★ 【hiuh】 「 holo 」 ☆
✔ republished w/permission
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Alright watching the new Spice & Wolf. This is probably going to be an emotionally muddled one for me - when I first saw the original as a college boy, I really loved it. Its conceptually checks off a lot of boxes for me; focus on economics, "realistic" low magic fantasy setting, adult characters with plots built around the struggles of everyday living, and also a hot foxgirl. In particular, it had a "there wasn't anything else like it" factor - you really can't find another mainstream anime with the focus that it has.
Alas in hindsight I was giving the show a lot of credit it didn't deserve because of said premises. It doesn't really delivers on them - its trade/economics plots tend to be either weak, using simple or illogical tricks, or on the flip side convoluted, with all of these like betrayals and counter-deceptions that actual merchant life would never really have. More importantly, its pretty bad at conveying these stories - a lot of time is spent with like two people sitting in chairs discussing exchange rates or w/e via dialogue which is not a great way to do that. This is visual information in a visual medium, make charts or little graphics, make it fun! Take notes from Dr Stone on this one. And since none of this is fun the show tended to throw in like church kidnappers and other "actiony" plots to supplement it, which is a bit of a cop-out
And alongside that Holo & Lawrence's dynamic is very will-they-won't-they, not a ton of progression, the visuals are a bit flat, and has more than its fair share of unneeded fanservice. Its a very "of the era" anime in its style and directing. None of this is to say I hate it or anything, I still like it, but now its more of a "sure why not" show over a favourite, except for the fact that due to history there is a sense of attachment that lingers.
From what I can tell, the current remake is going to repeat every single one of these problems and improve on nothing! Lets find out I guess.
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Finally done with holo phew xD I’m so bad at keeping tabs of my schedule for drawing….hope I can get to other characters I want to draw this season xd like sypha or fenrys more yuru camp etc etc TAT (ps this does have a version where her eyes are open im making her into a charm)
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The possession and performance of relationship in Spice and Wolf
Content Consideration: nondescript nudity in screenshots
Fifteen years after the light novel series first began and twelve years after the last anime episode aired, Spice and Wolf is returning with a new anime adaptation. Long-time fans, in explaining the series’ longevity and their own personal investment, would credit the chemistry between the two main leads — the wolf goddess Holo and the traveling merchant Kraft Lawrence — holding out hope that their budding love will fully bloom on screen.
However, the compelling, balanced nature of this romance may not be evident at first glance. Holo and Lawrence’s relationship is initially held back by the circumstances upon which they first meet, rendering Holo as an owned object rather than an equal companion and stifling both leads’ feelings behind layers of performative inauthenticity. Part of the appeal of Spice and Wolf is watching these two characters overcome the gendered norms of their medieval setting, as well as their own personal flaws, to achieve an emotional reciprocity that is narratively satisfying. Even just looking at the first few episodes paints the picture of the solid foundation that will unfold.
Read it at Anime Feminist!
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ホロ by LOPMONG [Twitter/X]
※Illustration shared with permission from the artist. If you like this artwork please support the artist by visiting the source.
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★ 【モ誰】 「 狼と香辛料 」 ☆
✔ republished w/permission
⊳ ⊳ follow me on twitter
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