It’s easy for fans to get swept up in the anime season’s newest releases and original works, but sometimes it’s worth revisiting old favorites to give them new life and relevancy. Spice and Wolf: Merchant Meets the Wise Wolf (hereafter referred to as Spice and Wolf 2024) is a remake of the anime by the same name released in 2008. A weekly review of the episodes as they come out will follow, so let’s establish some context by looking back at the 2008 version. Let’s discuss what sets it apart, what made it work, and what we can expect from the 2024 version.
About Spice and Wolf
The story follows Kraft Lawrence, a traveling merchant with hopes of one day settling down and opening his own shop. Young in years, but rich in experience, Lawrence prides himself on his connections and business acumen. Upon passing a village to meet an old friend, he encounters a strange girl who claims to be the harvest god, Holo, the wise wolf. Forgotten by the townsfolk, she wishes to return north to her birthplace. Lawrence is hesitant, but eventually agrees to take her. Having a god of plenty may just bring him hefty profit, if she doesn’t eat through his capital first.
Spice and Wolf (2008) is based on the light novel series written by Isuna Hasekura. There is also a manga adaptation illustrated by Ju Ayakura. It’s worth noting that there are substantial differences between all three versions. For our purposes, we’ll keep the discussion as close to the anime as possible, but if you’re eager for more, both the manga and light novel have been completed, and there’s even a sequel currently releasing.
Spice and Wolf (2008) Review
The anime set itself apart by focusing on a grounded reality with subtle fantasy elements. With a blend of basic economics and daily life with a wolf deity, the bulk of the story is split between developing the relationship between Lawrence and Holo and exploring the various business practices in a medieval setting.
What really carries the story is Lawrence and Holo’s relationship. Her teasing words and playful attitude balance well with Lawrence’s attempts at maturity. When they’re not struggling with debt or talking business, they are bickering back and forth, growing closer, and learning to trust each other. It’s a very wholesome kinship that takes its time to become something more. There is genuine chemistry between them, which makes the economic talk all the more bearable.
Some may be caught off guard with how much emphasis the anime places on business. However, it never feels like conversations are stuck in lecture mode. A good majority of screen time is taken to explain the various principles of economics, but with clever story structure, these talks serve to enhance the rising action rather than weaken it.
The world is also incredibly detailed. Certain events have far-reaching repercussions that affect the characters in a multitude of ways. The supporting cast are more than set dressing. They feel like natural inhabitants of this world with agendas and desires all their own. It’s these encounters and environments that help to inform how Lawrence and Holo view each other.
Strong character writing, fun banter, and impressive detail make Spice and Wolf (2008) a hidden gem of anime.
24 Episodes, plus 2 OVAs
Watch on: Crunchyroll, Amazon Prime Video, and Hulu
The 2024 Remake
When it comes to anime receiving a remake, one might expect more than a face lift to the visuals. Perhaps it will follow the source material more closely or rectify an underwhelming anime-only ending. In the case of Spice and Wolf (2008), the biggest expectation would be a more complete story. The last few episodes ended without resolving the conflict it had set up. It’s anyone’s guess why it ended like this, but anime watchers were left disappointed, waiting for more episodes that never did come. Now with the release of Spice and Wolf (2024), fans are eager to relive the story with, hopefully, a more satisfying ending.
If you’d like to read more and join the discussion, I will be writing weekly reviews of each episode the day after they release, starting next week with a big review of the first three episodes. For now, I will put forth one bit of speculation on my part. I suspect that Spice and Wolf (2024) will aim to incorporate qualities from every version of the story that came before it, making it a complete definitive version. I will discuss more in the weekly reviews. Until then.
Spice and Wolf: Merchant Meets the Wise Wolf is slated for 25 episodes.
Watch on Crunchyroll and Amazon Prime Video every Monday.
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