Spy x Family is undoubtedly the anime of the season. The skyrocketing popularity that the relatively fresh animanga series has garnered is unparalleled, and likely only matched in pace by Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba in recent years.
Spy x Family is genre blending at its finest, something the animated medium has always ruled the charge in. Created by once-assistant to Attack on Titan's Hajime Isayama, Tatsuya Endo's light-hearted action-comedy blends skilful storytelling, fast-paced action set pieces, and a genuine tenderness that feels particularly special.
And while we still have months (and a steadily ongoing manga) of Spy x Family left to enjoy, for those looking for a little extra family fun or spy adventures, here are a few recommendations of shows and movies to check out if you are loving Spy x Family...
Baccano! (2007)
16 - Episodes
Possibly the most stylistically comparable to Spy x Family is Brain's Bases' Baccano!, a period drama set in the United States Prohibition era. Similarly to Spy x Family, Baccano! blends farce and surrealist comedy with violent, bloody action in exquisite equal measure.
Unlike Spy x Family however, central to Baccano! is its non-linear narrative and lack of any clear protagonist. Rather than follow one individual or group of characters, Baccano! constantly jumps back and forth between three core storylines, each with their own wide array of characters. The joy of this is that Baccano! always keeps its audience on its toes, drip-feeding them just enough information to keep them engaged, tying together up plot points and character narratives in the most interesting and at times, unexpected ways.
Baccano!'s sense of space is extraordinary. Its at-times otherworldly and fantastical version of the U.S. East Coast is completely unique, and something that is only elevated further by its English voice cast. Not often would I recommend first watching a show outside of the manner in which it was initially created, but in the case of Baccano!, the acting talents of its English cast (many of whom were largely unknown at the time) elevate the story in such a way that it is impossible to not be drawn into the grit, gore, and glamour of its world.
ACCA: 13- Territory Inspection Dept. (2017)
13 - Episodes
ACCA: 13 is the definition of an underrated gem. A show that largely swooped under the radar in 2017 due to its slower pacing and lack of action, ACCA: 13 is a brilliant high-stakes espionage series taking place within fictional European territories very similar in style to Spy x Family.
Protagonist Jean Otus is as cool, calm, and mysterious as they come, and his exploration of the world and inner politics surrounding him are brilliantly written. ACCA: 13 is stylish to its centre, elevated by some beautiful character animation from Norifumi Kugai, whose impressive history of work includes action animation director for One Punch Man, and key on various Shinichirō Watanabe works including Terror in Resonance and Space Dandy (see below).
ACCA: 13 also just-so-happens to boast one of the best (again, underrated!) anime opening themes of all time. Once you listen to ONE 111 NOTES' Shadow and Bone, you'll have it stuck in your head for the next week. Even more regrettable is that the group were a collaborative J-Pop trio formed solely for ACCA's opening track, and thus they have no further work to gush over...
Barakamon (2014)
12 - Episodes
For those looking for something a little more gentle, Barakamon is the perfect lazy day watch to rejuvenate and relax.
Animated by Kintema Citrus- the same studio behind Made in Abyss- Barakamon tells the story of calligrapher Seishu Handa as he moves to the rural Japanese island of Goto to escape his tarnished reputation and rediscover his passion. Barakamon is ultimately a story of healing, and does so through its core theme of found family, not unlike that of Spy x Family.
While Loid finds himself tied to Anya and Yor out of obligation to his undercover operation, Handa is quickly surrounded by the children and teens of his new village home out of genuine curiosity. The children, particularly young and boisterous secondary lead Natsu, help Handa overcome the internalised pressures suppressing his art, and allow him to re-realize why it was he pursued calligraphy in the first place.
Barakamon offers a beautiful glimpse into a quaint side of Japanese life not often explored in anime outside of typical high school settings. The very real millennial struggles of generational trauma and maintaining overachievement that the series explores are ones that are bound to resonate with many, and should not be missed.
My Neighbours the Yamadas (1999)
Movie
Amongst the many acclaimed movies in Studio Ghibli's filmography, Isao Takahata's My Neighbours the Yamadas is one that often goes overlooked, simply because its differs in both its style and storytelling to so many of Ghibli's other works.
Rather than follow any sort of typical overarching narrative, My Neighbours is a feature-length series of vignettes separated by quotes from the Japanese poet Bashō. The whole movie feels like pages of a comic strip come-to-life, and has a heavy emphasis on Japanese cultural and social knowledge, as is often the case with Takahata's work (compared to that of Ghibli co-founder Hayao Miyazaki's various Eurocentric inspirations).
At its core, My Neighbours the Yamadas is an open window into the life of a suburban Japanese family. It is honest, humorous, and humbling, all of which are traits that Spy x Family shares.
Joker Game (2016)
12 - Episodes
On the more serious side of the seinen genre is Joker Game, an anthology series following a group of special operative Japanese military spies in the years following the Second World War. Each of Joker Game's 10 young spies could give Loid Forger a run for his money, with each characters' personal narrative full of enough intrigue and some genuinely shocking surprises to keep viewers coming back for more.
Each episode explores a case with different members of D-Agency, often having little correlation to one another. Similarly to ACCA: 13, Joker Game fell under the radars of many due to its incredibly dialogue-heavy structure and the distaste some felt for episodes which featured little-to-no action sequences.
Joker Game explores what spy work most often is, even when it doesn't sound as "cool". People lurking in the shadows, making small, precise movements and decisions that effect those around them without the rest of the world ever realising it. It is a theme Spy x Family explores frequently, as Loid experiences praise for the first time in his role as a functional, "normal" member of society.
FLCL (2000)
3 Seasons, 18 - Episodes
FLCL is a cult classic of the anime world. Its animation style is experimental, and its comedy off-beat. It is the perfect example of just how bonkers some anime can be; and for those enjoying the slapstick fist-fights that Loid and Yor Forger are finding themselves in, FLCL is a great short series to dip your toes into.
Its impossible to talk about FLCL without mentioning its soundtrack as well. And while Spy x Family's fun score and themes are taking a lot of inspirations from jazz and J-pop, FLCL garnered much acclaim for its work with 90s alternative rock band, The Pillows. The likes of Ride on Shooting Star take heavy inspiration from Western groups such as Pixies and The Beatles; and the mellow rock vibes that vibrate throughout FLCL and compliment its other-wordily action add an extra layer to the anime that truly solidifies that you are watching something special.
Lupin III: Castle of Cagliostro (1979)
Movie
Easily the most recognisable anime director of all time, Hayao Miyazaki's directorial feature debut, Castle of Cagliostro follows infamous anime anti-hero, Lupin, and the charming thief's daring misadventures to recover the real loot behind some counterfeit cash he stole.
Miyazaki's work on Lupin would go on to have unparalleled impact on the animation community worldwide, cited by many as the inspiration behind much of the Disney Renaissance era and Pixar animation studios in its earliest days.
Castle of Cagliostro is an action-comedy packed with charm, smooth and memorable fight sequences, and a story worthy of its decades-long cultural impact. It would not be too much of a leap to make that the likes of Spy x Family might not have existed today without Miyazaki and Lupin's legacy paving the way.
Space Dandy (2014)
2 Seasons, 26 - Episodes
Iconic anime director Shinichirō Watanabe has an incredibly impressive history of work under his belt, including what many consider to be the Holy Grail of the medium, Cowboy Bebop. Though as amazing as Bepop is, for fans of Spy x Family, they should take a look beyond that towards Cowboy Bepop's weird, yet utterly lovably cousin, Space Dandy.
Space Dandy is the Star-Lord of the anime world, his rag-tag assortment of friends the Guardians of the Galaxy. Dandy is an egocentric, music-loving, ladies man, and its hard not to love him for it. While its humour may not be for everyone, Space Dandy is entirely aware of its own crassness, and uses this to its own advantage. Space Dandy is the complete farcical version of Watanabe's space-western Cowboy Bebop, and never takes itself too seriously, not dissimilar to how Spy x Family parodies its own genre.
School Babysitters (2018)
12 - Episodes
Anya Forger has fast become one of the most adorable kids in all of anime. You just can't watch Spy x Family and not fall in love with her innocence, cheek, and desire for a family. Therefore, last but by no means list; School Babysitters is a show for all those who just want some more completely wholesome, childish joy.
Little else can be said about School Babysitters, it's adorable kids doing adorable things. Just watch it now.
Spy x Family is currently airing now over on Crunchyroll, with new subbed episodes released every Saturday at 4:30pm BST.