Director Mamoru Hosoda’s wonderful and morose Wolf Children is the kind of small-scale big idea drama that thrives in anime. Rather than take genre tropes of werewolves and push them to tell stories of action and horror, Hosoda has made a contemplative drama. The results are equal parts uplifting and heartbreaking as a family grows and traverses tragedy the least of which is being able to transform into wolves.
Hana meets Yuki and Ame’s father in college. Their father is a mysterious drifter whom Hana falls in love with, regardless of knowing his secret. That secret, he is a part man, part wolf. Hana bares two children, Yuki and Ame, before tragedy strikes, and the young mother now must raise these two children/wolves on her own. Hana moves them to the countryside, where the living is harsh but leads to a freedom the family has never known. As the trio grows, the wild pulls Ame in a way that city life pulls Yuki, growing into confrontations and strife within this family.
Wolf Children constantly defies expectations of what a genre film can be by never playing by the norms of the story. Rather, focusing on family and the troubles of a single mother raising a family – adding in the kicker, her son and daughter can transform into wolves – adds a twist to a drama unique all its own. Even the tensions and drama that emerge from the story are never manufactured villains or violence, but rather real-world concerns. None of it feels passe or trite, but fresh and new.
A hybrid of genres to create something that may seem smaller in scale, but by no means is it smaller in stakes. As the third act momentum builds, one is as concerned for the well-being of all three characters as they would in any other traditional genre entry, if not more so. Wolf Children is a minor miracle in unique storytelling. A hauntingly beautiful film you won’t soon forget.
The Transfer
The 4K UHD upgrade to Wolf Children is the case study of why animated films are the perfect subjects for upgrades to 4K. The subtlety of the animation is accentuated in 4K in a way that cannot be quantified, only experienced. It goes beyond a stunning, sharp image. There is a level of detail and color spectrum that Blu-ray cannot reproduce. There are moments where the image is almost three-dimensional. The work of director Mamoru Hosoda in the quiet moments is where the transfer really shines. Watch in the final third set deep in the mountains of northern Japan. The stirring imagery is only made much more by the 4K transfer. GKIDS has gone above and beyond with this 4K remaster of a truly visually stunning film.
The Extras
They include the following;
Stage Greetings
Director’s Cut Trailers
Interview With Director Mamoru Hosoda
Teasers & Trailers
NOTE: All special features reside on the Blu-ray disc of this Steelbook Edition
Stage Greetings (57:01) – this is a full-on look at the various premieres and press tour for Wolf Children from 2012 with the various voice cast and director Mamoru Hosoda introducing and discussing the film, the theme song’s premiere, opening day introductions in Japan, and more. The featurette covers various premieres from Japan and Paris. In Japanese with English Subtitles.
Director’s Cut Trailers (6:03) – two very different trailers that are more artfully designed than your normal trailers. In Japanese with English Subtitles.
Interview With Director Mamoru Hosoda (16:10) – taken from 2013 upon the release of Wolf Children, the director discusses various aspects of developing and producing the film. Some of the topics Hosoda discusses where the concept of the film came from; the reasons for focusing on a mother as a main character, the areas and locations that inspired this film; working with the animation staff on this film; his favorite moments from the film; and more. Note this interview does feature an extended look at the film as it was done in part to promote the film’s release in Japan. In Japanese with English Subtitles.
Teasers & Trailers (2:04) – two trailers one 30-second spot and one 90-second spot. In Japanese with English Subtitles.
The Final Thought
GKIDS has done right by another anime classic, upgrading it to 4K UHD in a beautiful Steelbook Edition. Highest Recommendations!!
GKIDS brings the unique and beautiful Wolf Children to 4K UHD Steelbook Edition with a new 4K Remaster.
The Film
Director Mamoru Hosoda’s wonderful and morose Wolf Children is the kind of small-scale big idea drama that thrives in anime. Rather than take genre tropes of werewolves and push them to tell stories of action and horror, Hosoda has made a contemplative drama. The results are equal parts uplifting and heartbreaking as a family grows and traverses tragedy the least of which is being able to transform into wolves.
Hana meets Yuki and Ame’s father in college. Their father is a mysterious drifter whom Hana falls in love with, regardless of knowing his secret. That secret, he is a part man, part wolf. Hana bares two children, Yuki and Ame, before tragedy strikes, and the young mother now must raise these two children/wolves on her own. Hana moves them to the countryside, where the living is harsh but leads to a freedom the family has never known. As the trio grows, the wild pulls Ame in a way that city life pulls Yuki, growing into confrontations and strife within this family.
Wolf Children constantly defies expectations of what a genre film can be by never playing by the norms of the story. Rather, focusing on family and the troubles of a single mother raising a family – adding in the kicker, her son and daughter can transform into wolves – adds a twist to a drama unique all its own. Even the tensions and drama that emerge from the story are never manufactured villains or violence, but rather real-world concerns. None of it feels passe or trite, but fresh and new.
A hybrid of genres to create something that may seem smaller in scale, but by no means is it smaller in stakes. As the third act momentum builds, one is as concerned for the well-being of all three characters as they would in any other traditional genre entry, if not more so. Wolf Children is a minor miracle in unique storytelling. A hauntingly beautiful film you won’t soon forget.
The Transfer
The 4K UHD upgrade to Wolf Children is the case study of why animated films are the perfect subjects for upgrades to 4K. The subtlety of the animation is accentuated in 4K in a way that cannot be quantified, only experienced. It goes beyond a stunning, sharp image. There is a level of detail and color spectrum that Blu-ray cannot reproduce. There are moments where the image is almost three-dimensional. The work of director Mamoru Hosoda in the quiet moments is where the transfer really shines. Watch in the final third set deep in the mountains of northern Japan. The stirring imagery is only made much more by the 4K transfer. GKIDS has gone above and beyond with this 4K remaster of a truly visually stunning film.
The Extras
They include the following;
NOTE: All special features reside on the Blu-ray disc of this Steelbook Edition
Stage Greetings (57:01) – this is a full-on look at the various premieres and press tour for Wolf Children from 2012 with the various voice cast and director Mamoru Hosoda introducing and discussing the film, the theme song’s premiere, opening day introductions in Japan, and more. The featurette covers various premieres from Japan and Paris. In Japanese with English Subtitles.
Director’s Cut Trailers (6:03) – two very different trailers that are more artfully designed than your normal trailers. In Japanese with English Subtitles.
Interview With Director Mamoru Hosoda (16:10) – taken from 2013 upon the release of Wolf Children, the director discusses various aspects of developing and producing the film. Some of the topics Hosoda discusses where the concept of the film came from; the reasons for focusing on a mother as a main character, the areas and locations that inspired this film; working with the animation staff on this film; his favorite moments from the film; and more. Note this interview does feature an extended look at the film as it was done in part to promote the film’s release in Japan. In Japanese with English Subtitles.
Teasers & Trailers (2:04) – two trailers one 30-second spot and one 90-second spot. In Japanese with English Subtitles.
The Final Thought
GKIDS has done right by another anime classic, upgrading it to 4K UHD in a beautiful Steelbook Edition. Highest Recommendations!!
GKIDS 4K UHD Steelbook edition of Wolf Children is out now.
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