Wolf Children
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Pick #228

Wolf Children

Dir. Mamoru Hosoda · Japan · Japanese

A strange story of love and parenting but the children are half-human, half-wolf.

9.0 Our score

2012 Movie Adventure, Animation, Drama

HBO Max Amazon Video Apple Itunes Youtube

Our take

If you’re living alone and just came back home from a bad day, Wolf Children can make you feel like everything’s alright. It’s the kind of movie that feels like a warm hug and one that you will likely bookmark to get back to for this exact reason. Co-written and directed by Mamoru Hosoda, who’s most known for The Girl Who Leaps Through Time, the title is to be taken without any salt: it tells the, allegedly true, story of a woman raising children who are half-human and half-wolf. It all starts with Yuki studying at Tokyo University, where she meets a mysterious and handsome young man, who can turn into a wolf at will. They fall in love and have children inheriting this strange skill. This is where the colorful visuals and life-affirming vibe of this anime give way to a bleak narrative turn. Wolf Children is a strange story of love and parenting told in an imitable style.

The story

What happens

After her werewolf lover unexpectedly dies in an accident, a woman must find a way to raise the son and daughter that she had with him. However, their inheritance of their father's traits prove to be a challenge for her.

Elsewhere

What the critics said

Notable Critics

"On the basis of this elegiac family saga, Studio Ghibli should really think about hiring director Mamoru Hosoda."

— Anton Bitel

The details

About this pick

Year
2012
Type
Movie
Director
Mamoru Hosoda
Cast
Aoi Miyazaki, Haru Kuroki, Takao Osawa, Yukito Nishii
Language
Japanese
Country
Japan
Rated
PG

Streaming arrival

  • HBO Max

Who picked it

About the author

Comments

  1. Simple yet captivating story. Completely heartwarming, features a beautiful soundtrack and amazing visuals.

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