Wolf's Rain Vol.2-3

Further developments in the Wolves quest come thick and fast in the second and thrid volumes of Wolf's Rain, and as things progress, it gets a good deal stranger.

With it's European style and narrative, you'd be forgiven for thinking this wasn't Japanese at all. The fairy-tale storyline, with it's share of bloody violence and masochistic tendencies, is at odds with the delicate and detailed imagery.

The themes within Wolf's Rain are also quite bizarre and thought-provoking. The deceptively simple premise of pitting man against nature throws up a myriad of questions - the Wolves believe that only they can enter paradise with the help of the flower maiden, but without mankind and it's scientific knowledge, there would be no flower maiden to lead them. Is nature battling mankind, or using it?

There's plenty of character development in these volumes too. Every major character goes through a change, ethier physically or in their beliefs, and it's this change that maintains your interest.

Extras on volume 2 are sparse, but the third disc contains an interview with the cast, who voice their opinions on their roles and the motivations of the characters, which makes for interesting viewing.

Overall, if you enjoyed the first volume, you'll enjoy this. With plenty of action, beautiful imagery and brutal violence, it's certainly not dull.