Bringing the World of Sword Art Online into the Real World! SAO Future Lab Begins Recruiting Future Technology Venture Companies!
The world premiere of the theatrical film of the popular series Sword Art Online (SAO) is set for Feb. 18, 2017 in Japan. A collaborative project with SAO is now underway through ASCII.jp’s venture startup speciality medium ASCII STARTUP as one part of the co-creative project ASCII STARTUP ACCELERATOR that involves both IoT and hardware startup businesses.
SAO Future Lab: To Deliver Products a Decade Ahead of Their Time Sword Art Online is a light novel series by Reki Kawahara that won the 15th Dengeki Novel Prize (Grand Prize). The series follows protagonist Kirito in a mysterious next generation online game called Sword Art Online and has expanded through a broad range of cross-media developments including two TV anime adaptations, video games, manga adaptations, products and more. In addition to the theatrical film’s release next year drawing near, a Hollywood drama adaptation is also underway due to production company Skydance Media having acquired rights to produce a live-action adaptation, making the series one that has achieved popularity on a global scale.
"SAO Future Lab" will be a special serial project conjoined with articles, events and product sales. With the story of SAO being set in 2025-2026, the goals of this project, which is roughly 10 years ahead of its time, is to develop products “in a form that can be obtained now” through collaboration between ASCII, SAO, and venture businesses and to deliver them to consumers to experience and enjoy.
Currently, there is a rise in cutting-edge devices and IoT products from hardware startups. ASCII STARTUP has, so far, twice carried out an event for cutting-edge IoT/hardware venture companies called “IoT & H/W BIZ DAY,” but it would be a waste if the course of this innovation stayed just between us. Regarding this special project that we are able to take on precisely due to venture companies, we hope that by implementing collaborations with SAO, which has support worldwide, many people will experience a future that is already becoming reality.
Development of this project will be carried out after cooperation is secured between the SAO Production Committee and related businesses. With recruitment having begun for the first batch of companies interesting in participating, Kazuma Miki, anime producer and editor of the SAO light novels as well as a founder of the startup company Straight Edge Inc., had the following to say.
The movement to develop future technology is born from the brave venture companies throughout Japan and the world. Straight Edge Inc. CEO Kazuma Miki
Current VR technology consists of devices that only virtualize the vision of users. However, in the 2020-era setting of SAO, there is a “FullDive” VR device that can immerse users’ consciousness in an electronic space including all their five senses and sense of motion. With the SAO theatrical film releasing in February 2017, an AR device developed using such VR will also be introduced. It may be a fictional technology not yet realized in the world today, but the arrival of drone package delivery and self-driving cars as well as convenience stores that don’t require cashiers were difficult to imagine 10 years ago. Thus, although it is currently new ground, I think this technology could certainly be realized in the near future. Isn’t it that the movement for the kind of future technology that gets hearts racing is born from brave venture companies throughout Japan and the world? I foresee that the flexible thinking that arises from their passion and youthfulness, as well as their challenging spirit that is free from the restrictions of large organizations will be the catalyst for new innovations.
I work as an advisor for a VR venture company, and the CEO of that company discussed with me fervently about “bringing SAO into the real world.” It’s my hope that the SAO Future Lab will be able to bear the role of being a bridge for these kinds of venture companies to become widely known around the world.
Together with SAO, let’s make the future exciting and call worldwide attention to astonishing technology!
The deadline to participate in the project is Jan. 31, 2017 (JST)!
The announcement of the first batch of participating companies and the launch of the special website are planned for January 2017. Interested venture companies should first check the important application points below and then certainly please join us in this endeavor. We are accepting applications from, of course, IoT and hardware companies, as well as AI, AR/VR/MR, and other companies that possess technology to realize the world of SAO. Furthermore, we are not only recruiting venture companies but also venture support such as resource support and technical cooperation. Companies that would like to participate in the co-creative project ASCII STARTUP ACCELERATOR in a supportive role can apply through the same form.
Important Points Regarding Company Recruitment for the ASCII STARTUP ACCELERATOR SAO Future Lab - Open to startup companies that develop mainly hardware and IoT products. How long the company has been in operation doesn’t matter, but it must be a venture or a startup to take part. If you would like to provide additional support, please list what kind of support you can offer (resource support, technical cooperation, etc.) - Approval to participate in planning will be decided by the judging panel that includes members of the editorial department as well as those who have worked on the original novel and anime. - In principle, special product sales through advance orders on the ASC Store will be carried out. Of course, collaborations that go beyond that will be judged separately. - Please tell us about what services or products your company currently has or will have in the near future as well as what it will be able to implement through a collaboration with SAO. - Application Deadline: Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2017 (JST) *Inquiries regarding selection details and/or results will not be answered. *Information and/or documents submitted in the application may be shared among those authorized as deemed necessary by the judges.
We hope everyone enjoys the world of Sword Art Online which pushes the envelope on cutting-edge hardware ventures.
Sword Art Online the Movie: Ordinal Scale Release Date: Nationwide roadshow in Japan starting Saturday, Feb. 18, 2017 Distributor: Aniplex Official Movie Site