The Deer King

Lore & Background

The Deer King is set in the years following a vicious war, where the Empire of Zol controls the land of rival Aquafa, except for the Fire Horse Territory, where wild dogs carrying Black Wolf Fever roam free. When a pack of dogs attacks a Zol-controlled mine, Van, an enslaved former soldier, and a young girl named Yuna are bitten but survive as the only survivors. They escape and seek a peaceful life in the countryside, but the disease spreads again, placing them at the center of a struggle beyond any single nation.

Reader's Guide

The Deer King originated as a novel series by Nahoko Uehashi, published in 2014 and later reprinted. A manga adaptation by Taro Sekiguchi ran online from July 2021 to March 2022 and was collected in two volumes. An anime film adaptation by Production I.G was announced in June 2018, directed by Masashi Ando and Masayuki Miyaji, with character design by Ando, scripts by Taku Kishimoto, and music by Harumi Fuuki. The film was delayed multiple times, premiering on February 4, 2022, after a world premiere at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival on June 14, 2021. It was licensed for release in various regions, including North America by GKIDS. The first novel volume received a 4.5/5 star review from Anime News Network, which praised its blend of fantasy and scientific inquiry.

Did You Know?

• The original novel was published in two volumes in September 2014 and later republished in four volumes between June and July 2017.
• The manga adaptation was serialized online via Kadokawa Shoten's Young Ace Up website from July 2021 to March 2022.
• The anime film was originally scheduled for September 18, 2020, but was delayed twice, finally premiering on February 4, 2022.
• The film had its world premiere at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival on June 14, 2021.