Which one is better?
Summary:
- The original Spice and Wolf series aired in 2008-2009.
- It didn’t finish the light novels’ story.
- Remake is more visually advanced and won’t repeat the mistakes of the original anime.
Spice and Wolf (Ookami to Koushinryou) is one of the iconic anime series that every otaku has at least heard of. But it doesn’t mean that every otaku has watched the series, too, and with the remake of the anime currently airing, the topic of Spice and Wolf is as hot as ever.
The original Spice and Wolf anime aired from 2008 to 2009 and has two seasons, and Season 1 of the remake is still going strong and will presumably finish airing in Summer 2024. But which one should you start your Spice and Wolf journey with?
Old Series Finished Airing, So You Don’t Have to Wait
The best thing about the original anime is that there won’t be any surprises. It finished airing, we know what stories it told and how well it went. You won’t need to wait for new episodes each week, and there won’t be years of breaks between the seasons.
The 2008 Spice and Wolf got 8.22 on MyAnimeList, which is a pretty solid score, so you can be sure about the quality of the adaptation: it’s top-notch. That’s why it feels like going with the original anime is much safer and less irritating due to the lack of waiting. But is it really true?
It Didn’t Tell the Full Story
The thing is, the 2008-2009 Spice and Wolf didn’t finish the light novels story. The adaptation skipped an important part of the source material, so it couldn’t keep going. The anime had to stop without a proper finale, and fans are still salty about that.
But the remake won’t make the same mistake (we’d like to believe that), and judging by the intro scene, this time we’re getting the entire story. You’ll have to wait for it, of course, but it’s still a major advantage. So Original ― Remake, 0:1.
We can’t forget about the visuals, either. The original Spice and Wolf anime looked great for its time, but it’s obvious that the animation industry has overgone some significant changes in the last 10 years.
The remake looks better, that’s for sure. Character designs are more visually pleasing, and the animation feels smoother. If visuals are just as important for you as the story, the remake will be better for you.
Both the 2008 series and the 2024 remake are faithful adaptations. As we’ve said, the original anime skipped a crucial part of the story, but apart from that, it stayed as true to the light novels as possible. And the same can be said about the remake.
If you’re here for a definite piece of advice, we’d suggest watching the Spice and Wolf remake instead of the original series. It has enhanced visuals and a story that won’t make the old mistakes. Yes, you’ll have to wait a lot to experience the full adventure, but we’re confident that it’ll be worth it.