Movie

The Deer King

2021 · 113 min

A somber, patiently told fantasy of loss and guardianship, with moments of quiet tenderness amid political intrigue and plague.

Directed by: Masashi Ando, Masayuki Miyaji
Genres: Animation, Drama, Adventure
Starring: Shinichi Tsutsumi, Ryoma Takeuchi, Anne Watanabe

Tagline: Fight to survive.
Overview: Following 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.

Your rating is saved. See your suggestions, or find titles like this one below.

Rate it, and Mesmero finds titles that feel like it. You do not need an account.

Search YouTube for a trailer

Rent or buy in the UK

Amazon Video

More options Data from JustWatch

Directed by: Masashi Ando, Masayuki Miyaji
Genres: Animation, Drama, Adventure
Starring: Shinichi Tsutsumi, Ryoma Takeuchi, Anne Watanabe

In your watch list

How it feels

Written by AI. It can be wrong.

Tone: melancholicstrength 2 of 3
darkstrength 2 of 3
earneststrength 2 of 3
tensestrength 1 of 3
Pacing: measured, 2 of 4, from slow-burn to relentless
Attention: engaged, 3 of 4, from background-friendly to demanding
Themes: survival
parenthood
grief
power
healing
Places: countryside
small town
Era: period
Audience: teen
Form: animated
Content intensity: Gore mild
Language mild
Violence mild
Sex none

All scales, 0 to 10

Scales, 0 to 10
Scale	Value	0 to 10
Action	4
Horror	3
Humour	2
Realism	3
Romance	1
Tension	5
Darkness	6
Complexity	5
Emotional weight	7

Titles like The Deer King

TV series

To Your Eternity

2021–2026

A quiet, aching journey through loss and change, asking you to sit with sorrow and find small warmth in fleeting connections.

Melancholic, dark · about survival and grief · animated

Via: melancholic
dark
survival
grief
animated
Pacing: measured
Attention: engaged
Seasons: 3

Details

To Your EternityHidden from your suggestions.

TV series

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba

2019–2024

A gorgeously animated, emotionally charged adventure that balances brutal fights with tender sibling devotion and a constant sense of loss.

Melancholic, dark · about survival and grief · animated

Via: melancholic
dark
survival
grief
animated
Pacing: brisk
Attention: engaged
Seasons: 5

Details

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no YaibaHidden from your suggestions.

Movie

Flow

2024

A wordless, dreamlike journey that blends quiet tension with moments of wonder, leaving a lingering sense of melancholy and hope.

Melancholic · about survival and healing · animated

Via: melancholic
survival
healing
animated
Pacing: measured
Attention: engaged
Runtime: 85 min

Details

FlowHidden from your suggestions.

Movie

Children Who Chase Lost Voices

2011

A lush, sorrowful fantasy that lingers on loss and longing, blending gentle wonder with moments of danger and quiet heartbreak.

Melancholic, earnest · about grief and healing · animated

Via: melancholic
earnest
grief
healing
animated
Pacing: measured
Attention: engaged
Runtime: 116 min

Details

Children Who Chase Lost VoicesHidden from your suggestions.

Movie

The Boy and the Heron

2023

A slow, dreamlike plunge into grief and wonder, where strange images linger and the heart quietly aches.

Melancholic · about grief and healing · animated

Via: melancholic
grief
healing
animated
Pacing: slow-burn
Attention: demanding
Runtime: 124 min

Details

The Boy and the HeronHidden from your suggestions.

Movie

Away

2019

A quiet, dreamlike journey through vast landscapes, with sparse sound and a lingering sense of pursuit that rewards patient attention.

Melancholic, earnest · about survival · animated

Via: melancholic
earnest
survival
animated
Pacing: slow-burn
Attention: demanding
Runtime: 75 min

Details

AwayHidden from your suggestions.

TV series

Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit

2007

A patient, heartfelt fantasy journey with graceful spear fights, quiet bonding, and a steady sense of protective warmth.

Same cinematographer: Koji Tanaka · Earnest · about survival and parenthood · animated

Also: Same cinematographer: Koji Tanaka
Via: earnest
survival
parenthood
animated
Pacing: measured
Attention: engaged
Seasons: 1

Details

Moribito: Guardian of the SpiritHidden from your suggestions.

Movie

A Monster Calls

2016

A deeply emotional and visually striking journey through a boy's grief, blending harsh reality with dark fantasy to create a cathartic and haunting experience.

Melancholic, dark · about grief and healing

Via: melancholic
dark
grief
healing
Pacing: slow-burn
Attention: demanding
Runtime: 108 min

Details

A Monster CallsHidden from your suggestions.

TV series

Violet Evergarden

2018

A gentle, sorrowful journey through letters and loss, quietly devastating yet ultimately hopeful, with gorgeous animation and a slow, deliberate pace.

Melancholic, earnest · about grief and healing · animated

Via: melancholic
earnest
grief
healing
animated
Pacing: slow-burn
Attention: engaged
Seasons: 1

Details

Violet EvergardenHidden from your suggestions.

Movie

The Plague Dogs

1982

A harrowing, beautiful journey that immerses you in the dogs' desperate struggle, blending stark cruelty with moments of tender hope.

Melancholic, earnest · about survival and grief · animated

Via: melancholic
earnest
survival
grief
animated
Pacing: measured
Attention: engaged
Runtime: 103 min

Details

The Plague DogsHidden from your suggestions.

Movie

The Storm

2024

A tender, rain-soaked fable that wraps found-family warmth around stormy, melancholic fantasy and surges of action.

Melancholic, earnest · about survival and parenthood · animated

Via: melancholic
earnest
survival
parenthood
animated
Pacing: measured
Attention: engaged
Runtime: 102 min

Details

The StormHidden from your suggestions.

TV series

WorldEnd: What are you doing at the end of the world? Are you busy? Will you save us?

2017

A quiet, sorrowful fantasy that lingers on loss and fragile hope, leaving a heavy ache long after each episode.

Melancholic, earnest · about survival and grief · animated

Via: melancholic
earnest
survival
grief
animated
Pacing: measured
Attention: engaged
Seasons: 1

Details

WorldEnd: What are you doing at the end of the world? Are you busy? Will you save us?Hidden from your suggestions.

Where to watch in the UK

Rent or buy

Amazon Video

Streaming data from JustWatch.All options on TMDB

Details

Genres: animation, drama, adventure, fantasy
Directed by: Masashi Ando, Masayuki Miyaji
Written by: Taku Kishimoto
Starring: Shinichi Tsutsumi, Ryoma Takeuchi, Anne Watanabe, Hisui Kimura, Yoshito Yasuhara, Tessyo Genda, Tomomichi Nishimura, Toru Sakurai
Music: Harumi Fuuki
Cinematography: Koji Tanaka
Runtime: 113 min
Country: Japan
Languages: Japanese

TMDB IMDb Letterboxd Wikidata

Something wrong on this page? Tell us.

The Deer King

How it feels

More like this

Titles like The Deer King

Where to watch in the UK

Details