Spy x Family has easily become one of the most alluring anime series in Spring 2022. Of all its traits, audiences particularly enjoyed the interesting situations that occurred based on the series's setting as they follow the spy-filled adventures of the Forger family. The world is divided between two nations: Westalis and Ostania, with the former being more democratic.
However, the plot in the Spy x Family anime primarily occurs in the nation of Ostania. Between its tyrannical model of government and traditionalist culture, Ostania is the polar opposite of its neighbor Westalis (which is the home of Loid Forger and WISE). Yet even Ostania has a lot of secrets hiding in its fields, from hidden organizations working in the background to a classic love of the arts.
6 Ostania Is Located In The East
The People’s Republic of Ostania is located to the east of Westalis. As its name implies, it derives a lot of its culture and geography from Communist states during the Cold War, especially East Germany.
Similarly, the story of Spy x Family takes place in Berlint, the capital city of Ostania. In addition to the capital, Ostania is also shown to have sprawling countryside and a large enough port to hold cruise ships, as show during the Cruise Arc in the Spy x Family manga.
5 Ostania Is A Center Of Traditional Arts
Interestingly, Ostania has shown itself to be a center of traditional culture. The capital city of Berlint has a variety of traditional arts, including a large opera house and art museums. These come in addition to a large aquarium, all of which were all places that the Forgers took Anya to before entering school (in order to become more like the upper class).
The city also features a clear divide between the lower class and upper-class families, with upper-class children attending the Eden Academy. This academy is where the story largely takes place, as Anya attempts to get closer to her classmates (particularly Damian Desmond, whose family is suspected of warmongering). Nonetheless, having grown up in an orphanage, there is a lot for Anya to learn about getting along with her upper-class peers.
4 Ostania And The War
Though many have very different theories about who started the conflict (some even suggesting that a third country is involved), Westalis and Ostania fought each other in a war prior to the events of Spy x Family. Based on the backstory of Twilight, the war started when Ostania invaded Westalis.
Now with the war concluded, Spy x Family focuses on Twilight's mission to keep the peace between his country and Ostania. However, Ostanian parties, like the Desmond Family's National Unity Party, seem to have a terrible impression of Westalis based on the events of the war. This has been the main motivating factor in the actions of WISE in Operation Strix, the mission that lead to the creation of the Forger family.
3 Yor & Anya Are From Ostania
The vast majority of Spy x Family occurs in Ostania, so it should come as no surprise that most characters are from the nation. Among the anime’s main characters, both Yor and Anya Forger grew up in Ostania. Yor has been confirmed to have been from the nation’s countryside, living with her brother Yuri, while Anya was adopted from an Ostanian orphanage.
The vast majority of antagonists in the series also come from Ostania, between both government and organized crime organizations. A variety of beloved side characters also come from the nation, including Damian Desmond, Becky Blackbell, and Franky Franklin.
2 The Stasi Is Ostania’s Secret Police
While WISE is the spy circle in Westalis, their counterpart in Ostania is the secret police service, nicknamed the Stasi. The organization is a part of the government’s Ministry of State Security and acts as a testament to Ostania’s authoritarian system (also a common theme in dystopian movies) — the organization is commonly feared by the anti-government activists and local civilians alike.
The organization is noted for its brutal methods of receiving information, mimicking the behavior of its real-world inspiration, the Stasi in East Germany — the organization has gone as far as 24/7 surveillance of anti-government journalists to more brutal forms of interrogation. The most prevalent member of the Stasi in Spy x Family is Yuri Briar, the brother of Yor Forger.
1 Garden Is Located In Ostania
In addition to the Stasi, the Garden is another major secret organization from Ostania. An undercover circle of assassins, Garden is responsible for the deaths of many corrupt officials in Ostania (much like in the Akame ga Kill anime and manga).
Garden is known for its highly efficient personnel, situated in high positions in the Ostanian government. With high level skills, Garden has successfully assassinated mafia bosses, corrupt government officials, and many other targets (all while remaining a mystery to both Westalian intelligence and the Stasi). The most well-known member of Garden in Spy x Family is Yor Forger.
Spy x Family was released during the Spring 2022 season.