Highlights
- The remake of Spice and Wolf stays true to the original source material and reintroduces Holo and Kraft’s adventures delightfully.
- The fading belief in the wolf deity Holo leads to a new adventure with merchant Kraft Lawrence in a modern setting.
- Changes in characters, storyline, and new art style set the remake apart, promising a fresh take on the beloved series.
Warning: The following contains spoilers for Spice and Wolf: Merchant Meets the Wise Wolf, Episode 1, “The Harvest Festival and the Crowded Driver’s Box,” now streaming on Crunchyroll.
The much awaited remake of the Spice and Wolf series has finally aired, bringing Holo and Kraft’s whimsical adventures to screens once more. Marking the original show’s 15th anniversary, Spice and Wolf: Merchant Meets the Wise Wolf is the latest rendition of the anime, but with an emphasis on staying true to the source material. With the first episode now airing, fans of the original can finally witness their favorite wolf set out on an adventure with the savvy merchant known as Kraft Lawrence.
Deviations between the two versions are bound to arise, though it’s only natural as the reboot is set to closely follow the source material, an aspect that was missing from the original show. Nevertheless, Spice and Wolf: Merchant Meets the Wise Wolf is an enticing remake for fans of the original show as well as newer audiences discovering the franchise for the very first time.
The Tale of Holo the Wise Wolf
Right off the bat, the show acquaints viewers with the myths and legends about the wolf god that looks over the lands’ harvests. Known as Holo, the wolf is said to live among wheat stalks, blessing the harvests every year. The myths eventually trickled down to present times, though the story of Holo the wolf merely serves as an excuse for the people to hold a festival in the god’s name.
The wolf promised the youths of that village that it would bring bountiful harvests of wheat.
Whoever cuts the last stalk of the wheat harvest is said to have caught Holo, and they are then locked in a granary for a week so that the wolf cannot escape. Offerings are left in the granary for Holo, so that the wolf will bless the following year’s harvest. The entire tradition has turned into a festival for the townspeople, keeping the memory of the fading deity alive.
The Waning Belief of the People
Holo had looked after the people of the village for ages, granting them bountiful harvests for years on end. However, with modern agricultural practices making their way to the people, they no longer needed a deity looking after them, slowly forgoing the wolf they once treasured. In the current setting, Holo is merely seen as a superstition, and the villagers only uphold the myth for it to serve as an excuse for a festival.
After a long time had passed, no one remembered the promise they made with the wolf anymore.
With the people no longer believing in Holo, nor requiring the wolf’s bountiful harvests, the deity sets off on a new adventure with a traveling merchant who just happens to be nearby. While Kraft is initially hesitant to believe that Holo actually exists, he eventually eases up to her existence after witnessing the wolf’s true form. The people of the village no longer believe in the blessings of Holo, but Kraft is sure that this wise wolf will bring him good fortune in the long run.
How Much Does the Remake Deviate From the Original?
Since the original adaptation took on a number of creative liberties, the storyline differed from the source material considerably. While the Spice and Wolf anime had a widely positive reception, it still failed to incorporate several of the source material’s chapters. With the remake set to rectify its predecessor’s shortcomings, a number of deviations between the two renditions will be apparent.
While the first episode of Spice and Wolf: Merchant Meets the Wise Wolf mirrors the original entirely, a few strikingly different elements set the remake apart right off the bat. The introductory scene is one such change, as it hints towards the anime receiving a complete adaptation, unlike its predecessor that was left incomplete.
A Change of Characters
While the pacing and storyline for the first episode is more or less the same as the original, one significant change added to the remake is the redaction of Chloe from the narrative. Chloe served as an ancillary character in the original Spice and Wolf anime, and while she was never part of the source material, her addition added a bit of romantic tension for Kraft.
In Spice and Wolf: Merchant Meets the Wise Wolf, Chloe is nowhere to be seen, with her character now replaced with Yarei, the price negotiator. While this change will surely affect the dynamics between these characters, replacing Chloe with Yarei is a positive change as it reflects the producers’ willingness to stay true to the source material.
New Art and Animation
Apart from the changes in characters and storylines, the most pronounced difference between the two versions is the stark contrast in the art style. While the characters are entirely recognizable, the crisp frames and vivid colors of the remake add a sense of novelty to the show, making the entire series worth watching once more.
From the opening credits to the character designs, Spice and Wolf: Merchant Meets the Wise Wolf has revamped every single aspect of the original. While the new adaptation is off to a great start, it’s still too soon to gauge how well the remake will fare against its well-loved predecessor.
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