Past, Present and Future - Wolf's Rain and the Uncompromising Search for Paradise
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- čas přidán 9. 03. 2022
- A video essay and thematic analysis that explains the symbolism of the wolves, the nobles and Paradise within Wolf's Rain's story.
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If you want to learn more about the history of the Japanese wolf check out 'The Lost Wolves of Japan' by Brett L. Walker. If you are looking for some more good Wolf's Rain's videos check out 'The Symbolism of the Flower in Wolf's Rain' by Plasmyte: czcams.com/video/iYiMlNilnYU/video.html and 'Wolf's Rain and the Shifting Status of Japanese Wolves' by NEETzsche: czcams.com/video/E7VQIRYH38Q/video.html
In a way, Wolfs Rain is a warning. We cant lose the drive to find paradise. Even if its just a fleeting hope of a dream. People could learn a lot if they rewatch his classic.
Imagine seeing a Wolfs Rain video in 2022. Great video btw, recently did a rewatch with friends and the show was infinitely more impactful for me at an older age as most of the meanings you covered yourself really had me ruminating. Still is one of the most beautiful animes Ive watched, aesthetically and through its themes
It’s my all time favourite anime, the music just makes my hairs stand up every time I listen to the soundtrack ❤ so happy to see fellow fans! Such an underrated anime
My father now in his 70s loves this show!
The ambiance, the dark and sad tone of this masterpiece along with the music is what makes this anime so memorable.
I watched Wolf's Rain when I was still in high school and I enjoyed it for what it was, but I didn't think much of it, now as I watched it as an adult and I can truly appreciate it. I'd like to think I'm very fortunate, to be brought back to Wolf's Rain for a second time, with more understanding this time too. It was on a whim, but things happen for a reason.
It opened my eyes and taught me about the journey of life. However, it is more than that - it is the end of a cycle, the journey of death. The end of the series is also a new beginning, the beginning of a new world.
Paradise is a state-of-mind. An illusion. It’s a concept. It’s a concept that signifies that hope never dies, even in times of despair. Because if you can find something hopeful in this world, even in times of disarray, to run toward. That’s paradise. And I think that’s what Wolf’s Rain was trying to say with its closing episode.
The difference between this new world and the old one. In the old world, the Lunar flower went extinct, which is why Cheza, an artificial Lunar flower, needed to be made in the first place. The new world, however, still has Lunar flowers growing in it naturally, although growing in a city that still looks gritty and dark, and the rain still looms. The flower being reborn again is a small, but surely glimpse of hope.
The hope that allows Kiba and his packmates to continue their journey toward's paradise.
I really enjoyed this video and I'm glad I came across it at this point in life. 13 years ago I watched this series, and today I finished it once again but it felt like I experienced an entirely different version of Wolf's Rain this time. And perhaps, in the future, if I decide to rewatch it again. Maybe I'll have another interpretation of it. But either way Wolf's Rain will forever remain timeless and a favourite of mine. ❤
What a beautiful comment ❤
My view of Wolf's Rain has changed over the years but I used to be so sad at the ending, and as I got older I realized they all found what they were looking for in some shape
'_' I want to agree with you ._. ..yet I'm personalized polarized by Hige's 'final request' to Tsume when he'd already had Blue pass right beside him and the world's finality was actually barely minutes away
Nice to see new Wolf's Rain analysis. For all people criticize it as slow and vague, and they do have a point, it was a milestone for me in watching more serious anime beyond the shounen classics like Dragonball and the like. To this day the soundtrack is one of my favorites of all the anime I've watched.
Well this is seinen, that's why. It's supposed to be more serious, complex, and philosophical
That's why seinen is my favourite seinen
This soundtrack cannot be beaten
Wolf’s Rain to this day will always hold a special place in my heart. It’s so nice seeing it circle around again.
I wish it would "go viral" and absolutely pick up. I need more exposure for it; a continuation
While your narration could do lots of work, I want to thank you for keeping the memory of this show alive and for making a video on it in 2022. It's a show I seldom see discussed, even amongst people who know of it, have seen it and love it, and I'm always saddened by that fact. I am going to watch it again in November and want to write something about the show, myself, in memory of Keiko Nobumoto and in memory of the show itself, so future generations of anime fans can hear about it and watch it, and get something from it.
Please do, unfortunately this is one of the many shows from the early 2000s that got overlooked. Wolf's Rain definitely deserves more coverage.
I couldn’t agree more ❤
Hakaru thank you for this masterpiece, the philosophical part of Wolf's Rain is something that needs to deeply touch us, as humans we seek comfort and therefore we create this safety bubble of ours, and we do not dare anymore to venture out of it, Wolf'r Rain really tries to explain in an amazing and emotional way that things need to always change for better or worse, change is simply good because it is a step towards the future. Thank you for this, appreciate the work and time you've put here.
It isn't obvious in the show, but I have watched this anime many times. The Nobles are from a different dimension/a parallel world. They came to "Earth" through a dimensional shift, and were unable to leave due to their ship being damaged and having no way to repair it. Their shift also caused a time ripple, to make things and events vanish from "Earth's" timeline, and aspects of their world to appear on the "Earth's" timeline pretty much wrecking everything. They also brought magic with them, into a world of what used to be technology of our current era. There was a war between the original inhabitants of Earth, and the Nobles. The Nobles won.
I watched Wolf's Rain at 14, and it was this series which made me fall in love with anime. It's one of my favorite series and I have lost count on how many times I've watched it. ❤ It's been 15 years, but I still listen to the sound track regularly. This series and its music, is my comfort zone that I return to time and time again.
x2
Finally someone put it into words
Man wolfs rain is one of my all time favorites. I remember seeing this around 14. I rewatched it recently and it still holds up. Awesome video
A Constructive video with excelent choice of words , I never understood Wolf's rain when I watched it 19 years ago , you solved that puzzle for me , I'll be expecting more videos like this gem!
I remember coming across this show via an AMV with a Nightwish song burned on a CD of very good AMVs. Never saw the series, but that AMV alone was so impactful and conwayed so mutch, seeing the visuals again after so many years, they are just like in my memories. Nowadays it feels like time stands still, especially in the last 3-5 years. You hear the same songs in the radio from bygone eras with a different flavour but nothing new really. The same companies rain, most movies try to tap into your nostalgia. It's like we have no future anymore. There is a saying: "It's easyer to live in the past, than do something for a better future."
omg a wolf's rain and Nightwish AMV?! I LOVED nightwish (still do) and wolf's rain back in the day. Do you remember what NW song it was, out of curiosity? 7 days to the wolves, last of the wild??
In the 28 years I've been alive, I've already watched a LOT of anime, but Wolf's Rain is (imo) a highly underrated anime as well as my #1 Favorite Anime. I remember watching it when it first aired. The story's confusing at first, but you catch on quickly. The characters are written so well and though it can come off as very subtle, there's a lot of character development in everyone. Especially Hige and Tsume. To top it off, the music in the show is just awesome. It ranges from very soft and heavenly to tense and badass while working so well with each particular scene.
All in all, Wolf's Rain is a 10/10, in my books.
I still love Wolf's rain
Beautiful almost made me tear up at the end
thank you for helping me remember.
Thank you for covering this precious gem.
I wish more people talked about it! I don’t even see any anime recap channels covering this anime, so this was nice to see.
Still one of my favorites I’ve watched along with Ah! My Goddess.
This was a really awesome video! The way you explained the parallels between the wolves and the nobles was very well done!
I watched Wolf's Rain in elementary school with my friend in 2008, but what shook me was when I heard your voice I knew right away you must be from Balkan, the accent is to strong, and yup you are my fellow Croatian xD
ummm... bacio sam oko na tvoj kanal i mislim da živimo u istom gradu? DM-aj me na twitteru ako si za chat lol
I loved Wolf's Rain when I was in middle school. My angsty ass loved finding any meaning out of these obscured themes, especially finding the meaning of life and how to live it. Yoko Kanno, the composer, created such an atmospheric soundtrack to the show that stood out like Cowboy Bebop and Escaflowne.
i enjoyed the cheza's lullaby as each wolf has their own version of paradise, One is the journey, another the destination and another was the past/beginning.
This was beautiful man. I just finished it and now I get it thanks to you.
Great vid. I never knew about the history of wolves in Japan. I'll sub.
This anime means a lot to me, i shared it with people who are no longer with us and im the only one left to remember those times.
I wonder if they found paradise?
I hope so.
Such memories....still my favorite. used to watch it once a year to remind me. its been so long
i love this video, thank you. i was just reminiscing about this wonderful show that i've loved for so long and it's so nice to see a video like this on it! you've made me see the show in a new light and perspective i never really thought of before. thank you :)
Thank you so much for keeping this anime alive ❤
It took me this many years to realize that a lot of the characters represent themes or perspectives in religion.
Awesome review, i felt it in my heart. Thank you
It was such a awesome anime it’s sad the characters died the way they did
great thorough analysis, good job!
Brilliant video! Added to my favourites immediately
Excellent video! Just finished the show for the first time, it was an immense pleasure to see this essay after the ending.
Cheers. =)
Great video. The history of Japans wolves was also very interesting to learn about. Thanks for the video.
great analyses of the characters
This video is amazing!
Fantastic!
Great video! I have been waiting for someone to give an in depth review of one of my favorite anime of all time. This series has always held a very special place in my heart and your broke the concepts of he show down beautifully. I had no idea about wolves in ancient Japanese mythology.. That added a deepness to the show that I wasn't previously aware of. Thanks for that. I cover 'Heaven's Not Enough' from the OST on my channel if you're interested. Cheers!
Very nice
13:58 Takaya Kuroda. I'd recognize Kiryu anywhere
nice
Cool seeing this because I just finished this show last week. Weird timing ngl
I just completed it in 2023 this anime is beautiful ❤️
Great analysis video of my favorite anime! I just have one question. At the end, Darcia used alchemy to become a wolf to try and enter paradise, but what is the thematic meaning of that decision? Aside from killing the wolves and his general villainy, his attempt to enter paradise failed and he died. Was it because he was a noble who helped destroy the world and refused to let anyone else enter paradise that caused him to die trying to enter it? And what does that mean thematically with your analysis of the nobles representing the past? Not sure if you’ll ever see this but I’d love to know your thoughts.
Interesting question, I haven't watched Wolfs Rain since I made the video so correct me if I make a mistake.
By the time Darcia fully becomes a wolf he's already lost his wife for ever and he can't reunite with her in Paradise so I guess he may be over the past at that point. However, he still wasn't 'worthy' to open the gates of Paradise, so I guess your interpretation might be right but since the show doesn't really focus on his motivations after his wife dies I can't say for sure. Either he's not fully over the past or he's just an overall asshole, or both I guess.
I remember seeing another Wolfs Rain analysis a while ago where the author pointed out that when the flowers of Paradise are blooming in the last episode Darcia's eye 'corrupts' them thus creating a 'false' Paradise, which is an interesting idea. Since the wolves all seem to be humans in the new world that might be connected with Darcia screwing up the opening of Paradise. The fact that they are human in the new reality seems to imply that the wolves are gone in the new world, but since Kiba starts running at the end (towards Cheza I assume), the implication is that they are still wolves, at least in spirit and that they still haven't given up on Paradise.
Not really a super clear answer but that's the best I could come up with, cheers :)
The shape shifting coyote of north america
does anyone know the name of the background soundtrack at 13:30
The music is from the Wolfs Rain soundtrack, the track is called 'Face on'
Is this video supposed to have audio of any kind? I'm skipping through it and can't hear anything D:
انمي مميز شخصيات مميزة وقصة غريبه ونادرة والعمل مظلوم واعطيه ١٠من١٠ وانصح الكل فيه وشكراااا ع انطباعك
Great video! Although I noticed that, even you couldn’t make any sense about what was going on with that purple haired girl, or what actually happened at the end of the last episode.😂
I remember there was a linx who was also able to shapeshift into a human, unless it could do so only because it was a spirit (it was dead, Kiba was in an illusion due to be knocked out by a plant).
I think the lynx in that one episode was given a human form by the creators to make her more relatable as a character by having Kiba interact with her in his human form. She was also part of the illusion created by the plant so I guess canonically only wolves can have human forms iirc.
I don’t like wolf’s rain at all but I want a remake for Sure than the original
The dub is MUCH better
HBO Max needs to live action this series.
Good video on an ultimately pretty disappointing and mediocre show, unfortunately. On paper it has everything to be a great, but it just isn't, managing only a couple of interesting things here or there in the end (the world, the villain's backstory, some of the arcs of the secondary characters).