Being an anime fan, it’s easy to assume everyanime-based movie is — by nature — non-canon. I mean, with almost everyDragon Ballfilm (sans the more recentDragon Ball Superfilms), everyOne Piecefilm, and nearly everyNarutofilm all being non-canonical, it’s a fair conclusion to make.
When it comes to SPY x FAMILY Code: White, those conclusions around canon may be a little harder to draw. However, understanding how those creators and their communities view additional media is part of this process.
Is SPY x FAMILY Code: White canon?
So, the answer is a bit complicated because it depends on how tough you’re willing to be when judging canonicity. It would seemCode: Whiteis telling an original story written by mangaka Tatsuya Endo, who is “also supervising the film alongside creating the original character designs for the new characters,” according toCrunchyroll News. Taking this into account, I would call it partially canon.
But, if your personal definition of the word canon is so strict that it requires the story being told to be one initially presented in the manga, then you’d probably considerCode: Whitenon-canonical. In any case, it’s quite possible that theSPY x FAMILYanime and/or manga will reference characters or events from Code: White in subsequent seasons, as bothOne PieceandMy Hero Academiahave done. So, you should still make plans to go see the film when it comes to western theaters, courtesy of Crunchyroll.
How do we determine canon?
For those anime fans who’re out of the loop, a story is considered non-canon if it doesn’t fit into the main series’ timeline for any reason; this usually occurs if the mangaka / manga author isn’t involved in writing the story’s plot. In some cases, the mangaka takes on a supervisory role, and the canonicity of these stories varies on a case-by-case basis.
For example, despite Eiichiro Oda’s involvement inOne Piece Film RED, it’s impossible for it to be considered canon due to it being a mish-mash of different arcs and story beats. So, that explanation considered, perhaps you understand our feelings onSPY x FAMILY Code: White, but now you’ve got what you need to make those judgements, too.
