DIRECTOR'S CUT: Therapist Reacts to Wolf Children
Added 2023-05-22 15:00:04 +0000 UTCHow do you find joy in life during tough times? How do you know when to let your kids go?
Licensed therapist Jonathan Decker and filmmaker Alan Seawright are watching another amazing anime film, Wolf Children, thanks to viewer suggestions. They react to Hana’s joys and struggles as a single parent of wolf children and how she balances raising them as humans and protecting them as wolves. They discuss flipping the werewolf trope and why fantasy storytelling can be so powerful. There’s an unfortunate number of wolf puns and some unexpected tears.
Comments
*inserts Alan’s tears here* 🥲
Brittany Saffold
2024-05-13 17:40:24 +0000 UTC24:40 as an only child who is dealing with a mom who recently went into a coma, transitioning careers as a high school teacher, and fighting depression daily.. YOU GUYS, Jono and Alan, are my “wholesome love” ☺️. You guys have no idea how much you uplift my spirits every time I watch your videos (y’all are my besties in my head 😅) but no seriously, your wholesome nature and sense of humor makes me feel like I can keep going 🥹 I truly appreciate you guys more then you know, thanks for all you do 🦸🏻♂️🦹🏼❤️
Brittany Saffold
2024-05-13 17:37:03 +0000 UTCA note on the sound design when Ame tells her about Sensei -- Ame means rain in Japanese, and it really is a rising of him BECOMING who he is even while his mother is asking him to deny who he is. Lovely to see this covered here!
Saira
2024-05-09 23:24:34 +0000 UTCAmazing video 🥰 I was hoping so much that you guys would talk about Yuki. I never connected that much with Ame, but seing Yuki become so stranded with her happy wolf self was always confusing and excruciating. Why would she do that just to have friends? Pleeease make another video about Yuki ❤️
Forge Mondes
2024-05-08 03:44:15 +0000 UTCThis movie destroys my soul every time I watch it, even the clips in this episode had me tearing up. Although I never really got the idea that Hana disagreed with Ame's decision to be a wolf, just that she thought in human terms that she would have more time with him, and that he was "leaving the nest" too early even though as a wolf he was more than old enough. Also I know you don't do shows often, but can we get an episode for Anohana: The flower we saw that day? maybe about healthy and unhealthy ways of dealing with grief? Its only 13 episodes so only a little longer than a movie anyway.
Ellie Shaw
2023-12-21 00:55:09 +0000 UTCDon’t worry Alan when I first watch this for the first time especially that scene where they were having fun together as a family unit it made me cry buckets , it’s the small memories I remember the most and something that’ll stay with me for the rest of my life so definitely happy tears a lot like you I literally couldn’t talk I was choked up to much 😅☮️💚
☮️🪬Sonar IllusionFox🪬☮️
2023-12-17 21:20:04 +0000 UTCJust to tell you Alan, you are not alone. when i am overwhelmed with joy, i cry too. just happened last wek. my husband had bought tickets to the jourassic world exhibit. i knew it is all machines. but i stepped in there and cried tears of joy and happyness as my childhood dream came true. i saw a real, moving, responding dinosaur with warm skin. and i got to go there with my most beloved humans, my husband and my 13 year old daughter whom both love dinosaurs as much as I do. it was the most perfect moment of the whole year so far. Or that one time i finally got to see Beauty and the beast Musical and it was awsomely beautifull. And i always cry when i hear kids sing in their natural beautiful voices. like they used to do it in the old movies whithout autotune. just kids and a song. i always cry. so #cryingwhalan also in joyfull moments
Tabitha Hammer-Esser
2023-06-10 19:04:11 +0000 UTCI looked into your comment about it being created by a child of a single parent. This movie was based on a comic made by Mamoru Hosoda. The man was apparently the child of two parents and according to an interview he was inspired by his desire to have kids of his own with his wife. I'd love to see more cinema therapy episodes based on wolfs children. Especially about Yuki's experiences and how difficult it is to grow up and be labelled as different.
Melissa Young
2023-05-28 21:48:06 +0000 UTCHonestly, whatever I'm reading, I start to see its lessons everywhere :)
Cinema Therapy
2023-05-27 18:20:02 +0000 UTCI love how Jono is always reading the perfect book that relates to whatever movie they are watching
Max Fauchier
2023-05-26 21:28:55 +0000 UTCIt's been recommended a lot!
Cinema Therapy
2023-05-26 15:32:28 +0000 UTCI love anime so much, another few I would recommend is Violet Evergarden, that one will bring out some tears but also Howl's moving castle, a whisker away and ride your wave. Thank you for all the anime videos :)
Fiona Strohfeldt
2023-05-26 14:36:00 +0000 UTCWhoa. Very cool! - Jono
Cinema Therapy
2023-05-26 13:25:22 +0000 UTCThank you for this episode. I am a mother of two young children and this film is very relevant and touching and heartbreaking. I also want to mention that I am very similar to Alan in the way that I cry during very happy/beautiful scenes. I don't know why either. Anyway, thanks again for your vulnerability and your analysis (and the mention of my name at the end ;). Another great video.
Meilin
2023-05-26 12:12:25 +0000 UTCI gotta check this out but another anime to watch is "Maquia when the promised flower blooms" such a good anime
Red MafiaPanda
2023-05-26 10:47:00 +0000 UTCMan, I loved that you did this film, this film is something that slouched so many people's hearts, and I adored it so I'm really happy you guys covered this! Also fun fact to add to the rain sound effect scene: Ame, his name, in Japanese is written as the character for 'rain'. His name is rain. As Hana realises what her son is saying, the rain comes in. That is Ame. That is rain. And as Ame leaves him mother, one last time, the rain leaves with him.
Bubble Bellarina
2023-05-25 19:36:21 +0000 UTCTotally agree. We love wholesome movies too. ❤️
Cinema Therapy
2023-05-25 15:23:50 +0000 UTCI am so happy you covered this! Such a wonderful, wholesome movie that makes me cry EVERY time! The part where Hana accepts Ame’s decision and tells him to go live his life is so beautiful…I can’t help but cry. That’s why this is one of my favorite movies of all time. ❤️
Alisa-Beth
2023-05-25 14:14:04 +0000 UTCThank you! - Jono
Cinema Therapy
2023-05-25 12:44:06 +0000 UTCThank you so much for saying so. And yes, this was a lovely film :)
Cinema Therapy
2023-05-25 12:42:56 +0000 UTCA favorite film of mine. Thanks for experiencing this with us, much love to cinema therapy for the vulnerability you guys have shared.
Tired Fella
2023-05-25 08:11:32 +0000 UTCI really loved this episode! It actually inspired me to add a scene in the story that I am currently writing. I'd also really love it if you indeed do another reaction to this movie, this time on the community aspect. That sounds like it'll be a wonderful episode as well. Alan, you really had me cracking up in the very last second because the addition of "with a 'z'" reminded me of one of my favorite movies (Rock of Ages—please no one come at me with how the movie is basically trash, it's one of my comfort movies at this point because I've watched it so often with my best friends) Thank you so much for this reaction!
Lara
2023-05-24 10:21:45 +0000 UTCI do agree that is film is a great homage to single parents, but my initial viewing of this also had hints of warnings about purity culture as well. Purity Culture is a bit like Spiritual Abuse, but a little different in the message conveyed. Whereas spiritual abuse is more about shifting someone's belief system, Purity Culture is more focused on the idea that including problems like fighting, sex, or other things society dislikes is basically the same as supporting them. Whereas Single Parent Films basically contrast that with "Understanding how to respond to a problem is not the same as saying that the problem doesn't exist, Yes, I Understand that my children are Wolves, but that doesn't make them deliberately wolfish ("is that the right grammar"), Wolves will be Wolves, etc."
Bryan
2023-05-24 02:47:57 +0000 UTCI LOVE this movie so much. Ya’ll need to watch Mamoru Hosoda’s other films too… Belle is his most recent film and literally had a former Disney animator assist in character design and Cartoon Saloon assist in creating the background designs. It was amazing in IMAX.
Elhixsagh
2023-05-23 21:52:05 +0000 UTCHulu is a great option! For Netflix I kinda used Surfshark to put my phone’s location in Japan while I watch it at work.
Sean Goettsche
2023-05-23 19:26:23 +0000 UTCCrunchyroll and Hulu! A google search says it miiight also be on Netflix and Disney+ in some places, but I can’t confirm those.
Emily Snell-Salvaggio
2023-05-23 15:19:35 +0000 UTCAww, thanks Jono. ☺️ *Virtual hugs* 💛💛 And Alan too! 😄🤗🐺
Lady Lost
2023-05-23 14:44:43 +0000 UTCWhere could I watch it? - Jono
Cinema Therapy
2023-05-23 13:51:31 +0000 UTCI'll check it out! - Jono
Cinema Therapy
2023-05-23 13:51:09 +0000 UTCThank you so much! I'm glad I took that route as well - Jono
Cinema Therapy
2023-05-23 13:50:20 +0000 UTCWe see you! You matter :) - Jono
Cinema Therapy
2023-05-23 13:50:04 +0000 UTCI have this movie saved to watch on my anime app to watch over the next few days. 😄 Gods, I think every other thought you guys brought up I had something to say about it in the back of my mind. From siblings hilariously picking on each other in the middle of doing their mom's eulogy, to coming to the daunting task looming before me every day of being a single parent, to ever feeling like an outsider's outsider, feeling like I'm the only one who's trying to understand my kid on her level and do my best to help her be who she wants to be in life... Just so many things. I think, most of all, it just feels good knowing that, even if the writer(s) of this movie don't know I exist, they see me, and to a small, yet meaningful, degree, I feel acknowledged. 🥲
Lady Lost
2023-05-23 07:38:48 +0000 UTCDon't put these nice boys through that!
Smidge
2023-05-23 06:38:57 +0000 UTCGentlemen, needed this episode tonight. Alan, thank you for the tears, I can't help but feel you let us into a private space every time, and I feel both honored and understood. Jonathan, thank you for choosing therapy. I'm not going to guess about you being a lawyer but I know I've been blessed as a result of that choice. Thank you both!
Daniel Hailstone
2023-05-23 04:17:14 +0000 UTCYES!!! Watched it with a friend a worthy study break. :D
YashaShiva
2023-05-23 00:38:40 +0000 UTCIf you like stand up comedy, Russell Howard has great parts about his family with funerals, and finding the joy in life.
Esther Kennedy
2023-05-22 22:35:53 +0000 UTCSpy X Family is an absolute TREAT of an anime! I really hope they’ve already seen some of it. I quote Anya regularly in my household lol
Emily Snell-Salvaggio
2023-05-22 20:19:07 +0000 UTCOh I am SO happy you guys got to do this. I was wishing CinemaTherapy would do an episode on it as I was rewatching it around a year back :,) It’s a comfort film for sure. And 100% ok to be emotional at the beauty of it.
Emily Snell-Salvaggio
2023-05-22 20:16:20 +0000 UTCOf course we were telling the truth! 😆 We check comments every day, but there's SO many movies we could cover that it takes time to get to all the suggestions.
Cinema Therapy
2023-05-22 20:06:59 +0000 UTCThank you for sharing your story. Glad you enjoyed the episode!
Cinema Therapy
2023-05-22 20:05:38 +0000 UTCYou're welcome! Hope you enjoy it!
Cinema Therapy
2023-05-22 20:04:25 +0000 UTCWatch it, it's so good!
Cinema Therapy
2023-05-22 20:04:10 +0000 UTCI know y’all don’t really do TV series (especially anime TV series), but I really want Jono to at least check out Spy x Family! There are some pretty good family relationship dilemmas that would really be up his alley, all while still trying to be fun! Edit: Alan is invited too, of course! 😅
Sean Goettsche
2023-05-22 19:57:04 +0000 UTCSo true. As a person with a dad who thought that crying was weak, it means a lot to me.
Asylum Wolf
2023-05-22 17:47:46 +0000 UTCThank you thank you THANK YOU for doing this film! I love it so much, and it means so much to me. I wasn’t sure if you were telling the truth when you said that you look at all suggestions for films in the comments, but now I know for sure that you do! Clearly, you care about your fans so much and want to teach them and make them happy. THANK YOU
Asylum Wolf
2023-05-22 17:45:55 +0000 UTCMy mom raised me as a single mother and she's the strongest woman I know. Raising a child with a learning disability while working full time was not an easy road for her. And even when it came to my career she tried to push me towards her field which is dentistry. "Well you could go to dental school and became a hygienist like me! That makes good money!" "Yeah but ma I wanna work with computers...." Cause she knew me and she knew what I liked I remember her taking a deep breath, looking at me and with a smile saying "That's definitely you." Do I make as much as her? HELL NO! Probably never will. But I'm stable and happy and that's all she cares about. Thanks for doing this movies guy cause I freaking LOVE this film.
Sammie
2023-05-22 17:11:20 +0000 UTCYes! Thank you! I waited so long for this!
YashaShiva
2023-05-22 16:37:50 +0000 UTCIt was highly requested!
Cinema Therapy
2023-05-22 16:35:34 +0000 UTCI don't think Wolf Children is Ghibli, but we do have more Ghibli coming! :)
Cinema Therapy
2023-05-22 16:35:20 +0000 UTCI want to see this movie now! This episode was touching to see for some reason. I want to especially thank Allan for letting your emotions show. You think it's messed up but it is very healing for me because I'm messed up that way.
Seldanz_
2023-05-22 16:26:57 +0000 UTCI saw this movie so long ago and it's adorable! It hits harder now than it did when I was younger because I've grown since I first saw it. I love movies that hit differently based on what time of your life the viewer is in. The replayability (even if years apart) makes it feel new every time.
Victor G. of Myth And Magic Artisans
2023-05-22 15:57:40 +0000 UTCIf I could ever get you fellas to watch Evangelion...omg. So much to react/analyze
David Muench
2023-05-22 15:55:27 +0000 UTCWe often joke that funerals are our family reunions because that's pretty much the only time all of our family from our mom's side comes together lol. We have a ritual now of going to lunch with our aunt and uncle after funerals or turning the funeral into a vacation if we have to travel so that we don't all have to go home sad and I think it's beautiful.
Amelia Hansen
2023-05-22 15:54:03 +0000 UTCOMG YES!! I know I asked for this a few times lol, I'm sure others did too! Such an amazing film.
Spooky
2023-05-22 15:43:12 +0000 UTCPlease keep doing the ghibli films!!! They are my favorite films you cover!
Fell Hawke
2023-05-22 15:17:14 +0000 UTC
