The peddler Lawrence Craft spends his days traveling the world, buying and selling goods and dreaming of one day settling down and opening his own shop. One day, he meets a girl with a wolf's ears and tail. The girl, Holo, claims to be a goddess of the harvest whom humans no longer need, and wants to return to her ancient homeland in the north. Lawrence and Holo form a partnership and set out on a journey, evading an unfriendly church and trying to make a profit along the way.
When Spice and Wolf was first previewed in 2008, hopes were not high. The plot synopsis sounded nothing but awkward, the idea of a fantasy series about a traveling salesman seemed more than a little silly, and the naked girl with animal ears hinted ominously at incoming pandering. Everybody knew exactly what to expect: “furry” fan service with an oddball premise. It took a lot of people by surprise when Spice and Wolf aired and turned out to be a surprisingly mature and intelligent series with minimal fan service. It's generally excellent, and has one of the best romances in anime.
