Wolf Children

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Wolf Children

PG

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1h 57m

Fantasy

Animation

Drama

Kids & Family

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95%

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19 Reviews

92%

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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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Charlotte O'Sullivan

London Evening Standard

The film works as the simplest of fairy tales, so scrumptious you'll want to devour it whole.

Rated: 4/5

Oct 25, 2013

Full Review

Chris Michael

Guardian

It's a fairytale in a real-life setting, photorealistically drawn in shifting light that rivals Monet or GTA5.

Rated: 4/5

Oct 24, 2013

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Tim Robey

Daily Telegraph (UK)

Love between two species has rarely seemed more intense, more natural, or more ineffably sad.

Rated: 5/5

Oct 24, 2013

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Rachel Wagner

rachelsreviews.net

Wolf Children is a beautiful story about the power of a Mother's love to save her children.

Rated: 9/10

Jun 7, 2020

Full Review

Ard Vijn

ScreenAnarchy

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!

Rated: 5/5

Sep 23, 2019

Full Review

Sarah Ward

Trespass

With a bittersweet atmosphere and beautiful imagery - both of the detailed and delicate variety - Wolf Children proves a finessed, fantastical offering grounded in human emotion and experience.

Dec 4, 2018

Full Review

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shar

watched this back in 2012 when i was a sophomore in high school. watched it today w/ my boyfriend & it's still as amazing as i remember

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/12/25

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David Moon

Since its initial release in 2013, Wolf Children has been an annual watch for me every Mother’s day. This screening was me following through my personal tradition this year. I hold this film as one of my all time favorites for one simple reason, every time I watch, I learn to appreciate everything my mother has done for me even more.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/12/25

Full Review

Cesar D

Love the story and the characters.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/12/25

Full Review

KD

Original and entertaining! Excellent graphics! Feel good movie!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/12/25

Full Review

Every anime fan

The movie wolf children was basically My neighbor Totoro From beginning to end the story was amazing the character design was just perfect the tone was on par the characters were just amazing and the score was perfect and the humor was hilarious this movie is definitely a get off your ass and go see it

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/12/25

Full Review

Helen Ziff

A perfect movie to watch on Mother’s Day

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/12/25

Full Review

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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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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