Weekly Shonen Jump is responsible for churning out some of the most successful manga of all time, including Dragon Ball, One Piece, Naruto, and Bleach. As such, getting a manga to be published by the magazine is a major accomplishment, and slots in its lineup are highly competitive. The competition also means that manga which sell poorly don't last very long.
Thus, hitting 100 chapters is a huge deal, and in most cases guarantees an anime. In fact, every Shonen Jump series released since 2010 with over 100 chapters has gotten an anime, with two exceptions. The first is Koumoto Hajime's Mashle, a Harry Potter meets One-Punch Man action-comedy that just hit its hundredth chapter this month. The other is Hitsuji Gondaira's Mission: Yozakura Family, which currently stands at 122 chapters. Neither series has seen any mention of an anime adaptation. This is especially disappointing for the latter because it truly deserves one.
What is Mission: Yozakura Family About?
Mission: Yozakura Family concerns the siblings of the eponymous Yozakura Family, who are all high-ranking spies. The main character, Taiyo, marries into the family through his childhood friend Mutsumi, who is the family's youngest daughter and also its current head. Much of the story concerns Taiyo recovering from the tragic deaths of his parents and brother, which took place a year before the story begins. Taiyo is adopted into the Yozakura family and moves into their mansion, which is riddled with deadly traps. He eventually finds out that a man named Makoto Kawashita and his organization, Tanpopo, are responsible for his family's deaths, and is determined to get revenge on them. The siblings have their own grudge towards Tanpopo and Kawashita, as they were responsible for their mother's death as well. Taiyo eventually becomes a powerful spy in his own right using Yae, an electric revolver.
Aside from, Mutsumi, who carries special blood but otherwise lacks superhuman abilities, all of the Yozakura siblings are powerful spies. The eldest son and sibling, Kyoichiro, dotes on Mutsumi and is extremely overprotective, putting him in conflict with Taiyo. He uses incredibly durable steel strings in battle, both to attack and immobilize opponents and create nearly impenatrable barriers. The second eldest sibling and eldest daughter, Futaba, hides gargantuan strength and a mastery of martial arts beneath her tiny frame. She looks far younger than her age (20), but in all her mannerisms acts as a devoted older sister to her younger siblings.
The second-eldest son, Shinzo, is a prodigious user of firearms. He lacks confidence and self-esteem, which belie his massive talent. The second daughter, Shion, is an expert hacker who prefers to work behind the scenes instead of battling directly. She's also a talented gamer. The third son, Kengo, is a master of disguise and changing his voice, making him a prime candidate for working undercover. Finally, the youngest son, and the only sibling younger than Mutsumi, is Nanao, who is most frequently seen in a giant mutated form wearing a bucket on his head. His true form is that of a much smaller boy. Nanao acts as the family's doctor and scientist. The Yozakuras also have a family dog, Goliath, who can change in size from that of a small dog or puppy to over 20 feet tall.
Mutsumi is constantly targeted for her blood, which contains Someneine, a substance that guarantees her children will possess superhuman abilities. Thus, much of the story involves Taiyo and her siblings protecting Mutsumi from those that seek to gain access to her blood. Mission: Yozakura Family mixes its darker plotlines with lighthearted explorations of its main cast feel closer in spirit to some of Shonen Jump's outright comedies, helping to keep things diverse and interesting.
Why Does Mission: Yozakura Family Deserve an Anime?
Mission: Yozakura Family has all the hallmarks of a good shonen manga: fun characters, a unique power system, and a healthy dose of comedy. Its main characters are varied and interesting, as are its villains and ever-expanding supporting cast. The series' take on spies and the surrounding lore is also fascinating, as are the various non-affiliated spies introduced over the course of the series. Additionally, Gondaira's art style practically begs to be displayed in motion and full color, especially in the battles, which are incredibly detailed and filled with life. At times the non-battle scenes can feel a little stiff and cartoony, but the characters' big personalities and distinctive looks help to mitigate that.
Because Shonen Jump manga rarely surpass 100 chapters without getting an anime of some kind, Mission: Yozakura Family sticks out in its neglect. This isn't to say it won't happen; the 100th chapter released only last October and making anime takes time and money. Still, the lack of any announcement is noticeable. It's also fair to say that despite its relative longevity, Mission: Yozakura Family is dwarfed by the magazine's most successful ongoing manga, like My Hero Academia, Black Clover, Jujutsu Kaisen, and of course One Piece. That said, Mission: Yozakura Family is one of the most solid ongoing series in Shonen Jump, and deserves a place in the sun via an anime adaptation.