---
title: "Wolf Children: the reviews"
canonical: "https://film.one/film/wolf-children/reviews"
title_page: "https://film.one/film/wolf-children"
critics_score: 77
critics_reviews: 9
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Wolf Children (2012): what the critics said

Critics' score 77 from 9 reviews: 9 positive, 0 mixed, 0 negative.

## Total Film

Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 26 October 2013. 

The critic praises Hosoda’s elegant storytelling of a single mother raising her wolf-human children in a way that honors both heritages, and highlights the skillful animation that conveys the kids’ emotional struggles and yearning for acceptance.

[Read the review](https://www.gamesradar.com/wolf-children-review/)

## Evening Standard

Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 25 October 2013. 

The critic describes the film as a gorgeously drawn cartoon blending fairy-tale elements with real-life family struggles, noting its appeal as a simple, scrumptious story of self-sufficiency and raising unusual children.

[Read the review](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/wolf-children-film-review-8902240.html)

## The Guardian

Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 24 October 2013. 

The film is a touching coming-of-age story in which lycanthropy serves as a metaphor for puberty and choosing one's path. It is praised for its photorealistic animation, fairytale elements in a real-life setting, and the maturity it achieves by focusing on the mother's perspective.

[Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2013/oct/24/wolf-children-review)

## Variety — Peter Debruge

Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 22 March 2013. Festival review. 

The review likens the premise to an alternate-history Twilight focused on the wolf suitor, praising Hosoda's tender depiction of the complications of raising shape-shifting children and the film's elegant, understated style. It highlights the story's focus on the kids finding their place in the world without manufactured conflict or villains.

[Read the review](https://variety.com/2013/film/reviews/film-review-wolf-children-1200327396/)

## IndieWire — Charles Solomon

Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 22 April 2013. 

The review covers Mamoru Hosoda's animated feature about a mother raising wolf children. The critic highlights its emotional depth and visual style in a positive assessment of the director's work.

[Read the review](https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/culture/review-mamoru-hosodas-wolf-children-123049/)

## Los Angeles Times — Kenneth Turan

Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 26 September 2013. 

The critic describes the film as an odd story about a mother raising literally half-wolf children, blending sentimental, somber and strange elements with lyrical visuals. The English dub feels overly sweet and simplistic at times, while the narrative takes some harsh turns.

[Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/moviesnow/la-et-mn-wolf-children-20130927-story.html)

## The Hollywood Reporter — THR Staff

Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 30 September 2013. 

The film is a moving and charming animated tale about a single mother raising her half-human, half-wolf children. The critic praises its lyrical, poetic storyline and beautiful hand-drawn visuals while noting issues with its leisurely pace and stilted dubbing.

[Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/wolf-children-film-review-639183/)

## Eye for Film — Jennie Kermode

Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 24 January 2013. 

The critic finds the film an enchanting and family-friendly take on the werewolf premise, focusing on a single mother's joys and hardships raising her half-wolf children while navigating prejudice and their growing independence.

[Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/wolf-children-2012-film-review-by-jennie-kermode)

## Polygon — Tasha Robinson

Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 10 May 2025. 

The critic recommends the film as a beautiful but bleak Mother's Day screening choice, highlighting its focus on the strains and sacrifices of motherhood through a fantasy lens. She singles out the distinctive, expressionistic animation and tactile climax for praise.

[Read the review](https://www.polygon.com/anime/598430/wolf-children-mamoru-hosoda-what-to-watch/)

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/wolf-children.md