Audience reviews
20 · Sample from the first available page, separate from the total number of ratings.
Maltard
My watch of Spice and Wolf occurred after finishing exams. My brain is rotted, and it showed during the duration of me watching this anime. When I learned that the main heroine was a wolf, I kept making jokes about "there are two wolves inside of you", and so kept spamming either the brainaneurysm.mp3 sound effect or some random gigachad theme. There were times where I talked about Holo being either locked in or tweaking because of this joke. Aside from this, there were the serious sections that talked about economics, and these sections were easy to watch because I watched with someone who was financially literate, unlike me who has zero clue what a bank loan means. This anime was pretty good, and maybe it was because I watched this in a lobotomized state, but I could barely tell you why…
Read at the sourceSymphony1shark
To be honest? Medieval product exchange, and stocks is about as interesting and fun as reading a gym sock. The art and sound is nothing astounding, and just because you give a leading female main character ears and a tail doesn't mean they suddenly have character depth. And the male main character is so stale, I got bored at the idea of him. I get people like what they like, but after watching season 1 and 2, I'd say it'd be better to find almost any other anime to watch. I even went in with a clean slate, and had read the positive reviews to look for what people saw in it, and I honestly feel like it was a waste of time.
Read at the sourceHellschwarz
It's probably because it's older, but I don't consider this show to be "good":
- The pacing is slow
- There is a lot of dialogue, but very little worldbuilding in it
- By episode 5 nothing has happened
- Holo always has to remind everyone that she's "Holo the wise wolf" even if it is not important at all No seriously. There are 10 minutes of Dialogue in every episode that have no real substance. If you want to show that Holo is attractive and how to change coins you could do that in 2 sentences and draw holo more attractive, and not have 12 Min of one episode invested in those two infos. There are some things, that I think are supposed to be jokes, but it doesn't really deliver.
I've seen filler in anime that had more substance than this. No idea why it's rated 8.3 - Y'all furries?
Read at the sourceHibbington
When watching this show I ponder on what it really means to “Falling into the Hype”.
It is naïve to think that when a show is popular that it doesn’t effect your mood going in.
But on that same thought is there a difference in “Falling into the Hype” and just seeking understatement on why something is popular.
I didn’t come into this show hyped but throughout this experience I was always search for that special something.
Something I never found. All I was left was this indifferent feeling.
When you are stuck in an indifferent feeling is a good indication that the show is average.
It is tasked upon you at that point to go through all the aspects of the show and see what would you say is above average and if that is enough to warrant putting up the score.
When I asked about this show…
Read at the sourceTeslaFreak
I saw this anime because of a few recommendations online and several glowing reviews, however upon watching Spice and Wolf I have to wonder how old the writers of these reviews are that they can find this enjoyable. If you've read any other review on this show, you'll know it is praised for its "character depth" and its use of economics. Let me warn you ahead of time, I have seen puddles with more depth than these characters. They are extremely 2 dimensional, the dialogue might as well have been written by a junior high student, and the monotonous tone of the voice acting is appalling. As to the economics so heavily praised by viewers, it is hardly a fair trade for a good story. When the subject is brought up, it sounds more like the characters are reading from a textbook rather than furth…
Read at the sourceaereldor
This review is for both seasons.
TL;DR - Great show. Refreshing medieval drama without corny magic (stunning historically accurate and fun depiction of medieval economics and commerce), immensely likeable main characters, awesome period-appropriate soundtrack, amazing dub, good art. Watch this show, despite the unfortunate cliffhanger ending of Season 2.
This is a great lesson on 'Never judge a book by the cover'. That said, I wish they had a better cover... Spice and Wolf was marketed with a half-naked furry wolf girl. Like most people, I was repulsed by it at first sight. Little did I know this seemingly shallow fanservice poster girl is one of the deepest characters in any anime ever, and the show is far better than the light novels it's based on.
Spice and Wolf doesn't have a grand…
Read at the sourceafrodizzy
In one word, spectacular.
Spice and Wolf is a long journey filled with heaps of dialogue and economics, just keep that in mind when deciding to watch it.
Story: Spice and Wolf is set in the medieval in a land that appears to take inspiration from European countries. Our story begins with the introduction of Kraft Lawrence, a travelling merchant who while on his way from town, is approached by the wolf goddess who goes by the name of Holo the Wise Wolf. Who asks to accompany Lawrence on his travels so she can return to her home in the snowy north. From here on out this is a journey filled with heartwarming and fun filled adventure between the two as they ride together selling goods and getting into trouble. All around a great, interesting and inventive concept.
Characters: This is partly…
Read at the sourceliteraturenerd
Overview:
Are you tired of action shonen series with a fighting tournament every 2 story arcs? Want to see something different? Anime has many different genres from which to choose: psychological drama, slice of life, echii comedy, sports, etc. How about something REALLY different? An anime centered around trading that mainly teaches the viewer principals of economics like inflation, buying on margin, and short selling stock? Spice and Wolf is a show so uniquely odd that I had a hard time convincing my friends that it actually exists. This is an anime so dialogue heavy and business oriented that it would likely get better ratings on Bloomberg than on Cartoon Network's Adult Swim. Spice and Wolf also has some well written romance and great characters, so even if you aren't into economics,…
Read at the sourcejawnmewn
The driving force behind any action we take can be attributed to the profit as a result of said action. Whether that profit is tangible or intangible, our lives are loosely based on a "avoid punishments and collect rewards" mentality. Yet, it is strange. We sacrifice our health in order to acquire wealth only to spend that surplus to recuperate our well being. In that sense, it is seemingly irrational for us to work without pause in with the hope that our efforts will be handsomely rewarded.
However, people continue to do so, sweating tears and blood in the process. Ookami to Koushinryou, also known as Spice and Wolf, explores this theme with a supernatural, medival, and romantical flair. Through the utilization of cleverly written dialogues and exchanges, a memorable cast of characters,…
Read at the sourcexbobx
"We won't laugh until we get the money, we won't cry until we go bankrupt."
If one wishes to switch a bit from action and cute-girls-doing-cute-stuff series, and watch a more serious but yet funny and romantic story, this is the perfect choice.
The quote above, said from Lawrence to Holo, represents one of the main features of the anime: the mixture of an economics theme with slice-fo-life elements. From the surface, it sure seems pretty odd, but when you take a deeper look, you see it blend so well with the storyline that long conversations about price raising and market value -boring to many people- end up as things joyful to watch in a way that it's even possible you get excited over commercial deals just as much as you'd be with a mecha fight.
Spice & Wolf is a smart anime, with a se…
Read at the sourceGonzyChan
Wolves are beautiful creatures to look at. You see them creeping around the woods with their pack and ruling the territory that they claim as their own. There is no doubt that they have been the focal point in some anime shows over the years, but when have you seen them being used as an intelligent focal point in a show's narrative? Outcomes Spice and Wolf, a tale that follows two of our heroes in their journey involving mercantilism, convinces us that you can pull off a simple concept and make something brilliant out of it.
Spice and Wolf is set up as your typical traveler's type of story where we follow Kraft Lawrence, a traveling merchant who deals with trading anything that is profitable and makes a fortune out of it. He is then confronted with a Wolf goddess named Holo, who wants to…
Read at the sourceNeverKnowsBest26
Usually, when one thinks of fantasy, sword-wielding heroes and epic battles are the first things that come to mind. Indeed, these are the norm for the genre. While there are some great stories that fit into this description, such as Lord of the Rings, or Berserk (to name an anime), the genre can feel quite stale. In this sea of monotonous tales, Spice and Wolf provides a refreshingly different take on the genre. It is a charming, laid-back tale that treads in territory scarcely explored in fantasy: Economics.
Kraft Lawrence is a traveling peddler. Traveling from place to place in order to make a profit, he leads a rather lonely life. That is, until he finds he has picked up a hitchhiker. A girl, with the ears and tail of a wolf. She claims to be Holo, the harvest god of a near by town, an…
Read at the sourcesantetjan
A sensory description accompanied by fields of gold swaying as the west wind moves. A reference to a European legend so obscure most people living where the legend was current will have never heard of it, and well-used to boot. A depiction of change, of progress and of its accompanying alteration of people's perception. All in a preamble spoken in a soft voice.
How could this not turn out to be brilliant?
When discussing Spice and Wolf, the very title of the series is of interest. More particularly, the sequence of the words of that title. Whereas the Japanese original should have produced the sequence 'Wolf and Spice', the reverse is used in the English title; both sequences are used when people talk about the series. The very preference of one sequence of the title's elements over the o…
Read at the sourcenoteDhero
Spice and Wolf is a peaceful journey through a stylized, medieval Europe. The story follows Lawerence Craft, a successful merchant, as he travels a winding path North to take his companion, the wolf-god, Holo, back to the home she has nearly forgotten.
Art – 7
Artistically, Spice and Wolf succeeds in its panoramic intake of the various environments Lawerence and Holo travel throughout the series. The show is very drenched in the authenticity of its time, from the rickety wagons to the stone inns. The colors are mute wheats, somber blues, cloudy grays, and lots of brown, a palette that sets the show apart from most other series. With that in mind however, the show becomes a bit of a bore when the focus is not on new sights, but on the bland character design, or even once the town of the mo…
Read at the sourcekiriska
It's an anime about economics. And cheating out of economics with a giant wolf.
STORY - Seriously. It's a show about medieval economics and how the church influenced businesses at the time. The series thus involves a lot of talking heads, and there isn't a whole lot of action, making it a potential turn-off for people who dislike long-winded explanations. Despite this, there is an actual story beyond the educational rambling which, surprisingly, isn't really exposition at all. Spice and Wolf can almost be considered a semi-historical slice-of-life in that it follows the day-to-day activities of a traveling merchant... and his wolf girl companion. It follows their monetary triumphs and losses and explores the difficulties associated with traveling with a pagan deity when the church is as s…
Read at the sourceKaminaKai
"Presented a whole new definition for anime. One of a kind story-plot. Intriguing character relationships."
Tired of action-based (shounen) anime? Want to try something more "wordy" for a change? Spice and wolf will be your ideal candidate in this case! Heavily driven by plot, Spice and Wolf require the viewer to pay 100% attention to the dialogues between characters. It is, however, important to note that the conversations between the characters were so well planned that one will hardly ever feel bored over the course of the series.
Skillfully constructed dialogues throughout the series resulted in a wonderful story full of joy and sorrow. While it can be confusing to follow at first, the story develops itself slowly and quietly for the first few episodes leading to one climax after ano…
Read at the sourceRanivus
Wolf and spice can be summed up fairly easily. Be prepared for ALOT of dialog. In essence, its about a story about merchant trading during medieval times. A time when the word of the catholic church was more important than anything else and anyone else was deemed a witch or heretic. Since it is set in such archaic times it would be a perfect fit to have an anime about merchant trading.
Ever since i was in middle school I used to play video games with trading and how prices rise and fall from location to location and how supply and demand and even risk margins for investing in certain things to turn a profit. That was the main goal, to make money. And that is the main goal of our main character Lawrence Kraft. Through his travels he entrusted a small heretic town that believed in a wolf go…
Read at the sourceleonmcnicol
At first I was baffled what kind of anime is S&W and would it leave an impression on me when I watched it. Happily enough, it did and with a fresh genre that it introduced for today's generation.
Story: 10/10
Making a breakthrough using "economy" and "trade" as the main theme, it is a fresh approach that was injected to the mostly underrated medieval theme anime series without the fancy mahou or sword-and-damsels-in-distress approach. The story would be slow at first but will pick-up for most 1st time watchers.
Art: 9/10
IMAGIN studio did a great work in making this series to suit a medieval atmosphere for the viewer. The graphic and art is very good with the golden fields of wheat to the dark forests of the countryside that makes one to be fully absorbed into it.
Sound: 9/10
As I expec…
Read at the sourceSmithy
Personally I did not especially enjoy “Spice And Wolf” for what it was originally advertised, its dealings and plots involving medieval economics. Those sounded promising but proved to be a bit too difficult for me to fully grasp and really enjoy. Sure, the various aspects of economy, trading and business were interesting and quite unique to see portrayed in an anime series like that, but in the end they did not seem to be able to bring it in such a way that it provided grasping plot material. The fact on most occasions they resorted to standard action events (double-crossings, betrayal, attack by wild wolves,...) to spice up -pun intended- the plot and various business dealings did not really help either.
What made “Spice And Wolf” a real joy to watch for me were…
Read at the sourceMaster10K
Spice and Wolf is a Supernatural, Romance, Adventure anime set in a sort of fantasy, European, Medieval world. The story itself revolves around a young travelling merchant (Craft Lawrence), who encounters a legendary wolf god, in the appearance of a cute girl (Holo/Horo) and they end up travelling together. However for those expecting plenty of wolf action or full-on romance may be disappointed. Instead it basically follows their journey from town to town, helping each other on complex business deals, whilst coming across major developments and dilemmas. Of course there are pockets of action & minor romantic developments but those don’t play much part until later on in the short series.
Due to the nature of the story; the main characters don’t really stay at one place, so the…
Read at the source