Was Spy x Family's Popularity Just a Passing Fad?

Summary:

• Spy x Family was one of the most popular anime when it released its first season — but its popularity is slowly dwindling.
• The complaints don’t come from the animation, which is better than ever.
• Spy x Family is mostly a lighthearted sitcom, the formula of which became tiring to most otaku.

Spy x Family was the most popular new anime of its season. Releasing in two parts in 2022, it spawned a ton of hype and memes (mostly of Anya, who was definitely its most popular character) — and it was naturally expected that the second season would be as much of a hit. And yes, people are still watching the anime — but unlike the first season, it isn’t competing for the top spots of any rankings anymore. What went wrong with the sequel?

Season 2 is visually impressive

It might actually be perplexing to some watchers — the second season’s production, for example, is nothing short of impressive. The first season’s visuals were already great — and in the sequel, it is even better. For a series with such an amazing production, it might be weird that it’s not so well-received among the otaku — however, the poorer reception doesn’t come from Spy x Family’s visuals. In general, fans have no issues with how the anime looks or sounds — the actual apparent problems come from its content.

Fans are getting tired of Spy x Family’s lighthearted tone

Many fans have been growing more and more tired of Spy x Family’s sitcom formula. There’s nothing exactly wrong with it — however, it might not be what many fans expected. The concept behind the anime is quite serious, with two agents trying to combine their job with raising a child — and there’s a lot of potential behind that premise. While there’s a lot of unexplored aspects in the show, many fans think that the show is not addressing them enough. As such, the show’s popularity with the otaku has been steadily dwindling.

Does the anime have a future potential?

Could Spy x Family regain its popularity in the future? Potentially, yes, but it would require exceptional circumstances. Right now, there’s no announcement of any sequel — while there is a movie releasing this month, it’s not a sequel, and probably not going to address any of the issues otaku have with it.

Anime fans are not very used to watching sitcoms — the format isn’t very popular in Japan, and Spy x Family might be one of the only examples nowadays. Can it popularize the genre? Maybe, but don’t bet on it. Its popularity mostly came from its unique premise, and with its third cour finishing this season, it doesn’t seem like the show’s format changed much since its first episode. Yes, it is good at what it is doing, but it might have become just a little too repetitive to be one of the most beloved anime of the season.