Amidst massive shounen (genre often targeted to a young male demographic) titles like Shingeki No Kyojin and Jujutsu Kaisen dominating today’s anime and manga territory, adventure-comedy Spy x Family comes into the picture. Written and illustrated by Tatsuya Endo, this anime/manga revolves around a ‘fake family’ composed of an elite spy named Twilight/Loid Forger as the father, an assassin named Thorn Princess/Yor Forger as the mother, and a telepathic child named Anya as their adopted child.
Anya Forger from Spy x Family. (Photo from: Netflix)
Given its amusing plot and lovable characters, the manga has reached almost 31 million copies in circulation in September 2023 alone and is projected to hit even more success as the series continues. Following the anime adaptation released in 2022, Spy x Family also received a stage musical treatment, as well as an incoming full-length film in the works. Collaborations with fashion and lifestyle brands also reach mass appeal, adding to the growing popularity of the series.
If you’re curious about the hype surrounding Spy x Family and if you should join the bandwagon, here are some reasons to get you convinced.
1. Spy x Family’s plot is intriguing yet still relatable
Set in a fictional world where two states, Ostania and Westalis, are on the brink of conflict, Spy x Family starts with an agent named Twilight tasked with a mission to spy on National Unity Party leader, Donovan Desmond. However, Desmond is very elusive and the only way for Twilight to find a way to get close to Desmond is through the school Desmond’s children go to. Because of this, Twilight needed to create a ‘fake family’.
Twilight starts by changing his identity to Loid Forger. He also adopts an orphan named Anya, who, unbeknownst to Twilight, is a telepath. Later, he marries Yor Briar, a clerk at the city hall who also carries a secret of her own — that she’s actually a professional assassin. Loid and Yor are both unaware of each other’s true identities and also don’t know about Anya’s powers.
Due to its incredulous plot, Spy x Family makes for an exciting watch. However, while its action-packed sequences send audiences rooting for the main characters, its take on familial bonds, childhood friendships, school, work, and other aspects of ‘normal life’ make it incredibly relatable to audiences of all ages.