Taylor

OK, here's the pitch: 2 guys. One, a handsome playboy, well rounded guy, cooks, dresses well, lover of the ladies. The other? John Wick if he was a hikikomori. Wow, what a show, yeah? Well hold on, lemme add a little Chemical X to this: A cute and precocious little girl they have to now take care of.

That’s Buddy Daddies in a nutshell, and despite the terrible name, is an absolute gem of an anime (as well as my darkhorse for the 2023 Winter Season). An original by P.A. Works, Buddy Daddies first episode blew my expectations away. Yes, I thought it looked good from the blurb and the PV, but frankly I expected mediocre animation and some ok comedy, but no, I was hooked in the first few minutes. Despite being a completely underrated and looked over show for the season, it FEELS like a big anime and its clear P.A. Works is actually trying on this (Unlike Fairy Gone). Being an original had me worried for a minute, given the poor track record originals have had in the past few years, Listeners most notably coming to mind. A stark departure from Charlotte for director Yoshiyuki Asai, Buddy Daddies feels like it could easily turn out to be the comedy of the year.

The characterization between the two main characters: Kazuki, the aforementioned playboy, and Rei, the silent assassin who seems more content playing JRPGs in their apartment than out killing for a living, is what really sells the show. It could frankly have just been built around the two of them in an Odd Couple style show, but adding in the third element of Miri, the airheaded girl oblivious to the gore and carnage around her just adds to the shows charm. The first episode merely set up the characters and how they all came to be, including Rei and Kazuki murdering Miri’s deadbeat father (after he held the little girl hostage in a ploy to stop the assassins). Did I mention how cute Miri was, because its honestly painful. Literal pain at how unbearably cute and precious she is. It all ties in perfectly to Kazuki’s brief flashes to a family he was forced to leave behind, clearly tortured by that loss. It’s a compelling dynamic, especially for Kazuki who preaches against attachments in their dangerous life as assassin’s, understanding the risks and being unable to be there for loved ones.

Art wise, the show just looks great, I mean has PA Works ever put out a turd? Yes, ok Fairy Gone but that was CG and there’s none of that here. The only problem I had, and this is purely on me, was that Kazuki reminds me too much of Kazuya from Rent-A-Girlfriend and it makes me uncomfortable. Of course it’s purely a visual thing, character wise they couldn’t be further apart but I just look at him and every time I do I think of that stupid cuck who wont date best girl (Ruka). Miri is just great, everything about here is pure sugar. Watching her face light up as she digs into a cake is a balm for a weary soul. I swear half the budget went into animating her.

Can I recommend Buddy Daddies? Not only can I, I should and I will. This is a MUST watch, and honestly, I think it applies to everyone. Im recommending this to normie friends, weeb friends, CGDCT friends, everyone. Honestly believe it has that level of appeal because its such a mainstream premise. Who doesn’t want to see where the life of two polar opposite hitmen trying to take care of a little girl goes? I know I do, and I’ll be tuning in every week, excited the second I see it hit Plex, I mean the totally legal streaming service I use.