When I first got into anime all those years ago, this came out new as I was a budding viewer. So, essentially I grew up in anime with SAO. It still remains one of my favorite anime, even though it's got a wide spectrum of those who love it and those who dislike it (to each their own, I see why they do). But I'm inclined to have it held so high simply because it was one of the OGs I started out with when I deep dived into anime. There is one thing for certain with SAO, they have absolutely beautiful music. This anime alone gave me some of my favorite artists in JP before I even really got into JP music. And as stacked as the cast is for the openings, with LiSA/ASCA/Eir Aoi/Haruka Tomatsu (voice of Asuna)/Luna Haruna/ReoNa, I still say ReoNa's OP9 is my favorite. Just brings so much.
I don't want to give anything else as it looks like Mephistopheles gave a great little summary of what goes on in SAO but I can tell you this anime will give you a huge spread of reactions. Happy, sad, agony, pride, you name it.
I will say Gaz, if you choose to react to this show, I will be here for every episode with heavy expectation. This world will not disappoint you. But I will say, if you enjoyed these OPs as much as I know you have, you definitely gotta check out the EDs. They are so beautiful.
Aztec
2023-03-05 16:36:22 +0000 UTC
Sword Art Online is both the name of the anime, and the name of the first (fictional) game the anime takes place in. Sword Art Online represents the first full-dive VRMMORPG game: “Full-dive” because, while the characters’ bodies remain in the real world, thanks to that headset you noticed at the end, their whole consciousness gets transported to their in-game avatar, and they are able to move, talk, fight, experience and live that fantasy world as if they were physically there.