#The Deer King Gets February 4 Release Date, New Trailer

The Deer King anime movie has received a February 4 release date in Japan and a new trailer. The film was previously delayed from its September 10, 2021 release date in August.

Outside of Japan, The Deer King is set to be released in North America by GKIDS in early 2022 and has been acquired for the United Kingdom, Ireland, and France by Anime Limited. It was previously screened at Montreal’s 2021 Fantasia International Film Festival on August 21 and at the United Kingdom’s 2021 Edinburgh International Film Festival on August 22 and 23

The Deer King is directed by Masashi Andou (Your Name co-character designer and co-animation director) and Masayuki Miyaji (Spirited Away co-assistant director), with Taku Kishimoto (Don’t Toy With Me, Miss Nagatoro) as scriptwriter. Andou is also serving as character designer and chief animation director. Production I.G is the animation production company.

Meanwhile, the cast includes Shinichi Tsutsumi as protagonist Van, Ryōma Takeuchi as the doctor Hothar, and Anne as the warrior Sae. milet is performing the theme song “One Reason.”

The Deer King is based on the novels by Nahoko Uehashi. The movie was previously featured at Annecy Festival 2021. 

GKIDS describes the film as:

In the years following a vicious war, the Empire of Zol now controls the land and citizens of rival Aquafa – except for Aquafa’s Fire Horse Territory, where wild dogs that once carried the deadly Black Wolf Fever continue to roam free. When a pack of dogs race through a Zol-controlled mine, Van, an enslaved former soldier, and a young girl named Yuna are both bitten, but manage to escape as the sole survivors of the attack. Finally free, Van and Yuna seek out a simple, peaceful existence in the countryside. But as the deadly disease once again runs rampant, they find themselves at the crossroads of a struggle much larger than any one nation.

Source: Toho Movie channel