Spy x Family Operation Strix (S0E01) Review

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Even when there is a large fan base anticipating the premiere of an anime series, the first episode is crucial. The great part is that hundreds of newcomers will tune in to Spy x Family for the first time and discover their new favourite show right away.

Spy x Family is the brainchild of Tatsuya Endo, who is most known for his work on Gekka Bijin. The manga has been a big hit. Kazuhiro Furuhasi, who previously helmed the Hunter x Hunter series in 1999 and the severely underappreciated Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn, is in charge of the animation. Kazuaki Shimada, the creator of The Promised Neverland, has given the characters an anime makeover.

Spy x Family tells the story of Twilight, a phenomenally brilliant super-spy. The series is set in an universe where a pair of imaginary nations have been locked in a cold war for decades, resulting in some 1960s-style information warfare between them. Twilight is given a method to investigate the conduct of a recluse ambassador. Within one week, the stern and generally quiet spy must assemble a plausible fake family, enrol his discovered child in a top-tier school, and make his way into a social event. To pull this off, he adopts the smartest youngster at the local orphanage under the name Loid Forger. He has no idea that his bright infant daughter Anya is a gifted mind reader. From the start, the spy and the psychic are a terrific team, and the programme has built a lovely status quo.

Spy x Family has successfully slipped into a few genres with outstanding outcomes. It's first and foremost an espionage thriller, then a strange-couple family comedy, and finally a heartbreaking drama. The novel gets immediately to work creating themes, and it's surprisingly well-paced. The first episode is a masterclass in efficiency. Twilight is established as a master spy in a matter of seconds, without ever feeling immortal, thanks to the smart spy antics.

In current anime, there's a little irritating trend of making every protagonist become a deity, but Loid is firmly in peak-human zone. Anya is extremely cute, always a step ahead of where everyone else thinks she should be but yet very much a child. Her abilities make her frequently underestimated, but her exuberant personality keeps her grounded. Both characters have terrible backstories, yet none of them feel contrived. It's a near-perfect pilot for a programme that's already been picked up, so nothing is wasted.

Long there is a direct action aspect to the episode, it is delivered with the fast-paced punch of a John Wick sequence, despite the fact that it takes a while to come. The quick battles are graceful, with some of the most well-grounded action in recent animation. Twilight moves with the elegance of a more serious-minded Spike Spiegel, and while fighting isn't his first option, he does so with panache. Fans who simply watch for the battle scenes will be satisfied, but they will miss out on some of the most touching interpersonal exchanges ever seen in the medium.

Spy x Family was founded on the interactions of two seemingly basic characters. Twilight and Anya are certain to become fan favourites in the forthcoming anime season, and manga fans may expect more heavy hitters in the near future. So far, the voice cast has been fantastic. Loid is played by Takuya Eguchi, who is most known for his role as Soei in That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime. Eguchi sells it effectively when he raises his voice or reacts more forcefully, and his more menacing tone is unnerving. Atsumi Tanezaki, who previously played Vivy in Vivy: Fluorite Eye's Song and Chise in The Ancient Magus' Bride, is fantastic as Anya. She's been in the business for almost a decade and continues to provide excellent performances.

Spy x Family is one of the most intelligent anime currently airing, and it only takes one episode to realise why. It's hilarious, insightful, heartbreaking, action-packed, and beautifully animated. The programme is visually appealing, but it has a lot more going for it than that. The Forger family will enchant anime enthusiasts of all hues. It'll undoubtedly be one of the season's highlights. To keep things fresh in anime, new concepts must be expertly executed, and this is an exceptional highlight.

At this time, the Spy x Family manga has 61 missions, so once fans become hooked after episode one, there's a lot more excellent things on the way. In just under twenty-five minutes, Spy x Family has established itself as one of the finest anime spy tales and family comedy.

Spy x Family is accessible to watch on Crunchyroll.
 
I want to watch it, but there might be a chance Toonami airs it as well. I'm sure I will see it eventually.
 

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