On November 26th, an extra chapter of the popular manga Spy x Family was released. Prior to that, an illustration featuring the main character, Anya, was previewed.
In the somber-looking image, Anya is alone in an abandoned hallway, with broken toys and trash around her. Her back is to the viewer. Fans speculated that this foreshadowed a tragic revelation about Anya’s past.
However, the actual chapter did not contain the sad backstory for Anya that some expected based on the illustration.
The setting was still an empty corridor filled with discarded items. But Anya did not seem upset while exploring it. So far, details on her history prior to being adopted have not been divulged in the manga’s main storyline or side chapters.
The latest installment focused on Anya navigating the creepy hallway before having a humorous interaction about the toys there.
What Was SPY x FAMILY – Short Mission: 11 Is All About
The latest brief side chapter of Spy x Family sparks thought despite its brevity. It begins by showing Anya carving her own wooden name plate to put on her bedroom door, as is common for children.
She writes out “Ania” to identify herself. However, her adoptive father, Loid, then comes by and kindly points out the spelling error – her name is properly spelled “Anya.”
She fixes the mistake on the nameplate. The chapter concludes with a scene of Anya lying in her room, constantly repeating her full name to herself.
While seemingly mundane, this small installment got fans discussing and theorizing extensively. On top of expressing their predictable affection for Anya, they analyzed the subtle implications behind the scenes.
Beyond the surface-level cuteness, some speculated that the chapter hints at Anya’s mysterious history from before Loid adopted her.
The act of finally having her own proper nameplate as a child would traditionally be very meaningful. This suggests Anya did not have her own designated room and recognized identity in the past.
The chapter leaves the details up to interpretation, but fans picked up on the potential sadness being hinted at regarding her background.
Some Reddit commenters made an unkind suggestion about the origin of Anya’s unique spelling of her name.
They speculated that it came from her traumatic past in a laboratory cage, where she may have seen “A N/A” on documents referring to her as Test Subject A with no assigned name.
However, more positive interpretations arose as well. Some noted that she was called “Anya” by scientists when Loid first met her, indicating it was likely her existing name from before the lab.
She may have simply not known the typical spelling. Since Anya is an international name spelled differently across cultures, like “Ania” in Poland and “Anya” in Russia, she spelled it phonetically on her own at first.
Additionally, when Loid corrected her spelling early on, he may have unintentionally given her a new form of the name without realizing it.
This would explain why we later see Anya lying in her room quietly saying her name to herself – because it was given to her by her new adoptive family, representing a fresh start.
SPY x FAMILY – Short Mission: 11 is available to read for free on Viz Media.
More About Spy X Family
Tensions between the adversarial nations of Ostania and Westalis simmer just below boiling point. Warmongers on both sides constantly threaten to shatter the fragile peace and incite open warfare once more.
Determined to prevent children from enduring the horrors he witnessed, the renowned spy “Twilight” tirelessly thwarts these schemes through his covert missions.
Operating within Ostania’s bustling capital of Berlint, Twilight’s latest alias is the respected psychiatrist Dr. Loid Forger.
But his true motive is surveilling the elusive politician Donovan Desmond by getting close to Desmond’s sons at the prestigious Eden Academy. To complete his façade, Loid enlists city hall clerk Yor Briar to pose as his wife and adopts the curious 6-year-old orphan Anya as his daughter.
He plans for Anya to excel at Eden Academy, granting him access to Donovan without raising suspicions.
However, even with his talents, Loid struggles to play the role of a loving father and husband. Unbeknownst to him, Yor hides her own secrets as the underground assassin “Thorn Princess,” while young Anya is an esper who can read minds.
Though built on lies, the bonds of this family gradually become genuine. As the Forgers come to understand that their love for each other outweighs their deceptions, they find themselves no longer pretending but truly caring as father, mother, and daughter.
