Awkward Anime Episode 6.2 : Wolf Children - The fading innocence of Ame
Mamoru Hosoda’s 2012 creation has perfected something many modern directors try and fail at: Character Development. Engaging an audience to the point where they feel like they are in the mind of a character; frustration is felt when a mistake is made, satisfaction once the desired direction is taken. In Wolf Children, two of the characters have defined traits, following the path that they paved for themselves as children, yet on the outside, a young child watches and doesn’t speak. The audience is silent when he is. What is he thinking? Why is he doing this? Who do you want to be? That character always stands out to my mind with intrigue, frustration and acceptance filling my head throughout the film. Ame, the child who took it upon himself to grow up without letting anyone know.
Ame the child is easy to define, just like the rest of us, a shy, curious boy afraid of what is out there. Hosoda throughout his major works enjoys producing characters with defined personalities, where the start point creates a straight line to the end point. Before 2012 though, he had never focused on siblings before. The animator turned director decided upon the start of production that a brother and sister would be used. Yuki, the scrappy child turned mature strong teenage girl… And Ame, the erm… Interesting one.
Frustration is the first word that comes to mind when I think of Ame, is that fair of me though? I think the reason so many of us feel frustrated when he creates worrisome times for his Mother is due to one simple fact: We grow with Hana as time passes.
The movie is featured on the strength and persistence of young Hana, setting an image for her kids where they can be wild and free but also at the same time live diligently as humans. Now this raises the question, was Hana right in doing this? Giving the children a small amount of freedom every now and again, where the first view that both Yuki and Ame’s eyes lay on as they walk out the house could plant that seed of freedom in their minds?
Hana from the first moment she gave birth to her children, wanted to give a life of freedom where they can let their wild sides out without judgment and as time passes she would understand whatever path they would take. But as we all know, motherly love is nothing short of unbelievably hard to let go and we see that bond between Ame and his parent become more and more difficult to keep glued together. “the strongest bond on earth is that between a mother and children”
Ame’s transformation from a shy, attentive young boy to a curious silent wolf happened rather quickly in my opinion, but as I rewatch the movie it’s clear to me that his maturity is justified. It all came down to that one scene. The 10-15 minutes where the whole family finally felt what true freedom feels like. “I wasn’t scared. I felt like I could do anything”
“After that moment, Ame seemed like a totally different person”
Snow covers the vast fields and mountains surrounding their home. The door slides open to the family of three gawking in amazement. Here is the first time I see Ame, the Ame that he never showed us. Hosoda wanted to create a character who isn’t defined which is something that is difficult to perfect. Yuki, as she sees the white canvas, her character shines. She jumps out and just frolics in the snow to her delight.
Ame on the other hand… We see a young boy trudging along trying his utmost best to not trip and fall. The young boy is still yet to show his wild side, the freedom that we all as viewers know he craves, shown from the curiosity he has with the prejudice against wolves. He falls. Then something truly remarkable happened. His mother jumped in and hugged both of her children, and then we hear laughter. Ame, the shy little boy is laughing his heart out. What changed in those few seconds from trudging to laughing uncontrollably? I cannot look past Hana. It’s almost as if the mother gave him her approval, as if to say “It’s okay, it’ll be okay” the same words that we hear countless times up to this point. He needed his mum’s guarantee that it is safe to come out and play.
1. The wolves come out to play. Ame and Yuki are let loose, and for the first time in this movie, we see the timid Ame wild and free.
2. Ame and Yuki run down the snow covered fields in parallel fashion, as Hana tumbles down with a smile in her face. This right here, is my favourite scene in the entire film. Ame and Yuki, taking different paths but ultimately ending up in the same place, crossing each other, meeting in the middle. Hana chasing after Ame and Yuki, tumbles, rolls down…but with smiles and laughter. The biggest grins I have seen on her face. Ame is free. Yuki is free. She is grateful and proud that her children are able to let go of the world and be themselves.
3. Ame’s eyes cross a kingfisher bird, and then and there we see a quick movement. Leaping and catching the prey in his mouth, witnessing this weak timid toddler be so vicious in movement, biting down looking for the kill. Though, just as in the snow, he trips and falls. He calls for his mother as he is taken down the stream by the water in what seems like his final moments.
Ame: “Rain” born on a rainy day, and leaves his mother on a rainy day at the conclusion of the animated feature. Crying constantly as child who would always be cradling his mum asking for care. Silent, viewing life from a distance as a young teen where he stands and listens. The sounds of the forest. The wild life. No smile. Just a touch of acceptance is felt by Ame, the Wolf. Hana, is proud and realises his Son’s place in the world is where he wants it to be, not hers. She gave them the taste of freedom while trying her best to direct her children to a peaceful, human life. There is no right and wrong here. There is only life. Complications arise, and when they cannot be repaired, he has to leave. The howl at the end, we all know what he meant by that. Howling for his mother. The howl that reiterated the same words he heard his entire childhood:“It’ll be okay. It’ll be okay”
Ep6.1 - Wolf Children Poster
