Spy x Family Season 2 Anime/Manga Comparison

 

    Welcome back to Beyond The Anime for my first in-depth anime/manga comparison of the new year - Spy x Family season 2! This series quickly became one of my favorite anime after its fantastic first season, and the sequel was just as fun and exciting. 

    Season 2 covers chapter 39 through chapter 59 of the manga (volumes 7-9). This content was a near exact adaptation, plus a few nice additions, which was great to see but also brought up a minor concern with the structure of the manga when translated into anime form. 

Yor (the assassin with near superhuman abilities) and Franky (WISE informant) being overwhelmed by a pack of stray cats

    The manga alternates between serious, action-packed arcs and comedic slice-of-life chapters. This format works really well to have the more lighthearted adventures of Anya at school or Yor and Franky tracking down a missing cat as relaxing shorter stories after an arc where the Forgers narrowly avoided danger, especially when read without long breaks in between. I enjoy these comedy chapters just as much as the action-packed ones, but there were critiques about this storytelling structure when the season was airing, as some viewers who preferred the serious plot felt that it took too long to get started this time. 

    While the fantastic cruise arc makes up half of season 2, it began four episodes in - a month for a show that's airing weekly, in comparison to both parts of season 1, which started with their serious arcs before leading into the comedy. In my season 1 anime/manga comparison, my prediction was that season 2 would maintain this structure and shift some of the comedy chapters to after the cruise arc, but it ended up mostly following the same order as the manga. It's hard to say which approach would have been best, but it seems this critique was more common among anime-only viewers, and the current structure was well-received by manga fans. 

Yor standing with perfect balance during her rowboat ride with Loid

    The season begins with a previously unadapted extra chapter from the end of volume 3 - Loid and Yor's unfortunately timed date, during which she spent most of her effort trying not to let him know that she had suffered a gunshot to the butt the previous night, and he tried not to let his nerves spiral out of control wondering why she looked so angry. (It was the excruciating pain.)  

    Loid and Yor's date originally took place earlier in the manga, before they adopted Bond. A nice little addition to the anime acknowledged his presence when Anya assigned him, along with "agents" Penguin and Chimera, to guard the house while she and Franky shadowed her parents. 

    There were a few anime-only additions to this episode. One of the quick scenes during Loid and Yor's date shows the two of them at a clothing store, and he recommends an outfit for her to try on. In the manga, it's a pair of pants and a stylish top, but in the anime, it's a pantsuit - the same one Yor is wearing later on the first day of the cruise! I also loved the way the anime expanded the other date attempts that were only given a single panel in the manga, like the animals at the zoo looking afraid of the pained scowl on Yor's face. 

The ride is a panda in the manga, but a polar bear in the anime versions shown on Hulu and Crunchyroll.

    The only other unadapted material from the early manga were the one-page shorts at the end of volume 2, which showed Anya enjoying a panda ride at the department store and going on her first visit to the pool. In the anime, these cute scenes were illustrated in a style with a crayon-like effect that complemented their childish whimsy really well. There was only one that didn't make it into the anime from the end of the first volume - Anya's attempt to get a certain mystery toy prize included with bags of candy, and lamenting that her mind reading powers couldn't help her find the one she wanted. 

    There was also one extra chapter adapted early - a short Bondman skit in episode 3, animated with an old fashioned cartoon art style, which is actually from volume 10. Although originally shown past the point of the chapters adapted for season 2, the nature of its brief "cartoon within a cartoon" comedic story made it a good standalone short to help fill the remaining minutes of the episode.

Yor ready to fight with newfound resolve

    The cruise arc is one of the longest yet in the manga, and its anime adaptation was perfect. Yor takes the center focus as she guards the survivors of a mafia family fleeing from a violent takeover and fights off dozens of assassins competing for their bounty. There's plenty of amazing action sequences in this arc, like the stunning one-against-many battle under the fireworks, but the heart of this arc is the exploration of Yor's doubts - if she really needs to continue her assassin work, why she started in the first place, and finally, her renewed dedication to make the world safe for her family however she can. 

    This is where an exact adaptation of the manga is a strength, because this is one of the most well loved parts of the story, and the anime portrays both the action and character development with great care. The presence of a musical score elevated several scenes, such as the trumpet fanfare performed by the band pictured in the manga when the Princess Lorelai  cruise ship first comes into view, and the circus tunes in the background during Yor's battle against Sickle-and-Chain Barnaby when she started playing up the theatrical moves for the crowd to go along with Anya's cover story. The insert songs during her battle under the fireworks and the Forger family fun montage when they reached the island (as well as the one featured in Damian's camping trip in episode 2) were beautiful, keeping up the series' track record for excellent music. 

Loid trying to look like a fun dad by wearing a bunch of souvenirs. The sound effects of the squeaking octopus shoes were hilarious.

    As great as the action and serious story was, I think my favorite episode of the season was the conclusion to the cruise arc when the Forger family was allowed to spend the day together having fun and doing normal vacation things - walking through town, swimming and surfing, building sand castles, bike riding, visiting a farm, exploring a cave and even zip lining. I've always loved the balance between the exciting action and funny slice-of-life scenes, and seeing the three of them able to relax after such a stressful trip in which they all did their part to protect each other and fulfill their solo but connected missions makes those peaceful moments even more impactful. As Yor expressed, these are the days they wish could last forever.

    Most of these scenes are the same as the manga, but there was a single addition just before the cruise ship arrived at the island. While both versions have the story show Loid warn Anya not to fall from the top bunk if she chooses to sleep there, the anime has an extra scene the morning of their arrival where Anya rolls out of the bunk bed and Loid expertly catches her on the way down. Another change was Anya's mispronunciation of Princess Lorelai  - originally written as "Laura Bly" in the manga, turned into an amusing Oshi no Ko reference in the anime when she called it "Lalalai", the name of their theater company.

Loid, Yor and Anya swimming in the ocean. This full page manga illustration is wonderfully detailed. 

    The remaining two episodes, like the first four, feature short standalone stories. Episode 11 ends with an anime-only scene of Fiona training in the wilderness and completing Loid's backlog of missions while he's on vacation, and his return to work with gifts for his coworkers. 

    The season finale, an adorable episode where Bond uses his precognitive ability to rescue a small dog from a fire and catch the arsonist, also has some new scenes in the anime. Anya was making origami stars when the episode begins, and when Loid and Bond come back home from their very eventful walk, she gives them each a "stella" for their hard work. This scene echoes the themes of Spy x Family's early episodes - how the work of spies often goes unnoticed and they are rarely thanked for their work, but it feels good to be appreciated. 

Season 3 predictions

    This section contains spoilers for the manga past the point where the anime ends.  

Loid as a child on the cover of volume 10

    If the next season follows the same structure as the previous ones, then the manga will likely be adapted in order for the most part. However, the first chapter after the point where season 2 ends shows a mission involving Frankie and Fiona and hardly features the Forgers at all, so my best guess would be that this part will be moved to midseason to accompany the other standalone chapters. 

    The following chapter, set at Eden Academy, is a good starting point for season 3 and ends on a note that will directly lead into Loid remembering his past. This story from the first half of volume 10 is one of my favorite parts of Spy x Family, portraying Loid's journey from an innocent child heartbroken by war, to a young soldier and then a spy. Assuming the third season is the same length as the second, it will also likely cover Yor's meeting with Damian's mother, the bus hijacking, and the immediate aftermath. This would leave the story in a good place to pick up with the next big arc in season 4. 

    

    I hope you enjoyed this anime/manga comparison of Spy x Family's second season. Stay tuned for more comparisons featuring anime from last year - Tearmoon Empire, My Clueless First Friend, The Girl I Like Forgot Her Glasses, Shangri-La Frontier, and The Apothecary Diaries. My Favorite Anime of 2023 post is also coming soon! 

Between chapters 56 and 57, this small manga-only picture shows Zeb, Olka and baby Gram made it safely to their destination.  

*All images from the Spy x Family manga on Kindle and anime clips from Crumchyroll's Youtube channel, screenshots taken by me. Banner made by me in Canva.

Winter 2024 Manga-to-Anime Adaptation Preview

 

    Welcome back to Beyond The Anime! For my first post of the new year, I'm starting a new seasonal feature - a manga preview for series receiving anime adaptations. This preview for the winter season focuses on two manga and one manwha, and includes comparisons to their premiere episodes - A Sign of Affection, Hokkaido Gals Are Adorable, and Solo Leveling.

A Sign of Affection

   This story begins when Yuki, who has been deaf since birth and communicates using sign language, meets Itsuomi, a fellow student at her college with an interest in traveling, on a train. He helped her out when a tourist was trying to ask questions, and he's intrigued by her unique way of viewing the world, while she's drawn to the way he bridged the gap between them without hesitation. 

    The manga beautifully portrays the varied ways these characters communicate, with different text styles to represent each one. Messages are shown typed or handwritten, spoken words are colored gray when Yuki is reading lips and bolded during parts of the conversation she doesn't catch (usually because she's not facing the person speaking), and the occasional sideways letters mean she's having trouble understanding. The sign language flows well and is very easy to follow, even though the author notes that only part of the phrases are depicted in the panels. I enjoy stories that explore a language barrier, so it was really nice seeing everyone's interactions illustrated with such care.

    So far, I've read volumes 1&2 of the manga, and if the anime continues at its current pace, that content will likely cover two thirds of the season. As Yuki and Itsuomi's relationship moves forward, later chapters bring up deeper topics like Itsuomi's dreams for the future, and Yuki's self-consciousness about vocalizing. 

    I have mixed feelings about the story introducing love rivals for each of them, because their interactions at this point are mainly used to create misunderstandings between the leads, but these situations seem to be resolved quickly aside from some lingering feelings of insecurity. However, the sweet and heartwarming moments far outweigh any minor drama, and there are so many scenes I'm excited to see animated. 

    Episode 1 covers the events of chapter 1, from Yuki and Itsuomi's first meeting to exchanging contact info. The anime did a good job adapting the manga's art style. Scenes like Yuki and Itsuomi walking home beneath the falling snow were beautiful, and their facial expressions are a perfect match for the manga so their emotions come across really well, which is important for a story that often portrays its characters' feelings without words. This first episode also added a few brief scenes to foreshadow characters who appear later on in the manga, like Yuki's childhood friend Oushi and the hairdresser Itsuomi knows from high school. 

    I really enjoyed the first two volumes of the manga, and I have high hopes for this adaptation. Aside from sequels, it's my most anticipated of the season. Definitely recommended. 

Hokkaido Gals Are Adorable!

    I've seen quite a few anime series based around the premise of a character moving from the big city to the country and enjoying its small town charms, but this is the first one I've watched that makes the winter backdrop the main cause for appeal (and also sudden culture shock). Tsubasa arrives in Hokkaido unaware that he would find a largely empty snowy landscape with buses that only come once every few hours, and a girl standing outside in her high school uniform with bare legs while he's bundled up from head to toe and still freezing. 

    The first person he meets in Hokkaido is the super friendly gal, Minami Fuyuki, who instantly captures his attention. Their initial bond forms out of an interest in a way of life that's different from their own - Minami is curious about Tokyo, and Tsubasa is constantly surprised and mesmerized by her forward personality in equal measure. I found both to be likeable main characters, the comedy is pretty funny, and later chapters hint that the story will have a nice message about gaining a new appreciation for one's hometown. The snow festival chapter (coming in the next episode or two) shows that off really well. 

    The first episode of the anime covers chapters 0-2 of the manga, from his initial encounter with Minami to his first day at school, and his visit to her house. It's a very faithful adaptation so far, almost exactly like the manga - sometimes to a fault. The sneezing scene was awkward in the original, and it's still just as awkward here, but the anime did at least tone down some of the exaggerated fanservice angles that appear throughout the story, which I appreciate.  

    The snow scenes are beautiful in both versions of the story. Although Tsubasa's hairstyle looks slightly different in the anime compared to his original design, Minami's character art made the transition really well and is a perfect match to the color portraits of her in the manga. The only things missing in this premiere that I would have liked to see were the brief snowball fight during lunchbreak and the little snowman made by Minami that she's shown taking a selfie with in chapter 1 - also displayed on the series cover image on Manga Plus. 

    This one turned out to be better than expected. I'd recommend it to anyone looking for a fun romcom and doesn't mind a bit of fanservice. 

Solo Leveling

    A twist on the traditional dungeon raid and isekai formulas, this present day/near future real world setting features the premise that gates to another world have spontaneously opened, and hunters who awakened to special abilities enter these dangerous areas to slay monsters for profit. Hunters are ranked depending on their ability, and main character Jinwoo is the lowest rank, considered by most to be the weakest hunter of them all, but he continues to take part in dungeon raids despite frequent injury to pay for his mother's medical bills, which makes him a sympathetic lead. The opening chapters of the manwha begin with a raid which takes a turn for the worse when the party decides to advance into the uncharted territory of a double dungeon.

    I was surprised by how many additions were made in the anime version. While the main storyline of the dungeon raid is the same, the anime offers more worldbuilding in the beginning and introduces new characters who will probably be relevant later on. The opening scene with a group of S-rank hunters dressed in full raid gear taking down a horde of giant ant monsters with fire and lightning blasts, or a similarly high ranked hunter stopping a purse snatcher in town, really shows the contrast between the strongest combatants and those at Jinwoo's level. Likewise, the background information about the Hunters Association's plan to use the essence stones and mana crystals obtained from slaying monsters as a clean energy source was interesting. 

    However, this structure also has its flaws. The premiere episode felt fragmented, switching from one location and group of unknown characters to another, in a way that the manwha's early chapters did not because it focused solely on Jinwoo's party. Even so, I enjoyed the anime premiere more than the beginning of the manwha thanks to these additions. One scene ending with a video narrated by the Hunter Association's chairman who encouraged hunters to not let their guard down and "be afraid" was a perfect lead-in to Jinwoo's party entering the double dungeon precisely because they didn't take the dangers seriously enough. 

    There were a few minor changes to the dungeon raid side of the story. In the manwha, party leader Song was very insistent in rallying the crowd to move on ahead to the next dungeon, while the anime shows Kim and Park making the suggestion and Song being more level headed in his assessment of the risks and rewards before putting the matter to a vote. The anime also showed Jinwoo fighting the goblin he won an essence stone from (instead of starting from the scene where Joohee is healing him afterwards), which was a nice bonus. 

    This premise feels a lot like a modern day dungeon crawler RPG mixed with Attack on Titan. If that sounds interesting to you, then check it out. I wasn't too enthused after reading the manwha, but enjoyed the anime premiere more than I expected.

    I hope you enjoyed the first of my seasonal manga-to-anime adaptation previews! Check out my Favorite Manga of 2023, and stay tuned for more manga/light novel comparisons featuring anime from 2023 and early 2024 - Spy x Family season 2, My Clueless First Friend, The Girl I Like Forgot Her Glasses, Tearmoon Empire, Shangri-La Frontier, and Apothecary Diaries. My Favorite Anime of 2023 post is also coming soon!

The winter festival in chapter 3 of Hokkaido Gals has some familiar anime characters as snow sculptures - Pikachu and Doraemon!

*All screenshots taken by me from A Sign of Affection, Hokkaido Gals Are Adorable, and Solo Leveling from the official manga/manwha releases on Libby, Manga Plus, and Tapas, and anime clips from Crunchyroll's Youtube channel. Banner image made by me in Canva.