Wolf's Rain

The world really is going to the dogs.



Review by: Craig "Howls at the Moon to attract mates or something like that" Norris

Length: 30 episodes
Genre: Drama, sci-fi
Watched: 1-30, subbed

Normally I wouldn't have checked out this title, but like a fool I started to believe the hype surrounding it. Even knowing the rule that a series can never live up to its hype, I decided to watch it. After a few episodes I was taken in by the concept and the futuristic world it was presented in. However, once the novelty wore off I couldn't help but notice the glaring flaws that this anime has. It certainly has a lot to offer, but certainly not the amount that the hype would have you believe.

Plot synopsis: An old legend states that, when the flower of the moon blossoms under the light of a full moon, the pathway to paradise will be opened. However, the only ones who are able to see the pathway are the wolves, which are believed to have been extinct for hundreds of years. In order to find the gateway to paradise, the Flower Maiden, a cross between a human and the flower of the moon, was created by humans. There are many who wish to possess the Flower Maiden, including a pack of wolves, who live among humans in secret. These wolves must evade the governments of the world in order to follow the Flower Maiden to paradise.

Artwork: Visually the show is a real treat. Drab backgrounds paint a picture of a very bleak future, complete with half-destroyed buildings. Character designs are completely grounded in reality (except for the Flower Maiden, but being a bastard child of science that is to be expected). Action sequences are detailed, with realistic movement and only amounts of blood that are necessary. In terms of television series, this is one of the most well animated animes I have ever seen.

Music: As far as soundtracks are concerned, it's pretty good. However, I believe it is one of Yoko Kanno's more lackluster projects. Normally, hearing her score within the series makes me want to run out and buy it, but I felt none of that compulsion with Wolf's Rain. The opening song gets kind of obnoxious with repeated listening, and the ending theme is decent at best. Some of the in-episode tracks caught my ear from time to time, but I certainly wouldn't waste any money on the soundtrack for a handful of pretty good songs. Perhaps if it were anyone else it would be a noteworthy soundtrack, but for Yoko Kanno, it represents a slight hiccup in her normally phenomenal projects.

Characters: Each major character definitely has his or her own unique personality, which is explored rather effectively on almost all counts. Kiba, a wolf masquerading as a human, is the glue that holds the whole saga together, as he has been fixated on finding paradise for the majority of his life. He is very determined, letting nothing stand in the way of his goal. Tsume is a wolf who has survived among humans as a criminal. He trusts only himself and prefers to live on his own. He accompanies Kiba on his quest because he has nowhere else to go. Hige is another wolf who has grown accustomed to a life among humans. He has a very casual attitude and prefers to look on the lighter side of things. Toboe is the youngest of the wolf pack, and as such cannot survive on his own. He becomes very attached to Tsume because he was helped by him at one point. Cheza is the Flower Maiden, and is the object of desire for every government in the world. She looks upon the wolves as her friends, and derives great joy from helping them. Since she is part plant, she requires water and sunlight to survive. Hubb Lebowski is a police officer who is investigating the possible presence of wolves and their relation to the Flower Maiden. He tries very hard at his job, despite the fact that his life begins to slowly fall apart around him. Cher Degre is Hubb's ex-wife, and was involved in a research project to discover the significance of the Flower Maiden. Her dedication to her research is what drove her apart from Hubb, and she still harbors some unresolved issues about the divorce. Quent Yaiden is a wolf hunter, who travels from town to town to kill wolves because he believes that they are responsible for killing his family. His only companion is Blue, a black dog who has the ability to track wolves. Darcia is the leader of a defunct aristocratic family who desires the Flower Maiden to show him the way to paradise in order to cure his wife's illness. His was the family that originally created the Flower Maiden, so he knows her true purpose. Overall the characters are well developed, and help to move along the story.

Plot: Well, it's very original. The idea of wolves disguised as humans on a quest to find paradise is certainly not something that has been used before. However, the plot lacks a certain something that I can't quite put my finger on. What the French call a certain "I don't know what." In some spots the plot seems to get a bit messy, and it drags in certain episodes. I'd have to say that the series runs a bit longer than it should, especially since there are four, count 'em four, summary episodes. In a row, no less. For future reference, if you decide to buy the DVDs for this series, skip the one with episodes 15-18. While the plot is very unique, it has some problems with flow and overall execution.

CHICKS!: For a show with such marvelous animation, I was disappointed that there wasn't a really noteworthy chick or two to drool over. I suppose Cher isn't bad, though. She's obviously got brains, and a pretty babealicious figure. But she's more of a brooding type, and is very absorbed in her research. If you value intellect above all else, she's a good match, but don't expect her to be a devoted wife. Cheza is very fragile, and needs people to look after her. She really doesn't have much personality, but she seems to enjoy helping those she cares about. She has a very petite figure, and her eye and hair color are a definite departure from the norm. Those two are really the only chicks that are seen with any regularity, and they are too flawed to be considered truly exemplary chicks.

Overall: In a turn somewhat reminiscent of Neon Genesis Evangelion, Wolf's Rain tries to mix a lot of plot in with a lot of character psychology. As a result, there are times when it seems very cluttered. However, there are also times when it seems very empty. Despite being nearly perfect from a production standpoint, the inability of the plot and character elements to mesh together holds this anime back from becoming a true masterpiece.

IN A NUTSHELL

+ Beautiful art
+ Above average soundtrack
+ Very original
- Muddled plot
- Four summary episodes. In a row!

Rating: 8/10



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