Wolf Children

The Wolf Children Ame and Yuki is a contemporary anime fantasy from acclaimed director of Summer Wars and The Girl Who Leapt through Time Mamoru Hosoda. Young woman Hanna falls for a wolf-spirit, but when he dies she finds herself raising their two changeling children alone. Hana struggles with their nature as the children flip-flop from human to wolf-form on a whim.

Hosoda’s film follows siblings Ame (‘Rain’) and Yuki (‘Snow’) as they grow up and find their own paths, while Hanna struggles to maintain a home for them. The introverted Ame becomes more at home in the forests while Yuki embraces her human side, desperate to fit in at school and vowing never to expose her wolf-side. With themes of fantasy, family, strong female lead characters and a flowing observational style of animation, you could easily mistake this for a Studio Ghibli film. In fact, Hosada’s direction actually feels a little fresher, more modern, and perhaps even more accessible than a Ghibli film. It is beat-perfect. What unfolds is a beautiful character study which channels Japanese folklore. The animation throughout is beautiful, a seamless blend of 2D and 3D and at times breathtaking.

Showing as part of Scotland Loves Animation 2012.

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