False Advertising The official Funimation page for Spice and Wolf features an ad that is deeply misleading. The commercial seems to utilize EVERY SINGLE SCENE where Holo is nekkid in the entire 13 episode series.
A large percentage of fanboys that decide to buy the show based on this ad alone will be deeply disappointed.
Likely many of those who might enjoy the series will be put off by it. (In fairness, the Opening Credits are only a little better in this regard)
I thoroughly enjoyed this show (which is based not on a manga, but rather on a series of Japanese light novels.)
A pagan wolf goddess manages to release herself from the village wheat field to which she
was long ago bound by taking up up in a bale of wheat (!?) that is in the possession of a roving peddler in the land of PsudomedievalhistoriEurope.
The Goddess, who calls herself 'Holo the Wise Wolf' has long been weary of being bound to the land and is asks the trader, one Craft Lawrence, to take her to her home which is in
the far north.
The unlikely duo goes from town to town trading pelts for apples and
apples for wheat and generally give the audience a lesson in barter
level economics.
The show is clever, thoughtful and has a rather dry sense of humor. It is likely rather TOO dry for a lot of people but it really hit home with me.
I suppose this is technically a magical girlfriend show, however, the male lead is neither a cypher nor a nebbish and in a marked departure from most such shows Craft almost immediately takes action to ensure that Holo can leave him at any time. The two compliment each other very nicely. Their relationship is sane and mature, and it did not creep me out.
So maybe this ISN'T a magical girlfriend show after all.
The dialog is intelligent, and this is complemented by a superb English dub, with Brina Palencia absolutely hitting it out of the park as Holo,
The Funimation DVD includes the complete first series.
1
Sure it's a magical girlfriend series. As is common in these things, the girlfriend terrifies the protagonist, although usually the aspect of terror has more to do with gynophobia than Lawrence's reasonable fear that Holo might devour secondary or incidental characters in a fit of godly pique.
And the way that the first arc concerns an involuted Grisham's Law triple-level financial scam argues that the economics are considerably further than barter-economy. I'd characterize it as high Renaissance, just without guns.
Good news, though. FUNimation's mis-representation of the fanservice quotient must have made it enough of a hit to get the license for the second season, they announced Spice and Wolf II last month.
Posted by: Mitch H. at Mon Apr 12 13:54:21 2010 (jwKxK)
And the way that the first arc concerns an involuted Grisham's Law
triple-level financial scam argues that the economics are considerably
further than barter-economy. I'd characterize it as high Renaissance,
just without guns.
Good points, but remember, the economy of Pre Renaissance Europe was more sophisticated than it gets credit for.
It's also possible that the/a Renaissance is just starting out elsewhere. Remember the trading companies home offices are mentioned as being pretty distant. I certainly get the impression that the region is in transition.
I liked the 'black swan' moment.
The price of weapons and armor went DOWN in a warzone?! It's logically explained and was a reasonable, if careless mistake. Of course Craft had gotten cocky at that point.
Posted by: The Brickmuppet at Mon Apr 12 20:49:48 2010 (NkKu7)
3
I put it into the Renaissance because of the varied and extensive gold currency, which wasn't that common outside of the Eastern Roman Empire until, like, there wasn't really one any more. Also, for my definitions, "High Renaissance" is post-Black-Death. There doesn't seem to be any serious serfdom going on, nor is there any mention of the "town air" phenomenon, which means post-feudal.
I liked the black swan bit, but more for its pretty effective demonstration of how credit works on the ground floor, and how it *doesn't* work when things are going wrong for the merchant.
Posted by: Mitch H. at Tue Apr 13 09:33:02 2010 (jwKxK)
Hobby Space News of the commercial space industry A Babe In The Universe Rather Eclectic Cosmology Encyclopedia Astronautica Superb spacecraft resource The Unwanted Blog Scott Lowther blogs about forgotten aerospace projects and sells amazingly informative articles on the same. Also, there are cats. Transterrestrial Musings Commentary on Infinity...and beyond! Colony WorldsSpace colonization news! The Alternate Energy Blog It's a blog about alternate energy (DUH!) Next Big Future Brian Wang: Tracking our progress to the FUTURE. Nuclear Green Charles Barton, who seems to be either a cool curmudgeon, or a rational hippy, talks about energy policy and the terrible environmental consequences of not going nuclear Energy From Thorium Focuses on the merits of thorium cycle nuclear reactors WizBang Current events commentary...with a wiz and a bang The Gates of Vienna Tenaciously studying a very old war The Anchoress insightful blogging, presumably from the catacombs Murdoc Online"Howling Mad Murdoc" has a millblog...golly! EaglespeakMaritime security matters Commander Salamander Fullbore blackshoe blogging! Belmont Club Richard Fernandez blogs on current events BaldilocksUnderstated and interesting blog on current events The Dissident Frogman French bi-lingual current events blog The "Moderate" VoiceI don't think that word means what they think it does....but this lefty blog is a worthy read nonetheless. Meryl Yourish News, Jews and Meryls' Views Classical Values Eric Scheie blogs about the culture war and its incompatibility with our republic. Jerry Pournell: Chaos ManorOne of Science fictions greats blogs on futurism, current events, technology and wisdom A Distant Soil The website of Colleen Dorans' superb fantasy comic, includes a blog focused on the comic industry, creator issues and human rights. John C. Wright The Sci-Fi/ Fantasy writer muses on a wide range of topics. Now Read This! The founder of the UK Comics Creators Guild blogs on comics past and present. The Rambling Rebuilder Charity, relief work, roleplaying games Rats NestThe Art and rantings of Vince Riley Gorilla Daze Allan Harvey, UK based cartoonist and comics historian has a comicophillic blog! Pulpjunkie Tim Driscoll reviews old movies, silents and talkies, classics and clunkers. Suburban Banshee Just like a suburban Leprechaun....but taller, more dangerous and a certified genius. Satharn's Musings Through TimeThe Crazy Catlady of The Barony of Tir Ysgithr アニ・ノート(Ani-Nouto) Thoughtful, curmudgeonly, otakuism that pulls no punches and suffers no fools. Chizumatic Stephen Den Beste analyzes anime...with a microscope, a slide rule and a tricorder. Wonderduck Anime, Formula One Racing, Sad Girls in Snow...Duck Triumphalism Beta Waffle What will likely be the most thoroughly tested waffle evah! Zoopraxiscope Too In this thrilling sequel to Zoopraxiscope, Don, Middle American Man of Mystery, keeps tabs on anime, orchids, and absurdities. Mahou Meido MeganekkoUbu blogs on Anime, computer games and other non-vital interests Twentysided More geekery than you can shake a stick at Shoplifting in the Marketplace of Ideas Sounds like Plaigarism...but isn't Ambient IronyAll Meenuvians Praise the lathe of the maker! Hail Pixy!!
