Based on the award-winning novel series by Nahoko Uehashi, the next stop for The Deer King anime film is home video in North America. GKIDS announced plans to bring the acclaimed feature to all major digital platforms on October 4, followed by a Blu-ray + DVD release on October 18.

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Check out the home video announcement trailer:

The Deer King marks the directorial debut of Masashi Ando, who previously worked as a character designer, animation director and key animator at Studio Ghibli, as well as with Makoto Shinkai and the late Satoshi Kon.

Bonus features:

• Bringing the English Dub to Life
• Interview with Director Masashi Ando
• Introduction from Masashi Ando
• Design Gallery
• Trailers

Synopsis:

An action-packed anime film with dazzling animation, The Deer King is a breathtaking story of survival. 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.

Source: Press release

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Joseph Luster is the Games and Web editor at Otaku USA Magazine and the Editor-in-Chief of Sci Fi Magazine. You can read his comics at subhumanzoids. Follow him on Twitter @Moldilox.