©2023 Keiichi Shigurezawa/KADOKAWA/GGO2 Mission
Fandom was the main target of the Sword Artwork On-line Different: Gun Gale On-line II panel at this 12 months Anime expo. Whereas there was little new details about the second season and the broader franchise, the highlights had been winks, nods, and acknowledgements from the passionate and decade-old SAO fan neighborhood. Contemplating it’s been six years for the reason that first season of Gun Gale On-line aired, the joy in attendance was palpable and their enthusiasm infectious.
Kicking off the panel, and making it clear that this was an occasion for hardcore SAO followers, was the introduction of content material creator and web persona Gigguk. Primarily by way of YouTubeGigguk has been making movies and discussing Sword Artwork On-line since nearly the premiere of the unique season. Having probably the most outstanding SAO followers on stage asking questions made it really feel like they had been coming straight from the fan neighborhood.
Most of those questions had been directed to Tomori Kusunokithe voice of GGO’s protagonist LLENN/Karen. Throughout the panel, she described how she was solely 18 when she landed the position, and the way the expertise of engaged on the primary season alongside her older solid members helped her develop as each a voice actor and individual. When requested the place she attracts inspiration from whereas recording, she replied, “I relied on the recommendation and expertise of my senior voice actors. As an rising voice actress, I centered on studying as a lot as potential.”
Additionally on the rostrum had been Aniplex producer, Wataru Hashimotoand a developer for the upcoming Sword Artwork On-line: Damaged Daydream online game, launched on October 4, 2024. Hashimoto gave some perception into the manufacturing course of, exhibiting facets of the manufacturing strategy of the second season and the way they frequently collaborate with the creator of the GGO gentle novels, Keiichi SigsawaHis perspective in the direction of this manufacturing was that he wished it to be a “powered up” model of the primary season, but additionally that “I would like new followers to have the ability to expertise this season as nicely.”
That is mirrored within the new key visible for the season, which options LLENN entrance and middle, with a number of different characters from the sequence forming a spiral of weapons behind her. Hashimoto felt that this picture emphasizes LLENN, but additionally has hidden references within the background that loyal followers will decide up on, akin to key places from the primary season.
The revelation that Gun Gale On-line characters will probably be playable in Sword Artwork On-line: Damaged Daydream was met with loud applause. Each LLENN and Fukaziroh will probably be playable and stand out from SAO characters by having the ability to deal sustained harm from a distance. Pitohui will even seem within the recreation, however as downloadable content material, someday after the sport launches.
The panel concluded with a brand new preview trailer for season two, which was a mixture of previous footage from season one and new materials from season two. The most important takeaway from the trailer is that there will probably be at the very least yet another Squad Jam occasion in season three; which means that season two will probably be simply as action-packed as the primary. Gigguk additionally learn a letter from LN author Sigsawa. His letter acknowledged that “the employees and solid are working onerous to make the present occur proper now. If you happen to get pleasure from it, that is all that issues.” Sigsawa additionally acknowledged a long-running joke within the SAO fandom and confirmed that he does certainly play FPS video games; however declined to touch upon whether or not Sword Artwork On-line author Reki Kawahara whether or not you’re a gamer or not.
To shut out the occasion, Kusunoki mentioned, “I am so joyful and excited to see that followers worldwide are enthusiastic about season two. I will inform my fellow solid members about your enthusiasm.” Regardless of the later panel time and the exhaustion that comes with attending a large-scale occasion like Anime expothe viewers appeared much more energized leaving Petree Corridor than after they entered. One attendee even advised me that this panel impressed him to persuade his anime membership in Texas to binge-watch the primary season of Gun Gale On-line earlier than the second season premiered. Whereas the anime neighborhood tends to focus extra on new sequence which are premiering, this panel made it clear that the Sword Artwork On-line fandom remains to be thriving and as passionate as ever.
