WOLF'S RAIN

DESCRIPTION

CAST

OVA AdventureWolf's Rain OVA
MANGA ActionWolf's Rain

REVIEWS

• 

  biogundam

  71/100
  i haven't seen wolfs rain, but i love wolfs rain

  Warning this review may contain spoilers.

  First impression, so one of my online comrades is like a big fan of wolfs rain and also any other bones show in general, he was talking about it and I got kind of interest for checking it out.
  And Also because wolfs are like my favourite land animals.

  Story, 7/10

  In a world that has been turned into a complete shit hole,
  There is a legend that when the world is about to reach its end paradise will appear.
  But only wolfs know where to find it with the help of the lunar flower, but wolfs have been extinct for 200 years.
  For so they thought that have actually been hiding in plain sight.
  A lone wolf kiba are main character makes his way to a city far into the north in order to persuade this dream.
  While there he encountered three other wolfs and the lunar flower girl.
  Though some events they all decide to Travel together to find paradise.

  So the story of wolf rain is one of those epic rogue journey,
  With are cast of characters Travel all over the place looking for this paradise,
  That may or may not exist but they're going to try to find it anyway.

  Which is done quite well when I think back on it in retrospect

  Because there a big sense of tension and danger with people trying to hunt down are group of wolfs and also that fact there are other things out there that can and will kill them if they get the opportunity.
  Like the hunter dude or the noble chick

  Good sense of world building as we find out more and how the world became like this. Like the noble class's wars kind of fucked over the world pretty badly
  Which I thought was quite interesting.

  we also see how people are trying there best to live in this post apocalyptic shit hole.
  Like for example there this one episode where this other group of wolfs that gets worked almost to death by this town in order for them to get food so that can eat and there basically slave labour.

  My biggest complement I could give it is that yes it is quite a depressing story,
  Even though it does have some hope spots every now and then.
  It still very honest and sticks to its guns.

  But that also to its determent as well.
  Because it has this one emotional state that it likes to stick to And if your not a fan of the misery Train it likes to ride on your going to get bored of it really fast.

  Another complaint I have,
  Is that the drama kind of gets a little over bearing at times,
  Like I understand that these characters have these issues and what not.
  But you don't need to beat people over the head with it.
  Like how many times to we need to be reminded of one of the characters mistakes of the past and shit like that.

  Other than those few criticisms it's a pretty solid story,
  Even for bones standards.
  Who are pretty infamous at fucking up storylines

  it has a very decent ending which had a nice little twist of trying to find paradise and what paradise actually means.
  it may have not been the most happy of endings or probably the most satisfying.

  But at the same time it fitted very well for what the show stands for.

  Because the idea of paradise slowly eroding into a shit hole again down the line is kind of interesting and the fact that the characters are basically going to repeat these events over and over again In a endless loop.

  Characters, 7/10

  The main character kiba I thought was pretty cool,
  He kind of this prideful and acts rather rash.
  But he goes though his little development which was good.
  Like dropping his pride some times in order to live

  I also want to take the time talking about the over wolf team characters a whole.
  Which is what I am going to cool the main four wolf characters team wolf

  All of them start off two or three dimensional and they all have decent personality,
  But as the series goes one they get there developments as well.

  They have a nice little team banter going on as well,
  I do know some of the criticism is that it does get old and dry after a while.
  But I would like to rise the point that because it's somewhat formulate In nature.
  But that is the reason why they play off each other so well is because we seen there personal journeys together, we seen them but heads with one another we seen them interactions outside the journey they have.
  We even seen their problems and how they overcame them.
  And I feel that quite natural for what exactly the situation they are in.

  Also when characters in the main cast get badly injured or die,
  You actually care and it feels like it has actual impact.
  Which shocked me because I didn't think this show would get such an emotional reaction out of me.
  But what I think what actually makes it work is because that have such a really cool team dynamic and it actually is impactful because someone been taken out of that group equation.

  The side characters,
  There decent as well.
  They don't get as much development like the Main cast do that or have more defined personality's .
  But they do there roles well.

  But I have to talk the villains'
  I thought the wolf eyed guy was quite interesting he had a decent back story and had a decent Reason for doing what he doing.
  He was quite cool in a very nice intimidating way.

  But the thought the other villain it's that noble lady,
  I thought she wasn't done as well I would have hoped.
  I thought she was played a little to dramatic at times.
  But she was fine none the less.

  Art, 6/10

  Animation looked quite decent especially the time this show came out,
  But it looks a little dated.
  It's has quite a bit of grit to it was well,
  Which I quite liked.

  The art style has this very bleak look about it,
  Which fitted the show perfectly like a glove.
  It also had this cool dystopian look,
  which I was also digging as well.

  Characters design look alright,
  I really like the look of the wolfs.
  Because they look similar to their real life counterparts,
  Well as close as they could get it I guess.
  Because this is anime and they couldn't be 100% accurate.

  Sound, 6/10

  I really like the opening,
  It very reminiscent to some of the classic 90s Rock tunes I used to listen to while I was growing up as a kid.
  Also it's all in English so that was kind of refreshing especially sense for the most part I expected something in Japanese.

  The ending sounded alright but I personally liked the op more,
  The ost was quite decent.
  But sadly nothing really clicked with me ost wise.

  The ost was done by Yoko Kanno,
  Who I think I have mentioned before is some of my other reviews

  In case I haven't a few examples of what she has done ost for code guess, ecaflowne, and space Danny.

  Also only watched the dub so I don't know much about the sub,
  But the dub sounds nice.

  Enjoyment, 6/10

  I quite enjoyed this show,
  Like I said before wolfs are one of my favourite animals and I quite liked this idea of wolf's going on this to find paradise.
  I quite enjoyed the fact that this show trying to think I little outside the box.
  When coming to these kind of storeys.
  I really enjoyed the opening.
  I also think as far as depressing series go this one of the better ones.

  Overall, 7/10

  If your Looking for a emo like series or just have a like for the feels then probably check this out.
  If you're into the more up beat shows then probably find something else to watch.

  Continue on AniList
• 

  TheRealKyuubey

  90/100
  Could have been a masterpiece, if it wasn't for SARS.

  It’s the distant future, and the Earth has been caught in an endless winter. Humanity has pressed on, as it is known to do, by building enclosed communities where they can keep the weather at just where they need it to be in order to eek out what little living they can, brazenly defying the worsening condition of the world around them. Theirs is a world on the brink of apocalypse, and according to an old legend, it’s heralds will not be humans themselves… But wolves. But didn’t wolves go extinct 200 years ago?

  Well, no, they didn’t. They acquired the ability to project the image of humans upon themselves, and to the eyes of most of us, they can walk among the general public completely undetected. Whether they act on it or not, these wolves are drawn to the presence of an entity called The Lunar Flower, a mysterious white plant that’s supposed to be just as extinct as they are. Four young wolves, all abandoned in some way or other, have been brought together by circumstance to answer that call, braving the elements and countless other dangers in their quest to find Paradise. It’s a call they’ll follow to the ends of the earth… Which, according to the legend, is exactly what’ll happen if they find it.

  In early 2003, Studio Bones had yet to make a name for itself… It had some modest success with Rahxephon and the Cowboy Bebop movie, but the big hit that would establish it as one of the top production companies was still about six months from hitting the air waves. The anime world, at this point, had not yet become accustomed to Bones’ unmatched aptitude for bleeding beautiful art and animation out of even the smallest of budgets. Well, Wolf’s Rain isn’t one of those cheaper shows… It actually went pretty well over-budget, and the results speak for themselves. This is one of the most beautiful anime I’ve ever seen, on almost every conceivable level. There are a few staticky key frames here and there, mostly where they won’t be noticed by anyone who’s not deliberately looking for them, but for the vast majority of it’s run, Wolf’s Rain is fluidly animated, without a single camera angle out of place. From the mundane images of wolves running across a snowy terrain to more fantastical CG images of air ships and man-sized computer screens, not a penny was wasted in bringing this story to life.

  And the artwork is even more beautiful… The landscapes are mesmerizing, even when they’re mostly dominated by hues of white and gray. Whether our lupine heroes are trudging through a blizzard or looking for answers in the many domed cities they come across, the intimate level of detail will make you feel as if you’re there with them… You may even feel the urge to wrap yourself in a blanket during the colder scenes. Character designs are inspired, thoughtful, and very easy on the eyes. Not only does each design fit it’s character’s personality and story to a T… The tough guy is dressed in leather, the laid-back guy is wearing a baggy hoodie, and the forlorn divorced couple are dressed like they stepped off the set of Casablanca, to name a few… But they’re distinctive enough that even in wolf form, you’ll never have any problem remembering who’s who.

  So, the animation is beautiful, the artwork is beautiful… What about the music? I rarely talk about music, as it normally all sounds the same to me, but when the name Yoko Kanno is attached to a project, that music doesn’t fall on ANY deaf ears. Kanno’s music has built her a sturdy reputation amongst the anime medium, and rightfully so… In Wolf’s Rain, she provides a range of different music styles, from orchestral to western, and oddly enough, some rock ballads that have actual English lyrics to them.

  I recently listened to the RWBY soundtrack… And I mean really listened to it… And while I’ll save my comments on it for another day, it did remind me how important it is to build a soundtrack that fits the tone of your show not only musically, but also lyrically. Otherwise, you wind up with a breakneck paced action song with the lyrics of a solemn break-up song… Which is just sloppy. Yoko Kanno understands this, and even in English, the songs she composes fit the series perfectly, adding to the emotional impact of any given scene she’s attached to.

  The English dub of this show is every bit as good as the original Japanese track, with a cast of actors that flawlessly transition their characters through gradual, subtle development that may be lost on some viewers… Which, if you’re monolingual like I am, makes it the better option. Johnny Yong Bosch pulls off what may be one of his best roles ever as Kiba, the leader of the pack, adding emotional depth to a wistful character who could have easily been portrayed as bland and by-the-numbers. Crispin Freeman faced a similar problem, playing an all-out tsundere character… But Tsume is probably one of the best uses of the tsundere trope, and Crispin brings his trademarked sincerity to every single step of it. Joshua Seth takes the loveable slacker Hige through some reveals that will honestly leave you speechless once you reach them, and Steve Blum’s Darcia will earn your sympathy as well as your terror, sometimes in the same breath.

  The only real problem I have with the dub is Tomoe, played by veteran Mona Marshall… Not because of her performance, which was outstanding, but because no matter how many times I hear her do it, I can’t buy her as a young boy. The rest of the cast is very natural sounding and subdued, with special emphasis on Kari Wahlgren, Jessica Straus, and an insane cameo from Beau Billingslea halfway through. Despite the caliber of the starring cast, the best performance is probably that of Tom Wyner, who plays Quent Yaiden, an old alcoholic who’s sworn vengeance on the wolves for… He believes… Burning down his village and murdering his family, long ago.

  I mentioned earlier that Studio Bones has some very consistent tendencies in terms of their animation. Well, the same can be said, at least in their early years, about the stories they took on. Wolf’s Rain is the third of several consecutive Bones projects that deal with deep, complex ideas about faith and humanity, as well as the general theme of there being another world parallel to our own. It’s also easily the most mature of the group, at least as far as I’ve seen. It has a very slow pace, but it’s rarely boring, as it spend most of it’s time developing and exploring the intriguing cast of characters and the expansive, mysterious world around them.

  There are very few big moments throughout the bulk of the show, but when they happen, they happen in huge, climactic ways, taking every possible advantage of the build-up and development that lead to them. It is thanks to the slow, almost meandering suspense that those big moments… Whether they be triumphant, heart-warming, or excruciatingly tragic, are able to work as effectively as they do. You’ll find yourself pumping your fist with every insurmountable obstacle they overcome, from a battle with a giant walrus to the conquering of their own inner demons, and you’ll find yourself crying on more than one occasion as the harsh world around them constantly tests the strength of their bond, and no, this series is not afraid to rip out your heart and stomp on it.

  On the surface, this is a very simple, easy to follow story. Well, mostly easy, the villain stuff can get a bit complicated. The wolves and their journey to paradise can be taken purely at face value while still being an entertaining watch. However, watching with your brain turned off will NOT give you the full experience, and it’ll probably leave you unsatisfied with the ending. I’m not the first person to point this out… Far from it, at this point… But there is a wealth of depth, symbolism, and meaning hidden beneath the snowy surface of this series, and while a lot of it finds it’s roots in Buddhism, there is material for any viewer of any faith to latch onto.

  I won’t go into the religious stuff… Although I will say that when you realize that wolves are often seen as divine beings in Japan, things start to fall into place… But what I can go into is the most accessible theme that the series has to offer. That theme, ultimately, is the struggle to find fulfillment. As the wolves press on through the apocalyptic world, they constantly have to decide whether to continue their journey, facing unrelenting hardships in the pursuit of something greater, or to quit, settle down in a town and just exist. This dilemma is explored dozens of times through those that they meet on their journey, with entire civilizations leading stagnant existence devoid of purpose to other wolves who’ve put aside their pride and sold themselves into grueling manual labor just to get by. Is it better to live a long life of complacency, or is it better to die in pursuit of a greater, more meaningful path? Does true happiness come through survival, or struggle? Wolf’s Rain puts forth it’s own definitive answer to this question, and makes several very strong cases for what it has to say, but it also leaves just enough ambiguity to keep the debate alive in your mind long after the series is over.

  Unfortunately, the show isn’t perfect… There are two rather glaring flaws in it that even the most appreciative viewer will have to acknowledge. First of all, this is the only series I’ve ever seen that has four… Yes, four… recap episodes placed right in the middle of the series. If you have the officially released Complete collection DVD set, this recap takes up the entire fourth disk, and Wolf’s Rain catches a lot of flack for it. As it turns out, this wasn’t a conscious choice on the part of the creators… When Wolf’s Rain was going through its initial Japanese run, there was a SARS outbreak that incapacitated the majority of the people working at the studio. Short on man-power, the four recap episodes were put out to fill up the show’s time slot until they could get back on their feet again. It’s a pretty damn good excuse, all things considered, and one that’s worthy of a little understanding.

  And to be perfectly honest, even before learning that fact, I’ve watched this series multiple times without ever skipping them. That’s not to say they’re not skippable… They totally are… But as far as recap episodes go, they’re remarkably well put together, and each one tells a chunk of the story through the voice of a different supporting character. They also give you a second chance to notice things going on in the series that you may not have picked up on the first time through. They’re a waste of time, but they’re pleasant, and I can’t really find it in me to condemn them.

  What I can criticize, however, is my other problem with the series… The wolves’ illusions are entirely inconsistent. There’s a scene very early on where a young boy is about to fall to his death, and a wolf(in disguise) tries to catch him. Lacking real arms, he tries to catch him the way a human would, only to end up catching him in his jaws, killing him. This implies… Nay, straight up confirms… That they can’t interact with people and objects the way that people can, and can only act in ways that are physically possible for a wolf. Well, then, how do they punch and kick things? How can you explain a scene where one wolf punches another through the bars of a cage? How do they hold knives to peoples’ throats? It’s not a big problem, but it still bothers me.

  Wolf’s Rain is available from Geneon entertainment, and the rights to it have not yet been rescued by company that’s still in business, which of course means the series is entirely out of print. You can find the collection online, but they’re not cheap, and you’ll be lucky if you find a playable copy for less than sixty dollars. At the same time, I don’t believe there are any legal sites streaming for it, so your options are kind of limited here… I don’t personally condemn the purchase of more affordable Malaysian DVDs, as I’m pretty sure it’s not illegal to do so, but those things are shady as hell, and it’s about a fifty-fifty shot as to whether or not they work. I don’t necessarily condone illegal streaming, either, but if you don’t have the cash to pony up, that might just be your only option. Hopefully Funimation will scoop it up and release it as a classic, but until that day, it’s the pirate’s life for ye!

  Wolf’s Rain is a very mature show… And I mean that in terms of actual maturity, not ‘M-Rated’ maturity… And as such, it demands a very mature audience. You have to show it some degree of patience, and a willingness to understand the material, so it may not resonate with everybody. People who are looking for bombastic action, a clear definition of good and evil, easy answers and a happy-sappy ending that ties everything up in a nice big bow… For example, the “Brotherhood is better” crowd… Will still be able to enjoy it on some level, but it may take multiple viewings to pick up on the deeper themes and symbolism that make the otherwise confusing ending work as well as it does. It feels kind of wrong to criticize a show for being too smart, but in this particular case, it creates an issue of accessibility… And when you combine that with the few other minor flaws, I can’t really bring myaself to sign off on a perfect score. It’s a deep, profound series that’s extremely well executed, but it could have stood to go a little easier on the audience. I give wolf’s Rain a 9/10.

  Continue on AniList
• 

  siddhant26

  78/100
  Was great, could've been Greater

  Wolf's Rain is a very mature seinen-Esque anime.. with a dystopian setting, subtle but ever-looming philosophical themes, a semi-melancholic/gloomy vibe and an extremely subjective ending. The overall satisfaction you get from Wolf's rain and how much justice it gives to its premise entirely depends on you. For Starters, the anime is a mixed bag when it comes to its characters, while Tsume, Toboe and the remaining Humans seem to be fairly well developed and are portrayed to be quite believable as characters (What I mean is the characters don't adhere to the stereotypical archetypes like Tsundere or Yandere and gradually change as the show progresses) while some characters like Cheza, Kiba and Hige can get boring and repetitive until the few final episodes come out of nowhere and throw some plot twists/revelations in our faces, which to me seem really quick. In fact, I feel as though, the final jaguara arc felt a little out of place and they could've made it a bit less anti-climatic and still could've given away the philosophical lesson/moral they wanted to give. It's just something I feel, considering that the buildup towards the final episodes was really happy in tone and quite interesting to watch and the end kind of washed it all away. Because it seemed to happen in a flash. Some anime can work along pretty well with such endings, in the case of wolf's rain, they could've made it slower and less abrupt, to give its past few episodes and deep themes more justice.
  I did watch the OVA's but they were heavily spoiled to me, so the enjoyment factor kind of lowered down, but I still think had I not been spoiled, I would've still felt that the ending could've taken a much climatic turn. To sum it up the first 18 episodes (not counting the recaps) were good, the last 4 not that much, and the OVA's got affected by it.
  I expected a bit more of an ergo proxy type ending as I've found a lot of similarities in both of the shows.
  As for the writing, the condition of wolves, worldbuilding and tieing of plot twists were done pretty well, and the subtle symbolism and the philosophical themes related to paradise, meaning and drive in life were explored pretty beautifully as well.
  The World was likeable yet depressing.
  The Art and Animation was top notch for 2003 and at times the scenery felt beautiful to watch and all the design work was done really well.

  Final Verdict- Watch this anime for its meaningful themes, great worldbuilding, character exploration and if possible ignore its anti-climatic ending
  This is a mature anime, but anyone can watch this because this isn't obscene or vulgar in nature

  on the note the first 18 episodes- 90
  final episodes- 60

  overall score- 83

  Continue on AniList

SIMILAR ANIMES YOU MAY LIKE

• ANIME

  ActionHagane no Renkinjutsushi
• ANIME

  ActionTEXHNOLYZE
• ANIME

  AdventureErgo Proxy
• ANIME

  AdventureIma, Soko ni Iru Boku
• ANIME

  ActionDARKER THAN BLACK: Kuro no Keiyakusha
• ANIME

  ActionCasshern Sins
• ANIME

  ActionCowboy Bebop
• ANIME

  ActionWitch Hunter ROBIN
• MOVIE

  DramaOokami Kodomo no Ame to Yuki
• ANIME

  ActionGinga: Nagareboshi Gin
• MOVIE

  ActionMononoke-hime
• ANIME

  DramaHaibane Renmei