I thought Spice And Wolf was a pretty good series, but I must agree some of the characters were forgetable. Good review Fykki^^
Spice and Wolf tv Review
Kraft Lawrence was an ordinary merchant until he came across the pagan wolf deity Horo, disguised as a cute wolf-girl. In exchange for assisting him with his work Horo asks that he take her with him to see the world and to find her home. Lawrence has no idea what he's gotten himself into, but accepts his fate to travel with her in search of himself and their fortune together.
Description: yothsothgoth
Story & Characters
Set in the fictional renasanse world, the story follows a girl Horo who is a sage wolf and a guy who is a merchant named
Lawrence.
These are some of the good aspects of the anime. The story itself mostly focuses on those two characters and their
traveling. The world that the story is set in, is very nicely and best put to actually explain how the world at that
time functioned and the people that lived there. Mostly these two characters. What is special about them is that both
are different in their own personality. One is human, other is wolf. Both of them are met by a strong bond and set on a
wide journey.
You will find it interesting how Horo is always the smart one and always get them out of the situation, while the
Lawrence is more experienced one though in most cases he doesn’t act like that so he gets help from Horo, while
actually both of them are pendent of each other.
One thing that may lack here is how the story slowly and fast progresses. This may sound weird, but it is just because
it is. The story itself may sound confusing at first, but as you more watch you will begin to understand. What may take
you for that are some of the historical knowledge, especially from that era. How classes were formed, beliefs, faiths,
currency and such. But that all may prove it to be even more confusing to most audience, because later when you just
figure one thing from there, another comes which takes whole episode of explaining and you might just end more and more
confused. Until later you actually find out what really happened. When I wrote this review I first watched few episodes
and to be honest I was a little disappointed on how the story progress. Later though I became liking it more and more.
It truly is something special and different. No, better to say unique. What most might hold you is the suspense when
Lawrence needs to do something. There are always challenges, always something behind the angle that you might miss, but
that might later come. The suspense will keep you for actually looking at the screen and just waiting and waiting
impatiently what will happen next. It is something not seen in many anime, but presented here. That all is build even
more by good detailed camera angles and music that covers that all up. The only bad thing is that all this might be the
result that would keep someone away from watching and enduring it, but few of them would actually stand up after getting
caught in one of these scenes. Other thing I have to mention is that many characters become easily forgotten, even the
ones that you might think might get more screen time. There are always new characters by each town they visit and always
new adventures. Then again, there is a good thing behind it that it leaves more space for the main character and their
strong personalities, but it is just matter of taste.
Rating:
Art
The overall graphics in this anime, to get it out at the beginning, are on an average level. Both the animations and the
drawings are like that. There are not many chances in the beginning where you can actually see some changes with
animation, since they are mostly just walking to one spot to another and talking and so on. Now this anime has some
interesting habit. It gets better from episode to episode in terms of the overall quality that it is made. While it also
gets more confusing with that, but that’s for something else.
Even if the drawings are average and not something special unlike many other animes, there are some things that I should
praise. Those are the color blending and the classic-ness that is presented here. The colors are very nicely done. You
can notice that by all the periods that change, as well by the nature and the details of surroundings and even the
characters too, though in their cases they are more sharp, but that is normal.
When I mentioned that this anime has classic drawings, I didn’t meant overly classic. When I see it, I see a
combination of the style that is used in 90-is combined with the style of the newest animes. It gives a good impression
of the overall anime and it is one of the best styles that could be used for this type of it. Though there is one thing
that I have to mention about graphics and that is cuteness. Yes, they are quite cute, especially with all the actions
that Horo does. Some may think that it comes from the presentation section, but it is the animations actually that make
that possible.
Rating:
Sound
Now this is the part that might be different for different viewers. And that is the overall OST. You will feel almost
not even noticing it through the whole episodes. You might, but actually thinking about it would not get too much
attention, only later though. Only later you will remember all these nice little songs that very with it, but they are
still on the average side. On the other hand this also has some interesting things behind it. And that is the opening
and ending song. While to some it may be a little slow and not suited for this anime, I think that it is actually very
well done for this short anime. Especially the ending song, you will always stay wanting to hear it till the end,
because it really gives the impression like it was made just for this anime.
Now there is another aspect why the OST may not be so needed. It is the sound effects. They are very well done here and
you will even notice some small like horse riding to those of wolf cry (or song or whatever you want to call it). Even
the voice acting is tried to be done the best it could be to match the people from that age. And by that I mean
Europeans, because the overall surrounding looks like it is set in renesanse Central Europe. And yes, that’s what’s
really good. Not only outstanding voice acting, but also music that accompanies that. To some poor, but actually it
gives a good medieval effect around it. Though this is not really the medieval age, it could be said that it is the late
one and still it gives a nice touch to it. Sound effect are also on a good level, from carts moving, horses, running and
all other things. You will find all that maybe not that noticeable, but very enjoyable.
Rating:
Presentation
A fun, entertaining, romantic, yet serious anime set in the history of real world combined with the folklore tales... If
that is the anime that you are looking for, the look no further, you just found one. The overall presentation of it is
something that should be praised. Mostly because of their characters, their deep personalities and the world that is
surrounded by them. Now we get here some negative things behind it. This anime may be confusing to some and boring at
first. But even then, it only requires some basic history knowledge for you to actually understand it. You can try to
portrait yourself where the world is set, how the church works there, what are these heretics, what is the main purpose
of the merchants and the system in which they work, how the currencies change and so on and so on...
One of the other things which could be noticed by many viewers is the actual approach of the characters. Characters at
first develop too fast and too sudden for some, but actually everyone, take a closer look after a few episodes. What is
the relation between Horo and Lawrence? Can anyone say? Well you can guess, but not give the true answer, because you
are not sure yourself. But that what you know is somewhat nice resting in you. You know in what will become, but when
always there is a situation to show that it just skips. To some it may be annoying, but just give it time. Give it time,
later everything comes on it’s place and for fast paced growing storyline it actually falls on a careful and calm one.
And soon you will noticed what Horo actually is and her feelings and personality. Yes, that’s what it is good here.
Not many characters, no no. But definitely it is given a lot attention to those are there, especially two main ones. You
will at one moment even feel like you are in that fable, you will quite enjoy it.
When I mentioned historical knowledge, I really meant that. You have to understand the world that it is set it. It is
much realistic and a good presentation of the real medieval world. That might become boring, because just when you think
that something might happen, everything goes calmly. Here action doesn’t take place with swords, powers and magic.
Here… it takes place with economy, swiftness, logic and mind. Can you enter that mind? Well it is your choice to find
out!
Rating:
Final Verdict
8.0000 (good)
Reviewed by LightFykki, Aug 04, 2011
Comments
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MisaSasekage Moderator Aug 05, 2011
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angelxxuan Banned Member Aug 05, 2011
good review first and foremost. I've seen this, and, in my opinion, funimation chose a wrong annoying voice to play Horo so even switching back to the original I just could not bring myself to give this anything more deserving than average. I may be into the furry aspects of anime, but the plot just wasn't strong enough for me to keep an interest in it to watch, and spent my time wasted with reading spoilers.
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evelluchia Aug 07, 2011
very good review i found the series very good ^-^ though there were some points that irritated me but i think you dont well covering it all
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CyanideBlizzard Retired Moderator Aug 08, 2011
For myself, Spice and Wolf is a show that ranks rather highly with me. Probably even more so than this review gave it for. Between the wonderful story, animation, voice work and sound and presentation, the show was all top knotch for me, so I think you did a great job of keeping things at the level you did.
All of this reminds me that I can't wait to get the second season, which is soon to be coming out on DVD in the US!
Thanks for the review!
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mbeckley Aug 14, 2011
Wow, sounds nice to watch. :)
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