A Deer of Nine Colors

A Deer of Nine Colors is a film produced by Shanghai Animation Film Studio. It is also referred to as ''"The Nine Colored Deer"''.

Background

The original story is based on the Buddhist Jataka tale of the same name, which were discovered as cave paintings from the Mogao Caves in Dunhuang, China. The animated plot is essentially a spinoff.

Story

In ancient times a Persian trade merchant was lost in a windstorm. Suddenly a spiritual deer with 9 colors appear to guide the man with directions. Later on the deer would rescue a man drowning in a river. In exchange the man makes a promise not to talk about the deer's whereabouts. The man would reach an imperial palace. The king insisted on hunting down the spiritual deer down to make clothes out of the deer skin. With an army of warriors, the man could not resist the profit opportunity and led them to the same spot as before. He falls back into the same water, hoping the deer would show up to rescue him. This time all the warrior arrows turned into dust and the man is drowned..