Spy x Family Code: White, the first film based on the popular anime series, is a wholesome blend of action and comedy that leaves you grinning from ear to ear. Set in the universe created by Tatsuya Endo in his manga Spy x Family, the film follows spy Loid Forger who had to assemble a fake family for a special mission.

While Loid is an undercover spy, his wife Yor is an assassin, their adopted daughter Anya is a telepath and their pet dog Bond is a clairvoyant. None of the members knows each other’s real identity, except for little Anya who can read minds. In Spy x Family Code: White, these beloved characters return for a highly entertaining adventure, and here’s what we loved about it.

The film works despite being a filler arc

A follow-up to the original anime series — two seasons of Spy x Family came out in 2022 and 2023, respectively — the film is actually a filler arc though it never feels like one.

Following the Forger family’s luxurious cruise vacation in the second season of the anime series, Spy x Family Code: White takes fans on an original adventure without affecting the character arcs established in the manga.

The film’s standout feature is that it can be enjoyed as a standalone watch even by those who are not familiar with the anime series. Spy x Family Code: White introduces the characters and core elements at the outset, making it accessible to new viewers. With its themes of family bonding and parenting, the film offers a great introduction to the quirky world of the anime, leaving one eager for more.

Loid’s replacement on Operation Strix sparks a new adventure

The film takes off from Loid getting replaced on Operation Strix — the mission to probe politician Donovan Desmond’s activities of thwarting peace between Westalis and Ostania — for which he had put together the fake family in the first place.

Upon learning about a cooking competition at Anya’s school, Loid takes the family to the northern country of Frigis to locate the recipe of the school principal’s favourite dessert, Meremere, so that he can recreate it at the competition and help Anya make an impression.

On the train ride, Anya finds a key and, after reading her pet dog Bond’s mind, learns of a hidden treasure on board. The treasure turns out to be a microform hidden inside a chocolate, which is crucial for waging a war against Westalis. Anya quickly eats the chocolate, which makes military intelligence officer Colonel Snidel and his troops to be hot on her heels.

A roller-coaster of action, comedy and heart-touching moments

All the action takes place on the train and on an airship, with the action set pieces leaning heavily on Yor’s agility and flexibility in taking on Colonel Snidel’s troops to save Anya. Yor’s sharp wit matches her lethal assassin mode, which is a delight, though the fact that she’s never injured makes the stakes feel low. Loid’s resourcefulness and strategising skills as a seasoned spy make his action scenes interesting.

Spy x Family Code: White moves at a brisk pace but holds on to its emotional core that revolves around Anya’s efforts to keep the family from falling apart and her dreams of a happy future, Yor’s fierce protectiveness as a mother and Loid’s strategic brilliance in safeguarding his pretend family. There are laugh-out-loud moments aplenty too, such as Yor thinking Loid is cheating on her when she spots him chatting with fellow spy Fiona Frost, or Anya trying hard not to excrete the microform belonging to the rival country.