Best anime mother?
Summary:
- Wolf Children is a 2012 anime movie by Mamoru Hosoda.
- It follows a single mother raising her two wolf children.
- The movie portrays a very healthy dynamic between a mother and her children.
Wolf Children (Ookami Kodomo no Ame to Yuki) is an anime movie directed by Mamoru Hosoda, who you may also know for his work on The Boy and the Beast. The movie was animated by Studio Chizu and premiered in 2012.
As of now, the film is available on Crunchyroll.
Single Mother Struggles
Wolf Children tells the story of Hana, who used to be a regular college student. She falls in love with a mysterious man who turns out to have a dark secret ― his werewolf identity.
Hana doesn’t have a change of heart because of this reveal and starts a family with the man, giving birth to two amazing children: a boy Ame and a girl Yuki.
However, the sudden death of the children’s father devastates Hana, and now she has to take care of them on her own, while struggling with their wolf sides, inherited from their dad.
A Story About Finding Your Place in the World
Both children are very different, and Hana experiences various issues with them. Yuki is more social than her brother, and her fun-loving nature helps her integrate into human society effortlessly. She instantly connects to them, despite her wolf nature.
Ame, on the other hand, doesn’t resonate with human culture and feels like he belongs in wolf society. At the same time, he’s struggling with accepting his wolf self, since a lot of stories depict wolves as monsters.
It may feel like the movie is about fighting your inner demons and trying to keep a monster within you under control, but in reality, the wolf storyline is a much deeper metaphor.
Wolf Children is an exploration of adolescent identity. The movie shows how important it is to find your path in life and how difficult it might be for young people. This is a message that so many teens can relate to, that’s why the movie resonated with them greatly.
The Movie Shows a Great Mother Example
Hana plays a major role in her kids’ journey. Wolf Children isn’t trying to tell you that raising kids is an easy thing to do (especially when they’re half-wolves), it’s trying to tell you that motherly love and support can do wonders.
Although the movie is called “Wolf Children,” the story is more about Hana than anything else. She’s been nothing but a supportive parent, trying to help her kids form their identities and find their true place in life.
Hana helps Ame and Yuki build confidence and learn to accept themselves, even if it’s challenging and painful for her at times. She knows what sacrifice is, and she’s not afraid of it if her kids’ well-being is on the table.
Hana is a perfect portrayal of genuine motherly love that can become a powerful weapon. Her care and support permeates her every action, and you’ll hardly find another parent figure like her in any other anime.