[Ended] Spice and Wolf II: Continue on with the Greatness

Spice and Wold II is quite an exceptional anime. Many people would even consider it to be better than the original series. In a sense, it is. However, what the first series brought us that the second series couldn't bring is the new and refreshing feeling of an unique new anime that we've never seen before. And that was one of the major elements made the original series so great in the first place.

Having said all that, I still think this is still one great anime series. It kept all the right things from the first series, it also added some more interesting elements. Although the plot is mostly credited to the book, the execution and screen play of the anime is still quite exceptional.

One thing I wasn't quite fond of is the ending. In my opinion, it's a bit too abrupt.

Final scoreboard:

Drama: 91 (All about dramas)

Comedy: 88 (Pretty good for what it has)

Action: N/A

Art/Animation: 96 (Lovely)

Sound/Music: 85 (I like the first series much better)

Character: 94 (Great depth in character development)

Plot: 88 (Somewhat moving)

Ending: 80 (Bit too abrupt)

Re-watch value: 70 (Loses the surprise factor, but would still be interesting)

Overall: 90 - Continue on with the Greatness

Recommendation: If you liked the first series, you're in for a treat. This second series has most goodness of the first series plus something more.

Spice and Wolf II: Heart Breaking

Currently finished: Episode 5

It was quite heartbreaking to watch the story unfold for the last two episodes, more so than the worst part of the last arc from the first series.

Even so, I still can't help to think that everything is going to be ok in the end, because that how stories nowadays are: the main character always gets a way out no matter how bad the situation looks.

These days, no one is willing to write tragedies any more. That makes almost all stories predictable: the plan pan out as predicted, or someone in the opposing party has a change of heart, or the worst of all, deus ex machina.

Anyway, back to the story itself, even though I know it'll end well, at the moment, it's still quite sad to see them in that situation every time it comes up. Hopefully, they would find a good solution to end this arc, not some cheapened way out of the mess.

[New July 2009] Spice and Wolf II

Japanese title: 狼と香辛料Ⅱ
Info/Download: http://www.animesuki.com/series.php/1457.html
Genres: Light Drama / Light Comedy / Fantasy
I've watched: 1 episode

Summary: The journey of Lawrence and Horo continues...

First impression score: 90 ~ Continue on with the greatness

Personal comments: I usually watch new animes in their chronological release order. But since I've been anticipating it since the turn of the year, I'm grabbing it out of the order. After seeing the first episode, I was relieved that even though they have changed production studio, nothing from the anime has changed. Though it kept the same formula of mixing light comedy with light drama, I can't help to notice the overall tone of the story seems to be slightly darker than the previous one.

[New OVA] Spice and Wolf II OVA

Official website: http://www.spicy-wolf.com/
Download: by BSSubs http://www.bssubs.net/ [edit 05/07/09] also by ASR http://asrkurou.wordpress.com/

When I first heart about Spice and Wolf II, I was excited. Then I found out that the company that is in charge of producing animation for Spice and Wolf II is different than the original, I was a bit concerned. Because I have seen anime sequels that have big change in art style when it was produced by a different studio. Sometimes they change it so much it become almost unbearable. I really loved the art work of the original Spice and Wolf, any change to that would make me very unhappy. I got especially nervious when I saw the new front page of Spice and Wolf's web site because Horo just looks way too different.

This OVA, however, indicates that the production studio change didn't quite affect the art style the anime was done in. That was a relief.

The story of the OVA is mostly about how Horo is handling her jealousy against Nora over Lawrence. Although most are fillers, there are a couple of scenes that seem to foreshadow the events to come in the second series.

P.S. I missed it back when they have the limited time Christmas special wallpaper for Spice and Wolf II on there website for download. I would greatly appreciate it if anybody could tell me where I can find them now.

[edit 05/07/09]
A user named "ASR" left a comment on this post that points out ASR also released a English subbed version of this OVA.