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.
_The Deer King_ is as visually gorgeous as any Studio Ghibli film. While its animation pleases on almost every level, its storytelling and pacing is lacking as the film seems to prioritize monotonous dialogue and petty human squabbling over anything remotely exciting.
**Full Review:** https://hubpages.com/entertainment/The-Deer-King-2022-Review-A-Gorgeously-Stale-Animated-Film