One of the best traits of anime is its ability to present normal topics in fantastical and interesting ways, and Spice and Wolf is a shining example.
Dropping viewers into a world of intrigue, economic stakes and lovable characters, the show is a masterclass at creating a world you can’t help but get sucked into. Whether its the way the world around the characters expands with each arc or the budding relationship between the protagonists, it’s a show few won’t want more of after the final episode is reached. Of course, it’s not the only show of its kind, and these seven shows are perfect for anyone looking for something similar.
Maoyū Maō Yūsha
Anime Like Spice and Wolf if You’re Looking For Something Similar
Saving the world from a tyrannical overlord is all well and good, but what if teaming up with said overlord to make everyone’s live’s better were on the table? Such is the premise for Maoyu, a show that turns fantasy adventure tropes on its head. Following a war between demons and humans, the Hero and the Demon King come to an agreement to join forces and build a lasting peace for both races to live in harmony. Along the way, they dive into much of the logistics of what would follow a world-shaking conflict between warring peoples from rebuilding destroyed cities, eliminating prejudices and incorporating elements from each civilization into one another. It also helps that the cast feels fleshed out and relatable, leading to a great 12 episode series to lose oneself in.
Mushi-Shi
Anime Like Spice and Wolf if You’re Looking For Something Similar
White-haired protagonists aside, there’s plenty of great similarities between Mushi-Shi and Spice and Wolf. Following the adventures of the Mushi expert Ginko, viewers are treated to a series of adventures in a world where magic hides beneath the surface. From ear-dwelling phantoms revealing the sounds of life in motion to dialogues between characters on different views regarding life, this series is perfect for the contemplative viewer looking for stories to mull over and unwind to at a leisurely pace.
Kino’s Journey
Anime Like Spice and Wolf if You’re Looking For Something Similar
The world of Kino’s Journey is a vast and varied place. From free-roaming metallic metropolitan cities to small towns which hold no official punishment for murder, each country the titular protagonist visits offers new experiences and challenges from the last and serves to invite discussion on which is truly better from another.
Much like Spice and Wolf, the 2003 and 2017 renditions of this series draw viewers in with how they build their world and leave the characters to come alive within them. If you enjoyed watching Lawrence and Holo interacting with the world around them, you won’t be disappointed by Kino’s intriguing travel vignettes.
The Devil is a Part-Timer!
Anime Like Spice and Wolf if You’re Looking For Something Similar
While there’s certainly fun to be had in the action-oriented segments of the show, The Devil is a Part-Timer! shines when it focuses on the characters and their everyday lives. Transported from a different dimension into our own, the once mighty forces of angelic warriors as well as the Demon King and his wards are forced to adapt to everyday life. This means everything from finding part-time jobs to make rent, to battles with dehydration so that they won’t have to go to hospitals not covered by their insurance. It’s an odd premise, and yet it makes for a pleasant escape the whole way through its 13 episode run.
ACCA: 13-Territory Inspection Department
Anime Like Spice and Wolf if You’re Looking For Something Similar
To be sure, ACCA: 13 is a slow-burn show. Never delving into direct conflict between its characters, it instead offers battles of wit and a plot centered around a country’s muddied royal succession system, building ever so slowly to a big reveal right at the series’ end. For those with the patience though, this is a show with some of the best-written characters in recent memory. Each feels believable in their motivations and goals, whether its the cool-headed main character trying to decipher his role in others’ plots or the myriad of political figures trying to game their country’s politics for their own profit. If you’re looking for something well-weighted with dialogue-driven drama, this is the show for you.
Bakemonogatari
Anime Like Spice and Wolf if You’re Looking For Something Similar
A weightless girl falling from the sky is only the beginning of Araragi Koyomi’s adventures. From a cursed monkey paw granting a jealous lover murderous strength to an ancient serpent strangling a socialite out of jealousy, each scenario is stranger than the last, and it’s his job to help those afflicted find a solution.
This is what the series is about on paper, and yet in motion, it’s one of the best dialogue-driven anime around. Amid the insanity of each new scenario, one can lose themselves in the banter between characters and the budding relationships between each other. Before long, you’ll be pulled headlong into this fantastic series as well as its many, many offshoots.
Death Parade
Anime Like Spice and Wolf if You’re Looking For Something Similar
Death isn’t the end in this series, where those who pass on must compete in challenges of skill to determine whether heaven or hell awaits them. Set in the enthralling ethereal bar Quindecim, each new visitor brings their own philosophical and moral dilemmas for the show’s regular cast, playing out discussions and quarrels for the viewer to dig into and process themselves. Along with the stellar visuals and sound work, there’s more than enough for anyone who enjoys having a mentally stimulating anime in their lives.
Know of any other shows that scratch the Spice and Wolf itch? Let us know in the comments below, and check out our recent list of shows to watch if you like My Hero Academia.
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