Based on a series of light novels by Isuna Hasekura, the series revolves around Lawrence Craft, a young merchant who travels the world selling his wares to make a living and eventually open his own shop. One night, he finds a wolf goddess sleeping in his wagon, complete with animal ears and a tail, named Holo. She is the local village's goddess of harvest, but recently she's been wanting to go back to her homeland as well as see how the world has changed since she's been away. Together, these two unlikely companions travel together and, amid a torrent of fantastic adventures and trials of endurance, they become closer in ways neither could dream of. This is the story of Spice and Wolf.
Highlights:
The first season of the series is full of nature, romance, and the drama of politics and economics. Oh, and there's a wolf goddess who really likes apples. Interested yet? Good! From the moment that peddler Lawrence Craft meets the wolf girl Holo naked in his cart, his usual travels become a lot more adventurous. As they venture to the northern lands to take Holo back to her homeland, they run into a bevy of colorful characters, from the womanizing merchant Weiz to the soft-spoken shepardess Nora. They also get into a bevy of difficult circumstances: people lurk around every corner trying to scam them; sales fall through and almost leave them penniless; the constant presence of the church keeps Holo from being truly free; the threat of mercenaries and wolves lurking on the roads leading to town — not to mention the troubles of getting some delicious apples to eat for Holo! As Lawrence teaches Holo the basics of microeconomics and Holo teaches Lawrence about the ways of wolves and the wild, the unusual bond between the two travelers only become stronger in the face of constant danger — and the debt Holo owes to Lawrence only continues to grow.
Overall:
There is only one word that can describe Spice and Wolf with any accuracy, and that is magical. This is a world where wolves live among humans in their own guise, both metaphorically and literally, where the worlds of free market and church doctrine meet to create a sense of drama like no other. At the center of it is Lawrence and Holo, an unlikely duo that travel together, trade together, and scheme together to get themselves out of their many daily troubles. It is clear that they are attracted to each other, but so many things stand in the way, like Laurence's stubborn streak and Holo's "other"-ness, not to mention all the social mores of their time would have a fit if anything remotely solid happened between them. But they work so well together, you cannot help but cheer for their relationship, fractures and all.
As for the series itself, it is a beautiful story that clearly cannot be contained in one season. The series of seemingly unconnected viganettes weave together through the thirteen episodes to create a remarkable season finale that will please any fan. The art is absolutely gorgeous, and so is the music — the ending theme in general, with its fun lyrics and breathy and upbeat vocals, will become an instant earworm. No, this series is not the absolute best anime ever, but it is truly a gem in a sea of recent releases, a gem that everyone should give a try. Who knows? You may find yourself pleasantly enchanted by its charm.
Extras:
The slim set of two discs comes with textless opening and endless trailers. There are also trailers for Funimation's upcoming releases, a lot of them complete series and Blu-Ray versions of earlier licenses (like Tsubasa and Gunslinger Girl). The dub track is standard fare for the company, with the cast doing a fairly decent job of matching their Japanese counterparts as well as offering their own spins on the characters' lines. Brina Palencia for one does an outstanding job as Holo, showcasing the haughty austereness of the wolf girl's character.
ComicsOnline gives Spice and Wolf season one 5 out of 5 pickled peaches in honey.
