Spy x Family

“Part One”

In the fast-paced world of anime, where themes frequently shift between fantastical realms and high-octane battles, a series emerges that seamlessly blends the intriguing world of espionage with the heartwarming essence of family. It is a story about deception and reality colliding, and every character wears a mask while searching for a genuine connection. Spy x Family is a strange story that captures the essence of duality and the longing for authentic bonds within a fabricated setting.

Thanks to the unfavorable political situation and various affairs, the war between the two neighboring countries of Ostania and Westalis almost broke out. To prevent another child from seeing the horrors of war, the world-famous spy "Twilight" carries out all kinds of dangerous missions.

His latest assignment, Operation Strix, could decide the outcome of the conflict. Presenting as psychologist Lloyd Forger, "Twilight" has to gather information about Ostania's politician Donovan Desmond, who appears in public only at his son's school. To succeed, Twilight and now Loid must pretend to have a family.

He adopts Anya, whom he wants to enroll in the school where Desmond's son goes, and to make everything more believable, he makes a deal with Yor Briar to play his wife. However, Loid doesn't know that his daughter and wife are not ordinary people either. Anya is an esper who can read minds, and Yor is an underground assassin known as "Thorn Princess." And for all of them, this fake family is the perfect cover and a safe and loving place they didn't think they needed.

Spy x Family Part 1 is an anime from the Spring season of 2022 that ran from April 9 to June 25. Wit Studio and CloverWorks created an anime adaptation of Tatsuya Endou's manga of the same name. Both studios are well known to anime fans, with Wit Studio having hits like Attack on Titan, Vinland Saga, and Ousama Ranking and CloverWorks making shows like The Promised Neverland, Fairy Tail, and Horimiya.

While the manga is widespread, the Spy x Family anime instantly gained new fans thanks to its unique storyline, entertaining characters, great comedy, and wholesome moments. No one expected the show about a fake family to gain such popularity, primarily when the competition comprises today's most popular modern battle shounen series. Still, Spy x Family somehow got into people’s hearts, and there is no sign of it falling off.

Of course, it wouldn’t be possible without engaging and unique stories that make people giggle. Judging by the premise, Spy x Family seems like serious action similar to any other spy series. However, on top of the action and exciting fight segments, the main focus is still on the relationship between the three main characters, who find in this family not only the protection necessary to complete their goals but also a home they didn't know they needed.

The reason the Spy x Family exploded is because of that twisted fake family, whose two faces make the anime constantly exciting. On the one hand, three individuals have found something for themselves in this family.

For Loid, this family was just a means to accomplish the mission. For Yor, the opportunity to be a wife and mother allowed her to hide her identity as an assassin. And for Anya, it was an escape from life in an orphanage and a source of fun with spies and assassins.

All three entered into the relationship to use it for themselves. Each believed this community built on lies would only serve as a mask. Yet what none of them hoped for was a love and care that transcended the lies that family was built on.

Spending days together, the three of them, completely unaware of it, became closer and closer and developed relationships they did not plan. This kind of story setting ensures a beautiful experience that Spy x Family offers to fans who want to see meaningful relationships in anime.

However, the genius of the Spy x Family's story continues. While the anime manages to evoke warm and pleasant feelings, it also provides top-tier comedy. Since Spy x Family does not focus on action but on family relationships and their development, the anime goes in a comical direction instead of a dark one.

The comedy is generally based on the balance of the double lives that the characters lead and their attempts to hide them, but also on the fact that all the characters pretend that this relationship means nothing more to them than work. Their unawareness of the bonds they have developed leads to some rather strange situations that always bring a smile to the audience's face.

It doesn't matter how many times Yor and Loid accidentally flirt and then blush, how many times Loid looks like a proud father, or how many times Yor messes up the dish. Such scenes always make fans laugh because of their excellent presentation. The extraordinary timing of Spy x Family is why the same pattern repeated from episode to episode doesn't get boring.

The story is arranged so that the right things happen at the best possible time. There are no superfluous scenes. Plot twists happen when the audience thinks they've seen it all, and every plot line, even the least important one, is meticulously thought through to the end.

The balance between great comedy and surprisingly good action is another positive aspect of this anime. Although Spy x Family is primarily comedic, the story and the point still exist. The action is as expected in a martial arts fantasy anime, making it impossible to take your eyes off the screen.

This kind of story setup alone is enough to hold the audience's attention from beginning to end. However, the author continued with an exciting plot and gave this unusual story even more memorable characters.

As unique as the Spy x Family idea is, it would never work if the three main characters weren't who they are.

“Twilight,” otherwise known as Loid Forger, is the series's main protagonist. He is the one who is the most dedicated to his goal, the one who made this family, and the one who needs it the most. He starts as a cold and calculated person who doesn’t care about others' feelings and is ready to do anything for the mission's success. And to be entirely fair, this is not necessarily false.

Loid gave everything to this job, including his identity and individuality, and is ready to do anything for the mission, as every spy of his level would. But declaring him a cold person would be misleading. Sure, he is a calculated and overly logical character, but it doesn’t take long to see that it’s just the surface that a spy has to have. Even though he can be brutal and unaware of others' feelings, everything Loid does is for the good of others.

Uncomfortable with being vulnerable, Loid usually connects his good deeds with the needs of the mission, even though they are just lovely things he naturally does for his fake wife and daughter. It’s always fun to see him go above and beyond to make Anya happy, only to say it’s for the mission. Over time, he starts showing more and more affection to this family, and the one who is most responsible for such a change is Anya.

The most exciting thing about her is that she is the only one who knows everything going on, thanks to her mind-reading ability. One would think such power would make her the show's mastermind, but things didn’t go that way.

While her powers have helped her a few times, the show doesn’t forget that she is still a child, so the powers are often used as a comical asset. Her relationship with Loid is fascinating, given their opposite personalities. They both complete each other and are crucial for each other’s development. Anya seems to adore Loid, firstly because of his job as a spy, but as time passes, her will to impress him becomes more related to her newly founded love for this family.

The show could work well with just Loid and Anya, but it would also work well with Yor present. This clumsy and somewhat idiotic woman perfectly balances this family. While she resembles Anya in that she is chaotic and stupid, her dangerous job and the insane abilities that come with it make her identical to Loid. She is the crucial link between Loid and Anya, without whom they would be unable to function.

Every fan's dream is to have a great story with fun characters, and if the show also looks good, it is an absolute win. Given Wit Studio's and CloverWorks' previous work, it is no surprise that Spy x Family looks fantastic. The animation is always stunning, but the action scenes stand out even more. The actors also went above and beyond to bring these characters to life. This, combined with excellent music, results in an unforgettable viewing experience.

Spy x Family exemplifies anime's ever-changing landscape, redefining genre and emotional depth parameters. It is not just a story about spies and covert operations but also a moving examination of the human desire for belonging and the unexpected paths that lead us there.

The series challenges our perceptions of family and identity through its intricate plot, deeply layered characters, and a unique blend of humor and heart. As we wait for the next installment of this enthralling story, we are reminded of the power of stories to reflect the complexities of our own lives and the undeniable truth that even the most contrived circumstances can lead to the most genuine emotions.