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Among the cast of theSpy x Familyseries, youngAnyais often regarded as one of the least intellectual. This is understanding, as her grades are often shown to be below average and her desire to study is almost non-existent. Unlike other characters like her father Loid, the young Esper has never been too fond of acquiring knowledge.
Yet, one small detail found in chapter 74 may have proven that Anya’s intellect has been severely underestimated, not only by other characters but by the fans of the series. Duringthe Red Circus arc of the series, Loid’s daughter displayed a level of intelligence beyond what followers of Tatsuya Endo’s manga are used to.
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One of the most pressing and mystifying Spy x Family questions involving the appearance of a beloved main character has finally been answered.
Anya May Be Smarter Than Fans Giver Her Credit For
The Young Girl Has Incredible Pattern Recognition and Is a Quick Thinker
The Red Circus arc of theSpy x Familymanga focused primarily on the hijacking of an Eden Academy bus that Anya and her class were aboard. The members of the titular terrorist organization wanted to force the Ostanian government to listen to their demands by taking hostage the children of some of the country’s most influential individuals. The situation was tense, with the arc often considered as one of the most shocking in the entire series. If not forAnya’s amazingly powerful ability to read minds, this event could have possibly ended in a tragedy.
Anya’s mind-reading powers were fundamental in keeping the criminals under control, while also giving the authorities enough time to devise a plan to save the children. By pretending to be a clueless and bold child, Anya stunned the Red Circus members while keeping her classmates safe. The young Esper did an incredibly impressive job manipulating the terrorists, despite her young age. Anya demonstrated advanced pattern recognition, especially in chapter 74. The young girl noticed that while the children were eating earlier in the day, the Red Circus members and the police stopped trying to harm each other.
She concluded that her best chance to prevent a tragedy inside the bus was to ask the terrorists for more food. While her plan did not work as intended, it did highlight how much more developed her mind is than first imagined.Children of Anya’s age tend to not have a particularly high level of pattern recognition, something the pink-haired girl does possess. Seeing as the girl also utilized her mind-reading abilities to dissuade the terrorists from exploding the bus, this single chapter may have been Endo’s way of proving that Anya is indeed a smart but unmotivated kid.
Anya’s Lack Of Motivation to Study May Be Caused by Childhood Trauma
The Scientists Who Experimented on Her May Have Caused Her To Abhor Studying
One of the first traits of Anya’s personality presented in theSpy x Familyseries is the deep trauma caused bythe scientists who gave her powers. These cold and unfeeling individuals saw the young girl as nothing more than a test subject, often forcing her to complete tasks that the Forgers’ daughter did not want to. In episode 1 of the anime,Anya has a flashback in which she remembers how the scientists forced her to study while she cried. This memory was shown moments after Loid asked his daughter to study for the upcoming Eden Academy entrance exam.
This moment heavily implies that Anya’s dislike for studying and school is nothing more than a trauma response. The pink-haired girl may have unconsciously associated studying with the fear instilled in her by those cruel scientists.Spy x Family short mission 11also reveals that Anya was not formally educated before meeting Loid, seeing as she did not know how to write her name. Since Anya was never properly taught, she struggles immensely during class, as she does not know the basis of the topics she is learning about.
While it is also true that Anyal does not have a stellar attention span, it has been demonstrated several times thatshe can be quite brilliant when she wants. In chapter 93, Anya was revealed to have been the second-highest-scoring student in her year in Classical Language. She achieved this monumental feat all by herself, without relying on her powers to do so. The young Esper may not be the best student or a natural-born scholar, but she does possess a high intellect. If not for her trauma, Anya would have a much easier time completing Operation Strix.
As theSpy x Familyseries progresses, the youngest Forger will continue growing and becoming an upstanding young woman. With the help of her parents and friends,Anyawill likely one day rid herself of the trauma she was given as a child. Endo has already demonstrated how smart she can be, and her intelligence will only keep growing as time passes.
Spy x Family
Cast
Created by Tatsuya Endo, Spy X Family is an action-adventure comedy anime that follows the misadventures of a found family with unique quirks. The story follows spy Twilight (known as Loid Forger), who, while on assignment, builds a fake family to get closer to his target. Unbeknownst to him, his new family carries their quirks. His wife, Yor, is a kind but deadly assassin, while his daughter, Anya, has telepathic powers - and is the only one who knows their secrets.
