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wolf's rain |
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 Posted: Wed Feb 07, 2007 6:57 am |
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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 Wolf's Rain series, including each of the 30 episodes, 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, 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 2 volumes long and is an alternate telling of Wolf's Rain.
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Last edited by sin on Wed Feb 07, 2007 7:06 am; edited 1 time in total
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| Posted: Wed Feb 07, 2007 7:05 am |
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Story overview
The story of Wolf's Rain revolves around a small pack of wolves and their quest to find Paradise.
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. It is also said that, in the future, wolves will, with the help of a mysterious woman called the "Flower Maiden", a being created from the essence of lunar flowers, find a way to return to paradise and in doing so, will make the world start over so it could become a Paradise again. This legend is difficult for most to believe, though, because wolves were thought to have been hunted to extinction nearly 200 years before. Some wolves have survived, though, and have been coexisting with humans right under their noses. The wolves have a way of presenting themselves as being human to other humans, thus they can blend into human society with relatively little notice. This ability is in no way shapeshifting; it is a mental trick, an illusion.
The wolves travel through many obstacles and grow in one way or another. Toboe reaches maturity, Tsume wrestles with his bitter past, Hige battles with his emotions, Blue tries to choose between Quent and Hige, and Kiba struggles to protect Cheza from harm. The story folds in a violent climax where all of the wolves (besides Kiba)and Quent are slain by Darcia. Darcia is close to killing Kiba, but instead Darcia tries to open Paradise only to be rejected and obliterated by it. Kiba wanders around until he cannot walk any further. Suddenly, the ice from under him melts and he drowns as he watches the moon become ivory again - the world has started over once more.
Darcia stated in Episode 27 that the world in the series was just a Paradise that someone had already opened, and that it was coming to an end. He called it an 'era coming to an end'. He said the world had to be restarted repeatedly. It is assumed that it is this way because the world can never be perfect for very long because evil will always reside in the world. By looking at it like this, you can pretty much guess what will happen next:
The world then turns into a Paradise at first (it is abound with flowers and beautiful things), but it soon falls into decay like it was at the beginning of the series (Darcia's eye starts the poisoning of the Paradise, and it switches to the decayed world with Kiba and the gang). This could also be a reason why, on the first episode, Kiba is wandering through the snow and dies, just as he did in the last episode after he defeated Darcia. Because he opened Paradise before the series began, and that Paradise is the one that was coming to an end in the series.
It is also important to note that in the legend, wolves were set upon the land by Mother Earth to help human beings, because humans were once lowly creatures that were prey for the demons and monsters that plagued the world at the dawn of time. Once the wolves and humans defeated the monsters, they created humanity (human society, not human beings) from a part of themselves, and taught them basically everything they know. The wolves then kept watch over the humans from afar, and didn't become involved in their affairs.
It is also noted that Darcia said in one of the episodes that Quent himself used to be a wolf, but could no longer change back into one. It is debatable that this might suggest that either wolves can keep the "human" illusion for too long and never change back, or they died in the struggle to get to Paradise, and were reborn in human form after the world started over again, as it would seem happened to Kiba and the gang in the last episode.
The 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 Jagura'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 Jaguara'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. 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 2 years old as a wolf and 12 years old as a human, making him the youngest of the group, Toboe was raised by an elderly woman as a pet. The old woman also gave Toboe his silver bracelets. Because of this, he is more like a puppy than a wolf. Although she died, Toboe has an affection for humans that none of the other wolves can understand - except for 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.
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, 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 looks to be either part German Shepherd or part Siberian Husky (this is the most probable due to her eyes).
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 slept in a bubble, waiting for Kiba, and she was awoken by the smell of wolf's blood. 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. Cheza seems to awaken some of her maternal instincts as the series progresses. She and Hubb were once married but divorced after Cheza took over most of Cher's life.
Hamona
Voiced by: Maaya Sakamoto (Japanese), Peggy O'Neal (English)
Younger twin sister of Jagura. She is the beautiful and passive wife of Darcia until she falls ill with 'Paradise Sickness', part of a curse that is passed down in the Darcia fanily from the curse that was placed upon Darcia the First when he died trying to open Paradise, and falls into a coma. For most of the anime she served as a reason for Darcia's actions, until she died indirectly by Jagura's attack on Darcia's keep. Eventually, after avenging his wife's death, Darcia forgets her completely and only dreams of Paradise.
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 main 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 changed that plan, with Darcia mysteriously gone after the destruction of his keep until he resurfaced at Jagara's city where he killed her. Eventually after that, he discards his love for Hamona, saying that "she is nowhere now", and assumed the wolf form of his past life using a stone.
official site >>>http://www.b-ch.com/contents/wolfsrain/ japanese
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YouTube MySpace, I'll Google your YAHOO!
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