Wolf Children facts for kids

Wolf Children is an animated movie from Japan. It was directed and co-written by Mamoru Hosoda. The film tells a heartwarming story about a mother raising her two children who are half-human and half-wolf.

The Story of Wolf Children

The movie begins with a young college student named Hana. She falls in love with a mysterious man who is secretly a werewolf. They have two children together: a girl named Yuki and a boy named Ame. Sadly, their father passes away not long after Ame is born. Hana decides to raise her unique children on her own.

Life in the Countryside

As Yuki and Ame grow, it becomes very hard for Hana to hide their special werewolf abilities. To keep them safe and away from curious eyes, Hana moves her family to an old house in the quiet countryside. She works incredibly hard to fix up their new home and learn how to grow their own food. This helps them live a simple and private life.

School and New Friends

After a scary experience where Ame almost gets hurt, he becomes more confident. Hana decides it's time for the children to attend school. Yuki quickly fits in and makes many friends. Ame, however, finds school difficult and prefers to learn about nature. He starts spending time with an old fox, who he calls Sensei. Sensei teaches Ame how to survive and thrive in the wild. At this point, both Yuki and Ame begin to choose different paths for their lives.

Yuki's Secret Friend

In fourth grade, a new student named Souhei joins Yuki's class. Souhei soon notices that Yuki is a bit different. During a playful chase, Yuki accidentally hurts his ear. When asked what happened, Souhei tells his mother that a wolf attacked him, not Yuki. He keeps her secret safe. Over time, Yuki and Souhei become good friends.

Choosing Their Own Paths

Later, Yuki and Ame have a big argument about who they truly are. They disagree on whether they are more wolf or more human. Hana sees that her children are growing up and making their own choices about their future, which makes her a little worried. Ame then tells Hana that Sensei, the old fox, has been badly hurt in a storm and might not live. Ame hints that he wants to take Sensei's place as the protector of the forest. Hana is very upset by this idea and begs him not to go back to the wild.

A Mother's Love and Letting Go

Two years later, during a big storm, Ame disappears into the forest to become its new guardian, just as he hinted. Hana rushes after him, forgetting to pick up Yuki from school. Yuki is left alone with Souhei. She decides to finally tell Souhei her secret: that she is a wolf. Souhei calmly replies that he already knew and promises to keep her secret forever.

Meanwhile, Hana falls and gets hurt in the forest. She dreams of her beloved husband, who tells her that Ame will be fine on his chosen path. Ame finds Hana, picks her up, and carries her to safety. Then, he transforms into a full-grown wolf and runs off into the mountains. At first, Hana feels sad, thinking she hasn't done enough for Ame. But soon, she realizes he is exactly "where he belongs" and says a loving farewell to him.

Life After the Nest

The next school year, Yuki moves away from home to live in a dorm with her friends for junior high. Ame's howls can be heard echoing through the forest, a sign that he is thriving in his new role. Even though Hana is now living alone in the house, she feels happy and proud, knowing she raised her unique children well and allowed them to follow their own destinies.