Families can be complex, with warm, loving relationships or bitter conflicts that could leave a bitter taste in anyone’s mouth. As it is in real life, anime has taken to portraying families of varying dynamics, with some being the centre point of the story.
Although some families in anime can claim kinship through blood, some have forged a strong family unit despite not being related to one another. From the heart-warming bonds within Clannad’s Okazaki family to the dysfunctional, brutal home life of the Zenins of Jujutsu Kaisen, here are the best families in anime.
10
The Nobi Family
Doraemon
The classic Doraemon’s iconic Nobi family are a staple of the anime world. Although they seem like your everyday, middle-class family, the Nobis have a strange, out-of-place cat robot called Doraemon who becomes a pivotal member of the family.
Originally sent from the future, Doraemon is charged with helping Nobita, who is a shy and indolent boy who hates studying. Nobita’s mother, Tamako, is hot-headed and clashes with her son often, while his father, Nobisuke, is kind, caring and a bit too lax in his parenting. However, Doraemon is welcomed into the family, and he becomes Nobita’s dearest friend, helping him overcome his problems and insecurities.
9
The Zenin Clan
Jujutsu Kaisen
When it comes to the Zenins, wholesome family moments will be the last thing on your mind. As one of the Big Three Sorcerer Clans, the Zenins prize cursed energy within its members above all things. Due to this belief, the environment is very cutthroat and pushes you to adopt an ‘every man for themselves’ way of thinking.
In the Zenin clan, women and those born without cursed energy are doomed to a hellish life. Notable characters like Toji, who was born with zero cursed energy, became an outcast, while his cousin Naoya was cherished due to his Projection Sorcery. In short, although the Zenins were at the top of the world in jujutsu society, they certainly weren’t role models for families anywhere.
8
The Elric Family
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood
One of the strongest brotherly bonds in anime, all that remains of the Elrics are the two brothers, Edward and Alphonse. They hit an extremely rough patch early in life when they lost their mother to a deadly illness and their father seemingly ditched them. The two brothers were desperate enough to try to bring their mother back, which led to Edward losing his limb and Alphonse losing his entire body.
With Alphonse now bound to a suit of armour, Edward is determined to find the Philosopher’s Stone to restore their bodies. However, he primarily prioritises Alphonse’s restoration out of immense guilt. Although their ultimate goal couldn’t be achieved without massive sacrifice, Edward and Alphonse were ready to put their lives on the line for each other, no matter what.
7
The Okazaki Family
Clannad
Clannad takes you by the hand to experience some of the most heartwarming and sad tales of love and family created for the screen. The spin-off Clannad: After Story delves deeper into the deepening relationship between Tomoya Okazaki and Nagisa Furukawa, with the pair eventually getting married and starting a family.
But just when Tomoya is ready to enjoy his new life, Nagisa dies in childbirth, and we see him spiralling and distancing himself from his daughter Ushio. Although Tomoya’s difficulties are truly heart-rending, the Okazaki family’s story reminds you of the importance of family and cherishing the time you have with your loved ones.
6
The Zoldycks
Hunter X Hunter
An extremely secretive family, the Zoldycks have good reason for being so, as they’ve made killing a family business. Attaining wealth due to their sheer skill and deadly proficiency, every child born into the family is immediately trained to become an assassin.
Out of all five children born to Silva and Kikyo Zoldyck, the family’s prodigy Killua is considered the best candidate to inherit the family trade, though he dislikes becoming an assassin. Although there’s a level of care between each member, the overly disciplined and stifling environment that comes with birthing the next generation of assassins naturally causes clashes to happen in the family.
5
The Joestar Family
JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure
The Joestar family has made their mark on anime history with its distinguished bloodline of unforgettable members. Each Joestar was a Stand user, with distinct and remarkable powers.
With a wild and colourful history that’s traced back to Jonathan Joestar, the Joestars are also reputed for their strong sense of justice, battling their eternal nemesis Dio Brando’s infernal schemes. As the main protagonists of the show, each member is given their time in the sun, leaving their own special legacy along the way.
4
The Todoroki Family
My Hero Academia
My Hero Academia’s Todoroki family quickly established themselves as both dysfunctional and tragic. The head of the family, Endeavour, is a high-ranking Pro-Hero and, although this affords the family a privileged lifestyle, home life is far from ideal.
Not only did Endeavour obsess with beating All Might, but he also entered into a Quirk Marriage to create the perfect child to do exactly that. He had four children, all of which he neglected in different ways while abusing his wife. Although Endeavour eventually realised he was going down the wrong path, he undergoes a redemption arc, but the consequences of his actions show that it may be far too late for that.
3
The Forgers
Spy X Family
The Forgers certainly look like your average family from the outset, but in truth, they’re simply pretending to be a family. Loid Forger is a spy for Westalis, charged with investigating Donovan Desmond’s doings. In order to do that, he needs to pose as a family man to avoid suspicion.
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He gets Anya to pose as his child and enrols her at the prestigious Eden Academy to befriend Donovan’s son, Damian. Loid also gets Yor Forger to pretend to be his wife, but she has secrets as well since she’s a skilled assassin. Although Loid considered it a job at first, he grew to care genuinely for Yor and Anya’s happiness and well-being.
2
The Uchiha Clan
Naruto
With their family name in everyone’s mouths, the Uchiha clan was both feared and respected in equal measure. Considered the strongest clan in the Hidden Leaf Village, they possess one of the most powerful kekkei genkai in the series, the Sharingan.
The Uchiha clan has been responsible for some of the greatest characters in the show, from the villainous, yet legendary Uchiha Madara to the vengeance-obsessed Itachi Sasuke. Despite the massacre of the Uchiha at the hands of Itachi, their legacy remains, affecting the show’s narrative and character progressions.
1
The Son Family
Dragon Ball
One of the most iconic families of all time, the Son family has left a memorable legacy in their wake. This family is a mix of both adoptive and biologically related kin, with classic characters like Son Goku who’s won over an entire legion of fans.
Goku was a Saiyan who was later adopted into the Son family and, despite the existence of his biological family, repudiated them and their goals. The Son family has expanded under Goku, having two sons, Gohan and Goten, with his wife Chi-Chi. The Son family are powerhouses in their own right, with Goku himself undoubtedly being one of the most powerful anime characters of all time.
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