TL;DR, ANN’s This Week in Anime gives a shout to anime moms. This guide highlights why fans love certain mother characters, which moms commonly top fan lists, and viewing picks for Mother’s Day.

This Week in Anime marked Mother’s Day with a themed chat called “Call Your Mother,” where hosts Lucas and Sylvia salute as many anime moms as they can cram into one column. It rounds up moms by blood, adoptive moms, and found-family caregivers, then points you to where many of these stories stream. If you are hunting for the best anime moms to spotlight this weekend, this guide pulls the highlights together fast.

The column nods to everyday caregivers like Akari from March comes in like a lion, big feelings in Maquia, and even the messy, funny side of mom tropes in Gundam. Below, we explain what the feature said, which mother characters fans tend to praise, and what to watch on Mother’s Day.

What This Week in Anime said about anime moms

Lucas and Sylvia use the This Week in Anime chat to give a straight-from-the-heart salute to moms across genres. Their premise is simple. Moms show up in many forms, and they deserve a nod, whether they are biological parents, adoptive caretakers, or the steady older sister who keeps a family together.

They spotlight that idea with Akari in March comes in like a lion, who raises her sisters after their mother’s death and becomes a stabilizing presence for Rei. The discussion even calls out how two women co-parenting is rare in anime, so any implied lesbian mom rep gets a cheer.

The piece swings from tender to playful. It jokes about horse girls having two moms, then flips to the very real weight of motherhood. The hosts point readers to women-authored works like March comes in like a lion and Chihayafuru, and to Mari Okada’s directorial debut, a feature centered on big Mom Feelings.

On the other end, they laugh about the complicated mom energy in Gundam, showing the topic can be warm or weird and still worthwhile.

Availability also comes up. , One Piece, Kill la Kill, Witch from Mercury, Spy Family, and more. Netflix has Evangelion.

Tubi carries Maquia. The Shonen Jump app provides the One Piece manga. Flip Flappers and Heybot!

reportedly are not streaming Stateside. That makes it easy to turn a Mother’s Day anime plan into a real queue. If you follow this week in anime conversations, this one is a handy map to where heartfelt and funny mom stories live.

Which anime moms fans often call the best

Fans tend to rally around mothers who act, protect, and grow on screen. In thrillers and mysteries, steady moms who see danger first often stand out. ERASED fans praise Satoru’s mom, Sachiko, for her sharp instincts and quiet courage.

In fantasy dramas, endurance defines favorites. Maquia captures the ache and strength of raising a child against time, which is why many list her among the best anime moms when they want a good cry that still feels healing.

Action and shonen series often keep parents offstage, so the ones who show up make a mark. One Piece viewers still talk about Bell-mère’s sacrifice and the backbone it gives Nami. Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood leans on memory, with Trisha Elric shaping the brothers’ drive even in absence.

Comedy flips the script. Do You Love Your Mom and Her Two-Hit Multi-Target Attacks? turns mom into the overpowered party member, and that gag works because Mamako backs it with embarrassing, very mom energy.

Slice-of-life and found-family stories reward caretaking. March comes in like a lion treats Akari as a mom-in-all-but-name, which echoes the column’s point that motherhood can be a role, not just biology. On the mecha side, Gundam’s moms often land in gray or chaotic territory, so “iconic anime moms” there might be memorable for messy choices rather than warmth.

For spy capers, Spy Family plays with performance and attachment, letting Yor try, fail, and try again, which many read as the mark of “strong anime mothers” in lighter fare.

com/best-anime-characters-of-all-time/”>All-time anime characters. That lens is useful. Judge care, not just power.

Give extra credit for growth and presence across episodes. Different genres reward different traits, so “best” changes with tone and stakes.

What to watch for Mother’s Day with anime moms

Match the mood first, then pick from a focused anime moms list. The column flags what is easy to stream, so you can plan a night without fuss. Aim for two hours, a snack, and one conversation starter about a mother character you loved or hated.

Here are tight, no-spoiler picks built from the chat’s mentions and easy-to-find titles.

• Heartfelt and reflective: Maquia on Tubi. A gentle, pure Mother’s Day anime pick about holding on and letting go.
• Warm slice-of-life: March comes in like a lion on Crunchyroll. Watch Akari hold a family together, then talk found family over tea.
• Uplifting competition: Chihayafuru on Crunchyroll. Cozy pacing, caring adults, and room to cheer.
• Thriller comfort mom: ERASED on Crunchyroll. Sachiko is the MVP. Pair with something sweet.
• Action nostalgia: Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood on Crunchyroll. Memory of mom fuels the journey, still great as a group rewatch.
• Comedic chaos: Do You Love Your Mom and Her Two-Hit Multi-Target Attacks? on Crunchyroll. Light, silly, mom front and center.
• Mecha with a twist: Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury on Crunchyroll. Messy mom vibes, lively discussion fodder.
• Classic heady sci-fi: Evangelion on Netflix. Complex parent themes if you want something heavier.

Make it cozy. com/best-rom-com-anime-of-all-time/”>Rom-com picks if you want laughs with minimal drama. Bring a small gift.

com/best-anime-manga-box-set/”>Box set gift ideas helps you choose. However you queue it, keep the focus on why these stories land. The best anime moms do not need powers.

They need presence, care, and a moment on the calendar that says thank you.

Related: All-time anime characters.

Related: Rom-com picks.

Related: Box set gift ideas.

Source: ANN