White wolf / Aniu: Native american legend

MayaHuskee

■

I thought this might be something interesting for BT.

Quite a long while ago now while talking with Shaun Ellis I mentioned Balto and the White Wolf and he told me of an actual Native American legend regarding a white wolf.

It is said that when you are great need a white wolf will appear to guide you and offer help.

In Balto 1 the White Wolf appeared to Balto after he gave up at the bottom of the mountain. I personally think that wolf was a spirit...remember when Balto howled? The wolf seemed to just appear rather than walk into view and if it weren't for the wolf appearing 1) Balto would not have seen the crate of medicine still intact in the snow and 2) he probably would not have embraced his wolf side which in the end was the only way he could guide the team home and deliver the medicine and save the children.

In WQ the white wolf is shown much more. The white wolf, named as Aniu in WQ started to appear after Aleu ran away, you can see her in quite a few scenes on Balto's journey and it seemed the creators on WQ wanted the Raven to be a second spirit form of Aniu which would mean she was helping Balto and Aleu on their journey and ultimately helping the entire and only disappeared at the end of the movie when they no longer needed her help.
I don't think the fact Aniu was meant to be Balto's mother has much to do with interfering with the legend/myth more that it was an interesting storyline.

Thoughts?
_________________

sig (c) tibb

Very interesting. I wouldn't doubt, that in at least Balto, this legend was put into play. I've come across many things around the Alaska/Canada area that have some sort of 'Balto' relation... well, at least I think of Balto when I see/hear them. (:
_________________
VOTE HERE PLEASE!!!
Married to Kayla, Arii, & Kylie.
Part of the {The.Original.Love.Square.<3}

Can't believe I didn't actually see and respond to this earlier. O:

Anyway,

I think I have heard this a few other places before. I know that a lot of people say that the White Wolf and Aniu are linked to different legends.

I do believe that the animators actually put thought into that when including the White Wolf into the first two Balto movies. Otherwise, it would have seemed rather "random", no? Of all kinds of wolves, why white? So they must have put that into the mix, which I think is actually very cool. Expecially for everyone who's familar with the particular legend of the White Wolf.

And I also agree that having Aniu as Balto's mother was more than likely just to add a little more something into the story line.
_________________

Married to Kayla, Maya, & Kylie.