Customer Reviews

Wolf's Rain: Anime Legends - Perfect Collection

5 star:		(22)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

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

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.

Wolf's Rain is one of the better series in anime. Lots of deeper meaning, beautiful animation...
The only real problem I had with this boxed set was the flimsy plastic that held it together. I'm not sure how they fit a 7 disc set into it honestly. It arrived with a piece that held it together broken off inside. Also, the outer box had a crack in it. Besides Ebay, you can't beat getting this whole series for 35 dollars, but be aware of the possible poor condition it may come in.

I have to say that after having seen a few episodes of this show randomly on Cartoon Network a while back I was skeptical about what it had to offer. But I will say that after watching the whole series through I changed my mind about it. It had a very original story behind it. A post apocalyptic world where wolves are believed to have been hunted to extinction by the Nobles (a ruling class in the world who still remember some of the old science from before the Apocalypse) because of a story that claims that the door to "Paradise" will only be found by wolves and once they find paradise the world we know will end. However the wolves are not extinct, they just learned how to make themselves appear human. The story follows Kiba and three other wolves, who follow him for differing reasons, as they make their way out of the city in search of paradise. Along the way there are a few human characters that have big parts in the show as well and they all do the usual human thing of having realizations about the problems that humanity caused or being just plain crazy. All in all I would recommend this to anyone who is either a true anime fan or people who like anime that is specifically about the trials and tribulations of man, since the wolves are usually seen in human form and deal with very human like problems. And if you aren't sure whether you would or wouldn't like this anime I would suggest renting it from netflix or borrowing from someone you know who already has it because I am pretty sure that once you see the show you will buy it. And if not I guess this type of show just isn't for you.

This is one of the most thought provoking anime series' I've ever seen. You can take it at face value and watch the series literally, or you can get yourself deep into the story and symbolism it contains. Yes, it can be confusing. After reading some of the other reviews you have probably already learned that the main characters are four wolves who can take human form. Just from that you can tell that the story is a little out there. I'm telling you now, unless you hate supernatural themes, wolves, fight scenes, and/or symbolism, you will fall in love with it. I did. I don't think it's giving too much away to say that I cried like a baby during part of it :P Although I'll admit it's kind of strange to watch them eating raw meat while still in their human form...

The animation is beautiful. I've never seen more spectacular wolves drawn on screen. The character design of the main four guys kinda makes me chuckle on occasion, in their tight pants and one of them with a rat-tail hairdo. But it's nothing that takes away from the story.

My biggest criticism is the inclusion of a DVD made entirely of recaps. Each episode starts at the beginning of the story and follows one of the characters you've met so far. I guess it's a way to learn a little bit more about the individual people in the story, but it is mainly just a distraction from the plot. By the time I had finished watching that DVD I had started to forget important details in the plot and it was a little frustrating being put back into the story and having to catch up on everything that happened and reinvest myself into the journey. Even more annoying, even with those recap episodes you don't really get to learn much about the individual characters later in the story. I think this series deserved to be much longer than it is.

So other than the pointless episodes in the middle of it, Wolf's Rain is a highly engaging story that is an artistic portrayal of a post-apocalyptic world. The simplest and easiest to identify theme of this series is something along the lines of: man destroys world, wolves are in hiding until they are driven to find paradise, man gets in the way and tries to stop them. A.K.A. people = villain, nature = victim. But that's not all it's about! It is also about redemption, hope, companionship, and perseverance.

I would recommend this series if you're looking for a unique story with serious themes and artistic animation. Did I mention the wolves are BEAUTIFUL?! :D

I cried to this show, the characters grow onto you as time goes by, really reminded me of my dog and I. 6/5 stars

Purchased the complete series and absolutely love it, in spite of the fact that the fourth DVD was basically a rehash of the previous episodes.

Didn't care about that; this animation was put together with great carefully drawn Manga quality art work, no jumpiness indicating saving-on-the-budget Anime, and fine attention to detail. The voice dubbing fit perfectly, and the Anime had a great plot-line, although it will break your heart in the last DVD. Ending looked like it was cut short, but understand the writers reasons. The writers managed to grab me and turned me on to finding other "Bones" Anime to watch. (last one I saw was "Eureka 7" loved it also.) For Anime I consider Bones to be one of the best of them.

Nothing cheap about Bones's work; there is always the same fine attention to plot details and fine art work in all Bones Anime works.

Loved the soundtrack of this also ("OST" (Original Soundtrack) is still available from "CD Japan" as of now); the soundtrack is excellent, and obviously from artists who cared about what they were doing. Defy you to listen to the last "Gravity" while watching the ending of this without crying; not ashamed to say I couldn't.

Hope, friendship, adventure, love, forgiveness, compassion, Paradise, all words that leave a subtle nostalgia upon watching Wolf's Rain; mere words cannot hope to come close to truly describing this anime. When I first saw a Wolf's Rain poster it seemed like an 'interesting' show to watch; but as I watched the first episode, then the second, then the third, and fourth, and fifth, then beyond, my initial impression of 'interesting' was drastically changed. From the first moment when you hear one of our main protagonists, Kiba, narrate the opening scene and hear the beautiful musical score behind the voice, it makes you feel as if you personally know the characters and you feel all the human emotions and struggles they go through their journey. In Wolf's Rain, Kiba is trying to find Paradise, a place that only wolves can open. However wolves were hunted down by humans and had extinct for over 200 years....needless to say being a wolf isn't exactly an option. So wolves adapted to human form and walked among humans. Upon reaching the city, Kiba tries to find the flower maiden named Cheza who can lead the wolves to Paradise. Little did Kiba know that in the city he would find more than a scent of the flower maiden; here he would find Hige, a wolf with a carefree spirit, Tsume, also a wolf with a bad-boy attitude that seems to have a haunted past, and Toboe, the youngest in the group who's sweet naive innocent ties them, and together these unlikely personalities come to form an unbreakable tie as progress on their journey to find Paradise. Their antagonists are Darcia, a man haunted by a curse and the loss of his beloved Hamona, and Quent who is a drunk, broken man convinced wolves took his happiness and family away. Yet while as antagonists their characters are very excellently developed, and while their actions are terrible and inexcusable at times, you understand them unlike other series where the explanation towards the villain or antagonist is brief or they are just so.

A great attribution about Kiba, Tsume, Hige, and Toboe, that while having different personalities and characters, all possess human emotions and through their journey, help heal each other and relive them of their burdens and sadness that they all carried. This, for lack of a better world, 'anime' gives a hope that while we might not find Paradise on earth, it shouldn't stop us from looking. You never know since along the way you might find unlikely people who show you what true friendship is. Then we can can all know the true meaning of Wolf's Rain is.

I had been looking all over the city where I live for this DvD and then one day it struck me! Why not look on Amazon silly, well I did and low and behold I found just what I was looking for! It only took roughly a week to arrive and I am still in the process of watching it. Great story I would recommend it to any anime fan. Everything came wrapped nice and neat there was no damages done to to the box or the DvD's. Only thing I found odd was the Dvd's are not numbered or titled so it was hard to figure out the first disk. Just like most manga or Japaneses stories you start from the back and work your way up! I hope other people enjoy this buy as much as I myself did!

Wolf's Rain is a beautiful, short anime with dark themes and offers a different perception of the world. Every anime fan should give it a try--it never really got the publicity it deserved.

All the descriptions of the anime say it has some amount episodes and claim the last 4--I believe--as OAVs but really it's just more episodes. Don't be discouraged, the episodes are great but they're not much longer than the ones before them so there's not really a reason to claim them as OAVs. And they immediately follow the storyline anyway.