The Deer King is a breathtaking and emotionally-stirring fantasy adventure film on Hulu by Studio Ghibli alumnus Masashi Ando making his directorial debut. Anime film fans looking to be swept away by The Deer King's world takes places in should seek to stream the film, which is now available on Hulu. The film was initially screened at several film festival in 2021, where it won the Bronze Audience Award from the Fantasia International Film Festival, before GKIDS worked with Fathom Events to bring select showings to the general public in July 2022.

The Deer King sees former warrior Van captured and forced to indefinitely serve in Zol-controlled territory salt mines along with dozens of other prisoners. One night, a pack of ravenous Ossam dogs attack, bringing with them a mysterious disease. Van makes his escape to save the life of a little girl named Yuna and their lives are inexplicably entwined by the experience and the trauma that they suffered. Their escape makes them highly sought after as survivors who, after being bitten by the ravenous dogs, may possess the means to cure the mysterious disease known as Black Wolf Fever. Van and Yuna travel alongside the gifted physician Hohsalle, while on the run.

The Deer King is a Breathtaking Masterpiece

Based on the fantasy novel series by Nahoko Uehashi, The Deer King was directed by Masashi Ando, Japanese animator, character designer, and filmmaker known for his work on such films as Princess Mononoke, Spirited Away, and Your Name. It features a cast consisting of Ryoma Takeuchi, Shinichi Tsutsumi, Tōru Sakurai, Anne Watanabe, Satoshi Hino, and more. The Deer King is also available in English dub with a cast of familiar voice actors including Ray Chase, Griffin Puatu, Erica Shroeder, and many others.

The Deer King is About Comion in a World Ruled by Fear

Yuna-and-Van-from-The-Deer-King hugging-with-light-around-them

The Deer King is carried forward by more than just its beauty as the movie's themes touch on the ravages of war, fear's effect on the masses, and even found family. Throughout the film, viewers constantly witness Van's incredible dedication to keeping Yuna safe, which speaks to his kind heart and the immense grief and guilt he experiences after tragically losing both his wife and son. From the beginning, Van is shown to have a brave heart and a giving nature, solidifying his likability in mere minutes, and although he and Yuna are not blood-related, he states "Blood ties matter not" and that his soul was saved by Yuna. At his core, Van is a man overwhelmed by grief who still believes in the importance of kindness.

While the story centers on the journey of Van and Yuna and their developing father-daughter relationship, viewers do get to spend time with and meet a cast of unique and memorable characters. Many of these characters end up aiding Van and Yuna on their journey or are quick to discover that they can work together to defeat the overwhelming threat that is Black Wolf Fever, which has devastated countless lives. One of the most memorable characters is that of Hohsalle, a benevolent doctor who s Van and Yuna on their journey because of his determination to end the Black Wolf Fever's reign.

With some visually stunning scenes that showcase the natural beauty of this fantasy world and a thought-provoking end, The Deer King is a must-see for anime film lovers, particularly those who enjoy movies like Princess Mononoke. The Deer King might not be a Studio Ghibli film, but it carries the prolific film studio's spirit.

The Deer King is available for purchase on Blu-ray and is currently viewable in Japanese or English on Hulu.