"Wolf's Rain" (2003) TV series

User Rating:

8.6/10   

Creator:

Keiko Nobumoto

Seasons:

1

Release Date:

19 March 2003 (Japan)

Genre:

Action | Sci-Fi | Animation | Fantasy | Adventure | Drama

Plot:

In a post-apocalyptic future where humans live in domed cities surrounded by wasteland, wolves are assumed to be two hundred years extinct.

Plot Keywords:

Post Apocalyptic | Quest | Paradise | Legend | Supernatural

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Steve Blum

...

Darcia (30 episodes, 2003-2004)

Country:

Japan

Language:

Japanese

Color:

Color

Certification:

South Korea:15 (DVD rating) | Australia:M | Spain:13 | USA:TV-14

Company:

Bandai Visual Company

Trivia:

All of the main character wolves have names that, in Japanese, refer to a part of a wolf. For example, Toboe's name means "howling".

Goofs:

Audio/visual unsynchronized: In episode 13, when Hubb is telling Quent in the car about why he became a police officer, Quent starts laughing. However, Quent's reflection in the car's rear view mirror never changes while he is laughing.

Quotes:

Hige: Come on, we're friends now, right?
Kiba: Coming from you, that sounds kind of fishy.

Soundtrack:

Run, Wolf Warrior, Run

Beautiful, tragic series

This series is absolutely beautiful! It attempts to blend cultures and legends of many countries (North America, Russia, Japan) and does so in a way that is believable. It flows nicely until the end (except for the four OVAs which are really just flashbacks of the previous episodes) and is one of the saddest, yet somehow comforting endings of any series I've ever seen. The characters are easy to relate to, and their relationships are wonderfully portrayed by both the Japanese and English voice actors. The most touching relationship in this series is that between Kiba, the alpha wolf who desperately searches for Paradise, and Cheza, the Flower Maiden who can lead him there. It is so sweet that I found myself thinking 'aww' several times while watching. Although some may be disappointed with the conclusion, I think it's one of the better ways to end a series (much better than the manga did, by the way) and leaves the viewer thinking about philosophy, religion, and spirituality. An imaginative, creative, and all around great series that everyone (especially wolf lovers like me!) should take the time to watch. If you just want to hear the story, skip the four OVAs (I believe they are the last four on the first volume). You're really not going to miss much if you cut those out.