The following contains spoilers for Spy x Family Season 1, Episode 17, “Carry Out the Griffin Plan/Fullmetal Lady/Omelet Rice,” now streaming on Crunchyroll.
Known for its combination of espionage and cute family life, Spy x Family reaches far beyond reality to captivate fans with its intense action scenes and comedic moments. Even the Forger family’s dynamic is often wrought with fantasy. However, Episode 17 takes a small step into reality with its depiction of Anya’s interactions with her classmates.
Aside from some slice-of-life examples, anime’s portrayal of children is often completely unrealistic, with some of the most notable young characters attending a superhero school or training as a ninja. Even Anya has telepathic abilities that play more into science fiction than reality. Amidst the fantasy, Spy x Family handles the interactions between children at school very well. Anya’s friendship with Becky and Damian’s behavior in Episode 17 especially highlight realistic relationships, imaginations and motivations in children.
Anya’s Friendship With Becky Is Just Like a Real-Life Friendship
Though Episode 17 puts most of its focus on Anya and Damian, it also features Becky’s friendship with Anya. It opens with Anya and Becky walking to class together, the latter gushing over the latest episode of a drama she enjoys. When Anya remarks that she prefers cartoons, Becky notes the difference in their maturity. While this is a running joke in their friendship, it’s also highly indicative of real-life friendships among children and classmates. In a pair or group of friends, one often boasts a higher level of maturity, claiming a sense of leadership and experience as well as more mature tastes.
Becky naturally reflects this role in her friendship with Anya, which is especially evident in her heightened sensitivity to romance. Most six-year-olds don’t pay any mind to the idea of romance or relationships outside of fairy tales or the grown-up world. However, in most groups of friends, there is often at least one who develops an interest in romance early, gushing over their crush to their less experienced friends.
When Anya shows Becky her latest family photo, Becky instantly becomes infatuated with her father Loid, similar to a girl falling for a member of a boy band. Her reaction may be played up for comedic effect, but Spy x Family provides a very realistic view of the types of interactions between young girls.
Damian’s Behavior and Motivations Are Realistic
Damian Desmond is a highly stereotypical character, resembling other spoiled sons of rich, influential parents like Draco Malfoy in Harry Potter. While Damian is not unique, his character does provide a glimpse into some of the darker aspects of childhood. In Episode 17, Henderson assigns Anya’s class to build animal models out of an array of crafting materials, with Anya and Damian placed in the same group. While Anya does her best to replicate her new pet to show him, Damian aspires to build a griffin to impress his father. Impressing a parent or instructor is one of the most innate motivations in children, and Damian’s mission is highly reflective of this reality.
However, as Damian is met with frustration in his limited resources and Anya’s meddling, his behavior reveals a more depressing implication. Though any child would yearn for their parents’ attention and affection, Damian is especially desperate. His father hardly takes notice of him, leaving Damian feeling neglected. Not only does this fill him with a sense of determination in his academic performance and art project in particular, it also explains his snide behavior toward others, as children with unresolved emotional issues or difficult family situations often turn their frustration toward their peers. However, while Damian’s behavior does reflect this sadder aspect of child psychology, he does manage to work with Anya and secure first place for his project.
While Spy x Family’s story certainly is exciting, its depiction of family life and adorable children makes it especially popular. Fans can’t deny the heartwarming and hilarious appeal of Anya’s antics. Though her character and backstory may be grounded in fiction, Anya’s interactions with her peers provide a small glimpse into the pure and imaginative mind of a child.
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