Key recommendations
- The live-stream event of the SAO franchise on 11/7 coincides with the moment of Kirito's victory in the game.
- Fans are eager for a new season that focuses on the Unital Ring arc, not just another movie.
- Speculation surrounds the big announcement, potentially a new season or a sequel movie.
The Sword Art Online (SAO) franchise is building excitement among fans with a special live event set for November 7, 2024. Fans may recognize that the timing is no coincidence; marks the exact moment when the protagonist Kirito “removed” the SAO game from the first season.
Starting at 9:33am JST, the event will feature the iconic “Aincrad” arc with episodes 1 to 14 of the original anime strategically timed so that Kirito's victory scene plays out at exactly 2:55pm JST. But that's not all. Sword Art Online hinted at a big announcement, and the fanbase is full of predictions, hoping for a new season that will dive into Unit ring arc.
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Will a new season be announced?
Sword Art OnlineThe last season ended in 2020 with the completion Alicization – War of the Underworldand the wait for a follow-up stretched to four long years. Fans are eager for the main story to progress, especially in the Unit ringa sequel that could delve deeper into the immersive virtual realms and Kirito's journey. Most expressed a strong desire for a new season rather than yet another movie. While the movies were well received, they don't advance the main story that manga fans (and even most anime fans) are invested in.
While there is no official confirmation regarding the November 7 announcement, there are plenty of theories swirling around the community. Some believe that it may indeed be a fresh season that they are focusing on Unit ringbecause the franchise has enough material for a new story arc. But there is a competing theory that SAO could provide one more Progressive movie, continuing the recent trend of revisiting and expanding on the early events of Kirito's journey into Aincrad.
While some fans hope the announcement could signal a new virtual reality game, that scenario seems less likely. The franchise was launched recently Sword Art Online: Fractured Daydreamwhich gave fans an immersive experience and quenched their thirst for gaming – at least for now. With a brand new title already on the market, the timing suggests it SAO'The next big reveal will focus on a different medium, possibly a continuation of the main story or another movie.
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Could it be another movie or an event-only tease?
While a full return to the series is the hope of many, some fans remain wary. The Progressive films gained popularity and SAO has recently invested in these film adaptations, so there's a chance the announcement could refer to another installment in that line.
Plus, there's always the chance that the announcement is just a special commemorative video or live-action promotional material celebrating the anime's most memorable moments. If that's the case, anticipation might just result in a nostalgic tribute rather than groundbreaking news.
Sword Art Online
Sword Art Online is an anime series that follows protagonist Kirito as he and thousands of others are trapped in a virtual reality MMORPG where death in the game means death in real life. Kirito must navigate this dangerous and addictive world to find a way to escape, facing numerous challenges and building alliances along the way. The series explores themes of survival, friendship and the blurred line between reality and fantasy.
