daughter duo. This show portrays every family aspect, from child-raising to wholesome moments. It’s more of a family-oriented show where the main characters discover that being a family doesn’t always mean being bound by blood.
The story of The Yazuka’s Guide To Babysitting is quite fun. It’s about an underworld don, a criminal with a dark life who has no qualms about resorting to violence to resolve a situation, and so he is feared by many. His life takes a turn when his boss tasks him to take care of a child. Can you imagine that?
At first, the two don’t seem to get along as neither of them has any idea of how to communicate with the other, but as time goes by, they open up and develop a wholesome relationship.
Conclusion
When Spy x Family anime began airing, it became a much-loved show, so it was tough to watch it end. However, there will soon be a movie, and a second season is also announced, so we won’t have to wait much longer to see the characters back in action.
But since there’s some time before the movie and the second season starts airing, you can fill in the void by watching similar shows. Pick any of the titles featured above, or watch them all, and you will understand why I consider them the best anime like Spy x Family that you should watch!