Alternative TitlesEnglish: Wolf's Rain Synonyms: ウルフズレイン, Wolf Rain, Wolfs Rain Japanese: ウルフズレイン
Information
Type: TV
Episodes: 26
Status: Finished Airing
Aired: Jan 7, 2003 to Jul 29, 2003
Duration:
23 min. per episode Rating:
PG-13 - Teens 13 or older
L represents licensing company
StatisticsScore: 8.011 (scored by 20545 users)
Ranked: #3412
Popularity: #61
Members: 35,292
Favorites: 1,333 1 indicates a weighted score
My Info
Popular Tags
action adventure drama fantasy |
SynopsisIn 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: ANN) |
Related AnimeAdaptation: Wolf's Rain Sequel: Wolf's Rain OVA
Characters & Voice Actors
Staff
Reviews
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alex264
17 of 22 people found this review helpful
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26 of 26 episodes seen
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| Overall |
8 |
| Story |
8 |
| Animation |
9 |
| Sound |
8 |
| Character |
9 |
| Enjoyment |
7 |
Earth's decay has long provided anime with many disquieted plots over the past 30 years, but few have been more genuine than Keiko Nobumoto's "Wolf's Rain". Facing the long and dreary tundra before him, the mysterious canine protagonist, Kiba (meaning "Fang" in Japanese) reluctantly moves forward, being called to something he can only describe as paradise. The world has fallen in on itself, as humans have tarnished the earth and almost wiped out the wolf race. Kiba, along with a handful of his remaining kind have learned to blend to their environment, one day hoping to find salvation in the form of a wolf paradise. And now, finally grouped with his own pack, and a guide in the form of a beautiful young flower maiden named Cheza, Kiba must face the dangerous plight to find rebirth. This compelling journey in conjunction with the amazing characters involved makes Wolf's rain easily likeable, as well as admirable because it addresses the end of life as a new beginning to an ironically never ending journey. The paradise it describes is brought forth from the journey's experiences, rather than the journey's conclusion.
Directed by Tensei Okamura, who has delighted with his past collaborations on Full Metal Panic and Cowboy Bebop, this genuinely compelling series is only set with a few anime conventions: the hard pressed rival to the leader (Tsume), the insane but devoted antagonist (Darcia) and the mysterious hunter who wants to settle a score (Quent). Besides these, Wolf's Rain is a plot on its own. The whole pack is in search for paradise for their own reasons and gradually learn more about themselves on the way. They stop by various towns to face obstacles that instigate these learning experiences. While this is happening, the larger picture of the story deals with the remaining three nobles of the world. They all vie for supremacy for their individual purposes, but all come into contact with the wolf pack in one way or another. Like a kick in the pants, it was insane to see the wolf pack take on the noble's soldiers and display their canine powers. Likewise, it was great to see them fail in their attempts because it showed how real they actually were. If you enjoy being attached to characters even with their shortcomings then I strongly recommend this series.
One of the great things about Wolf's Rain is that the only really beautiful characters are the wolves themselves. Everything else the art depicts is very alive, but in a darker, more decayed way. All of the landscapes are hauntingly dismal, even when the story shifts to the more modern settings. The art is very realistic in this way, and beauty is only used as a reflection for the characters who are the purest.
Bad music could have really hindered a series with this much melancholy and drama. Luckily, Yoko Kanno, the jazz queen composer from Cowboy Bebop also blessed Wolf's Rain with her talents. Its so amazing the way she sets the tones for scenes in the series. She never over does anything, which makes the really big "holy shit" scenes far more impactful. There are actually many long scenes in which nothing but music is used to describe the mood of the situation, and it was refreshing to see a series that didn't jabber on to describe what was happening. All you really have to do is listen during Wolf's Rain to appreciate what is going on below the surface. Thank you for that Ms. Kanno.
The characters are what make this series a classic. Every one of them, even the minor ones only have to speak or make a certain facial expression to show you how they LIVE. By this I mean, we only have to look at the way they act to get a feel of who they are right off the bat. I was sort of expecting this, because Nobumoto's writing is always so real. She was never afraid to pull punches in this series, and none of the characters are set in stone. They all grow at their own paces and aren't always the same person. The pack becomes more of an extended family as it progresses and does so through many conflicts. What I loved most is that when things really got bad, none of them really went into the predictable dramatic speech about life and death. Everything was always quiet when something bad in the series happen, and only loud when it really needed to be. This subtle realism is what made the wolves seems all the more relatable and ironically human. If you want real drama in your characters, than you'll love these wolves.
Now, I'm a guy who has been brought up in fast paced, shounen style anime, and Wolf's Rain was really the first serious piece of art for me. I mean I've seen some mildly toned anime sure, but this series really gets you in the gut from the beginning. Its very dark, I mean the world is ending throughout the plot, who wouldn't be depressed? It had some lighter, happier moments, but they were often offset with depressing, real ones. I wouldn't recommend this series if you want to escape reality, but if your someone who wants to see a more genuine, less optimistic piece of art than you'll like it. I only scored the enjoyment at a 7 because even for me, a natural pessimist, the story did drag out the harshness of reality sometimes. It makes you sort of hate Nietszhe. Well, maybe not that much, but you know what I'm saying.
"They say there's no such place... as Paradise. Even if you search to the ends of the Earth, there's nothing there. No matter how far you walk, it's always the same road. It just goes on and on. But, in spite of that... Why am I so driven to find it? A voice calls to me... It says, Search for Paradise." - Kiba read more
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Silver
81 of 109 people found this review helpful
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26 episodes
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| Overall |
10 |
| Story |
10 |
| Animation |
10 |
| Sound |
10 |
| Character |
10 |
| Enjoyment |
10 |
Wolf's Rain is one of my most favourite anime series ever. Its *very* rare that I'd give an anime I’m reviewing a 10 for EVERYTHING, I always review fairly - even if I didn't enjoy the anime. For me, Wolf's Rain is a perfect anime. I love literally everything about it.
The story was created by Keiko Nobumoto (Screenwriter for Cowboy Bebop) and animated by studio BONES, well known throughout the anime world as the studio who brought us such popular shows as Eureka seveN, RahXephon, Scrapped Princess, Jyu Oh Sei and producing the anime versions of FullMetal Alchemist, Ouran High School Host Club and Angelic Layer. The Soundtrack was compossed by Yoko Kanno (who also compossed OSTs for; Cowboy Bebop, Ghost in the Shell: S.A.C. and Escaflowne amongst others) and the series contained 26 episodes (followed by a 4 episode OVA.)
The story takes place in a post-apocalyptic world where much of the world is dead or dying, most of the worlds people live in poverty and most species of animals are now extinct, including wolves - or so people thought. Wolves (and other animals) are able to take human form and live amongst people - and so beginning to become almost more human then animal, they no longer believe they have a purpose anymore. According to the legendary “Book of the Moon,” when the world comes to an end wolves will lead the world to Paradise. Most people no-one longer believe this legend however, as the wolves are supposedly extinct.
The series follows four wolves as they try to find paradise together.
The characters, as well as character development in this show is amazing. In the beginning it starts of with 4 wolves who have nothing in common what so ever - Kiba, the mysterious, distant leader, Tsume - the cold ex-gang leader, with a shameful past, Hige - the laidback, street-smart, food lover, and Toboe - the young naïve kid who sees the good in everyone. At first they constantly argue but thought out the series they grow to depend on each other as a real pack.
Blue, Darcia, Quent, Jagura, Hubb and Cher are also quite interesting for secondary characters.
The animation through out is perfect - although fight scenes are short, the animation is nothing short of amazing.
The soundtrack is outstanding - my favourite anime OST ever, the vocal songs are mainly in English but there are also Japanese, French, Italian and Portuguese songs - which are all beautiful. The background music is equally as beautiful, “Go to Rakuen“ is easily the most beautiful piece of music I’ve heard, ever.
The one bad point to the series (30 episodes in total) is that in the middle of the series there’s not one, but four recap episodes. They are told from the point of view of some of the characters (One episode for Tsume, one for Hige, one for Toboe, and one for Quent and Hubb.) Although, they are easily skip-able.
Oo, another thing to add to the long list of brilliance that is Wolf’s Rain - the English dub is great, in fact I even prefer it to the orginal Japanese version. Literally every voice is perfectly suited, no cuts, no major script or story change, e.g.
Well, I could go on and on, but I think I’d better stop now… this reviews’ long enough as it is. 10/10 - anime at its best.
WATCH WOLF’S RAIN ~ YOU WON’T REGRET IT! :3 read more
Recommendations
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Both shows begin in a post-apocalyptic world. Both shows' characters are on a journey to a destination which they know nothing about. Both are relatively dark shows, but do not shy away from humor occasionally. Both have action in them, but only when necessary, and the action isn't overdone. Both have fantastic endings that leave you thinking.
Both have very similar atmosphere of adventures.
The world is ending , it's granted. In both shows we can see struggle and surrender. Different attitudes in face of extinction. There is also a pressure on philiosphical aspects such as "Who am I" , "Where is my place on Earth" , "Where do I go" which are important part of plot.
Similar theme, world on the edge of destruction where human and robots/wolves live together. Some characters discovers in both titles their true self too.
Both are post-apocalyptic anime with the main sub-plot of searching for a brighter future and a better place out of darkness. They both have philosophical and supernatural themes and have some action involved.
Both of them have beautiful, more serious art styles that lean more towards dark and subdued tones, and they are animated wonderfully. Both stories are philosophical and inspirational, and they both involve a small, unlikely group of heroes who travel through a post-apocalyptic world in search for answers in life. They both have great fight sequences and a wonderful score. However, Ergo Proxy is even darker than Wolf's Rain, and the storyline is a little slower and harder to get. If you are patient and pay attention however, you will be rewarded with a satisfying ending.
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I'd reccomend those who enjoyed the fantasy and animal aspects of Wolf's Rain try on Ginga Densetsu Weed for size. They both use animals as main characters, and they both have one of those scripts that can take you from a laugh, to bawling on the floor and back again in the blink of an eye. Although Ginga is bloody and violent, at times it does seem more oreinted towards a younger audience than Wolf's Rain is, but overall they're very similar.
both have animals looking/ saving there paridise
The only two animes I know with the main characters as wolves (or dogs, in Ginga Densetsu Weed's case..)
Both animes are about animals. In Ginga Densetsu Weed there are dogs who fight against bears and in Wolf's Rain there are wolves who are finding salvation for themselves. These wolves also can transform themselves to human form.
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Opening Theme"Stray" by Steve Conte
Ending Theme#1: "Gravity" by Maaya Sakamoto #2: "Tell Me What the Rain Knows" by Maaya Sakamoto (ep 26)
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Related ClubsCrispin Freeman Fan Club, wolf pack rp , A.S.A (Adiktus sa Anime), Blue [OFFICIAL FANCLUB], I Like Popular Animes, Blue Wolf's Rain Fanclub, everything Anime and Manga, Mix of Anime, Jakarayi FC, Anime Central, Brie and Spirals club of super amazing awesomeness!!, wolf figher, seinen & josei, Mina's Anime Shrine, Stop Animal Cruelty [SAC], Odd-Eyes Club, Water, Wolves Lovers Club!, ^_^Anime Club^_^, Devil May Cry~ C.and.Y Fan.Club ~, Anime & Manga Cosplay, Kiba [OFFICIAL FANCLUB] , Wolf Club, Sci-Fi club, Hige [OFFICIAL FANCLUB], Animax Asia, Random Anime Talk, Nokturno Genesis, We love Winter and Snow in Anime, Quotes, Quotes, Quotes!, Red Eyes Fanclub, - ~ Miyano Mamoru Fanclub ~ - , Anime Republic, Horror Anime Fanclub, We Luv Anime Guys, Androgynous characters, TEH MEWNZ FANCLUB OF HAWTNEZZ!, Hungry Like A Wolf, Fans of Wolf's Rain, ~AnimeFans~, Wolfs Rain[anime], darcia and harmonia, Maaya Sakamoto fanclub, Roleplaying Club! xDD, The Yoko Kanno Fanclub, Amarillo College Anime Club, Wolf's Rain: The Next Pack, The Green Haired Characters Club, Blood Stained Fangs, SKYclub ~ SKY Animes, Darcia Fanclub, Get Your Quota! For MAL Claims Clubs, Wish my life was like an anime, Yea this is a witch club so what get over it....& dogs/wolves & angels, ♥Animals in anime☆, AMV Makers Society, Toboe's Rain, Wolf's Rain [OFFICIAL FANCLUB] ((In progress)), Toboe [OFFICIAL FANCLUB], Blue/Green Eyes FanClub, The Angry Characters Club, Anime Türkiye [AniTR], [adult swim] Message Boards Club, if you are a wolf fighter, Tsume [OFFICIAL FANCLUB], Anime Addicted, UPIS Anime Club, Fullmetal Alchemist/Naruto/Blood+/Inuyasha/CowboyBebop/GhostinThe Shell/DeathNote/Bleach/Eureka7/Wolf'sRain, Hime and Viper's Palace, Claim a Soundtrack Club!, The Pets of Anime/Manga Club, The Romantic Manga, Anime and Drama Club, We ~ Love ~ Anime, Johnny Yong Bosch Fanclub, Dark wolf pack club, Sorrow Hunters, hardcore violence and gore, Anime Türkiye, Studio BONES Fan Club, BlackWing's Fanclub, English Dub Fans, ¤Meme_0 Family¤ , Anime Original Soundtrack (OST) Club!, The Emotional Anime Collection worth watching!, Battles to Death and Secrecy, The Norio Wakamoto Club, F*CK YOU, HOLLAND, WeReWOLFS! & CaTs!, Anime Recommendation, The Fluffy Sand Sound Village, Golden Eyes Love~, Anime Lovers!, Cute Anime Couples, Anime/Manga Club, English Dub Watchers, Claim a Character Transformation, Wolves & Werewolves Are Awesome!, Good Vs. Evil, ~Tsume & Toboe Fan Club~, Kiba from Wolf's rain Fanclub, Dark Anime Club, Anime art that r0cks!!, Guild Against the Killing of Hot Anime Guys, After the Apocalypse Anime & Manga see all
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