Wolf Children

Zach Goodier

Wolf Children is an anime feature film that follows the story of a young woman named Hana, who is a student in a university when she meets a mysterious young man, who turned out to secretly be a wolf capable of changing form into a human. They fell in love, and had 2 children. They were happy together until his untimely death, which left Hana alone with her part-wolf children, facing uncertainty and fear as she struggles to protect them and find a way to raise her unique children.

So when a daddy wolf and a mommy human get together...

This movies themes revolve around motherhood and the struggles that mothers face. While this movie obviously takes it to an extreme with the wolf children, but many of the themes carry over to any children, as the young mother struggles on her own to raise these children, unable to rely on anyone but herself to figure things out. It is a touching story that tugs at the heart strings throughout. It’s a wonderful story that caught me by surprise, generally being more into action-driven movies, but there’s still a lot of excitement in films like these when they are done properly, and this one most certainly is.

Yuki is an exuberant girl, while Ame is a quiet and reserved young boy, but as they grow they go through many changes.

All of the characters felt well imagined and as lifelike as any out there. Hana is a mother who spends most of the movie uncertain, afraid, and desperate, with her loving nature, gives a realistic duality to her as she tries to give her children the life they deserve while keeping them from danger. Yuki and Ame are always growing and developing as babies and children, and the movie ends with both of them starting to mature and strive out on their own to face the world. One of the great parts is the paths each of the children walk, as they struggle between their human and animal sides.

This is a story about family more than anything else, so action junkies better just stay away.

It’s how the themes are carried forward and how the movie follows this story through to a bittersweet and well written end that makes this movie so brilliant. By the end, as anyone would expect, the children are growing older and taking the first steps into adulthood, which is bittersweet because Hana has to begin the process of letting the children she put so much time and care into go out and experience the world without her. That’s what makes this such a well-written work: the real feelings that we get as the audience mimic Hana’s as we’ve followed her journey from meeting her love, to losing him and carrying on alone, to letting Yuki and Ame gradually leave home and start their own lives, it’s a very real sensation that is felt by both the characters involved and us as the audience.

This movie has some amazing visuals that rival classic Miyazaki films

In short, this is a brilliant movie. It might not satisfy the action itch, if that’s what you’re into, but it makes up for it with brilliant characters and an emotional story that tells us what struggles parents go through as they raise their children and eventually have to let go so those children can go out into the world. The animation is all beautifully done and almost every frame looks like it’s own piece of art. Real time and care went into every aspect of this movie, and it really pays off. So go get lost in this story, and experience it all for yourself.

Good:

-Great characters all around

-Excellent animation and visuals all around.

-Very real themes and messages that anyone can relate to on some level.

Bad:

-This isn’t a real mark against it, since it isn’t an action flick, but it can be a little lacking in the action and excitement department. This is a character drama, so don’t come looking for the Michael Bay experience.

Scully Rating: 10 out of 10

Towa no Quon

By: Robert Murphy

Do you ever wish that you could unlock a power hidden within side of you, with all your might you wish you could have the power to change things and make a difference? Well that is exactly what the people known as Attractors wished for and they found an ability within themselves that they could use to change things, once they learned to control it that is. Some of these people have incredibly dangerous powers and strengths and due to this a secret organization has begun to seek them out and eliminate them. Custos is the name of this shady group and they have vast resources to aid them in their efforts to kill every last Attractor, including enhanced cyborgs known as WTOC. A particular Attractor won't allow this to go on, his name is Quon and although he doesn't look it he is a very old and is determined to protect every last Attractor to repent for his past.   

The story centers mainly around Quon, a man a who will do anything for his fellow Attractors often pushing himself too far in the effort to save people from Custos as he's the only one able to fight with his powers. The other issue being that many of the Attractors that you will see throughout the show are young kids who have unlocked their abilities due to some sort of trauma. As I said these kids want to have the power to stand up against people or do something to stop bad people in their lives and it awakens their abilities but it is very dangerous when it first happens and until they learn to control their powers they can cause a lot of damage. This is where Quon and his friends come into help keep all of the Attractors safe from harm hidden in their theme park sanctuary. The whole thing gives off a very X:Men type feel to it where Quon like Professor X keeps all of the mutant children under their care safe from harm. It isn't a blatant rip off of the story though and is very much an idea that fans of the series know works. 

Right from the first scene in the show you see just what Towa no Quon is all about, it is great to watch a scene unfold for how well it is put together and just how unreal the action scenes can be. Quon's transformation from boy to beast is something that unlocks his hidden strengths and abilities, his tremendous strength, speed and fighting skills make even the cyborgs at Custos think about their chances and that a 5 on 1 fight. All action scenes are fluid and sleek and great to watch, my only issue is I wish that there were more fighting Attractors in the show. Each of the main Attractors though that Quon works with do have their own ability that helps out in a pinch but it's mainly backup for Quon when he needs it. The powers though of Attractors are all unique, some have telepathy, some can talk to animals, some can hack computers with handy little prob creatures, it's all appealing to see when they come out. The fact that they mainly serve to help out when needed does make them all very forgettable characters though and it weakens the plot a little bit. 

What you have with a show like Towa no Quon is a very serviceable action series with so many good action scenes to see along with a compelling story to keep you going. It does have an obvious formula to it with the good guy Quon trying to make up for his past and a bad guy who reeks of cliche villain right from the start. But this is overlooked by all that is offered by the show as each episode had me more enthralled than the last. I wish there was more appealing characters other than Quon too, when you get down to it he really is one of the main and worthwhile character that you spend your time watching while the rest stand by when called. All in all though I was pleased with what I recieved from Towa no Quon since it was a show I'd never heard of before and chose to give it a shot on a whim and was rewarded in the end. 

Good:

- Amazing action scenes throughout the show

- Very appealing story that continued to get better as the show went on 

- Attractors all had unique and cool abilities to witness

Bad:

- I wish that the other characters were more appealing and became stronger but they didn't

- Quon becomes the main show runner and you need a little bit more to carry a show

Scully Rating: 7.0 out of 10