GKIDS is bringing The Deer King to North America in July. Premiere events are set to take place on July 13 and 14, while regular screenings at selected theaters will begin from July 15.

Tickets will go on sale on June 10.

The Deer King premiered in Japan on February 4. It is based on the novels by Nahoko Uehashi. GKIDS describes the film as:

In the years following a vicious war, the Empire of Zol now controls the land and citizens of rival Aquafa – except for Aquafa’s Fire Horse Territory, where wild dogs that once carried the deadly Black Wolf Fever continue to roam free. When a pack of dogs race through a Zol-controlled mine, Van, an enslaved former soldier, and a young girl named Yuna are both bitten, but manage to escape as the sole survivors of the attack. Finally free, Van and Yuna seek out a simple, peaceful existence in the countryside. But as the deadly disease once again runs rampant, they find themselves at the crossroads of a struggle much larger than any one nation.

The Deer King is directed by Masashi Andou (Your Name co-character designer and animation director) and Masayuki Miyaji (Spirited Away co-assistant director), with Taku Kishimoto (Don’t Toy With Me, Miss Nagatoro) as scriptwriter. Andou is also serving as character designer and chief animation director.

Other staff include Hiroshi Ohno (Lu Over the Wall) as art director, Ken Hashimoto (Bubble) as color designer, and Kouji Tanaka (Fate/Grand Order The Movie Divine Realm of the Round Table: Camelot Wandering; Agateram) as photography director. Production I.G is the animation production company.

Meanwhile, the cast includes Shinichi Tsutsumi as protagonist Van, Ryouma Takeuchi as the doctor Hothar, and Anne as the warrior Sae.

Source: @GKIDSfilms