Ani-Mania: ‘Spice & Wolf’ Preview

Funimation recently announced that it had acquired the hit show, “Spice & Wolf” from Kadokawa Pictures, with plans to release it in December of this year. The series chronicles the adventures of Lawrence, the merchant, and Horo, the wolfgirl/retired harvest deity as they make their way through a medieval world rife with intrigue and religious oppression.

Spice & Wolf is notable for two reasons. First, it is poised to cause a virtual anime fanboy revolution, as wolfgirls become the new vogue and challenge catgirls for their position as the pre-eminent otaku fetish. (Though personally, I still prefer mikos or androids in maid uniforms.)

Second, and more importantly, is the stunning depth of the series. Though set in a medieval world that looks like a perfect home for sword and sorcery fantasy, Spice & Wolf is actually a very philosophical show. Highly intellectual, it spends much of its time contemplating themes like social theory, economics, and religion.

It would be easy to over emphasize some of the series’ more — ahem — noticeable assets. When Lawrence first meets her, Horo is naked. Fanservice sells, and Horo is certainly easy on the eyes. But the true merit of the show lies in its subtlety, and refreshing intelligence. Horo would probably just laugh about all of the ogling. To the wolfgirl, her tail is her best feature.

The series is directed by Takeo Takahashi, and is based on the light novels by Isuna Hasekura, which Yen Press will be releasing this December. The manga, also from Yen Press, is slated for release next spring. The sequel to the series, “Spice & Wolf II”, is scheduled to begin airing in Japan on July 8th of this year. A link to a special 46 second preview of the new series can be found at spicy-wolf.com The home site itself (www.spicy-wolf.com) is in Japanese, and if you speak Nihongo or are willing to navigate with just pictures, you can find all kinds of cool swag, like the new Horo hand puppet, or the sure to be popular Horo body pillow. (If you buy one, please don’t tell us what you do with it.)

Look for a full review of Spice & Wolf in a future column.

Anime In The Mean Time…

If you’re itching for something you can get your paws on right now, then you’re in luck. A number of classic old shows have been re-released. They come complete, so there’s no more hunting for that infamous volume 5 that no one seems to have (you, of course, have volumes 1-4 and 6, and you really want volume 5 because it has the hot springs episode). Bundled as thin packs, they won’t take up much room on your shelf, and with an average cost of $30-$40, they won’t take a lot out of your wallet, either. Here’s a spotlight on a few notable titles:

Cowboy Bebop — The classic futuristic crime drama looks as good now as it did then. Join Spike, Jet, and Faye on board the Bebop as they scour the universe for criminals, the keys to their murky pasts, and something better to eat than bell peppers with beef without any beef in it. Powered by the Seatbelt’s amazing soundtrack of jazz, blues, and, of course, bebop, the show is episodic enough to watch in small doses, but the deeper elements of the plot make for a very tightly woven tale that brings the whole series together.

Elfen Lied — A cult favorite, Elfen Lied is a dark tale about Lucy, an escaped research subject with frightening powers who loses her memories and comes to live with a family with whom she unknowingly shares a horrible secret. At times campy and self aware, Elfen Lied is an uneasy mix of action, horror, and a strangely poignant touch of family drama. The series is as brief as it is powerful, making for a quick watch that will never the less stay with you for a long time to come.

Love Hina — If cult and crime aren’t your cup of tea, why not try a romantic comedy? Poor Keitaro Urashima has no job, no girlfriend, and no future. His only hope is the promise he made to his childhood sweetheart that they would one day go to Tokyo U together. The problem is he has no idea who his promise girl is, and he keeps failing the university entrance exam. His luck seems to change when he gets a job managing his grandmother’s all girls dormitory, but with girls like these, he’ll be lucky just to survive long enough to take the exam again. Join Keitaro and the Hina girls for a good laugh. Best of all, since Hinata house is famous for its bath, EVERY episode is a hot springs episode!

Any one of these titles would be a worthy addition to your collection. There are other good deals out there, too. As later seasons of some of the longer running series are released, the early seasons — the ones so many of us first fell in love with — are being greatly reduced in price. Or, if you’re willing to play the disc hunting game, as the collected editions of a title come out, the single volumes are often marked down at a huge discount. Just be aware that you might have to scavenge at more than one store or site to put together the entire collection. Either way, this can be a great time for anime fans, both new and old alike. New viewers have an excellent opportunity to pick up some of the old classics, while seasoned fans can collect their old favorites, or finally get around to seeing that great show you’ve heard so much about, but never had the time to sit down and actually watch.

That’s all for now. Look for more news, reviews, and random fandom next week.