40 of 41 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Simply Amazing, February 11, 2011
This review is from: Wolf's Rain: Anime Legends - Perfect Collection (DVD)
Length:: 1:38 Mins
Alright, above I have a video on the packaging for the product and I've already reviewed this anime on IMDB, so I'm going to post the review here and then review the packaging/amazon below it:
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I have never been an easy person to please. This series did just that. I do not know where to begin with the series. I marathoned the entire series because I just couldn't stop watching from the beginning. I loved it so much that this is the first review I have written for any movie/show.
This has a very unusual plot line without a doubt, however, I am of the opinion that if the plot had not been as unusual as it was (wolves appearing as humans, searching for paradise) that viewers wouldn't have gotten quite the same feeling from the show, it's sort of hard to describe. I went into this thinking I would be watching an unusual action flick that simply wanted to grab audiences by saying: "look we have wolves in our story!" thinking I would be forced to give up from the awkwardness of having "wolves," and that that the writers wouldn't be able to correctly compensate.
I was, to say the least, extraordinarily surprised.
Throughout the series the characters are truly easy to connect to. They all interlace and mesh, they fit together well, which makes for a great altogether feeling. In the beginning of the series I felt a little bored, but only for a little while. As soon as the second episode ended I was craving for more. The story line is not for everyone, some would get bored with it. However, the fair amount of action coupled with the short (essentially 26 episode) series means that you wont be dealing with monotonous amounts of action. Overall the story is VERY original and definitely interesting, I thoroughly enjoyed it. If you like stories that can truly cause an emotional response, then this series is for you. It is extremely moving and deeply intense in its imagery.
The story manages to stay simple, while explicating something extremely different than the norm. All while doing so using characters that could not possibly be easy for a writer to accurately carve. I mean, what would a wolf be like in humans form? really? You wont find any dull or pointless characters here-I think they nailed it personally.
About halfway through the series you really start feeling for the characters, its then that you realize that the characters have really gotten to you-they actually mean something.
As the end draws closer, you really begin to feel the darkness and dreariness of the close. Then, as the end collapses, I can say that I for one shed a tear, and not because the series ended. I believe the series was a perfect length (30 episodes, a story line lasting for 26 with 4 recap episodes-bleh). The storyline progresses well and there are not lulls where the characters are running around the country doing nothing useful, they are always going for their objective. As suddenly as you begin to become interested and pay attention, the action starts, and then all of a sudden you're at the end of the series-crying for each one of the characters. Its like a well written book, its not too long, its not too short, but just right, it tells the story and then ends.
A MAJOR contributor to the series was the audio/soundtrack, it truly made for a more than just wonderful experience, it made me *feel* the emotions of the story. On more than one occasion I found myself saying "where DID they get this awesome music from!?" I have only come across a few audio tracks that rival the ones in this series, those written by John Williams (Star Wars, Harry Potter, and others), Hans Zimmer, and the soundtrack from 3:10 to Yuma. The soundtrack from this was just simply staggering. I actually downloaded it right after hearing the "heavens not enough" song near the end of the series.
The art portrayed in this can be at times simple and yet beautiful. Overall the art throughout was very consistent and well made, I'm not going to say that it was unbelievable, but it was rather good. Although, the picture of the arctic wolf laying in the snow with its eyes half opened was simply amazing, and I wish I could get hold of a high quality version for use as a wallpaper. (edit: I actually got a hold of a high quality version, Google images!)
Thanks to the simple yet deep characters, the secrets kept about each up until the end, the few number of main characters (protagonists-8), the unbelievable mind-blowing soundtrack, and the rather good art, this series was an overall stunner and will be recommended by me to everyone I know. I'm giving it 9*, I was going to give it 8, but I have just realized that I haven't seen anything that quite matches up, so it gets a 9.
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alright guys, that's my review from IMDB, now on for a review of the product:
The product comes packaged in a black plastic extra large DVD case. It's the size of a normal PC game case (from recent times) and is put together in such a way that the discs all have holders that wont allow them to really scratch each other too much.
IT COMES WITH ALL OF THE EPISODES. Every single one.
The packaging is adequate, not amazing, and I also received it with a broken tab that holds in the center insert.
Not a big deal though.
Overall the packaging is adequate, no legitimate complaints, and the DVDs are wonderful. No problems. Better than buying each season individually.
I'm attaching a video to show you guys the problem with the case as several people have asked about it.
As usual, Amazon is amazing, no problems from that end.
overall, I highly recommended this product.
series: 9/10
packaging: 6/10
Amazon/shipping: 10/10
If you have any questions leave a comment, and if you found this review helpful, let me know/rate the review.
thanks!
Lyle
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66 of 73 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Wolf's Rain: An Amazing Story, May 31, 2009
This review is from: Wolf's Rain: Anime Legends - Perfect Collection (DVD)
Wolf's Rain is an anime that describes the adventures of four wolves in a post-apocalyptic setting who can take the shape of human beings to hide from people. The artwork is dazzling: detailed, well-animated wolves running through surreal, futuristic landscapes are breathtaking to watch. The musical score, composed by the deservingly well-reputed Yoko Konno, is haunting and bittersweet. And the plot is a tense, riveting roller-coaster ride, containing touching moments and wise messages too multi-faceted to be summarized in words. I can't remember a story that touched me in the same way Wolf's Rain did.
The four main wolf characters in this story conceal themselves as humans, for they are being hunted by many sinister forces. With the help of a creation known as Cheza, they are searching for a fabled land where they can be free to be themselves again without fear. Their yearning for this place carries them on. Throughout their travels, they encounter many downtrodden and disillusioned characters who appear to have no hope left. The faith the wolves possess is often challenged by such characters, as well as by the undeniable state of the conflicted, war-torn world around them.
Wolf's Rain is not a simplistic idealist's story. It is a dark tale meant for mature audiences, and its intonations of hope are mostly subtle. It contains some violent scenes; the wolves are often beaten into pulps by their adversaries, and sometimes they themselves deal damage to humans. Though we come to care deeply for the main characters as they develop over the course of the story, moments of peace for these characters are few and far-between. The implications of the last episodes are ambiguous, deep, and philosophically far-reaching. Wolf's Rain leaves us with the hope of a better future despite the horrors and pain of current circumstances.
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