And the road stretches into the distance, taking travelers beyond the horizon, who, by the will of fate, are destined to wander together from city to city towards the far North. The region where severe frosts, indomitable snowstorms, northern lights and wolf gods live. What awaits travelers over the horizon? Will they be able to get to their goal? Who will they meet on their way? What news about them will bring crazy winds on the tail? All this can be learned from the anime âSpice and Wolfâ.
General information
çź ă¨ éŚčžć (Ookami to kooshinre), or, more simply, âSpice and Wolfâ, are popular âlight novelsâ in Japan (or ranobe - books of small formats with color illustrations of different genres for teenage and youthful audiences), written Isuna Hasekura. In 2007, about 500 thousand copies were sold, but a year later the number of sales exceeded 2 million. As of May 2017, 19 volumes of these light short stories were on sale, 3 of them are branches of the main plot. Although the work is written in the fantasy genre, it qualitatively stands out from other similar works. Here, the characters act in the world of commodity-money relations, and not in the reality of sword and magic, as is usually the case.
In September 2007, the first chapter of the eponymous manga, drawn by Keito Koume, appeared in the Japanese monthly men's magazine Dengeki Maoo. The following year, the animated series "Spice and Wolf" was shown in Japan. Also on the story "light novel" was created a game in the genre of dating simulator.
Anime
The first season of the anime, based on the âSpice and Wolfâ ranobe, was released by Imajin in 2008. It consists of 13 series and one OVA. The second season was released in 2009. He was introduced by the Brains Base studio, the anime included 12 episodes and two OVA. The director was Takeo Takahashi.
Manga
The first volume of the manga went on sale September 27, 2007. On March 27 of the following year, the first tankobon (a separate book with something, most often with manga) is published, which included the first six chapters of the manga. The appearance of the first tankobon was promoted by the company Media Works.
This did not end the spread of manga. Kadokawa Media is launching a series in Chinese and distributing in Taiwan. In 2009, the American company Yen Press acquires the right to issue manga, and Russia also does not lag behind in this matter. The company "Reanimedia" bought a license that applies to the Baltic countries, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Russia and Ukraine. December 25, 2009 the first volume of the Russian manga âSpice and Wolfâ was released.
What is the plot about?
Before you begin to get acquainted with the characters of the anime âSpice and Wolfâ, it is worth saying a few words about the plot.
Man loves to conquer nature too much. Even in the ordinary backwoods, people chose to use new technologies, and not to pin their hopes on the goddess she-wolf Holo, as it was before. The one who guarded their crops for thousands of years was now forgotten by everyone, but she could not dissolve the ancient agreement.
The traveling merchant Kraft Lawrence has been traveling the world for 7 years trying to earn money to open his own store. By chance or fate, he found himself in that same village and quite by accident released the deity of the harvest. The goddess decided to return to her native land, therefore, having taken on the appearance of a girl, she asked a young merchant to take her home, but she would not remain in debt. The guy himself was glad to leave the village: the daughter of old comrade Chloe offered him such that he would expect either an acquaintance with a priest or a sheriff. Therefore, the main characters from âSpice and Wolfâ - Holo and Lawrence - went to the far North.
A long road full of dangers and interesting adventures awaited them. And they would have arrived faster if no one cared about a simple merchant and his strange companion. But travelers are considering the proposals, because they have such a profession - to help people.
Spice and Wolf: Characters Complementary
There are only two main characters in the anime - the wolf goddess Holo and twenty-five-year-old merchant Kraft Lawrence. From the first meeting it is clear that this couple harmoniously complements each other. They are like ice and fire - Lawrence is calm and unshakable, and Holo is quick-tempered and sharp on the tongue. But thanks to this contrast, viewers can witness funny skirmishes and cute moments of understanding and support. And whatâs the phrase: âYou have a taste, since you were able to appreciate the beauty of my tail.â
But behind this fun, carefree conversations and dangerous adventures, it is difficult to recognize two loneliness.
Lawrence and Holo know firsthand what it feels like to be forgotten, abandoned and unnecessary to anyone in the whole world. They understand each other like no other, and therefore remain together so that they will never be alone again. Because of this, the pair looks extremely attractive and harmonious.
Holo
The first character from The Wolf and Spice, which will be discussed, is the goddess of fertility Holo. She can be a cute red-haired girl with ears and a fluffy tail, and can appear in the form of a huge wolf. To do this, she needs to drink some blood or eat wheat grains. Several centuries ago, she appeared on the southern lands and concluded an agreement with local peasants, according to which she was supposed to protect their crops. Over time, people stopped worshiping the goddess as before, because of this she decides to go to her homeland.
Holo loves alcohol, sweets and apples. Easily recognizes a lie, which helps Lawrence conduct business. Her character is unusual and multifaceted, so she repeatedly surprises the audience with her behavior. But even such a wolf mother has its weaknesses, because of which she wants to protect her. Holo is unpredictable, self-confident, funny, cute, self-sufficient and always ready to help. No one will get bored with such a companion.
Lawrence Craft
A young tramp wants to raise money to open his own store. When he was 12 years old, he became a student of an experienced trader, at 18 he had already set off on his own to conquer trade routes. He seeks profit in everything and will never take up a business that could cause loss. Even agreeing to help the sweet girl Holo, he made a promise from her that she would cover all his losses. Lawrence is cunning and smart, but kind. And this last quality often annoys Holo.
Although there is nothing distinctive and outstanding in the merchant, he leaves the most favorable impressions as a character from the âWolf and Spiceâ. With the development of the plot, its character is also revealed. He is not a wimp, as you might have thought at the beginning. Obstacles that need to be destroyed by brute force, he can break with a sharp mind. He has his own beliefs and principles, he is impossibly prudent, but at the same time he knows how to take care. And Iâm ready to sacrifice my dream for the sake of a loved one.
Other heroes
Nora Arent is a shepherdess from the city of Rubinghagen, who helped Lawrence and Holo deal with the smuggling of gold. Her assistant and faithful friend is the dog Enek. Nora dreams of one day quitting her job and becoming a professional dressmaker. That is why she agrees to contribute to such a dangerous venture. Nora is also considered a sorceress because, grazing sheep, she does not lose any of them, even if the pasture is teeming with wolves.
Chloe - this character can only be found in the anime, in the original work there is only a male analogue - Yarei. Chloe, a resident of Pasro, has long been familiar with Lawrence, who once taught her a trade craft. She respects him as a teacher and a good friend, only this friendship came to an end when Chloe with the Guild of Medio tried to seize Holo and transfer it to the hands of the church. For her, always in the first place was her own well-being.
Quotes
Despite some technical flaws in the animation, Spice and Wolf is popular with viewers. Therefore, it is not surprising that the dialogues and statements of the characters have long been dismantled into quotes. Here are the most popular ones:
It seems that wisdom and alcohol are incompatible.
There is nothing worse than buying bread with bloodstained money.
Obviously, we would consider important only that which required serious efforts. But it happens that the important comes into our life unexpectedly simply.
All stupid boys are jealous, and stupid girls only need this. Oh how much stupidity in this world!
Peasants do not think about time, they only know when it is time. Dawn - it's time to get up, before noon it's time to plow, after lunch it's time to mow the grass. In spring, they rejoice in flowering, in summer sometimes bliss in greenery, in autumn they celebrate harvest, and in winter they miss spring.
Those who do not give up create what no one believes in.
A powerful appetite is a minus. But I see no reason to abstain.
To summarize this anime, you can use one phrase: once they met, and everything immediately fell into place. It became clear where the road leading behind the horizon led, why all those meetings were needed, and what the wandererâs song wept about, intoxicating the bitter wormwood of roads.