While the artistic mediums ofanimeand manga are known to frequently launch many of its most well-received stories into a worldwide cultural zeitgeist — recent examples includeChainsaw Man,86, andBeastars— Tatsuya Endo’s manga webcomicSpy x Familymay be one of the most surprising. An anime adaptation was sure to follow the success of the series, and now, CloverWorks and Wit Studios have released the first trailer of what is sure to be the next big anime hit.
Spy x Familyfollows Loid, Yor, and Anya Forger — a seemingly inconspicuous husband, wife, and daughter, respectively — who harbor secrets about their past lives and occupations. Loid is an expert spy named Twilight, Yor is an assassin named Thorn Princess, and Anya is a test subject capable of reading minds. Furthermore, none of them know each other’s true identity and must keep the truth of their own identities secret from one another. After years of espionage and secret activity, all three must face their toughest mission yet: living together as a ‘family.’
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Spy x Family’sanimeadaptation was announced recently, with the trailer releasing soon after, a sure sign of confidence in the project. The trailer shows off the onscreen character designs of Loid, Yor, and Anya, as well as the imaginative cityscapes of its setting. The trailer revealed that the series will air on Japanese television in 2022, though the trailer did not specify when in the 2022 anime season the series would premiere. However, it is worth noting that the recent trailer forAdult Swim’sShenmue: The Animationdid not reveal its premiering season either.
CloverWorks and Wit Studios are two of the most prolific anime studios in Japan, and both studios are creating some of the most notable anime series of the current moment. CloverWorks is responsible for seasons one and two ofShonen mystery/thrillerThe Promised Neverlandas well as series likeDarling in the Franxx,Horimiya, andShadows House. Meanwhile, Wit Studio is responsible for the global phenomenonAttack on Titanas well as series likeVinland Saga,Great Pretender, andVivy: Flourite Eye’s Song. In addition, theSpy x Familyseries is directed by industry veteran Kazukiro Furuhashi, who is known for directing theRurouni Kenshinanime adaptation and many other series such as the 1999Hunter x Huntershow andDororo.
Since theSpy x Familymanga began releasing chapters biweeklyon Shonen Jump+in 2019, the series has managed to break out among manga and anime audiences. This is all despite its experimental platform release and its status as a comedy series.
Spy x Familyisn’t the most obvious candidate for a breakout amongthe manga and anime fanbases, but the success it does have is surely a statement of its strong execution and its memorable characters. The anime is sure to delight old fans and bring in many new ones.
