Anime film adaptation of the award-winning fantasy novel “Shika no Ō / The Deer King” (鹿の王) is confirmed to premiere in Japanese theatre on 18th September 2020.
“Princess Mononoke”, “Spirited Away” and “Your Name” animation director Masashi Ando (安藤雅司) makes his directorial debut, alongside co-director Masayuki Miyaji (宮地昌幸). Ando also serves as the animation director, while “Haikyu!!” scriptwriter Taku Kishimoto (岸本卓) provides the screenplay. The anime film is produced by Production I.G.
▼Official imaginary visual for the characters
▍About Shika no Ō
Shika no Ō is a Japanese fantasy novel series written by Nahoko Uehashi (上橋 菜穂子) and has won the champion of 2015 Japan Booksellers’ Award (2015 本屋大賞), a well-acclaimed prize based on votes by bookstore clerks from all over Japan. A sequel, “Shika no Ō The Bridge under the Water” was published in March 2019. The series has been sold for over 190,000 copies.
The novel follows Van, the leader and the sole survivor of the Lone Antlers, who are known to be a band of fierce warriors fought for their countries. Defeated and wounded, Van was captured and enslaved in a salt mine. One night, savage dogs attack the mine, and soon after, a mysterious disease wipes out both the slaves and their keepers. Van is lucky enough to survive (again), together with a little girl called Yuna. Since that day, he vows to protect the girl no matter the costs.