History Main / NobleWolf

[[folder:Anime and Manga]]

** Kouga was initially a villain but he mellowed out into a JerkWithAHeartOfGold whose sweet on Kagome. Even before such CharacterDevelopment, there was a strong sense of pack solidarity; Kouga would go into a rage whenever his packmates are killed and ThoseTwoGuys are loyal to Kagome because they believe she is part of their pack via her relationship with Kouga.
*** The anime made Kouga even more noble with the anime-only character, Ayame. Years pre-series he rescued her and then played along with her PrecociousCrush.
* The wolves in PrincessMononoke. Giant, white, intelligent wolves who're protectors of the forest along with the JunglePrincess heroine.

* In ''Name/GingaNagareboshiGin'', a manga-only short after the BigBad's defeat features both good and evil wolves, in which the dogs join forces with the former to defeat the latter.

[[folder: ComicBooks]]
* In ''{{Fables}}'', the Big Bad Wolf from "Little Red Riding Hood" and "The Three Little Pigs" ''used'' to be an antagonistic, man-eating wolf, until he fell in love with Snow White which eventually prompted him to retire from his villainy, assume human form and work as a badass and clever sheriff for the fable community while attempting to get closer to her.

[[folder: Film]]
* ''WesternAnimation/{{Hoodwinked}}'': where the Wolf is a {{Fletch}} {{Expy}} trying to get to the bottom of a major story.
* ''Film/{{Balto}}'' is a NiceGuy and a loyal friend but the townfolk believe him to be [[SavageWolves dangerous ("He might bite you, honey. He's part wolf.")]]. Then he goes on a journey to retrieve the medicine supply to needed to save the town's children. He's not expecting thanks when he comes back; he just thinks it needs to be done.
[[/folder]]


[[folder: Literature]]
%%* ''Literature/TheJungleBook''.
* ''Discworld/TheFifthElephant'' is a [[BlueAndOrangeMorality complicated]] case. A wolf's natural instincts include killing any werewolves they come across, ([[OurWerewolvesAreDifferent even Angua]]) but for a good chunk of the story they are kept in line by another wolf. Even then the wolves are not portrayed as evil. Angua accepts that they have some pretty good reasons to hate werewolves.
* ''LightNovel/SpiceAndWolf'' plays with this trope.
** The leading lady, Holo, is a wolf diety. Her true form is so big and scary that Lawrence (her LoveInterest) shat himself the first time he saw it; so does everyone else. On the other hand, she only takes this form in Lawrence's defence and proudly calls herself a 'wise wolf'.
** Another (nameless) wolf diety was much less friendly but still granted the duo safe passage through his forest [[spoiler: after Holo got on her knees and begged him to.]]
** Wolves in general are seen as threats by humans but Holo points out that [[NotSoDifferent humans are seen as threats by wolves]].
* ''Literature/ArashiNoYoruNi'' plays with this trope. The main wolf, Gabu, values his friendship with Mei too much to eat him even when on the verge of starving. The rest of his pack are not so noble.
* Literature/AvalonWebOfMagic: Stormbringer is the wise protector of nature type.

[[folder:Web Original]]
* The [[http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/courage-wolf Courage Wolf]] meme. Also has an EvilCounterpart called [[SavageWolves Insanity Wolf]].

[[folder: Webcomics]]
* After his CharacterDevelopment starts, Reynard of ''GunnerkriggCourt'' fits this trope, acting as Annie's confidant and protector. Also invoked literally: Rey has two forms- a small stuffed toy, and a larger wolf that is much more elegant. Typically, he stays in toy form when acting as comic relief, but switches to the other shape when feeling especially [[WordOfGod "noble"]] or attacking someone.
* Argent in ''Webcomic/TheOrderOfTheStick'' is a wolf who serves as the loyal steed of [[ThePaladin Hinjo]].

[[folder: VideoGames]]
* Great Grey Wolf Sif from ''VideoGame/DarkSouls'' is a sort of cross between this and a [[SavageWolves Savage Wolf.]] In the past, he served beneath the God of sunlight, alongside the late knight Artorias, and even now guards his master's grave. True to the original trope, Sif is a Big Badass Wolf...and we mean big. The player character only comes up to his chest, and in the area where you fight him, there are many swords stuck into the ground, and corpses littered around. His opening cutscene shows him leaping off a great stone tower towards the player, removing a BigFancySword from the ground with his jaws, and flipping it to the other side dramatically. [[CatchPhrase Prepare to Die.]]
* ''VideoGame/{{Wolf}}'' generally tries to depict wolves realistically, but was made with the intent that seeing how they live would make people care about them. The information snippets are definitely written with a Noble Wolf in mind.

[[/folder]]

* ''Literature/ArashiNoYoruNi'' plays with this trope. The main wolf, Gabu, values his friendship with Mei too much to eat him even when on the verge of starving. The rest of his pack are not so noble.

* ''Literature/ArashiNoYoruNi'' plays with this trope. The main wolf, Gabu, values his friendship with Mei too much to him even when on the verge of starving. The rest of his pack are not so noble.

* ''Discworld/TheFifthElephant'' is a [[BlueAndOrangeMorality complicated]] case. A wolf's natural instincts include killing any werewolves they come across, ([[OurWerewolvesAreDifferent even Angua]] but for a good chunk of the story they are kept in line by another wolf. Even then the wolves are not portrayed as evil. Angua accepts that they have some pretty good reasons to hate werewolves.

** Wolves in general are seen as threats by humans but Holo points out that [[NotSoDifferent humans are seen as threatening by wolves]].

* ''VideoGame/{{Wolf}}'' generally tries to depict wolves realistically, but was made with the intent that seeing how they live would make people care about them. The information snippets are definitely written with a NobleWolf in mind.

* Arf and Zafira of ''Franchise/LyricalNanoha'', large and imposing wolf {{familiar}}s who are [[UndyingLoyalty very protective]] of their AntiVillain masters and allies and joined them in their eventual HeelFaceTurn. In particular, TheStoic Zafira is as noble and proud as his fellow knights, [[MagicKnight the Wolkenritter]], and yet he is also [[FriendToAllChildren shown to be very good with children]], serving as TheMentor for several of them in ''[[Manga/MagicalGirlLyricalNanoha Vivid]]''

* Arf and Zafira of ''Franchise/LyricalNanoha'', loyal wolf {{familiar}}s who are [UndyingLoyalty very protective]] of their AntiVillain masters and joined them in their eventual HeelFaceTurn.

As wolves became less common in inhabited areas, people became less wary and more curious of them and started to look at their positive traits. No longer seen as simply destructive beasts, they were soon written as proud and dignified symbols of nature that were intelligent, dignified and reasonable. Though still dangerous, if a NobleWolf is antagonistic, it's probably not just because it hates you or wants to eat you. Rather, an antagonist Noble Wolf will probably have been offended at your trespasses or your competition for resources.

Though leaning more towards neutrality, a NobleWolf can easily be a heroic figure. With their intelligence, doglike figure and social nature, it is easy to pick out good traits to emphasize. Having a lupine ally or pet instantly makes any character much more threatening or impressive. Any heroic wolf of this sort will be a force to be reckoned with as wolves are still taken very seriously today.

* In ''{{Fables}}'', the Big Bad Wolf from Little Red Riding Hood and The Three Little Pigs ''used'' to be an antagonistic, man-eating wolf, until he fell in love with Snow White which eventually prompted him to retire from his villainy, assume human form and work as a badass and clever sheriff for the fable community while attempting to get closer to her.

* In ''{{Fables}}'', the Big Bad Wolf from Little Red Riding Hood and The Three Little Pigs ''used'' to be an antagonistic, man-eating wolf, until he fell in love with Snow White which eventually prompted him to retire from his villainy, assume human form and work as a badass and clever sheriff for the fable community.

* In ''{{Fables}}'', the Big Bad Wolf from Little Red Riding Hood ''used'' to be an antagonistic, man-eating wolf, until he fell in love with Snow White which eventually prompted him to retire from his villainy, assume human form and work as a badass and clever sheriff for the fable community.

* ''Anime/WolfsRain'' is an anime practically epitomizing this trope, revolving around four wolves who want to seek out Paradise while the Earth is dying.

* ''Anime/WolfsRain'' is an anime practically epitomizing this trope, revolving around four wolves who wants to seek out Paradise while the Earth is dying.

* In {{Inuyasha}} there are two major wolf creatures

* WolfsRain is an anime practically epitomizing this trope, revolving around four wolves who wants to seek out Paradise while the Earth is dying.
* In GingaNagareboshiGin, a manga-only short after the BigBad's defeat features both good and evil wolves, in which the dogs join forces with the former to defeat the latter.

In {{Fables}}, the Big Bad Wolf from Little Red Riding Hood ''used'' to be an antagonistic, man-eating wolf, until he fell in love with Snow White which eventually prompted him to retire from his villainy, assume human form and work as a badass and clever sheriff for the fable community.

[[folder: Film]]
* ''WesternAnimation/{{Hoodwinked}}'': where the Wolf is a {{Fletch}} {{Expy}} trying to get to the bottom of a major story.

* ''Discworld/TheFifthElephant'' is a complicated case. A wolf's natural instincts include killing any werewolves they come across, ([[OurWerewolvesAreDifferent even Angua]] but for a good chunk of the story they are kept in line by another wolf. Even then the wolves are not portrayed as evil. Angua accepts that they have some pretty good reasons to hate werewolves

Compare and contrast SavageWolves. Compare animals with similar reputations like {{Heroic Dolphin}}s.