How Spice and Wolf Changed from Book to Anime - Adapt or Die

[@mothersbasement]

so what other adaptations would you like to see me cover? also you can get the shirt at sharkrobot.

[@cj3013]

Mother's Basement The SAO light novel vs the anime? I know you'd hate it but I think it'd be an enjoyable video to watch, even if it ends up being more shitting on SAO.

[@cj3013]

Mother's Basement Oh and maybe DanMachi, I've heard that the anime rushed a ton of stiff.

[@generalakbarr]

Mother's Basement grimgar

[@OtakuNewsSource]

You should attempt to cover Baccano!

[@willowallen4987]

baccano would be a fun one to do.

[@Just_Some_Guy_with_a_Mustache]

Your shirt fills me with an untold sadness.

[@noahwatt1269]

Who doesn´t at this point?

[@ad-do2vm]

eluvian camaris what does it mean?

[@noahwatt1269]

something from Fullmetal Alchemist It is really early into the series. You have to watch it to fully comprehend it. i would recommend wazching Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood if you are really this interested ito knowing.

[@noahwatt1269]

No fusion is not used in brotherhood, the shirt merely sumsup the fucked up thing happening to the little girl and dog pretty much brotherhood follows the manga not like the original anime who had to improvise the story after 3 arcs or so.

[@nathanwalton340]

watch fma then read manga then watch fma brotherhood

[@shent1059]

Finally more S&W coverage, shame adaptation of vol 7 never... That shirt's as savage as ever

[@AnimeFlyz]

but most of volume 7 was adapted into the anime

[@shent1059]

Ehhh you know what I mean.... Like, I COULD clarify I meant rest of vol 7 and onwards, buuuut I just got that heart-mark thing for the first time in my life so I'm feeling pretty extasic right now and as I probably won't change anything. Good for you for pointing that out, I guess..?

[@AnimeFlyz]

Michał Sob​ i just didnt know if you were aware. TBH, while the Town of Strife arc isnt as good as the rest of the series, i would love to have it adapted. Plus they could always adapt most of the side stories into OVA format.

[@billybobjoe4006]

I know! Smith & Wesson never gets the love it deserves anymore!

[@gallantmon4]

Yeah, Town of Strife 9 chapters over 2 books, I will admit it did drag a little but it won't deter my love for this series, it introduced me to my all time favorite female character Holo.

[@Loopy_Kick]

Spice and Wolf totally deserves another season. I want a season 3 so bad. It's not fair how a lot of shows that are poo get episode after episode and season after season, but good shows like Spice and Wolf and Deadman Wonderland can't even tell all of their story in anime form. (-.-)

[@ShallBePurified]

I just really want to see volumes 14, 15, and 16 adapted into the anime. Those are the three best volumes imo.

[@diegoantoniorosariopalomin4977]

Yay Me the company that published syw only makes anime as adverstising

[@TheNomnomnommer]

read deadman wonderland's manga, shit's kickass as fuck

[@MrPhilsterable]

Yay Me Yes, then it can get the Berserk treatment /s

[@james757live5]

I mean, I watched a huge chunk of DW, and I give it a 6/10. But S&W? 11/10, badass seal of approval, would and have watched again.

[@BladedAngel]

Holo seems noticeably, "older looking" in design in the anime. I'm guessing that's because she's practically naked in most shots, and the anime didn't want to have a young looking loli running around nude.

[@ConorDoesItAll]

Thank god too 😂.

[@SeanWinters]

I mean... She is pagan after all, those heathens play by the "if there's grass on the field, play ball" rules so... If it's off the clock it's old enough for the co- nevermind.

[@Feten56709]

Yeah and that was sad

[@arthurmorganlefaye7626]

@@SeanWinters cease your heresy

[@fgregerfeaxcwfeffece]

Yeah they handled that really lazily. Made her act more bratty but increased boob size to compensate.

[@egeorgiades93]

"The manga has Holo with nipples so that's the Ultimate Version!" Lol. Nice.

[@corradoalamanni179]

Truth

[@nerdywayfinder1827]

Spice and wolf was my first official anime and holds a special place in my heart

[@b3rgyp00]

Wow what a first pick. Mine's was technically Dragonball, but the first one in this new "download torrent/stream" era was probably Witchblade.

[@oh-noe]

mine was nichijou

[@Someone-sq8im]

Mine was Sailor Moon

[@Normal_Boii]

Mine was highschool dxd lmao, but this novel definitely holds a special place in my heart as well, it's so damn wholesome

[@Hollowmello1285]

Mine was pokemon

[@masterxehanort3]

"And they didn't want to offend anyone who believes in those things" I get the reasoning, but frankly, believe in God or not, the corruption of the church at historical eras has litle to do with the actual validity of the faith said church represents, it is just a historical truth anda way people abuse power.

[@pyayaXC]

masterxehanort3, I mostly agree. However, it is not really the Roman Catholic Church if a Monotheistic God unequivocally doesn't exist and only selective aspects of said Church have been represented in the adaptation.

[@ebigunso]

If all people could think that way... Sadly some take things too personally.

[@actualmadscientist]

masterxehanort3 Kind of unfortunate since tons of Christians I know would've been fine with it.

[@FliedChicken]

I'm christian, I go to a christian school and I'm an altar server. Even if they just straight up said "The christian church is corrupt" I wouldn't give a crap. It's more historically accurate than offensive.

[@pyayaXC]

I Like Breadsticks, while your taking no offense is certainly upstanding, you and other Christians are entitled to have more than complete apathy to this interpretation of Medieval Church corruption. People assume history is often "doomed" to repeat itself, and a one sided interpretation of it might lead others to bear unwarranted prejudice.

[@Malicient]

To me, Lawrence being terrified made more sense than him just going "Oh, a giant wolf is wanting to travel with me, okay" due to the fact that as a man who saw a fellow merchant eaten alive by wolves, the sudden appearance of a massive one would instinctively scare the hell out of him. I don't care how pragmatic and tough someone thinks they are, if you watch someone ripped to shreds by wolves, screaming for help, and then get confronted, alone, by a chick with a GIANT wolf paw that can easily rend you asunder, you're gonna piss yourself.

[@TheDrexxus]

Nah man. When you are very pragmatic and logical, you wouldn't react that way. If you just saw a giant wolf coming at you, sure, you'd be afraid of it as you suggest. But if you met a person that seems calm, non-violent, and rational, who then transforms into a wolf at YOUR request, you aren't going to be terrified. You already know that person means you no harm and if they had wished harm upon you, they would've already done so. It's like the difference between someone walking up to you pointing a gun at you vs having a friendly conversation with a stranger who mentions they have a gun and you ask to see it. If he were a full blown coward maybe he'd be scared either way, but rational people just don't work that way. I remember a friend of mine lived in a house where you could hear all sorts of strange sounds in it at night like floorboards creeking, something that sounded like whispering, etc. We always joked that it was haunted, but he just kinda shrugged and said he didn't even care because he'd lived there for years and if the ghost hadn't caused him in problems yet then it wasn't going to. Meanwhile, some people would be so irrationally afraid they'd refuse to live in a place like that anyway. Logical people aren't scared of illogical things.

[@vnmememan8657]

@@TheDrexxus wrong

[@TidusplZUO]

Stop it, Geoff Stop breaking my heart about the fact that we'll never get season 3 As for what you should do next - Berserk 2016/17. Bring alcohol.

[@chryco4]

Tiduidu I'd rather see a comparison of the 1997 series to the Golden Age arc in the manga...

[@TidusplZUO]

That'd work really good as well

[@DanielAvelan]

I can't believe that got a new season. Fuck everything.

[@synchaos9141]

+Walking Erection. well it's not too bad I mean look at the manga more people are reading the manga

[@LecherousLizard]

Rejoice! Spice and Wolf is getting a side story in 2019. Not what we all wanted, but definitely something we needed.

[@TwinergyGaming]

Still waiting for season 3! At least we have the sequel books to look forward to I guess!

[@Why_not_now356]

4 years later man…4 years later…

[@smolbak]

@@Why_not_now356 bruh

[@tylert5323]

@@smolbak hey just finished lol

[@Pothins]

There's always hope my friend lmao

[@pianistofthemosthigh]

@@Why_not_now356 YOU’RE IN LUCK!!!! NEW ANIME PROJECT HAS JUST BEEN ANNOUNCED

[@elafila6883]

Because the design in the anime is mature holo is a believable woman and it doesn’t look ridiculous when she reminds Lawrence she is way older than him and she is one step ahead. It’s plausible and looks right. Because sometimes you can see that sometimes Lawrence is talking with other people and you can notice that holo doesn’t take part in the conversation a lot. But when Lawrence talks about it to holo, you realize she understood a lot about that conversation even if she looked detached

[@kngzigg5175]

that shirt fucking kill me

[@crewchannel4591]

Brutal

[@FoxFire1281]

It will always be too soon with this. lol

[@Rickuo]

This shirt may be offensive to some people who have a very thin skin. And just because of this, I really like it. We need more of this!

[@FoxFire1281]

please don't get holier than thou on me.

[@mt8956]

Kng Zigg What anime is that shirt from?

[@actualmadscientist]

"If spice and wolf is an economics lesson with boobs, then the anime is definitely the cliff notes version." Such truth to your words, MB my dude! (This also applies to Maou Yuusha)

[@DKN_NLD]

Cliff notes of which? The economic lessons? Or the boobs?

[@SuperCoolrandomguy]

Thanks for reminding me that this show will never continue. I really wanted to have that wound reopened.

[@AYVYN]

Time really does heal all wounds

[@o0oWMDo0o]

On episode 4 I feel so giddy & amazing, 24 episodes confirmed, with the original Dub and Sub VAs returned. We truly have been blessed. Everyone watching needs to get other people hooked on S&W so we actually get a 3rd season and beyond this time.

[@DillyDallysDelights]

All will be rectified in the end my friend

[@Zelenal]

You could talk about Spice & Wolf all day and I'd gladly listen. I love the anime to death, I love the LNs to death, and I desperately need to read more.

[@lule6398]

where do you read ln

[@Zelenal]

My local library had up to Volume 8.

[@moisesblandon9136]

Zelenal i can get you the link for the light novels so you can download it... want it??

[@emmanuelguerrerohernandez9353]

moises blandon Buy it instead if you can, money well spent. If you can't, I belive there is a reddit where you can read it.

[@titanslayer492]

This video is so well-researched and insightful and makes want to go out and read the light novels from the beginning. I urge you to keep doing this series. It's fantastic

[@jeromefournier9667]

By the nine divines do I love your analysis, I just can't see the symbolism like this. I really always just want more of your in depth analysis content, even if it's for series that I don't personaly like that much. When it's something I loved as much as Spice and Wolf, despite how much i missed about it apparently, it's even better.

[@asoran8528]

I think you mean 8.

[@clivevii2231]

Get out of here, Thalmor

[@JCOdrjones]

Mother's Basement is a better "Anime Cinefix" than the actual "Anime Cinefix" aka, Anime Vice (rip)

[@dr4c0blade]

After the reboot, it's interesting to go back to this video and see what the first episode of the new anime did differently from the old. And honestly? Not much. The first episode clearly took most of its cues from the last anime than the light novel. It's almost a bit for bit remake, only with different camera angles, a larger budget, and reworked character designs to more closely resemble the light novel illustrations. The biggest difference is that Chloe's gone now (save for a cameo), replaced by Yarei, who she originally replaced in the first place. Plus, the flash forward at the beginning that implicitly promises that we're getting the whole story this time.

[@marinoaristy5659]

Dam you've been on a roll making amazing videos! Keep it up! Edit: Also compare Baccano! to its light novel.

[@Nverdis]

14:55 "If Spice and Wolf is an economics lesson with boobs..." Oh come on, I know sexy stuff isn't inherently bad but you are doing the series *absolutely no justice* by calling it that. Holo and Lawrence's relationship is a well-written work of art, filled with great chemistry and likable moments. Trivializing it almost makes it sound like ur lumping it in with fanservice anime

[@bitzibaerlie]

Spice and Wolf actually helped me quite a bit in university economics. He was clearly being facetious, though. Same with the comments on the manga. A lot of work went into this video and MB certainly does the franchise justice. I have watched the show three times and read the novels even more often and I absolutely love both.

[@NottJoeyOfficial]

I am a major Spice and Wolf fan, and I will call it an economics lesson with boobs, even if the boobs aren't after the first bits really.

[@donotreply8979]

What do you have against boobs, prudish much?

[@JonathanLitwinka]

If you don't just want to manga/light novel to anime, I think comparing the Original JoJo OVA to the newer corresponding episodes could make for an interesting episode.

[@D-Havoc]

That's a good one since he's seen both and is into the series.

[@7LemonFire11]

"obviously thats the ultimate version of spice and wolf" 😂

[@djaz1453]

Came here after i just finished anime. To fill the emptiness in my heart.

[@crowofrevelry]

23:23 My personal favorite moment in the series. She wants to fight the headpats, but can't quite bring herself to.

[@elafila6883]

A new adaptation has been nnounced three weeks ago!! I just hope they are gonna stick to the og anime design! Because that anime design lowkey saved spice and wolf I would have never watched it or enjoyed it nearly as much if holo was a loli

[@UTU]

I subbed to this chanell orginially because you posted in the /r/spice&wolf and I'm glad to see more S&W content, keep up the great work.

[@iBenjamin1000]

i can't believe how much I want to rewatch spice and wolf since it's one of the earliest anime I ever saw, or even moreso find out how the whole story goes. I never even liked the series that much when I first read it

[@infinitepotato001]

I literally convinced a friend to experience spice and wolf by showing him a manga panel with Holo and her existent nipples... Listen it was underhanded but I'll be damned if it didn't do its job.

[@benjamindeh873]

Underhanded? That was more blunt than your average hammer X)

[@Mike23443]

virgin anime Lawrence vs Chad book Lawrence.

[@luiztomikawa]

Now we need a new video like this comparing the 3 versions XD

[@bonefetcherbrimley7740]

"Though in the manga holo actually has nipples. So obviously, that's the ultimate version of Spice and Wolf." I lol'd.

[@LaraWarriorWolf]

Dude, a FANTASTIC piece of work you did there. It's a blast to have your videos on! Thank you!

[@cj3013]

Any video about Spice & Wolf is a good video in my opinion. Keep it up!

[@JacesSanctum]

What if the video was incoherent ranting going on about it being terrible?

[@Cold-Blooded-Jay]

"-Holo still chokes on potatoes-" lol

[@reiskyxaver5110]

i guess its about time i watch Spice and Wolf

[@zackdevro5192]

Rei Pacifer Do it, you're missing out on something that's quite unique.

[@correctionguy7632]

How did it go?

[@cassyblack3346]

"Obviously the ultimate version of Spice and Wolf" That made me smile. Good series idea. I've always wondered about light novels and how they translate to anime.

[@ryuukichi2531]

Everytime I go to sleep I remember that Season 3 will never come and I cry my self to sleep

[@haelsin0009]

For anyone scrolling by, Spice & Wolf just got an official new TV anime announcement about a week ago. Whether its a continuation isn't known, but the rumor is that it will be a full reboot, similar to Fruits Basket.

[@mencya]

Where is it

[@lloydlego6088]

It is here.

[@JinTrixx5291]

season 3, we need one

[@gutembergcraft]

this editing is freaking great, Holly shit

[@purplechimkin3404]

Love the shirt, Geoff

[@Just_Some_Guy_with_a_Mustache]

I had totally forgotten the deep themes of this series. I just remember it as the series that gave everyone their first Why Boner.

[@catbot158]

I would love to see one of these videos on either One Punch Man or Mob Psycho 100. While both shows' adaptations went smoothly, there's still a lot to compare and contrast between ONE's original work and the animes.

[@anyanP]

In OPM's case it's not fair enough to analyse anime as ONE's original web-manga adaptation. It's adaptation of the remake after all (and the remake did some narrative changes as well, not only updated artwork quality). Thouh, compare all three versions of the same story would be interesting.

[@Rootz2000]

That shirt is definitely perfect for the first day a hell high school.

[@double2254]

22:20 You had me at manga You kept me around for this 😏

[@chysamere]

That shirt is amazing.

[@thomascollins5622]

chysamere HERESY!

[@ArksRussian]

An interesting moment is the scene after Lawrence has freed Holo from captivity. In Russian translation their talk is almost exact copy of the talk in the book: Holo is angry because Lawrence has not come himself, did not "fought for her with his clause and teeths". The actual reason of her anger was never mentioned though. But for me it was apparent that Holo told something too private to her saviour, something that should have been said to Lawrence only.

[@Pan_Z]

For some reason, this is my favorite video from Mother's Basement so far.

[@bb_lou]

I love your shirt! Where did you get it?

[@KringleOverdrive]

you monster

[@bb_lou]

HEHEHEHE AND I'M FIRST OMG

[@WalkingGirlKoi]

ZYME L I still need to buy that shirt.

[@mothersbasement]

+ZYME L I got it at sharkrobot.com from VGCats store

[@bb_lou]

+Mother's Basement Senpai noticed meeee! Thanks a lot for the link aswell! Keep up the great content!

[@Michael-Hammerschmidt]

As one of the first anime I ever watched, the only anime which got me to read it's light novel form and one of my favorite stories I've ever had the joy of experiencing, I sincerely love this video.

[@PerkulatorBenny]

Great video. There is just one big thing I disagree with. Chloe was not a necessary, or even good, addition to this series. The things she adds (giving Lawrence a more personal connection to Pasloe) are not equal to the things we lose, which I will come to in a moment. But first... The "plot hole" of Lawrence and Yarei, and Holo's knowledge of them, can be explained by what is already in the book. In their conversation about how, for a mechant, time is money Holo says that for the farmers, time is irrelevant. They only care about the "air". "They wake in the dawn air, work the fields in the morning air, pull the weeds in the afternoon air" and so on. This turns into an emphasis of her loneliness when she ends with "they think not of time - like me, they note only the air", implying that while the farmers go about their lives she is left painfully aware of the passage of time due to her isolation and loneliness. But I digress. In this case the more important part to take away from this is the other, slightly less in your face, implication that all the while she was the local harvest deity, she watched over the town and the lives of the villagers. Even her trick with the apples was something she had seen while watching the village. She would obviously have taken note of Lawrence and his dealings in the village long before they actually met face to face. So why do I dislike changing Yarei to Chloe? Because it shifts (and lessens the impact of) the betrayal from Holo to Lawrence. Lawrence does not need the additional involvement in the story of the arc, because he already has his own side of it. The Pasloe part of the arc is Holo's, while Lawrence gets the money speculation deal, and both plot threads meet at the end when it is revealed that the noble responsible for the fact that in recent time care about, or even care for, Holo has been even more rapidly disappearing, is the same noble that funds the deal. He is responsible for this lack of care for Holo through the introduction of new, more efficient farming techniques, removing the villager's motivation to pray for a good harvest. This then becomes the final straw that makes Holo leave Pasloe. Anyway... As you said, in the book Yarei's betrayal is, unlike Chloe's more personal betrayal because of jealousy and unrequited love, due to the bitterness of a farmer who feels that a capricious old god should leave the village and make way for the new ways. This "capricious old god" is, of course, Holo. Now from Holo's perspective this wouldn't be the personal betrayal of a close acquaintance (let's be real here, there is no way that either Yarei or Chloe would be close enough to Lawrence to be actual friends when he passes through the village in a single day or at most two, once a year, and they have no contact beyond that), but instead it reaffirms and builds upon her two main sources of anguish. Her loneliness and (mostly later in the story) the pain of losing her home. Throughout the arc, we get to know how dissatisfied she is with the villagers as she has always done her best to fulfill her promise to give the village a good harvest (even if this meant giving the occasional poor harvest to let the land recover) which the villagers have forgotten, driving a wedge between them. This is even her main motivation for being in the story in the first place. Having a villager actively cast her out directly plays upon her feelings of dissatisfaction and loneliness by making crystal clear the fact that the village no longer even wants her there anymore. This becomes less of a wedge, and more the final nail in the coffin, when you also consider that she is not asked to leave, she is violently driven out, effectively "destroying" her second home because even while it still exists (unlike Yoitsu, her first home), she can't return there regardless. There are also a few other nitpicks I have: The part in the book where they discuss wolf attacks is actually the beginning of their iconic give and take banter. Holo jokes about the reason for why wolves attack people, and Lawrence realizes that she is messing with him. This joke, when she repeats it, does not sit well with him however, due to his previous trauma. Holo quickly realizes this and apologizes. The conversation then flips the other way around with Holo explaining the wolves fear of humans and Lawrence is the one making the faux pas when he almost asks Holo if she has ever attacked humans herself. Her cutting him off with a ambiguous "I can't answer that question" implies that she has, but she regrets it. The conversation does not end with this however, as you said, instead it end on a high note with Lawrence apologizing and Holo commenting that this makes them even. The book then states that a twenty-five-year-old is no match for the wisewolf (implying that she used the mention of wolves fear of humans to set up the conversation in such a way as to let Lawrence get back to equal ground with her through that half-question, because at that point both have said something they shouldn't have and both have apologized for it), and while they don't say anything more, there is no bad air between them. The whole "Lawrence is no match for Holo in verbal sparring, but they get along anyway" is clearly meant as a start of what their chemistry will develop into throughout their travels. The plot hole of the wheat is most obvious in the anime, where she pulls the disappearing/reappearing act due to the difference in Lawrence's reaction to her wolf paw, although the same question could be raised in the novels because she still gives him half the wheat in either version. It can still be explained by the fact that Holo is stated to "live in the wheat" and that "she will never truly die as long as some of it remains", but she is never stated, nor shown, to be able to use it to "teleport" over large distances, as her disappearing and reappearing in the anime was always done with the same wheat even though the wheat itself changed location in between. It was probably more likely a situation like "if something were to happen to Holo and the wheat she is holding, she will still survive because of the wheat Lawrence has, but this is far from the preferable option" i.e. she can survive being "killed" but it will be very painful nonetheless, making staying in captivity and waiting for rescue the better option. I would say that Yarei's order to kill Lawrence is not exactly "evil", at least no more so than Chloe's. In the original, Lawrence is simply an obstacle to their plans, he's just a loose end to be tied up while they take Holo to hand her over to the church. There is no malice in this decision, merely pragmatism. Especially since, as I stated earlier, they are more like acquaintances and business partners than actual friends. Chloe cursing the gods for being unfair is slightly out of character for her, because that line is taken from Yarei, who's motivation is his feelings that gods are fickle and unnecessary, while Chloe just wanted to be with Lawrence but he chooses another woman over her. The gods' fairness has really nothing to do with her pain and anger so, again, Yarei is the better character to use here. Those "few more lines", in their exchange about repaying a debt, are actually very important because they make it clear that his motivation is not about the money, he just doesn't want Holo to leave him. The "threat" of following her all the way to the north for money is just the best he could come up with on such a short notice, because they both know that any attempts of actually saying that he wants to be with her would ring hollow, due to his incredible fear of her at that moment.

[@rogerogue7226]

I haven't seen or read the series, so i can't have a proper opinion on this matter. But an argument so thoroughly constructed and argued deserves an upvote nonetheless.

[@groxx]

... I think this is the first large KZbin comment that I've wholeheartedly agreed with. Usually there's some minor point I'm not on board with, but not here, the same things bugged me for the same reasons. Chloe also sets the trend of the anime leaning a bit towards "maybe it's a love triangle!" with every major female. Not anywhere near as much as many anime, but it's there. The books (though I'm less than half way through them all so far) and manga have *nearly* zero of this - Holo does not see them as a romantic threat, and he sees them primarily for their business opportunities and general companionship that he clearly craves (both of which he seeks in everyone). From early on it's clear that they're irreplaceable to each other for many reasons, it just takes time to build into deeper and clearer emotions. The rough patches and accidental injuries to each other are natural parts of that learning and growth, not driven by one seemingly falling for someone else and the other growing petty. Jealous moments are reserved for blatant teasing like with Weiss, in the anime it's a bit more of a constant undertone.

[@bt636]

Great work as always, I just discovered S&W a few months ago and it was a joy. An amazing dub and the best line in any anime I have ever seen "Stupid potato!" it still cracks me up every time I think of that scene. Congrats on hitting 300k Subs.

[@billcipher147]

How about To Aru Majutsu no Index? There are some huge differences between the light novels and the anime. And they kinda screwed up Touma in the anime.

[@baileymakemeasandwich5452]

Bill Cipher and they made me go through the Mandela effect, because of Jinsaku Hino

[@TheShadowchiefstudio]

Holy shit I love this idea, I'm a big fan of What's the Difference and Lost in Adaptation, so this is perfect! As this series goes on hopefully we get some episodes covering visual novels like Fate/Stay Night and Steins;Gate

[@SpensaVenture]

Tbh I really want to see the differnce between the SAO anime and Light Novel, also $$$

[@vitorkiguchi4670]

On one hand he would have to suffer through the anime again to compare the two, on the other SAO is the anime that makes him the most money

[@Skallva]

The LN is supposedly better, but the "source material is better" excuse is so overused I don't even belive when it's used anymore, and even then I doubt it could be better that much.

[@Leonzell]

while i would say that i enjoy the light novel many many times over the anime, its mainly from an experience standpoint. the way that the anime portrayed the story was too linear for what happens. in my experience with the novel (which was still being fan-translated at the time i read volume 1(aincrad arc) then jumped straight into elfheim because volume 2 wasn't translated, then later read volume 2 and sword art online feels alot better to read as a current story with occasional side stories of looking back than as a linear storytelling from beginning to end. at least in my opinion, though the content of the story is mostly the same in light novel and anime so its all about perspective.

[@Tartar]

I read it, and I'd say from the first 2 volumes, it's quite a bit worse. It's the same story, same plot-holes (and a few additional ones to boot), but without the pretty character designs and animation. That and it takes 4-5 hours to read each volume which makes the story go by very slowly.

[@dereksimon3317]

Sorry for the wall of text. Having read all of them up to volume 18 (though it has been a while since the first few volumes), I can say that the light novel is superior, however, SAO itself is, in my opinion, a mediocre adaptation of mediocre source material that got popular because it hit a certain niche at the right time in order to get popular. While the light novels do give a lot more information, they do tend to suffer from the same issues that many people complain about in the anime, namely an unrealistic protagonist, the Rejected Women's Club, poorly written antagonists, etc. However, the Alicization arc is quite a large step above the rest of the series, and while it suffers from some pacing issues, being quite slow at times and then wrapping things up way too quickly, it manages to tell a much better story than any previous arc of SAO, without most of the drawbacks that were previously mentioned. If anything, the anime and light novel, up to the Alicization point, are roughly equal in mediocrity, but there is a noticeable shift in quality once the Alicization arc starts. That said, as the Alicization arc began to drag on, most notably in the second chapter of volume 17, quality began to shift back towards what was found at the beginning of the series. As far as differences between the two, the Aincrad arc isn't told as a continuous piece, separating side stories and game clearing into different novels, the novels have a bit more focus on skills, what they do, and why they are used, and adds in technobabble for the unexplained technologies that you have to take with a grain of salt. Overall, both the light novel and anime suffer from the fact that Reki Kawahara is a player of games, not a designer, which cuts into the quality of what could be made in this specific genre. This is even more noticeable in the Alicization arc, where it reads less like a person playing/trapped in a video game, to a person that is in a fantasy world where his video game skills transfer. This part is further emphasized by the fact that the death mechanic is partially revived in Alicization, enhancing the dramatic tensioned that was lacking in Alfheim and barely present in GGO. I think that should cover all of it.

[@CatsRul85]

Rewatching in eager anticipation for the new Spice and Wolf anime- looking forward to a more faithful adaptation.

[@hammers1594]

>"holo is such a good doggo" >does a 25 minute analysis video on comparing source material to adaptation and two other videos on it.

[@rej3ktstudios986]

I love this novel esc cut away's, certainly one of the most visually unique edits of a analysis video I've seen recently. Excellent work.

[@CuteSongKids]

"In short, book Lawrence comes across as a bit of a dick." That's why I prefer reading it in the novel. LMAO

[@Weebles6969]

whoever did the editing on this video is on point

[@commentarytalk1446]

The 2 things that really impressed me about this anime series: 1. The economics mixed with the usual relationship slow origama unfolding 2. The English voices and language and articulation and steady thoughtful phrasing - usu. The Japanese is so much superior with the delicate but precise honorifics combined with the actual meaning (semantics) of the sentence. There's some good turns of phrase, timing and wit and so on. A very rewarding series. Delightful story-telling.

[@zorohibiki]

i have the spice and wolf novels on paper i cant explain it better but turning the pages with my fingers while reading the journey of lawrence and holo feels like the right way of enjoying their story

[@Claad2]

I love spice and wolf so much D:

[@shirokumaotaku]

I first saw the Anime around 2014/15 & he quickly became one of My Favourites but it wasn't until about a week ago that I was finally able to get the first two Volumes of the Light Novel 😁❤️

[@sim.frischh9781]

That hardcover looks heavy enough for one to need a weapon license! As shown at 1:20.

[@winnkey]

that spice and wolf music gave me chills. fuck i love spice and wolf

[@TheWiseWo1f]

S3 N E V E R E V E R

[@zackdevro5192]

Holo The Wise Wolf FeelsBadMan

[@WizardHuntingWright]

You are on fire, I must say. Last few videos are all your A-Game.

[@asielromo3399]

Oh shit the anime pope uploaded again

[@billcipher147]

Praise him, he's the lord and saviour of anime.

[@CatsandDragons7]

YOUR SHIRT IS NOT OKAY *sobsobsob* Real talk though, i love Spice and Wolf. It was my first light novel, because I loved the anime so much. Glad to see another video about it!

[@adamgtrap]

You know, I usually have a pretty easy time ignoring your bookwalker adds. But because this one is about a series that I really, really, enjoy, it is much harder.

[@Zaturn_]

This should see a resurgence with the new anime announcement. HYPE \o/

[@snowpig9704]

this book is soo beautiful ! but I dont know if I want to read the story and the books because I like everything in the anime more precisely the music and the colors .

[@ShallBePurified]

If you don't read the books, you won't get the full story. If for no other reason, you should read it for the story. The anime only adapted books 1-3, 5 and parts of 7. My favorites are 14, 15, and 16. But you have to read the books in order to understand what happens. And also read book 4. I don't know why the anime skipped book 4, but it is vitally important that you read book 4 if you want to finish the series.

[@snowpig9704]

Ok tanks ! its helpful to have a different point of view from someone who read them :D

[@bfedezl2018]

Yami Yep. I actually did not read it and started with 6. Big mistake, it actually matters.

[@charlierosas955]

Everytime I see your shirt, I take a moment to just appreciate how amazingly dark it is

[@AnimeFlyz]

HOLY SHIT. YOU MADE A VIDEO ABOUT A SERIES THAT ISN'T SHIT (AKA SAO)????? IT'S NOT EVEN CHRISTMAS YET.

[@Poet482]

I was mostly listening to this video, but when I looked up at the end and I saw your shirt and put together what it was, I started laughing... and THEN you decided to address it at that very moment with perfect timing. Damn, that was funny. I'd wear one, too, lol

[@KilljoyAlienGirl483]

I'll go to hell for laughing so hard at you shirt...(where did you get it?)

[@Sneakleak96]

I gotchu fam sharkrobot.com/products/happy-fusion-fun-times

[@Sneakleak96]

No probs dood

[@khaisha3183]

That was such a smooth transition from shill to video, oh my god

[@typicalrobot]

Finally I got to make a "Last Time I Was This Early" comment ye boi

[@harvey_birdman]

This automatically got you a new subscriber! Love the video material and can't wait to enter this spice and wolf contest!

[@oh-noe]

I bought the japanese version so now I'm trying to learn japanese so I can read the original untranslated LN

[@ShallBePurified]

The best way to experience the story is to both read the book and watch the anime. The books give a better description of everything happening and makes it easier to understand the character's thought process and motivation. The anime gives a good visual representation of the events happening in the book. It's easier to visualize events in the book when you have seen the anime, and you can read their dialogue in the voices they have in the anime.

[@bubbasbigblast8563]

Honestly, it's good they removed the Catholic elements, because most people don't understand how the Church worked even when they have something approaching knowledge of the subject, and Japan gets things even _more_ wrong.

[@epicfail3167]

Excellent timing for the youtube algorithm to recommend this

[@pianistofthemosthigh]

WHO’S HERE AFTER HEARING ABOUT THE RENEWAL?!

[@Georgespicedaddy]

When you learn that the English voice actor for holo is the same as moxie from the borderlands

[@Cdmusic101]

Nina is best doggo!

[@serentique]

Cdmusic101 they're actually really cute and I want one:

[@keenanmccarty9925]

That intro is why I tune in every week, somehow you find a way to take shilling to a whole new level every week.

[@father042]

That fucking T-shirt

[@collecter343]

Found this after watching a few episodes of new Spice and Wolf, god damn has your voice changed in 7 years.

[@prototyped1531]

DO THIS FOR TYPE MOON PLEASE

[@pyayaXC]

prototyped 1, do you mean ALL of Type Moon...? Brutal

[@ObservingProcrastinator]

prototyped 1 That is a lot to slog through. Especially depending on what from TYPE-MOON.

[@electricant55]

except type moon anime suck horribly... Except for Carnival Phantasm of course

[@liambrown3249]

I'm so excited to see your channel branching out, i've always felt that your channel has the most potential to be truly entertaining as many of you're videos were you talk about a random topic were very interesting and entertaining, more so than the other anime reviewer channels, but there were few that genuinely piqued my interest. Now with these new series and more recent random videos of interesting topics your channel has excitingly gotten much better and i feel that you really get to show of your talents as your own content creator (you're also pretty damn funny). Good on you Geoff, keep it up! P.S I doubt you would do an anime like this but the manga vs anime version of Dragonball Super would definitely be an interesting topic.

[@WillcraftAnimations]

Sooo does anyone know if the uncensored version of the anime exists? If it's one of those things where the version with crosses and shit was released and is available, just much harder to get to than the censored version? Because I'm a hardcore anti-censorship kinda guy and I got a suspicion that the glaring absence of crosses would drive me mad for no other reason than that I know they were supposed to be there but aren't because censorship.

[@Why_not_now356]

There is no uncensored version you horny boy

[@Narcomoeba1]

Some silimar stuff too from another anime / manga. The title called "Emma" most of it is the same, but the very emotional part of the manga, is totally different from the anime. Yet they both sucessfully deliver that emotional moment, makes you all teary eyed.

[@micahbrink1077]

15:35 no we cant. that is necessary information

[@Rakned]

please don't stop doing these videos your videos are helping me turn myself into a weeb

[@DeadPig325]

Please take a look at the newly released *'Legend of the Galactic Heroes'* novels compared to the first few episodes or movie! PLEASE MAN, PLEASE! That or *'The heroic legend of Arslan'* novels by the same author compared to Hiromu Arakawa's manga/show based on it PLEASE MAN, PLEASE This video was fucking awesome and you can bet your lanky pasty ass that I'm buying those novels now, fuck-o!

[@ineednochannelyoutube5384]

I think either he or digi already did Arslan.

[@DeadPig325]

it was Digi.

[@RequestedTutotials]

S&W is the only anime I've ever went out and looked up the source material for. Ended up buying the entire series, with 1 even coming out while I was reading and now there's another coming out. Absolutely loved everything about both