The anime "Deer Maiden" is adapted from the story of "The Deer Mother" found in Cave 85 of the Dunhuang murals in China. To refine the script, screenwriter Cao Lihua traveled three times to the original site of the Dunhuang murals in Gansu Province to gather materials. The story of "Deer Maiden" goes as follows: Legend has it that at the foot of Lotus Mountain, there lived a deer maiden who was chased by a hunting party from the Xia Kingdom. She was fortunately saved by King Yan. King Yan married the deer maiden and made her his consort. She gave birth to a lotus, which was thrown into the river by the queen dowager. The lotus later drifted to the Xia Kingdom, from which ten boys emerged and were adopted by the King of Xia. When the ten princes grew up, they attacked the Yan Kingdom on behalf of their adoptive father. The deer maiden intervened, moving both the Kings of Xia and Yan, and turned conflict into harmony. The film retains the traditional style of the ancient Dunhuang murals while also meeting the aesthetic demands of modern audiences. Its visuals are exquisite, and its意境 is deeply moving. The film won the Best Art Film Award at the 14th China Film Golden Rooster Awards in 1994.