We are in a world, some centuries from now it seems. Our own stupidity made the planet what it is – a rather ugly and unattractive place, we poisoned it, air is not as healthy, it’s getting pretty bad outside. For this reason we built cities in rather huge domes, each dome can be gotten to by train, car, or other relatively normal means of transportation. Some species out there are extinct – or so most would like to believe. Particularly wolves. Hunted down throughout the ages, only a very small handful of them has survived. And this story focuses on four of them.
Over the years, those last remaining wolves have learned how to deceive the human eye – and can appear as normal humans to people. This has helped them to live undiscovered, and for most part, in peace. Needless to say that they also learned our language – and can communicate with us. In other words, the guy sitting beside you in the train could be a wolf – and you’d never know.
Kiba, a lone white wolf, learns of the legend of a place simply referred to as Paradise – and only wolves can find it. The place of ultimate peace of mind, soul, the body. He has spent most of his life in a Freeze City, one of the largest domes ever built. Hige, Tsume, and Toboe are drawn to the city by the smell of the Lunar Flower – Cheza, which is being studied and experimented upon. The four encounter Quent Yaiden, a man who harbors deep hatred toward wolves. In the battle that follows, the wolves are injured – and the smell of the wolves’ blood awakens Cheza, who also plays a vital role in reaching Paradise.
This rather unusual herd encounter a being named Darcia – who was, according to a book named The Lunar Tome, something like an Emperor – or to some even a God. What most didn’t know is that he survived all these centuries, and he too is now out to open the door to Paradise.
I don’t want to give too much details away about this one, as it made number 3 in Japan’s top 50 anime list. It’s unusual focus on wolves rather than normal people is a very welcomed twist to anime standards, and yet it works perfectly. Each of the wolves have their own characters and personalities, they are dressed like how they are too. With the music written by Yoko Kanno and the intro done by Steve Conte, you can be assured that the music score is what you need it to be.
While the show was aired with 26 episodes, it actually has 30 – with the last 4 only available on DVD, which complete the story and make it full circle (literally). It’s a journey you won’t forget for some years to come and definitely deserves the number 3 of 50, I’d say. Parts of the ending are so beautiful, it made me cry my eyes out. If you don’t cry at that, you don’t have a heart.
If I were you, and you haven’t seen this yet, oh boy are you in for a ride. It’s a pretty perfect 10 from me on this one, so I suggest you get your hands on this rather sooner than later.
Wolf’s Rain
Directed by Tensai Okamura
Written by Keiko Nobumoto
Music by Yoko Kanno
Studio: Bones
Licensed by Bandai Entertainment
Network: Animax, Fuji TV
English network: Cartoon Network, Rapture TV, AnimeCentral
Original run: January 6, 2003 – July 29, 2003
Episodes: 30
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