[Anime Reviews]
03 Apr 2008
Posted by Martin [Tags: Spice and Wolf]
Strictly speaking this isn’t exactly the last we’ll see of this show what with the ‘missing’ seventh episode and all, but the gold smuggling arc is wrapped up which I suppose is the nearest to closure as I was expecting. The final moments on the other hand didn’t surprise me in the slightest: I was pretty much prepared for Horo and Lawrence continuing their journey and riding off into the sunset without any fundamental change to the nature of their relationship (although a little development on that front wouldn’t have hurt). I’ll wager the light novels continue further than this so this is one recent show that I’d like to see run for a second season. I’m not sure how popular it’s been during its broadcast but I can’t not imagine a follow-up TV run, or at the very least a sequel OAV. It’s one of those shows that can run and run because the format doesn’t eliminate the opportunity to do so.
The economics went over my head as usual but I understood(?) enough to be satisfied that Lawrence cut a deal with the merchants who had levied the debt on him and even reconciled him with some of his fellow businessmen in the process. The background spectre of the Church (note the capitalisation) was a bit underplayed in my view, although I’m not sure how I was expecting a His Dark Materials-esque “organised religion is bad!” tack to fit into twelve mere episodes. Horo and Lawrence provided much of the entertainment value in the end, after all.
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Reading stats: 879 words & 4 images; estimated reading time 3:31 mins
[6 Comments]
[Anime Reviews]
24 Feb 2008
Posted by Martin [Tags: Spice and Wolf]
Is it just me or is the whole economics thing playing second fiddle to the Lawrence/Horo dynamic? Not that I’m complaining about the latter of course - placing characterisation over subplots is always a good thing - but the business about the valued and devalued silver seemed full of plot holes and didn’t interest me much at all.
The thing is, I started watching this show as a period/road trip piece and viewed the economics as an interesting diversion between the comedic and dramatic bits, but little more than that. I was however interested in how Chloe fit into the picture - there was a nagging doubt in the back of my mind that we hadn’t seen the last of her so I suspect her ambitions to do well as a merchant (possibly inspired by Lawrence’s sound business sense?) stretch as far as siding with whatever organisation it is that’s after Horo.
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Reading stats: 715 words & 3 images; estimated reading time 2:52 mins
[9 Comments]
[Site Announcements]
21 Jan 2008
Posted by Martin [Tags: First Impressions and Retrospectives, Gunslinger Girl, Persona Trinity Soul, Sayonara Zetsubou-sensei, Spice and Wolf]
I thought it would be a good idea to lump my first impressions of the new year’s shows in one post because I want to spend more time watching and less time flooding the aggregators with daily posts. It’s an exhausting task that I don’t feel is sustainable in the long term, and doesn’t give much time for the latest post to enjoy its time at the top of the page either. As I stated at the beginning of the year, the plan is quality over quantity from now on (hopefully freeing up a bit of time to update my other Wordpress part of the site) - plus the fact that I’m watching rather a lot to begin with. 2008’s shaping up quite well already actually, so here are the token First Impressions that I may or may not adhere to.
A burnt-out science graduate seeking solace in solitude and sake…even the hairstyle’s the same
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Reading stats: 791 words & 5 images; estimated reading time 3:10 mins
[3 Comments]
[Anime Reviews]
18 Jan 2008
Posted by Martin [Tags: Spice and Wolf]
It turns out that I’ve been subconsciously selecting my viewing in a yin-yang fashion all this time, with gritty and involved sci-fi on one hand and picturesque drama on the other. Joining the latter, which includes pieces of thought-provoking gorgeousness such as Kino, Mushishi and Haibane is the historical fantasy Wolf and Spice. although it doesn’t show any signs of being heavy-going and angsty in the same way, it has that marvellous combination of character-driven stuff played out in front of a fantastical rural backdrop - as light entertainment goes it’s already proving to be great fun and real feelgood television too.
There are a few similarities that Wolf and Spice shares with Mushishi and Kino, mainly in the countryside setting and the world-weary traveller premise. It’s also an historical road trip kind of show in that the two main characters are a travelling merchant and a homesick wolf-girl who share various adventures during their life on the road. The music is an appropriate assortment of folk-inspired tunes, bookended by some really sweet op/end sequences. The op theme begins as the syrupy ballad fare that I’ve grown apathetic to but it builds up into something that is powerful yet soothing, uplifting and melancholic, all at once. The duet vocals are a nice touch but overall it’s one of the most pleasant themes I’ve heard in a while. The end theme is all cute and whimsical but wins a bonus point for brilliant use of Engrish.
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Reading stats: 1137 words & 4 images; estimated reading time 4:33 mins
[8 Comments]
