The appeal and reviews of Sword Art Online Alternative -Gun Gale Online-

Sword Art Online Alternative: Gun Gale Online: Pink Devil and the Dance of Bullets

Sword Art Online Alternative: Gun Gale Online (GGO), which aired from April to July 2018, is a spin-off of Kawahara Reki's Sword Art Online (SAO) series, and was created by Keiichi Sigsawa. The original work was published by Dengeki Bunko, and the 13 episodes were broadcast as a TV anime series on TOKYO MX and BS11 every Sunday at midnight for 30 minutes. Animation was produced by Studio 3Hz, with director Masayuki Sakoi, series composition and scriptwriter Yosuke Kuroda, and character design and general animation director Yoshio Kosaka.

story

The setting of "GGO" is Gun Gale Online, a world of guns and steel. Ren, a female player who enjoys solo play in this VRMMO, loves cute things and wears pink gear from head to toe. She steadily improves her skills by playing the game over and over, but one day she discovers the fun of PK (player hunting) and grows to the point where she is known as the "Pink Devil." Ren meets Pitohui, a beautiful and mysterious player, and they hit it off. Pitohui invites Ren to participate in the team battle event Squad Jam.

Commentary

"GGO" continues the worldview of "SAO" while introducing new characters and a new story. Keiichi Sigsawa, the creator of the original work, is known as a gun and military enthusiast, and the most appealing aspects of this work are the realistic depictions of firearms and the tense battle scenes that make use of his knowledge. The original character designs were done by illustrator Kuroboshi Kouhaku, who has previously worked with Sigsawa. Animation was produced by Studio 3Hz, the studio behind popular works such as "Flip Flappers" and "Princess Principal."

"GGO" has garnered attention as a shared-world entertainment that expands on the worldview of "SAO," and has gained many fans. In particular, the relationship between Llen and Pitohui, and the tense developments of the "Squad Jam" in which they participate, have been elements that have drawn viewers in.

cast

The cast who played the main characters in this film are as follows:

• Len: Tomori Kusunoki
• Pitohui: Youko Hikasa
• M: Kazuyuki Okitsu
• Fukajiro: Chinatsu Akasaki

In particular, Tomori Kusunoki, who played Len, brought out the charm of the character with her cute voice and strong will, while Yoko Hikasa, who played Pitohui, expressed the depth of the character with her mysterious aura and calm tone.

Main Staff

The main staff who supported the production of this work are as follows:

• Original work: Keiichi Sigsawa (published by Dengeki Bunko)
• Original illustration and character design: Kuroboshi Kohaku
• Director: Masayuki Sakoi
• Series composition script: Yosuke Kuroda
• Character design and chief animation director: Yoshio Kosaka
• Animation Production: Studio 3Hz

Director Masayuki Sakoi faithfully recreated the worldview of the original work while incorporating the unique production techniques of anime to provide viewers with a fresh experience. In addition, Yosuke Kuroda's script carefully portrayed the emotions and relationships of the characters, giving the story depth.

Main Characters

We will introduce the main characters of this work in detail.

• Ren is a petite female player, less than 150cm tall. She has excellent agility (AGI) and excels at close-range combat, making the most of her speed. She loves cute things, and wears all pink gear. Her main weapon is a P90, which she calls "Pee-chan." Her growth and awakening to PK are at the heart of the story.
• Pitohu is a tall beauty with a tattoo on her cheek and is a friend of Iren. She is a veteran GGO player, and there is much about her other than that she is a gun fanatic who uses a different gun every time she plays. Her presence has a big impact on Ren's actions.
• A male player who is an acquaintance of Mpithui . A giant over 190cm tall, he is skilled in mid- to long-range combat, and is especially skilled at sniping. He is calm and has excellent strategy planning skills, and serves as the team's advisor.
• An acquaintance of Fukajiro Ren, she is a petite female player just like her. Her stats are high because she converted her character from the VRMMORPG "ALO (Alfheim Online)". Taking advantage of her high strength (STR), she fights with two six-barreled grenade launchers.

subtitle

The subtitles for each episode of this work are as follows:

• #01 Squad Jam
• #02 GGO
• #03 Fan Letter
• #04 Death Game
• #05 The final battle is mine
• #05.5 Refrain
• #06 SAO Failure
• #07 Second Squad Jam
• #08 Booby Trap
• #09 Ten Minutes of Massacre
• #10 The Demon King Returns
• #11 Crazy Len
• #12 Applause

The subtitles for each episode reflect the development of the story and the feelings of the characters, helping viewers to immerse themselves in the story. In particular, the episodes that depicted the tension of "Squad Jam" and Ren's growth left a strong impression on viewers.

Theme songs and music

The theme songs and insert songs for this work are as follows.

• OP1
  Shooting Star Lyrics: Kohei Tsunami Composition: Kohei Tsunami Arrangement: Kohei Tsunami Sung by Eir Aoi
• ED1
  To see the future
  Lyrics: Jazzin'park (Shingo Kubota & Akira Kurihara)
  Composition: Jazzin'park (Shingo Kubota & Akira Kurihara)
  Arrangement: Jazzin'park (Shingo Kubota & Akira Kurihara)
  Sung by: Ren (Tomori Kusunoki)

The opening theme "Ryusei" features Eir Aoi's powerful voice and a fast-paced melody that livens up the world of GGO. The ending theme "To see the future" is sung by Tomori Kusunoki, who plays Ren, and the lyrics and melody reflecting her character's feelings resonated with viewers.

Ratings and Recommendations

"GGO" is a work that maximizes the appeal of the original work while depicting the depth of the characters and the direction that only anime can do. In particular, the relationship between Llen and Pitohui and the tense development of "Squad Jam" were elements that drew viewers in. In addition, Keiichi Sigsawa's realistic depiction of firearms and battle scenes provided a fresh experience not only for gun and military enthusiasts but also for general viewers.

This work is recommended not only for fans of "SAO" but also for those who like VRMMO and gun action. In particular, it is a must-watch for those who want to enjoy Ren's growth and awakening to PK, Pitohui's mysterious charm, and the tension of team battles. In addition, Eir Aoi's opening theme and Tomori Kusunoki's ending theme can be enjoyed as elements that deepen the worldview of the story.

"GGO" was loved by many viewers as a work that depicts new characters and stories while inheriting the worldview of the original. Please experience this dance of pink devils and bullets.