A thorough review of "The Deer King"'s journey with Yuna! Will it live up to its promise of excitement?

"The Deer King: Yuna and the Promised Journey": A fusion of epic fantasy and profound themes

■Overview of the work

"The Deer King: Yuna and the Promised Journey" is a theatrical animation released on February 4, 2022, based on the novel "The Deer King" by Nahoko Uehashi. The film begins with the Tsuol Empire, which invaded the Akafa Kingdom with overwhelming force, being forced to retreat due to a mysterious disease called Black Wolf Fever (Mitzar). Since then, the two countries have maintained a loose annexation relationship, but the Akafa Kingdom is planning a rebellion by using mountain dogs that carry the virus to cause a mass outbreak of Mitzar again. Meanwhile, as Mitzar wreaks havoc throughout the country, Van, who survived the mountain dog attack, sets out on a journey with an orphaned girl named Yuna, but as someone who has antibodies to the disease, he is targeted by Sae, an assassin sent by the Akafa Kingdom who wants to prevent the development of a cure. Meanwhile, Hossal, a doctor who wants Van's blood to create a cure, is also desperately searching for Van. When various intentions and conspiracies intersect, fate begins to move.

■Production background and staff

The Deer King won the Booksellers' Award in 2015, and for a long time it was said to be impossible to adapt into a film due to its overwhelming scale. However, the talented animator Ando Masashi took on the challenge as his directorial debut, working with Miyaji Masayuki as director. Animation production is handled by Production IG, and the production committee includes KADOKAWA, Nippon Television Network Corporation, and Toho. The screenplay is by Kishimoto Taku, character design and animation direction is by Ando Masashi, concept visuals are by Shinagawa Hiroki, art direction is Ohno Koji, color design is by Hashimoto Masaru, photography director is Tanaka Hiroji, sound direction is Kikuta Hiromi, and music is by Fuki Harumi. The theme song "One Reason" is sung by milet, and the lyrics and music are also by milet and Toru.

■Cast

The main cast includes Shinichi Tsutsumi as Van, Ryoma Takeuchi as Hossal, Anne as Sae, Hisui Kimura as Yuna, Yoshito Yasuhara as Turim, Toru Sakurai as Makoukan, Hide Fujima as Orphan, Tessho Genda as King Akafa, Tomomichi Nishimura as Kenoi, Atsushi Abe as Yotaru, and Jo Aoyama as Utaru. These cast members play important roles that enhance the depth of the story.

■ Story and Theme

"The Deer King: Yuna and the Promised Journey" depicts the epic battle between the characters, who are at the mercy of cruel fate, and the mysterious disease. At the center of the story is the journey of Van and Yuna, who support each other and grow while facing various difficulties. Van, as the last warrior of the "Dokukaku", Hossal, as a genius doctor who pursues the mystery of the disease, and Sae, as a hunter who pursues those with antibodies, each advance the story from their own perspective. In addition, King Akafa's rebellion plan and the movements of the Tsor Empire also add tension to the story.

The theme of this work is fighting for one's comrades at the risk of one's life, and the courage and hope to face one's destiny. Van and Yuna's journey is not just an adventure, but a journey to look at the meaning of their existence and their future. Furthermore, Mitzar's existence can be seen as a metaphor that questions how to deal with illness and disasters in modern society.

■Video and Music

The visual beauty of "The Deer King: Yuna and the Promised Journey" is brought to life by Masashi Ando's unique drawing style and Production IG's technical capabilities. In particular, the depiction of the natural environment and the characters' expressions is extremely realistic, drawing the audience into the world of the story. Harumi Fuki's music also plays a role in further heightening the tension and emotion of the story. The theme song, "One Reason," is also a memorable song that symbolizes Van and Yuna's journey.

■ Evaluation and recommendation

"The Deer King: Yuna and the Promised Journey" is a work that combines grand fantasy with profound themes, providing the audience with many emotions and thoughts. In particular, the human drama depicted through Van and Yuna's journey is deeply moving. It is also a noteworthy work as Masashi Ando's directorial debut, and the visual beauty that combines his unique drawing style with Production IG's technical capabilities is a must-see.

This work is recommended not only for those who like fantasy anime, but also for those who enjoy deep themes. I would especially recommend it to those who can relate to a story about fighting for friends and the courage to face destiny. In addition, the theme song "One Reason" by milet is a song that further enhances the moving story, so music fans will also enjoy it.

■Detailed information

■ Public Media

theater

■ Original Media

novel

■ Release date

February 4, 2022

■Distribution company

Distributor: Toho

■Frequencies

113 min

■ Number of Episodes

Episode 1

■Original Story

・Original work: Naho Uehashi ^{The Deer King ・KADOKAWA}

■ Director

Director: Masashi Ando, ​​Masayuki Miyaji

■ Production

・Animation production: Production IG
Produced by: "The Deer King" Production Committee

■Works

©2021 "The Deer King" Production Committee