[anime review] SPY×FAMILY [MISSION：1] OPERATION ”STRIX”
SPY×FAMILY
“SPY x FAMILY” is a home comedy about a spy, an assassin, and a psychic who play a pseudo-family to accomplish their mission. The story seems to be modeled on the Cold War era.
“Twilight”（Loid）, a spy for the West, is commanded to investigate Donovan Desmond, a politician from the East who is planning a war. To get close to Desmond, Loid must form a fake family and attend the elementary school’s parent-teacher get-together.
What Loid needs is a daughter and a wife. There is no time left. Will Loid be able to find his family and avoid war?
The first episode depicts the process of welcoming Anya, who will become a daughter, into the family. Anya, too, seems to have had a painful past with a lot of things. Anya and Loid’s superb performances are remarkable.
※This article is based on viewing as of April 13, 2022.
[MISSION：1] OPERATION ”STRIX”
Episode 1 is 24 minutes 09 seconds(1449 sec). I divided this episode into four parts in the Japanese way. The method is “ki-shō-ten-ketsu“.
“ki” is the introduction. “shō” is the development. “ten” is the turn. “ketsu” is the conclusion.
I should say that all the divisions are done at my own discretion.
<Characters>
- Loid Forger
- He is a spy belonging to the West, and his code name is “Twilight”. He is trying to start a family under the name of Loid Forger to investigate Desmond.
- Anya Forger
- A girl with the ability to read people’s minds. He was trained as “Test Subject 007” by a unknown organization. she keeps her psychic abilities a secret to Loid.
The orphanage was poorly managed and shoddy. Among them, Loid found a child named Anya who seemed to fit the criteria. Anya has psychic powers and can read people’s minds. Anya tried to get Loid to like her, but Lloyd, who was not used to handling children, was not able to handle Anya.
Loid begins to study child-rearing in an effort to somehow tame Anya. But it is not going well. Anya, curious about spying, took the liberty of tinkering with the communication equipment for spying and was kidnapped. What to do, Lloyd?
Loid, who has recovered Anya by a brilliant trick, tries to separate Anya from him. However, Anya senses Loid’s clumsy kindness and decides to stay with him. The entrance exam was passed with flying colors thanks to Anya’s hard work. However, it turned out that the mother was needed for the second test. The Forger family is in trouble right now!
Highlights of Episode 1
- Smart and beautiful drawings.
- Lloyd’s kindness and coolness.
- Anya’s voice acting.
※Background colored text is the scene that is eligible for scene replay.
ki (300 sec)
0-20
The car dropped. 20 sec
20-40
It was not an accident, but an assassination. 20 sec
40-1:30
The hotshot spy, “Twilight”. 50 sec
1:30-2:20
The Sadness of Spies. 50 sec
2:20-3:05
Bfuuuuuu! 45 sec
3:05-3:40
Need family immediately. 35 sec
3:40-4:00
Spies are shadows. 20 sec
4:00-4:15
For a better world. 15 sec
4:15-4:30
Best Place to Live. 15 sec
4:30-4:50
I’ll decide now. 20 sec
4:50-5:00
To the orphanage. 10 sec
shō (300 sec)
5:00-5:30
The more vague the identity, the better. 30 sec
5:30-6:50
Anya can read minds. 80 sec
6:50-7:20
Understanding enough. 30 sec
7:20-8:00
Anya loves spies. 40 sec
8:00-8:30
Need to hold her hand. 30 sec
8:30-9:00
You are thinking too much. 30 sec
9:00-9:45
Peanuts! 45 sec
9:45-10:00
Loid is out of ideas. 15 sec
ten (300 sec)
10:00-10:40
Only during mission. 40 sec
10:40-11:20
It’s like a real parent-child fight. 40 sec
11:20-12:00
It’s not what you want. 40 sec
12:00-12:50
Anya’s Past. 50 sec
12:50-13:10
Bomb♪ Bomb♪ 20 sec
13:10-13:50
Communication was intercepted. 40 sec
13:50-14:20
Why she doesn’t like to study. 30 sec
14:20-14:40
Something feels wrong. 20 sec
14:40-15:00
Loid, strong indeed. 20 sec
ketsu (412 sec + 137 sec)
15:00-15:20
Or abandon Anya. 20 sec
15:20-15:55
Politics must be clean. 35 sec
15:55-16:30
Anya knows. 35 sec
16:30-17:00
Rescuing Anya. 30 sec
17:00-17:30
Reasons to get angry. 30 sec
17:30-18:10
True Purpose. 40 sec
18:10-18:35
Strong! 25 sec
18:35-19:20
Stay away from us. 45 sec
19:20-20:00
Want to go home. 40 sec
20:00-20:30
Let’s go our home. 30 sec
20:30-20:49
Cool Liar. 19 sec
20:49-21:52
whee! 63 sec
21:52-23:22
ED：「KIGEKI」Gen Hoshino 90 sec
23:22-24:00
Not exist Mama. 38 sec
24:00-24:09
Next episode. 9 sec
Scene replay
10:40-11:20
It’s like a real parent-child fight. 40 sec
Real parent-child fight. Both Lloyd and Anya’s performances are smiling and wonderful.
14:40-15:00
Loid, strong indeed. 20 sec
Configuration: 1 2 4 1 1 1 1 1 4 4
1 sec
Step into.
2 sec
Hiding.
4 sec
I’m noticing.
1 sec
Punch it.
1 sec
Avoid.
1 sec
Hide.
1 sec
Hit the can!
1 sec
Take the chair.
4 sec
what the hell are these guys?
4 sec
Where’s Anya?
The action scenes have the speed and tempo of an anime. Papa is cool.
15:55-16:30
Anya knows. 35 sec
Only a subtle eye act expresses Anya’s awareness of Loid.
Impressions
Although this episode is a direct reproduction of the first episode of the original work, the action scenes and camera work can be enjoyed with the power that only anime can provide. The drawings are beautiful, Lloyd is cool and Anya is full of childlike cuteness.
In the scene where Loid comes to Anya’s rescue, Anya’s movements and eye acting show that she understands everything. This kind of expression shows the attention to detail in the direction of the film. The storyline is well told within the 300 seconds allotted for “ki”, “shō”, and “ten” of the film. While faithfully reproducing the original story in a tempo that is fast-paced, it also expresses a charm that is unique to the anime. It gives the impression of being quite carefully designed.
The interaction between the calm and collected Lloyd and Anya, who has supernatural powers but thinks like a little girl, is funny and warm, like a true parent and child. This is largely due to the voice acting, and both are into character.
The Forger family will become more lively and fun with the addition of “Mama”. Can the bond that is created in the Forger family, which is full of lies, be true? We have great expectations.
“Twilight”, a spy for the West, is commanded to investigate a certain person in the East. That person was Desmond, who was suspected of planning a war. To get close to Desmond, who rarely shows up in public, “Twilight” needed a child, so he went to an orphanage under the name of Lloyd Forger, a psychiatrist.