Wolf Children (2012)

The trials that a parent must endure when raising children are often difficult, but kids transforming into wolves isn't typically one of them. Not so for Hana, who's forced to move to the countryside lest her secret be discovered.
Dir. Hosoda's slow pace during the early parts of the film allow moments that are focussed on growing closer to ease themselves into play, setting the tone for the themes of fitting in and the importance of discovering one's role in life that develop further in the later parts.
Narrated by the firstborn wolf child of the title, it's a sweet and loving coming of age tale, but I feel that it could've benefitted from a few more buoyantly powerful scenes, like that of the wonderful first snow tumble.

3 piggy promises out of 5