Mamoru Hosada has arrived!!

This topic is going to be a bit of a ramble. The first thing to say is that this film is wonderful - so heartfelt. To be honest I didn't expect to like it - the premise put me off and Hosada's past work didn't fill me with great anticiapation.

Summer Wars felt like a TV anime series that had been made into a film. There was some nice humour and a feel good factor but the overall feel didn't work for me. The Girl Who Leapt Through Time was more impactful but it seemed to lack some weight - although I'm eager to see it again.

With Wolf Children Hosada has made a great film. A more serious story has allowed him to truly show off his talent, with superb nuanced direction and flourishes. The snow scene sequence was tremendous. I must say that the score played a big part in this and the overall emotional pull of the film. Also, a lot of people talk about the sequence in Up where the couple grow old together, I found several sequence with Wolf Man and Hana or Hana and the children just as moving. How inspiring and all round just lovely is Hana though?!?

Now to the things I would have liked changed (spoilers ahead)...







At the end when Ame leaves Hana after finding her unconscious in the woods, why didn't he turn back to human form and say something or hug/kiss her. It didn't feel right for him to leave her in that way.

Before this we have a dream sequence where Hana meets Wolf Man. I actually thought she had died. Personally, I felt it should either have been a dream without words or a memory flashback. As it stands it just felt a bit too contrived.

On another note, for the children to have left home, seemingly on a long term basis at the age of 12 did feel odd.

Anyway, Hosada is now a director I'll be looking out for - bring on the The Boy & The Beast!