Sword Art Online: Alicization
Alternate Title
ソードアート・オンライン アリシゼーション
Synopsis
June 2026. Kirito has been offered a part-time job with Rath, a private company that researches and innovates technology. They need him to test the Soul Translator, a new and experimental FullDive machine they’ve been developing, though it involves using the system without pause over the weekends. Even stranger is the fact that, due to security purposes, his memories of the dives must be blocked so he cannot recall them whatsoever after the fact.
As unusual as it is, Kirito has no problems participating, and everything goes as it should… Until, one day, he opens his eyes and finds himself inside a forest in a virtual world called Underworld, which is almost discernible from the real one.
Though he can’t remember what’s happened, he knows that he’s inside the machine and begins to make his way through the forest. In doing so, he comes across a young boy named Eugeo, who becomes just one of his companions as he traverses through this virtual world that is nothing like anything he’s ever been in before.
Background
Sword Art Online began as a light novel series the dealt with futuristic technologies, virtual worlds, and gaming. The first volume was launched in April 2009 and it is currently ongoing, being written by Reki Kawahara and illustrated by abec.
Sword Art Online has had several manga adaptations, anime adaptations, light novels, movies, and video games. The light novels have also sold over 20 millions copies worldwide.
Sword Art Online: Alicization marks the third arc in the overall series and the third season of the TV anime series. It was first introduced in the ninth volume (February 2012) and finished out in the 18th volume (August 2016) of the light novel series. It also has a manga adaptation, illustrated by Koutaro Yamada, which began serialization in Dengeki Bunko Magazine in September 2016.
The arc’s TV anime adaptation was announced in September 2017. The opening theme is “Adamas” by LiSA, while the ending theme is “Iris” by Eir Aoi.
Characters
Kirito (Voiced by: Yoshitsugu Matsuoka)
His real name is Kazuto Kirigaya. Not only was he a beta tester for Sword Art Online, but he was also one of the many players stuck inside the game during the launch incident. He is the fighter who defeated the final boss in Sword Art Online so everyone could return to the real world. He also helped put an end to the Death Gun incident in Gun Gale Online. Nowadays, Kirito spends his time playing ALfheim Online with the rest of his close friends. Just recently, Seijirou helped him land a part-time job testing an experimental FullDive machine for research purposes.
Eugeo (Voiced by: Nobunaga Shimazaki)
Eugeo is the childhood friend of Kirito and Alice in Underworld. He has a kind and gentle personality and a natural talent for fencing.
Alice (Voiced by: Ai Kayano)
Alice is the childhood friend of Kirito and Eugeo in Underworld. She’s the adventurous and mischievous daughter of the chief of Rulid Village. She also has a younger sister named Selka.
Chrysheight (Voiced by: Toshiyuki Morikawa)
His real name is Seijirou Kikuoka. He was a beta tester for Sword Art Online and also a member of the SAO Incident Victims Rescue Force. Getting to know Kirito after the incident was resolved, he’s employed his help multiple times due to his capabilities, especially regarding virtual landscapes. He was the one who tasked Kirito with investigating the Death Gun incident happening in Gun Gale Online. Just recently, he helped Kirito get a part-time job with Rath.
Asuna (Voiced by: Haruka Tomatsu)
Her real name is Asuna Yuuki. She was one of the players trapped in Sword Art Online during the incident. Her game of choice these days is ALfheim Online, where she plays as a healer with a rapier. Though she is kind and compassionate, she is also confident and capable.
International Streaming
- Crunchyroll
- Hulu
Official Links
Staff
- Original Creator: Reki Kawahara
- Original Character Designer: abec
- Director: Manabu Ono
- Assistant Director: Takashi Sakuma
- Character Designers: Go Suzuki, Shingo Adachi, Tomoya Nishiguchi
- Chief Animation Directors: Go Suzuki, Tomoya Nishiguchi
- Prop Designers: Kiminori Ito, Mami Hayakawa
- Monster Designer: Toshiya Kawano
- Action Animation Directors: Tetsuya Takeuchi, Yoshihiro Kanno
- Art Directors: Yoshito Watanabe, Yukako Ogawa
- Art Setting: Kenichi Morioka, Yuuho Taniuchi
- Color Designer: Naomi Nakano
- CG Director: Ryuta Undo
- Directors of Photography: Kenta Hayashi, Kentaro Waki
- Motion Graphics: Takemune Oshiro
- Editor: Yuji Kondo
- Sound Director: Yoshikazu Iwanami
- Effects: Yasumasa Koyama
- Music: Yuki Kajiura
- Animation Production: A-1 Pictures
- Opening Theme Song Artist: LiSA
- Ending Theme Song Artist: Eir Aoi