Original post on DA: 13-2-2016

I have had this in my mind for years...Aniu; the white wolf from Balto, my one of my favourite movies. The scene in which Aniu appears is still my all time favourite scene from all movies I have ever seen – see here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ucfHDO4k9gM.
HD: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LOrvmrASrgI

I still clearly remember the moment when I saw this scene for the first time- I think I felt the same surprise as Balto – it  has made an enormous impression and has had major influence on my artwork ever since. Also the music score, composed by the awesome James Horner who died recently T.T is still my all time favourites.

It was in the end of winter 1998 (I was 9) when I saw Balto for the first time and I already had a fascination for snow, wolves and the North at that time. I remember I have spent weeks and weeks on internet (still with a terribly slow modem at that time) on the overwhelming amount of Balto-fan sites. My favourite was Balto’s Zodiac – made by ‘Snow Wolf’ – later known as SnowWolfMystic on DA and now known as (who makes fantastic artwork too!).
Many of these fan sites are offline but this one is still there https://fluke.theicecave.org/siteinfo.shtml

The movie Balto just made my fascination for snow and wolves grow exponentially. It is actually still a major inspiration source for my art. Although I mainly focus on felids like my siderians, I still love wolves too.

I have based this drawing on the scene itself – mainly the pose (quite wide for a wolf, but I think that it’s just the pose – I tried to make it look anatomically correct). The background is inspired by the mental images I get when I hear the song Reach for the Light (see lyrics below)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4MgznKabRrA
It turned out to be literally a sparkewolf…

See here more about Aniu, the white wolf balto.wikia.com/wiki/Aniu. Her appearance in the first movie is really beautiful and inspiring but I really don’t like her look in the second movie – they totally screwed up the design.

Here are the lyrics:

Deep in the night
The winds blow cold
And in a heartbeat
The fear takes hold

Deep in the storm
There's a place that's soft and still
Where the road waits to be taken
If you only will

The voices inside you
Can lead your soul astray
Believe in what you dream
Don't turn away
Don't you turn away

Reach for the light
You might touch the sky
Stand on the mountaintop
And see yourself flying
Reach for the light
To capture a star
Come out of the darkness
And find out who you are

Somewhere in time
The truth shines through
And the spirit knows
What it has to do

Somewhere in you
There's a power with no name
It can rise to meet the moment
And burn like a flame

And you can be stronger
Than anything you know
Hold on to what you see
Don't let it go
Don't you let it go

Reach for the light
You might touch the sky
Stand on the mountaintop
And see yourself flying
Reach for the light
To capture a star
Come out of the darkness
And find out who you are

Now, there's no turning back
When your destiny is calling
Listen to the thunder roll
And let your heart break free

Reach for the light
You might touch the sky
Stand on the mountaintop
And see yourself flying
Reach for the light
To capture a star
Come out of the darkness
And find out who you are

Reach for the light
You might touch the sky
Stand on the mountaintop
And see yourself flying
Reach for the light
To capture a star
Come out of the darkness
And find out who you are
Reach for the light


Aniu/ the White Wolf belongs –I think- to Universal pictures. I have known the animator’s name, but can’t find it. The art here belongs to me. Don’t use it without my permission