Fiona Frost

Spy x Family Code: White is an animated movie based on the hit manga by Tatsuya Endo. It came out in Japanese theaters on December 22, 2023, from Toho. Crunchyroll released it in North America on April 19, 2024, with both subtitled and English dubbed versions. Wit Studio and CloverWorks made the film, as they did the TV show. Takashi Katagiri directed it, and Ichiro Okouchi wrote the script. The manga author, Endo, helped by supervising the work and drawing the first character designs for the new people in the story. The film is a side story, so you do not need to watch the series first, although it helps. A new viewer can quickly learn the main idea. Loid Forger is a spy from the country of Westalis. He has built a pretend family for a secret mission called Operation Strix. His wife, Yor, is an assassin, but he does not know it. His adopted daughter, Anya, can read minds, so she knows both secrets. Their dog, Bond, can see glimpses of the future. The movie begins with bad news for Loid. His boss tells him that if he does not make progress on the mission soon, he may be replaced. To find a way forward, he plans a trip for the whole family. The principal of Anya's school loves a special dessert from the northern city of Frigis. Loid believes that bringing this treat back could help him get closer to the principal. So the Forgers pack their bags and go north by train. Things go wrong early. On the train, Anya eats a chocolate that has a tiny roll of secret film hidden inside it. That film is part of a dangerous plan by an officer of the rival country, Ostania. The officer, Colonel Snidel, wants to start a war against Westalis. Suddenly a simple family trip turns into a race to protect the peace. The film also adds new villains who were made just for the movie. As with the series, the film works because of the mix of moods. There are funny moments with Anya, who tries to understand what is going on and to help in her own small way. There are action scenes with Yor and Loid using their hidden skills, often while trying to hide them from each other. And there are warm moments that show how close the three people and the dog are becoming. The movie did very well. It earned about 95 million dollars around the world, and in 2024 it was one of the top earning Japanese films of the year. Critics liked the action and the humor. Some felt the story did not change the main series very much, and some said the jokes were a little rude. Still, it won several awards in Europe, including best movie at the AnimaniA Awards. For fans who want a longer adventure with the Forgers, it is a fun winter trip.