Are there good Movies, TV Shows, Anime, with wholesome family (particularly parent-child) relations?
I kinda didn't get much love during childhood, so I kinda get obsessed about it. I recently watched Spy x Family and holy hell, I get so jealous of the wholesomeness of their family dynamic, I cried. I need more of that.
Watch Bluey! It's a kids show, but everyone should watch it.
I’ll admit that this does sound kind of like a joke suggestion, but I’m serious, after a hard day, sit down, suck up your pride and put an episode or two of Bluey on. It’s a warm blanket on a cold day.
Yeah bluey is 100% a show anyone can watch and get something out of, I've cried watching it and I'm a 39 year old dude, good stories are good stories regardless of their target audience.
I hope I didn't come across as joking. Bluey models probably the most wholesome parent-child relationships on television. Yes it's acted out by cartoon dogs; but the scenarios hit home.
I'm a father of two; watching (and often emulating) Bluey has absolutely made me a better parent. It's not all "go 100% with your kids all the time"; sometimes it's "we have to stop playing so I can go to work" or "mom and dad are tired, let's play a game where we don't have to leave the couch" or "it seems we're spending too much time watching TV or screens, how do we reconnect to the real world". Yes, the irony of a TV show covering that last topic isn't lost on me :P
Bluey is indeed wholesome!
Seconded.
Bob's Burgers has got to be the #1 here. One of the most loving families in television history.
Avatar - The Last Airbender might be a contender. If you can tolerate some entirely NOT wholesome dynamics alongside all the wholesome ones.
The Owl House also comes to mind.
Before Bob's Burgers there was Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist, which is where H. Jon Benjamin (voice of Bob) really got on the map in the 90's. He was so young back then, he played the son.
But I always thought it was a very sweet relationship between a single father who was very understanding and patient with his twenty-something year old son who was perpetually without a job and very immature. So patient, so kind, so loving, no intent ever to kick him out and make him "grow up."
In fact, Dr. Katz, Home Movies, and Bob's Burgers are all Loren Bouchard projects. He was a writer/producer/editor on Dr. Katz but he was a creator on Home Movies and Bob's Burgers.
Fun fact about Dr. Katz. Jon Benjamin's character, Ben, was infatuated with his fathers secretary, Laura, who was played by Laura Silverman. Even though in the show her character couldn't stand Ben, in real life Jon Benjamin and Laura Silverman were dating at the time.
I was coming to say Bobs Burgers
Likewise.
Gravity Falls is pretty good on that front too.
Bluey and Bob's Burgers are both amazing for healthy family dynamics, and Bob's burgers can be so funny I've cried laughing. The camping episode!
How much the parents care for their children and each other is extremely touching.
Bluey has such a healthy, compassionate family dynamic I was confused watching it for the first time.
As a divorced dad, Bluey is painfully sweet. I love that show to bits and it saddens me that my girl will soon no longer want to watch it as she gets older.
🥲 Those family dynamics.
I can't imagine that some of their lessons won't stick with her.
My Neighbor Totoro!
Whispers of the Heart, From Up on Poppy Hill, and Arête also have good child/parent dynamics. Among most other Ghiblis. I just wanted to mention some of their lesser known ones.
the original black and white The Addams Family is extremely wholesome. There's an absolutely lovely family dynamic and the parents are extremely loving to the children and each other. I highly recommend it!
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
Except for scenes with Worf or Keiko
Worf let's you see what a shitty father looks like, Keiko is just Keiko and I don't want to end up in a transporter malfunction so she's good.
As a dad with a daughter I absolutely bawled my eyes out during the Mitchell's VS the machines. It's a daughter going off to college story and the dad trying to connect.
It's a pretty funny movie and nails how families can act with each other
My daughter is only 11 but I know some of that is not to far off down the road
That fuckin moose, man. I'm a dad, and that shit killed me.
Right? My daughter and I have connected with the Incredibles, MVM, anything Spider-Man especially the animated movies w/Miles and currently stranger things. Just finished our rewatch of all four seasons in the last month.
But I remember going to across the spider verse with her and seeing that moose on Miles' shelf. Instant quiet tears
The Incredibles and Inside Out both portray realistic, flawed, loving family dynamics. As a parent, they're hard and beautiful to watch.
Film: Mitchell's vs the Machines.
TV: The Great North
Barakamon (2014)
After torpedoing his career, a young, lonely calligrapher gets sent to a remote island community where he befriends the local townsfolk and a precocious child. Its quite lovely and I think you’ll like it a lot.
And it looks like someone has put the entire series, with English subtitles, up on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/ip2T3BS3mgg
There's an animated and a live action series. Which would you recommend more?
I’ve only seen the animated series, so that.
We should setup a watch party thing around some kind of FOSS friendly deal. At a minimum we could watch and discuss for a day+ of open conversation. It might be fun?
PeerTube stream?
Sid the Science Kid
Addams family (Movies)
Malcolm in the Middle(dysfunctional, but deep down concern)
The Mummy (movies)
Hmm... It's an adoptive family dynamic, but I think you'll like Anne Shirley. You can watch the recent remake or the original anime depending on preference.
If you're willing to tank a whole heap of tragedy around the wholesomeness --
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brothehood (and the Manga. Actually I prefer the Manga) is a classic about a pair of brothers who face many difficulties together. It's really sweet how much they protect each other. Shout out also to their not-sister-childhood-friend for being an honorary third sibling. Then there's their father, absentee for most of the show, but once he appears he's fully ready to sacrifice himself for their sake and all that.
You didn't ask for a video game, but the first piece of media I thought of was, Yakuza Kiwami and Yakuza Kiwami 2. They literally made me cry at some scenes because of how wholesome parts of them are. He kinda adopts a little girl, and starts an orphanage. There's even a section of the game where you just walk around town holding her hand. Although the game has a lot of mature elements and is not entirely about this.
I can't really think of many parent/child wholesome media, but Mr Rodgers is something I enjoy watching with my daughter.
Edit, I just remembered, I Love Lucy is pretty wholesome with a parent child relationship
For anime: Sweetness and Lightning.
It's about a single father cooking different dishes for his daughter with the help of one of his students.
since all commenters here are missing out on the best family shows and films i'll add to the collective knowledge
Astrid Lindgren's
• Ronja Rövardotter
• Saltkråkan
• Bullerbyn
Tove Johansson's
• 1972 Mumin
overall swedish cartoons
• Alfons Åberg
• Långa Farbrorn
• Creepschool (highlights and helps alot of trauma and social issues of children in every episodes, i can attest)
but if you want only american... i don't have a family drama, but a found family feelgood
• 1985 Freaks of Science
ask me for clarifications or so
Wrote this in another thread but I love the found family trope and Spy x Family totally fits that bill. I wrote a few other examples below.
Movies
Shows
I'm hesitant to count The Last of Us as an answer to OPs question. That show is not wholesome at all lol.
Fair. I'd say the bond between Joel and Ellie is wholesome in a world that everything and everyone is out to get them.
Pascal acting as Joel is like achieved by stripping 85% of his emotional range. the character of Joel is like a rock.
when i think father in film i think Mattis from Ronja Rövardotter! i can cry just recounting his lines! that is fatherhood in film
I'd disagree on Pedro Pascal"s performance. I thought he did an excellent job as Joel. He was nominated across multiple awards for that role.
As for the movie/character you mentioned, I had never heard of it but will check it out. I'm assuming you mean the 1984 version which seems to have better audience reviews than the 2024 Netflix TV series adaptation.
yes Pascal's one of the great actors, the role of Joel is less interesting emotionally however. not much room to shine imo.
yes the original film from 1984 =) lots and lots of theatrical re-enactments since then. now some new cartoons i see
Wild Robot!
I cried so hard watching it. Told a friend, they lightly made fun of me but accepted the suggestion. They cried the whole movie too.
Netflix's Lost in Space.
Figure 17
Loving dad. And what if you suddenly had an identical twin that's trying to better you and helps you get out of your shell?
It's kinda mainstream, but I've enjoyed Modern Family quite a bit. Sure, there is some friction, but it all works out in the end, so perhaps that fits what you're looking for.
Kakushigoto is really good.
It is the story of a single-parent manga artist who is ashamed of his work and goes to great lengths to keep it from his young daughter.
The story begins when the girl, now older, discovers her Father's job, and is told through flashbacks to her growing up and life with her father who was always trying his best for her.
I can't find the official trailer with subtitles but it gives you the idea. Trailer.
Really heartwarming, and bittersweet at times, and other things I won't spoil.
The original Naruto series has its moments. The first two or three arcs hit me throughout several times.
Hunter x Hunter has friend dynamics like that and can turn up the feels with missing father throughout.
ouch the trauma of HxH
though yes the family relationship in those few episodes are best in anime. i dare say you see alot of physical and emotional and psychological and sexual trauma for the "rest" of the 50 something episodes. that doesn't make it a better of anime to comfort by if you'ven't seen it before. having peeked at the manga & the 2012 anime i'm confident i like the 1999 anime best because it strays from the harshness. HxH 1999 is the varmest.
though anime wise: World Masterpiece Theatre is the varmest family dynamics without the trauma. for example Little Women 2 Jo's Boys
Steven Universe, from beginning to the end. The last (fifth?) season was called Steven Universe Future; it's a timeskip several years into the future.
Future is a separate show, set after the movie, not another season of the first show. It's tonally very different.
Fresh Prince of Bel Aire with Will Smith and James Avery. Not a perfect family, but James plays a wonderful tv dad.
A story about found family overcoming trauma that I love is Fruits Basket, particularly the 3 season remake.
I'm also very partial to Boy Meets World (TOPANGA!!!!)
The Paddington movies are absolutely delightful.
Usagi Drop is an anime about an unwanted orphan being adopted by someone with a big heart and no experience. https://anilist.co/anime/10162/Usagi-Drop/
Watch out though, because while the TV anime ends on a sweet note, and you should probably stop there, the manga ends with time-skipping forwards 10 years to when they start a romantic relationship together.
The Fragrant Flower Blooms With Dignity
It's a new anime and it's more focused on the kids, but the relationship the main has with his family is so good. Honestly all of the characters are just so darn good. They're all so wholesome and just good.
For a movie I got “Instant Family”. This one’s focus is entirely about adoption, and it’s a great ride.
A show that I think is very unknown is “Parenthood”. It also does the huge family thing like “Modern Family” which I love. The stories about parenting are more diverse here tho: you’ve got the classic parenting teens, dealing with autism, and adoption, all in one show.
Plus the actors are all great, I mean who could say no to Craig T Nelson as patriarch and Holly Genero from Die Hard as matriarch?
Parenthood is good stuff.
A show I forgot from my prior post because it's so new is Joe Cappa's Haha You Clowns on Adult Swim. It's very loosely modeled after the classic sitcom My Three Sons and follows the loving and earnest adventures of 3 beefy Chad teens and their love for their equally beefcake father who recently became a Widower as they lovingly try to fill his broken heart with love. The sincerity rounds the bend to being absurd and funny, but the relationships on display are all loving and healthy.
I watched the first episode of this having no idea what it was... Pretty funny
Nichijou! It's wacky, funny, and out-of-the ordinary slice of life anime. Anyone can watch it.
Long Story Short - it's not all rainbows and butterflies, but a realistic family working to get by.
Modern Family - Antics of an extended family. Since it's a comedy it's usually pretty wholesome and each family unit brings something different to the table.
While there are definitely more out there, I figured these would be good suggestions as they really focus on family dynamics.
For something new you could try Alma-chan Wants to Be a Family.
Uncle Buck
Anime: Bleach has a good family dynamic. It’s probably not cry worthy but is good
Medalist is an anime about figure skating and the relationship between the young skater and her coach is wholesome as fuck. Not a parent per se but similar vibes. I particularly like how they both help each other; adults have problems too and kids are smarter than we adults often give them credit for, and the show captures that very well. If you like the dynamic in Spy X Family you'll probably like it.
Also the skating is beautifully animated and the sports anime structure keeps the plot moving along. One of my favorite shows of all time.
It's a bit older, but I think Adventures of the Gummi Bears has a wholesome family dynamic, even if the family doesn't seem to be related. If I remeber correctly, the King (Calla's father) is also shown to be a very loving father.
really wondering why modern family wasnt mentioned yet
Movie: instructions not included.
Usagi drop is an adorable movie.
Word of caution, do NOT read the original manga. It's kind of infamous for the incredibly controversial direction the story goes in the second half, which the anime thankfully omits.
Awww, that's disappointing. The anime seemed very wholesome and hit a lot of the challenges of parenting and just felt real. Definitely won't ruin the experience with the manga then.
Anime movie: Bakemono no Ko
Anime show: Yuzuki-san Chi no Yonkyoudai
Joe Pera Talks With You
Joe's love for his grandmother will make you cry. Then his best friend Gene's sweet relationship with his sons will make you cry again.
The Midnight Gospel
It's only really in the final episode of the series, but Duncan Trussell's relationship with his mother was beautiful and sweet, as evidenced in the finale of this short series.
Nathan For You
While Nathan For You really isn't about Nathan Fielder's relationship with his parents and they are only minor characters in the series, in their few appearances, you can tell how much love and respect he has for them. His father loved Taiga soft shell jackets, and as a Jewish family, his father was devastated when Taiga paid tribute to Holocaust denier Doug Collins in one of their winter catalogues. Nathan would go on to create an entire company dedicated to making soft shell jackets in the style his father liked called Summit Ice Apparel so his father could feel comfortable wearing clothing from a reputable company that didn't promote Holocaust deniers. 100% of the profits of Summit Ice go to the Vancouver Holocaust Education Centre in Vancouver, British Columbia.
Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist
As noted in a comment reply about Bob's Burgers, largely made by the same group of people behind Bob's Burgers, but back in the 90's. A sweet relationship between a single father and his aimless but golden hearted adult son.
Itnhas it's moments, but it's one of those preschool tylr cartoons: Franklin.
No matter what ends up happening, you at least know the main character's parents are there for him in that wholesome manner you always see in shows of that type. No fighting, no whining, etcetera.
Though, for specific episodes of TV shows, one of my favorites is the KND episode where numbuh 1's dad gets dadnapped on a father son trip and it ends with numbuh 1 in a sousaphone battle to save his dad, who is absolutely having an amazing time despite being hung upsidedown.
Edit:
Looked up the scene. Operation O.O.M.P.P.A.H. is the episode and it looks like it's an episode that goes from numbuh 1 not wanting to be there to saving his dad and starting to get into thay wholesome space just as the end of the episode approaches.
Nope. Doesn't exist. It's all sex, drugs and violence.
(I like Lucky Star and Azumanga Diaoh. I want stuff more like those.)
maybe prodigy star trek, i hear its geared for children, but it