Wolf’s Rain is set in the far future during the next Ice Age. Humanity is secluded to a harsh short life in the few remaining cities. Outside the protective confines is an icy death. Wolves have evolved to survive their human hunters. Able to hide themselves in the illusion of a human, they eek out a living among the impoverished remnants of humanity. In on city a lone white wolf wanders, following the scent of a flower. The wolf draws more of his kind into a pack and discovers humans have managed to create the key to Paradise and salvation from the dying Earth. Her name is Cheza.
Characters
Kiba is a white wolf who vowed to find the Lunar Flower and open the way to Paradise. He is rash and instinctual in his actions. He is proud of his wolf heritage and is disgusted to how wolves are degraded to using human illusions to survive.
Tsume is a gray battle hardened wolf. Self reliant and rough, he joins Kiba out of sheer boredom. He believes Paradise is just a myth.
Hige, the carefree tan wolf, is comfortable living with humans. He has the strongest nose of the pack and just goes along with the crowd.
Toboe, the youngest, is a brown wolf raised by an elderly woman. He is protective and friend toward humans. He has the best ears of the pack.
Cheza, the Flower Maiden, is an artificially created human. She is empathetic and distraught by the scent and sight of wolf blood
Wolf’s Rain is about the power of faith. The promise Paradise is the only thing keeping the wolves going. Kiba in particular believes the legend with his entire being. The series suggests that humans were the cause of the Ice Age through their consumption of resources. Over time the characters become friends and sacrifice themselves for each other and the idea of Paradise.
Wolf’s Rain is a bit muddled with the entire thread of the Lunar Flower. Plot holes are gaping at times. The character development and interaction is appealing and believable. The art is dark, brooding, and lonely – excellent for a lonely ice encased world. Yoko Kanno’s soundtrack is excellent and adds to the sorrow and loneliness that prevails the series. The series is wounded by 4, yes 4, recap episodes out of 26. The series is emotive and worth the watch, just don’t think too hard on the storyline.
