ANIME/FILM REVIEW | Dreaming of a "CODE: White" Getaway with the Forgers
If there is one Shonen Jump series that’s deserving of a big screen adaptation, it’s Spy × Family. After two successful anime seasons, the time has come for Twilight, Yor, and Anya to be given the movie treatment. The bad news: Spy × Family CODE: White is one of those non-canonical filler movies. The good news: it’s hugely entertaining from start to finish!
CODE: White begins when Anya’s upcoming cooking class could result in a Stella Star reward. But word comes down to Twilight that he may be replaced in Operation Strix, resulting in a solid idea: make the Eden Academy president’s favorite dish, and avoid being taken off the mission. Thus begins a trip across (maybe) Europe for Anya to learn how to make the elegant dessert. But then, trouble follows suit.
A domino effect of chaos occurs for the Forgers, starting with Anya eating a chocolate containing microfilm. This puts a big target on the young girl’s back, as she almost gets herself kidnapped on the train. (Thank goodness her mom’s got some great fighting skills, right?) There’s also the high-end dessert itself, which is taken from the Forgers by the villainous Colonel Snider, who is also on the lookout for the microfilm. On top of that, poor Yor thinks she’s being cast aside by Twilight for another woman, especially when he commits the three signs of infidelity!
There’s a bountiful amount of what makes Spy × Family a great series on display in CODE: White. Anya acts cute and funny; Twilight is smart and suave; Yor is a kind badass; and Bond is just everyone’s favorite good boy. Other familiar folks like Nightfall, Yuri, and the poor schlub Franky also play a role in this film, but it’s not about them. What CODE: White is about is what makes the Forgers a family that not only works together, but also genuinely cares for one another.
Yor’s fears of infidelity are dealt with thanks to a good dose of liquid courage and a ferris wheel ride, all of which are showcased with humor and heart. When Anya is in danger, her life is put first for Twilight, rather than thinking of the main mission at hand. After all, Anya is the glue of the clan, with her actions (sometimes unknowingly) aiding in keeping both Operation Strix and the Forger family intact for the sake of love and world peace. And Bond…well, he tries very hard.
All of this lead’s to an exciting climax that showcases why Spy × Family is the anime to watch! Aerial dogfights, a one-on-one fight with a robot that’d make Terminator quake in his boots, clever disguises, and Anya delivering what could be one of the funniest poop gags this side of Westalis are on display in the last third of the film. Both WIT Studio and CloverWorks demonstrate their powerhouse skills as animation studios with some of the most gorgeous fight choreography seen on the big screen in a very long time. Even for a film that doesn’t do anything to push the narrative forward, the action and emotion presented here almost makes you forget that fact.
The trio of Takuya Eguchi, Saori Hayami, and Atsumi Tanezaki deliver their performances of Twilight, Yor, and Anya with the same wonderful energy as in their TV variations. Newcomer Banjo Ginga does a fine job being the villainous Snyder, whereas the duo of Tomoya Nakamura and Kanto Kaku ham it up delightfully as his minions Dmitri and Luka. Music collective (K)NoW_NAME ups the ante in the soundtrack department, with songs that are worthy to blast though theater speakers. Returning from the first season, Official HIGE DANdism and Gen Hoshino deliver two bangers of anisongs in the form of “Soulsoup” and “Why (Hikari no Ato)”, respectively.
Spy × Family CODE: White may not move Operation Strix forward, but it’s a hell of a good time for moviegoers of all ages. Its action, comedy, and heart demonstrate why these characters are beloved by fans all across the world. Who knows when Season Three of the main anime will arrive, but until that day arrives, I’d be okay with these one-off adventures. If anything, Spy × Family CODE: White successfully presents viewers with a solid how-to formula for making not just a delicious treat on the big screen, but one that fits perfectly with the full course a series serves.
FINAL GRADE:
The movie was viewed at Toho Cinemas in Ikebukuro, Tokyo, Japan on December 30, 2023. It has been licensed by Crunchyroll, and will arrive in US theaters in Spring 2024.
