Wolf's Rain

Wolf's Rain (ウルフズ ・レイン, Urufuzu Rein^?, The Rain of the Wolf) is an anime series produced by BONES and Bandai Visual, broadcast in Japan from from January 6, 2003 to July 29 of the same year on Fuji TV. It ran for a full season of 26 episodes plus four episodes that were distributed on DVD in Japan between January and February 2004, completing the story.

The series was written by Keiko Nobumoto, a writer and editor, who published a manga version of the story in parallel. Character design was handled by Toshihiro Kawamoto, while soundtrack and effects were composed by artist Yōko Kanno; all three well known for having performed the same tasks in the popular series Cowboy Bebop.

In the United States the series was broadcast by Adult Swim, and distributed on DVD by Bandai. The series, including the four episodes released in OVA format, were licensed by Locomotion to be broadcast in Latin America in 2005, but due to the purchase of said channel by Sony Pictures Entertainment, they were released by Animax as of December 31. July 2005 and withdrawn in November 2006. At the beginning of 2007 it was broadcast again to be withdrawn on April 29 of that same year. In Spain, the anime and the OVAs were broadcast on Buzz and La Sexta, and were also licensed on DVD by Selecta Visión. In Northern Europe it was presented by Rupture TV.

Plot

Wolf's Rain is set in a post-apocalyptic future, where much of the world has been ecologically devastated and most people live in poverty, except for a privileged few. known as "nobles".

The legend written in the Book of the Moon says that wolves are mystical beings that came into the world from a place called Rakuen (Paradise) at the dawn of time.. It is also said that, in the future, the wolves would find, with the help of a mysterious young woman called The Lady of Flowers (a being created from the essence of lunar flowers), the way back to the paradise, and in doing so they would reset the world. This legend is hard for many to believe, as it is believed that wolves became extinct 200 years ago. But the truth is that wolves have become adept at hiding within human society, feigning human form, including vocal abilities, while still maintaining their agility, lupine senses, and natural weapons. This seems to put the series in the realm of lycanthropic fantasy, but it is quite the opposite, as the wolves' human form is depicted as a mental effect.

Wolf's Rain is also much more sympathetic to wolves than most fiction, clearly showing them as the protagonists and not only that, but giving the wolves a character heroic and idealistic, expressed in Kiba's phrase that says: "There is absolutely nothing illogical about dying, the illogical thing would be to live a life without goals".

Characters

Main characters

The story follows four young wolves: Kiba, Tsume, Hige, and Toboe. They go in search of La Flor Lunar that will lead them to the supposed paradise.

• Cheza

Seiyū: Arisa Ogasawara

La Chica Flor (Spanish version) or La Virgen de Las Flores (Latin America) is a living being synthesized from the "Flor Lunar&# 34; by the nobles. She shares a special bond with wolves, especially Kiba. She is constantly persecuted by her researchers and at the same time her creators, also by Darcia. She is the key to finding Paradise.

• Kiba "Colmillo"

Seiyū: Mamoru Miyano

Kiba is an arctic wolf, he follows his instincts to reach Paradise, where only wolves can go. He tends to distrust humans, and in the first episode he is reluctant to take human form, even in the city. When he was young, his pack was killed when the forest where they lived was burned by Jagara's troops. Then, he was picked up by a Native who told him that he had a purpose and that is why the forest had protected his life. His "teacher" he told him that he should start a great journey, with the purpose of finding paradise. In this way, he begins his search for Paradise in the hope of finding peace. It is revealed later in the series that he is, in fact, the chosen one, who is destined to find Paradise. The end of it agrees with the beginning of the new world.

• Tsume "Garra"

Seiyū: Kenta Miyake

Tsume is a tough, self-sufficient gray wolf. In the past, he was part of a pack of wolves. One day his pack was attacked by Jagara's troops and many of his friends were killed. During the fight, Tsume tried to run away, leaving her brothers dead and dying. Because of this, he was disowned by the rest of the pack and was bitten so badly by the leader that it left a huge X-shaped scar on his chest. Filled with shame, for many years he did not associate with any other wolves, and became the leader of a band of humans, with which they stole food from the nobles. However, he eventually meets Toboe, who he initially doesn't get along with. But, deep down, he feels sympathy and compassion for Toboe, due to his small size and lack of survival instinct. Therefore, he takes him in (although he rarely shows it) and tries to protect him for the rest of the series. Toboe is the only one who convinces him to go with the rest of the group to Paradise. Initially he does not believe the stories about Paradise, and only accompanies the others because for some time he wanted to leave the city where the series begins (which is where the main group meets). Although, he eventually begins to believe.

• Hige "Bigotes"

Seiyū: Akio Suyama

Hige is a Mexican wolf. He seems to know how to act perfectly in human society, even wearing a lupine-shaped dog collar (which he also displays in his human form) to appear less suspicious, though the collar's true meaning is revealed later in the series. He tends to use his common sense more than others, but only when he doesn't think with his stomach. Hige also gets along very well with Blue after her meeting with Cheza.

• Toboe "Aullido"

Seiyū: Hiroki Shimowada

Toboe is a red wolf and the youngest of the wolves in the pack, Toboe grew up in the city under the care of an old lady (so he lacks any sense of survival). Unfortunately, he grows too big to be in her care. One day, while she was bringing him her dinner, Toboe got so excited that he pushed her to the ground and started licking her face. In the process, he crushed her chest and killed her. On another occasion he accidentally killed a girl's pet bird, whom he tried to befriend. Despite this, Toboe is the shyest and kindest wolf in the pack, having created a particularly strong bond with Tsume.

Side characters

• Darcia

Seiyū: Takaya Kuroda

Third generation of Noble Darcia's family, said to be cursed since Darcia I's disappearance in Paradise. Thanks to the curse of his grandfather, Darcia possesses a wolf's eye, which also gives her the ability to make people faint and see wolves in their true form. He wants to use Cheza to somehow revive his beloved Hamona, who contracted the "Paradise disease"; and whose soul has been "taken by paradise" causing him to fall into a coma. He is the first enemy of the pack in the series.

• Cher Degre

Seiyū: Kaho Kōda

A scientist dedicated to studying Cheza. Hubb's ex-wife, her divorce was caused by Cher's rise and her obsession with Cheza. She seems fascinated by her and wants to understand her and about her. Cheza seems to awaken her maternal instincts over the course of the series.

• Hubb Lebowski

Seiyū: Mitsuru Miyamoto

Police detective, ex-husband of Cher Degre. He remains very much in love with her and seeks to protect her, often half-jokingly asking if they still have a chance to be together. At first he doesn't believe in wolves, but after an encounter with Quent and Cher's disappearance he begins to see everything clear.

• Blue

Seiyū: Mayumi Asano

A half-wolf-dog who was the Yaiden family pet. After the destruction of Kyrios and most of his family, she travels with Quent to help him hunt wolves using his half-wolf abilities to find them. She would have continued to do this if Cheza hadn't made her understand that she was actually a wolf inside of her (although only in part). In this way "wake up" that part of her and gives her the ability to assume human form like the other wolves. Initially she is ashamed of her wolfish heritage and runs away from Quent out of fear that he will hate her. However, she eventually accepts her identity as her wolf, she has strong feelings towards Hige, as he is the first to accept her.

• Quent Yaiden

Seiyū: Unshou Ishizuka

Former sheriff of the city of Kyrios. One day he saw his house burn down and his wife and son killed along with a pack of wolves, this led him to abandonment and hatred of wolves, which is only rivaled by his constant desire to drink liquor. He lives a wandering life alone with the company of Blue who helps him in the pursuit of the wolves.

• Lady Jagara

Seiyū: Atsuko Tanaka

She is a noble who like all the other Nobles covets Cheza and wants to use her to open the gates of paradise and go along with Darcia since she is in love with him, but Darcia's heart belongs to her twin sister Hamona. She is obsessed with destroying all wolves except the chosen one, and has an anti-wolf squad at her service.

• Lord Oakum

One of the Nobles, leader of the Frozen city where Cher and Hubb live. Oakum had stolen Cheza from Darcia, to discover the Flower Girl's true purpose.

• My.

Seiyū: Yūna Inamura

She is a mysterious girl (actually a lynx) that Kiba meets when he thinks he has arrived in paradise. "The world where time stood still".

Changes in the adaptation of the Manga

The two volumes of the manga that were adapted from the anime, include some of the main events of the series with few changes, could be considered so minimal that readers of the manga might find it the same as the series. Many of the events in the anime do not occur in the manga, and some of the events in the anime that are presented in the manga are completely different in terms of dialogue, chronological sequence, and end results.

In the manga, most of the characters are similar in appearance and personality to their anime counterparts, but some characters seen in the anime do not appear in the manga, including the Nobles Lord Oakum and Lady Jagara.

List of episodes

In the case of episodes, where the Japanese titles are not listed, the original title is shown in English. The first English title in each case is the only one used on the English version of the DVD.

1. “City of Howls” or “Howling Street Corner” ("The City of the Aullidos")
2. “Toboe, Who does not’t Howl”, “Toboe, Who Won’t Cry” or “A Howl don’t Cry” () betrayal of innovation).) ("An Aullido no Llora")
3. “Bad Fellow” ("Malays Companies")
4. “Scars in the Wasteland” or “The Scars In The Wilderness” () Reset)) ("Cicatriz de la Selva")
5. “Fallen Wolves” ()の)) ("The Fallen Wolf")
6. “The Successors” ("The Heir")
7. “The Flower Maiden” or “Girl of the Flowers”
8. “The Song of Sleep” or “Lullaby” (Laに) ("The Song of Sleep")
9. “Misgivings” or “Doubt” ()) ("Distrust")
10. “Moon’s Doom” ("The Loss of the Moon")
11. “Vanishing Point” (interpretation)("Punto de Fuga")
12. “Don’t Make Me Blue” ("Don’t Depress Me")
13. “Men’s Lament” (professing hypothesis) ("Men’s Lament")
14. “The Fallen Keep” or “Castle of the Fallen” (participation).
15. “Grey Wolf” or “Ashen Wolf” ()국)) ("The Pale Wolf")
16. “Dream Journey” ("The Dream of a Trip")
17. “Scent of a Flower, Blood of a Wolf” (----------------------------------------------------------------) (The Aroma of Flowers and the Blood of the Wolves)
18. “Men, Wolves, and the Book of the Moon” (・s・Русский Partners” ("Men, Wolves and The Moon Book")
19. “Dream of an Oasis” (Window clamping) ("Oasis Dream")
20. “Consciously” ("consciously")
21. “Battle’s Red Glare” or “Flares of the Battle” (LaのLa) ("The Battle of War")
22. “Pieces of a Shooting Star” or “Meteor Fragment” (FORTYING FRENCHING) ("Fragments of Fugaz Star")
23. “Heartbeat of the Black City” ("The Black City Hearts")
24. “Scent of a Trap” ()の de。
25. “False Memories” or “Memory of a Mistake” (tensing presumption).
26. “Moonlight Crucible”, “Moonlight Power Plant” or “Moonlight Furnace” (inforMARE) (Crisol de Luz de Luna)

OVAs

The OVAs are the continuation of episode 26, known as chapters 27, 28, 29 and 30.

1. “Where the Soul Goes” or “Soul’s Whereabouts” (Twitter of a Crucible Soul)
2. “Gunshot of Remorse” or “Remorseful Gun-Sound” (de de de de) (Distance Detonation)
3. “High Tide, High Time”
4. “Wolf’s Rain, Wanderer”

Soundtrack

Created and composed by composer Yōko Kanno:

Opening

1. "Stray" (Vagabundo) played by Steve Conte.

Ending

1. "Gravity" (Gravedad) played by Maaya Sakamoto.

Wolf's Rain Original Soundtrack

1. Stray (feat. Steve Conte)
2. Rakuen
3. Coração Selvagem (feat. Joyce)
4. Renga
5. Pilgrim Snow
6. Leaving on Red Hill
7. Shiro
8. Dogs and Angels
9. Strangers (feat. Raj Ramayya)
10. Sleeping Wolves
11. Tip Toe Waltz
12. My Little Flower
13. Could You Bite the Hand? (feat. Steve Conte)
14. Valse de la Lune (feat. Ilaria Graziano)
15. Hot Dog Wolf
16. Silver River
17. Sold Your Soul
18. Visions of a Flame
19. Run, Wolf Warrior, Run
20. Gravity (feat. Maaya Sakamoto)
21. Paradiso

Wolf's Rain Original Soundtrack 2

1. Heaven's Not Enough (feat. Steve Conte)
2. Shiro, Long Tail's
3. Cycle (feat. Gabriela Robin)
4. Beyond Me
5. Mouth on Fire
6. Hounds
7. Rain of Blossoms
8. Separated
9. Escape
10. Face On
11. Tsume's Sand
12. Flying to You (feat. Ilaria Graziano)
13. Night Owl
14. Forest of Death
15. Indiana
16. Amore Amaro (feat. Franco Sansalone)
17. Friends
18. Tell Me What the Rain Knows (feat. Maaya Sakamoto)
19. Float
20. Tance
21. Sad Moon
22. Cloud 9 (feat. Maaya Sakamoto)
23. Go to Rakuen