20 Best Anime Like ‘Spy x Family’ You Need to Watch
SPY×FAMILY is a Japanese manga and anime series. The manga premiered in 2019, followed by the anime series debut in 2022. The story centers around a spy tasked with “creating a family” to execute a mission. It has become a global hit, with fans from all corners eagerly awaiting new episodes each week. If you’re a fan of the show or intrigued by its premise, here’s a list of the best anime like SPY×FAMILY you should watch.
1. Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood
Original Run: April 5, 2009 – July 4, 2010
Number of Episodes: 64 (+ 4 OVA)
In Amestris, where alchemy is elevated to the rank of universal science, two brothers, Edward and Alphonse Elric, travel the country in search of the legendary philosopher’s stone. Their father left them, and their mother, Trisha Elric, died a few years later of an illness, leaving her two young children behind.
Sometime later, the two brothers try to bring her back thanks to alchemy, defying the law that formally prohibits human transmutation. They will pay a heavy price. The eldest, Edward will lose his left leg, his little brother, and his whole body. Ed will sacrifice his right arm by sealing the soul of his little brother Alphonse in armor.
Edward decides to enlist in the army at 12 as a State Alchemist, passes the exam with flying colors, and obtains his alchemist name, Fullmetal. Helped by Edward’s state alchemist status, the two brothers will seek, at the risk of their lives, the stone that will give them back what they have lost, but the secret of the philosopher’s stone is well kept.
2. The Promised Neverland
Original run: January 11, 2019 – March 26, 2021
Number of episodes: 23
Emma, Norman, and Ray are three 11-year-old orphans who live in a Victorian country orphanage run by a mother figure, Isabella. Their life flows peacefully between play, rest, and daily aptitude tests, the results of which are used to determine the most intellectually gifted children.
One day, Conny, a six-year-old girl, is taken up for adoption by a family and is preparing to leave the facility, forgetting a puppet she was very fond of. Emma and Norman, therefore, decide to bring the soft toy back to their friend before she leaves for good, and they head for the only door in the walls.
Once there, the two discover a shocking truth. After seeing Conny’s lifeless body, they discover the existence of monstrous beings (the “demons”) and their business with Isabella, who gives them the children to send to the “rich” to eat them.
3. The Quintessential Quintuplets / The Quintessential Quintuplets ∬
Original run: January 9, 2019 – March 28, 2019 / January 8, 2021 – March 26, 2021
Number of episodes: 24
In a flashforward scene, as he dozed off in the ceremony hall on his wedding day, the groom, Fūtarō Uesugi, recalls his first meeting with his wife.
At that time, Fūtarō was still a high school student in his second year who obtained excellent grades in school. Still, on the other hand, he led a difficult life: an orphan of a mother and without friends, he lived in poverty with his little sister Raiha because of her father’s money problems, having incurred heavy debts.
One day, Fūtarō meets Itsuki Nakano, a new student transferred to his high school, who asks him to teach her how to study. However, Fūtarō refuses her request and pisses her off by responding nonchalantly.
Immediately after this conversation, Raiha informs him that their father has found him an odd job as a “tutor to a millionaire’s daughter,” a job he accepts to clear the family debt. However, he soon realizes that his job is to teach the Nakano Quintuplets, of which Itsuki is the youngest and must help them graduate.
4. Sweetness and Lightning
Original Run: July 4, 2016 – September 19, 2016
Number of Episodes: 12
The young teacher, Kōhei Inuzuka, lived alone with his daughter Tsumugi since his wife died of an illness. Tsumugi still wishes her mother would return and make them good food again. Her father regrets that he is not very good at cooking and can only offer his daughter ready meals. When they both meet a student of Inuzuka in the park for Hanami, she invites them both to her mother’s small restaurant.
Arrived there in the evening, the shop was empty, and only the student Kotori Iida was there to entertain them as her mother was away. She always stands in for her mother, who is usually on the road as a consultant or cooking expert, because she wants to keep the restaurant going. Her father separated from his mother a long time ago. But Kotori can’t cook well either – mainly because she’s afraid of knives.
With Tsumugi, who has a lot of fun in the small inn, she convinces Inuzuka that they come over more often to cook together. So each time, they try to cook a new dish – Inuzuka for his daughter and Kotori for the restaurant – to get better at cooking.
5. Usagi Drop
Original Run: July 7, 2011 – September 15, 2011
Number of Episodes: 11
Upon attending his grandfather’s funeral, 30-year-old Daikichi is startled to learn about Rin, a young six-year-old girl who is the result of his grandfather’s affair with a mysterious woman. The presence of Rin unsettles the entire family, leading them to ostracize the innocent child. Disturbed by their cold-heartedness, Daikichi becomes Rin’s guardian, a challenge for him given his solitary lifestyle and lack of parenting experience.
As he integrates Rin into his life, Daikichi grapples with the complexities of single parenthood. During this journey, he connects with the mother of Kouki Nitani, one of Rin’s kindergarten friends. This bond provides Daikichi with valuable insights and guidance on raising Rin. A year into this new role, Daikichi realizes that every sacrifice made for Rin has been rewarding. Initially, the series emphasizes Daikichi’s perspective and his parenting hurdles.
A decade forward, the narrative shifts to a teenage Rin, now in high school. The series then delves into her evolving relationship with Kouki and her journey of self-discovery as she decides on her future path.
6. The Millionaire Detective Balance: UNLIMITED
Original run: April 9, 2020 – September 24, 2020
Number of episodes: 11
Daisuke Kambe, a detective with a huge personal fortune, is assigned to the “Modern Criminal Affairs Bureau” where officers who have caused trouble for the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department are sent. From then on, Daisuke is partnered with Haru Katō, who is disgusted with Daisuke’s materialistic ways. Nevertheless, difficult mysteries unfold before the two detectives, and they must work together to solve them.
7. Princess Principal
Original run: July 9, 2017 – September 24, 2017
Number of episodes: 12
In the anime series titled Princess Principal, viewers are introduced to an alternate universe reminiscent of Britain named Albion. During the late 19th century, Albion gained control over a unique substance named “Cavorite,” leveraging its properties to craft an unparalleled airborne fleet and propelling it to global supremacy. Nevertheless, as the nation thrives, the common populace revolts against the elites, accusing them of neglect. This uprising, termed the “London Revolution,” witnessed the masses challenging the monarchy.
This civil unrest culminated in an impasse, prompting the construction of a massive barrier bisecting London, resulting in the birth of two distinct territories: the Eastern Kingdom and the Western Republic. Fast forward to the future, the Republic hatches “Operation Changeling,” a scheme to supplant the Kingdom’s heiress, Charlotte, with Ange, her doppelganger, aiming to plant a mole within the monarchy.
8. Hinamatsuri
Original Run: April 6, 2018 – June 22, 2018
Number of Episodes: 12
Yoshifumi Nitta is an ambitious young yakuza from the Ashikawa-gumi. One fine day, while relaxing in his apartment, a mysterious metallic object shaped like an oval suddenly fell on his head.
A young girl named Hina is inside; the latter has telekinetic powers and forces Nitta to care for her. If, on the one hand, Nitta sees a certain usefulness in Hina’s powers to regulate her yakuza affairs, nevertheless, she can sometimes lose control and destroy everything around her.
9. Great Pretender
Original Run: June 2, 2020 – September 21, 2020
Number of Episodes: 23
Great Pretender is an anime that follows the life of a skilled Japanese con man, Makoto Edamura. After trying to scam a French man, Laurent Thierry, Makoto discovers that Laurent is a much more accomplished swindler than he is. This leads Makoto to join Laurent and his team on high-stakes cons against wealthy and powerful individuals worldwide.
Each series arc is set in a different city and targets a different individual or organization, often with a sense of justice, as they tend to go after those who have done wrong. The show has twists and turns, elaborate plans, and character development, making it exciting and deep.
10. Demon Slayer
Original Release: April 6, 2019 – present
Number of Episodes: 34
During the Taishō period in Japan, Tanjirō was responsible for his coal merchant family after his father’s demise. Venturing into town to trade charcoal, he attempts to make ends meet. Amidst their hardships, the family finds solace in the simple joys of life.
One fateful evening, due to whispers of a nocturnal, flesh-eating demon, Tanjirō is deterred from returning home and takes refuge with a kind stranger in town. His world shatters upon his return as he discovers the tragic aftermath of a demon’s attack on his family.
11. Kaguya-sama: Love Is War
Original Run: January 12, 2019 – June 27, 2020
Number of Episodes: 24
The Shūchiin Academy is a prestigious school where the country’s future elites, almost exclusively the children of the rich, continue their studies. Within the high school students’ office, the two brilliant exemplary models of the academy, the vice-president Kaguya Shinomiya, and the president – from a modest background – Miyuki Shirogane, conceive of love in a particular way: they are attracted to one by the other, but they can’t confess their feelings because of their too much pride, even if a semester has passed.
12. Kakushigoto: My Dad’s Secret Ambition
Original Run: April 2, 2020 – June 18, 2020
Number of Episodes: 12
Kakushi Gotō is a mangaka with certain fame: he is known for his titles with indecent content as well as his salacious jokes, and many admirers appreciate him greatly around the world.
However, his life changes when he becomes a father and decides, after a realization, to hide his real job from his darling daughter, Hime. Having to raise the latter alone, for his good, Kakushi tries to arrange his double life and overcome all the obstacles on his way to keep his secret in the eyes of his daughter and make her happy.
13. Bunny Drop
Original Run: July 7, 2011 – September 15, 2011
Number of Episodes: 10
Bunny Drop is a story about a 30-year-old man named Daikichi who discovers a young girl named Rin at his grandfather’s funeral. It turns out Rin is his grandfather’s daughter, which makes her Daikichi’s aunt. When the family is unsure who will care for her, Daikichi steps up and decides to raise Rin himself, even though he has no experience with kids.
The series shows the challenges and joys of their new life together as they learn and grow. It’s about family, love, and adjusting to unexpected situations. Bunny Drop is a great pick if you like stories that touch on family bonds and heartwarming moments.
14. Baby & Me
Original Run: July 11, 1996 – March 26, 1997
Number of Episodes: 35
After the death of his mother, little Toshio, despite his young age, is the “second mother” of his younger brother Midori, helping his father as much as possible in this difficult task.
The two siblings are very close, and even if at times Toshio realizes that the task of raising a two-year-old is not at all easy for him, who is still a child, after all, he tries in every way to keep the promise he had made to his mother to take care of his little brother in every situation.
Toshio, although the events of his life had forced him to grow up quickly, is still a lively and cheerful child who likes to play with his best friends Gon and Akihiro, who in turn have two younger sisters (Nako and Ichika) and to whom he asks for advice in moments of despair. Often, the three friends meet in the park or out of kindergarten and discuss their little-big problems related to their respective younger siblings.
15. The Way Of The Househusband
Original Run: October 11, 2020 – December 13, 2020
Number of Episodes: 10
The Way Of The Househusband is about a former feared yakuza boss named Tatsu, who was known as the “Immortal Dragon”. He leaves behind his life of crime to become a full-time househusband and support his wife, Miku, who works as a designer. The anime showcases Tatsu’s daily adventures and challenges as he navigates through tasks like cooking, cleaning, and grocery shopping, all while applying his intense yakuza mannerisms and mindset.
The humor in the series comes from the contrast of Tatsu’s tough appearance and demeanor with the ordinary, everyday tasks he’s so dedicated to. For instance, he might approach making lunch or bargaining for sales at the supermarket with the same seriousness as a yakuza turf war.
16. Attack on Titan
Original Run: April 7, 2013 – ongoing
Number of Episodes: 70 (+8 OVA episodes and several movies)
The plot of Attack on Titan revolves around the young Eren Jäger, his adoptive sister Mikasa Ackermann and his best friend Armin Arlert, who live together with the rest of humanity in cities that are protected by huge walls from the attacks of the so-called Titans, gigantic humanoid beings who devour people for no apparent reason.
The walls that promised peace have existed for 107 years. But one day the Titans break through the outermost Wall Maria and the people are pushed back further. Eren’s mother dies and he and many other people flee behind the second wall, Wall Rose. Eren swears when his mother dies that he will wipe out the Titans.
17. School Babysitters
Original Run: January 7, 2018 – March 25, 2018
Number of Episodes: 12 (+ OVA)
Following the sudden death of their parents, high school student Ryūichi Kashima and his younger brother, Kotarō (a preschooler), are left orphaned with nowhere to call home.
The president of the prestigious Morinomiya Academy offers to take both boys into her care, along with a new home and free school tuition, on the condition that Ryūichi helps with the school’s nursery and work there as a babysitter while also attending classes. during school hours.
18. My Hero Academia
Original Run: April 3, 2016 – present
Number of Episodes: 113 (+ 5 OVA)
In a world where 80% of the world’s population has superpowers, here called “Quirks”, we follow the adventures of Izuku Midoriya, one of the few humans without Quirks. Despite this, Izuku still dreams of joining the super-heroic branch of the great Yuei academy and one day becoming one of the greatest heroes of his time.
One day, Izuku had the chance to meet his lifelong idol, All Might, the number 1 superhero. He will give Izuku his Quirk, the One For All.
19. Wonder Egg Priority
Original Run: January 13, 2021 – June 30, 2021
Number of Episodes: 12 (+ Special)
Wonder Egg Priority is an original anime that delves deep into sensitive topics like trauma, bullying, self-identity, and societal pressures. The story revolves around a girl named Ai Ohto, who, after facing personal trauma and seclusion, stumbles upon a mysterious “Egg” while wandering around late at night. When she cracks open this egg, a girl emerges, pulling Ai into a surreal dreamlike world full of monstrous creatures representing personal traumas.
20. Full Metal Panic? Fumoffu
Original Run: August 25, 2003 – November 18, 2003
Number of Episodes: 12
Full Metal Panic? Fumoffu is about a young soldier named Sousuke Sagara. He’s part of a secret group called Mithril and has to protect a high school girl, Kaname Chidori, because some bad people want her special powers. The funny part is that even though Sousuke is good at fighting, he doesn’t know how to act normal in a school. He often thinks regular school stuff is dangerous, which causes a lot of funny problems.
It’s similar to Spy x Family because both shows mix normal life with action-packed moments. If you like seeing regular situations turn funny because of a character’s unusual background, you might enjoy Full Metal Panic? Fumoffu.
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