Unboxing [US]: Spice & Wolf - Season 1 & 2: Anime Classics (BD/DVD)

Back in the end of June I acquired a few titles thanks to an Amazon deal of the day sale. The second title from the lot is another re-release but now part of the Anime Classics from Funimation.

Spice & Wolf (Ookami to Koushinryou) is a 2008 & 2009 anime adaptation of the novel of the same name by Isuna Hasekura. The anime adaptation was handled by studios Imagin for the first season and Brain's Base for the second season. Both anime seasons were published by Kadokawa Pictures. Spice & Wolf has been a fan favourite in the community, and most notable were folks wanting a third season of the anime but would never get one. The novels are mostly complete (as there seems to be more going on despite being finished at one point) but a majority of them have been released by Yen Press in novel and manga adaptation form.

Spice & Wolf received a number of releases from Funimation including a standard Season 1 DVD release all the way to a complete seasons 1 & 2 combo pack before this version. Funimation made their own in-house upscale for the first season despite Kadokawa releasing a proper transfer later down the line (it's still an upscale but better than Funimation's).

This release from Funimation is the Anime Classics edition. The Anime Classics line is basically a special cover on the slipcover and spine which matches for each show but will annoy collector's who want a clean spine.

Both formats contain all 13 episodes of the first season, all 12 episodes plus OVA for the second season across 4 Blu-ray & 4 DVDs. The Blu-ray and DVD discs are the same as the previous release i.e Region 1 NTSC only. The Blu-rays are both Region A & B compatible. The subtitles are unlockable and the audio options are English & Japanese with English subtitles.

Blu-ray Specs:

Languages: Japanese, English

Audio: Dolby TrueHD 2.0 [Japanese], Dolby TrueHD 5.1 [English]

Video: 1080p SD Remaster 16:9 (Season 1), 1080p HD Native 16:9 (Season 2)

Region: A B

Subtitles: English [Japanese language & On-screen]

Subtitles Locked: No

Discs: 2 (Season 1), 2 (Season 2)

DVD Specs:

Languages: Japanese, English

Audio: Dolby Digital 2.0 [Japanese], Dolby Digital 5.1 [English]

Video: SD NTSC 16:9

Region: 1

Subtitles: English [Japanese language & On-screen]

Subtitles Locked: No

Discs: 2 (Season 1), 2 (Season 2)

Plot Synopsis (via Funimation):

Lawrence, a travelling merchant searching for profit, finds a naked girl with the ears and tail of a wolf asleep in his cart. Her name is Holo, a harvest goddess with an untamed beast lurking inside who longs to return to her beloved northern home.

Armed with his street smarts and her animal instincts, the simple peddler and forgotten deity begin a journey through the wild countryside. Along their path, the riches of happiness shall be reaped even as the bankruptcy which dwells in the human heart is exposed.

On-Disc Extra Content:

OVA: The Wolf and Amber Melancholy

"Studying" with Holo

"Stretching" with Holo Yoitz Style

Textless Songs

Trailers