Acclaimed animation producer/distributor GKIDS announced today it will bring The Deer King — the new feature from Japanese animation veterans Masashi Ando and Masayuki Miyaji — to cinemas nationwide this July.
Continuing their partnership with Fathom Events, fan preview events for The Deer King will play in cinemas nationwide on Wednesday, July 13 (Japanese language) and Thursday, July 14 (English language dubbed). In addition to the full feature, audiences will view a special introduction from director Masashi Ando, exclusive to the Fathom Events screenings.
Fan preview events will be followed by a limited theatrical release in select markets nationwide by GKIDS starting Friday, July 15.
Tickets will be on sale June 10 at FathomEvents.com, TheDeerKing.com and participating theater box offices. (On-sale date may vary based on local cinemas; theaters and participants are subject to change).
Synopsis: In the aftermath of a brutal war, former soldier Van toils in a mine controlled by the ruling empire. One day, his solitary existence is upended when a pack of wild dogs carrying a deadly and incurable disease attack, leaving only Van and a young girl named Yuna as survivors. Finally free, the pair seek out a simple existence in the countryside but are pursued by nefarious forces. Intent on protecting Yuna at all costs, Van must uncover the true cause of the plague ravaging the kingdom — and its possible cure.
The Deer King marks the directorial debut for Ando, who previously worked as a character designer, animation director and key animator with the famed Studio Ghibli (Spirited Away, Princess Mononoke) and with directors Satoshi Kon (Paprika, Paranoia Agent) and Makoto Shinkai (Your Name.).
Co-director Masayuki Miyaji is best known for directing the 2009 series Xam’s: Lost Memories and work on Studio Ghibli films such as My Neighbors the Yamadas.
The original book series, by author Nahoko Uehashi, won the Booksellers Award and the fourth Japan Medical Novel Award in 2015, and has printed 2.2 million copies in Japan to date.
The film is produced by acclaimed studio Production I.G, known for their work in series and feature animation such as the legendary film Ghost in the Shell and highly influential series FLCL, Haikyu!! and Psycho Pass. The studio’s 2011 feature A Letter to Momo and 2015 feature Miss Hokusai are also distributed by GKIDS.
