Global InformationSword Art Online season 1 information
| Sword Art Online | |
|---|---|
| Season 1 | |
 Cover of the first DVD volume as released by Aniplex of America | |
| No. of episodes | 25 + 1 special |
| Release | |
| Original network | Tokyo MX |
| Original release | July 8 – December 23, 2012 |
| Season chronology | |
Sword Art Online is a Japanese science fiction anime television series based on the light novel series of the same title written by Reki Kawahara and illustrated by abec. It was produced by A-1 Pictures and directed by Tomohiko Itō.[1] It is divided into the "Aincrad" and "Fairy Dance" arcs, adapted from volumes 1–4 from the light novels. The story of the first season follows the adventures of Kazuto "Kirito" Kirigaya and Asuna Yuuki, two players who are trapped in the virtual world of "Sword Art Online" (SAO). They are tasked to clear all 100 Floors and defeat the final boss in order to be freed from the game.[2][3] Three months after the death game, Kazuto discovers that Asuna is being held captive in "Alfheim Online" (ALO), a spiritual successor to SAO, where the players assume the roles of fairies. Kazuto enters the game and allies himself with his sister Suguha "Leafa" Kirigaya to rescue Asuna from captivity.[4]
The season aired from July 8 to December 23, 2012, on Tokyo MX, spanning 25 episodes. It was later broadcast by 12 other stations.[5] Aniplex of America announced that the English dubbed version would air on Adult Swim's Toonami programming block starting on July 28, 2013.[6][7] The first DVD and Blu-ray Disc volumes were released in Japan on October 24, 2012, and it concluded on June 26, 2013, with all nine volumes containing a bonus Sword Art Offline (ソードアート・オフライン, Sōdo Āto Ofurain) episode.[8][9][10] In North America, Aniplex of America released the series in four Blu-ray/DVD volumes on August 13, 2013.[11] In Australasia, Madman Entertainment distributed the four volumes in DVD and Blu-ray format.[12] In Europe, Manga Entertainment first released all four volumes on December 16, 2013.[13][14] A special episode of the anime titled Sword Art Online: Extra Edition (ソードアート・オンライン Extra Edition, Sōdo Āto Onrain Ekisutora Edishon) was globally released on December 31, 2013.[15] A second season, titled Sword Art Online II, began airing in July 2014.[16]
Five pieces of theme music were used for the series: two opening themes and three ending themes. For the first 14 episodes, the opening theme song is "Crossing Field" performed by Lisa,[17] and the ending theme is "Yume Sekai" (ユメセカイ, lit. "Dream World") performed by Haruka Tomatsu.[18] The second opening theme, used from episode 15 onwards, is "Innocence" performed by Eir Aoi.[19] While its second ending theme, used from episodes 15 to 24, is "Overfly" performed by Luna Haruna.[20] The third ending theme, "Crossing Field" was used for the final episode. The extra edition's main theme is "Niji no Oto" (虹の音, Sound of the Rainbow) by Eir Aoi.[21] The original score for the series is composed by Yuki Kajiura.
- ^ "Staff and Cast of Sword Art Online". Sword Art Online. Aniplex of America. Archived from the original on March 27, 2014. Retrieved May 8, 2014.
- ^ "Sword Art Online: Episodes 1–7". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on April 4, 2014. Retrieved May 8, 2014.
- ^ "Sword Art Online: Episodes 8–14". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on April 5, 2014. Retrieved May 8, 2014.
- ^ "Sword Art Online: Episodes 15–25". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on April 8, 2014. Retrieved May 8, 2014.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
SAOPwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Cite error: The named reference
a3was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "Aniplex USA Confirms Sword Art Online English Dub". Anime News Network. February 22, 2013. Archived from the original on April 4, 2014. Retrieved May 8, 2014.
- ^ 「ソードアート・オンライン」第9巻 ["Sword Art Online" Volume 9]. Sword Art Online (in Japanese). Aniplex. Archived from the original on March 1, 2014. Retrieved May 10, 2014.
- ^ ホーム > 作品 / アニメ > ソードアート・オンライン [Home > Movies / Anime > Sword Art Online (Blu-ray and DVD)] (in Japanese). Aniplex. Archived from the original on May 12, 2014. Retrieved May 10, 2014.
- ^ 「ソードアート・オンライン」第1巻 ["Sword Art Online" Volume 1]. Sword Art Online (in Japanese). Aniplex. Archived from the original on May 12, 2014. Retrieved May 9, 2014.
- ^ "Sword Art Online DVD Volume 1: Aincrad Part 1". Sword Art Online. Aniplex of America. Archived from the original on May 12, 2014. Retrieved May 9, 2014.
- ^ "Volumes of Sword Art Online". Madman Entertainment. Archived from the original on May 13, 2014. Retrieved May 9, 2014.
- ^ "Sword Art Online Part 1 (Episodes 1–7) [DVD]". Retrieved May 9, 2014.
- ^ "Sword Art Online Part 1 (Episodes 1–7) Blu-ray/DVD Double Play". Retrieved May 9, 2014.
- ^ "Crunchyroll to Simulcast "Sword Art Online: Extra Edition" on Dec/31". Crunchyroll. November 13, 2013. Archived from the original on December 27, 2013. Retrieved December 27, 2013.
- ^ Green, Scott (March 14, 2014). ""Sword Art Online II" Anime Coming in July?". Crunchyroll. Archived from the original on May 27, 2014. Retrieved May 8, 2014.
- ^ "LiSA to Sing Sword Art Online Anime's Opening". Anime News Network. June 7, 2011. Archived from the original on October 4, 2013. Retrieved June 19, 2012.
- ^ "Haruka Tomatsu to Perform Sword Art Online Ending Theme Song". Anime News Network. May 27, 2011. Archived from the original on October 4, 2013. Retrieved June 16, 2012.
- ^ Green, Scott (January 31, 2013). ""Sword Art Online" and "Fate/zero" Singer Eir Aoi's First Album Offered Digitally". Crunchyroll. Archived from the original on May 12, 2014. Retrieved May 8, 2014.
- ^ "Sword Art Onlines 2nd Season Ending Sung by Luna Haruna". Anime News Network. August 25, 2011. Archived from the original on November 12, 2013. Retrieved October 8, 2012.
- ^ "Eir Aoi Sings Sword Art Online: Extra Editions Theme Song". Anime News Network. November 12, 2013. Archived from the original on April 7, 2014. Retrieved November 13, 2013.