​​Tadaima, Okaeri (English Title: Welcome Home) is one of the sweetest anime series I have ever seen. 

Adapted from the manga of the same name by Ichi Ichikawa, the series follows male lovers Hiromu and Masaki Fujiyoshi. Together since college, the two men are head over heels in love with one another and the family they’ve created with their two children: Hikari – a bright and heroic little boy – who loves his ma-cha more than anyone on the planet, and Hinata – a curious and adventurous little girl – who thinks her big brother is the best. An adorable slice-of-life story, it’s also set in the omegaverse. 

What is the omegaverse, you ask? The most concise answer is that it’s a world where men can get pregnant. So Yes, Hikari and Hinata are the BIOLOGICAL children of Hiromu and Masaki. 

Hiromu is an alpha, so he is dominant and can impregnate both male and female gendered individuals carrying the Omega-type gene, like Masaki. In addition to Alphas and Omegas, there are also Betas, who are just regular human beings. Omegas are often considered lower class, and as such, Hiromu’s family (who are very powerful Alphas) disowned them and refused to acknowledge their relationship or their grandchildren. So, the couple lived in their own bliss, surrounded by friends who loved and accepted them without prejudice. As the series continues, however, Hiromu’s parents come around and become a part of their lives. 

Produced by Studio Deen and directed by Shinji Ishihira, the series premiered on 9 April 2024 with scripts written by Yoshiko Nakamura and character designs by Mina Ōsawa.  The theme song “Futatsu no Kotoba” (ふたつのことば, “Two Words”), performed by Madkid, is incredibly catch and their music video is absolutely adorable. 

One of the things that surprised me about this series is how wholesome it is. As my first experience with the omegaverse, I expected something very different. While the series does touch on the fact that Hiromu, as an alpha, cannot resist Masaki when he goes into heat, it’s not explicit. In fact, he avoids his husband to ensure he doesn’t do anything that would cause him pain or regret. 

In fact, the series focuses on how beautiful a loving/healthy relationship can be. Licensed through Crunchyroll in the US, it’s an incredible series that is well worth watching.