Parents are a tricky topic in the world of anime. Many protagonists don’t know their parents at all, such as Berserk‘s Guts the mercenary, and other characters are orphans or are estranged from one or both parents, with Hunter x Hunter‘s Gon Freecss having not ever met his Hunter father Ging. Some fathers are a protagonist’s worst enemy, in fact, but for other, more fortunate anime characters, Dad is the best person in the whole world.
For these characters, their father is a wise, caring, strong, and humble person who knows how to raise and defend his children while setting a good example for them. With or without the mothers of their children around, these anime fathers are excellent parents and deserve all the abundant love they get from their sons and daughters.
10 Senku Ishigami Was Close To His Foster Father Byakuya
Dr. Stone
Senku Ishigami the scientist is highly reluctant to admit it, but he was pretty close to his single foster father, Byakuya Ishigami the astronaut. Senku usually spent his time alone or with Taiju building model rockets or other contraptions, but when the petrification wave separated father and son, they missed one another dearly.
Byakuya was highly sentimental about this from the start, being safe from the wave aboard the ISS. Over 3,000 years later, Senku nearly shed tears when he found his foster father’s final resting place, showing how much this kuudere scientist cared for his old man.
9 Shoko Komi & Her Father Share Silent Thoughts
Komi Can’t Communicate
The dandere Shoko Komi is close to both of her loving parents, but she seems to have a special connection with her father, Masayoshi Komi. Shoko may have inherited her mother’s dazzling beauty, but she definitely inherited her father’s ability to silently but clearly communicate his thoughts with borderline telepathy.
It was so heartwarming to watch Shoko and her father go out and get ice cream together, and they had a full-blown conversation with their minds alone. Shoko was happy when Masayoshi patted her on the head, too.
8 Thorfinn Karlsefni Idolized His Father Thors
Vinland Saga
In his youth growing up on the secluded coast of Iceland, Thorfinn dreamed of action and adventure as a brave Viking warrior, while his exasperated big sister Ylva dismissed those dreams and his father Thors actively discouraged them. Thors wisely told his son that the boy has no enemies, and therefore no reason to fight.
Thorfinn deeply respected his father, so he politely disagreed, then snuck aboard his father’s ship for a real adventure. Thors put up with it for a time, but then father and son were torn apart forever when Askeladd attacked. Thorfinn vowed vengeance for his beloved father’s death, filling his joyous heart with hatred.
7 Elicia Hughes Loves Her Papa
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood
The young Elicia Hughes is one of several anime characters who could be described as a daddy’s girl, and she is proud of it. In the story of Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, Elicia is the young daughter of Colonel Maes Hughes, a cheerful and upbeat kid who makes funny comments about everything.
The Hughes family was a very happy one, with mother, father, and daughter being incredibly close. That’s why Elicia was at first confused, then devastated when her assassinated father was given a military funeral one “rainy” afternoon.
6 Negi Springfield Seeks His Lost Father
Mahou Sensei Negima!
The redheaded young hero Negi Springfield was close to his much older cousin Nekane, but he also longed to be closer to his elusive father Nagi. Just like Gon Freecss, Negi is a boy who spends the entire story trying to both find his father and live up to his example, and he did a fine job of it.
Negi absolutely loves his elusive father in spite of spending so little time with him. When the two of them reunite near the end of the Negima! manga, it is a happy reunion indeed, and the two of them had plenty of catching up to do.
5 Katarina Claes Loves Her Father Luigi
My Next Life As A Villainess
The reformed villainess Katarina Claes has a strained relationship with her stern, conceited mother Millidiana, but she is a total daddy’s girl where her father Luigi Claes is concerned. Unlike his pretentious wife, Luigi is a cheerful and easygoing man who can brighten any room he enters. He was also immensely popular with women before getting married.
Katarina is only rarely seen speaking to either of her parents, but it’s still perfectly clear that she loves and adores her father, with Luigi returning those feelings in full. Notably, Luigi is more than able to overlook his wife’s less savory personality traits. He only sees the best in her.
4 Yaeka Sakuragi Gets Along With Her Mobster Dad
The Yakuza’s Guide To Babysitting
The young Yaeka Sakuragi loves both of her parents, and she can also be counted among the wholesome daddy’s girl characters in anime. Yaeka’s father Kazuhiko may be a tough-talking mob boss, but Kazuhiko is also a gap moe character who becomes a total softie around his only child.
Yaeka loves her father dearly and vice versa, but they don’t often get a chance to prove it. Kazuhiko is often busy leading his crime family, and Yaeka often ends up in her room alone. They’ve gotten closer more recently and Kazuhiko definitely wishes to spend more time with Yaeka if he can manage it.
3 Soma Yukihira Followed His Father’s Example
Food Wars!
Soma Yukihira grew up with two parents who ran a family diner, meaning Soma is used to customers, cooking, cleaning dishes, and other restaurant chores. He was very close to both of his parents, but his loving mother Tamako tragically died when he was a boy, so father and son grew even closer after that.
Soma learned vital lessons from his parents about the importance of cooking for love, not for profits or Michelin stars. He also had many friendly but fierce cooking contests with his talented father, and Soma takes it in stride when he loses. He really hopes to win someday, though.
2 Anya Forger Is Daddy’s Telepath Girl
Spy X Family
The young telepath Anya Forger had her life changed forever when the Westalis spy codenamed Twilight adopted her, creating the Forger family in the process. For a few days, it was just the two of them, with Anya deeply admiring her ultra-cool spy father the whole time. Then Yor came along, and the family was complete.
Anya loves both of her foster parents, but she might love Loid Forger just a tiny bit more. He was the one who rescued her from that dismal orphanage, after all, and he always encourages Anya to try her best at everything she does. Loid might push her a bit too hard at times, but he always means well.
1 Akira Mado Mourned Her Father’s Passing
Tokyo Ghoul
On the outside, Akira Mado doesn’t seem like the type to laugh, cry, or smile for any reason, being a stone-cold kuudere who always puts decorum and duty first. However, she is indeed close to her CCG investigator father Kureo, who raised her solo ever since Akira’s mother died in the line of duty.
Akira looked up to both her parents as role models, and she strove to emulate Kureo as a CCG investigator herself. But the two of them were torn apart when Kureo picked a fight he couldn’t win, and after having a few drinks with Kotaro Amon, Akira openly wept.