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Wolf Children

Play trailer Poster for Wolf Children PG 2013 1h 57m Fantasy Animation Drama Kids & Family Play Trailer Watchlist
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95% Tomatometer 21 Reviews 92% Popcornmeter 2,500+ Ratings
College student Hana falls in love with a "wolf man" and together they have two half-human, half-wolf children, Ame and Yuki. The young family's happy but humble life comes to an abrupt end when the father is tragically killed during a hunt. After struggling to raise her children in the busy city, Hana boldly decides to move to a dilapidated house in the countryside, in hopes that her children may one day decide their own path to happiness -- whether "human" or "wolf."
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Wolf Children

Wolf Children

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Critics Consensus

Wolf Children is a singularly lyrical anime that blends naturalistic details and nostalgic sentiment to craft a beautifully complex exploration of the joys and trials of parenthood.

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Critics Reviews

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Phil Hoad Guardian Aug 12
5/5
Swept up in potent nostalgia for early parenthood, childhood and the cradle of nature itself, this is a modern classic. Go to Full Review Charlotte O'Sullivan London Evening Standard 10/25/2013
4/5
The film works as the simplest of fairy tales, so scrumptious you'll want to devour it whole. Go to Full Review Chris Michael Guardian 10/24/2013
4/5
It's a fairytale in a real-life setting, photorealistically drawn in shifting light that rivals Monet or GTA5. Go to Full Review Thomas Caffrey Film Ireland Magazine Nov 14
It is a uniquely naturalistic anime film and ends on a satisfying compromise, rich with emotional complexity. Go to Full Review Rachel Wagner rachelsreviews.net 06/07/2020
9/10
Wolf Children is a beautiful story about the power of a Mother's love to save her children. Go to Full Review Ard Vijn ScreenAnarchy 09/23/2019
5/5
Judging from his last three films, I count Hosoda Mamoru as the true hope of quality anime in the future. Because he dared to make The Wolf Children a film which is, first and foremost, for the parents! Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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RC May 18 Inspires good parenting. See more D C W May 14 A beautiful and emotional story about a single mother raising two children. It's so good. It'll wreck you a few times. See more Emilio s May 14 A beautiful and emotional story about motherhood See more Zachary May 13 Great for family and memorable! See more Hugo May 13 solid movie. it made me cry See more Andrew May 13 A really good and really sad story about a single parent who has the struggles of raising two kids who are also wolfs. See more Read all reviews
Wolf Children

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Cast & Crew

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Mamoru Hosoda

Director

Kumiko Asô

Mrs. Hotta

Megumi Hayashibara

Sohei's Mother

Aoi Miyazaki

Hana

Tadashi Nakamura

Hosokawa

Yukito Nishii

Ame
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Wolf Children

Wolf Children (2012) Wolf Children (2012) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis College student Hana falls in love with a "wolf man" and together they have two half-human, half-wolf children, Ame and Yuki. The young family's happy but humble life comes to an abrupt end when the father is tragically killed during a hunt. After struggling to raise her children in the busy city, Hana boldly decides to move to a dilapidated house in the countryside, in hopes that her children may one day decide their own path to happiness -- whether "human" or "wolf."
Director
Mamoru Hosoda
Producer
Takuya Itô, Yuichiro Sato, Takafumi Watanabe
Screenwriter
Mamoru Hosoda, Satoko Okudera
Distributor
FUNimation Films
Production Co
Studio Chizu
Rating
PG (Some Violence|Language|Brief Sensuality)
Genre
Fantasy, Animation, Drama, Kids & Family
Original Language
Japanese
Release Date (Theaters)
Sep 27, 2013, Limited
Rerelease Date (Theaters)
May 11, 2025
Release Date (DVD)
Nov 26, 2013
Runtime
1h 57m
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