Anime Review: Wolf's Rain (English Dubbed Version)

Wolf's Rain is based on a simple, yet intriguing premise: the search for Paradise in a world that's rapidly tearing itself apart. In this series, people are living in a post-Apocalyptic world, separated from each other emotionally as well as by physical barriers; it's a bleak existence. Wolves have long been thought to be extinct, an animal of ancient days that died out two centuries ago. They still live, however, and have taken on the form of humans to blend in with their surroundings. A legend exists that wolves are the key to Paradise, a new beginning, and therefore catch the interest of the Nobles who now run the cities they inhabit with an iron fist.

The names of the main characters are taken from concepts attributed to wolves: Kiba (Fang), Tsume (Claw), Hige (Whiskers), and Toboe (Howling). Kiba is drawn to a city by the scent of "lunar flowers" and finds Cheza, an artificially created girl made from the essence of lunar flowers. Legend states that a path of these flowers will lead the wolves to Paradise. The bond is strong and instinctual between the wolves and Cheza as they seek Paradise together. Kiba is particularly attracted to the feeling he gets when he's around her (though I wouldn't say he's actually attracted to Cheza herself) and lays everything on the line - including his life and the lives of his packmates - to bring Paradise to fruition.

The theme is not a particularly cheery one, but if you enjoy a well-planned storyline with a bit of angst and drama, it will be perfect for you. Kiba is the typical "lone wolf", and the one character that is most truly wild. He leads the hastily-formed pack with reluctance, keeping his main goal in front of him the entire time throughout the series. Tsume is equally reluctant but quickly becomes the mostly reasonable character, keeping Kiba's wild side under control. Hige is supposedly just along for the ride, but becomes a more integral character as the series progresses. Toboe is often seen as the "tag-along", being the youngest wolf and well adapted to living with humans. The story follows the four wolves as they rescue Cheza from her prison and seek to fulfill the Paradise prophecy in a world that's deteriorating daily. They often come across other wolves along the way, who have long given up hope of finding Paradise and are content to live out their days on the streets or in gangs (as Tsume had before meeting Kiba.)

The plot line can be a bit slow at times, but is a steady progression from start to finish. Originally only 26 episodes, Wolf's Rain fans were upset by the sudden "ending" that left many questions unanswered. In response, the production company released 4 "OVAs" (original video animations) that bring the conclusion of the series to a more satisfying end, though viewers were still left wondering a few things. The characters themselves rarely seem like the humans they're masquerading as, but that's part of the beauty of the series since they aren't actually supposed to be human. The emotions conveyed are real to an almost raw extent, again capturing the concept that these characters are far more wolf than anything else. The animation is crisp and clear, with vibrant colors for some scenes and displaying a bleak, depressing, melancholy atmosphere when necessary. The English dubbed version features names famous in the anime genre such as Crispin Freeman (Tsume) and Johnny Yong Bosch (Kiba).

All in all, this isn't an anime for children. If you enjoy sharp animation, good quality voices with a fascinating plot line, you're going to enjoy Wolf's Rain.