One Stormy Night (Arashi no Yoru ni) is a 1994 Japanese children's book about about the deeply romantic friendship
(or relationship, depending on whom you ask) between a goat named Mei and a wolf named Gabu.
It starts one stormy night when Mei and Gabu, both separated from their companions and terrified of lightning, happen to take shelter in the same barn. There in the dark where they can't see each other's species, they strike up a conversation and learn they have a lot in common. They promise to meet each other again at the same place, and say "one stormy night" as their secret phrase. Imagine their surprise the next day when they discover the truth! Mei and Gabu like each other so much already that they decide to put aside predator and prey in order to be secret friends. However, it's only a matter of time before their respective groups find out they've been fraternizing with the enemy, and brand them as traitors. Will these two be able to find a way to stay together?
Only the first two books have received English releases. The books consist of: One Stormy Night (1994), One Sunny Day (1996), Rift in the Clounds (1997), One Foggy Afternoon (1999), One Rainy Day (2000), After the Snowstorm (2002), and One Full Moon Night (2005).
One Stormy Night has been adapted into a 2005 manga, a 2005 film, a 2006 drama CD, 3 different stage adaptations, and a 2012 All-CGI Cartoon series.
Compare the similar The Fox and the Hound and Night on the Galactic Railroad. Contrast Ringing Bell, a Darker and Edgier anime also exploring the relationship between a wolf and a sheep. Do not confuse with Higurashi no Naku Koro ni or Higanbana no Saku Yoru ni.
This book provides examples of:
- Ambiguous Gender: Mei was always intended to be male but he has no gender in the text itself. As a result, he's male in the manga and film but female in the CG anime.
- Interspecies Friendship: A goat and a wolf becomes best friends, They're the first known goat and wolf to do so.
- Predator-Prey Friendship: The story is about a wolf and a goat who become close friends, despite their instincts against each other.
- Xenofiction: Gabu and Mei have some anthropomorphic attributes but are Partially Civilized Animals. Their base instincts play a major role in the story.
