Genres: action, drama, fantasy, romance, science fiction
Themes: fighting, survival game, swordplay, virtual reality
Number of episodes: 25
Vintage: 2012-07-07
Objectionable content: Significant

Plot Summary: The story revolves around a boy named Kazuto "Kirito" Kirigaya who enters a virtual-reality, massively multi-player online (MMO) world called "Sword Art Online." There is no escape from this world unless the player clears the game, but "game over" means the death of the player.

Sword Art Online Anime Slated for 1/2 Year Next July

posted on 2011-12-10 12:40 EST

ASCII Media Works' official website for the anime adaptation of Reki Kawahara's light novel series Sword Art Online announced on Saturday that the two-cours (two-quarter or half-year) anime will premiere in Japan next July. Kawahara launched the light novels with illustrations by abec in 2009, and Kadokawa Group Publishing released the eighth volume in August.

The site also confirmed that the drama CD's cast members are reprising their roles for the anime. Tomohiko Ito (Occult Academy) is directing the anime at A-1 Pictures with character designs by Shingo Adachi (Megaman Star Force, Wagnaria!!).

The story revolves around a boy named Kazuto "Kirito" Kirigaya who enters a virtual-reality, massively multi-player online (MMO) world called "Sword Art Online." There is no escape from this world unless the player clears the game, but "game over" means the death of the player.

Sword Art Online Anime's 1st TV Ad Streamed

posted on 2012-04-17 09:40 EDT

Reki Kawahara's story of genius programmer who plays deadly virtual-world MMO

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The official website for the upcoming Sword Art Online anime began streaming a television commercial on Monday. The 15-second ad is the first one for this adaptation of Reki Kawahara's light novel series. The two-cours (two-quarter or half-year) anime will premiere in Japan in July with music by Yuki Kajiura (Noir, .hack, Puella Magi Madoka Magica, Fate/Zero).

The story revolves around a boy named Kazuto "Kirito" Kirigaya who enters a virtual-reality, massively multi-player online (MMO) world called "Sword Art Online." There is no escape from this world unless the player clears the game, but "game over" means the death of the player.

Sword Art Online Anime's 2nd TV Ad Streamed

posted on 2012-05-14 11:06 EDT

Reki Kawahara's story of boy who plays deadly virtual-world MMO

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The official website for the Sword Art Online anime series began streaming a 15-second television commercial on Monday. The website posted the first ad for this adaptation of Reki Kawahara's light novel series last month.

The two-cours (two-quarter or half-year) television anime will premiere in Japan in July with music by Yuki Kajiura (Noir, .hack, Puella Magi Madoka Magica, Fate/Zero). Two trailers for the series began streaming in March.

The story revolves around a boy named Kazuto "Kirito" Kirigaya who enters a virtual-reality, massively multi-player online (MMO) world called "Sword Art Online." There is no escape from this world unless the player clears the game, but "game over" means the death of the player.

Haruka Tomatsu to Perform Sword Art Online Ending Theme Song

posted on 2012-05-27 22:30 EDT

2-cour series about boy who plays deadly virtual-world MMO to premiere in July

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The official Twitter account for the Sword Art Online television anime series revealed on Saturday that voice actress and singer Haruka Tomatsu will sing the anime's ending theme song "Yume Sekai" (Dream World). The song itself will be released as a single on July 25.

Tomatsu will also play Asuna in the upcoming series. She has also performed theme songs for Motto To Love Ru, Kannagi, Hana-Saku Iroha, and Katanagatari, among others.

The Twitter account also confirmed on Sunday that the series will air for two cours (two quarters or half a year).

The television series is adapting Reki Kawahara's light novel series. The series will premiere in Japan in July with music by Yuki Kajiura (Noir, .hack, Puella Magi Madoka Magica, Fate/Zero). The official website for the series began streaming a commercial for the show earlier this month.

The story revolves around a boy named Kazuto "Kirito" Kirigaya who enters a virtual-reality, massively multi-player online (MMO) world called "Sword Art Online." There is no escape from this world unless the player clears the game, but "game over" means the death of the player.

Sword Art Online Anime's 3rd TV Ad Streamed

posted on 2012-06-04 11:00 EDT

Reki Kawahara's story of boy who plays deadly virtual-world MMO to premiere in July

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The official website for the Sword Art Online anime series began streaming a third 15-second television commercial on Monday. The website posted the second ad for this adaptation of Reki Kawahara's light novel series last month.

The two-cours (two-quarter or half-year) television anime will premiere in Japan in July with music by Yuki Kajiura (Noir, .hack, Puella Magi Madoka Magica, Fate/Zero). Voice actress and singer Haruka Tomatsu will sing the anime's ending theme song "Yume Sekai" (Dream World). Tomatsu will also play Asuna in the upcoming series.

The story revolves around a boy named Kazuto "Kirito" Kirigaya who enters a virtual-reality, massively multi-player online (MMO) world called "Sword Art Online." There is no escape from this world unless the player clears the game, but "game over" means the death of the player.

So it's the second coming of .hack//fill in the blank.
That's cool, and I take it it's an Aniplex show going by the trailer.
Maybe they'll keep it for themselves.

LiSA to Sing Sword Art Online Anime's Opening

posted on 2012-06-07 12:30 EDT

Fate/Zero theme singer to perform Sho Watanabe's "crossing field" in July series

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Japanese singer LiSA will perform the opening theme song "crossing field" for the Sword Art Online television anime series. Sho Watanabe composed the music and wrote the song's lyrics. Aniplex will release the singer's second single CD with the song on August 8.

The two-cours (two-quarter or half-year) television anime will premiere in Japan in July with music by Yuki Kajiura (Noir, .hack, Puella Magi Madoka Magica, Fate/Zero). Voice actress and singer Haruka Tomatsu will sing the anime's ending theme song "Yume Sekai" (Dream World).

The anime's story revolves around a boy named Kazuto "Kirito" Kirigaya who enters a virtual-reality, massively multi-player online (MMO) world called "Sword Art Online." There is no escape from this world unless the player clears the game, but "game over" means the death of the player.

LiSA performed songs as part of the in-anime band "Girls Dead Monster" in the Angel Beats! television anime series. She then contributed the song "oath sign" for the first half of the Fate/Zero television anime series. She sang during Singapore's Anime Festival Asia last November. She will appear at this summer's Anime Expo event in Los Angeles.

Sword Art Online Anime's 2nd Trailer Streamed

posted on 2012-06-24 08:05 EDT

Reki Kawahara's story of deadly virtual MMO debuts on July 7; PSP RPG revealed

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The official website for the Sword Art Online anime series began streaming its second trailer on Sunday. The anime adapts Reki Kawahara's light novel series of the same name.

The story revolves around a boy named Kazuto "Kirito" Kirigaya who enters a virtual-reality, massively multi-player online (MMO) world called "Sword Art Online." There is no escape from this world unless the player clears the game, but "game over" means the death of the player.

The two-cours (two-quarter or half-year) television anime will premiere in Japan on July 7 with music by Yuki Kajiura (Noir, .hack, Puella Magi Madoka Magica, Fate/Zero). Voice actress and singer Haruka Tomatsu will sing the anime's ending theme song "Yume Sekai" (Dream World), and she will also play Asuna in the upcoming series.

During the Tokyo preview screening of the first anime episode on Sunday, Namco Bandai Games also announced that the previously revealed Sword Art Online game will be a role-playing game on the PSP handheld system. Specifically, Sword Art Online -Infinity Moment- will be in the "live-in-this-moment-with-you RPG" genre. The 521st volume of ASCII Media Works' Dengeki PlayStation magazine will publish more details on Thursday.

Crunchyroll Adds Horizon II, Kokoro Connect, Sword Art Online

posted on 2012-06-29 19:02 EDT

Also: Chitose Get You!!, Campione!, So, I Can't Play H!, Jinrui wa Suitai Shimashita, Natsuyuki Rendezvous, Arcana Famiglia, Tari Tari

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Online media service Crunchyroll annnounced more titles in its simulcast lineup for the upcoming summer season:


• Horizon in the Middle of Nowhere II
• Chitose Get You!!
• Campione!
• So, I Can't Play H! (Dakara Boku wa, H ga Dekinai.)
• Jinrui wa Suitai Shimashita
• Natsuyuki Rendezvous
• Kokoro Connect
• La storia della Arcana Famiglia
• Tari Tari
• Sword Art Online

Crunchyroll also announced that it will begin streaming to PlayStation 3 consoles and certain Samsung televisions.

Sword Art Online Anime's 4th TV Ad Aired

posted on 2012-07-01 00:30 EDT

Reki Kawahara's story of deadly virtual MMO debuts on July 7

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The official website for the television anime adaptation of Reki Kawahara's action-fantasy light novel series Sword Art Online began streaming a fourth television commercial for the series on Friday. The commercial features the opening theme song "Crossing Field" by LiSA.

The story revolves around a boy named Kazuto "Kirito" Kirigaya who enters a virtual-reality, massively multi-player online (MMO) world called "Sword Art Online." There is no escape from this world unless the player clears the game, but "game over" means the death of the player.

The two-cours (two-quarter or half-year) television anime will premiere in Japan on July 7 with music by Yuki Kajiura (Noir, .hack, Puella Magi Madoka Magica, Fate/Zero). Voice actress and singer Haruka Tomatsu will perform the anime's ending theme song "Yume Sekai" (Dream World), and she will also play Asuna in the upcoming series.

Crunchyroll announced at Anime Expo on Friday that it will stream the series as it airs in Japan.

Sword Art Online BD/DVD Buyers Can Win Kirito's Sword

posted on 2012-07-16 13:45 EDT

Fans who buy entire anime at Comic Toranoana stores can win Aniplex replica

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Fans who buy every DVD or Blu-ray Disc volume of the Sword Art Online television anime series at a Comic Toranoana doujinshi goods retail store can win a real-life version of the character Kirito's sword Elucidator. Aniplex showcased the replica sword at its Anime Contents Expo 2012 booth. The winner will be chosen in a random drawing.

People who purchase the first limited-edition volume at select retailers across Japan, including Comic Toranoana, will also receive a poster with art by the original novels' character designer abec. Fans who buy every volume of the anime at the same retailers will get a cast round-table discussion CD featuring Yoshitsugu Matsuoka, Haruka Tomatsu, Ayana Taketatsu, Kanae Itō, Rina Hidaka, and Ayahi Takagaki.

The same retail chains will also offer a variety of separate, exclusive items to people who buy the anime at their stores. Bonuses will include art cards, bed sheets, posters, cases, and tapestries.

Aniplex will release the first volume of Sword Art Online in Japan on October 24. Adapted from Reki Kawahara's action-fantasy light novel series, the anime premiered in Japan on July 7.

Please don't let AoA get it, please don't let AoA get it, please....