The bond between a father and son is one of the most profound relationships in life. While all parent-child connections are special, there is something unique about the way sons look up to their fathers as role models, guides, and friends. This makes the father-son relationship a compelling focus for storytelling. Well, some of the most moving and memorable anime feature complex father-and-son dynamics.
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Through these stories, we get an intimate look at how fathers influence their sons, and how sons come to understand their fathers over time. The emotional arcs explored in these anime resonate with fans who have experiencedsimilar relationshipsfirsthand. So, whether you are a son looking to understand your own father better, or a father reflecting on your bond with your son, these anime are definitely worth a watch.
8Boruto – Naruto & Boruto
My Anime List (MAL) Score - 6
Why Watch Boruto?
One of the central themes of “Boruto” is indeed the father-son relationship. Boruto struggles with the immense legacy of his father, who has risen from an outcast to the Seventh Hokage, a hero of theninja world. Boruto must navigate his own path while dealing with the expectations and fame that come with being the son of such a prominent figure. He grows up with a father and mother but often feels neglected due to Naruto’s responsibilities as Hokage. This creates a clash of perspectives between them.
The series does an excellent job of portraying the generational gap between Naruto’s and Boruto’s eras. The peaceful times after the Fourth Shinobi World War have led to technological advancements and a different set of challenges for the young ninja, which Naruto sometimes struggles to understand. The series depicts realistic issues that can arise in parent-child relationships, such as misunderstandings, communication gaps, and the desire for independence.
Release Date
Episode Count
Where To Watch
Jul 07, 2025
CRUNCHYROLL
7The Seven Deadly Sins – Meliodas & Demon King
My Anime List (MAL) Score - 7.6
The Seven Deadly Sins
Why Watch The Seven Deadly Sins?
The Seven Deadly Sins is set in afictional version of the British Islesand follows the group of knights known as the Seven Deadly Sins, led by Meliodas. While the series does include various themes such as friendship, betrayal, and redemption, the relationship between Meliodas and his father, the Demon King, emerges as a significant plot element, especially in later arcs.
The Demon King serves as a primary antagonist in the series, and their conflict embodies the classic struggle between personal desire for freedom and tyrannical authority. Meliodas rejected his demonic heritage and revolted against his father to reunite with his lover Elizabeth of angelic roots. As two of the most powerful beings in the story, their climactic face-off has an epic, mythical quality to it. The stakes feel enormous.
Season Count
Jul 09, 2025
6Food Wars! – Sohma & Joichiro
My Anime List (MAL) Score - 8.15
Food Wars!: Shokugeki No Soma
Why Watch Food Wars?
Food Wars is all about culinary combats, a veritable feast for the senses where the clashing of pots and pans rings like the clash of swords in a traditional shounen arena. The anime focuses on the young chef Soma Yukihira and his journey through the elite Totsuki Culinary Academy. Along with battling against other students, Soma must prove himself as talented as his father, Joichiro, a legendary figure in the culinary world.
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However, Joichiro’s past and the reasons for his career choices are shrouded in mystery, adding intrigue to their relationship. The series emphasizes that while Soma learns a great deal from Joichiro, he must also forge his own path. Food Wars uses the father-son relationship to reflect on the changes in the culinary world and the pressures that come with being a top chef.
Aug 25, 2025
5Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood – Edward & Hohenheim
My Anime List (MAL) Score - 9.1
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood
Why Watch Fullmetal Alchemist?
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood is a series that transmutes the base metals of its genre into narrative gold. FMAB explores themes of sacrifice,responsibility, redemption, and the consequences of trying to play God. It follows the journey of the Elric brothers as they attempt to regain their lost body parts from a failed transmutation (alchemy). However, they get entangled in the dark practices of alchemy and enemies that they must confront.
Their father, Van Hohenheim, is key to this narrative. Hohenheim is responsible for his role in the tragic events that set the stage for the series' main conflict. He’s also missing for much of the story in the Elric household. This absence shapes much of Edward’s initial character and motivations, including his drive to prove himself and his distrust of authority figures. Their strained reunion and gradual reconciliation are full of emotional potency.
Jul 09, 2025
4JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure – Jotaro & Joseph
My Anime List (MAL) Score - 8.1
JoJo Bizarre Adventure
Why Watch JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Stardust Crusaders?
JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Stardust Crusaders is where the legacy of the Joestar family finds its footing in the rhythmic beat of Stand battles, each encounter more outlandish andflamboyantthan the last. Stardust Crusaders primarily follows Jotaro Kujo, a delinquent high school student who discovers his Stand ability.
But the series also delves into the complicated relationship between Jotaro and his grandfather, Joseph Joestar, from the previous series Battle Tendency. Joseph, now an older man, provides a stark contrast to his brash and taciturn grandson, Jotaro. The relationship between Jotaro and Joseph provides not only moments of tension and drama but also comedic relief, which is a hallmark of the series.
Jun 07, 2025
Crunchyroll
3Neon Genesis Evangelion – Shinji Ikari & Gendo
My Anime List (MAL) Score - 8.35
Neon Genesis Evangelion
Why Watch Neon Genesis Evangelion?
Neon Genesis Evangelion is a seminal anime series that has left a significant mark on themecha genreand anime as a whole. One of the central relationships in the series is between Shinji Ikari, the young pilot of EVA Unit-01, and his father, Gendo Ikari, the commander of NERV. Gendo is cold and distant towards Shinji, having abandoned him at a young age. This emotional neglect sets the stage for Shinji’s internal struggles with self-worth and his desperate desire for paternal approval and affection.
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The series subtly incorporates themes of the Oedipal complex, with Shinji’s conflicted feelings towards his father intertwining with his relationship with other characters, such as Rei Ayanami, who has mysterious connections to both Shinji and Gendo. Without giving away spoilers, the series and the subsequent films attempt to resolve the complex relationship between Shinji and Gendo, leading to moments of catharsis that are critical to the psychological and emotional arcs of both characters.
Aug 04, 2025
2Beelzebub – Oga & Baby Beel
My Anime List (MAL) Score - 7.85
Why Watch Beelzebub?
Beelzebub anime takes a comedic approach to the concept of raising hell, quite literally, in the form of a pint-sized package of chaos. We are introduced to a demon baby whose innocent coos and giggles are as likely to incite panic as they are affectionate. This tiny overlord-in-training lands in the rough-and-tumble life of Tatsumi Oga, adelinquentwith a heart of… well, something less than gold, but certainly not stone.
Oga is the last person you would expect to be caring for a baby, let alone the future demon king. The dynamic between Oga and Baby Beel is the heart of the series, offering a mix of humor, action, and unexpected warmth. Through this, Oga grows from a self-centered teenager into a more protective and caring individual. The challenges that Oga and Baby Beel face together, including battles with other delinquents and supernatural entities, strengthen their bond and highlight their dependency on each other.
Jun 20, 2025
1The Boy And The Beast – Kumatetsu & Kyuta
My Anime List (MAL) Score - 8.24
The Boy and the Beast
Why Watch The Boy and the Beast?
The Boy and the Beast dances gracefully along the fine line between the wild and the civilized, the familiar and the fantastical.Directed by Mamoru Hosoda, this anime film presents an evocative narrative that’s as much about finding one’s inner strength as it is about the bonds that tie us to our unexpected mentors. It tells the story of an orphaned boy Ren who, after running away to the streets of Shibuya, stumbles into a fantastical world of beasts.
He becomes the apprentice of a gruff warrior beast named Kumatetsu, who is seeking to become the next lord of the beast kingdom. Ren finds a new father figure in Kumatetsu. Despite their initial rough and tumble interactions, they fill the void in each other’s lives, with Kumatetsu providing guidance and Ren giving Kumatetsu a purpose beyond himself. The climax of the film brings about a resolution to their relationship, with Ren and Kumatetsu facing their individual destinies.
Movie Duration
Jun 09, 2025
1 hr. 59 min
