Wolf (Chirin no Suzu)

The Wolf, also known as Woe or the Wolf King, is the main antagonist of Takashi Yanase's children's book Chirin no Suzu, and its 1978 anime film adaptation Ringing Bell. He lives in the mountains surrounding the farm and kills his prey based on the belief that he must continue the cycle of nature. When Chirin wanted to become his apprentice, he reluctantly agrees, unaware that he was doing it to become strong so he would kill him.

He was voiced by the late Seizô Katô in the Japanese version, and the late Bill Capizzi in the English dubbed version.

Personality
The Wolf is depicted as a cunning and ruthless killer who loves to terrorize his victims. He speaks in a demonic voice and occasionally calls Chirin a pipsqueak. While not shown, it is implied that he does consume his victims after killing them. After killing Chirin's mother, he was annoyed by the idea of having Chirin as his apprentice at first, but he eventually gives in. It is mentioned in the book that he was always hated, so the fact that Chirin wanted to be a wolf warmed his heart.

He is also very strong for a wolf when he easily defeats a bear and has Chirin fight off bigger predators and even ram through a tree. His training with Chirin also made him very strong and turned him into a demonic and dangerous creature. When Chirin refused to kill the sheep, the Wolf was enraged and tried to teach him to kill sheep until Chirin impaled him with his horns. In his dying moments, the Wolf admitted he was grateful for Chirin defeating him, because he stated that the greatest thing a wolf can have is death in battle. It is implied that he may have raised Chirin to have him defeat and kill him and even exposed his chest during the final battle for Chirin to deliver the final blow. It is also implied that he was an old wolf and he was too weak to hunt his prey without Chirin's assistance.

Appearance
The Wolf is an aging wolf with black fur and a scar on his left eye. He also has claws and has a muscular build. He has gray eyes and does not move his lips while speaking, like Chirin as an adult.

History
The wolf lives in the mountains beyond the sheep farm and terrorizes the sheep. On a windy night, the sheep begin to hear the yelps of the guard dogs outside the barn and the Wolf breaks in and starts attacking the sheep. He kills one sheep until he spots Chirin. He lunges at Chirin, but his mother doves over and protects him. The Wolf kills her and then leaves. Chirin cries over the loss of his mother and sets out of the farm to avenge his mother's death. He eventually finds the Wolf and confronts him, but the Wolf swings him off a cliff with his tail. Chirin tries to get back up, but he falls off. Chirin recovers from his injuries however.

The next morning, he finds the Wolf and offers to become his apprentice, but the Wolf isn't interested in the idea. He walks away and decides to take a nap. Chirin confronts him and the Wolf orders him to go back to his home, so he can have him for dinner. Chirin tries to prove his point to the Wolf, but is easily defeated by his prey. The Wolf defeats a bear and slaughters a deer to prove his point to Chirin, but Chirin still refuses to go back. Chirin follows him, but he eventually falls into a river and seemingly drowns.

The following night, Chirin finds the Wolf and says that he will continue following him no matter what. The Wolf once again leaves Chirin, leaving him to wander aimlessly across the wilderness until he finds a snake confronting a bird. Chirin fends the snake off, but accidentally ends up breaking the eggs. The Wolf finds him and tells him that killing for survival is the law of nature. Chirin is worried that he may not survive and become strong like him, but the Wolf tells him that he can grow fangs and agrees to train him.

Over the course or his training under the Wolf's tutelage, Chirin's features gradually become monstrous that he eventually developed into a beast-like ram. Atop the rocky mountains, Chrin tells his master that, though he once plotted to kill the wolf, he now has a deep respect and admiration for him, even seeing him as a father figure. Overtaken by a peculiar form of Stockholm Syndrome, Chrin is now completely loyal to the Wolf King.

Chirin's final test is to return to his birthplace, and help the Wolf King slaughter the sheep, in which he killed the dogs that are guarding the barn. By the time he completed the deed and catch up with the Wolf however, he is reminded to his own past upon the sight of the Wolf threatening a lamb which is protected by his mother. The Wolf confronts him, but Chirin impales him with his horns. In his last breath, the Wolf admits that he is proud of Chirin before dying.

Trivia

 * The Wolf was named Wor in the book, which is likely an allegory for war.
 * When Chirin is with the Wolf after trying to demonstrate his strength to him, the Wolf's scar is barely shown.
 * When Chirin tries to convince the Wolf to train him, he immediately does so in the book, but he tries to convince Chirin into returning to being a sheep in the film until the incident with the snake.
 * The Wolf resembles a Japanese mythical creature called Tatarigami, a corrupted god of rage, destruction and vengeance.
 * It is mentioned in the book and Japanese version that he does consume his victims, but many viewers take the censorship too personally, perceiving him to be a wolf who kills for sport.