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For the past two years, the world has fought a deadly virus, struggling to understand how to bring it to an end. And as the pandemic raged on, the animators at Japan’s Production I.G. continued working on The Deer King (Shika no ou), based on a popular fantasy series about a nation faced with a deadly disease.
The Deer King journeys to the land of Aquafa, which is now under the rule of the Empire of Zol. When a band of wild dogs attack a Zol-controlled salt mine, bringing with them the deadly Black Wolf Fever that everyone had thought had gone away years ago, only two people survive: former soldier Van and a little girl named Yuna. Together, the two survivors start a new life in the countryside. But when a doctor and some powerful leaders discover that Van survived, they go out in search of him—for their own separate reasons.
As Van and Yuna form their own little family out in the country, surrounded by new friends, Van finally finds happiness. For years, he’s been mourning the loss of his wife and child, but now he’s been given a second chance—not just by surviving the disease but also by finding this adorable little girl. Their relationship brings some heartwarming moments to this story of war and death and disease—but, of course, their peace doesn’t last long.
After spending the last two years battling our own deadly disease, so much of this story feels fitting. Everyone has an opinion here—whether it’s the Zolian priests who burn the bodies and pray for their own survival, convinced that the disease is a curse on their people, or the determined doctor who wants to study the science behind it to determine why Van survived, or the leaders who plan to use it to their advantage. At times, it all feels a little too real.
At the same time though, there are so many different characters here—various leaders with different plans and motives—that it’s sometimes a challenge to keep track of them all. This is definitely not the kind of brainless action film that you can watch while doing other things. Between the complex story and the subtitles, you’ll need to pay close attention—and, even then, you might struggle to keep up.
Still, despite its challenging story, The Deer King is dramatic and insightful—an animated film for adults filled with action and fantasy and power struggles. It’s an ambitious film—maybe a little too ambitious—but it’s a striking offering for fans of Japanese animation.
The Deer King open in select theaters—both subtitled and dubbed in English—beginning on July 15, 2022.
Listen to the review on Reel Discovery:
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