| Overview |
| “ | You're a good girl. A fine child. Children like you are this nation's greatest treasure. Grow up healthy and strong. | ” |
— Sigmund Authen to Anya Forger[1]
| ||
Sigmund Authen (ジークムント・オーセン, Jīkumunto Ōsen?) is an elderly man who is the husband of Barbara Authen and the Forger family's new neighbor. Yor and Anya help him get home after he gets lost in the city. He was a university lecturer during his prime, specializing in neurology but dabbled in cultural anthropology.
Appearance[]
Sigmund is a short, elderly man with heavy wrinkles, being about a head taller than Anya. His hair is receding and messy, and he has a big, bushy beard. Sigmund also has thick, drooping eyebrows alongside round-framed glasses with a high bridge.
Sigmund typically wears a cardigan over a V-neck sweater, which he wears a collared shirt underneath.
Personality[]
Sigmund and Anya's common joy in their lesson
Despite his aging memory and being past his prime, Sigmund is still quite an intelligent man and can effectively teach others. Sigmund has a passion for learning, believing that it is one of the fundamental joys of being human, and he wishes to learn as much as he can. He shares this passion with those he teaches, as he shows them the importance of finding the joys of learning by making their lessons palatable to them in a way they can understand the material and also make it fun for them. Also, Sigmund does not skimp on praise when he sees the student's progress in their studies. During the lessons with Anya, he approves her progress with words or a tousling the child's hair affectionately, believing that she is doing a hard job.
It also seems Sigmund hopes for a peaceful future for Ostania after the wars. He has a soft side for children and the belief that they are his nation's greatest treasure.
History[]
Sigmund is a highly regarded scholar and mainly worked in neurology. He also dabbled in other subjects like cultural anthropology and claims to have once toured the world to study local folk remedies as a fieldwork project. In his prime, Sigmund was a university professor and taught neurology and other subjects in Berlint, where he lived for a long time. At some point in his younger years, he married his wife, Barbara, and the two had a son.
Sigmund appears to have lived through both wars between the East and West. While walking through the district where his university is, he vividly remembers how the district was hit hard by the war and how the people reacted during those dark times. During the second war, Sigmund and Barbara went to Covenia, where Sigmund helped rehabilitate wounded soldiers. The couple eventually moved to the region for work, but when it came time to retire, they decided to return to Berlint to be closer to their son and his family.
Synopsis[]
Term Finals Arc[]
Sigmund gets lost at the park
Sigmund and Barbara move to 128 Park Avenue in the unit next to the Forger family. While moving in, Sigmund leaves to do some shopping at the market. On the way there, he starts craving sweets and buys some at the nearby candy shop. However, because of his poor memory, Sigmund forgets his task and wanders to a park. Realizing he is lost, he resigns himself to feeding his sweets to the pigeons. Sigmund does not stay for long, as he gets chased away by two boys who believe he is a suspicious spy. Sigmund eventually returns to the park and enters the playground, which he believes is his home. After getting stuck on the log bridge, Sigmund quickly comes to his senses and panics. After Yor helps him down, Sigmund explains to her and Anya that he cannot return home as he is unable to remember anything.
Yor tries to help him jog his memory, but Sigmund cannot think of any helpful information when Anya reads his mind. Yor asks if Sigmund has anything on him that could help, prompting the old man to dig through his pocket and find a shopping list. Sigmund loudly shouts "Eureka!" as he remembers his shopping plan, so the Forgers decide to take him to the nearest marketplace. Before they go, Sigmund begins mumbling about how to repay the family and contemplates adding them to his will. Reading his mind, Anya tells Yor what Sigmund mentioned, but Yor politely declines.
Yor, Anya, Bond, and Sigmund run from a mafia after accidentally walking in on them
At the marketplace, Sigmund buys his groceries. As the group walks around the place together, Sigmund looks around and comments on how much the area has changed over the years. He then reveals that he used to teach at the university nearby and mumbles how badly it was affected during the war. As the group walks around the market, Anya continues reading Sigmund's thoughts to help guide Yor to places they should check out, but they end up back at the park. They try again but find themselves at a mafia branch office, where the members mistake them for enemies and begin shooting at them, but Yor quickly carries everyone away. After getting away, Sigmund goes to a flower shop after smelling Barbara's favorite flowers, but Yor stops him. Following his and Anya's directions one more time, the group goes to the top of a tower, with Sigmund insisting that his apartment is here.
Sigmund buys Anya waffles
They eventually sit down to rest, and Sigmund becomes gloomy for causing the family so much trouble. However, Anya tells him she had fun in this "adventure." Sigmund thanks Anya for not mocking his failings and buys her a waffle, mentioning that he sees her like a granddaughter. After Anya gets her waffle, Sigmund puts his wallet back in his pocket, and Yor notices a piece of paper fall from it. After seeing that it is a coupon, Anya proudly reveals that it is a winning ticket from the raffle at the candy shop she goes to. Sigmund remembers that he went to the candy shops, giving the group a clue to the location of his home. Bond suddenly goes off on his own, and Yor, deducing that he found the man's scent trail, follows after him with the others.
The group arrives at their apartment, which Sigmund says is his home, but a dumbfounded Yor believes he is mistaken. To everyone's surprise, a door opens to reveal Barbara with Loid, who has been helping her move in. Sigmund happily reunites with Barbara, who is confused about where he has been. After Loid explains the situation, Sigmund and Yor are surprised to be neighbors. The Authens introduce themselves to the Forgers, who welcome them to the neighborhood. To apologize to Barbara, Sigmund gifts her flowers that he managed to get during his journey. Barbara accepts his apology, and the two begin to flirt affectionately as the Forgers watch.[2]
The Authens meet the Forgers in the morning
One morning, the Authens reunite with Yor and Anya, who are off to have their respective days. Upon seeing her school uniform, the pair learn that Anya is a student at Eden Academy. Sigmund then comments that Yor is going to work early, to which Yor responds that she will be helping hold an event at the city square. Barbara recognizes the event as the charity bazaar for disabled veterans, and Yor invites them to come. Sigmund expresses support but begins muttering about bringing a lunch, which Anya relays to Yor.[3]
As Anya and Loid prepare for the former's term finals, they get a surprise visit from the Authens, who invite the Forgers over to have cookies and get to know them better. Noticing that Anya is in the middle of studying, Sigmunds suggests taking a break, and Lois accepts their invitation. At the Authens' home, the neighbors chat over cookies. Loid brings up Sigmund's large collection of books, prompting them to talk about his time as a university professor. When Loid mentions Classical Language, Anya exclaims that her goal is to get the top grade in that subject. Sigmund offers to help Anya study, and Loid allows them.
Sigmund teaches Anya using a volume of Spy Wars
Sigmund starts by asking Anya her favorite book. Anya says Spy Wars, so Sigmund reveals the first volume of the comic to use as their textbook. At Sigmund's instruction, he and Anya repeat a Bondman quote in the classical language. When Anya makes a mistake, he teaches her how to properly use the language. Loid interjects when he thinks the lesson might be getting too complicated, but Sigmund encourages Anya to find joy in studying. As Sigmund resumes their lesson, Barbara remarks how happy he looks while teaching her.
Sigmund hugs Anya
After a fun and successful lesson with Sigmund, Anya and her parents make their leave, with Sigmund offering to teach her again. Anya accepts the offer, saying she will come every day so she can earn a Stella Star. Sigmund asks what Anya will do after she aces her exams and becomes an Imperial Scholar and what her goal is. After turning to her parents, she replies that she wants world peace. Sigmund is happy with Anya's answer and hugs her, saying that children like her are the nation's greatest treasure. For the next few days, Sigmund assists Anya with her studies to get the top grade in Classical Language. On the day of the exams, a rugged Anya tells the Authens that she will bring back Stellas, and the two cheer her on.[1]
Sigmund denies talking to Anya about his estate
When the exam results are announced, Anya is overjoyed to learn that she got a Stella Star after earning second place in Classical Language (and shocked to be getting a Tonitrus after failing her Math exam). At home, Anya is congratulated for her achievement by her parents and the Authens, with Sigmund saying that Anya has now learned the joy of being rewarded for hard work, which he says is more valuable than Stella. He adds that Anya will one day experience the frustration of not all hard work being rewarded, but says that learning it is also a treasure. Anya misunderstands his statement and asks if this treasure is him willing his estate, which Sigmund says he did not say at all.[4]
Abilities and Skills[]
Teaching: Due to his background in neurology and his exploration of other fields, Sigmund's experience in both academic and fieldwork settings gave him impressing teaching skills, becoming an university professor. He later helps study Anya classical language, and thanks to his knowledge and interactive way of explaining the subject, Anya gets a high score and even is awarded with a Stella.
Weaknesses[]
Age: Due to his old age, Sigmund's memory is not very good. He is very forgetful, not being able to remember recent details such as the address of the home he recently moved into and tasks he planned to do for the day. However, Sigmund seems to remember his past a bit more, recalling his experiences in the wars quite vividly.
Relationships[]
Barbara Authen[]
The Forgers watch Sigmund and Barbara flirting together
Barbara is Sigmund's wife. Sigmund greatly cherishes her, thinking of and missing her when he gets lost in their new neighborhood, even bringing her flowers as an apology when they reunite. Due to his poor memory, Sigmund often looks to Barbara for clarification or correction on past events or people's names. When they were younger, Sigmund used to be away from home all the time due to his work, though this did not appear to strain their relationship. The two are quite flirtatious, not minding to show off how affectionate they are in public. Sigmund and Barbara have a son together and have moved to Berlint to be closer to him and his family.
Anya Forger[]
Sigmund, nicknamed "Grandpa Siggy" by Anya, is the little girl's elderly neighbor. The two first meet when Sigmund gets lost in the park shortly after moving into 128 Park Avenue. As the Forgers try to help Sigmund get back home, Anya acts as his interpreter for Yor when he begins mumbling, though she often tends to misunderstand what he says. During their search, Sigmund is grateful that Anya does not make fun of him for his failings and begins seeing Anya as a granddaughter, doting on her as such.
Sigmund approves of Anya's progress in their lesson
Sigmund later becomes Anya's Classical Language tutor in preparation for her term finals. He teaches her the joy of studying, using her favorite series as their textbook, and does not forget to praise her for her progress. Sigmund later asks Anya what her ultimate goal is after her school achievements, and she answers "world peace," which greatly satisfies him. Anya earns a Stella Star from her Classical Language grades, Sigmund and Barbara sincerely congratulate the young girl.
However, despite his good-natured attitude towards Anya, Sigmund also tends to be judgmental when he thinks that she says unacceptable things. For example, when Anya believes that Sigmund will give her a lot of money.
Chapter Appearances[]
| Mission 90 | Debut |
| Mission 91 | Appears |
| Mission 92 | Appears |
| Mission 93 | Appears |
| Mission 94 | Absent |
| Mission 95 | Absent |
| Mission 96 | Absent |
Trivia[]
(Top left) Design concepts for Sigmund
- During the original sketches, one of Sigmund's nicknames was "Grandpa Clay."
- Compared to Barbara, Sigmund's designs had less trial and error, with the only notable changes being alternative hairstyles and him not wearing glasses.
- The first part of Sigmund's name in Japanese, (ジー, Jī?), is a pun of (じじ, Jiji?), an informal word for Grandpa.
- After their meeting, Anya starts calling him "Grandpa Sigmund," or "Grandpa Siggy" (ジーじじ, Jī jiji?).
- Sigmund Authen is likely based off of Austrian neurologist Sigmund Freud, who stayed in Berlin for a significant portion of his life.
Quotes[]
- (To Anya): "And now you've learned the joy of being rewarded for hard work. That's a treasure greater than even a Stella. And one day you'll experience the frustration of realizing that hard work is not always rewarded. But learning that is a treasure as well."[5]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 SPY x FAMILY Manga: Chapter 92.
- ↑ SPY x FAMILY Manga: Chapter 90.
- ↑ SPY x FAMILY Manga: Chapter 91.
- ↑ SPY x FAMILY Manga: Chapter 93.
- ↑ SPY x FAMILY Manga: Chapter 93 (p. 10).