Rating: 
Summary: Stunning
Review: This first DVD is a sure-fire hit. The animation, music, and quality of the characters is great. I have not liked an anime series this much since Neon Genesis Evangelion. Great series to invest in. The soundtrack that comes with the DVD in the LE box is excellent also. Great music and a great show recieves 5 stars from me.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent! Funny, well animated, good plot
Review: Well of course I like wolves...and I happen to be owned by a white, wolfy looking dog, so how could I resist?
I've seen the first three volumes and it is a very good romp...the scenes are well-painted the characters well developed without excess exposition. Their actions often say a lot more than their words. One of them says he is antisocial, but then goes and saves the life of his companion - a wonderful way to show a contradictory and complex personality. All of the characters also have different pasts that are hinted at and only somewhat revealed, so there is still a lot of mystery remaining for the rest of the show. I am worried about them still - will they all live? Will they find paradise?
Dang I want that fourth volume! Hurry already!
Rating:
Summary: An anime masterpiece
Review: What can I possibly say about this incredible series that could possibly do it justice? This is an amazing series that keeps you wanting more.This english dub of this hit Japanese series features an A-list voice cast, utilizing talents from other popular dubbed anime series such as Cowboy Bebop, Trigun and Witch Hunter Robin. Not suggested for younger audiences, Wolf's Rain does contain some violent content, but that is to be expected when watching a serious dramatic piece about wolves. The soundtrack CD included with this DVD is one of the best I've ever heard. Listeners will find themselves listening to it over and over again. Scored by anime music legend Yoko Kanno, Wolf's Rain OST is one of her best works yet! Destined to be one of the classics of anime, Wolf's Rain delivers in a way that very few other series have. Every soul I've spoken with whom has seen this series has instantly fallen in love with it. See you in paradise.
Rating:
Summary: One of the absolute best!
Review: Wolf's Rain (WR) is about four wolves by the names of Kiba, Tsume, Hige, and Toboe who are looking for "Paradise" . A place of legend that is said to be revealed when the end of the known world is upon us...But only wolves can find it.
WR is a true rarity among the anime world. It has everything. An intriguing and complex story, amazing characters, and a beautiful music score. WR also has superb secondary characters such as Darcia, Blue, Cher, Hubb, Quent, Jagara, and the beautiful Flower Maiden Cheza.
This particular dvd contains the first five episodes of the series...just enough to get you addicted ^^ . The menus of the dvd are wonderfully done as are the special features.
Trust me! Get this anime! Wolf's Rain is absolutely stunning and I think EVERYONE should see it. In fact, I myself have not seen an anime this beautiful since Vision of Escaflowne and I love it just as much!
Rating:
Summary: More than anime, just a great story.
Review: Wolf's Rain is an instant classic of story telling in a non-typical manner. The story takes place in a far flung future where humanity has driven the earth to near death. There is a legend that when the earth is ready, paradise will be found. Enter Kiba, a white wolf drawn out of the mountains by the sent of lunar flowers and the visions of finding paradise. He brings pride with him as well and bands together a small pack to search for paradise. They are Hige, Tohboe and Tsume.
The driving force behind them is the lunar flower in the form of a geneitcly created girl named Cheza. She has been dormant for years and now reacts to the presence of Kiba. She had be created by people known as Nobles. They are elitest, rich royals that have be ruling the earth for a few centuries. They are the antagonist of the story and deservedly so.
Other characters in this tale are Cher, a scientist that has been caught up in the studying of Cheza. Hobb, her ex-husband and police officer trying to figure out what went wrong. Quint, an old hunter trying to kill any wolf he finds for retribution of his dead family. And Blue, his dog, or is she a dog.
This is one of the few pure dramatic anime's that do not rely on cheeky humor, as so many others do. Though this has many styling cues that are so familiar with japanese story telling, i.e. over dramatic scenes or poses and somewhat sappy dialog. This anime has a quality that surpasses the small amount of anime elements it has. The art work is stark, beautiful and breath-taking. Action sequences will have to be rewound just to see again and again because of the fluidity of the motion and the technial aspects of the anatomy in motion. This is a true wonder and jewel to behold. As as for being someone that has seen the complete series, my sister and I can attest that it will leave you emotionally drained and deeply statisfied when you get to the end. So only by this if you can get the entire series or else you will be doing yourself an utter injustice. Spread the word.
Rating: 
Summary: Beautiful and convoluted
Review: Wolf's Rain is one of the most beautful anime series released in recent times. Bones Studio (RahXephon) and musician/composer Yoko Kanno (Cowboy bebop, Arjuna) ensure that the show is visually and musically nothing less than stunning. The story on the other hand is a painfully slow epic spanning no less than 30 episodes. Other reviews probably provide a better synopsis of the 4 wolves' search for paradise in a bleak furure so I need not elaborate here. The story itself is interesting, filled with action and intrigue but the large cast and numerous sub-plots make the series a rather tedious watch. The series features no less than 4 recap episodes in the middle portion of the show to insure viewers knew what was happening. Overall I wouldn't recommend this series as it really strived to be more than what it was.
Rating:
Summary: A Beautiful Journey
Review: Wolf's Rain is the most unique, challenging, and rewarding anime experience I have ever had. From beginning to end it is a master work of beautiful art, wonderfully concieved characters, fantastic music, and superb and unusual story telling.
It is truly an epic and poetic creation that you will never forget.
Rating:
Summary: So Far So Good
Review: Wolf's Rain is without a doubt one of the most beautifully animated series I have seen. It also features a great soundtrack, a given from Yoko Kanno. Be ready to think about this one though, as so far it has a complex storyline to it. You know the simple version by now: a place called Paradise will appear near the end, and only wolves can find this place. Thought to have been extinct over 200 years ago, wolves are actually all around people disguised themselves as humans. 4 wolves, Hige, Tsume, Kiba and Toboe are searching for this Paradise. That is the simple version, but the story is much more complex than that. Having only seen these first 5 episodes, I can't really explain the plot much further than that. But I can say that from these 5 episodes I like what I see so far and I will be buying the rest of the series. I bought the version with the limited edition artbox. If you have seen the series and like it, I think you will like this version, as you get a sturdy artbox that will hold all of the volumes once they are released. The box is beautifully illustrated as well. Also you get the original soundtrack to the series which is also a great deal to be included with this set. The music only adds to the depth of the series and is as much a part of the series as the series itself. And lastly you get a plush Kiba, which doesn't really matter to me but I guess it is a cool bonus. Wolf's Rain is not something kids will understand, and it may bore others. It is not really fast-paced (at least so far) so it may not be up your alley. But if you are into anime that has a deeper meaning to it give Wolf's Rain a try. I can't say it is my favorite because it's not, but I liked it a lot and I can't wait to get further into the story when Vol.2 is released in August.
Rating:
Summary: does paradise really exist?
Review: Wolf's Rain takes place in a futuristic, apocalyptic society. Humans have devastated the Earth, destroying what little remained of nature. Many species of animal are either extinct or on the brink of extinction. Domed cities are sprinkled over the desolate surface of the Earth. Humans have been divided into two main groups; an aristocracy called the Nobles, and the rest of the commoners, many of which have become outlaws. There is a legend of wolves appearing just before the end of the world to lead everyone to Paradise. No one believes these legends, however, because they believe wolves have become extinct over 200 years ago. However, wolves do still live and thrive, and only are able to do so by developing a special ability to manipulate people's minds so that they see the wolves as humans. In this way, the wolves can co-exist with humans with the humans being none the wiser. Many wolves integrated themselves into human society, becoming common workers, gang members, and even lowly street dogs. Many who had once desired to seek paradise had lost interest in doing so, settling instead to live among the humans. The four wolves, Kiba, Tsume, Hige and Toboe, all have their own individual goals, but all desire true freedom, away from the humans. They are searching for the mythical Paradise, but in order to do so, must find the Flower Maiden. However, they have much opposition, in the form of Quent Yaiden, the hunter who wishes to eliminate all wolves from the face of the Earth, and his dog Blue, who helps him locate the wolves. There are also the detective Hubb Lebowsi, and the various research scientists, including Cher Degre, who wish to prove the existence of these wolves. Yet another obstacle is the mysterious Darcia, who kidnaps Cheza, the Flower Maiden who can sense the wolves' emotions and pain. Myth has it that only the wolves will be able to find the way to paradise, but does paradise really exist?
Rating:
Summary: These raindrops keep gnawing at my head
Review: Wolf's Rain: does the title alone, by any chance, mean that the wolves are crying for some reason? To tell you the truth, the show makes me want to cry. The way to describe Wolf's Rain is "Stand By Me" hosing it down with "Balto" to the R-rated capacity with a hint of "Animorphs". These descriptions didn't get to me at first, but there were other reasons why I think this anime is so involving. Sure, "Last Exile" may have the stunning technical art design and "Witch Hunter Robin" has a complex storyline with a lovable main character, but this is one of those rare animes that, for lack of a practical term, has heart and soul. The story takes place in a hostile future, where the people in urban-lifestyles believe that wolves were at the existent level as the Dodos for 200 years. Not exactly. Kiba, Hige, Tsume, and Toboe are few of the wolves that are still among the living, but in human incognito. Kiba couldn't stand to be amongst human beings, so later when he joins the other three wolves, respectfully, he followed his nose to the flower scent as the wolves drift into the open cold field to find their eden, their "Paradise". But later, when they found and join the flower girl Cheza to go along on their search, their one-way road trip would experience some pot holes on their way, such as a mysterious syndicate run by Darcia, army corps, and a hunter with his trusty dog whose job is to exterminated these "devils", as he calls them. Characterization is the one thing I like so much about Wolf's Rain. The wolves each have their own personality: Kiba is the serious, ambitious type; Hige is the laid-back, class clown of the group; Tsume is the type that doesn't care much about anything; and young Toboe is the naive type that see Tsume as his idol, as he sees him like an older brother. Though what they are makes them distant to each other, as they travel to find Paradise, they learn how important it is to depend on each other to survive, and builds up on an interesting companionship which helps them build self-confidence and trust, which I think is what relates to the movie "Stand By Me." While there were other characters that also play important roles to this series, Cheza is the one character that really got me looking on the greener side of the grass. She was this angelic, calm force of nature(and literally, she IS part of nature), and she did her best to support and care for these wolves as if she was a mother to them, and I normally don't say this kind of optimism to any female anime character. Now don't worry, this anime isn't all about one endless conversation after another, episode by episode. Wolf's Rain has plenty of action to go well with its drama. Did I mentioned that the people that made "Cowboy Bebop" also took part in making Wolf's Rain? With CB's Character Designer, Producer, and Composer involved in this anime's production, these people alone are enough to convince fans to watch it. And if it wasn't for them, Wolf's Rain wouldn't have such a wonderful constructive art design with the use of colors that add the mood to the environment and stunning wolf designs, and an eloquent musical score to top of the emotion scale. I manage to check out the first episode dubbed, and surprisingly, Bandai did right with the casting. Johnny Yong Bosch as Kiba, Crispin Freeman as Tsume, Joshua Seth as Hige, the English actors were on key to their Japanese counterpart. I was skeptical when FLCL Haruko's Kari Wahlgren is going to play as the more serious Cher Degre, but after checking her vocal performance, she actually pulled it off. When Cowboy Bebop had a great dub cast, expect the same thing here. When people are going to see this, most are going to ask, "How can these wolves fool humans to think they are human?" I asked myself the same question after watching half of the entire series in Japanese. To me, after thinking about it, I don't think the question was meant to be explained, and I don't mind, because Wolf's Rain has such great qualities to consider it to be one of the best animes around. It's not just a well-produced anime, it's also very engrossing and rewarding, too. If you're looking for something atmospheric with heart-warming entertainment in the world of anime, you should not pass this one up.
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