The long-awaited sequel to Sword Art Online the Movie: Progressive – Aria of a Starless Night is finally out. Sword Art Online the Movie: Progressive – Scherzo of Deep Night delivers more character development and puts fan-favorite character, Asuna (Haruka Tomastu and English dubbed Cherami Leigh), in the driver’s seat of this story. Kirito (Yoshitsugu Matsuoka and English dubbed Bryce Papenbrook), the main protagonist, takes a back seat to his romantic interest in this hour-and-forty-minute production. More of the world that many have come to love is expanded on and more nuances are revealed in this character-driven narrative.
Welcome to the world of SAO; the world’s first VRMMORPG (virtual reality massive multiplayer online role-playing game) has become a game to the death for many who logged in to play. Asuna, who with little difficulty has cleared the first floor, has joined up with Kirito to continue clearing the floors in hope of getting back to the real world. Ensuring that she has the most up-to-date information, she gets help from an informant Broker Argo (Shiori Izawa), who proves not just to be very good at collecting information, but skilled in combat. For a while, the difficulties seem small and minuscule, that is until the real danger is revealed and proves to be more mentally draining than previous battles.
The SAO sequel has delivered the quality that many of the fans have come to expect from the series. One of the major draws of SAO has always been the artwork that accompanies the story and great characters. This film does not disappoint with the action scenes and final boss match that gives the viewers more insight into the main characters’ minds and methods of problem-solving. With Director Ayako Kouno, and Reki Kawahara being the head writer it’s hard to imagine a more perfect pairing for this film that explores the caverns of these warriors’ minds. With each scene we get closer and closer to the final dungeon and the final boss. But, before the end of the series, many want to know what happen between the major dungeons that pushed the two main characters ever closer.
If there is a fault to find in this film, it is that this sequel was created in a way that does not explain the series or how they got to the fifth floor. While it is a great addition for hardcore viewers to get more backstory to fill in the gaps in the series, it is not as rewarding to those who are experiencing this film before, they have a chance to watch the 10-year-old series. It expects newcomers to already know the lure of the series and understand why they are trapped in Aincrad. However, since it is a sequel to a popular anime series, it is easily accessible with streaming services like Crunchyroll or Hulu.
A key aspect that is explored in more depth than in the series is the fostering of sisterhood between the warriors of the series. While it is mostly one-off characters that are not as acknowledged in the series, it does help to round the characters out more. So, Asuna, who has largely been seen as a strong warrior in her own right, becomes less of a solo skilled character and more of a well-rounded character that appears more humanized with a few extra skills and more friends than previously known to have had. This makes Asuna a standout in the film that the series doesn’t expand on. Overall, the series is a must-watch for SOA lovers everywhere.
This is easily one of Sword Art Online’s best films yet. It has excellent animation, wonderful music that accompanies action-packed fight scenes, and even great character development, the film is a must-watch for anyone looking to expand their understanding of the SAO world.
Sword Art Online The Movie: Progressive – Scherzo of Deep Night is currently playing in select theaters courtesy of Aniplex.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PNVPbexLi48]
Easily one of Sword Art Online's best films yet.
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GVN Rating 10
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Donnie Lopez is an avid reader of fantasy and horror. He spends most of his free time watching movies, writing his graphic novel, and doing archery. You can find him stuffing his face with horrible food while complaining that it’s both awful and not enough. Find him on Twitter talking about his daily descent into madness.