Anime Review: Spice and Wolf

[Asturiel]

I should probably finish this, started a few episodes then wanted to do something else.

I do like the idea they went with though, so im going to commit myself to finishing it to support them.
[sub] As I illegally download the episodes and watch them thats supporting right?[/sub]

 

[John Funk]

so is this the guy the chose for the new anime reviewer with the contest and every thing or what.

maybe if he reviews a good actiony type anime i will watch it. because i always kind of wanted to watch an anime

No, Josh was one of the original five reviewers.

 

[The Philistine]

I've watched this and to tell you the truth i can't understand the almost fanatic cult following this series has. When you say this anime is bad, the immediate defense from the throngs of anime enthusiast will jump down your throat.

I enjoyed it but it really doesn't deserve its status as a 'great' anime. All i got out of it was that this was a lesson in medieval barter economics.

But yes the characters are really flushed out compared to many anime. So what is said i totally agree with.

p.s. If you watch anime then im sure you came across the Phrase "penis butterfly" well this is where it came from. The ending song 'Ringo Biyori' is sung in terrible engrish and in one part it sounds like the artist from Rocky Chack says 'penis butterfly'

I think alot of the reason you see anime veterans loving the series is how different from the usual dross and trope. It's a refreshing series that doesn't play down to the audience, doesn't try to take on too much at a time, and takes time to thoroughly develop the characters.

It can be somewhat slow and definitely isn't for someone looking for a fast passed or brain teasing show.

By the way, it's "peanut butterfly." You'd have to be listening to some terrible sound quality to mishear that.

 

[Kilo24]

Heh. I was pleasantly surprised to randomly see this reviewed.

A fairly good review, though I disagreed with the overall assessment. I personally really liked the economics focus on a wandering merchant, because it's well done and so rare among shows. There's also a number of other things which are very interesting about the anime, one that the fantasy elements are not the single focus of it, another being a decently accurate medieval depiction, and focusing less on endless fighting and more on characterization and economic concerns.

I disagree that it isn't groundbreaking, myself. It just isn't what you would expect from most anime. And that the economics focus can still put people to sleep despite being pretty well handled.

It is my favorite anime of the few that I fully watched (and the many I heard about but didn't care to watch.)

 

[DTWolfwood]

By the way, it's "peanut butterfly." You'd have to be listening to some terrible sound quality to mishear that.

yes but there in lies the joke. you have to listen closely. and the fact it will make you do a double take once some1 has suggested it sounds like 'penis butterfly' is what makes it funny. First time around if u didnt know the lyric u would never hear peanut since she sings with a english lisp XD

 

[Composer]

watched both seasons.cant wait for the third. enjoyed the extra "workout" videos they made me cqtm

 

[The Philistine]

By the way, it's "peanut butterfly." You'd have to be listening to some terrible sound quality to mishear that.

yes but there in lies the joke. you have to listen closely. and the fact it will make you do a double take once some1 has suggested it sounds like 'penis butterfly' is what makes it funny. First time around if u didnt know the lyric u would never hear peanut since she sings with a english lisp XD

I've always heard it as "peanut" with or without subtitles.

 

[DTWolfwood]

I've always heard it as "peanut" with or without subtitles.

good for you Buzz Killington

 

[hightide]

Whats with all the economic talk hate??? Is it any different than, "that guy ordered your brother to kill your whole clan" BS in action animes? You don't even have to understand it, just know what they are trying to do is enough. (rant done)

Good banter, cute, and funny. Surprised I liked it cause I can't stand the mediocre romantic stuff that is aimed at women, So, it must be good right?

 

[Gigano]

Sounds very interesting. Season 1 Ordered.

I don't mind slow pacing or a dimension of academic concepts, and believable character interaction, medieval intrigue, and the evils of organized religion is something I could definitely get into.

If nothing else It'll contrast Slayers nicely for when I'm not feeling up for plain dumb wacky destruction.

 

[tyranuus]

I can get why people dont like Spice and Wolf...but I loved it. I'm not a huge anime fan, but there's something so different and sincere about this series, if you appreciate an intelligent story, a subtle (usually) romance and a little wit and humour thrown in, then it's brilliant. Not to mention the two main characters are actually surprisingly deep, depending on the way you read things, and take things in, or notice little bits and pieces, overall the portrayal, and characterisations are very human.
There's something about the series that is just deeply charming.
I agree though, watching this in small blocks is probably a better way to appreciate the series than watching them heavily spread apart, as sometimes references and bits and pieces won't be so obvious after a while unless you have a highly photographic memory.

It's not a fast anime, but then it's not trying to be. Personally its my absolute favourite anime for this, and its the first one I've ever bothered buying rather than renting.
The second series is even slower in some ways, but is a more dramatic series for it, it really made for tense viewing at some points.

I can't wait for a 3rd series or the books to be translated, because they left me wanting to know what happened to the characters more than any other anime series I've ever seen, and I actually mean that.

PS. Please dont judge the characters or the interaction of the series on the first few episodes, as they're literally based on the beginning of the first book and this portion of the story deliberately shows more restrained interaction between the two characters, because...well they don't really know or understand each other yet (something that is highlighted in episode 2). From episode 3/4 and beyond, the interaction just gets better and better.

I'd also highly recommend the original Japanese audio tracks over the English ones. The english voice actors have done a decent job of trying to pick up the characters and the translation work actually doesn't seem bad at all, but the original japanese voice work just carries a much greater level and range of emotion or depth to it that the English can't quite keep up with, and Horo/Holo's characterisation especially loses out in this.
That's coming from someone who can't understand any Japanese either!

 

[MassuguGo]

I can get why people dont like Spice and Wolf...
...
It's not a fast anime, but then it's not trying to be.

Too many people got into anime via Shonen or other fast-paced, high-action style shows. It has humor, but its subtle (not Sit-com/slapstick) and requires a bit of taste to appreciate.

I can't wait for ... the books to be translated
...
I'd also highly recommend the original Japanese audio

"spice and wolf vol. 1" on amazon might be a good thing to check out. Try vol. 2 as well And yea, the original Japanese audio is much better.

 

[winnkey]

ok -_- wtf!!! this is an amazing series. It may not be the usual anime style with big swords, big boobs and immature characters, its different. and I love it. It is a subtle blend of the elements they wished to add, each supporting the other element and making sure not to over power.

 

[tyranuus]

I can get why people dont like Spice and Wolf...
...
It's not a fast anime, but then it's not trying to be.

Too many people got into anime via Shonen or other fast-paced, high-action style shows. It has humor, but its subtle (not Sit-com/slapstick) and requires a bit of taste to appreciate.

I can't wait for ... the books to be translated
...
I'd also highly recommend the original Japanese audio

"spice and wolf vol. 1" on amazon might be a good thing to check out. Try vol. 2 as well And yea, the original Japanese audio is much better.

Yep, I actually enjoyed some of the humour, a couple of good bits in the second season too. Again, I get why people wouldnt like the first series, I really do, and its obviously not going to be for everyone, but the characters and dialogue make it very worthwhile, theres a lot of subtlety to be appreciated. In some sense its a bit of a "Marmite" series, it seems to be a case of you either really just don't 'get' it, or you really do like it. I personally fall into the latter crowd, to the point its the only anime I've ever actually bought rather than renting it or borrowing from a friend, I've got a very big soft spot for the series, and Im not a big anime/manga fan.

I've already got the first book (well two copies, one with the special edition slip cover and one without which my brother has now claimed, Im in the UK and you couldnt get the first one here without importing), and have had the 2nd on preorder for a few months now, it's not due til June, however I meant I cannot wait for the ENTIRE series to be translated, the whole story. I know the Japanese series isn't finished yet, but they're released more frequently than the english translation, and from what I hear the series is beginning to come to a close over there, and will probably end in the next few books.

In some ways the second anime series is worse than the first, but in other ways, the second season is even better. Its only available subbed right now until Funimation pick it up for licensing, but its definately worth a watch as well if you enjoy the first season. Its definately an emotional ride

 

[MurderousToaster]

Now, that sounds interesting. I'd say I'd have to check this one out just for how interesting it sounds, but I tend to think that whenever I visit an Anime Review thing, and I never actually check any of them out at all, due to either laziness or a lack of time on my hands.

 

[tyranuus]

For anyone in the states debating whether to watch this, its on Hulu as a streamable series, although I highly recommend buying the DVD to support the series and its continued translation if you do enjoy it.

Not usable by people outside the US like me of course.

 

[sageoftruth]

I've seen 6 episodes so far. I'm wondering if I should have my father watch it with me. He's an investment manager, and I'm amused to find myself watching an anime that could probably speak to him.

 

[Chrinik]

I can get why people dont like Spice and Wolf...but I loved it. I'm not a huge anime fan, but there's something so different and sincere about this series, if you appreciate an intelligent story, a subtle (usually) romance and a little wit and humour thrown in, then it's brilliant. Not to mention the two main characters are actually surprisingly deep, depending on the way you read things, and take things in, or notice little bits and pieces, overall the portrayal, and characterisations are very human.
There's something about the series that is just deeply charming.
I agree though, watching this in small blocks is probably a better way to appreciate the series than watching them heavily spread apart, as sometimes references and bits and pieces won't be so obvious after a while unless you have a highly photographic memory.

It's not a fast anime, but then it's not trying to be. Personally its my absolute favourite anime for this, and its the first one I've ever bothered buying rather than renting.
The second series is even slower in some ways, but is a more dramatic series for it, it really made for tense viewing at some points.

I can't wait for a 3rd series or the books to be translated, because they left me wanting to know what happened to the characters more than any other anime series I've ever seen, and I actually mean that.

PS. Please dont judge the characters or the interaction of the series on the first few episodes, as they're literally based on the beginning of the first book and this portion of the story deliberately shows more restrained interaction between the two characters, because...well they don't really know or understand each other yet (something that is highlighted in episode 2). From episode 3/4 and beyond, the interaction just gets better and better.

I'd also highly recommend the original Japanese audio tracks over the English ones. The english voice actors have done a decent job of trying to pick up the characters and the translation work actually doesn't seem bad at all, but the original japanese voice work just carries a much greater level and range of emotion or depth to it that the English can't quite keep up with, and Horo/Holo's characterisation especially loses out in this.
That's coming from someone who can't understand any Japanese either!

This totally sums up my experience with it...I had to force myself to stop watching the second season so I had some for later...the suspense almost killed me.
I hum the season one opening at work now, it is constantly in my head...gaaah.

Also, the characters actually appear very human, with human emotions, reactions to events and even motivations.
Additionally, I just feel my guts wrench when Holo is sad...she is so expressive, she doesn´t even need to say anything and you feel the need to feel sad for her just by the visuals alone. Her softer sobbing voice just makes it even worse! (talking about the japanese dub, the english I haven´t watched too much yet...but Holo´s formal speech pattern is nice. I too find her voice to sound a little tooooo mature, tho, it fits the character.)
I´m usually not the big anime fan, the last serries I watched completely was Elfenlied, but this, this fucking got me hooked to the bone. I want to know how it continues. But the english manga and books don´t even touch where the anime has left off yet, so I´m up for another year of waiting.

I also got the genuine impression that someone took the characters, written their backstorys and said "well they meet...let´s roll." and then just let it grow from there...
If it weren´t based on books.
The chick who wrote the original is a fucking god in character portrayal.

I also didn´t find the economics thing to be such a bother...it just makes the characters appear deeper. Sure it focusses alot on that, but even when Holo is in danger, and Lawrence does everything he can to save her, he usually uses all of his cunning and tradership skills to archieve that goal, rather then going in and chopping everything up like in most animes...

I really liked it, I will follow it as it goes.

BTW, special treat for me as a german, the first opening has been fan-sung in german...it is actually pretty good...and easier for me to remember the lyrics, tho the melody alone haunts me now<.<

 

[Ninonybox_v1legacy]

well up to this point i have never watched a bad anime....my first was Elfen Lied, my second was Lucky star, and now my third is Spice and Wolf.....i have found myself charmed by holo.