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Yeah, some of the movies just doesn't need a sequel. But,in my opinion, Balto's sequels aren't that bad.
Just the animation is a biiiiiiit, horrible.

When people talk, it is usually their opinion we are reading. Need all of us repeatedly state the obvious lol?

Anyways, I loved WQ as a kid- and I suppose I was blind to the sub-par animation and weaker plot points. I guess what I really liked was Aleu's step up in maturity towards the end. She started out so self-centered and annoyed the daylights out of me. I guess I really liked how she found a higher calling outside of her own tiny "world' and, realizing what she needed to do, stepped up to meet that challenge.

If you are asking for me to give you feedback, I shall gladly do so. But I will not go into specifics unless asked...and if so, I will be constructive in my reply. I have taken to this approach because, as it usually goes on this site, the "sensitivity police" show up very quickly in situations like these, and the topic (or a comment thread on the main sources) devolves into an argument or flame war. And I am concerned that the first rumblings of it have already occurred in this thread, unfortunately.

However, if you would like clarification, I would be happy to help...even if just by PMs if that is preferred. But it was more than one person.



Nope...for the most part. lol You're good.

I honestly like Wolf Quest a lot. Not as much as the original Balto, but definitely a lot more than Wings Of Change.

I thought the storyline in this movie was not that bad, the storyline here beats the animation by a lot. I liked the storyline of Aleu finding out where she belongs.

I honestly even like some of the animation in this movie. Some of it is pleasing to look at. Mainly some of the close ups. I am not a huge fan of the fish faces and some of the far away shots. XD Though the animation is still no where near as good as the original Balto. I will even admit that Wings Of Change had a little bit better animation than this movie did.

I enjoyed most of the characters in this movie. I really liked Aleu as a character even though most people don't care for her much. She just has that typical I am lost and don't know who I am type character. The only character I didn't really care for that much is the terrier. I felt his constant barking was highly annoying.

I honestly enjoyed all of the songs in this movie. My favorite song being "The Grand Design." In my opinion, I enjoyed the songs more in this movie than in Wings Of Change. I found none of the songs in Wolf Quest annoying at all.

One other thing I failed to mention, in my original post, is that I like Balto's paw design in this film. There are moments in the original film where his paws are more detailed, but for the most part his toes are just lines on his paws. In Balto II his paws are defined throughout the entire film.

I actually like the fact that his paws were different in the second film. Whenever I draw Balto I usually will draw him with the more rounded paws. I knew that his paws were different, but not as much as I do now. What a very interesting thing to point out.

After years of rewatching and maturing about these movies, I am not afraid to admit that I think that WQ is the best movie in the Balto trilogy.
#FightMe

Here's what I like/love about it:

- The usage of Native Inuit EVERYTHING:
Seriously, this could have been botched to high heaven, but here it was used well with the story and to set the whole mood. Aleu was on a "Vision Quest" to discover her place in the world [which usually happens when a child comes of age in native tribes] and even finds her own spirit guide that helps make all things clearer to her. As for Balto, he conflicts with his mysterious dream visions and follows the spirits he saw on a totem pole [with his mother's voice and a raven guiding him] in order to also assist his daughter's journey. Also, the soundtrack is pretty dang good, with all of the chants and rhythms flowing well. The imagery and symbols are another part too, especially with the dreams both Balto and Aleu have and during Muru's "Who You Really Are" song to Aleu in the cave.

- The importance of Heritage:
Sure, Aleu may have hated her father for keeping her heritage a secret for over a YEAR, but this situation isn't just about her. Balto himself also feels unsure of his wolf blood [he mentions to Boris a day before the pups get adopted that some dogs still tease him for being half-wolf] and was merely worried for Aleu's own sake because she resembles him so much more than the other pups. However, by the journey's end, both father and daughter do learn about how amazing their wolf heritage is and accept it for the better - Balto learns that the source of guidance that both he and Nava used was actually the spirit of his mother, Aniu, and he feels more confident about the wolf within by the start of WoC in 1928; and Aleu interprets the dreams of the caribou correctly and soon chooses to accept life with the wolves as their new Alpha wolf. If anything, the message is clear that our family heritage is something we can't change, but it's important to learn about who we are. Who knows - you might learn something that'll change your life!

- Aleu:
She's my favorite character in the series, and though her character is basic "rebellious teen fodder" like in most sequels, Aleu tends to be a more relatable and interesting character as the film moves closer to the climax. I like her personality - being fun and playful, while also having a quirk of correcting grammar [me in a nutshell] - and her voice [by Lacey Chabert] really works to make her stand out amongst others yet sound feminine and youthful. If I did have to gripe, it would be about how she was so dense to not notice that she was acting lupine-esque all this time and not realize that she'd never be adopted sooner. Seriously, the whole situation would've been a lot more interesting and it would've added "being clever and smart" to her character, but then again, events from the film may not have worked out as planned if this were changed. That and she never really apologized for yelling at her dad... but I guess him letting her go at last was enough to show that all is forgiven? Still, it's surprising how a film fleshed out one of Balto's movie descendants better in one movie and just half-donkey it in the other... but they made the right choice on which one to make much more interesting overall.

- The Story and What It Adds:
For a continuation that really didn't need to exist... WQ goes above and beyond what a sequel usually does and adds more to the Balto-verse that fans like us have been inspired by ever since. We have "dream visions", spirit guides, a freaking WOLF GODDESS, and a bit about Balto's parents [husky dad, white-as-snow wolf mom], as well as new locations and other animals that exist outside of Nome.... including OTHER WOLVES. This is a huge thing for fans, and I love the creativity that has sprung up because of this sequel - adventures for Aleu as the wolf pack's new leader and beyond, Balto's past on how his parents met and brought him life, and stuff for other minor characters too.
And it's all thanks to this story, albeit a basic one.

And... I might add more to this. I think I'm obsessed.

- Juuchan17

Although Wolf Quest is non-canon for me, I still enjoy some elements from this film:

1. Music. Of course, it pales in comparison with the gorgeous music of James Horner (especially awesome Heritage of the Wolf). But I have to admit that in the moments with the nightmares and wolverines, as well as at the end of the film the music is very atmospheric, dark and fascinating.

2. The Nightmare Sequences (I speak about ONLY the first TWO nightmares). The landscapes, the endless ice, the black raven and the feel of threat and lonelyness. I like it.

3. The Wolverines scene. They are awesome. They had a great potential. They're creepy, sinister, charismatic and mysterious. Almost badasses.

4. The visuals in the song "Who you really are". The song itself is obvious and bad in my opinion, 'cause it's the biggest spoiler of the plot twist. But the cave, the images of the spirits, the lights, the crystalls are really beautiful (especially for the low budget).

5. More wolves. In the original film I wanted more scenes with Balto's interacting with the wolves. This is highly controversial, because the local wolves from the sequel are very different from the realistic, harsh, silent and noble wolves from the original movie. But the try is kinda scored.