Feb 22, 2010
This is easily my favorite anime of all time.
The beginning of the first episode is a little off-putting. The color palate is muted and dark and the uninviting city looms in the background.
However, Wolf's Rain evolves from that point (while keeping it's relatively muted color tones) into a blossoming story with themes of natural instinct, heroism, human nature, destiny, sacrifice, happiness, contentment and pain.
The soundtrack sets the style for the rest of the show. Yoko Kanno uses her versatility to the best of her ability. You get some salsa-type music in the cities, calm harp pieces, epic battle songs, requiems, french
...
ballads, full orchestral pieces, piano, pieces that will make you cry, and much more.
Characters are made round through flashbacks into each of their lives in the earlier stages. Through the recaps that appear in the middle of the series, we get a little bit of their take on some of the events that occur which, in a way, helps us see them as even more round. The main cast stays fairly consistent and most of the main characters are introduced in the first few episodes. This gives us time to get used to them and to get to know them. When bad things happen to the characters, you actually feel it. This is why I gave "character" a 10.
There is a nice balance of character-driven storyline and actual plot. I think focus generally leans toward the character-driven aspect but plot still plays a big roll. Each of the characters is living for what he or she hopes to find at the end of the long road they're traveling.
I got very emotional at various parts of the series. No matter how many times I watch the series or how many times I watch a particular scene (even taken out of the direct context of the series), I still get emotional. Wolf's Rain was the first series to affect me so deeply. It will forever be on the list of the most beautiful, heart-wrenching, rivoting, and moving animes that I have ever seen.
Reviewer’s Rating: 10
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