SUMMARY
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A lot of our beloved characters in anime wouldn’t be who they are if not for a role model (or two). A lot of times, their role models are also their father figures.
Fathers come in many shapes and sizes. Man series protagonists lead quite the tragic life, missing out on one or both their parents. In cases where both parents are gone, the character usually meets someone to fill the parental role.
The father figure isn’t always mentor; they could just be someone a lot of people look up to. In other cases, the father figure might secretly be the main antagonist.
But since Father’s Day is upon us, we’re only counting the best of the best role models and father figures in anime.
Be warned, however, that since we’ll be going into how great these dads are, there will be spoilers!
Maes Hughes
Fullmetal Alchemist and Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood
In an anime where daddy issues take center stage, one father goes above and beyond his duty as a family man. Maes Hughes is an Amestrian military officer working in the investigations office.
A close friend of the flame alchemist, Roy Mustang, Maes supports the alchemist’s aspirations to become the Fuhrer. He is generally a kind and cheerful person. He also often gives the Elric brothers and Roy Mustang leads to cases.
He is most known for his love for his family. Much to the annoyance of those around him, he’ll always find time to show people his pictures of his beloved daughter, Elicia. Whether it’s a lead on the Philosopher’s stone or discussions on the future of the military-state, he will find time to talk about his wife and kid.
Beyond being a father to his family, he also finds the time to invite the Elric brothers into his home. The hospitality he and his family have shown the brothers is a breath of fresh air from the lonely journey the two are always on.
Ishigami Byakuya
Dr. Stone
Byakuya was a former college professor who had dreams of being an astronaut but failed the exam in the clothed swimming test. A decade after he failed the exam, the astronaut cadet program decided to recruit again. He passed the exams with the help of his son, Senku.
As an astronaut in space, he was there to witness the entire world turn into stone. Believing in the resilience of his son, he managed to pass down the 100 stories in the form of oral tradition, teaching his descendants how to survive in the new world, as well as sending a message for Senku.
Despite not being blood-related, Byakuya was supportive of Senku’s scientific endeavors, even going as far as to sell his own car in order to give his son the materials and reference books he needed. He is a great dad that managed to help his son, a millennia after his own death.
Master Makarov
Fairy Tail
Master Makarov Dreyar is the 3rd, 6th, and 8th master of the Fairy Tail Guild and is also a wizard saint.
Being born from parents also from the guild, his attachment to Fairy Tail runs deep. He will not hesitate to sacrifice himself for the safety of his members.
His signature magic Giant enlarges his body several times bigger. This form has been used to shield the members of the guild several times in the story.
There is no questioning the love Fairy Tail members have for their master as each time he takes the burn from a massive enemy attack the entire guild transforms into unstoppable fighters grieving for their master.
Kagaya Ubuyashiki
Kimetsu no Yaiba
While he may be the “weakest” person on this list, he definitely shows that strength isn’t solely physical.
Kagaya Ubuyashiki is the 97th leader of the Demon Slayer Corps. He is also the head of the Ubuyashiki Family.
Oyakata-sama, as he is usually called, is quite frail. He is blind in both eyes and needs an aid to walk. Because of his inability to be a demon slayer, he has instead memorized every member of the corps and visits the graves of the fallen everyday, something that earned him the respect of everyone. He even treats and refers to all his subordinates as his children.
He never condemned Nezuko as a demon. Tanjiro also notices his gentle voice that gives out a mysterious, uplifting feeling. His ability to talk well allows him to get through to even the most stubborn members.
His care for the demon slayers has led to the survival of the corps.
Joseph Joestar
Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure
He’s been a good father to both his kids, albeit a horrible parter. This is, of course a list of best dads – and they’re not always the best husbands.
The wonderful scumbag I’m referring to is the legendary Joseph Joestar. He is both a master of Hamon and a stand user, and is the most recurring character in the series.
As a father, he is insanely devoted to his daughter, Holly. He even went as far as to trek across Asia and Africa in order to beat the Joestar family’s nemesis, Dio Brando, as the awakening of the vampire put a curse on her.
Years later, despite his senile state, he travelled to Morioh town to see his recently discovered illegitimate son, Josuke. Though he garnered some well-deserved spite from his son, in the end, Joseph won him over after sacrificing himself to save the invisible baby stand user from drowning.
While he’s a horrible, cheating husband, his devotion towards his kids and his occasional dad jokes put him up there as one of the best dads in anime.
Daichi Sawamura
Haikyuu!!
This person isn’t even a dad, nor does he refer to his peers as his kids. He’s probably the only person who doesn’t want to be on this list.
As the captain of the club, Daichi is responsible for all its members. This means reigning in its rowdy players. He is scary enough to keep everyone in line, whether it’s Tanaka starting fights or dealing with best boy Hinata’s unlimited energy, this dad has his hands full.
When the game starts however, his receives make him an irreplaceable part of Karasuno’ defense.
His sense of responsibility both on and off the court has made fans call him the dad of the team.
Iruka Umino
Naruto and Naruto: Shipuuden
Iruka Umino was orphaned when the nine-tailed fox wreaked havoc at Konoha. The same fox was sealed inside Naruto, who he would go on to teach years later.
Naruto in his earlier years was an attention-seeking troublemaker. Whether it was because of vandalism or being tricked into stealing a high class jutsu scroll, he was always there to set the kid straight.
He was such an important person in his life that when Naruto’s master, Jiraiya died, he was the only person to successfully console him.
Finally his status as Naruto’s adoptive father was cemented when the future Hokage asked Iruka to attend his wedding as his father. It was something that showed how much the two loved each other despite not being blood-related.
Askeladd
The Vinland Saga
As a leader of a feared Viking band that pillaged towns and acted as mercenaries, Askeladd was fearsome and cunning. He killed Thors, father of series protagonist Thorfinn, which set Thorfinn onto the path of revenge.
Through the years, despite going out of his way to teach Thorfinn how to fight whenever he challenges him, he was too blinded by rage to ever listen.
It would be hard to say that Askeladd was an amazing father figure. However, he was always there to give him advice during his most pivotal fights, like the duel with Thorkell.
By the time of his death, he made Thorfinn realize the futility of revenge and in the years after, Thorfinn slowly realized that after his real dad died, Askeladd was the only person he had.
Tomoya Okazaki
Clannad and Clannad: After Story
Clannad: After Story sees Tomoya and Nagisa start a family. Tragedy strikes when Nagisa dies while giving birth to their daughter, Ushio.
Tomoya starts off as an absentee father, spiraling into depression after his wife’s death. A trip with his daughter makes him come back to his senses.
He is awkward at first. He buys her a toy robot, something he didn’t think much of. Later, after she loses the toy, she tells him she was sad because that was the first gift her dad ever bought her. There he comes to realize that he needs to be involved in her life.
As a father, he is overprotective of Ushio because she inherited the same illness that killed his wife. After reconciling with his daughter, he starts doting on her.
In the end, he honors her final wishes to take another trip with her dad.
Not a lot of people can pull themselves back from depression in order to properly raise their kids. Based on that effort alone. Tomoya is surely one of the best anime dads.
Oga Tatsumi
Beelzebub
We can’t just exclude a battle anime centered around child-rearing can’t we?
The series starts when juvenile delinquent Oga Tatsumi accidentally forms a contract with Beelzebub IV, a powerful demon prince next in line to the throne.
As someone in a contract with a demon, it made the delinquent even more powerful. Consequently, Beel (the devil’s infant son) becomes so attached to him that taking him away from Oga results in everyone getting electrocuted.
Most dads on this list aren’t the violent sort, especially when around their kids. Oga, however, fights with baby Beel on his back. Normally this is frowned upon but as the next ruler of the underworld, no man is better suited in teaching Beelzebub how to become a strong man.
Beelzebub, of course, disrupts his daily life, which is now full of supernatural brawls, magic, and demons. And despite the many times he could’ve severed his contract with Beel, he never did. – Rappler.com
Adrian Soriano is a Rappler intern.
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