Happy Thursday! Hello everyone. In late December, I published my top thirty
#anime series on
@popculturemaniacs@mastodon.social (
https://popculturemaniacs.com/burkelys-top-thirty-anime-tv-shows-of-2024-part-1/). This post will focus on
#spiceandwolf, an anime series, which mixes adventure, romance, and fantasy, which is currently streaming on
#disneyplus (season 1) and
#crunchyroll. It's no. 28 on my list. Here's part of what I said:
"...It’s based on Isuna Hasekura’s light novel series...I decided to watch the original instead, which ran from January 2008 to September 2009. It has twenty-four episodes and two OVAs. Series director Takeo Takahashi, who directed the reboot/revival...Japanese animation studio Imagin produced the first season. Brain’s Base and Marvy Jack produced the second season. Both are known for series like Penguindrum, Anonymous Noise, and The Banished Former Hero Lives as He Pleases. The first season centers around Kraft Lawrence (voiced by Jun Fukuyama), a traveling merchant. He tries to raise start-up money for his own business and comes across Holo (voiced by Ami Koshimizu), a majestic wolf-diety. She takes the form of a girl aged 15-17. Both use their knowledge and cunning nature (in the case of Holo) to secure good deals. She travels with him, aiming to return home. Her real form attracts unnecessary attention from
#religious figures. During their travels, Lawrence and Holo grow
#romantically closer. In fact, he gets annoyed when other men flirt with her. Holo is similar. She is especially annoyed when a wandering
#shepherd named Norah Arendt (voiced by Mai Nakahara)
#flirts with him. In the second season, their journey to Holo’s homeland (Yoitz) continues. A rift between Lawrence and Holo develops. She visualizes his death and remains jealous...The season introduces...storyteller-of-sorts Gi Batos (voiced by Susumu Akagi), part-bird woman Dian “Diana” Rubens (voiced by Akeno Watanabe) who lives in the town slums...