Spy x Family Discussion - Renegade Animation #143
In this episode, Captain Kaye and the Animation Guru discuss Spy x Family, the critically acclaimed action comedy anime based on the manga by Tatsuya Endo. This includes the feature film, Spy x Family Code: White.
What’s going on, everyone? This is your Captain speaking, alongside my esteemed co-host The Animation Guru! We are excited to share this episode, in which we finally get to talk in depth about one of our favorite anime titles that premiered back in Spring of 2022, Spy x Family. The catalyst for this discussion was the North American release of the feature film Spy x Family Code: White in April. So without further ado, please tune into the podcast to hear the full discussion, which also includes a preview of this year’s Annecy Animation Film Festival!
Spy x Family
Before we get to the movie, let’s talk for a second about why this anime took off the way that it did. The secret to a manga/anime’s success is the hook, and Spy x Family had it nailed down almost immediately. It’s essentially a more wholesome version of Mr. and Mrs. Smith, set during the Cold War, and leaning more comedic due to the adorable chaos gremlin that is Anya Forger. This found family has such amazing chemistry that you will always want to root for them, which means rooting for world peace.
“While it might be about a spy, an assassin, and a telepath pretending to be a family to help stop a war between two nations from breaking out, it's more of an action comedy that leans more on the comedic side of things throughout most of the episodes released so far. It can be a bit uneven with its genre tones, and some characters get the short end of the stick at times, but what we do get is a ride. A lovable cast of characters, a quirky sense of humor, and killer action brought tot life by the talented animators at Wit Studios and CloverWorks bring the popular manga series to life.“ -The Animation Guru
Spy x Family Code: White
One of the coolest things about many of these anime franchise films, but especially this one, is that you don’t necessarily need to have watched the entire series ahead of time. The movie does a good job of re-introducing the Forger family to the audience, and the purpose of Loid’s mission. It also, for better or for worse, accurately captures the style and tone of the series. By that, I mean the first half is more focused on the gags, while the second half raises the stakes with some incredible action sequences. Overall, I felt it was worth it to see these characters on the big screen.
“While a bit uneven with its tone and lacking theatrical flair, this new adventure with the family leads to some fun comedy antics, cute moments, and stellar action.“ -The Animation Guru
That’ll do it for this episode! Thank you all for joining us! We have provided resources for those who wish to support the victims of the Israel-Hamas war: https://www.jewishvoiceforpeace.org/, https://www.ifnotnowmovement.org/, https://itch.io/b/2120/games-for-gaza, https://www.instagram.com/palestineredcrescent/, https://buildpalestine.com/2021/05/15/trusted-organizations-to-donate-to-palestine/, https://www.npr.org/2023/10/13/1205235922/help-israel-gaza-humanitarian-organizations.
