The movie adaptation of Spy x Family Code: White premiered in Japan on December 22, 2023, followed by its release in American theaters on April 19, 2024. The original cast from both the Japanese and English versions of the series returned to reprise their roles in the film.
The apparent simplicity of Spy x Family Code: White’s plot is deceiving, as it ultimately leads the Forgers into the crosshairs of a dangerous enemy through numerous unexpected twists and turns.
During what was supposed to be a relaxed working vacation in the neighboring country of Frigis, the Forgers unexpectedly find themselves in the midst of a plot to escalate the Cold War between the East and West. Their vacation quickly becomes a crucial mission to thwart an impending army and rescue the country.
The opinions expressed in the following review are solely those of the author and may contain spoilers for Spy x Family and Spy x Family Code: White.
Spy x Family: White’s Vacation Interrupted by Warmongering Soldiers
A working vacation to Frigis
All members of the Forger family have their own motivations for embarking on the journey to Frigis in Spy x Family Code: White. For example, Anya is determined to win the cooking competition at Eden Academy, where the prize is a Stella and the principal serves as the judge. Additionally, Frigis is the only place they can obtain the specific type of Meremere dessert that her father, Yor, loves.
Loid’s Handler informs him that the WISE higher-ups are considering replacing him on Operation Strix and that he needs to demonstrate progress. Meanwhile, Yor mistakenly believes that Loid is being unfaithful to her after witnessing him kiss Fiona Frost, also known as Nightfall, from a distance.
In Spy x Family Code: White, the laid-back working vacation is disrupted when Bond, the canine with clairvoyant abilities, foresees Anya discovering a valuable object coveted by suspicious individuals. This object turns out to be a chocolate truffle, which holds a microfilm containing the villains’ schematics. As the henchmen of the villain arrive to retrieve the truffle, Anya struggles to return it to its container and ends up consuming it by mistake.
Yor quickly puts an end to the antics of her two inept foes, Dimitri and Luka, as she catches them in the act of trying to abduct Anya and Bond. The majority of the story in Spy x Family Code: White focuses on the Forgers’ pursuit of the Meremere, as well as their personal struggles and the interference of their adversaries.
The Forgers’ Concerns, Magnified
The Forger family had always possessed the lie quadrangle: Anya as a telepath, Bond with the gift of future sight, Loid as a master spy, and Yor as an assassin. However, only Anya was aware of their true identities. The addition of Spy x Family Code: White only intensifies these dynamics, introducing several new complications.
Yor’s problems are threefold: she is an assassin, she struggles with insecurity in relationships, and she has recurring anxieties, one of which is the suspicion that Loid is being unfaithful. When Loid rescued Nightfall’s hat and was in close proximity to her, Yor misunderstood the situation.
Despite her coworkers’ efforts to inform her of three common signs of infidelity – lavish gift-giving, frequent business trips, and constant wardrobe changes – it wasn’t until later that the significance of receiving a tube of lipstick and her partner’s sudden trip to Frigis became apparent.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lRzuJzt5QPc
Loid is facing the challenge of potentially being reassigned from Operation Strix and having to conceal his spy profession and Twilight identity. He also struggles with managing his emotions and has a blind spot when it comes to understanding others. It was not until Yor got drunk, forcefully pushed him to the ground, and screamed at him that he realized why she was uncomfortable. He even received a punch to the face when he apologized excessively on the Ferris wheel.
Anya’s telepathic abilities are prominently featured in Spy x Family Code: White. She is aware of her parents’ secret identities and often finds herself in trouble, believing they are getting divorced. When Loid is unable to find cherry liquor for the meremere, Anya takes it upon herself to go out and get some. However, she ends up being kidnapped by the main antagonist.
Spy x Family: The Code for White’s Villain is Distinctive
In Spy x Family Code: White, one of the most intriguing elements is the character of Colonel Snidel, the main antagonist. Unlike the recurring threats of the Red Circus terrorist group and Donovan Desmond, the other villains encountered in Spy x Family tend to be smaller-scale, such as rival spies, secret police, terrorists, or assassins.
Colonel Snidel stands out from the rest as he holds the title of a military colonel and is always accompanied by a squad of armed soldiers and a massive airship. His level of authority is unmatched by any other villain in the series. In his debut, he barges into the “Rubbles and Bonds”restaurant where the Forgers are dining and coerces the exhausted staff into serving him food. He then claims the last piece of Meremere after winning a dessert guessing game against Loid.
Snidel’s strategy depends on retrieving the microfilm hidden inside the truffle that was consumed by Anya, along with a classified project known as Type F. His objectives may align with those of other antagonists: to instigate a major conflict between Westalis and Ostania by utilizing a colossal airship. However, his tactics and personality make him a formidable danger. In one instance, he even threatens to harm Anya with the assortment of knives he has at his disposal.
Despite his ruthlessness and cunning, he proved to be even more formidable when he discovered that one of his own men was a spy for WISE. In a display of his prowess, he swiftly executed the traitor in front of his men. Not only that, but he also demonstrated his impressive sense of smell by uncovering Loid’s disguise. In addition, he proved himself to be a formidable opponent in both close-quarters shooting and hand-to-hand combat, easily matching Loid’s skills in these areas.
Anya’s hallucinations
In Spy x Family Code: White, there is a comical and bizarre incident that occurs when Anya is taken captive by Snidel. Despite putting up a fight with Bond, Anya is eventually captured by Dimitri and Luka. Loid and Yor then set out to locate her. Snidel instructs Dimitri and Luka to retrieve the microfilm from Anya, either by force or by peaceful means, and eliminate her afterwards.
Anya made a valiant effort to resist using the bathroom, as evidenced by her variety of facial expressions, dances, and delaying tactics. This behavior will likely be relatable to individuals who have found themselves in a desperate need to use the bathroom. However, the unexpected hallucination that Anya encounters may surprise viewers.
Anya experiences a hallucination in which she envisions being transported to a fantasy land by the god of toilets, who assists her in reaching the bathroom. This is a comical scene and one of the most memorable moments in the film. Anya desperately tries to hold back her need to defecate, knowing that the criminals will harm her if she does.
The comical nature of the expressions Anya creates and her Scooby-Doo-like pursuit of Luka and Dimitri, in order to catch them, are both entertaining and maintain the intense sense of danger. This is particularly evident when Anya is recaptured, while Loid and Yor are infiltrating the airship.
Rescuing Anya: Loid and Yor’s Big Action Scenes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fGjpK4tP6Ok
It just so happened that Nightfall had been assigned to Frigis, where she informed Loid of the WISE agent’s demise. Despite her usual attempts to become his wife, Nightfall couldn’t resist helping Loid locate Snidel’s airship. Loid expertly hotwired a military plane and embarked on a mission to save Anya, with Yor secretly joining him in the cargo bay.
Regrettably, the colonel responds with animosity towards Loid’s plea to land. Despite a dramatic emergency landing that involves evading anti-aircraft fire and guided missiles, both Loid and Yor successfully enter the ship. Loid discreetly disables and impersonates two soldiers to continue, while Yor brazenly obliterates one of the airship’s anti-aircraft guns and inadvertently starts a fire.
Following are the thrilling climax scenes from Spy x Family Code: White, featuring Loid’s epic battle against Snidel and Yor’s intense fight against the Type F soldier. The animation for both sequences is of exceptional quality, with distinctive styles. Loid’s scene is reminiscent of a James Bond movie, complete with disguises, a damsel in distress, and a final showdown with the main antagonist. Meanwhile, Yor’s scene is reminiscent of action-packed games like Metal Gear Solid and Terminator, as she takes on a mechanized soldier in the fiery wreckage of the airship’s cargo section.
Both fights concluded with the group resorting to unconventional methods to defeat the villains. During Loid’s fight, he was constantly under fire and received unexpected assistance from Anya, who broke free from her restraints and accidentally headbutted a button that released poison gas. Loid then managed to subdue Snidel by disguising himself as the villain and engaging in a fierce hand-to-hand combat before knocking him out.
Yor’s confrontation with Type-F can be compared to fighting a Terminator – a cybernetic being with a human head and brain, but a mechanical body equipped with lethal weapons such as guns and ammunition hidden in the chest and the ability to transform its hands. Despite the challenge, Yor ultimately defeats Type-F by marking it with her new flammable lipstick and setting it on fire, although it takes multiple attempts.
The Fitting Ending
The final events of Spy x Family Code: White involved the Forgers collaborating to safely guide the crashing ship into the nearby bay, preventing harm to the city. Despite facing obstacles, the mission to halt Snidel’s plans was a success, with Anya’s contribution of keeping the microfilm hidden in her teeth. Additionally, Operation Strix was able to resume, Loid and Yor’s “relationship”was restored, and Anya obtained all the necessary materials to create the Meremere.
The contest was unable to start due to an accident that had destroyed Eden Academy’s oven. As a result, the contest had to be postponed and the vice principal’s unusual preferences became even more apparent. However, Bond anticipates that this trip will be a delightful vacation in a warm, tropical location.
This satisfying conclusion aligns with the Spy x Family pattern of incorporating lighthearted moments after tense events. Similar to the smaller escapades that occur between major plot points, such as Becky’s attempts to flirt with Loid or Bond’s pursuit of an arsonist, this enjoyable finale adds to the overall dynamic of the story.
In addition to Anya’s dancing, there is a particularly amusing post-credits scene that should not be overlooked. As Twilight employs his spy techniques to search for the Cherry Liquor in Frigis, he reaches out to Nicky in Ostania for assistance and arranges to meet him there. However, the end-credits scene depicts a disgruntled Nicky, who has caught a cold, berating Loid for failing to show up and causing him to go to great lengths offscreen to procure the liquor.
Spy x Family: Code White – A Review
Spy x Family Code: White is a condensed version of the original Spy x Family anime, clocking in at approximately 2 hours. The animation is even more polished than the original, which was already quite smooth. There were moments where the final battle scenes seemed to move too quickly to fully comprehend, particularly during Yor’s confrontation with Type F. However, the story expertly follows the tried-and-true formula of Spy x Family: beginning with something ordinary (such as getting dessert) and building up to more intense events (such as Anya’s abduction and the climactic fight scenes).
In regards to the canonicity of Spy x Family Code: White in relation to the original anime and manga, CloverWorks and Wit Studio have confirmed that it is not considered canon. However, the movie can still be enjoyed without any prior viewing. Many new fans have expressed that the movie has sparked their interest in watching the anime, which is especially significant as it is the first new animated content for Spy x Family since the conclusion of its second season in 2023.
Spy x Family Code: White can be seen as a throwback to the classic “filler movies”of Dragon Ball Z and Naruto. Fans of anime from all over have expressed their disappointment with the declining popularity of these types of films. More recent titles such as My Hero Academia and Demon Slayer have chosen to incorporate their movies into the main plot, leaving little room for standalone filler content.
Despite not being considered canon, the existence of movies like Spy x Family Code: White serves to provide a refreshing break from the main plot and allows for creative exploration of the characters in new situations. Additionally, the inclusion of the gut-busting Anya hallucination and the Forgers all working together instead of just Loid or Anya being highlighted, make it a must-see for fans. The stakes may be different and the location may be new, but these factors only add to the enjoyment of the film.
The movie is currently only available in select theaters in the United States and internationally. Those interested can view ticket prices and screening options on Crunchyroll. Those unable to attend in theaters can either wait for the film to be released on Crunchyroll’s streaming platform or for it to become available for purchase on Amazon, iTunes, and other digital and physical entertainment platforms.
The English dubbed trailer for Spy x Family Code: White has been released, along with confirmation of global release dates.
The White film of Spy x Family Code has released a new trailer following its record-breaking box office success.
Ahead of its premiere, the character visuals for the highly anticipated Spy x Family Code: White have been revealed.
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