Sword Art Online

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Alternative Titles

Synonyms: S.A.O, SAO
Japanese: ソードアート・オンライン
English: Sword Art Online
More titles

Information

Type: TV
Episodes: 25
Status: Finished Airing
Aired: Jul 8, 2012 to Dec 23, 2012
Premiered: Summer 2012
Broadcast: Sundays at 00:00 (JST)
Licensors: Aniplex of America
Studios: A-1 Pictures
Genres: ActionAction, AdventureAdventure, FantasyFantasy, RomanceRomance
Themes: Love PolygonLove Polygon, Video GameVideo Game
Duration: 23 min. per ep.
Rating: PG-13 - Teens 13 or older

Statistics

Score: 7.211 (scored by 21696752,169,675 users)
1 indicates a weighted score.
Ranked: #31742
2 based on the top anime page. Please note that 'Not yet aired' and 'R18+' titles are excluded.
Popularity: #5
Members: 3,106,842
Favorites: 68,931

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7.21
Ranked #3174Popularity #5Members 3,106,842
Add to My List
Episodes: /25

Synopsis

Ever since the release of the innovative NerveGear, gamers from all around the globe have been given the opportunity to experience a completely immersive virtual reality. Sword Art Online (SAO), one of the most recent games on the console, offers a gateway into the wondrous world of Aincrad, a vivid, medieval landscape where users can do anything within the limits of imagination. With the release of this worldwide sensation, gaming has never felt more lifelike.

However, the idyllic fantasy rapidly becomes a brutal nightmare when SAO's creator traps thousands of players inside the game. The "log-out" function has been removed, with the only method of escape involving beating all of Aincrad's one hundred increasingly difficult levels. Adding to the struggle, any in-game death becomes permanent, ending the player's life in the real world.

While Kazuto "Kirito" Kirigaya was fortunate enough to be a beta-tester for the game, he quickly finds that despite his advantages, he cannot overcome SAO's challenges alone. Teaming up with Asuna Yuuki and other talented players, Kirito makes an effort to face the seemingly insurmountable trials head-on. But with difficult bosses and threatening dark cults impeding his progress, Kirito finds that such tasks are much easier said than done.

[Written by MAL Rewrite]

Characters & Voice Actors


Staff

Mori, Yasunori
Producer
Miki, Kazuma
Producer
Niwa, Masami
Assistant Producer
Itou, Tomohiko
Director, Episode Director, Storyboard


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Opening Theme

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1: "crossing field" by LiSA (eps 2-14)
2: "INNOCENCE" by Aoi Eir (eps 15-24)
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Ending Theme

1: "Yume Sekai (ユメセカイ)" by Haruka Tomatsu (eps 2-14)
2: "Overfly" by Luna Haruna (eps 15-24)
3: "crossing field" by LiSA (eps 25)




Reviews

Jul 26, 2024
I think this anime at times will get a bad rep because of confusing writing - especially within the first 6 or so episodes. During those first couple episodes, the writing was quite frankly poor, and squandered what could’ve made this anime go from very good to incredible. There were confusing time jumps, bad world building, squandered opportunities for plot, and there wasn’t enough meaningful time spent with characters. They may have bitten off more than they could chew with SAO, and were clearly very ambitious with that they wanted to do. If this anime had, say, ten to 12 more episodes? Much of the ...
Jun 4, 2024
Mixed Feelings
There are many anime where the Eastern and Western perceptions are very mismatched. Sword Art Online (SAO) is one of the greatest examples of this. A stalwart, heavyweight franchise in the medium in Japan is seen by many in the West as the most controversial anime ever made, mainly due to its status as being one of the progenitors of modern power fantasy stories. In this review, I give my take as to that circumstance as well as my general opinions on the anime. The first season is the most popular point of the series, but is also the most controversial. So let's begin.

Of course, ...
Jun 29, 2024
This is how to watch this anime. Watch the opening, one of the best older anime openings, enjoy the first two episodes since it sets up everything extremely well. Then stop. Do not pass go, do not watch the rest. This is the worst anime you will watch. Enjoy the first two episodes and revel in what could have been. This anime devolves and wastes what could have been a great plot that would make anyone who wondered the question, 'what if when you die in the game you die in real life?'. Squandered plot lines, bad characters, and an underserved great song for an ...

Interest Stacks

50 Entries · 688 Restacks
by Majoux
50 Entries · 883 Restacks

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Recent Forum Discussion

Poll: Sword Art Online Episode 24 Discussion ( 1 2 3 4 5 ... Last Page )
bippo - Dec 15, 2012
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Nasty001 - Jul 4, 2012
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Overall do you enjoy watching SAO? What do you like about it? :) ( 1 2 )
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