[US DVD] Spice and Wolf Season 1 Complete Collection Review

[Chris Beveridge]

Review by Chris Beveridge

Mania Grade: A-

In Summary:
With the first season of this series, Spice and Wolf manages to form a really intriguing and engaging bond between two characters. Spice and Wolf is a very mellow show, almost languid at times with how the pair travel along and talk about things, but it also has a lot of very tense moments. The mercantile aspects really do play a strong role here and some of them are highly engaging, moving between verbal sparring to make a deal to the larger plot going on with who is manipulating things. A show like this has two very distinct voices that are blended together quite well. The first is the bond that starts to form between Holo and Lawrence as they meet and travel with each other. The other is the merchant aspect, which brings in so many different angles and really provides the impetus for the bonding and gives it more meaning. It helps give the characters shape and guides them to where they can grow properly. I really enjoyed Spice and Wolf as it was unlike many other shows that are coming out these days. It's got great production values, engaging characters and a story, while familiar, is told in a way that allows it to feel fresh and new. Definitely a very easy strong recommendation.

[Damius]

Great review! I'll get this soon. Hope more will come.

[Classical]

I've been looking forward to this show for a long time, and three episodes in I must say it's been a fantastic watch so far. Holo is fantastic and all kinds of awesome. I'm really looking forward to watching the rest.

[Ingraman]

I'm glad that you liked this one. ^_^

I won't be buying the DVD set for quite a while, so that I can make sure that Funi isn't going to release an upscaled BD in the near-ish future. Even if that does happen, I can't pre-order it, because I don't trust Funi to not screw something up. I'll wait a year to see what happens, I guess.

[WTK]

I didn't fully know the story of the first season before watching this. It's certainly has a different feel to most of the newer anime these days. It was definitely enjoyable for me.

[railohio]

Yes! Mine finally shook loose from Right Stuf this week so hopefully I'll be enjoying this early next month. I've not seen so much as a trailer for the series but the synopsis sounds intriguing and it got great buzz on the forums so I'm willing to give it a blind shot.

[Junker Woland]

Spice and Wolf really is a great series, since it brings fresh ideas, without being something completely alien from the usual anime and manga form.

The set (and the first light novel) should be on my doorstop today or tomorrow. Here's hoping Funi grabs season two, and maybe eventually offers a Blu-ray release.

[Glamrgrl104]

I am so going to rent this when it comes out.

[njchobitsfan]

Good review Chris, right on the mark. I'm halfway thru the first set and loving this show! Horo/Holo is perfection. I love a show where you can latch onto a character caring about them to the point where every moment they're on the screen will bring you joy or despair. The scene in the underground tunnels were plain awesome, especially Horo's/Holo's transformation and dispatching of the men. I thought Chloe was going to be food I'm very much looking forward to the rest of this set and the second. I'm hoping to hear Funi has the second series on their schedule soon. I can't get enough of this show.

[hikaru004]

I'm waiting to see if a BD version will get released now that R2 BDs are out.