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In a medieval-inspired world filled with political and economic upheaval, Kraft Lawrence is just trying to make enough money to buy his own shop and finally put down some roots. The life of a peddler is an interesting one, but no one can stave off loneliness forever. Not even a god.

Long ago, Holo the Wise Wolf made a promise. In a small village in the mountains, she protected the fields of wheat that the townspeople relied on. She became known as the local god of the harvest. Over time, her efforts faded into myth—a myth the townspeople don’t take all that seriously anymore. Feeling unappreciated and unneeded, Holo hitches a ride in a bundle of wheat that Lawrence purchased while passing through the village.

A business partnership is soon forged. Lawrence will take Holo to her homeland in the north and in exchange, Holo’s wisdom will make his business thrive. But as two lonely souls travel together, they may find even greater fortune in each other.

Quick Review: Spice and Wolf is a banter-filled romance set against a backdrop of economic and religious upheaval. The contrast between Lawrence and Holo’s playful romance and their sometimes bleak circumstances makes for a story packed with emotional highs and lows. The English dub is one of the best from the 2000s, with stunning chemistry between the two romantic leads. The use of a subtle animation style with a dark and intense color palette creates a contrasting somber tone to the cute and cozy vibe of the 2024 adaptation. The 2008 Spice and Wolf is considered an anime classic for good reason.

Introduction

Spice and Wolf has been a fixture of light novels, manga, anime and video games for over 15 years. Beginning as a light novel in 2006, the story was recently adapted into the anime Spice and Wolf: Merchant Meets the Wise Wolf. This, however, is the second animated adaptation.

The 2008 adaptation of Spice and Wolf was a hit among anime enthusiasts who were in the know in the early 2000s. The show didn’t receive a prime spot on Toonami or Adult Swim, but word of mouth helped it spread like wildfire. At every convention, you would always see a few people cosplaying as Holo the Wise Wolf. I didn’t watch the show when it first came out, so I thought the release of the new anime was a great time to check out the old one. And I’m so glad I did.

A Lone Wolf

Spice and Wolf is a fantasy series that’s light on the fantasy elements, with a story driven by the economics of its fictional medieval setting. This is a world in transition. The Church is supplanting the powers of old, whether that power be mortal or divine. Kingdoms rise and fall and their currencies gain and lose value in turn. A burgeoning middle class of merchants is taking advantage of this politically volatile time to survive and thrive. In lieu of fantastic quests, magical rings or swords bestowed by strange women in ponds, the plot of Spice and Wolf is driven forward by the triumphs and failures of Lawrence and Holo’s business ventures.

The gods are not spared from his political upheaval. As the series progresses, it becomes increasingly conspicuous that Holo is the only mystical or divine being we encounter. There’s a subtle sense of dread in the background. We learn early on that Lawrence has heard of Holo’s homeland, but it’s clear what he’s heard is not good—Holo may very well be the last of her kind.

This is a world where the Pagan gods of old have been wholly replaced by the Church. It’s a bleak thought that’s purposely pushed to the background, as both Lawrence and Holo resist acknowledging the grim reality. Lawrence is tossed about by the whims of a harsh economic system where one bad bet can bring him to ruin, and sooner or later, Holo will have to accept that her home may not be what it once was.

And yet, I wouldn’t describe this series as a dark fantasy. For one, it doesn’t have the violence, sex, death and gore typical of a dark fantasy. More than that, I never felt bogged down by the darker implications of the story. That’s because, despite all the ups and downs, Lawrence and Holo still have each other. In Spice and Wolf, hope isn’t some distant light. It’s right beside you.

Sugar and Spice

While Lawrence and Holo’s business dealings are what move us from place to place in the story, their flirtatious banter is the emotional core and main draw of the series. Holo pokes and prods at Lawrence like a schoolgirl teasing the boy she likes, while Lawrence quickly learns that he can get Holo to behave herself with flattery and the promise of sweet treats. It’s a bit of a different spin on the supernatural romance genre, where oftentimes the appeal of the supernatural partner is their animalistic power or ethereal beauty. Holo has both traits in spades, but it’s her grounded and vulnerable characteristics that are truly appealing. At the same time, Lawrence isn’t the sort of macho leading man who fights with a sword in one hand while holding his woman in the other. He’s cunning, clever and empathetic, often seeing his own loneliness reflected in others.

The vocal performances really shine and enhance Holo and Lawrence’s dynamic. The English language dub features J. Michael Tatum as Lawrence and Brina Palencia as Holo. This pair has excellent chemistry and expertly conveys the yearning, jealousy, passion, stubbornness and vulnerability in Lawrence and Holo’s relationship. It was unsurprising when it was announced that they would be reprising their roles in the 2024 adaptation, Merchant Meets the Wise Wolf. It’s difficult to imagine another team putting on a better performance.

Variety is the Spice of Life

A highlight of the animation is Holo’s giant wolf form, which inspires the awe and fear one would expect from a towering wolf god. However, outside of her giant god form, Holo manages to keep a convincing poker face most of the time, often expressing her emotions through her tail. This subtle body language adds to the underlying tension in her relationship with Lawerence, and this tension is further enhanced by Chloe, a character based on Yarei from the light novels and manga, but original to the 2008 anime. Chloe has a personal and intimate relationship with Lawrence, upping the stakes and drama in the early episodes. She’s a character that effortlessly preys on Holo’s jealous nature and fears of being unwanted and unneeded.

This all makes for an interesting contrast with the clips I’ve seen from the new series, in which Holo more often lets her mask slip, including an adorable moment when she makes her ears dance. Overall, the new adaptation seems livelier and features a warmer and more saturated color palette than its predecessor. Merchant Meets the Wise Wolf is beautifully animated and seems to be faithful to the source material. It looks amazing, and I commend the animators for their impressive work.

At the same time, I believe the original series offers something unique with its style of animation and storytelling choices. The darker and less saturated colors of the original give the anime a grounded feeling that fits well in a story about two merchants trying to make a living in turbulent times—even if one of those merchants happens to be a wolf god.

Final Thoughts

So we have two contrasting versions of Spice and Wolf. The new one is cuter and brighter, while her elder sister has a world-weary maturity and tries to put on a brave face. I make this comparison not to suggest that one is better than the other, but to emphasize how each anime has its own unique flavor. It can be tempting to look at the beauty of Merchant Meets the Wise Wolf and think of it as a replacement for the 2008 Spice and Wolf, but to do so would be to miss out on a unique and compelling experience. So, even if you’ve seen the new series, make sure you don’t skip out on the classic!

Wolf Down These Other Recommendations

In addition to the 2008 anime, we also have the first volume of the original light novel and all 16 volumes of the manga adaptation.

Great English dubbed anime from the 2000s:

Love stories with fantastical elements:

Medieval fantasy anime:

For any other anime you might want, we’ve got a sizeable collection at Fountaindale and other Pinnacle libraries. Come in and take a look!