Product Details

• Actors: Jamie Marchi, Brina Palencia, J. Michael Tatum
• Directors: Justin Nordell
• Format: Animated, Color, DVD, NTSC, Widescreen, Subtitled
• Language: English (Dolby Digital 5.1), Japanese (Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo)
• Subtitles: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
• Number of discs: 2
• Rated: Unrated
• Studio: Funimation
• DVD Release Date: December 22, 2009
• Run Time: 312 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (40 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B002KYIAJC
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #94,348 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
• For more information about "Spice and Wolf: Season One" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

In the fantasy-adventure Spice and Wolf (2008), Craft Lawrence, a young peddler in a realm that suggests Renaissance Europe, finds himself caught up in a pagan ritual come true. For ages, the farmers of one region believed the wheat harvest was ensured by a powerful wolf-spirit who periodically appeared in the form of a beautiful young woman. As he leaves the region, Lawrence discovers a naked girl with furry ears and a tail sleeping in his wagon. The girl declares she is Holo, the wise and powerful wolf; now that people no longer believe in her, she wants to return to her home in the far north. How wise she is may be open to question, but she's definitely a fussy wolf, endlessly berating the long-suffering Lawrence. Although he's supposed to be a capable trader who buys low and sells high, Lawrence's fortunes take a decided downturn when Holo joins him. A scheme involving currency speculation blows up in his face, and an attempt to deal in armor leaves him bankrupt. Lawrence and Holo wander from town to town, but they don't get much of anywhere: this set could end two episodes earlier or later without affecting the minimal plot. The humor runs to heavy drinking and reverse sexism, with Holo repeatedly declaring, "men are fools!" Her ears and tail give the fan service nudity an unwholesome tone that suggests Spice and Wolf was designed for adolescent furries. (Rated TV 14: nudity, violence, alcohol use, risqué humor) --Charles Solomon

(1. A Wolf and One's Best Clothes, 2. A Wolf and a Distant Past, 3. A Wolf and Business Ability, 4. A Wolf and a Helpless Partner, 5. A Wolf and a Lover's Quarrel, 6. A Wolf and a Silent Farewell, 7. A Wolf and a Tail of Happiness, 8. A Wolf and a Proper Scale, 9. A Wolf and a Shepherd's Lamb, 10. A Wolf and a Whirling Conspiracy, 11. A Wolf and the Greatest Secret Plan, 12. A Wolf and a Pack of Youngsters, 13. A Wolf and Setting Off on a New Journey)

Product Description

Lawrence, a traveling merchant searching for profit, finds a naked girl with the ears and tail of a wolf asleep in his cart. Her name is Holo – a harvest goddess with an untamed beast lurking inside who longs to return to her beloved northern home. Armed with his street smarts and her animal instincts, a simple peddler and a forgotten deity begin a journey through the wild countryside. Along their path, the riches of happiness shall be reaped, even as the bankruptcy which dwells in the human heart is exposed.

Stills from Spice and Wolf: Season One (Click for larger image)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

95 of 98 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars There is little here to dislike., October 1, 2009

By 

Evan R. Cassity (Louisville, KY USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Spice and Wolf: Season One (DVD)

Spice and Wolf sounds, by the description, like a typical sudden-girlfriend-appearance anime. Indeed, there are similar "boy meets cute Goddess girl" series out there, like Kannagi: Crazy Shrine Maidens. Spice and Wolf, however, is nothing of the sort.

It is, instead, a very interesting and well-thought out period piece. The antiquated European setting is ideal for the true essence behind this anime--economy. Lawrence and Holo make a cute pair, to be sure, but this first season only hints at a romantic development between them. Instead, the focus is on a sort of budding professional relationship. The two explore the world town by town, with interesting glimpses into different trading practices, different currencies, and different cultures. The religious presence of a Catholic-esque Church is especially intriguing. They are corrupt in trading methods but effective at spreading faith, something wholly believable.

Simple observations like this are one of the things that make this series so great. Its compliment are the characters. Lawrence and Holo are always interesting, and usually funny. Holo's flirtation and Lawrence's inhibitions make for a comedic formula that rarely gets tiring. The best part about their relationship is that, unlike most anime, the audience is not forced to believe in it. The anime takes things slow, letting their relationship build like real ones do--by shared experience. Their frustrations, fears, dreams and humor are all allowed to develop naturally. This may make it seem like there is little character development throughout the series, but there is enough to keep it going.

The series of light novels, off of which this anime is based, are still being published. As such, the episodic nature of the show seems to make it come to an abrupt end. This is no problem, however, considering there is a second season already finished in Japan, with a third all but assured. It is worth the small time investment. As it is only one small part of an anticipated whole, it will not be a jaw-dropping, life-changing piece of art, but it will most definitely make your day a little more pleasant. Is this not one of the most admirable aspects of art, anyway, that it can do something so simply profound as to make one feel better?

Funimation usually does the most acceptable job of dubbing shows here. Fullmetal Alchemist is an example of some of their good work, and they only seem to learn from their mistakes as a company. And for those who refuse to tolerate dubbing, the original Japanese voice track is amazing, and their subtitling is sure to be, also.

This is a series that will grow on you, just as the characters grow on each other. The pace is peaceful, the characters likable, and the story makes the fantastic easy to believe. There is little here not to enjoy.

40 of 44 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Please don't write this off!, October 30, 2009

By 

Sarah "Newtype Girlie" (Boston, MA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Spice and Wolf: Season One (DVD)

Like many, the first time I was exposed to Spice and Wolf, I had my immediate doubts. Girl with ears and a tail traveling around with a random guy and occassionally appearing naked? No, thanks. But I gave it a shot (because I really enjoyed the opening song, ahaha), and was thusly rewarded for giving this highly original show a chance. Come for the winning platonic chemistry between the two leads and stay for lessons on the value of currency and the perils of buying on credit! Seriously -- if you come into S&W expecting some sort of moe hijinks, you'll be sorely disappointed, but if you want 12 episodes of something that's not going to insult your intellgience and leave you feeling full and satisfied, it's a safe bet.

40 of 45 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Spice and Wolf is one of the best anime series I've seen and has something for everyone, May 8, 2010

By 

Haunted Flower (Indianapolis) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Spice and Wolf: Season One (DVD)

Length:: 4:03 Mins

Gina from Haunted Flower reviews "Spice & Wolf Season One", an anime series about a magical wolf goddess, Holo who takes on the form of a woman to seek out the help of a traveling merchant named Lawrence to get back home to the North. Features the english dub voice acting of J. Michael Tatum and Brina Palencia!