Other Bizarre Family Mishaps Await In Other Anime!
Who doesn’t love being a part of a happy family? Spy x Family may not resemble most households today, but this assortment of colorful characters won the hearts of many fans in 2022. The story follows a spy called Twilight, who takes on the alias Loid Forger.
He enlists the help of a city hall clerk named Yor and adopts an orphan girl named Anya as a means to get closer to Donovan. Little does he know that these two have secrets too. While deception serves as their family’s foundation, these three will realize how a family’s love for each other can triumph over anything.
If you’re having trouble finding anime similar to Spy X Family, fear not!
We’ve discovered 10 alternate shows that’ll give you a similar experience as Spy X Family. For your reading pleasure, we have included the similarities they all share.
Additionally, for each anime we’ve reviewed, we’ve included a link that allows you to view our full thoughts about the series to see if it’s worth your time.
So without further ado, we present 10 TV shows that should whet the appetite when you’ve finished streaming Spy X Family!
Hinamatsuri
Similarities – Characters & Comedy
If you enjoyed the hilarity that sprung out of the Forger household, the cast in Hinamatsuri promises to grant you a wonderful time. Hinamatsuri offers a similar plot structure that doesn’t take itself too seriously but offers enough material to keep fans engaged.
Unlike Spy x Family, Hinamatsuri’s characters are more characterized, and its art style feels unique. Otherwise, fans can look forward to Hinamatsuri featuring its characters in similar situations regarding shady business practices and the daughter’s school life.
Hinamatsuri is about Yoshifumi Izumi, a yakuza member who must look after a mysterious girl named Hina. She comes out of a strange capsule before meeting him. Izumi sees her powers unfold before him after she helps him defeat a rival yakuza group. After seeing her potential, Izumi decides it’s best to take his role more seriously, thereby forging a stronger bond with the child.
Hinamatsuri features an incredible amount of slapstick and situational humor throughout its episodes. While its father and daughter characters have similar roles as Loid and Anya, they both exhibit different personalities and traits about them.
Princess Principal
Similarities – Action & Mind Games
Princess Principal is another spy anime set during the Victorian era that wreaks mind games and deception. It features an intriguing female cast who are strong and witty. Like the Forger family, these girls try their best to blend in with the society around them to avoid detection or suspicion. They attend school and participate in its daily activities like Anya does in Spy x Family.
What sets it apart from Spy x Family would be its more serious tone and approach toward drama. Comedy isn’t its foray either. Its focus is to establish the current and newfound relationships between the characters.
However, fans can expect Princess Principal’s main cast to be likable protagonists whose goals are different enough to help them stand out. Princess Principal has a phenomenal soundtrack that’ll please fans who enjoy adrenaline-building tracks.
This anime follows a squad of skilled female spies who work for a reigning organization called the Commonwealth of Albion. Their country is at war with another, and they’re required to use their individual skills to help the Commonwealth of Albion claim victory. Although this task will lead them to many conspiracies and mysteries, they’re deadset on completing their mission.
Kaguya-sama: Love is War
Similarities – Romance & Deception
Kaguya-sama Love is War follows Miyuki Shirogane and Kaguya Shinomiya, who are among their student body’s top representatives. Often regarded as the perfect couple, Miyuki and Kaguya don’t agree despite already having developed feelings for the other. They both feel if they confess their love for each other, the other students will look down upon them.
Despite having more important matters to attend to, the anime follows Kaguya and Miyuki’s growing feud during their war of love. Like Spy x Family, Kaguya-sama Love is War delves into the romance between two opposing individuals. These two individuals also have secrets they wish to keep their partner from uncovering.
Furthermore, both anime contain similar themes regarding love and grief. Most of the characters find themselves in comical situations inside and outside of their academy settings. Spy x Family leans more toward the family angle, though. However, the growing romance between Miyuki and Kaguya is on par with the relationship that’s blossoming between Yor and Loid.
Full Metal Panic!
Similarities – Slice of Life & War
Full Metal Panic is another great series that combines suspense, comedy, and slice-of-life components. The characters in this series hide their identities from higher powers and engage in combat with nearby enemies. The relationship between its female and male lead characters gradually develops throughout the anime.
Full Metal Panic takes place in midst of a war, though. Furthermore, the female lead character feels more akin to Anya’s personality than Yor’s and has telepathic-like abilities. Full Metal Panic’s male protagonist isn’t as sharp or clever as Loid and will occasionally struggle to blend into his environment. However, he does share some of Loid’s mannerisms.
Full Metal Panic is about a young sergeant named Sousuke Sagara, who must protect a girl named Kaname Chidori because she holds breakthrough scientific information. She also has telepathic powers making her a prime target for opposing organizations. As part of his mission, Sousuke enrols in her high school as one of her classmates and monitors her every move.
The problem for Sousuke is that he lacks proper social skills. This gets him into much trouble as he not only attacks unnecessary attention to himself, but his mistakes always catch Kaname’s eyes. This leads to him provoking a terrorist ambush at the school, further complicating things for him.
However, this terrible incident also sparks hope for Sousuke to redeem himself as he finds out who the terrorist organization’s boss is. Therefore, the anime follows Sousuke’s quest to bring the terrorist leader to justice while also protecting Kaname from harm.
Kakushigoto
Similarities – Identical Storyline & Male Lead Characters
Kakushigoto tells the story of a mildly popular manga artist named Kakushi Gotou, who is known for creating the most inappropriate manga of all time. After his daughter’s birth, Kakushi vows to keep his profession away from her, as he doesn’t want her to feel ashamed of him. Therefore, the anime follows Kakushi and his daughter trying to maintain a peaceful existence.
Despite their differing occupations, Kakushi and Loid both try to hide their secret lifestyles from their family members. They do so to protect the lives of those around them. However, the stakes for Anya and Loid are more severe in comparison to Kakushi and his daughter. Another key difference is that Kakushi is the only one harboring secret information.
Yet, the events he finds himself in are goofy and hilarious. Like Loid, he’ll go to extreme lengths to protect his secret identity. Some examples include Kakushi disguising himself as a salaryman or pulling fire alarms to prevent his daughter from digging into his files at work.
If you’re looking for a series that has an identical premise to Spy x Family but with smaller stakes, watch Kakushigoto.
Baccano!
Similarities – Setting & Action
Baccano is a spy-like anime that gives off the same vibe as Spy x Family. With its historical setting, colorful characters, insane action scenes, and overarching mystery, Baccano promises to give fans a phenomenal time. Baccano feels more brutal and bloodier, though. However, its comedy will hit just as well as the slapstick and visual humor found in Spy x Family.
Baccano follows multiple characters, all with different backgrounds, appearances, and personalities. Like an anthology film series, its story tells various short tales that intertwine into the anime’s main mystery. It’s a series that fans may need to watch more than once, as it doesn’t like to spoon-feed its viewers with information.
Spy x Family comes off as less complex and more simple in comparison. Despite the plot sounding a little confusing, the series does provide enough pieces to the series’ grander mystery. If you’re looking for another anime that leans toward the mystery side of spy activity, then check out Baccano!
Barakamon
Similarities – Familial Bonds
Barakamon follows a rookie calligrapher named Seishuu Handa, whose fed up with how people perceive his work. His anger issues get the better of him when yells at a veteran for labeling his award-winning piece as an “unoriginal” work. Seishuu’s father exiles Seishuu to the Goto Islands as punishment for his actions.
Upon arriving, Seishuu notices that the landscape is more rural in comparison to Tokyo. Although the area lacks creativity in his mind, he’s dead-set on finding something about this place that’ll inspire him. Doing so should help Seishuu create a unique art style of his own. Unfortunately, he’ll encounter many individuals, old and young, aiming to shut him down.
Barakamon features the rocky yet growing relationship between a parent and his child. Like the Forger family, Seishuu will learn to enjoy his new life away from Tokyo and develop unexpected feelings for those older and younger than himself.
This series also features a plethora of comedic scenes that are sure to get a laugh out of you. It’s a wholesome anime that promises to make you smile and question your own feelings toward family members.
Kotaro Lives Alone
Similarities – Childcare & Family Life
If you found yourself enjoying the bond Anya forged with Loid and Yor, then Kotaro Lives Alone should offer a similar experience. Kotaro Lives Alone follows Shin Karino, a loner and manga author who’d rather keep to himself. This all changes when he runs into his next-door neighbor Kotarou Satou.
Not only is Kotarou, four-years-old, but he also lives alone in his apartment. Although Karino’s shocked at first, he pays it no mind. Worried for Kotarou’s safety, Karino decides to follow Kotarou to the bathhouse. Once they arrive, Karino will realize that Kotarou’s not just a mere child. Therefore, the anime highlights Kotarou’s daily activities and his neighbors’ reactions to them.
Like Spy x Family, Kotaro Lives Alone centers around childcare and family life. These series contain a child character that knows more than what they’re letting on. Kotaro Lives Alone also had a great amount of visual humor and gags to keep you smiling. If you were a fan of Anya’s character, you’ll enjoy what Kotarou offers to Kotaro Lives Alone’s premise.
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood
Similarities – Family & Action
Full Metal Alchemist: Brotherhood is the remake of the original 2003 anime adaptation. The remake featured most of the source material that wasn’t covered in the original anime. Although it didn’t improve upon the original’s animation (to some degree), it did deliver fresh new opening themes that fans listen to today.
As with Spy x Family, the brotherly bond between Edward and Alphonse Elric is spectacular. You’ll find their friendship wholesome and relatable. Likewise, both brothers will protect the other no matter what. Like Loid and Anya, you’ll get scenes where both brothers don’t see eye-to-eye, but you’ll also be met with moments where they grow closer with each other.
Furthermore, the action scenes in Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood still hold up. The animation for the series is also well-done. Everyone from the villains to the side characters looks great. The sound design in both shows is also handled well and is implemented in ways that benefit both series. If you want another anime that features incredible fights but also showcases wonderful slice-of-life elements, this series’s worth watching.
The Promised Neverland
Similarities – Intelligent Children & Adults
Although this anime’s second season couldn’t sustain fans’ excitement, the first season blew viewers away. The Promised Neverland features a strong hook, likable characters, and an engaging plot. This was one of Studio Cloverworks’ breakout series before Spy x Family.
Therefore, you can expect this series to feature different uses of its camera to create tension. The series’ sound design also plays a role in building up its suspense and atmosphere. The Promised Neverland has a lot to offer in the horror and thriller department. Yet, it does feature some harmonic bits that echo that of the wholesome scenes involving Loid, Yor, and Anya.
For instance, The Promised Neverland’s main cast is child dominant. Although they display mature mannerisms, they act the way you’d expect children to behave. They participate in childlike activities like “hide and seek” and “tag.” They also find ways to formulate plans involving said child-like games. As with the child protagonists, you’ll also encounter deceptive adults.
Like Loid, The Promised Neverland’s adult characters are portrayed as intelligent and witty. They’ll always try to be one step ahead of the children. They also hide secrets behind the child-like characters back. Just like Anya, the protagonists in The Promised Neverland will eventually discover their ruse. If you’re looking for another anime with intelligent children and adults, watch The Promised Neverland.
So there we have it, our 10 anime/TV show alternatives to watch when you’ve caught up with Spy X Family!
What do you think of our picks? Do you agree? Are there any notable omissions? Let us know in the comments below!