Story - This anime takes place in a sort of medieval universe. Lawrence is a traveling merchant and dreams of opening his own shop in a town where he can settle down and have the privileges granted from staying in one location to trade, such as finding a wife and having close friends. Being more specific with this anime's universe, religion is universally recognized as the highest power, beside gold and silver coins. Both of which are more highly regardless than the god of grain harvest Horo. Horo is a wolf but takes a human form and meets Lawrence. He makes a promise with Horo to take her up to the north forest in his travels of trade as he does so he learns about the many powers Horo has and how he can use them to benefit his trade. It seems more money is spent on keeping Horo content and happy than she helps make. Spending it on trivial goods as apples, clothes, and alcoholic drinks.
Basically the plot is about Lawrence and Horo dealing with many business opportunities, some being very perilous, and there are points where it feels as all is lost for Lawrence.
It might sound either very dull or enjoyable, I warn you there is a ton of information to process and viewers will not understand why anyone is doing anything unless giving it their full attention. You must have a base understanding of economics. Even if you don't it's still watchable but it won't be as interesting as learning every side of the story. It's better to pick up everything as it goes on or you might not be able to find what you need by going back.
9 - Yes there is a romance story, but we all know where that's going.
Art - The art was fantastic and captures the medieval universe very well. The clothing, people, villages, landscape, very much fit the archetype of the middle ages.
8 - Beautiful, much to stare at as they talk about business matters.
Sound - Goodness did I enjoy the voice acting in this one. The long dialogue was done professionally. The BGM was very enjoyable, there was a sort of cheery flute music that I favored. The OP doesn't sink it at first, but as you keep hearing it, you find it to be a soothing and rather beautiful song. The ED I enjoyed a slight more, the accents for the English lyrics, I will never be able to emulate. It's a cute song really, something out of a children play. Expect some great howling and voice acting.
8 - long explanations, no problem.
Character - Being about a traveling merchant Lawrence never gets to spend much time with anyone in the span of the anime. Besides Horo, all the other characters are in it for their respective arcs and never feel as important as Horo or Lawrence. What's important is that they focused on the two characters that matter the most. You learn a lot about both and learn to love them both.
8 - To describe it, I would compare it to a very small but delicious plate of high class cooking. You wanted more but at the same time fear that it might spoil the Horo/Lawrence combo.
Enjoyment - While never having to pay attention to the subtitles in a long time, i found every bit of business spiel interesting and enjoyable. I would have never been able to write a story such as this one involving so much about trade and economics, the falling and rising of prices, dealing, contracts, companies, scams, etc.
In the end you get your money's worth of story and content, to top it all off you have a very attractive and skillful wolf God in the mix.
9 - Very much satisfied thank you. I anticipate the second season!
Overall - Prepare to be entertained, in the smart way. Never has trading been so tense and interesting.
So stop what you're doing, put that down, and watch this.
I give it a deserving 9!
