Wolf Children - Ending Explained

The central tragedy of the film is the early death of the Wolf Man. He is found dead in a canal in his wolf form after attempting to hunt for his family, and his body is unceremoniously disposed of by garbage collectors, with Hana watching helplessly. This event forces Hana into single motherhood and sets the stage for the rest of the narrative.

The climax of the film sees the two children making their definitive choices. During a severe storm, Yuki, who has been trying to hide her wolf nature from her classmate Sohei, is cornered by him. Frightened, she transforms and accidentally scratches his ear. Later, when they are alone at school, she fully reveals her wolf form to him. Sohei, however, tells her he already knew and promises to keep her secret, solidifying their bond and her place in the human world.

Simultaneously, Ame, who has grown to love the forest, decides he must take the place of his dying fox mentor as the mountain's guardian. Hana, desperate not to lose him, follows him into the storm and is injured. Ame rescues her, and when she awakens, she sees him as a fully grown wolf. He runs off into the mountains, and she tearfully but happily accepts his decision, understanding he has found his path. The film ends with Yuki leaving for middle school a year later, and Hana living alone in her country house, content in the knowledge that she successfully raised her children to be independent.

While the film is primarily seen as a story about motherhood and identity, some viewers and critics have offered alternative readings. One interpretation views the children's dual nature as a metaphor for the struggles of mixed-race individuals or those from bicultural backgrounds, navigating the expectations and norms of two different worlds. Their journey to choose between their human and wolf sides can be seen as representing the process of forming a cultural identity.

Another interpretation, particularly from a queer theory perspective, suggests that the experience of being a werewolf can be read as a metaphor for being queer in a heteronormative society. The need to hide their true selves, the fear of being discovered and ostracized, and the eventual choice to either assimilate (like Yuki) or live authentically outside of societal norms (like Ame) can mirror the experiences of LGBTQ+ individuals. The father's need to keep his identity a secret and his tragic death when his wolf form is exposed in the city can be seen as representing the dangers of revealing one's true self in an intolerant society.