「プロジェクト〈アップル」 (Purojekuto )
“Project Apple”

After a break, Spy x Family loses no time in throwing us back into the thick of things. As is always the case for the Forgers, what should be a simple family outing turns into a hullabaloo and an extra mission for the overworked Twilight (Eguchi Takuya). This time, a hallmark for many families-buying their first dog. I don’t blame Anya (Tanezaki Atsumi) for passing on those macho dogs Loid lamely tried to pass off as cute. Anya trying to help Loid out when he gets pulled for a mission had me in stitches.

I never cease to be amazed at how someone as lethally gifted as Yor (Hayami Saori) can be so unaware. After what is presumably hours later (depending how long a trip to HQ and testimony bating takes), Yor still thinks Loid is bathroom bound. If I were her, I’d be suspicious, or at least check up on him. How terrifying to lose a child in a crowd (watching local news reports never helps matters)-I can only imagine how bad Yor is freaking out at losing her daughter-every parent’s or babysitter’s worst nightmare.

Anya really does have a penchant for attracting trouble. Of all dogs, she is drawn to the one involved in an assassination scheme and then walks right into the schemers’ hideout. Good thing the dog in question has foresight abilities thanks to experimentation with the defunct Project Apple. In an incredibly adorable scene, the dog defends Anya and lets her ride him out to safety. A dog with foresight and a girl who reads minds- what a perfect duo, as if they were made for each other. The whole time I was almost expecting her to run into Loid while he was hunting for the assassins. I don’t know how she’d explain away that predicament to him. (He’d probably overlook it, like he did when she unlocked his room in the 1st cour premiere).

The animal experimentation with Project Apple makes me wonder if there is any sort of connection to how Anya got her telepathy powers. I mean, it would make sense if that were the case-thank goodness she didn’t get picked up for something as devious as assassination. Helping a spy create a front is also sketchy, although Loid isn’t making Anya into a weapon.

Anya’s “Mama will save me!” made me smile. I love how Yor always kicks ass, saving the day instead of waiting for someone else to come along and do it. A refreshing thing when unfortunately in many other series, the female characters are there as the damsel in distress. I really appreciate that Yor combines strength with traditional aspects of femininity in how she dresses.

I love, love the OP and the way they incorporated Autumn into it-appropriate given the season it is airing in. The falling flowers and leaves were beautiful. The crane at the end was a sweet touch. In Japan, the crane is symbolic of long life and is often woven onto women’s wedding kimonos in the hopes that they will live to an old age with their husbands. A touching sentiment that I hope holds true for the Forger family even though this is supposed to be only a temporary set up as per their convenience. (Although it’s obvious their family bonds have becoming tighter than that).

Preview

16 Comments

    1. The only reason that those terrorists are still alive is because she thought it was a marriage kidnapping. Think what Yor would have done if she knew that they wanted to kill Anya.

      KlingKlang
  1. I am going to be watching Spy x Family under a microscope. I don’t know why, but after having a brief recess from SxF I began to realize how different it is in atmosphere compared to the Manga. I began following this title as a Manga first before the Anime was announced and I loved every page. But when I got to watch the Anime I didn’t have the same sentiment. Not sure if it’s because I don’t drink a single malt when watching Anime like I do reading Manga or if it’s because I don’t like the voice for Yor but something is off for me.

    Renasayers
    1. I also started reading the manga prior to the anime! I come from the opposite viewpoint that the anime really makes the manga come alive, adding color to it (physically and metaphorically), from the voice acting, music, and so on. I remember initially I disliked Yor’s voice in the first cour but I think it grew on me after a while.

      Princess Usagi
  2. Well, I am late to the spy-x-family train, but boy I was missing out…
    From all the cold war decorations, to the quirky and cute cast of misfits who end up as family, I am hooked.
    Anya and mr doggo (temporary name) seem to have natural chemistry, with Anya being telepath, and the dog , having powers of precognition.
    Yor has awesome physical combat capabilities, but is not the brightest bulb in the box. I had a a laugh at her mistaking Anya’s disappearance for marriage kidnapping …

    ewok40k
  3. Yor combines strength with traditional aspects of femininity in how she dresses

    This series is definitely NOT a Disney production!

    Traditional is best!

    Anywho, this series is really enjoyable and well written. Here you think the dog
    is going to sprint to “help,” but end up running around in circles! I also like the
    dog’s VA — at first I thought “what?” – but its comicalness really fits!

    Laughed so hard that Yor thought Anya was being kidnapped for a child
    marriage and the guy who was going to do-her-in was her groom (I DID
    mean “was” – think he’s still around after all of those bounces)!

    mac65

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