Spy x Family Deepened Its Lore With One Small Detail that Has Big Implications

The Spy x Family manga series has become one of the most popular and beloved by anime fans in record time. This overwhelming success is often attributed to its lovable characters, intriguing lore, and unique setting. With each new chapter that is released, the already complex backstory of the series becomes more entertaining for readers to decipher. The fact that the author, Tatsuya Endo, enjoys hiding small and often emotional details throughout Spy x Family that improve the story is an amazing bonus.

One of these secret Easter eggs has been mostly overlooked by fans, even though it could help readers better understand the context of the manga. As Yuri tries to cross the street in chapter #89, a small but widely-known symbol of East Germany can be seen depicted on the page. This addition further confirms the theory that Spy x Family takes place in Cold War Germany.

Chapter #89’s Stop Light Hides an Important Detail

The Symbol Used Is Directly Tied With Socialist Germany

In chapter #89 of the Spy x Family manga, Yuri Briar can be seen lamenting the fact that Yor seems to show more affection to her husband Loid than to him. His depressed state makes him ignore the fact that the stop light is shining a bright red, warning him that it is not safe to cross. This scene ends up with a hilariously injured Yuri acting as if nothing had happened and continuing his way, proving he could be just as strong as Spy x Family's leading lady, Yor. Nonetheless, when examined closely, fans can discover a hidden symbol added by Endo.

The figures used in the stop lights do not seem to be inspired by the ones readers are used to seeing in modern days. Instead, they are directly taken from East Germany, the Soviet-controlled side of the nation during the Cold War. These icons, known as Ampelmännchen, were commonly used to tell pedestrians when it was safe for them to cross. This symbol depicts a male wearing a hat, either walking while reading a newspaper to indicate citizens could cross or with his arms spread to alert danger.

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The fact that this unique icon was included in the Spy x Family manga can be interpreted as a hint added by Endo intentionally to signify the period the series takes place in. While it has been widely agreed among fans that the series occurs in an alternate universe where Germany was divided into Ostania and Westalis, this has never been officially confirmed. The Ampelmännchen could have been the author’s way to subtly hint that this was always the intended idea.

Spy X Family’s Time Period Could Help Predict What Comes Next

The Author Could Have Based His Story on Real-Life Events

Although the inclusion of an East German pedestrian sign might not seem like the most earth-shattering revelation in history, it does prove that the author was inspired by the times to write his story. This might imply that his characters, such as Donovan Desmond and his lackeys, were inspired by real-life figures. As such, by studying the events that took place during the existence of East Germany, fans could predict what plans Endo has for the story of Spy x Family. It might even be possible to figure out what Desmond’s big evil plans are before the manga reveals them.