Anime with Wolves as Main Characters:
* Ookami Kodomo no Ame to Yuki (Wolf Children): This heartwarming story follows a young mother raising two wolf children - Ame (Rain) and Yuki (Snow) - after her husband, a werewolf, dies. It explores themes of parenting, acceptance, and the challenges of living with a different identity.
* Wolf's Rain: A post-apocalyptic adventure following a pack of wolves searching for Paradise. This anime features beautiful animation and deep themes related to survival, destiny, and humanity.
* Spice and Wolf: While not focused on wolves, the series follows a traveling merchant and a wolf deity named Holo, who can shapeshift into a beautiful young woman. Holo is very much a central character, and her wolf nature plays a crucial role in the story.
Anime with Wolves as Significant Characters:
* Soul Eater: The anime features a wolf-like demon called "Black*Star" who is a powerful weapon wielder.
* Naruto Shippuden: While not a main character, the Nine-Tailed Fox, Kurama, is a powerful yokai with a strong wolf-like presence.
* The Ancient Magus' Bride: The anime features a creature called Chise's "familiar" who looks like a wolf-like spirit and acts as a guardian.
Other Shows with Wolf Motifs:
* Ginga: Nagareboshi Gin (Ginga: The Wolf of the North Star): This classic anime features a wolf named Gin, who is born with silver fur. It is an epic story about wolf survival and loyalty in a vast and dangerous world.
* Kenka Bancho Otome: Girl Beats Boys: While not technically about wolves, the protagonist of this series has a wolf spirit that helps her fight.
This is not an exhaustive list, and there are many other anime shows that feature wolves in some way. The popularity of wolves in anime is often related to themes of loyalty, strength, and survival, which resonate with audiences.
When searching for anime with wolves, be sure to look for keywords like "Ookami" (狼, Japanese for wolf) and "Wolf" in the titles or descriptions.