Sword Art Online Alternative: Gun Gale Online
Movies
Synopsis
Llenn is a solo player in a game centered around guns and steel called Gun Gale Online, or GGO. She loves all things cute and is equipped head to toe in pink, and through many hours of play she becomes a pretty solid player. One day she learns about player killing, or PKing, and she grows obsessed to the point where she’s known as the “Pink Devil.” It’s then that she happens to meet a mysterious player named Pitohui whom she hits it off with, and they decide to participate in the team battle event Squad Jam.
Background
Sword Art Online Alternative: Gun Gale Online is a spin-off to Reki Kawahara’s massively popular Sword Art Online series which was first released in December 2014 as a light novel written by Keiichi Sigsawa with illustrations by Kouhaku Kuroboshi. The light novel continues to be published through ASCII Media Works’ Dengeki Bunko imprint, and as of March 2017 there are six volumes out.
The light novel has been well-received, ranking as one of the best-selling light novel series in 2015 and the fourth volume being ranked as the 25th best-selling novel during early 2016.
It was also adapted into a manga by Tadadi Tamori beginning in December 2015, and there are two manga volumes out. It’s currently serialized in ASCII Media Works’ Dengeki Maoh. Both the light novel and manga are licensed by Yen Press in North America.
Anime Adaptation
An anime adaptation for the spin-off was announced at the Dengeki Bunko Fall Festival 2017 in October 2017, and it’s directed by Masayuki Sakoi (Princess Resurrection, Spice and Wolf) with writing by Yousuke Kuroda (Honey and Clover, My Hero Academia) and character designs by Yoshio Kosakai (Monogatari series, Spice and Wolf) who also serves as chief animation director. Animation is done by Studio 3Hz (Attack on Titan, Flip Flappers).
The series is set for an April 2018 premiere on Tokyo MX, BS11, Tochigi TV, Gunma TV, MBS, and TV Aichi, and Tomori Kusunoki (the leading voice actress) will perform the ending theme.
Characters
Llenn / Karen Kohiruimaki (CV: Tomori Kusunoki)
A shorty at a height of around 150 cm (4’9”), Llenn is a Gun Gale Online player who uses her high AGI state to excel in close-range battles. She absolutely adores all things cute and is dressed entirely in pink, and her gun of choice is her P90 which she affectionately dubbed “P-chan.” In the real world, her name is Karen Kohiruimaki and she’s a college student with an insecurity about her height, standing at around 183 cm (or 6 feet).
Pitohui (CV: Yoko Hikasa)
Pitohui is a friend of Llenn’s and is a tall woman with tattoos on her face. She’s a veteran player of GGO and is so obsessed with guns that she uses a different one every time she plays.
M (CV: Kazuyuki Okitsu)
A man and an acquaintance of Pitohui, M is tall at 190 cm (6’3”) and specializes in sniping in mid to long range battles. He’s calm and competent in battle strategies, and he helps a lot with team planning.
Fukaziroh (CV: Chinatsu Akasaki)
An acquaintance of Llenn’s, Fukaziroh is another female player and around the same height as Llenn. She converted her character from ALFheim Online, so her stats are quite high including her STR stat which she uses to dual wield grenade launchers.
Cast
Llenn / Karen Kohiruimaki: Tomori Kusunoki
・Notable Roles: Hazuki Kagimura (Märchen Mädchen), Miki Tokura (Slow Start)
Pitohui: Yoko Hikasa
・Notable Roles: Kyouko Kirigiri (Danganronpa), Stephanie Dora (No Game, No Life)
M: Kazuyuki Okitsu
・Notable Roles: Minato Sakai (Gundam Build Fighters Try), Peter Mork (Overlord)
Fukaziroh: Chinatsu Akasaki
・Notable Roles: Alice Nakiri (Food Wars!), Izumi Hashima (Saekano: How to Raise a Boring Girlfriend)
Staff
Original Work: Keiichi Sigawa (Dengeki Bunko)
Original Illustrations & Character Design Concepts: Kouhaku Kuroboshi
Director: Masayuki Sakoi
Series Composition: Yosuke Kuroda
Character Design & Chief Animation Director: Yoshio Kosakai
Ending Theme: Tomori Kusunoki
Animation: Studio 3Hz
Broadcast Information
Begins airing in April 2018 on Tokyo MX, BS11, Tochigi TV, Gunma TV, MBS, and TV Aichi
Official Links
News
Sword Art Online Reveals New Spin-off Anime Project!
Sword Art Online Spin-off Alternative Gun Gale Online Releases Key Visual!
SAO Spin-off Gun Gale Online Releases Teaser Trailer!