おおかみこどもの雨と雪
Anime is one of the most engaging and dynamic mediums in the
film industry; often starting as a blank canvas that conveys metaphors,
symbolism, surreal depictions, and unconventional thinking, aspects that traditional
styles of film cannot explore.
This is easy to see when you look at the relationship the
Japanese have with Anime, a relationship that has given birth to so many
culturally and cinematically significant pieces. One such piece, would have to
be director Mamoru Hosoda’s film Ookami Kodomo no Ame to Yuki or in
English, Wolf Children. Having won 7
different awards internationally, Wolf
Children is an achievement that is not short-lived.
Comparable to the likes of Hideaki Anno, Mamoru Oshii,
Isao Takahata, and Hayao Miyazaki;
Mamoru Hosoda is a master of his craft, with an impressive body of work. Having
directed award-winning films such as, The
Girl Who Leapt Through Time (2006), and the equally amazing Summer Wars (2009), he has yet to
falter, adding his most recent, Wolf Children
(2012) to his outstanding portfolio of masterpieces.
Wolf Children is
not only visually stunning but it is rich with emotion and depth; the film takes
us on a journey through the lives of ‘Hana’ and her two children ‘Ame’ and
‘Yoki’, a journey of love, loss, the struggles of life, childhood, growing up,
self-discovery and choosing ones path in life.
Wolf Children ticks all the
boxes, a film that is so sincerely sentimental and visually enthralling it’s
hard to look away.
The success of the film not only comes from the outstandingly
beautiful visuals, impeccable scoring, and faultless storyline, but also
because of the relationship established between the audience and the
characters. At every point within the film there are at least a handful of
aspects that one can relate to, whether it is the struggles of life,
self-discovery or growing up and coming of age. Wolf Children has a sense of honesty that we can all relate to.
If you haven’t already seen this film, I highly recommend
and urge you to go and buy it, Wolf
Children is nothing short of a masterpiece and I look forward to what Mamoru Hosoda has planned next.