It has been a very good month for anime fans. Every week, it feels like there is something new on the horizon. But this month has been the month where anime has taken over our cinema screens. First we had Pompo: The Cinephile, then an announcement about a brand new One Piece movie, then Fruits Basket: Prelude, and now The Deer King. From the Chief Animation Director on some of the biggest films in anime, such as Princess Mononoke and Your Name, comes Masashi Ando’s directorial debut. Focusing on two clans who are battling against a killer disease, The Deer King follows Van, a strong-willed warrior who may hold the key to finding a cure. Filled with awesome visuals and a beautiful soundtrack, The Deer King is sure to wow audiences. We were lucky enough to check out The Deer King before it’s theatrical release on the big screen, and we can’t wait to share our thoughts. Avid anime films will be able to check out The Deer King from July 27th.
Synopsis
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.
Review
Going into The Deer King, one thing that I didn’t expect was an absolutely gripping and truly endearing relationship between two unlikely souls. I remember being enticed by the sweeping landscapes and the looming disaster, but the relationship between Van and Yuna is unquestionably the highlight of The Deer King. After surviving a dreadful attack, the two become somewhat stuck with eachother. However, what eventually sprouts is utterly enchanting and beautiful. Their relationship flourishes in such a magical way. It’s gradual, but very powerful. Van is very resistant to that sort of relationship and you’ll see why. But gradually… Those impenetrable walls begin to fall down. Yuna reinvigorates a very broken man who, while incredibly strong mentally and physically, has given up. His new-found relationship with Yuna gives him a second chance at life. Unfortunately, the universe has other ideas for the pair.
Outside of avoiding enemies on two fronts, the time we spend with Van and Yuna is super sweet and delightful. Despite the world falling apart at the seams, they’re able to find light in the darkness. Considering how the last few years have played out, The Deer King definitely honed in on the idea of fear and trauma through the dreaded Black Wolf Fever, which is something we can actually relate to. But, rather than focusing purely on the negative elements The Deer King emphasises the importance of community and family during trying times. It’s a poignant message that is perfectly captured through the battered and worn down Van, and the hopefuly and inquisitive Yuna.
There are of course additional characters thrown into the mix and some of them add a really interesting dynamic to the film. You have Hohsalle who is a doctor attempting to find a cure for the mittsual, and then you have Sae who is on a mission to kill Van so that a cure cannot be created, believing the disease to be some sort of divine punishment. They become two incredibly unlikely travelling companions since their missions both involve the fate of Van and will directly impact the future of the people of Aquafa and the Zolians. There’s conflict there, but it’s more like a strategy game between two rival powers rather than a war. Hohsalle needs to convince Sae why a cure is the best thing for everyone, while Sae attempts to convince Hohsalle why the disease needs to run its course. It’s a playful dynamic that worked really well in the midst of the chaos and Hohsalle became an instant favourite. Despite being anchored by the bleakness of the situation, he was able to find joy in the most unlikely of places. For Sae, who is weighed down by this idea of radical religious fanaticism, her journey alongside Hohsalle and Van is a transformative one with very surprising results. While the focus is primarily on Van and Yuna, the introduction of both kingdoms, through Sae and Hohsalle, helps us understand the needs of both kingdoms and how different they both are.
It feels like it has been a while since a soundtrack has fully moved me. There have been some cracking soundtracks in cinema lately, but the highlights have all been the big and triumphant orchestral suites. Looking at the superhero genre, the two heavy hitters in recent memory have been The Batman and No Way Home. However, the music in anime has always felt different; from Your Name, to My Hero Academia, to Howl’s Moving Castle, all the way to Belle. Anime music hits very differently and to this day I still can’t figure out why. The soundtrack for The Deer King, composed by Harumi Fuuki, is outstanding. There’s a calmness, even a serenity, to it that helped accentuate the natural and magical world that surrounds Van and Yuna. It isn’t too boastful either, it just blends into the background but it really brings the world to life. As much as I love the loud and epic tracks, The Deer King felt very relaxed which worked really well with the story it was trying to tell. While there was a killer disease running rampant (on all fours), this film focuses primarily on this new life that Van wants for Yuna and the music mirrors that desire for peace brillianty.
Of course, we can’t simply forget about the animation. In a nutshell, the animation is really good. There was a part of me that was expecting to be transported to another beautiful fantasy realm. Now, that’s not to say that it was disappointing. In fact, the landscapes and attention to detail were fantastic… It just didn’t feel very different or unique, so among the various films and shows it just didn’t stand out as much as I was hoping it to. It’s not as smooth or as a grand as it could have been, but there’s no denying that it absolutely nailed the aesthetical side of nature, it thrives on it and embraces it much like Van embraces this second chance. There are some wonderful shots in The Deer King that are vibrant and full of life and it creates a nice contrast, You have the lush green environment against the mundane cityscapes and the chaos caused by the Black Wolf Fever. It’s a striking battle between two tones and they both help emphasise the other. The chaos and darkness turns the forest into a safe haven, whereas the untarnished greenery highlights the immense peril caused by the rampaging wolves.
I thought there was a nice parallel between Princess Mononoke and The Deer King in regards to the ways in which disease is visualised. In Princess Mononoke, Ashitaka’s village is almost ravaged by a black venom-like demon that has consumed a giant boar. In The Deer King, the disease is carried by a pack of vicious black wolves that eminate this darkness and it sweeps in like a wave. There are definitely some similiarities there, but what I found fascinating is that it always appears as though nature ia fighting back. The wolves are very much the antagonists, but I like this idea that Mother Nature has willed in a way to combat humanity in general.
My biggest issue with The Deer King was that it felt a little confused. The story was intricately told, but it was introducing a lot of new elements very quickly and I really did struggle to keep up with the mythology, the goals and ideologies of each side, as well as the characters from both factions. This film is a lot bigger in scope than I was expecting and the piling lore made it difficult to fully invest in the stories that were transpiring around Van and Yuna. It didn’t take away too much from the film, especially with such a fun and diverse group of characters at the centre of the story, it just made the world around that primary story a bit unclear.
Verdict
The Deer King is a visual treat that really embraces the beauty of the natural world and the horrowing nature of disease. Combined with the wonderful and blooming relationship between Van and Yuna, The Deer King has so much to offer. However, because it’s introducing a lot of core elements, all of which are completely new especially in regards to the lore, it comes across as quite muddled. It wasn’t difficult to follow, it was just a lot to process which somewhat hindered the experience of watching. Having said that though, part of me wishes for more from that world. A chance to explore particular origins and unknown futures would be a great opportunity for such a visual world.
If you do go and see The Deek King, I would highly recommend hanging around for the credits. Evoking the spirit of Ghibli, the credits involve scenes that reveal the fate of particular characters following the events of the finale. After going on this long journey, it’s definitely worth the wait.
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The Deer King will be shown in selected cinemas nationwide from 27th July 2022 in Japanese with English subtitles, as well as an English-language dub from 28th July 2022.
Check out the trailer below:
For more information and to book tickets, you can visit https://www.deerkingfilm.co.uk/
What do you make of The Deer King? Will you be booking tickets? Make sure you let us know in the comments. For more anime news, click here.
