Maybe you'll laugh when the story's told, or write it off as a fairy tale. It couldn't possibly be true. I mean, how could it? But every word is true, all of it. This is a story about one family; a determined mother, a half-wolf father, and two very different children.
Wolf Children
by omegafire17, is a retelling of the anime movie Wolf Children. It starts out the same as the movie at first and follows the main story, but has several differences that quickly make it into its own story.
This fanfic contains examples of:
- Adaptation Expansion: As a whole, and due to the change in medium, the fic fleshes out numerous moments from the movie - montages in particular. This includes Hana's time with Balto/Tyler before, during, and after her pregnancies; family moments with the kids; and the ending.
- Aerith and Bob: Balto/Tyler's Western name can be a bit out there for some considering he's a descendant of Japanese wolves.
- Arc Words:
- "Promises are important. Family is important. Gotta remember important stuff, or else."
- "It's your choice."
- Ascended Extra: While his role WAS important in canon, the Wolfman is further fleshed out and made more significant in this fic thanks to his survival.
- Elopement: Hana and Balto do this right before fleeing to the country to evade Child Welfare services. They even buried their phones!
- For Want Of A Nail:
- Balto survives his fall into the river (which killed him in canon), due to managing to grab onto something, thus preventing his death. This changes the rest of the plot as his presence results in future events unfolding differently.
- It is implied that Yuki's love for nature wasn't as dampened in canon, as he managed to get her to think about her decision to undergo a Girliness Upgrade.
- Balto was able to get through to the wolf in the nature center by secretly revealing himself, which in turn gives Ame a fellow wolf to talk to.
- His presence allows Hana to go pick up Yuki (and Souhei) much earlier from school on the stormy day, as he will be staying behind to stop Ame from leaving on his own. The result is Ame leaving home on more amicable terms, especially with his sister Yuki. This also means that Yuki's reveal of her wolf side to Souhei happened at her home with her parents rather than at school.
- Unlike the movie, the nature center's timber wolf is a younger she-wolf, rather than an older male. At the end of the retelling, this means Ame won't be as alone as he was in canon as his family later busted her out of there on her request. They would release her to the mountain to join Ame in due time.
- Balto survives his fall into the river (which killed him in canon), due to managing to grab onto something, thus preventing his death. This changes the rest of the plot as his presence results in future events unfolding differently.
- Lighter and Softer: While the original wasn't exactly dark, this fic has a notably happier tone especially starting from the reveal that Balto survived his near-death.
- Named by the Adaptation: The Wolfman, unnamed in canon, is named Balto (his birth name)/Tyler (his 'human' name).
- Oh, Crap!: After the fight between Yuki and Ame, Balto realises that the children are approaching the age when they need to make the decision of being mainly human or wolf and he is not prepared for Ame's decision to be a wolf.
- Spared by the Adaptation: Unlike in canon, Balto (the Wolfman) survives the storm, and is present in helping Hana raise their kids.
