Spy Classroom

“Season One”

It would be a waste of words to say that anime, assassins, and schools of education are strange bedfellows. In fact, that could be further from the truth. Such anime exists and varies in maturity levels, tastes, and degrees of violence, but the beauty of anime is that there is something for everyone. Akuma No Riddle had its yuri; Princess Principal had its era of silent wars; both series shared a sweet mixture of serious comedy, yet no series broke the school assassin mold more than Yusei Matsui’s Assassination Classroom. While it had the advantage of having 47 episodes split between two seasons, few series have managed to captivate fans the way it did, but they still try.

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The cute girls doing cute things are the latest route to success, though with mixed results, and this may explain the backlash against Spy Classroom. In a bizarre display of technological overkill, what if our weaponry became too advanced to manage? In an ironic paradox, we're forced to swap silicon for subterfuge and revert to spy warfare. We're thrust back into a world reminiscent of the suave James Bond, the enigmatic Hitman, or even the cunning operatives of the KGB for those nostalgic for Cold War shenanigans.

Yet, there's a twist. Imagine a world where entire institutions are dedicated to training teams of young spies, engaging in covert proxy wars on behalf of nations. This isn't some Orwellian dystopia, but the riveting journey and caution are the name of the game—trust is a rare commodity, even in the seemingly benign school mascot.

Guided by the accomplished hand of director Keiichiro Kawaguchi, who's also on board for the second season, "Spy Classroom" is an enthralling anime series that aired from January to March 2023. Produced by Studio feel., with Shinichi Inotsume orchestrating the scripts and Sumie Kinoshita breathing life into the characters through her designs.

Yet, the intrigue doesn't end with the anime. This show is an adaptation of a gripping light novel by Takemachi and Tomari. "Spy Classroom" extends its narrative to a manga adaptation, where Takemachi's spellbinding narrative is adorned with the unique artistic stylings of Kaname Seu. The manga, a riveting journey serialized in Media Factory's Monthly Comic Alive magazine from May 2020 to April 2022, kept fans flipping pages with bated breath. So, strap in for a thrilling exploration of espionage and excitement, expertly wrapped in the distinctive charm of anime and manga.

"Spy Classroom" is set in a post-war world where espionage has become the primary weapon of choice for governments worldwide. The plot revolves around Lily, a young girl from the Din Republic who aspires to be a spy and serve her nation. She joins the "Lamplight" team, under the command of an enigmatic man named Klaus, to carry out an "impossible mission."

Now, one of the things I’ve noticed regarding the works done by Studio Feel—at least their works of late—is that they are heavily character-driven. This anime is no different. Team Lamplight started as a team made up of seven young ladies. I can hear the groans already, and before you do, I point you to any sports team, band, or classroom, for that matter. There are always those who receive development and limelight and those who don't, for many reasons. If you’re like me, you will probably have mixed opinions about the anime's character focus.

That aside, Lamplight comprises Lily, Grete, Sybilla, Monika, Thea, Sara, Annette, and Erna. If you’re counting, that totals eight young ladies; trust me, I’ll share more about it later, as Erna is one of my favorites in this series. Before arriving at Heat Haze Palace, these girls were enrolled at various military academies.

They were considered washouts at their respective schools, so they were each surprised when the Cabinet Office requested they be reassigned for an “Impossible Mission.” One with a ten percent success rate and one that the prior team, known as Inferno, in which Klaus was a member, failed to complete. Klaus has thirty days to turn washouts into wunderkinder, and if successful, he will indeed be known as the greatest spy in the world.

Unless your name is Onizuka, being a spy doesn't make you a great teacher. Klaus, a man who expresses his sorrow through painting, bears the burden of losing most of his prior team members. He has also had to bear the burden of betrayal and the loss of Guido, his mentor, surrogate father, and perhaps the only spy he could never best. So, it’s no surprise that he has his initial reservations. I guess that’s why they sent him a flower.

Lily, known as Flower Garden, becomes the leader of Lamplight. She’s a bit of a klutz when relaxing, but she can be a potent adversary when necessary. Her catchphrase is, “I'm code name Flower Garden; it's time to bloom out of control," which speaks volumes as, like her comrades in arms, she has a unique ability or two, and no, being a seductress is not one of them. That award goes to Dreamspeaker (Thea).

Nevertheless, Lily is immune to poisons, an ability she developed during the Great War. It’s an ability that, along with her familial nature, impressed Klaus enough to place her in the role. She can fill the role, but regrettably, more experienced and relatable characters have surpassed her. That may be a plus or minus, depending on your point of view, but luckily, there are enough characters for a fan favorite, a plus if you like them all.

The first three episodes did an excellent job of building the character base. It starts strong, building up to the third climatic episode. Upon completing their training with Klaus, the girls head to the Galgad Empire to infiltrate and retrieve a bioweapon known as the Abyss Doll. Here, we vibe with the seven deadly sins, as they were called in Episode 3, and we meet Erna, the secret eighth member stored in a backpack. The setup was delicious; it hammered home the opening monologue of covert wars. After the first act, though, the series goes a bit slower.

I get it. “Studio feel.” knew that a second season was in the works, and with enough manga to feast on, there was no reason to rush things. This is why we get additional telling backstories with Erna (Fool), Sibylla (Pandemonium), Sara (Meadow), and a large arc featuring “Daughter Dearest” Grete. The first backstories, beginning with episodes 4 through 7, fall within the timeframe leading up to the second “Impossible Mission,” with Grete’s arc falling within that time frame.

It’s during the second mission to hunt down the infamous assassin Corpse that the writers attempt to show the difference in how Corpse trains and treats his partner Olvia and how Klaus treats the members of Lamplight, or is it the other way around? Probably both. Still, we see how Grete is a complete badass and why Grete is a fan favorite, upstaging Lily as the better leader and possibly better spy.

Despite Lily, Grete, Erna, Sara, and Sibylla receiving primary coverage, Monika (Glint), Thea, and Annette (Forgetter) are not overlooked. Their treatments are interspersed throughout the series. Pay attention to episode twelve if you decide to watch it to the end. The last scene gave off Akuma No Riddle vibes.

If you are still with me, let me reiterate that this anime does stumble and has its faults. I am, however, of the opinion that it does redeem itself. The action scenes, character designs, and animation in Spy Classroom are top-notch. It's always a plus and a sign of a reasonable budget when animators change each character's clothing and do not leave them constantly in the same outfit. This may seem petty to some, but I've always regarded it as more immersive in my viewing experience. I’m sure I have Sumie Kinoshita to thank for this experience, and I am glad she is also the character designer for season two.

I have no complaints about the voice acting. The harmonious blending of the VAs contributes to a pleasant listening experience. Furthermore, although lacking noteworthy qualities, the background music is satisfactory, featuring specific overture sequences that evoke the essence of classic spy films.

"Tоka" (Light) by nonoc serves as the opening theme. Spy Classroom also offers several concluding themes. Konomi Suzuki's "Secret Code" (eps 2, 5, 8-11), "Fool on the secret" by Erna [Inori Minase] (ep 4), “Don't" by Sybilla [Nao Toyama] (ep 6), “SPARKLEscape" by Sara [Ayane Sakura] (ep 7), and "Itsuwari nai Koufuku o" by Grete [Miku Itō] (ep 12).

So, is Spy Classroom a washout among anime? No. With the "Impossible Mission" as the central theme of the pilot, the show got off to a strong start. However, the plot's progression slowed after episode three, becoming a slice-of-life (SoL). Like I said earlier, Assassination Classroom became the standard for this type of series, but it was able to tug at those heartstrings. Also, it is in a school setting, and who can’t relate to that?

With more robust character development and more mission-centered episodes providing some insight into each character's personality and backstory, perhaps through the use of flashbacks or slides, this series could have had a more significant impact. After all, what episodes were filler was evident to even the casual viewer, and unfortunately, there was more than one.

Despite these criticisms, the characters were generally well-received, with their unique personalities adding depth to the story. I found "Spy Classroom" to be enjoyable, albeit not without shortcomings. The series has a good premise, excellent animation, and voice acting, and I look forward to hearing more from Yuichiro Umehara.

Overall, the first season of "Spy Classroom" is a mixed bag, with its unique blend of espionage and slice-of-life elements, though it fell short of its potential. If there is any consolation, season two has received a better reception, so this series is recommended.