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Spice and Wolf: Season One




  • Extend and Blue Seed ) , music by Yuuji Yoshino ( . Hack / Legend of the Twilight , Brigadoon , Marie & Gali ) , character designs by Kazuya Kuroda ( Sakura Wars , Sora no Iro , Mizu no Iro , Vandread , Aki Sora ) and art direction by Toshihiro Kohama ( Solty Rei , SaiKano , Heroic Age ) . Spice and Wolf - The Complete Series comes with episodes 1 - 13 on two DVD discs . VIDEO & AUDIO : Spice and Wolf is presented in 16 : 9 with animation by Imagin Co , Ltd . ( known for working on animation for Hit wo Nerae ! , Eyeshield 21 , The Cosmopolitan Prayers ) . One thing that will catch your eye is how beautiful the artist backgrounds are . There is plenty amount of detail put into the art . From the walls of a building , the trees in the background , lush green or yellow lands , the wood , the ground , you name it . . . the artist definitely did a wonderful job on this television series . As for character designs , the designs by Kazuya Kuroda are quite faithful to Ju Ayakura's illustrations . Many television series tend to not have much time to add detail to an anime series but with Imagin Co . , Ltd . being a smaller anime production house , they definitely put in a lot of work in bringing this world of where Spice and Wolf takes place to life . Audio is presented in English 5.1 Dolby Digital Sound and Japanese stereo . Voice acting for both the English and Japanese dub are done very well but one thing that I liked about the English dub was Brina Palencia's take on the character Holo . She gives Holo this mature , serious but also flirtatious style that is really well done . For the most part , the series is front and center channel driven as the series is primarily dialogue driven . Spice and Wolf does have its share of action but action sequences happen once in a while , the anime series is definitely more plot driven . There is use of music that plays in the background but its more subtle than anything . Subtitles are in English . SPECIAL FEATURES : Spice and Wolf - The Complete First Season comes with the clean opening and ending themes and FUNimation Entertainment trailers . JUDGMENT CALL : I have to admit that I was surprised by Spice and Wolf . I was expecting your somewhat usual , fantasy / comedy anime series but the anime series turned out to be quite an intriguing anime series that is quite enjoyable to see . Primarily because the series is smart and witty but rarely do you find an anime series that really gets into the heart of economics , business , money-making , peddling , bankruptcy and needless to say , Spice and Wolf definitely distinguishes itself from other anime series out there . Because of its business-driven plot , Spice and Wolf may not be a series for everyone wanting a more simpler fantasy / adventure series . The anime series focuses on the business aspect of moneymaking of that time period dealing with bartering and trying to make cash through the items one gets from town to town , the life of Lawrence the traveling merchant with a wolf deity at his side . But this is what makes this fantasy adventure so unique is that it deals with the business side that anime doesn't typically cover and I have no doubt that is why the light novel by Isuna Hasekura won an award in Japan . It's definitely a fresh and unique storyline that I have never seen in my many years of watching anime . For school advisers wanting to show this at an anime club at their school or club , although a TV 14 rated anime , there are scenes with Holo undressed . Although , her tail covers her rear most of the time and her hair covering her front side the opening episode and other episode features her undressed . They are not major nude scenes nor is there anything sex related in this series but for those who are showing this at a school setting , it's important to let you know that there are semi-nude scenes in the series . As for violence , there are some scenes near the latter half of the series that has action and does include violence but nothing that is bloody or limbs getting cut off or anything like that . For those wondering if Spice and Wolf is all about business , well the storylines do focus around the business dealings of Lawrence and various companies . But there are comedy elements and as mentioned , some action sequences which are typically used when needed but it's not going to be found on every episode , it just happens once in awhile . As for romance , well there is flirtation between Holo and Lawrence but with one being a wolf transformed to a human ( although yet keeping her wolf ears and tail ) and one being a human , I don't really know if these two can even be together or if its even possible . But you sense a sort of sadness with Holo and not that she wants to be human but there is a sense of comfort when she is around Lawrence . She seems to want him to say that he cares for her but yet jokes around with him that she was just kidding . Also , you get a sense of a jealousy from Holo when Lawrence shows attention towards other women . So , it does make you wonder where the series will take these two characters in the end . If you are looking for an anime series that is definitely different from what you've seen before , enjoyable , witty and smart , definitely give Spice and Wolf - The Complete First Season a try .
    • 001   Spice and Wolf sounds , by the description , like a typical sudden-girlfriend-appearance anime . Indeed , there are similar boy meets cute Goddess girl series out there , like Kannagi : Crazy Shrine Maidens . Spice and Wolf , however , is nothing of the sort . It is , instead , a very interesting and well-thought out period piece . The antiquated European setting is ideal for the true essence behind this anime - - economy . Lawrence and Holo make a cute pair , to be sure , but this first season only hints at a romantic development between them . Instead , the focus is on a sort of budding professional relationship . The two explore the world town by town , with interesting glimpses into different trading practices , different currencies , and different cultures . The religious presence of a Catholic-esque Church is especially intriguing . They are corrupt in trading methods but effective at spreading faith , something wholly believable . Simple observations like this are one of the things that make this series so great . Its compliment are the characters . Lawrence and Holo are always interesting , and usually funny . Holo's flirtation and Lawrence's inhibitions make for a comedic formula that rarely gets tiring . The best part about their relationship is that , unlike most anime , the audience is not forced to believe in it . The anime takes things slow , letting their relationship build like real ones do - - by shared experience . Their frustrations , fears , dreams and humor are all allowed to develop naturally . This may make it seem like there is little character development throughout the series , but there is enough to keep it going . The series of light novels , off of which this anime is based , are still being published . As such , the episodic nature of the show seems to make it come to an abrupt end . This is no problem , however , considering there is a second season already finished in Japan , with a third all but assured . It is worth the small time investment . As it is only one small part of an anticipated whole , it will not be a jaw-dropping , life-changing piece of art , but it will most definitely make your day a little more pleasant . Is this not one of the most admirable aspects of art , anyway , that it can do something so simply profound as to make one feel better ? Funimation usually does the most acceptable job of dubbing shows here . Fullmetal Alchemist is an example of some of their good work , and they only seem to learn from their mistakes as a company . And for those who refuse to tolerate dubbing , the original Japanese voice track is amazing , and their subtitling is sure to be , also . This is a series that will grow on you , just as the characters grow on each other . The pace is peaceful , the characters likable , and the story makes the fantastic easy to believe . There is little here not to enjoy .
    • 002   Like many , the first time I was exposed to Spice and Wolf , I had my immediate doubts . Girl with ears and a tail traveling around with a random guy and occassionally appearing naked ? No , thanks . But I gave it a shot ( because I really enjoyed the opening song , ahaha ) , and was thusly rewarded for giving this highly original show a chance . Come for the winning platonic chemistry between the two leads and stay for lessons on the value of currency and the perils of buying on credit ! Seriously - - if you come into S & W expecting some sort of moe hijinks , you'll be sorely disappointed , but if you want 12 episodes of something that's not going to insult your intellgience and leave you feeling full and satisfied , it's a safe bet .
    • 003   This review is from : Spice and Wolf : Season One ( DVD ) You won't find giant monsters or evil tyrants here , this is an atypical anime that doesn't quite fit into any existing sub-genres . Its relaxed pace with emphasis on nuanced dialogue will bore someone who's looking for power-ups or panty-shots , but delight those of us who appreciate a good character piece from time to time . The story is one of trade , commerce , and a growing relationship between two unlikely protagonists . In a nice change of pace the storytellers here let the characters evolve on their own in a slow progression that feels natural and keeps you interested , rather than through forceful direction . Fans of verbal sparring will love the banter between Holo and Lawrence , and econ majors will feel right at home during the trade deals . I've used ' relaxed ' and ' slow ' to describe the general tenor of this anime but don't misunderstand , you won't find yourself bored and in fact the episodes will seem to be over all too quickly ! Now I have nothing against dubs in general , it's just that I rarely find any to be on par with the original Japanese audio . Even if the main characters are well done , the overall dub is often brought down by terrible supporting performances . That's not the case this time as I genuinely enjoyed and felt they honored the stellar performances of the original cast . While I still prefer Ami Koshimizu portraying the wise-wolf , Brina Palencia did an outstanding job with the role ( and considering how picky I can be that is high praise ) . I'm actually looking forward to watching the series multiple times with both voice casts and enjoying each on their own merits . If you enjoyed works such as Haibane Renmei or Kino's Journey , Spice and Wolf will fit right at home in your collection . If it wasn't obvious already , it has quickly risen to one of my favorites and one I will be re-watching for years to come . Here's hoping they continue to translate the original novels ( the first volume is available now ) , as well as the license the second season which I thought was even better than the first !
    • 004   You won't find giant monsters or evil tyrants here , this is an atypical anime that doesn't quite fit into any existing sub-genres . Its relaxed pace with emphasis on nuanced dialogue will bore someone who's looking for power-ups or panty-shots , but delight those of us who appreciate a good character piece from time to time . The story is one of trade , commerce , and a growing relationship between two unlikely protagonists . In a nice change of pace the storytellers here let the characters evolve on their own in a slow progression that feels natural and keeps you interested , rather than through forceful direction . Fans of verbal sparring will love the banter between Holo and Lawrence , and econ majors will feel right at home during the trade deals . I've used ' relaxed ' and ' slow ' to describe the general tenor of this anime but don't misunderstand , you won't find yourself bored and in fact the episodes will seem to be over all too quickly ! Now I have nothing against dubs in general , it's just that I rarely find any to be on par with the original Japanese audio . Even if the main characters are well done , the overall dub is often brought down by terrible supporting performances . That's not the case this time as I genuinely enjoyed and felt they honored the stellar performances of the original cast . While I still prefer Ami Koshimizu portraying the wise-wolf , Brina Palencia did an outstanding job with the role ( and considering how picky I can be that is high praise ) . I'm actually looking forward to watching the series multiple times with both voice casts and enjoying each on their own merits . If you enjoyed works such as Haibane Renmei or Kino's Journey , Spice and Wolf will fit right at home in your collection . If it wasn't obvious already , it has quickly risen to one of my favorites and one I will be re-watching for years to come . Here's hoping they continue to translate the original novels ( the first volume is available now ) , as well as the license the second season which I thought was even better than the first !
    • 005   This is one of my favorite anime shows ever . It is very different from your average anime or any other form of TV / movie entertainment . Others have summarized the plot line well , so I won't be redundant . What makes this anime special are the two protagonist and the extremely believable relationship that develops between them . As was stated before , from the description you might think this is a sudden magical girlfriend story , but it is far from that . The protagonists start out traveling together out of mutual self-interest . Holo wants to get to the her home in the north , Lawrence thinks that he might be able to profit from having a wise wolf spirit to assist him in his business dealings . Underlying both of their rationalizations for traveling together is a common thread : they are tired of being lonely . Holo has been worshiped as a harvest god for hundreds of years . In that time , she has been utterly alone . She is isolated from those of her own kind and in the few times that she have ventured to make contact with the villagers , she has come away empty and discouraged due to the fear she inspires . Lawrence , while a successful traveling peddler , longs to make enough money to set up a shop and become a town merchant . If he has his own shop he can make friends and become part of a community , perhaps even find a wife . Having a traveling companion helps both of them ward off the loneliness of their lives up until now . As the story progresses , we get to see how Lawrence and Holo begin to rely on one another in many ways . Their relationship progresses at a slow , realistic pace almost unheard of in any form of entertainment . The fact that these characters and their relationship are more believable and realistic than just about any I have encountered in any form of entertainment before despite the fact that one of them is a wolf-goddess speaks volumes about the quality of the storytelling ! The show , based on a series of Japanese light novels , is told in story arcs , with the first 6 episodes telling one story and the last 6 telling another . These two arcs correspond to the first two volumes of the series . The 7th episode is a special OVA ( original video animation ) that is outside of the main storyline . It is a very nice little side story which highlights the growing relationship between the pair . While this is not an anime that will match everyone's tastes , it is a wonderful story , well told , and expertly rendered for the screen . Season 2 is even better , in my opinion and I can't wait for FUNimation to release it . The English dub is , in my opinion , extremely well done . Brina Palencia captures the character of Holo with her performance and makes it her own . Considering that the original performance is considered one of the finest Voice Acting jobs in the past decade , it is impressive that she holds her own . I feel that the English voice actor for Lawrence , J . Michael Tatum , did an even better job than his Japanese counterpart . His passion and range is impressive , giving just the right amount of sarcasm and teasing as well as showing genuine emotion at other times . Finally , I would like to comment on the Editorial Review listed by Amazon . It is clear that he missed the charm of this anime . Perhaps , when one watches things in order to review them , a story that takes its time is a bother ? His comment about the unwholesomeness of the fan service nudity is particularly vexing , as there is minimal fan service and the nudity comes across as natural as opposed to being merely for the titillation of the viewers . The adolescent furries comment is particularly off , and demeaning to the show and those who enjoy it . ( Very few people would appreciate being referred to in that manner , even if they are adolescents that are into furries ! ) It is as if he saw the description of the show , decided that it was a pandering , fan service fest and couldn't get past that opinion while watching it . His comment that the show could have ended two episodes earlier without effecting the plot shows that he really wasn't following the story , as the final two episodes advance the plot tremendously . In general , the middle episodes of the story arcs are the weaker parts of the show . However , those frequently have good character building moments and subtle plot points that you don't realize were important until you get to the end of the arc . Each episode carries a small bit of the overall plot of the arc , so those looking for individual episodic plot lines are going to be confused . Those of us that have seen other serial shows and liked them understand how this works . ( It's not a sit-com people ! ) You can take my opinion with a grain of salt , as I would probably be written off by the reviewer as a rabid fan-boy or something like that , but it bothers me when professional reviewers appear to not understand the basics of what they are reviewing .
    • 006   Spice and Wolf is the story of a traveling merchant and a forgotten wolf-deity who meet and travel together through a fantasy world somewhat based on medieval Europe . no swords and sorcery but excellent character development and fantastic dialogue and interaction between the characters as they mature and develop feelings for each other . Each has a strong personality and uncanny instincts in their respective fields , Craft Lawrence as a traveling merchant trying to score big enough to start his own shop and Horo the Wise Wolf who wants to return to her home in the north and see how the world has changed in the past 150 years along the way . They meet and interact with many interesting characters while trying to stay below the notice of an omnipotent church reminiscent of the Catholic Church of the 1400s - 1600s . I can't recommend this series highly enough .
    • 007   This review is from : Spice and Wolf : Season One ( DVD ) I don't normally write reviews , so keep that in mind when you read what I have to say : this anime destroyed any preconceptions I may have had about it . From the title and one of the main characters , I thought it was a show aimed at young girls which is usually the type my wife likes . I couldn't have been more wrong . Rather than assuming the girl's point of view , this story is told from the male view point of Lawrence which is probably the only reason I made it past the first episode . Lawrence is a traveling merchant who unexpectedly comes upon a young girl who just happens to be a pagan wolf god named Holo that brought good wheat harvests to a local village . The two soon become traveling companions and find themselves getting in an out of troubling situations all the while little seeds of compassion and ultimately romance are being planted . Sounds like a stretch , right ? I thought the same thing , but then I found myself watching several episodes in a row , not able to turn away . Not everything that happens is good . Not every conversation is serious as there is a healthy humor to their relationship . There is a genuine what will happen next ? atmosphere . This set focuses on the first season of the show ( a second has already been aired in Japan , so here's hoping it's not too far behind on this side of the world ) which contains 13 episodes . The characters are superbly crafted and you'll find yourself invested in their lives by the start of the second episode . The writing is top notch , and yes there is a lot of talk regarding economics and sale of goods , so you may actually learn something . I did find that while watching the original Japanese with subtitles , I got lost a few times with the economic talk so you may want to make your first run with the English dub to make sure you understand some of the trading that is occurring . One of the biggest questions though is : How is the English dub ? I'll be honest , at first I did not like the voice work for Holo , even though Lawrence was spot on . By the third episode though , she had grown on me and I really like both of them as they do bring some extra dimension to their characters . My advice is to give it a chance as in some aspects I almost prefer the dub to the original now . You may find the ending a little abrupt , but do keep in mind that there is a second season that picks up as soon as this one ends and hopefully season 3 won't be too far behind as season two is left with a bit of a cliffhanger with not all loose ends tied up . Coming from a guy who was very content with the likes of Cowboy Bebop , Tenchi Universe , and Outlaw Star , this series is a drastic departure from those , but the characters , story , and , yes , even the romance did suck me in . Hope to revisit this world very soon with Season Two ( Come on Funimation ! ! ! ) . Don't hesitate to give this one a try . . .
    • 008   I don't normally write reviews , so keep that in mind when you read what I have to say : this anime destroyed any preconceptions I may have had about it . From the title and one of the main characters , I thought it was a show aimed at young girls which is usually the type my wife likes . I couldn't have been more wrong . Rather than assuming the girl's point of view , this story is told from the male view point of Lawrence which is probably the only reason I made it past the first episode . Lawrence is a traveling merchant who unexpectedly comes upon a young girl who just happens to be a pagan wolf god named Holo that brought good wheat harvests to a local village . The two soon become traveling companions and find themselves getting in an out of troubling situations all the while little seeds of compassion and ultimately romance are being planted . Sounds like a stretch , right ? I thought the same thing , but then I found myself watching several episodes in a row , not able to turn away . Not everything that happens is good . Not every conversation is serious as there is a healthy humor to their relationship . There is a genuine what will happen next ? atmosphere . This set focuses on the first season of the show ( a second has already been aired in Japan , so here's hoping it's not too far behind on this side of the world ) which contains 13 episodes . The characters are superbly crafted and you'll find yourself invested in their lives by the start of the second episode . The writing is top notch , and yes there is a lot of talk regarding economics and sale of goods , so you may actually learn something . I did find that while watching the original Japanese with subtitles , I got lost a few times with the economic talk so you may want to make your first run with the English dub to make sure you understand some of the trading that is occurring . One of the biggest questions though is : How is the English dub ? I'll be honest , at first I did not like the voice work for Holo , even though Lawrence was spot on . By the third episode though , she had grown on me and I really like both of them as they do bring some extra dimension to their characters . My advice is to give it a chance as in some aspects I almost prefer the dub to the original now . You may find the ending a little abrupt , but do keep in mind that there is a second season that picks up as soon as this one ends and hopefully season 3 won't be too far behind as season two is left with a bit of a cliffhanger with not all loose ends tied up . Coming from a guy who was very content with the likes of Cowboy Bebop , Tenchi Universe , and Outlaw Star , this series is a drastic departure from those , but the characters , story , and , yes , even the romance did suck me in . Hope to revisit this world very soon with Season Two ( Come on Funimation ! ! ! ) . Don't hesitate to give this one a try . . .
    • 009   This review is from : Spice and Wolf : Season One ( DVD ) Ill admit , im a dude , in almost every sense of the word . I like action and explosions , violence and blood , everything you could consider to be manly in my movies , television and anime . I heard about this show from a friend , another dude , and was both skeptical and intrigued . Mostly becaue i dont normally do the whole romance thing in my anime . I'm not entirely heartless , and can in fact be a really nice guy , but never a love fool . Which is what i thought this was directed towards . Long story short , i was seized by my very soul , grasped at the pulsating core of my being by this anime within the first couple episodes . I was frequently moved to near tears , and constantly worried over the budding relationship of these two travelers . I've never felt so completely emotionally invested in a mere anime like this since Evangellion was first coming out on VHS . I just couldn't put it down , and watched the entire thing in only 2 sittings , carrying me well into the very early hours of the next day . Upon finishing i immediately sought out the fan translations for the second season , unable to cope until i found out how the story ended , only to be grasped even MORE firmly by the incredible interplay between these two personalities . And i will gladly say i DID sob a couple of times over the second season . Shows like this are one in a million , and if you dismiss it because it sounds sappy or girly you'd be sadly mistaken .
    • 010   Ill admit , im a dude , in almost every sense of the word . I like action and explosions , violence and blood , everything you could consider to be manly in my movies , television and anime . I heard about this show from a friend , another dude , and was both skeptical and intrigued . Mostly becaue i dont normally do the whole romance thing in my anime . I'm not entirely heartless , and can in fact be a really nice guy , but never a love fool . Which is what i thought this was directed towards . Long story short , i was seized by my very soul , grasped at the pulsating core of my being by this anime within the first couple episodes . I was frequently moved to near tears , and constantly worried over the budding relationship of these two travelers . I've never felt so completely emotionally invested in a mere anime like this since Evangellion was first coming out on VHS . I just couldn't put it down , and watched the entire thing in only 2 sittings , carrying me well into the very early hours of the next day . Upon finishing i immediately sought out the fan translations for the second season , unable to cope until i found out how the story ended , only to be grasped even MORE firmly by the incredible interplay between these two personalities . And i will gladly say i DID sob a couple of times over the second season . Shows like this are one in a million , and if you dismiss it because it sounds sappy or girly you'd be sadly mistaken .
    • 011   This review is from : Spice and Wolf : Season One ( DVD ) It's not very often an anime of this quality emerges . On the surface many would probably think this is a typical love story between who happen to meet under odd circumstances . I've seen them and they are predictable . This one is not . I was pleasantly surprised how much I enjoyed it . It easily tops the list of one of my favorites . This anime is all about story-telling . The story is deep and well-thoughtout . It is very well-written and the character development is amazing , especially into the second season . There is little action , but that is where this one excels . The fact that you could be drawn in without having to resort huge battles , the typical good vs . evil ploy , or a predictable romance is incredible . I actually cared about the characters . The feistiness and cleverness of Holo makes every episode a joy to watch . Overall , this isn't a story of true love or your typical romance . This is a touching and heart-warming tale of companionship and the deep bond that each character begins to develop with one another . I highly recommend people expand their horizons a bit and watch this . You won't be disappointed .
    • 012   It's not very often an anime of this quality emerges . On the surface many would probably think this is a typical love story between who happen to meet under odd circumstances . I've seen them and they are predictable . This one is not . I was pleasantly surprised how much I enjoyed it . It easily tops the list of one of my favorites . This anime is all about story-telling . The story is deep and well-thoughtout . It is very well-written and the character development is amazing , especially into the second season . There is little action , but that is where this one excels . The fact that you could be drawn in without having to resort huge battles , the typical good vs . evil ploy , or a predictable romance is incredible . I actually cared about the characters . The feistiness and cleverness of Holo makes every episode a joy to watch . Overall , this isn't a story of true love or your typical romance . This is a touching and heart-warming tale of companionship and the deep bond that each character begins to develop with one another . I highly recommend people expand their horizons a bit and watch this . You won't be disappointed .
    • 013   I am not the sort of person to like this kind of stuff . I usually watch more fighting or plot-twisting animes ( i.e Yu-yu hakusho or Death Note ) . It was merely by chance that I stumbled upon Spice and Wolf . I was writing a story of mine , and wanted to show people on the site I post my stories on an anime picture of what my characters looked like . For one of them , I needed a wolf girl . Obviously , I stumbled upon Holo . I thank my lucky stars that I did . This anime is definitely for more intellectual people . If you like beat-em-up stories that are all about constant action , you won't find it here . It focuses around peddling , economics and , of course , a little romance . The romance , though , doesn't really show up until the second season . While there may be no fighting , however , there are some very intense moments . At times , I found my nose mere centimeters from the screen becasue of how tense the situation was . The characters are amazing and well developed . Holo's personality alone suckered me into the series . She can be flirty , mean , intelligent and ( though not TOO often ) very nice . Lawrence is shy , and can come up with his own retorts at times . They are practical opposites , which makes their arguements all the more enjoyable . And the way Holo can easily break down Lawrence's defenses and leave him feeling like a fool is just downright hilarious . All in all , this series is DEFINITELY worth checking out . It doesn't matter who you are . It may seem like a show mainly for girls , but it really isn't ( I know this cause I'm a guy myself ) .
    • 014   This review is from : Spice and Wolf : Season One [ Blu-ray ] ( Blu-ray ) Spice and Wolf Season One Blu-Ray is work getting ! The original box set isn't cleaned up and in HD like this one , and this Blu-Ray set comes with two discs containing all 13 episodes of season one . Not only did it save room on my shelf to by more ' thin packs ' but it was also remastered . I'm glad I waited and purchased this !
    • 015   Spice and Wolf Season One Blu-Ray is work getting ! The original box set isn't cleaned up and in HD like this one , and this Blu-Ray set comes with two discs containing all 13 episodes of season one . Not only did it save room on my shelf to by more ' thin packs ' but it was also remastered . I'm glad I waited and purchased this !
    • 016   This review is from : Spice and Wolf : Season One ( DVD ) Spice and Wolf isn't a show that pushes the boundaries of animation , nor is it a psychological thriller . Spice and Wolf is the story of a traveling merchant who meets a pagan goddess , and they decide to travel together . The story survives on its own merits : it's well-written , and every major character has a distinct personality that fits with what's written . The animation meshes a certain level of realism with the unreal , and it's really the subtleties of what is and isn't drawn that makes Spice and Wolf worth watching . The level of detail in each scene is really amazing , and the animation is realistic , but has a fluidity not seen in most animation that doesn't focus on fighting . It looks much more like a real world than tons of what else you could be watching , and I found myself drawn in by it . The DVD set includes the original Japanese voice acting with subtitles , and an English dub . I was surprised at what a great job the English voice actors did on the series ; cartoons are brought to life through their voice acting , and there aren't very many Japanese cartoons dubbed in English have a quality similar to Spice and Wolf .
    • 017   Spice and Wolf isn't a show that pushes the boundaries of animation , nor is it a psychological thriller . Spice and Wolf is the story of a traveling merchant who meets a pagan goddess , and they decide to travel together . The story survives on its own merits : it's well-written , and every major character has a distinct personality that fits with what's written . The animation meshes a certain level of realism with the unreal , and it's really the subtleties of what is and isn't drawn that makes Spice and Wolf worth watching . The level of detail in each scene is really amazing , and the animation is realistic , but has a fluidity not seen in most animation that doesn't focus on fighting . It looks much more like a real world than tons of what else you could be watching , and I found myself drawn in by it . The DVD set includes the original Japanese voice acting with subtitles , and an English dub . I was surprised at what a great job the English voice actors did on the series ; cartoons are brought to life through their voice acting , and there aren't very many Japanese cartoons dubbed in English have a quality similar to Spice and Wolf .
    • 018   This review is from : Spice and Wolf : Season One ( DVD ) When I first watched Spice and Wolf it was in eight minute installments on YouTube , uploaded by fans of the series . So there were no surprises when I watched this DVD collection . Spice and Wolf follows the travels of Kraft Lawrence , a merchant who dreams of one day owning his own shop , and Holo ( pronounced more as Horo in Japanese ) , a kind of wolf deity who appears to be a lovely teen-age girl ( who also sports a pair of wolf ears and a tail ) . Spice and Wolf is unique in the anime universe in that it is sparse on kinetic action and long on witty banter between the two lead characters . Along with the chemistry ( and comedy ) between Holo and Lawrence , this series has an educational element as well ; with an emphasis on trade and commerce , one gets a sense of how different things were back then when it comes to things like currency , which is taken for granted in our modern times ( Spice and Wolf takes place in a fictional world which is reminiscent of medieval Europe ) . As for the product itself , I was very satisfied with the DVD set . Funimation , the U.S . distributor , has provided a quality offering . One of the big selling points for me was that the DVDs not only have English dubbing , but also offers the option of the original Japanese voices with English subtitles ; it is the best of both worlds . I was also very satisfied with the fine condition the set arrived in and the prompt shipping , courtesy of goHastings ( and the postal service ) . The only disappointment was that the DVD set has almost nothing in the way of extras ; it would be nice to have some of those behind the scenes segments . But this is a minor complaint . Overall , I would highly recommend both Spice and Wolf the series and goHastings for getting it to you . And , of course , the services of Amazon.com . Amazon hasn't let me down yet . : )
    • 019   When I first watched Spice and Wolf it was in eight minute installments on YouTube , uploaded by fans of the series . So there were no surprises when I watched this DVD collection . Spice and Wolf follows the travels of Kraft Lawrence , a merchant who dreams of one day owning his own shop , and Holo ( pronounced more as Horo in Japanese ) , a kind of wolf deity who appears to be a lovely teen-age girl ( who also sports a pair of wolf ears and a tail ) . Spice and Wolf is unique in the anime universe in that it is sparse on kinetic action and long on witty banter between the two lead characters . Along with the chemistry ( and comedy ) between Holo and Lawrence , this series has an educational element as well ; with an emphasis on trade and commerce , one gets a sense of how different things were back then when it comes to things like currency , which is taken for granted in our modern times ( Spice and Wolf takes place in a fictional world which is reminiscent of medieval Europe ) . As for the product itself , I was very satisfied with the DVD set . Funimation , the U.S . distributor , has provided a quality offering . One of the big selling points for me was that the DVDs not only have English dubbing , but also offers the option of the original Japanese voices with English subtitles ; it is the best of both worlds . I was also very satisfied with the fine condition the set arrived in and the prompt shipping , courtesy of goHastings ( and the postal service ) . The only disappointment was that the DVD set has almost nothing in the way of extras ; it would be nice to have some of those behind the scenes segments . But this is a minor complaint . Overall , I would highly recommend both Spice and Wolf the series and goHastings for getting it to you . And , of course , the services of Amazon.com . Amazon hasn't let me down yet . : )
    • 020   This review is from : Spice and Wolf : Season One ( DVD ) Take that lackluster product description with an extra-large grain of salt . Spice and Wolf is NOT some brainless fanservice anime ( trust me , I've watched those , too ) . This is without doubt one of the most thoroughly enjoyable series I have ever seen , and I cannot recommend it highly enough . Lovable characters , good dialogue , humor , sharp animation , fabulous music , and a heaping serving of brain-teasing Renaissance-esque economic intrigue - - what's not to like ? ( Even the English dub is quite good , which is not a compliment I give lightly . )
    • 021   Take that lackluster product description with an extra-large grain of salt . Spice and Wolf is NOT some brainless fanservice anime ( trust me , I've watched those , too ) . This is without doubt one of the most thoroughly enjoyable series I have ever seen , and I cannot recommend it highly enough . Lovable characters , good dialogue , humor , sharp animation , fabulous music , and a heaping serving of brain-teasing Renaissance-esque economic intrigue - - what's not to like ? ( Even the English dub is quite good , which is not a compliment I give lightly . )
    • 023   This review is from : Spice and Wolf : Season One [ Blu-ray ] ( Blu-ray ) I spent a quarter century in Tokyo . I raised two sons there . I have seen countless different anime , some old , some new , some popular , some obscure . I bought Spice and Wolf : Season One [ Blu-ray ] because many of the reviews intrigued me . Wow . . . I can honestly say I have never seen anything like this . The story is involved , well-researched , and beautifully illustrated . The economics , the cultural references , the oddly parallel historicity are so well done this anime could be used to illustrate practical lessons in storytelling , in business , in economics , in symbology , in politics , and of course , in graphic arts . The characters are extremely well done . The goddess Holo is purely a goddess , with all the quirkiness , wisdom , and manipulative qualities one would expect a genuine goddess to have . There are shades here of Ishtar , Diana , and even Persephone . Lawrence the peddler is profit-driven , self-centered , but never arrogant nor overly demanding . The relationship between the two of them is mature , adult , flirtatious without being overly erotic , and sometimes , profound . Many anime and graphic novel advocates are overly prone to labeling common cartoons as high art . Slapstick comedy , gratuitious violence , and childish personal relations between characters do not constitute high art , regardless of how popular a particular anime , manga , or graphic novel might be . Sometimes , like in Neil Gaimon's Sandman series , the genre does reach these heights . Spice and Wolf , while doing it much differently than Sandman , is as fine as anything Shakespeare , Hemmingway , or Soseki ever produced . At least in Season One .
    • 024   I spent a quarter century in Tokyo . I raised two sons there . I have seen countless different anime , some old , some new , some popular , some obscure . I bought Spice and Wolf : Season One [ Blu-ray ] because many of the reviews intrigued me . Wow . . . I can honestly say I have never seen anything like this . The story is involved , well-researched , and beautifully illustrated . The economics , the cultural references , the oddly parallel historicity are so well done this anime could be used to illustrate practical lessons in storytelling , in business , in economics , in symbology , in politics , and of course , in graphic arts . The characters are extremely well done . The goddess Holo is purely a goddess , with all the quirkiness , wisdom , and manipulative qualities one would expect a genuine goddess to have . There are shades here of Ishtar , Diana , and even Persephone . Lawrence the peddler is profit-driven , self-centered , but never arrogant nor overly demanding . The relationship between the two of them is mature , adult , flirtatious without being overly erotic , and sometimes , profound . Many anime and graphic novel advocates are overly prone to labeling common cartoons as high art . Slapstick comedy , gratuitious violence , and childish personal relations between characters do not constitute high art , regardless of how popular a particular anime , manga , or graphic novel might be . Sometimes , like in Neil Gaimon's Sandman series , the genre does reach these heights . Spice and Wolf , while doing it much differently than Sandman , is as fine as anything Shakespeare , Hemmingway , or Soseki ever produced . At least in Season One .
    • 025   This review is from : Spice and Wolf : Season One ( DVD ) This was an enjoyable show that surprisingly uses economic principles at the center of plots . I enjoyed watching it . The material felt fresh , and the relationship between the two main characters was fun . I want to particularly point out that Funimation did a nice job on the packaging . The entire season ( 13 episodes ) is included in one box , no larger than a typical movie . Further , the two discs contained in it , were secure , not sliding about , so they arrived scratch-free . This means a lot to me as an anime collector , because shows sold in many separate boxes cost a lot more , and take up an enormous amount of space . I wouldn't hesitate to recommend Spice and Wolf to those interested in a sophisticated series in a late medieval setting . Technically the show can be termed Fantasy , but the show really concentrates on the personal and economic ties between people .
    • 026   This was an enjoyable show that surprisingly uses economic principles at the center of plots . I enjoyed watching it . The material felt fresh , and the relationship between the two main characters was fun . I want to particularly point out that Funimation did a nice job on the packaging . The entire season ( 13 episodes ) is included in one box , no larger than a typical movie . Further , the two discs contained in it , were secure , not sliding about , so they arrived scratch-free . This means a lot to me as an anime collector , because shows sold in many separate boxes cost a lot more , and take up an enormous amount of space . I wouldn't hesitate to recommend Spice and Wolf to those interested in a sophisticated series in a late medieval setting . Technically the show can be termed Fantasy , but the show really concentrates on the personal and economic ties between people .
    • 027   This review is from : Spice and Wolf : Season One ( DVD ) This is an anime that sometimes challenges you to do a little thinking about money , scamming , exchange rates maybe , and buying and selling . The story moved me when I watched it online as a sub , and I still love it dubbed . I especially liked the way Horo talked . Top notch character designs , a story that pulls you in and an awesome soundtrack make this a must have series for those that like a bit of depth to their anime ! ! Gotta give this a 10 / 10 .
    • 028   This is an anime that sometimes challenges you to do a little thinking about money , scamming , exchange rates maybe , and buying and selling . The story moved me when I watched it online as a sub , and I still love it dubbed . I especially liked the way Horo talked . Top notch character designs , a story that pulls you in and an awesome soundtrack make this a must have series for those that like a bit of depth to their anime ! ! Gotta give this a 10 / 10 .
    • 029   Spice and Wolf is one of those shows that you shouldn't judge by its cover . What most people seem to notice first about it is that it involves an occasionally nude tsundere ( read : emotionally abusive on the outside , loving on the inside ) wolf girl , Holo , ( shown clothed on the cover ) going on a journey with a man she met with for only a few moments beforehand . If you only look at those aspects , you might be tempted to think that this is yet another fanservice-laden show about yet another guy with a goddess for a girlfriend that is designed to appeal to only a certain group of people . While you'd be forgiven for thinking that just by seeing the cover / reading the description , S & W's appeal lies outside of that . Essentially , this is a show that focuses on the relationship between its two protagonists , Holo the Wisewolf , a proud wolf deity that wishes to return to her hometown , and Kraft Lawrence , an enterprising merchant who agrees to bring her home . A bond gradually grows between the two as they travel from town to town and learn more about each other ( and no , Lawrence does not agree to escort her in exchange for her being his girlfriend ; their relationship grows at a reasonably realistic rate and a romance only starts to blossom by the end of this season ) . The main characters are well-developed , and you'll likely grow to care about them as they progress beyond the stereotypes they seem to be at first . Just a note to those who are only interested in Holo because of her character design and nudity ( and no , I'm not trying to say most of you are ) : it lessens drastically as the series progresses . Another main focus of this show is on economics . Lawrence is a merchant , and he doesn't put his job on hold once he starts to travel with Holo . As a result , nearly all of the major conflicts in this season result from some economic problem Lawrence faces with only a couple of action sequences sprinkled in between them . As you might imagine , the series is slow placed . If the prospect of a dialogue-based series that mainly deals with economics bores you , you might want to reconsider buying this series . As far as visuals go , this series is prettier and better animated than it probably has a right to be . Most dialogue based shows have a small animation budget where the characters move awkwardly whenever they're doing something other than talking , but this one looks great at all times . It might not match the animation quality of something like say , Fullmetal Alchemist , but it does better in this category than other shows like it . The music in the series is pleasant to listen to and fits it well . The opening fits the themes of loneliness ( and of course traveling ) that run through the through the show and sounds lovely to boot , and the ending is an upbeat , catchy , and charming engrish song . As for the language tracks in it , the Japanese and English dubs are equally good to listen to . You won't want to automatically switch over to subs if you give the dub a chance , but the Japanese cast is worth listening to as well , and sub purists won't be missing much by sticking with it . One final note : this series is based off of a still ongoing series of light novels by Isuna Hasekura . This season adapts two out of the thirteen existing books , so don't expect for any sense of closure beyond that of having finished a book in a series ; the leads still have a ways to go at its end before they reach the end of their journey . There's a second season that recently finished airing in Japan that covers two more books , though , so it's not as though the anime will stay unfinished forever . Overall , if you can get past Holo's outward appearance and the show's slow pace , you'll find a surprisingly enjoyable show in Spice and Wolf .
    • 030   Spice and Wolf ( aka Okami to Koshinryo ) is an anime series that is based on a popular light novel series by Isuna Hasekura and character design by Ju Ayakura . A winner of the Silver Prize at the Twelfth Dengeki Novel Price , 13 volumes have been published by ASCII Media Works ( via Dengeki Bunko ) and have sold over 2.2 million copies . Part of the allure of Spice and Wolf is that its a fantasy tale but its screenplay is quite smart as it incorporates economics and trade . The light novel series has spawned a manga ( rel . in 2007 ) and in 2008 , the first season plus an OVA was created and a second season which followed in 2009 along with a light novel release for the Nintendo DS . The anime series is directed by Takeo Takahashi ( Elle , Aki Sora , Wife Eater , Rozen Maiden ) and features a screenplay by Naruhisa Arakawa ( D.N . Angel , Jinki : Extend and Blue Seed ) , music by Yuuji Yoshino ( . Hack / Legend of the Twilight , Brigadoon , Marie & Gali ) , character designs by Kazuya Kuroda ( Sakura Wars , Sora no Iro , Mizu no Iro , Vandread , Aki Sora ) and art direction by Toshihiro Kohama ( Solty Rei , SaiKano , Heroic Age ) . Spice and Wolf - The Complete Series comes with episodes 1 - 13 on two DVD discs . VIDEO & AUDIO : Spice and Wolf is presented in 16 : 9 with animation by Imagin Co , Ltd . ( known for working on animation for Hit wo Nerae ! , Eyeshield 21 , The Cosmopolitan Prayers ) . One thing that will catch your eye is how beautiful the artist backgrounds are . There is plenty amount of detail put into the art . From the walls of a building , the trees in the background , lush green or yellow lands , the wood , the ground , you name it . . . the artist definitely did a wonderful job on this television series . As for character designs , the designs by Kazuya Kuroda are quite faithful to Ju Ayakura's illustrations . Many television series tend to not have much time to add detail to an anime series but with Imagin Co . , Ltd . being a smaller anime production house , they definitely put in a lot of work in bringing this world of where Spice and Wolf takes place to life . Audio is presented in English 5.1 Dolby Digital Sound and Japanese stereo . Voice acting for both the English and Japanese dub are done very well but one thing that I liked about the English dub was Brina Palencia's take on the character Holo . She gives Holo this mature , serious but also flirtatious style that is really well done . For the most part , the series is front and center channel driven as the series is primarily dialogue driven . Spice and Wolf does have its share of action but action sequences happen once in a while , the anime series is definitely more plot driven . There is use of music that plays in the background but its more subtle than anything . Subtitles are in English . SPECIAL FEATURES : Spice and Wolf - The Complete First Season comes with the clean opening and ending themes and FUNimation Entertainment trailers . JUDGMENT CALL : I have to admit that I was surprised by Spice and Wolf . I was expecting your somewhat usual , fantasy / comedy anime series but the anime series turned out to be quite an intriguing anime series that is quite enjoyable to see . Primarily because the series is smart and witty but rarely do you find an anime series that really gets into the heart of economics , business , money-making , peddling , bankruptcy and needless to say , Spice and Wolf definitely distinguishes itself from other anime series out there . Because of its business-driven plot , Spice and Wolf may not be a series for everyone wanting a more simpler fantasy / adventure series . The anime series focuses on the business aspect of moneymaking of that time period dealing with bartering and trying to make cash through the items one gets from town to town , the life of Lawrence the traveling merchant with a wolf deity at his side . But this is what makes this fantasy adventure so unique is that it deals with the business side that anime doesn't typically cover and I have no doubt that is why the light novel by Isuna Hasekura won an award in Japan . It's definitely a fresh and unique storyline that I have never seen in my many years of watching anime . For school advisers wanting to show this at an anime club at their school or club , although a TV 14 rated anime , there are scenes with Holo undressed . Although , her tail covers her rear most of the time and her hair covering her front side the opening episode and other episode features her undressed . They are not major nude scenes nor is there anything sex related in this series but for those who are showing this at a school setting , it's important to let you know that there are semi-nude scenes in the series . As for violence , there are some scenes near the latter half of the series that has action and does include violence but nothing that is bloody or limbs getting cut off or anything like that . For those wondering if Spice and Wolf is all about business , well the storylines do focus around the business dealings of Lawrence and various companies . But there are comedy elements and as mentioned , some action sequences which are typically used when needed but it's not going to be found on every episode , it just happens once in awhile . As for romance , well there is flirtation between Holo and Lawrence but with one being a wolf transformed to a human ( although yet keeping her wolf ears and tail ) and one being a human , I don't really know if these two can even be together or if its even possible . But you sense a sort of sadness with Holo and not that she wants to be human but there is a sense of comfort when she is around Lawrence . She seems to want him to say that he cares for her but yet jokes around with him that she was just kidding . Also , you get a sense of a jealousy from Holo when Lawrence shows attention towards other women . So , it does make you wonder where the series will take these two characters in the end . If you are looking for an anime series that is definitely different from what you've seen before , enjoyable , witty and smart , definitely give Spice and Wolf - The Complete First Season a try .
    • 031   This review is from : Spice and Wolf : Season One ( DVD ) Me and The whole Family love this series , Its a all around good show and I find it suitable for kids to watch . We like it and there is a second and third seasons on the way . The Novel is really good to for background information . I would recommend that people buy the novel and the DVD set together so you can get the other background info on each episode as the chapters play just the same as each episode only with more detail . . A Great Buy and The second season should be coming in 2010 soon .
    • 032   Me and The whole Family love this series , Its a all around good show and I find it suitable for kids to watch . We like it and there is a second and third seasons on the way . The Novel is really good to for background information . I would recommend that people buy the novel and the DVD set together so you can get the other background info on each episode as the chapters play just the same as each episode only with more detail . . A Great Buy and The second season should be coming in 2010 soon .
    • 033   This review is from : Spice and Wolf : Season One ( DVD ) I remember when I had first heard of Spice and Wolf , the premise and characters ( well , Holo mainly ) sounded so uninteresting and off-putting to me that I had immediately written it off . However , word quickly grew on the title and I found the buzz more and more impossible to ignore . When I finally decided to give it a shot , I almost instantly regretted ever dismissing this charming , heartwarmingly budding romance tale wrapped in a medieval economics shell . It was that economics part that really seemed to deter people the most , but as I explored the show more , you discover that it's really just a clever backdrop to the wonderful and playful relationship that the two protagonists , Kraft Lawrence and the Wise-Wolf Holo , share throughout the 13 episodes of the first season . I'd be remiss not to speak of Holo in greater depth . Holo , a wolf harvest deity originating from the northern land of Yoitsu , made a promise with a boy from the town of Pasroe long ago to look over their wheat and ensure a good harvest each year . A long time had passed since then and the villagers no longer felt they needed this god meddling with their crop any longer . Thus this abandonment of Holo by the people of Pasroe is one of the driving factors that influences Holo's character . No longer loved or needed by these people , she becomes incredibly lonely and longs to escape . Her loneliness heavily underlies her otherwise playful , intelligent , and sometimes coy personality . This is to take nothing away from Lawrence who is her perfect male counterpart . He is dry , business savy , and often socially awkward . He is no stranger to loneliness as well , as he spends most of his days traveling long distances from town to town with only his horse as a constant partner . He ultimately saves Holo from her lonely prison and they set off together on their fascinating journey . One of the few criticisms I've heard of the show that I believe holds merit is that the animation quality can be lacking at times . It never personally bothered me , but I'm not sure if I have the most critical eye when it comes to animation quality ( though I can clearly tell when a studio far excels in that field ; look at anything done by Kyoto Animation or PA Works ) . Everything else about the production is exceptional though . From character designs to the time-period appropriate score , everything seems to fall into place perfectly . The voice cast for the original Japanese audio track embody these characters to a tee . The English dub is very well done as well , with Brina Palencia as Holo bringing something new to the role that puts a nice new spin on Holo . My personal preferences lie with Ami Koshimizu's original ( and frankly more ' cute ' ) Holo , but no one experiencing Spice and Wolf for the first time will have any problems with Brina's delivery . In summation , if you couldn't tell , I am a big fan of this series ( and the subsequent second season ) and think that anyone interested at all in either anime or fantasy with a love for great characters and their interactions needs to check out Spice and Wolf . Seek out the free episodes Funimation has released on both their website and YouTube if you must , but this series gets my highest recommendation and should not be missed .
    • 034   I remember when I had first heard of Spice and Wolf , the premise and characters ( well , Holo mainly ) sounded so uninteresting and off-putting to me that I had immediately written it off . However , word quickly grew on the title and I found the buzz more and more impossible to ignore . When I finally decided to give it a shot , I almost instantly regretted ever dismissing this charming , heartwarmingly budding romance tale wrapped in a medieval economics shell . It was that economics part that really seemed to deter people the most , but as I explored the show more , you discover that it's really just a clever backdrop to the wonderful and playful relationship that the two protagonists , Kraft Lawrence and the Wise-Wolf Holo , share throughout the 13 episodes of the first season . I'd be remiss not to speak of Holo in greater depth . Holo , a wolf harvest deity originating from the northern land of Yoitsu , made a promise with a boy from the town of Pasroe long ago to look over their wheat and ensure a good harvest each year . A long time had passed since then and the villagers no longer felt they needed this god meddling with their crop any longer . Thus this abandonment of Holo by the people of Pasroe is one of the driving factors that influences Holo's character . No longer loved or needed by these people , she becomes incredibly lonely and longs to escape . Her loneliness heavily underlies her otherwise playful , intelligent , and sometimes coy personality . This is to take nothing away from Lawrence who is her perfect male counterpart . He is dry , business savy , and often socially awkward . He is no stranger to loneliness as well , as he spends most of his days traveling long distances from town to town with only his horse as a constant partner . He ultimately saves Holo from her lonely prison and they set off together on their fascinating journey . One of the few criticisms I've heard of the show that I believe holds merit is that the animation quality can be lacking at times . It never personally bothered me , but I'm not sure if I have the most critical eye when it comes to animation quality ( though I can clearly tell when a studio far excels in that field ; look at anything done by Kyoto Animation or PA Works ) . Everything else about the production is exceptional though . From character designs to the time-period appropriate score , everything seems to fall into place perfectly . The voice cast for the original Japanese audio track embody these characters to a tee . The English dub is very well done as well , with Brina Palencia as Holo bringing something new to the role that puts a nice new spin on Holo . My personal preferences lie with Ami Koshimizu's original ( and frankly more ' cute ' ) Holo , but no one experiencing Spice and Wolf for the first time will have any problems with Brina's delivery . In summation , if you couldn't tell , I am a big fan of this series ( and the subsequent second season ) and think that anyone interested at all in either anime or fantasy with a love for great characters and their interactions needs to check out Spice and Wolf . Seek out the free episodes Funimation has released on both their website and YouTube if you must , but this series gets my highest recommendation and should not be missed .
    • 035   This review is from : Spice and Wolf : Season One [ Blu-ray ] ( Blu-ray ) I'm a long time anime fan and have watched just about every genre there is , with that being said , this show offers something totally new and entertaining . It's very slow paced and makes it point of interest between the two main characters craft the merchant and holo the wise wolf . I'm not going to go into detail , just pick this show up for yourself and see how awesome it is . If there is a negative aspect , it's that this comes in a standard blu-ray case and if you purchased the BR / DVD limited edition season 2 combo , it won't fit snuggly in the box .
    • 036   I'm a long time anime fan and have watched just about every genre there is , with that being said , this show offers something totally new and entertaining . It's very slow paced and makes it point of interest between the two main characters craft the merchant and holo the wise wolf . I'm not going to go into detail , just pick this show up for yourself and see how awesome it is . If there is a negative aspect , it's that this comes in a standard blu-ray case and if you purchased the BR / DVD limited edition season 2 combo , it won't fit snuggly in the box .
    • 037   Spice and Wolf is great anime , the dub is fantastic and I love the concept . I can't wait for season 2 .
    • 038   This is a wonderful fantasy of love , relationship , and maturity with an adult-level dialogue - unlike most anime , which caters to immature fans . All the episodes are well illustrated with no tweeners taking shortcuts . The English voice actors are perfectly suited to the characters . And the music is lovely .
    • 039   This review is from : Spice and Wolf : Season One ( DVD ) Spice & Wolf , by IMAGIN of Japan & Funimation of USA , is based off the Japanese manga where a wolf deity in a form of a young girl named Holo meets a travelling male peddler named Craft Lawrence . The storyline generally is that Craft Lawrence agrees to take Holo the Wise Wolf to her home in the North . Along the journey , they meet new people , make new friends & enemies , learn more about the world of merchant business , & battle hardships together as they press on towards their quest . The longer they travel together the closer their relationship becomes from just friendship & affinity to passion & affection . In short , this anime is about 2 people developing feelings for each other while travelling & battling the cruel world of business in an attempt to make a profit . The further the anime progresses the better the understanding that there are some things in life more precious than gold . Something you cannot put a price on . The voice acting by Funimation is very good in portraying the emotions & thoughts of the characters while giving each character a distinct personality . Storyline is interesting & very educational of Europe's old economic policies . The plot is quite slow paced due to the amount of details contained within the dialogue the characters share . The main heroine Holo the Wise Wolf does expose herself completely but on rare occasions . The scenery of the anime is set in medieval Europe . It's beautiful to see the scenery within the anime series & also have some appreciation for Europe's culture . I would recommend this to anime fans of all sorts . The storyline is a bit lagging at the start but it builds up momentum & character development . Caution that there are some scenes of mild violence , weapons , drinking , & nudity . Overall , a great anime to have in your collection . A second season of Spice & Wolf maybe on the horizon so keep a keen eye out for that release . Thanks .
    • 040   Spice & Wolf , by IMAGIN of Japan & Funimation of USA , is based off the Japanese manga where a wolf deity in a form of a young girl named Holo meets a travelling male peddler named Craft Lawrence . The storyline generally is that Craft Lawrence agrees to take Holo the Wise Wolf to her home in the North . Along the journey , they meet new people , make new friends & enemies , learn more about the world of merchant business , & battle hardships together as they press on towards their quest . The longer they travel together the closer their relationship becomes from just friendship & affinity to passion & affection . In short , this anime is about 2 people developing feelings for each other while travelling & battling the cruel world of business in an attempt to make a profit . The further the anime progresses the better the understanding that there are some things in life more precious than gold . Something you cannot put a price on . The voice acting by Funimation is very good in portraying the emotions & thoughts of the characters while giving each character a distinct personality . Storyline is interesting & very educational of Europe's old economic policies . The plot is quite slow paced due to the amount of details contained within the dialogue the characters share . The main heroine Holo the Wise Wolf does expose herself completely but on rare occasions . The scenery of the anime is set in medieval Europe . It's beautiful to see the scenery within the anime series & also have some appreciation for Europe's culture . I would recommend this to anime fans of all sorts . The storyline is a bit lagging at the start but it builds up momentum & character development . Caution that there are some scenes of mild violence , weapons , drinking , & nudity . Overall , a great anime to have in your collection . A second season of Spice & Wolf maybe on the horizon so keep a keen eye out for that release . Thanks .
    • 041   This review is from : Spice and Wolf : Season One ( DVD ) I saw this ages ago on the web , and when I saw it here I thought let's buy that and watch it again ! It is a very interesting story about a god of the harvest , who is a actually a huge wolf who can also be a young girl , ( see cover ) who befriends a travelling merchant and tries to find where she came from somewhere far in the North , and the rest of her kind . The story is also about economics and how if u barter this for that u get more gold / silver . But if u sell it with a twist i.e . this is the best fur because . . . . , u get ten times the amount of gold / silver for the same thing , and being a wolf who has been a around a while she teaches her merchant friend a thing or two ! There is a lot of humour to this as well as some suspense , general fly on the wall stuff , romance and some good old clobbering now and then ! I would rate this as one of the best anime's because it leaves u feeling good and keeps u interested ! If u need help let me be your conscience ; BUY IT !
    • 042   I saw this ages ago on the web , and when I saw it here I thought let's buy that and watch it again ! It is a very interesting story about a god of the harvest , who is a actually a huge wolf who can also be a young girl , ( see cover ) who befriends a travelling merchant and tries to find where she came from somewhere far in the North , and the rest of her kind . The story is also about economics and how if u barter this for that u get more gold / silver . But if u sell it with a twist i.e . this is the best fur because . . . . , u get ten times the amount of gold / silver for the same thing , and being a wolf who has been a around a while she teaches her merchant friend a thing or two ! There is a lot of humour to this as well as some suspense , general fly on the wall stuff , romance and some good old clobbering now and then ! I would rate this as one of the best anime's because it leaves u feeling good and keeps u interested ! If u need help let me be your conscience ; BUY IT !
    • 043   This review is from : Spice and Wolf : Season One ( DVD ) I have to say that this is not your normal anime faire . It is more intellectual , and more thought provoking , in my opinion . There is more culture , and it is not just fighting a blowing things up . It can be a bit slow in spots , but it has a lot of depth if you like that kind of thing . I really liked it .
    • 044   I have to say that this is not your normal anime faire . It is more intellectual , and more thought provoking , in my opinion . There is more culture , and it is not just fighting a blowing things up . It can be a bit slow in spots , but it has a lot of depth if you like that kind of thing . I really liked it .
    • 045   Spice and Wolf is a charming romance set in a world that closely resembles late medieval / early Renaissance Germany . The artwork is very pretty ; the music is in the style of the 16th century with lute , recorder , drum , and tambor ; the main characters are both very sympathetic and the banter between them is fun and frequently clever . Lawrence Craft is a young , ambitious traveling merchant . As the story begins , he's still basically a one-wagon peddlar , making his way through the countryside , hoping to find items that he can trade or resell . While visiting an old friend in a country village , he encounters Horo , the village's resident fertility goddess , who plans to run away from the place she's called home for centuries . A wolf-deity in the guise of a pretty young girl , she is worshipped as the being who brings bountiful harvests . Alas , times are changing , and the Christian Church is busily converting the few remaining pagan settlements . Horo , deeply lonely , senses the villagers turning away from her , and decides to leave the village . She hitches a ride with the kind-hearted Lawrence , hoping to make her way north to her ancestral homelands . As the two of them undertake the meandering journey north through a landscape bright with autumn leaves and newly-harvested fields , they have a number of adventures tied to Lawrence's attempts to become rich . They meet new friends , encounter both good experiences and base betrayals , and form a deep and tender friendship with romantic overtones . Horo's loneliness is assuaged by Lawrence's constant and good-natured companionship ; in return , she is imperious , flirtatious , kind , loyal , and occasionally fierce in his defense . They make a great team , and their mutual respect for each other shines through in their dialogue and actions . It's really a lovely series , filled with gentle humor , interesting ( and well-fleshed-out ) world-building , and genuine jeopardies . I look forward to watching the second season of this show when it's released . Grade : A - / B +
    • 046   The description left me wondering - but the reviews turned the tide . This is one of those rare Anime where the girls are not bikini-clad bimbos . It's a realistic ( OK , except for the mythology ) portrayal of life several hundred years ago , call it a generic pre or post dark ages . After a couple of episodes I was hooked . Even the end title song is addictive . I have not seen this in months - but now hear that apple song in my head . If you enjoy well-thought out Anime , sans giant robots , aliens or bimbos - an Anime populated instead with memorable , fleshed-out characters you'll remember for years , this is it . The plots are unique ( a series based on trading business ? ! ? ) and believable . Watch it - you'll be glad you did !
    • 047   This review is from : Spice and Wolf : Season One ( DVD ) After watching this Anima I have to say it's one of the best I've seen in a long time . Not only is it worth a gander I dare say this twice . . . it's one of the best I've seen in a long time . Get it , watch it , you won't be disappointed . If I were to describe this anima I would say it's kind of like Inuyasha in reverse . You have this all powerful , all knowing , wolf goddess who fallows this young , smart , well mannered business man who seeks his fortune in low risk trading but it seem to take place in the European area ( most likely England ) during the 14 - 16 hundreds with pretty much no dragon ball esc fighting that Inuyasha seemed to be prone to . So if you watch this hoping for a well animated fight seen ; you won't get it . However ; if you like a story driven by its players that is seemingly well writhen and beautifully well translated with little to no translation errors but with a Shakespearian feel to it with its mix of tragedy and comedy then this would be the anima for you .
    • 048   After watching this Anima I have to say it's one of the best I've seen in a long time . Not only is it worth a gander I dare say this twice . . . it's one of the best I've seen in a long time . Get it , watch it , you won't be disappointed . If I were to describe this anima I would say it's kind of like Inuyasha in reverse . You have this all powerful , all knowing , wolf goddess who fallows this young , smart , well mannered business man who seeks his fortune in low risk trading but it seem to take place in the European area ( most likely England ) during the 14 - 16 hundreds with pretty much no dragon ball esc fighting that Inuyasha seemed to be prone to . So if you watch this hoping for a well animated fight seen ; you won't get it . However ; if you like a story driven by its players that is seemingly well writhen and beautifully well translated with little to no translation errors but with a Shakespearian feel to it with its mix of tragedy and comedy then this would be the anima for you .
    • 049   This review is from : Spice and Wolf : Season One ( DVD ) I am a BIG fan of Anime . I have quite a few and still looking for new ones . I purchased this mostly out of curiosity , and I am glad I did . Its not your normal love story , and in some ways it leaves you wondering if it IS a love story . ( though you can kinda see it's heading that way . ) I won't say much more other then its a good story . Alittle slow at times but good non-the-less . The thing I didn't like is it ended kinda leaveing you blinking your eyes and saying to yourself . . . . that can't be it . Is THAT where it ends ? but if theres going to be a season 2 then it ends perfectly .
    • 050   I am a BIG fan of Anime . I have quite a few and still looking for new ones . I purchased this mostly out of curiosity , and I am glad I did . Its not your normal love story , and in some ways it leaves you wondering if it IS a love story . ( though you can kinda see it's heading that way . ) I won't say much more other then its a good story . Alittle slow at times but good non-the-less . The thing I didn't like is it ended kinda leaveing you blinking your eyes and saying to yourself . . . . that can't be it . Is THAT where it ends ? but if theres going to be a season 2 then it ends perfectly .
    • 051   This review is from : Spice and Wolf : Season One ( DVD ) Coming from a person who watches a lot of dubbed anime , I've seen descent , good , excellent , and even bad dubs . Spice and Wolf Season 1 , was a great anime , but my gripe would probably be with the dub . It was sub par at best honestly . Not really that great coming from Funimation . The story was pretty good for a recent anime , with the different characters , the catchy comedy , and all that . The music isn't too bad . Can't say I favor it too much , but the ending song is very catchy , if not cute . I'd recommend this anime to many people . It's amazing , has a great story , and continues on in the second season . Pick it up , and check for yourself .
    • 052   Coming from a person who watches a lot of dubbed anime , I've seen descent , good , excellent , and even bad dubs . Spice and Wolf Season 1 , was a great anime , but my gripe would probably be with the dub . It was sub par at best honestly . Not really that great coming from Funimation . The story was pretty good for a recent anime , with the different characters , the catchy comedy , and all that . The music isn't too bad . Can't say I favor it too much , but the ending song is very catchy , if not cute . I'd recommend this anime to many people . It's amazing , has a great story , and continues on in the second season . Pick it up , and check for yourself .
    • 053   Truly beautiful , brilliantly scripted , amazingly animated . A triumph . If only there were a season 3 : ' (
    • 054   This review is from : Spice and Wolf : Season One ( DVD ) The title really says it all . The show itself is extremely awesome but the DVD is subpar . The fansubs I got while this was being aired are of a much higher video quality and the subtitles look much better . It really saddens and worries me that Funimation felt that this is release quality . I can't really say much about the dub . I switched to it for a few moments and quickly switched back to the Japanese audio . The voices just don't fit the characters in my opinion .
    • 055   The title really says it all . The show itself is extremely awesome but the DVD is subpar . The fansubs I got while this was being aired are of a much higher video quality and the subtitles look much better . It really saddens and worries me that Funimation felt that this is release quality . I can't really say much about the dub . I switched to it for a few moments and quickly switched back to the Japanese audio . The voices just don't fit the characters in my opinion .
    • 056   Yep completaly . I bought right after finishing it online . I enjoy supporting the people who make the very things that I enjoy watching . So Spice and Wolf is okay . . . meh . I thought that the art work was cute , but the animation was okay at some points . There was a HUGE issue with a horse that looked . . . well weird . Like it wa sbeing controlled by puppets in a very BAD puppet show . The entire series was alright and I even started watching the second season . I'll buy the second season because I bought the first . I have a problem with having to finish such things and it drives me mad . To be truth though I didnt really have a favorite character which is bad because I really love to gloat and float on air about how cool , cute , or amazing a certain character . So why did I start ? Otaku USA . That's why . They did a review in fact A BIG review on this anime and I thought it sounded neat . So I watched it , found out that it was coming out , and bought the dang thing . Not from amazon though . Best Buy sucks btw and I don't think I'll shop anywher except amazon . . . no I am not one of those creepy people who never leave their house . The humor was slightly entertaining I found myself smiling when she called potatoes stupid , but other then that . . . meh . The bond between those might as well be the bond between House and Cuddy . She messes with him every chance she gets , usually to get something she wants , and he does the same only to see her reaction . I like it better in House , but whatever . All and all if I could put this back on ths shelf and get my moolah back . . . I would do it . Save your money for something better is my suggestion .
    • 057   Perhaps if Funimation would use three to four discs , instead of sacrificing quality by using only two discs for thirteen episodes , this might be worthwhile . Seriously , do they think people would not notice ? Answerman , a reviewer from Anime News Network , agrees with my assessment . He states : In North America , maybe Funimation will finally get through their concrete skulls that putting seven episodes of anime on one DVD makes it look like decaying raw sewage , and will wake up and delete their squeezeboxes and re-release all the affected series ( including Fruits Basket ) with no more than five episodes per DVD . Here is the url , if you are interested : [ . . . ]

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