Wolf's Rain: Anime Legends Complete Collection Vol. 1 - Region 1 DVD

The world of high-tech machinery and the world of curses, prophecies, alchemy and shape-shifters would seem to be at odds, yet the filmmakers manage to integrate the two in this often intriguing fantasy-adventure. The dark palate, angular designs, alienated characters, and dramatic camera angles will appeal to fans of Blood: the Last Vampire, and "Rakuen," the paradise Kiba seeks, remains a tantalizing promise. But the plot of Wolf's Rain is complicated with secondary stories and minor characters the filmmakers fail to develop in the first half of the series. Episodes #15-18 consist almost entirely of flashbacks with only an occasional new scene or line of dialogue, which make the story feel both padded and underdeveloped. (Rated 13 and older: violence, brief nudity, alcohol and tobacco use) --Charles Solomon