Wolf Children
a review by NextUniverse
a review by NextUniverse
(TLDR Review at the bottom. Hopefully, that helped, in advance. Thanks for reading)
(Note: This is a revamp of one of my MAL reviews. If you for some reason have a problem with AL reviews. You can go check out my MAL version).
Obligatory Dream moment note:
I have watched a ton of anime since when I first got into it back, and I am really the kind of guy who doesn't believe in true masterpieces, perfect 10/10s, 100%, or anything that is on the highest scale of a rating system. In anime or any medium of entertainment for this matter, giving the highest value to something isn't something that usually occurs when looking at the grand scheme of how large said medium is. So I guess when something like a masterpiece appears, it is amazing to see something as so even exist in the first place. Having watched amazing works like Clannad AS, Madoka Magica and Death Note, it does feel quite sad that anime like this doesn't always come when you wish for it as such. Though, the disproportionate balance between your endless loads of good anime to small amounts of 'masterpieces' here and there is part of the reason why such has great value. Saying this, however, everyone to their own tastes. Some will love the blandest of anime, some will love the worst quality anime, some will love the most perplexing of stories that exist. Hell, someone will love everything they come across. But even those people have a top anime that none other reach heights of.
When I came across Wolf Children as so, I didn't really know what to expect with its stupid high score of 8.66 when I first came across it on MAL. But after leaving the movie with a pleasant look back onto it. I can say that Wolf Children is one of those 'masterpieces' that appear every now and then you won't find ever so often.
I think the narrative would suit a 10/10. Such a simple love story which turns into one about the struggle in one of the hardest situations life can give you. To make matters worse, the protagonist Hana has to raise two literal half-wolf half-human children. In any case, the story is played out as a great coming of age about a strong mother and her challenges to raise the chaotic children in a physical sense and literal sense. I can't go into great depth without spoiling the movie, so I will just focus on the beginning and its effect on the entire movie. The movie starts as a "boy meets girl" kinda way with a secretive guy known as "Ookami" (meaning Wolf in English) building a relationship with the college student Hana. The pacing for the movie is great at that it doesn't make the building of the relationship look like a montage, it also doesn't take too long to get to the creation of the family either. It is near the beginning, being at an optimal for character development as well as the progression of the movie. Further on, after the death of Ookami, the story still remembers what world it is placed in, nothing ends up becoming unrealistic, you will see the pressure of society work its magic on Hana's peculiar family so much so that she takes action and decides to leave for the countryside. From here, the story changes pace slightly. It gets slower. But whilst many may dislike this fact of what could bring forth slow development of the characters, or just an excuse for more run time, the story is centred around a single mother and her struggles in being one whilst raising children who aren't even fully human. You could argue that it was unnecessary for what is essentially the rest of the story left with the children reaching a quite young age at the end of the movie, which again, brings multiple unnecessaries. But then again, it should be understood that the story is about raising children rather than showing their whole lives, even if they reached a much more mature age what would be to offer? As seen with Ookami, who at the start seems like a very functional wolf person, to the point where it doesn't matter if he has wolf blood, he still acts like a human at most times he has been seen. It would be no surprise if that was the same with the children. Then what happens next? Run the risk of worsening the story via overused plot devices seen across multiple dramas? I feel like it was the correct choice on the writers' behalf to tell the story of a mother and her children whilst they are at the age of children. This again enforces the excellence the story has to bring to its audience. Honestly, looking over the story, I can't really say anything that would bring a negative touch to the movie, it simply feels like a masterpiece.
Characters, like the story, are done very well and as much as I'd love to give an in-depth character analysis on the main characters, it would just become so very long-winded, so I aim to stray away from such precaution.
Starting off with Hana, she is a young kind woman who has learnt to smile even if she has to force it, it is her way of coping in life. Even with all the dumb tantrums, her children throw at her she is still able to keep up on continue on. You may know strong women like Saber or Mikasa Ackerman, or even Satsuki Kiryuin or Esdeath. But damn Hana is a different kind of strong woman. She doesn't do anything you would expect her to not do. No random angry moments for the sake of drama, no random clumsy moments for the sake of funny moments, you name it. She is really true to her values at hand. I haven't seen a mom this good since Sachiko Fujinuma. Although Hana doesn't have the strongest of character developments, I feel like it was necessary for this to happen because as said before, why run the risk with someone who is already high quality to begin with? Even with her moments of dying inside, she is still a very believable character to the world of Wolf Children, there are no convenient cuts used here or there to create this image that she is the best mother anyone could have. You will see, when she is inexperienced with something, she struggles, when she has the experience, she prevails. I really can't see any problem with her as a character, certainly very well made. Ame and Yuki's character development is one of the best things Wolf Children has to offer too, starting off with a bratty hyperactive Yuki and a shy Ame. The two cause nothing but trouble for their mother Hana, though that is not the interesting part, later on in the series Yuki undergoes a great change to how she once was, whilst Ame undergoes a coming of age of being in the shell he is most comfortable with. Either way, both characters end up learning about those around them. Whilst Ame does this way earlier than Yuki, they still both begin to see the picture of what it means to be part of the wolf people, causing some of the greatest developments I have seen in a while. Again, I could go into character analysis, but that would spoil the movie.
I wouldn't call the characters 100/100 however, more like 95/100. That is because of Ookami, he isn't a bad character, rather, he leaves a lot of questions. His death and where it happened simply made for way too many questions, such as, do wolf people lose the normal abilities and attributes of wolves? Do wolf people have random intuition when convenient? I am not turning this review into a deep theory, rather, simply stating that his death leads to great questions about the wolf people. It does some minor detail, but for a story with such development in characters as their own, you'd think there would be slightly more detail into how the wolf people vary from normal human beings. There is no attempt to show how, instead, the audience just has to use what exists already. Despite the slight hiccup, I feel the characters are very strong.
At first, I thought the art was an 80/100, looking back at scenes, I would say for it to be a 90/100, then looking at the things released around its time. It now stands at a strong 100/100. For something of its time, it certainly is amazing that style like this exists. The attention of detail is way ahead of its time but it worked, and it looked amazing at the end of it. Even with a simple yet attractive character design the background surroundings had clearly shown to have been worked on to bring out the most of its potential. The detail to the animation was pretty well done, attention to frame and fluid movement was there to be seen. There were a few 3D CGI scenes that were in place with the current actions that happened, so it didn't look bad or out of place. Looking at it in such detail made me think "wow how was this made back in 2012". It simply is that good.
You would think that a movie like this has some pretty amazing sounds to accompany all else. Unfortunately, that cannot be said with Wolf Children, it seems pretty sad that something so good had a massive flop in such an element, it was doing so great. There was your wide variety of string instruments and piano used but there wasn't anything memorable to get out of. The only thing I can remember is "Yonhon Ashi no Odori" but that is because the snow scene was cool and I watched Suntory Tennensui CMs one day and the song got stuck in my head (quick MAL link to review I made on it, he do be vibin tho). It is quite sad really, everything was made so well and then it just didn't work out with the sound. You can literally play over any generic movie sound over the movie and still have it fit like the original OST didn't even exist beforehand. It is that forgettable. VCs did a pretty good job with the characters though, characters didn't feel too old or young. Their voices fit with the stereotypical sounds a person of their kind would make. No complaints voice wise.
Nothing comes out as a 100/100 enjoyment for me. But whilst watching this movie it was certainly indeed enjoyable with watching the characters grow the cool art style used. Made for a good few laughs here and there too. Who knew watching people grow would be so entertaining.
Story - 100: Pacing, writing, everything was made and flew well together creating this amazing story of the different people learning as life moves on.
Art - 100: Style and detail in the time it was created is something else. A detailed atmosphere with simple but pleasing character design.
Audio - 60: Disappointing but not bad sound. Nothing memorable too.
Characters - 95: Could have been a 100/100 with all the great development and believability but Ookami's death led to a ton of questions.
Enjoyment - 90: Very fun and enjoyable
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