Kawahara Reki's review and impressions of "Sword Art Online Extra Edition"

"Sword Art Online Extra Edition" - A special edition that deepens Kawahara Reki's worldview

Overview

"Sword Art Online Extra Edition" is an OVA released on April 23, 2014, based on the light novel "Dengeki Bunko" series by Reki Kawahara. This work includes new episodes in addition to a compilation of the TV series, making it a must-have for fans. One of the biggest attractions is the inclusion of character commentary videos by SD characters.

■ Story

The story of Sword Art Online Extra Edition begins with Kirito and his friends taking on an underwater quest in ALO. To fulfill Yui's wish to see a whale, Kirito and his friends decide to take on the underwater quest. However, it turns out that Leafa (Suguha) is surprisingly afraid of water, so Asuna and the other girls decide to give Suguha intensive swimming training in a pool in the real world. Meanwhile, a scene is depicted in which Kirito meets a certain person, and the story takes a new turn.

■Explanation

This OVA is included in the packaged version of "Sword Art Online Extra Edition," and features character commentary by SD characters. As a compilation, it re-edits important scenes from the TV series while adding new episodes, making it enjoyable for both existing fans and viewers new to the series. Directed by Ito Tomohiko and animated by A-1 Pictures, it faithfully recreates the worldview of the original work.

■Cast

The voice actors for the main characters are as follows:

• Kirito (Kazuto Kirigaya)/Yoshitsugu Matsuoka
• Asuna (Yuki Asuna) / Haruka Tomatsu
• Leafa (Kirigatani Naoha)/Ayana Taketatsu
• Yui/Kanae Ito
• Silica (Keiko Ayano)/Rina Hidaka
• Lisbeth (Rika Shinozaki)/Ayahi Takagaki
• Klein/Hiroaki Hirata
• Egil/Yasumoto Hiroki
• Seijiro Kikuoka/Toshiyuki Morikawa

■ Main staff

The production staff is as follows:

• Original work: Reki Kawahara (published by Dengeki Bunko)
• Director: Tomohiko Ito
• Chief animation director: Shingo Adachi
• Animation Director: Tetsuya Kawakami, Masayoshi Tanaka
• Monster design/Ryuta Yanagi
• Prop design: Takehiro Ishimoto
• Color design: Kazuko Nakajima
• Art Director: Yusuke Takeda (Bamboo), Takayuki Nagashima (Bamboo)
• Art setting: Yoshinori Shiozawa
• Director of photography: Takeshi Hirooka, Mutsumi Usuda
• CG Director: Ryuta Kumoto
• Edited by Shigeru Nishiyama
• Sound Director: Yoshikazu Iwanami
• Effects/Yasuyuki Konno
• Project Manager/GENCO
• Animation production: A-1 Pictures
• Produced by SAO Project

■Detailed story and character analysis

The story of Sword Art Online Extra Edition begins with Kirito and friends taking on an underwater quest in ALO. This quest is to fulfill Yui's wish to see a whale, and Kirito and friends struggle to achieve it. However, an unexpected fact is revealed. It turns out that Leafa, also known as Suguha, is afraid of water. This setting is an important element in digging deeper into Suguha's character.

Suguha's swimming training scene takes place in a pool in the real world. Asuna and the other women support Suguha, showing the depth of their friendship. Suguha's process of overcoming her swimming difficulties is inspiring to viewers and symbolizes her growth. Meanwhile, the people Kirito meets hint at new developments in the story, garnering the viewer's interest.

■Production background and technical features

"Sword Art Online Extra Edition" was produced as a compilation of the TV series. However, it is not just a compilation, but also includes new episodes. Director Tomohiko Ito has succeeded in developing a new story while faithfully recreating the worldview of the original work. In addition, A-1 Pictures' production techniques draw viewers in with beautiful images and detailed drawings.

In particular, the character commentary videos by SD characters will provide a fresh experience for fans. The videos are full of humor, taking advantage of the personalities of the characters, and will bring laughter to viewers. In addition, by re-editing important scenes as a compilation, viewers can reaffirm the flow of the entire series.

■Character's charm and growth

Sword Art Online Extra Edition depicts the charm and growth of the main characters. Kirito shows his sense of responsibility and kindness as a leader as he struggles to make Yui's wish come true. Asuna shows the depth and strength of friendship by supporting Suguha's swimming training. Suguha grows in the process of overcoming her swimming problems, inspiring viewers.

Yui's efforts to fulfill her pure wish to see a whale warm the hearts of viewers. Silica and Lisbeth also support Suguha's training, deepening their bonds of friendship. Klein and Agil play active roles in supporting Kirito, creating a sense of unity among the team. Seijiro Kikuoka's face-to-face scene with Kirito hints at new developments, drawing viewers' interest.

■ Viewer reactions and ratings

"Sword Art Online Extra Edition" has been highly praised by fans. In particular, the character commentary videos by SD characters provide viewers with a fresh experience and bring them laughter. In addition, by re-editing important scenes as a compilation, fans can reaffirm the flow of the entire series, making it a must-watch experience for fans.

The addition of new episodes will be enjoyable not only for existing fans, but also for viewers new to the series. In particular, the scene of Suguha's swimming training moved viewers and symbolized her growth. In addition, the person Kirito meets suggests new developments in the story, garnering viewers' interest.

■ Recommendations and related works

"Sword Art Online Extra Edition" is a special edition that deepens the worldview of Kawahara Reki, and is a work that fans cannot miss. In particular, the character commentary video by SD characters provides viewers with a fresh experience and delivers laughter. In addition, by re-editing important scenes as a compilation, you can reconfirm the flow of the entire series.

Viewers who enjoyed this film may also be interested in the following related works:

• "Sword Art Online" TV series
• Sword Art Online II
• "Sword Art Online: Alicization"
• "Sword Art Online Progressive"

These works delve deeper into Kawahara Reki's worldview, providing viewers with excitement and emotion. In particular, Sword Art Online Progressive depicts the early episodes of the original work in detail, making it a must-see for fans.

Conclusion

Sword Art Online Extra Edition is a special edition that deepens Kawahara Reki's worldview, and is a must-see for fans. The character commentary video by SD characters provides viewers with a fresh experience and delivers laughter. In addition, important scenes have been re-edited as a compilation, allowing viewers to reconfirm the flow of the entire series. New episodes have also been added, making it enjoyable not only for existing fans but also for viewers who are new to the series. In particular, Suguha's swimming training scene moved viewers and symbolized her growth. In addition, the person Kirito faces suggests a new development in the story, attracting viewers' interest. For viewers who enjoyed this work, we also recommend related works. These works delve deeper into Kawahara Reki's worldview and provide viewers with excitement and emotion, making them a must-see for fans.