Wolf's Rain

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Wolf's Rain

ウルフズ・レイン
(Wolf's Rain)

Genre

Fantasy, Adventure, Science Fiction, Drama, Seinen

Directed by

Studio

Network

Other networks:
Animax Cartoon Network (Adult Swim) Rapture TV laSexta MTV Italia Canal+ Canal+ MTV Central

Original run

January 6, 2003 – July 29, 2003

No. of episodes

OVA

Directed by

Tensai Okamura

Studio

BONES

No. of episodes

Released

2004

Manga

Authored by

Toshitsugu Iida

Publisher

Kodansha

Other publishers:
Viz Media Shin Vision Heyne Japonica Polonica Fantastica

Serialized in

Magazine Z

Original run

April, 2003 –

No. of volumes

Wolf's Rain (ウルフズ・レイン, Wolf's Rain^?) is a Japanese anime and manga series, created by Keiko Nobumoto and BONES. Originally broadcast across Japan on the anime television network, Animax, and Fuji TV, between January 6, 2003 and July 29, 2003, it ran for a full season of 26 episodes, with four more OVA episodes being released across DVD in Japan, on January and February 2004, completing the story.

The story was originally created by Keiko Nobumoto, a writer and story editor (well known for her work on the popular anime series Cowboy Bebop), who also simultaneously published a manga version of the story. The series is available on DVD in the United States, having been licensed for US distribution by Bandai Entertainment.

The complete series, the 26 episodes and four OVAs, was broadcast across Japan by the anime television network, Animax, who have also aired the series across its respective networks worldwide, including East Asia, Southeast Asia, South Asia, Latin America, and other regions. The series was also aired across the United States as part of Cartoon Network's Adult Swim lineup in 2004, and has been broadcast across Northern Europe by Rapture TV. Also, the final four OVA episodes aired on Adult Swim as a replacement of 4 episodes of the TV series (which were all clip shows). Wolf's Rain features a soundtrack composed by Yoko Kanno.

Wolf's Rain was adapted into a manga, with art by Toshitsugu Iida, which was originally serialized in Japan across Kodansha's Magazine Z manga magazine since April 2003 and spanned a total of 2-tankobon volumes. It has been licensed for North American distribution by VIZ, LLC, starting November 3, 2004. It is two volumes long and is an alternate telling of Wolf's Rain.

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

1 Story
2 Characters
- 2.1 Wolves
- 2.2 Other characters
3 Music and soundtrack
4 References
5 External links

[edit] Story

See also: List of Wolf's Rain episodes

Wolf's Rain takes place in a post-apocalyptic time when much of the world has been ecologically devastated in a form of fimbulwinter and most people live in poverty. A legend is told in the "Book of the Moon" that wolves are mystical beings who came to the world from a place called Rakuen (Paradise), at the dawn of time. In the future, wolves will find a way to return to paradise. They must first seek out the "Flower Maiden" (a being created from the essence of lunar flowers) who will guide them to paradise. This legend is nearly forgotten because wolves were thought to have been hunted to extinction nearly 200 years before. Some wolves, however, have found a way to survive by coexisting with humans and blending into society.

[edit] Characters

[edit] Wolves

The story follows a pack of young wolves: Kiba, Tsume, Hige, and Toboe. Each name is the Japanese word for a "part" of a wolf.

Kiba (キバ (牙), Kiba^? lit. "Fang")

Voiced by: Mamoru Miyano (Japanese), Johnny Yong Bosch (English)

The (more or less) leader of the "pack", Kiba follows his instincts towards Paradise. When he was young, his pack and family were slaughtered when the forest where he lived was burned to the ground by Jagara's troops. He was then raised by a native who told him that he had a purpose, explaining why the forest spared his life. This native told him that he would have a great journey ahead of him, and that journey was to find paradise. Kiba begins his quest for paradise in the hope that there he will finally find peace. It is revealed later in the series that he is, in fact, the chosen one who is destined to find and open paradise. He tends to be distrustful of humans, and in the early episodes is reluctant to take a human form, even when it's more convenient. He also has a 'love' for Cheza, which may only be due to the fact that she can lead them to paradise. Kiba seems to be an arctic wolf in the series.

Tsume (ツメ (爪), Tsume^? lit. "Claw")

Voiced by: Kenta Miyake (Japanese), Crispin Freeman (English)

Tsume is a rough, self-reliant wolf. In the past, he was part of a pack. However, one day his pack was attacked by Jagara's troops and many of his friends were killed. During the fight, Tsume attempted to flee, leaving all of his dead and dying brethren behind. Because of this, the rest of his group disowned him and the leader attacked him, leaving him with a large X-shaped scar across his chest. He was filled with shame, and for many years after didn't associate with any other packs. However, he eventually meets Toboe, who at first seems to annoy him. But, deep down, Tsume feels sympathy and compassion for Toboe, who is the one who eventually convinces him to come with the rest of the "pack" to Paradise. He initially doesn't believe the stories of Paradise, and only follows the others out of an instinct to protect them and stay part of a pack. He often fights with Kiba. However, he does eventually become a believer and enjoy the company of his pack mates. After Kiba, he seems to be the best fighter among all the wolves and also seems to be more logical and observant than all the other wolves; thus it can be argued that he is the most intelligent. Tsume seems to be a Eurasian wolf or tundra wolf in the anime series.

Hige (ヒゲ (髯), Hige^? lit. "Whisker")

Voiced by: Akio Suyama (Japanese), Joshua Seth (English)

Hige seems to know how to function the best in human society, even wearing a dog collar, although the true meaning behind his collar is revealed later in the series. He tends to use his intuition more than the others, but only when he's not thinking with his stomach instead. Hige is quite the ladies' man and is always on the look-out for a nice girl. He has the best sense of smell between the others. Hige seems to be a Mexican wolf in the series.

Toboe (トオボエ (遠吠え), Toboe^? lit. "Howling")

Voiced by: Hiroki Shimowada (Japanese), Mona Marshall (English)

Toboe is the youngest of the group often acting more like a puppy. Toboe was raised by an elderly woman as a pet. She gave Toboe his silver bracelets. Although she died, Toboe has an affection for humans that none of the other wolves can understand (with the exception of Blue). Toboe looks up to Tsume and usually follows him when the group splits up. He also seems to have the best hearing out of all of them. Toboe seems to be a red wolf or an Arabian Wolf in the series. Toboe often is more shy than bold, although when the pack is in dire threat his rage can stand beyond his timid nature and propell him ravenously into battle.

Blue (ブルー, Burū^?)

Voiced by: Mayumi Asano (Japanese), Jessica Straus (English)

A wolfdog who was pet to the family of Quent Yaiden. After the destruction of her home, Kyrios (Curious), and most of her family, she travels with Quent hunting wolves. She lives her life as a pet dog, unaware of her wolf bloodlines. Upon meeting Cheza, the wolf in her is awakened. Unable to continue hunting her own kind, she leaves Quent to travel with the pack to Paradise. She grows especially close to Hige. Blue has black fur and blue eyes, looks, in adition to most likely based after a Grey Wolf, to be either part German Shepherd or part Siberian Husky (this is the most probable due to her eyes).

[edit] Other characters

Cheza

Voiced by: Arisa Ogasawara (Japanese), Sherry Lynn (English)

The "Flower Maiden" - a girl who is artificially created from a 'Lunar Flower' by the noble Darcia the First using the lost art of alchemy. She was in a state of suspended animation in a scientific research lab, and was awoken by the presence of Kiba. She shares a special bond with the wolves and is the key to finding Paradise. It is said by Darcia the Third that she is blind.

Cher Degré

Voiced by: Kaho Koda (Japanese), Kari Wahlgren (English)

A scientist involved in studying Cheza. She is fascinated by Cheza and desires to understand her and her purpose. She and Hubb were once married, but divorced after her work with Cheza became more important than her marriage.

Hamona

Voiced by: Maaya Sakamoto (Japanese), Peggy O'Neal (English)

Younger twin sister of Jagara. She is the beautiful wife of Darcia until she falls ill with 'Paradise Sickness', part of a curse that is passed down in the Darcia family from the curse that was placed upon Darcia the First. She serves as a reason for Darcia's actions, until she dies during Jagara's attack on Darcia's keep.

Hubb Lebowski

Voiced by: Mitsuru Miyamoto (Japanese), Bob Buchholz (English)

A police detective and ex-husband of Cher Degre. He is still very much in love with Cher and seeks to protect her, often half-jokingly asking if they still have a chance together.

Jagara

Voiced by: Atsuko Tanaka (Japanese), Mary Elizabeth McGlynn (English)

One of the three feuding Nobles who fell in love with Darcia to the point of obsession but was rejected by him for her sister, something which she never forgave Hamona for. She began to set up an ancient spell used by Lord Darcia the First to create a 'Noble's Paradise' to please and lure Darcia to her, adbucting Cheza from Darcia's Keep. In the process, she ordered the attack that destroyed Hamona's lifesupport and soon struck out to eliminate the wolves, who were heading to her domain.

Quent Yaiden

Voiced by: Unshou Ishizuka (Japanese), Tom Wyner (English)

An ex-sheriff from the town of Kyrios. The destruction of his village and the killing of his family by who he thinks was a pack of wolves have led to his deep and abiding hatred for wolves, which is rivaled only by his perpetual desire for a stiff drink. He lives a life on the go with only Blue to keep him company and aid him in his pursuit of wolves to kill. After Blue discovers her relations to the wolves, Quent soon finds out, and as he still struggles with his hatred for wolves, he decides that she isn't his dog anymore. Darcia, the true murderer of his family, also says that Quent was a wolf-turned-human who forgot his life as a wolf and therefore, cannot turn into his wolf form.

Lord Darcia the Third

Voiced by: Takaya Kuroda (Japanese), Steve Blum (English)

Third generation of the Darcia family of Nobles, who were said to be cursed after Darcia the First disappeared into "Paradise". Due to his grandfather's curse, Darcia is now plagued with an eye that resembles that of a wolf's. He seeks to use Cheza to somehow revive his lover Hamona, who has been stricken with "Paradise sickness", in which her soul is "taken by Paradise", causing her to fall into a coma. But Harmona's death changes that plan, with Darcia mysteriously going after the destruction of his keep until he resurfaces at Jagara's city. The loss of Harmona and the poison from Jagara's dagger drive Darcia mad. Eventually after that, he discards his love for Harmona, saying that "she is nowhere now", and assumes the form of a wolf.

Spoilers end here.

[edit] Music and soundtrack

Main articles: Wolf's Rain Original Soundtrack Vol. 1 and Wolf's Rain Original Soundtrack Vol. 2

The music for Wolf's Rain was conducted by Yoko Kanno, and released across two soundtrack albums, although not all of the music from the series is featured. The soundtracks feature music by Yoko Kanno, Steve Conte, Joyce, Maaya Sakamoto and Ilaria Graziano.

Yoko Kanno was nominated for an Annie Award in the "Music in an Animated Television Production" category for her work with Wolf's Rain but lost to Robert J. Kral in Duck Dodgers.^[1]