Spy × Family

On a cold March day in 2019, a new chapter in manga history began when Tatsuya Endo launched Spy × Family on Shueisha's Shonen Jump+ platform. The premise was deceptively simple: a master spy, code-named Twilight, must build a fake family overnight to infiltrate an elite school and prevent a war between the rival nations of Westalis and Ostania. But Twilight, now calling himself Loid Forger, has no idea that the orphan girl he adopts, Anya, can read minds. Nor does he know that the woman he marries, Yor Briar, is a legendary assassin known as the Thorn Princess. What follows is a tightrope walk of secrets, lies, and genuine affection as this unlikely trio stumbles toward becoming a real family.

Endo, a manga artist from Ibaraki Prefecture who had previously written the one-shot Tista and the series Blade of the Moon Princess, found his breakout hit with this blend of espionage thriller, domestic comedy, and slice-of-life warmth. The series is released biweekly on Shonen Jump+, and as of April 2026, 17 tankobon volumes have been collected by Shueisha under the Jump Comics+ imprint. Viz Media handles the English-language release in North America, while Panini Comics publishes the Italian edition. The manga has sold over 42 million copies worldwide, placing it among the best-selling manga series of all time.

Critics have praised the series for its tonal balance. Rebecca Silverman of Anime News Network called it a perfect mix of action, comedy, and heart. The artwork is clean and expressive, with Anya's ever-changing facial expressions becoming a signature of the series. The manga won the Harvey Award for Best Manga in 2021 and the Eisner Award for Best U.S. Edition of International Material, Asia in 2022, among other honors. An anime adaptation by Wit Studio and CloverWorks aired its first season in 2022, followed by a second in 2023 and a third in 2025. A theatrical film, Spy × Family Code: White, released in December 2023, grossed over $60 million worldwide. The franchise has expanded into light novels, a stage musical, video games, and a mountain of merchandise, with Anya's catchphrase Waku Waku becoming a cultural touchstone.[edit]