In some distant future, it's common knowledge that all wolves have been extinct for 200 years.
However, it seems this is false as wolves have not disappeared but rather have taken human form. Kiba,
a lone wolf, wanders into a city, trying to sniff out the Lunar Flowers that are supposed to lead
whoever follows the scent to paradise. The source of the smell is Cheza, a girl who sleeps in what
appears to be suspended animation in a lab. She and the wolves are drawn to each other, and Kiba hopes
to find paradise once he finds the source of the scent of Lunar Flowers. However, once Kiba finds
Cheza, she is kidnapped by a mysterious person called Darcia, and his search begins anew. Before he
leaves the city, he meets 3 other wolves, Tsume, Hige and Toboe. All four wolves have very different
personalities and ideas, and their friendliness towards each other is a little rough around the edges.
However, they soon band together to continue to search for paradise.
(Source: Anime News Network)
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.
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.
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
It's a great show. I grew up watching it and it was actually my very first real anime before Fullmetal Alchemist (which started my whole anime life), so I guess that bias is to blame, but if I had to explain why for those who haven't seen it, then it's pretty simple. You don't see stories like this these days anymore. Lots of shows out there are pretty bright and have definite endings or linear storylines. There's nothing wrong with that, but because there's an abundance of preferences for decent and acceptable good endings that make sense, or just linear and slightly predictable stories, stories like this aren't given much attention, so I personally like how Wolf's Rain is different in that it's completely not like any of those. For short, I guess it's a story that just doesn't outright say what it wants to say, and doesn't show it in self-explanatory ways. Wolf's Rain follows the journey of four wolves in a dying world who are in search of paradise which is believed to be open only to wolves (who are known to have long been extinct), but the problem is they aren't the only ones searching for it. There are others who are desperate to get it as much as they, and yet these people fight against the grain, aware that they can't attain it. One thing I'm sure about when it comes to this story is that it will leave you thinking a lot, and that can outweigh a lot of the story's flaws if you let it. The show isn't perfect for sure, there definitely are times you'd wish they developed a character more, or lengthened arcs or added more scenes to fully flesh out and realize the story to help build it up some more and make a greater impact, but the whole thing including the lore and the world is interesting in and of itself. Aside from this, the characters grow on you as time passes (some you'll like instantly, some you'll need more time to understand). I like to believe each story has something it wants to say, and even with the flaws, you can see that Wolf's Rain does have a message it wants to share. There are so many anime out there that give you a linear type of story, ones that are predictable or maybe share the same ending but done differently. Someone said it in writing once before, I don't remember who, but they said: _endings are the same however you slice it. They are either fake/deliberately fake and either attempt to deceive others or motivate them with excessive optimism_. They go on to say how the only genuine ending is how all the characters only die in the story. In some ways, I do see where this person is coming from, and it's one explanation for why I like Wolf's Rain. I guarantee your curiosity will be piqued, because it also was not what I was expecting. I say Wolf's Rain is interesting because it's as I said earlier in this review, you just don't see stories like this these days. It's got something different in store, so if you're up for that and don't mind being made to mull over it for a long time, and if you don't mind looking past its flaws for a bit, you might want to give it a shot! (I give it an 80 cause though I like it a lot, it definitely still could have been made even better! But it's nice to add it to your list, different can be good and there's always something to take even from a story that's not all perfect.)
Wolf’s rain is a clear example of a niche anime that has something unique going for it. In part
because of its uniqueness, it is remembered fondly by a small group of people, and it’s why you’ll see
it pop up as a recommendation once in a blue moon. Before picking it up, I did not know much about the
context of the series or what it was about. But, as someone who loves to hunt down hidden gems, I
wanted to give Wolf’s rain a try.
# __STORYTELLING: 4/10__
Right off the bat, we are in the middle of an amazing action scene. We get some beautifully subtle
exposition of the world we are in, and my god does that world look interesting! Wolf’s rain does a
fantastic job hooking in the viewer and making them invested in the story. It’s only when we keep on
watching, that we notice something is off. The base premise is simple and well thought out: wolves are
searching for paradise in a shitty, post-apocalyptic world. It is reminiscent of the core premise of
_Vinland Saga_, which was created around the same time. But, when the show covers the details in
between story beats, it drops the ball. While I love the fact that Wolf’s rain doesn’t fall into the
trap of endless exposition-dumps, part of me at times almost wishes it had. Around halfway through the
story, key plot points and elements occur that either weren’t foreshadowed or weren’t properly
introduced. During some scenes I found myself wondering what was going on and why I should care about
what happens, because the author didn’t care to explain character motivations or how certain devices
worked. Why could one character summon magic rings? Why did another character have a wolf's eye? Why
did the villains need to hook up a wolf to a device to make the device work and why did they restrain
the wolf so poorly if that was their masterplan?
In addition to missing information, Wolf’s rain also had the problem of conflicting information -
otherwise known as plot holes. Some of the plot holes will contain major spoilers for the series, so I
will not describe them in detail. There are plot holes in this series where the audience is informed
that certain characters have obtained a power, but then we see them use the power in flashbacks way
before they could possibly have used it. Other plot holes have some characters appear in places where
it makes no sense for them to be. The plot holes, when you think about it, are glaringly obvious, and
also easily fixed upon a rewrite, so it’s as if the series is working with a first draft.
# __CHARACTERS: 5/10__
The characters are fine, in general: they each have their own personality and while none of them are
insufferable, some of them might be considered bland. What did annoy me, however, is that character
motivations overall (there are one or two exceptions) seemed very fickle. For the main cast, this
manifests itself as multiple characters getting their own one-episode turn of ‘not feeling like going
to paradise after all’.Then, without those feelings getting visibly resolved, they change their mind
and want to go to paradise again.
In any case, the weakest point, character-wise, is the villains. Most of them are bland and generic,
with an exception of the main villain. However, the main villain has the same ‘motivation’ problem. We
are informed of his core motivation, but once that motivation is removed, the villain for some reason
continues to be the villain anyway. As a matter of fact, the villain is just acting as if he never had
a core motivation in the first place. What started out as an at least somewhat interesting -albeit
cliched- villain archetype, turned into just downright bland and generically evil character who’s just
evil for the sake of being evil.
#__VISUALS: 8/10__
There’s no doubt about it: the visuals in Wolf’s rain are very nice. The character designs are unique
and fun (I 100% get why Hige is into Blue). The setting is beautiful, and there’s a lot of subtle
visual storytelling and foreshadowing going on. The first episode uses amazing show-don’t-tell
exposition to inform the audience that not too long ago, the world fell to ruin after the occurrence
of a large-scale war with advanced tech and military robots. It’s a gritty setting but never becomes
edgy to the point of cringe.
#__SOUND: 7/10__
The voice acting in this series is fine, in general, although one main character (Toboe) sounded
overly whiney. I have to admit, though, that I am madly in love with the voice acting for the owl
-voiced by the legend who is responsible for the ‘I wish I were a bird’ Azumanga dayoh meme. I guess
he finally got his wish fulfilled and became a bird.
The OST has a few unique and therefore memorable tracks in it, which I like. In my opinion, though,
most other tracks were forgettable. The intro song is memorable, and the outro is fine, I guess. Not
much to complain about.
#__HISTORIC VALUE: 2/5__
Wolf’s rain's overall story takes clear inspiration from Go Nagai’s _Devilman_. It sets up a story
about a world that’s slowly falling to ruin and a cast of main characters that journey on in the face
of seemingly inescapable doom. Sadly, its messaging is less powerful and clear than it is in
_Devilman_. Not many people know about Wolf's rain, but it has left enough of an impact for some to
still recommed it even after almost 20 years since its air-date.
#__THE VERDICT, A.K.A TL;DR:__
Wolf’s rain is one of the unfortunate cases of a story that is promising and unique, but ultimately
couldn’t deliver. Due to the many plot holes, it comes across as if it’s a first draft of a great
story that was turned into an anime prematurely. As it stands, I can only describe it as ‘inferior
Devilman’. Wolf’s rain is a perfect example of ‘wasted potential’. Such a shame.
~~~img(https://starcrossedanime.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Wolfs-Rain-Banner.png)~~~
The early 2000's were a rough time for anime. It produced some incredible works, from *Welcome to the NHK* to *Tokyo Godfathers*, my favorite animated
movie ever. However it was also smack-dab in the middle of the industries transition from cel
animation to digital. Entire pipelines changed, the animation process became completely different,
leading to a glut of poorly produced, visually abysmal series. It was in this time that Studio Bones was born. One of the more prolific studios
still working today, Bones had to get it's start somewhere. And it's one of their earliest works that
I am here to talk to you about today. I present to you, originally written by Keiko Nobumoto, directed by Tensai Okamura, with music written and
performed by Youko Kanno, the early 2000's
Sci-Fi adventure: *Wolf's Rain*. Let's dive
into it!
Oh and really quick before we get to deep, just ignore the Omegaverse tags if those are still there.
Those are stupid and have nothing to do with the series. There is no Alpha/Beta/Omega crap. Just enjoy
the cool Wolves dangit. Onwards we go!
**Be warned, this review contains minor unmarked spoilers for *Wolf's Rain*. It also contains major
spoilers in some sections however these will be heavily marked to avoid accidents. Additionally this
review also covers the 4 episode OVA containing the true ending to the series.**.
~~~webm(https://www.sakugabooru.com/data/de3269ada51351881e4fceeaa9fccdf2.mp4)~~~
~~~[Video Link](https://www.sakugabooru.com/data/de3269ada51351881e4fceeaa9fccdf2.mp4)~~~
#~~~__Production__~~~
As usual, the best place to start when talking about an anime is with its animation. Overall, I think
*Wolf's Rain* looks pretty good. While not always the most animated of shows, when *Wolf's Rain* wants
to sell a moment it more then has the ability to do so. The clip above for instance is from episode 1,
and is filled with everything from bombastic effects work with its explosions to smooth and expressive
character movement. This is what you can expect when *Wolf's Rain* decides to up the ante, and can
primarily be seen in the opening episodes, as well as the final OVAs. There are also occasional bursts
of action here and there throughout the rest of the shows run, however you shouldn't expect it to be
an "every episode" sort of event.
Of course animation is only half the story, if that depending on who you talk to. What really makes
*Wolf's Rain's* production stand out to me, and distract you from the occasional funny shot, is the
direction and overall background work. Directed by Tensai Okamura, of *Stink Bomb* and *Darker than Black* fame, *Wolf's Rain*
has some absolutely stunning scene compositions. Wolves silhouetted against the moon, flowers glowing
in the light, a lonely man standing on the edge of a tough decision. Some might call this rather basic
when it comes to visual language, but even if that were true it's still more then most anime give you.
Okamura brings out a lot of the character's emotions just through how a scene is shot, before any
spoken dialogue. Combine that with the overall beautiful background work, which really brings the
world alive, and you have an overall rather strong production.
For a few examples of this, here are some of my (spoiler free) favorite shots. All of these are either
early on in the series or meaningless without proper context. Feel free to take a gander!
~! 
!~
The only *real* issue with *Wolf's Rain's* production is that it was created during the transitionary
period between Cel and Digital animation. While either one of these are fine, I personally prefer Cel,
this transition leaves *Wolf's Rain* with a lot of issues. One of the biggest being that there no good
4k or HD way to watch the show. There are upscales of course, but those aren't particularly good as
the source itself isn't HD. This means that a lot of the actual artwork can get kind of blurred or
weird at times. And depending on the release you're watching, you might get some artifacts. Of course
the designs and actual artistry put into the show are still good, it all still holds up. However you
can't help but think what it would be like had *Wolf's Rain* a proper modern day HD release.
That aside, overall I would say *Wolf's Rain* is a strong production sadly brought down by the era it
was created in. Luckily for both it and you however, production isn't the only (or even most
important) reason to watch a show. For that, we need to get to the story!
~~~img(https://starcrossedanime.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Wolfs-Rain-11.7.jpg)~~~
#~~~__Narrative__~~~
The world and narrative is where I think *Wolf's Rain* really shows it's true strengths. While the
production and presentation of can sometimes be lacking, the actual content is beautiful. The world of
*Wolf's Rain* is one in decline. Everyone, everything, *everywhere*, is falling apart. Wolves are a
dying breed, thought to be extinct, walled cities are the last bastions of civilization in the ruined
hell-scape or untamed wilds that make up the world. Each one ruled through force by a power-hungry
Noble, creating their own little paradises in this departing world. And none of this is there just to
"be cool", there is lore and history behind it all, slowly revealed as the story progresses, though
admittedly mostly in the back half. Overall, the setting of *Wolf's Rain* is great, and the perfect
place for this kind of story.
If I were forced to levy criticism towards it however, it would have to be that it occasionally feels
more like a theme park then a world. The individual locations are all great, each one fitting into the
wider picture with their own stories. Whether it be a city on the edge of the ocean, the last stop for
those to beaten down to pursue Paradise further, or a haunted forest. Individually, they *work*.
However occasionally the connective tissue *between* these locations makes... not a lot of sense.
There are a number of travel montages throughout *Wolf's Rain*, where our lead character run through
multiple biomes and backdrops as they head to the next "important" location. And often it will show
them going from a snowy tundra to a blistering desert, a lush forest to a ruined city. The backgrounds
and scenes are pretty, yes. But the connections are awkward.
As for the narrative itself, it's in a very similar place. The broad strokes are fantastic. Our leads,
Kiba, Tsume, Hige and Toboe, join together on a quest to find Paradise, a place exactly as it sounds.
Along the way they are hunted, either by soldiers simply wanting a wolf pelt or by Nobles seeking to
make Paradise their own. The individual run-ins with the soldiers and Nobles, the little arcs that
take place at each location, are great. And the way *Wolf's Rain* uses their nature as wolves, this
whole thing about people not believing they exist anymore and thus seeing them as humans while
simultaneously casting shadows as wolves or jumping between their human form and wolf form in a scene
to get different points across, is great! It's just the connective tissue *between* these plot points
that I find a little bit awkward.
Take for example a scene early on in *Wolf's Rain*, first 5 episodes, where the characters are passing
through a ruined city. (Spoiler warning for Episode 5, tldr some weird pacing).
~! Our leads pass through a ruined and destroyed city, one brought low by the constant petty wars
between the Nobles. The place is littered with skulls and bones, really showing us how much the Nobles
are ruining things for everyone. Within the city one of their war machines, a giant robot armed with
guns and missiles, senses the wolves and moves to attack them. Queue a demonstration of just how
powerful, and terrible, the creations of the Nobles are! Our leads barely survive the encounter, and
we get this sense of just how hostile the world is. And after words? We never visit another ruined
city again like that again. We don't see any more dangerous robots. It's like a one and done deal
that, however effective, kind of leaves you wondering if it was necessary at all. I enjoyed it, I
liked it, but it's a tad awkward overall.
!~
On the topic of pacing there is one big issue we need to talk about: Recap episodes. Most shows, they
have one or two, something to help space out production. *Wolf's Rain*? It has 4. In a row, back to
back. Now this isn't a huge deal, as that's why the OVA exists. It's the *intended* finale to the
show, and something you should watch if you intend on watching the main series. What this means though
is that there is a sequence of 4 episodes in the middle of *Wolf's Rain's* run that are just... wastes
of your time. While it may sound a little disappointing to realize you aren't getting a 30 episode
sci-fi epic, trust me, just save yourself the 2 hours.
Recaps aside, overall *Wolf's Rain's* narrative is good. The story is cohesive and straight forward
enough that you can't really get lost, and it's focused so much on the characters that you'll end up
watching just for their journeys more then anything else. Meanwhile thematically *Wolf's Rain* did a
terrific job of exploring it's core themes in interesting and understandable ways, filled with loads
of religious symbolism and with a solid, satisfying ending to tie it all together. In short, *Wolf's
Rain* story is good mmmkay.
~~~img(https://starcrossedanime.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Wolfs-Rain-13.3.jpg)~~~
#~~~__Characters__~~~
Speaking of characters, this is perhaps my favorite part of *Wolf's Rain*. That or the OST, I'm
undecided. *Wolf's Rain* makes the intelligent decision of keeping its cast size small, with only
about 10 legitimately important characters throughout its run. And of those, only maybe... 7 are on
screen at any given time? Of course this doesn't mean those are the *only* characters, others exist.
But they are all secondary roles, existing to flesh out the world and support the important characters
story. And what a story they are supporting. While 10 might feel small to some, *Wolf's Rain* gives
all of them tremendous attention, with each one getting a fully fleshed out arc within the larger
overarching story. From Kiba, our lead role, to Hubb and Cher, initially introduced as a side-plot in
the opening arc. All of them are important by the end.
To give you an example of this, I need to dive into spoilers. So fair warning, I will be talking about
Hubb Lebowski's journey throughout *Wolf's Rain* in this small section. If you haven't seen the show,
don't read it. Just know that he goes from a rather straight laced detective who only ever did what
others expected of him to self-actualized ideal of a man who continued to walk forward even when faced
with insurmountable opposition. Pretty good right? Anyways, on with the spoilers.
~! So, Hubb. This guy starts as nothing more then a side character. Someone you don't expect to really
be relevant past the first arc as we leave Freezing City, someone who really only exists as a sort of
"What's going on in this location" kind of guy. He's hopelessly in love with Cher, a female scientist,
but really doesn't have the ability or drive to try and win her back. But as *Wolf's Rain's* story
progresses, this slowly changes. Hubb begins to look inside himself, to decide what he really wants
from life. He becomes this sounding board for characters like Quent, someone who they can bounce their
own issues off of, allowing both to look at themselves from a new perspective. He gains confidence,
not just in himself but in his decisions, allowing him to eventually buck the nihilism and hatred
found in so many of the other human characters.
And by the end? As I said, he becomes this sort of ideal. Someone dedicating themselves to something
greater than them, sticking it through until the end. Who knows they can't make it all the way but is
committed and sees it through for those they care about. In setting out to find Cher, he slowly finds
his true self, his resolve. Compare this to who he was at the start, someone who never made any
decisions for themselves and only went along with what those around them wanted. This is what I mean
by self-actualization. And while he isn't able to make it to Paradise, that being meant for the wolves
not humans, he is still the man who made it the farthest. As if he was the closest human to truly
deserving Paradise, almost awakening to the great truth Darcia drops later on.
The point is, Hubb is a great character, as are the entire cast.!~
This brings me to my one and only gripe with *Wolf's Rain's* characters: Cheza. Cheza is, in the
simplest of terms, *Wolf's Rain's* McGuffin. She is the plot device that sets everything in motion and
is easily the most important character to what is happening. Which is why it's so sad that she's
barely a character for most of *Wolf's Rain's* run. To be fair, in the middle of the series she does
have some pretty great episodes where she grows and comes into her own as a character. And those were
great, I think everyone will love her there! But by the half-way point she becomes robbed of her
agency, given barely speaking lines, and is generally reduced to the aforementioned McGuffin. I hold
to the statement that her arc comes to a satisfying conclusion like everyone else's, and in the
context of the show what little agency she *does* have is impressive and makes sense. But as a viewer?
I couldn't help but wish for more.
All in all, I would say *Wolf's Rain's* characters are great. It has some rough spots, with Cheza
being the biggest one. I wouldn't go into it expecting any particularly strong female leads. But even
with her issues, Cheza ends the show in just as satisfying a position as anyone else. Really that just
goes to show the strength of *Wolf's Rain's* narrative, and how interwoven with the characters it is,
that it works like that. The point is this though: If you're looking for a character driven sci-fi
adventure, I think *Wolf's Rain* can scratch that itch.
~~~youtube(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XXFcvoFPLgU)~~~
~~~youtube(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XtAxrdoDh24)~~~
#~~~__OST__~~~
With that we come to my other contender for favorite aspect of *Wolf's Rain*, the OST. Composed by Youko Kanno of *Cowboy Bebop* and *Vision of Escaflowne* fame however,
with vocals by Italian singer Ilaria
Graziano, that should come as no surprise. The woman is downright prolific, composing some of
the most iconic music tracks in anime
history (Performed by the Seatbelts).
She continues that trend of excellence here, with *Wolf's Rain*. From haunting instrumental tracks
like "Sleeping Wolves" that
sound like wolves howling in the wind to more somber ones like "Leaving on Red Hill". From
resolute action like "Tsume no
suna" to the iconic sweeping epic that is "Shire (White)". Youko Kanno
absolutely nails the ambience *Wolf's Rain* needs. Easily the most standout part of the OST however
are the vocal tracks.
I'm talking about the hauntingly beautiful "Strangers", as performed by Raj
Ramayya, and the way it basically presents the entire story of *Wolf's Rain* in a single song. Or the
world weary "Heaven's Not Enough"
and it's depiction of the ruined world the story takes place in. You also have the folksy "Run, Wolf Warrior, Run" and the
playful "Valse de la Lune", both
breathing a bit of life into what has otherwise been a rather bleak sound profile so far. And of
course I can't not mention some personal favorites like "Amore Amaro" and "Tell Me What the Rain Knows". The
point is, Youko Kanno has worked with an incredible range of vocal talents, and it feels like she
called on a lot of them when it came time to record *Wolf's Rain's* music. Because these are some of
the best vocal tracks I've heard in a *long* time.
Of course no OST can be perfect. Every show has it's share of mediocre tracks, and *Wolf's Rain* is no
exception. Some like "coração
selvagem" just come off as discordant messes while others, such as "Could You Bite The Hand" feel
like they just don't fit the quality of the rest of the track list. And some are just forgetful, like
"Go To Rakuen", with it's rather
standard orchestral arrangement. Luckily these tracks are few and far between, with only a single
song, "Visions of Flame", being
what I would call legitimately bad. And even then it may just be my own taste in music, I suspect this
appears somewhere on *someone's* favorite list. Overall, I would call *Wolf's Rain's* OST beautiful,
and it's going on the list of OSTs I'm going to try and find in vinyl. Will I succeed? Probably not.
But a man has to try.
~~~img(https://starcrossedanime.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Wolfs-Rain-7.1.jpg)~~~
#~~~__Perfecting Loops__~~~
With that we come to the personal section of the review. This is where I take off the reviewer hat,
drop any sort of structure or pretense and just try to let you see behind the curtain a bit at what my
personal experience with *Wolf's Rain* was like. Naturally, this is no holds barred spoiler territory.
If you do not want to be spoiled, do not read this section. I *will* talk about the ending, in very
explicit detail. If you just want a tldr, I thought it was very good! I was very satisfied! If that
isn't enough for you though, or you've seen the show and want to have a conversation, read on.
~! So if you couldn't tell by the title, this section is about *loops*, and my relationship with them.
Generally in narratives, I hate them. I hate the way they often invalidate a story and its characters.
How they reset everything and effectively take the characters, whom grew and you came to love so much,
and just... replaces them. More often then not it's used as a cheap storytelling technique to look
"meta" and "philosophical" without having any real place in the story. In fact, I can count on one
hand the number of "looping" stories I've experienced that I enjoy, and yes *Tatami Galaxy* is one of
them but that's a discussion for another time. The point is, I was very nervous when *Wolf's Rain*
story started heading towards a loop. I was concerned that a story I enjoyed was about to throw it all
away. And then... It made it work.
*Wolf's Rain* did this by framing the loop not as a reset, but rather as another gradual step on the
journey. As a necessary part of their overall goal. To really understand what I mean by that, and why
I like it so much, I need to talk about what I believe to be *Wolf's Rain's* overarching theme: The
eternal pursuit of perfection. The entire show is about our characters trying to reach this fabled
promised land, their "Paradise". A place only Wolves, the original people from which all others have
sprung from, can reach. And during their journey the Wolves will face many trials and tribulations,
forcing them to grow and overcome their personal demons along the way. Those who fail, or unable, find
themselves wondering off the path, while the rest become challenged by the Noble Jagara, a Devil-like
figure. It's all incredibly religious when you think about it.
The Wolves are the true believers, the true people from which all others originated. Humans, Nobles,
they are simply Wolves that have forgotten what they are, or deluded themselves into thinking
otherwise. This is why humans like Hubb, Cher and Quent can make the journey but they can't actually
*arrive* at Paradise. The closer to a wolf you are, the more self-actualized you become, the farther
you can go. Thus why a corrupted and cursed wolf like Darcia, one who forced the change upon himself,
ends up corrupting Paradise with his human eye after the new loop has begun. It's like... Original
Sin, or the first evil, a leftover of the previous world and a representation of how we have not yet
reached Paradise.
Yet it isn't all for naught, as while Darcia corrupted Paradise, we are still one step closer. Because
while the last loop had a False Flower in the form of Cheza, an artificial Flower Maiden that
eventually fell apart, this new loop still has *real* Lunar Flowers in it. Giving our leads, Tsume,
Kiba, Hige and Toboe another *real* chance at perfection. And it's that chance that makes *Wolf's
Rain's* usage of loops *perfect* to me. We know the broad strokes of the story, we know it's going to
happen much the same way again and again and *again*. This season of *Wolf's Rain* was but one attempt
of many. But we also know that every attempt brings them closer to success, so while they failed you
get that satisfying feeling of *knowing* what the ending is *supposed* to, and eventually *will*, be.
So yeah, *Wolf's Rain* transformed from this fun, dark little sci-fi adventure to this religious
depiction of the eternal pursuit of perfection. Of how, despite the fact that we can probably never
truly reach it, we should strive for it anyways. Because it is that pursuit that makes our world
better. Because even if you can't reach Paradise, that doesn't mean you can't still make the world
better along the way. Plus all of the character arcs and how they fit into this, the way every single
character ends up dying in this pursuit only realizing/getting what they truly wanted IE
family/acceptance/love in their final moments, is just beautiful.!~
~~~img(https://starcrossedanime.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Wolfs-Rain-11.4.jpg)~~~
#~~~__Conclusion__~~~
All in all I went into *Wolf's Rain* expecting some weird Omegaverse Werewolf stuff and came away with
a beautiful sci-fi adventure about the perpetual strive for perfection. Is it perfect? Is it my
favorite thing ever? No, it doesn't crack my top 10. There are some pacing problems, Cheza is a bit of
a disappointment at times, and the 4 recap episodes are disappointing. But the fact that it's in the
conversation, that I can understand why someone *else* might have it that high? I think that's a
pretty clear sign of it's quality. At the very least, for anyone who enjoys dark sci-fi adventures, I
think *Wolf's Rain* will be well worth their time. It certainly was for me.
Thanks for reading! If you want to leave a comment, positive or negative, you can leave it
[here](https://anilist.co/activity/570391970).