Written by: Gabriel Castillo
Published on: September 25, 2021 at 17:30 PHT (GMT+8)
The official Twitter of the anime series Sword Art Online released on Friday a new promotional video (PV) called “BEYOND” for the upcoming film “Sword Art Online Progressive: Aria of a Starless Night” based on a light novel series written by Reki Kawahara and illustrated by abec. The film is set for a theatrical release in Japan on October 30, 2021.
The new PV showcases footage from the previous Sword Art Online series. Fair warning: the video may induce goosebumps for fans of the series! In about one minute, the PV shows several iconic scenes and vicious battles between different characters all culminating with Asuna’s short monologue about renewing her determination. Fans of the series can relive the hype of the previous installments with a special collection of the series’ theme song music videos performed by a familiar face.
The video takes a trip down memory lane and shows the different theme songs that were performed by the Japanese singer, songwriter, and lyricist Risa Oribe — also known as LiSA — for the series. Fans can enjoy a total of eight songs starting with the first opening for the series “Crossing Field” (2012) up until the new song “Go” which will be the theme for the upcoming film.
More on the Film
Sword Art Online Progressive: Aria of a Starless Night is a Japanese animated film based on the “Sword Art Online: Progressive” light novels written by Reki Kawahara and illustrated by abec. This series of light novels expand and retell the Aincrad storyline of the original “Sword Art Online” series. A-1 pictures is in charge of production with Ayako Kono working as director. Kento Toya designs the characters and Yuki Kajiura is in charge of music.
This installment focuses on the encounter between Kirito and Asuna and the events that transpire on Aincrad’s first floor. Check out the film's premise here:
In the near future of 2022, Akihiko Kayaba creates a virtual reality massively multiplayer online role-playing game (VRMMORPG) named Sword Art Online (SAO). Players make use of a NerveGear which allows them to experience and control their characters in-game using their mind without actually moving in real life.
The game’s launch on November 6, 2022 sees 10,000 players log into virtual world but they soon find out that logging out is not an option. Kayaba informs the players that leaving the game is only possible after beating 100 floors of the steel castle Aincrad. To make things worse, dying in-game or removing the NerveGear by force will kill players in real life.
Asuna has a hard time coming to terms with being trapped in a virtual world but she ventures on. Eventually, she meets one of the 1,000 beta testers for SAO named Kirito. He alienates himself from the rest of the players and bears the label “Beater” — a combination of the words “beta tester” and “cheater”. As their adventures go on, the characters reveal more about themselves and their struggle with being trapped in SAO.
Source: Sword Art Online Anime Official Twitter, Comic Natalie
