Perhaps it is pointless for me to first comment on Spice and Wolf after six episodes have already aired, given how everybody is talking about it, but I wanted to hold out until my number of viewed episodes reached a nice multiple of three. Each person is obsessive-compulsive in his or her own special way, and with me, it concerns numbers. “After Five Episodes”, or even worse, “After Four Episodes” simply will not due for this tidy and orderly blog. Moving on to the focus of this perfectly-balanced post, however, the quality of Spice and Wolf as series has really surprised me. It is without a doubt my favorite currently-running anime, causing me to drop everything that I am doing for half an hour every week in order to follow the travels of a little wolf inside a cart.
When I first heard of Spice and Wolf, I had no idea what the actual story behind it was about. Of course, this was because my first exposure to the series was in the form of a pornographic doujin. While it was no Wikipedia article, it intrigued me enough to download the first episode of the animation, which had just begun its run. Judging by the naked wolfgirl featured so prominently in various screencaps and promo pictures, I was expecting a generic fan-service show that I would enjoy as a guilty pleasure for three episodes before dropping it. Maybe there would even be a cry of “Tail feel so good!” somewhere in the mix. Fortunately, I was sorely mistaken.
Set in a transitional time period, Wolf and Spice is the tale of Lawrence, a shrewd travelling merchant, and Horo, a companion and business partner that he picks up along the way, who happens to be the mostly-human incarnation of an ancient wolf goddess. Over the centuries, Horo has been witness to a slew of cultural changes that have diminished her stature as a goddess: most notably mankind’s self-sufficiency in agriculture, and humanity’s growing faith in the Church rather than pagan deities. Feeling less than welcome in her current residence, Horo joins Lawrence on a journey to the north, where she will meet up with the other wolves that had long since emigrated. Given that Lawrence is a merchant, the journey is anything but direct, with Lawrence attempting to make profits where he can along the way. The merchant’s trade brings both Lawrence and Horo into contact with swindlers, thugs, and even worse, the Church itself. With their wits, courage, and knowledge of economic theory, both Horo and Lawrence attempt to wriggle their way out of dangerous situations and make it to the north country alive and well.
Needless to say, Spice and Wolf completely surpassed the (low) expectations that I had of it. While the fantastic setting and complex plot certainly had something to do with my instant attraction to this series, what really struck me was the quality of both of this show’s protagonists. In a medium that is not always known for its deep and multi-faceted characters, both Lawrence and Horo are a breath of fresh air. Unlike so many other male leads, Lawrence is a cool, collected, and clever. If any other man chanced upon a naked wolf goddess, they would have most likely turned red, gotten a nosebleed, and then would have lived out an awkward relationship with Horo for the remainder of the series—or behave in a manner equally cliched and lame as that. Not Lawrence. Simply put, he is the man. If Lawrence is indeed the man, then Horo is the wolf; her charm, intelligence, and experience compliment Lawrence and his trade quite well, providing him with guidance that translates into increased profit. The relationship between these characters is more than a few entertaining exchanges. It is very natural and believable, which is a strong contributor to my enjoyment of Spice and Wolf.
As a whole, Spice and Wolf is the best anime running this winter. From the moment that the first words of the sweet and mellow opening theme begin to the final notes of the adorable Engrishy ending song, the viewer finds his or herself within a fascinating world driven by a captivating cast of characters. Every single episode so far has left me wanting another one immediately. If for whatever reason, the reader has not viewed Spice and Wolf yet, do yourself a favor and pick up this lovely series.
I have been following Spice and Wolf exclusively through BSS Subs, who deliver speedy but adequate subs of this series.
Weeaboo 