The Deer King

Synopsis

Ten years have passed since the Zol Empire conquered Aquafa, but they failed to take Fire Horse Village due to an outbreak of Black Wolf Fever, a disease now believed to have vanished. Van Gansa, imprisoned in a Zol Empire-run salt mine, survives an attack by spirit wolves alongside Yuna. The wolves, carriers of the fever, slaughter the guards, leaving only Van and Yuna alive. Convinced the illness is gone, Van decides to escape and seek a peaceful village with Yuna. However, his history as a fever carrier makes him a target for various factions: some see him as a potential cure, while others want to prevent the fever from being weaponized. This draws Van into a national crisis with consequences reaching far beyond the empire's borders.

Background

Shika no Ou: Yuna to Yakusoku no Tabi was initially scheduled to premiere on September 18, 2020, but was delayed twice due to various undisclosed circumstances and the COVID-19 pandemic. The film was released on Blu-ray and DVD in Japan on September 28, 2022. GKIDS released the movie in the same formats in North America on October 18, 2022.