Welcome, readers, to Late to the Party , a column that's right on time when it comes to catching up on anime everyone's already watched. This column addresses a universal truth in regard to being an anime fan: an anime backlog is quite the powerful beast. Many of us have one, where we amass more and more content we have designated in the "planning to watch" category. How and why it takes so long to actually address this task varies from person to person, but the gratification of finally allocating the time is really quite splendid. Occasionally, it’s by watching a classic anime from yesteryear that you’ve had your eye on for quite some time. In other instances, it’s a more recent premiere that just slipped by. Last September, I watched Buddy Daddies as a tribute to my newborn son (aww). This year, I wanted to keep that tradition going with an anime that is all about the pride — and the perils — of paternity. The Double Life of Kakushi Goto Studio: Aija-do ( Kemono Jihen , A Sign of Affection , How Not to Summon a Demon Lord ) First aired: April 2020 (five years late to the party! I swear, I’m more reliable as a father in real life. …Or at least I hope I am.) Kakushi Goto is a man with a secret. As a single father trying his best to raise his young daughter Hime, he shares a trait with many other daddies of anime — a double life that he never wants his child to discover. RELATED: Why Did It Take Me So Long to Watch Buddy Daddies? Some anime papas are secret agents. Others are deadly assassins. Kakushi’s weapon of choice is the pen, for he is a semi-famous manga artist known for his lewd, juvenile humor. And you’d best believe he will guard this fact with the vigor of a thousand assassins. This is the charming premise of Kakushigoto , an anime that loves to be cheeky. For starters, its title has a triple meaning, not only representing the protagonist’s name, but also translating to the Japanese meaning for either a dark secret, or the job of drawing itself. Indeed, this sets the stage for a world of subterfuge and misunderstandings while Kakushi works desperately to keep his two lives far apart. When he leaves home in the morning, he is dressed smartly as the average salaryman, changing his attire midway to look unkempt and scruffy. My man goes from trendsetter to NEET in seconds flat. Once in the workplace, we see that Kakushi is both a master of his craft and a neurotic mess all at once. Kakushigoto does a fantastic job of providing insight into the life of a mangaka; a profession that we often romanticize as a lonely, isolated endeavor. In actual fact, he has an entire team working under him that has grown accustomed to his various eccentricities.There’s a lot that goes into creating a weekly chapter beyond just what ends up on the page, and I really appreciated that context. There is a consistent fear of deadlines for one thing, and I can very much relate to that phenomenon. The Love of a Father and His Daughter For all his talent, Kakushi has a distinct case of tunnel vision, often missing obvious clues around him when they don’t involve either his art or his daughter. There’s a certain whimsy in the way he speaks, leading to him unintentionally wooing the various ladies around town. It’s like he’s the main character of a romantic comedy or harem anime without even being aware of it. And yes, this is typically hilarious, but it also provides an impactful through line to one of Kakushigoto ’s overarching themes — how a little girl grows up without her mother in her life. RELATED: 6 Adorable Anime Daughters You'll Love As Much As SPY x FAMILY's Anya Here is where the story really drew me in. Throughout episodes, we often see flash forwards of Hime returning to her childhood home. She reflects sadly on her youthful days with her father, lending an element of intrigue throughout the season. To be honest with you, parenthood hits differently than you’d ever expect. Seeing the innocent moments of Kakushi and Hime’s interactions resonated with me deeply — despite the fact that my own kid is only one, so he’s mostly just climbing up on furniture and putting household items in his mouth. Perhaps I project a little with how protective Kakushi is of his beloved daughter, catastrophizing every theoretical hardship that she could suffer. And in turn, Hime adores him, earnestly wanting him to be happy. RELATED: Bojji, Kotaro & How Anime Kids Are Better Than We'll Ever Be It’s all too sweet for words, and in case you were wondering, I held it together until the conclusion of Episode 4. Something about that ending triggered the waterworks, though I at least got further than I expected. Not Just For Parents! It all makes for a warm, friendly experience that you can take in at your preferred pace. Many of the episodes tell two self-contained stories, meaning that you can break them up into halves if you’re pressed for time. Or you could just be like me, ravenously devouring episodes one after another. There’s just so much to like here, whether it’s the interplay between father and daughter, the constant stream of mix-ups and double meanings, or the simple joy of witnessing this reverential line of work being treated as something so routine. It helps contextualize the notion that, no matter what the profession, everyone is really just a normal person at the end of the day. Obviously I can’t recommend Kakushigoto enough for fellow parents and guardians, but it blends themes and genres so well, that’s obviously not a necessity.
