The Spy x Family anime TV series has unveiled a James Bond poster art of Loid, Yor, and Anya Forger. This poster is a conscious homage to vintage 007 movie posters from the 1960s. Spy x Family combines the action and thrill of a James Bond film with a good dose of humor and emotional relationships.
The action-comedy Spy x Family is rife with references to iconic spy-based media. None are as numerous and obvious as those of James Bond. So far, the anime has featured two rather obvious ones and a few more abstract aspects. There are plenty more in the manga up to this point.
The new poster was announced by the series’ official Japanese Twitter account. It will be included with the show’ first Blu-ray/DVD launch in Japan. The artwork depicts the anime’s key three protagonists — super spy Loid, absent-minded assassin Yor, and telepathic problem child Anya — in a design reminiscent of vintage 007 movie posters, specifically 1963’s From Russia With Love. The poster includes Frankie, Loid’s reliable informant, and an automobile that resembles James Bond’s vintage Aston Martin DB5.
The first Spy x Family Blu-ray and DVD volume release date in Japan is on July 20, 2022. Spy x Family will include the first four episodes of the series on the DVD. The series’ home video distribution in other regions is not yet confirmed.
The anime adaptation of the series debuted earlier this year and has been the spring 2022 season’s breakthrough sensation. Wit Studio, the studio behind the acclaimed Ranking of Kings and the first three seasons of Attack on Titan, and CloverWorks, behind last season’s biggest surprise hit, Dress-Up My Darling, are collaborating on the anime.
The James Bond references in SPY x FAMILY serve to ground the series. The references create a precise reference point for the audience, both tonally and philosophically. Because the show is a comedy, it would be easy to dismiss the connections as a harmless piece of fun. However, as entertaining as these connections are, it’s evident that they also contribute to establishing SPY x FAMILY inside a defined genre. Several significant parts of the novel allude to James Bond without explicitly stating so.
The fact that the setting of SPY x FAMILY is inspired by the actual origin of the James Bond persona demonstrates the significance of these references.
The references to James Bond in SPY x FAMILY serve to fill out the universe in one way or another. Whether by paying homage to his impact or establishing the plot as taking place in a setting comparable to when he first rose to fame.
More apparent references, such as Anya’s beloved in-universe cartoon, “Spy Wars,” highlight how James Bond’s influence permeates this reality. Yor is the Bond Femme Fatale archetype, albeit in a very comedic form, and she appears in practically every variation of the character. Twilight and his agency are reminiscent of Bond and MI6. Franky is a cross between traditional informant tropes and the Bond character Q.
Crunchyroll is currently broadcasting the Spy x Family anime. VIZ Media publishes Endo’s manga in English print and digital formats.
Spy x Family’s new James Bond-themed poster
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