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From the movie “Sword Art Online Progressive: Aria of a Starless Night” (to be screened on October 30, 2021), the main trailer, which takes us to the origin of the series and reveals the relationship between Asuna and Mito, has been released. In addition, the theme song will be “Ike”, sung and written by LiSA and composed by Ayase, who is also a member of YOASOBI.

The movie “Sword Art Online Progressive: Aria of a Starless Night” is a film of the new “Aincrad Arc” as seen through the eyes of Asuna by the original author, Kawahara Reki.
Yuki Asuna, a third-year junior high school student who has never played online games, is one day, trapped in the world of “Sword Art Online”, the world’s first VRMMORPG, when she accidentally wears “Nerve Gear”.
Without knowing the rules of the world, she sets out to conquer the steel floating castle, “Aincrad”, and the lone swordsman, Kirito, appears before her as she survives the world of death.

The main trailer released this time shows Yuki Asuka, a student studying hard for her entrance exam, is asked by her game-loving classmate, Tozawa Misumi, “Wanna play with me?”, then she logs into the world of “SAO” as “Asuna”.
Then, the game master declares that “SAO” is a death game where you can’t log out and risk your life, and Mito (Misumi) firmly decides that she will never let Asuna die, but……

The second half of the trailer shows the scenes where Asuna and Mito fight hard against monsters, and Kirito and Asuna encounter, with the theme song “Ike” sung and written by LiSA, who is known for her music in the “SAO” series, and composed by Ayase, who is also known as the composer of YOASOBI.

The movie “Sword Art Online Progressive: Aria of a Starless Night” will be screened on October 30.
The theme song “Ike” will be available for download and streaming from October 15.

＜The full text of the comments is as follows＞
LiSA

It’s been about 10 years since I was in charge of the opening theme song “crossing field” for the [Aincrad Arc].

And this time, I feel as if I’ve touched on the reason for Asuna’s true beauty and strength in “Progressive”.

She was not strong from the beginning.

After overcoming betrayal, sorrow, anxiety, and conflicts, she became a delicate, supple woman with a core of strength and beauty.
Ayase has entrusted me with a melody that is suitable for singing the heart of Asuna.

Even if the world keeps changing, I hope that we can continue to run straight and strong like her.

Go. Go forward, Lisa.

Ayase

I remember jumping with joy when it was decided that I would be composing the theme song.
I’m a fan of “SAO” myself, and it’s my favorite work. I was also introduced to LiSA-san’s music through “SAO” at the time.
This time, I composed the music and LiSA-san wrote the lyrics, so we were able to work together as a team. LiSA-san took the hope, strong will, and light that I expressed in the music and sound, and spun it in her own words, carrying Asuna’s feelings.
Whether you’re a fan of the “SAO” series or new to “SAO” through this work, I hope you’ll enjoy every bit of this music.

Kawahara Reki (Original Writer, Original Story)

This fall will mark 20 years since I first started writing the story of Kirito and Asuna.
I can’t tell you how deeply I feel when I think that I’ve spent almost half of my life with the two of them ……. In this milestone year, “Sword Art Online Progressive: Aria of a Starless Night”, the story of the beginning, will be released, which is my greatest pleasure.
I sincerely hope that many people will be able to see the film that contains the souls of the many staff and cast members.

abec (original illustration and character design)

This is the second movie version, and it’s all thanks to the fans. Thank you very much!
This time, the story is depicted from Asuna’s point of view, there is a new element called Mito, and I think the production team has become even more powerful with the combination of newcomers including Director Kono and the staff who have supported the work up to now.
For those of you who have already read the original story, I’m sure this will be a fresh work filled with the same fun of “SAO” as before.
Whether you’re new to the world of “SAO” or you’ve been supporting us for a long time, I hope you enjoy it at the theater!

Kono Ayako (Director)

To all the fans of the “SAO” series, welcome back to the “Aincrad” arc, the origin of the series! Once again, it’s nice to meet you!
To be able to depict one of the series that has been loved by so many people all over the world in this way is truly amazing and makes me nervous all the time, but the way the characters in the original work move forward, fragile and vulnerable, is very inspiring.
In the movie “Sword Art Online Progressive: Aria of a Starless Night”, we hope you will enjoy the new story of “SAO” that has never been told before!

Toya Kento (Character Design, Chief Animation Director)

February 14, 2012, was the first day I worked on the first episode of the TV series as an original designer.
It was the cut of the bell that signaled the beginning of the Death Game. Nine years later, I never imagined that I would be participating in the work as a character designer. I hope to make a movie that will be enjoyed by both those who have already seen the TV series and those who are just getting to know “Sword Art Online”.

Kai Yasuyuki (Action Director, Monster Design)
I was very conscious of the atmosphere of the past “Sword Art Online”, especially the TV series.
I focused on how the battles in the Action Director’s “Aincrad” arc would look from Asuna’s point of view, and tried to bring the realism of the battle scenes to everyone! I hope you enjoy it!

Kajiura Yuki (Music)

Now that the main story of “Alicization” arc has come to a close, being able to see the beginning of “Sword Art Online” from Asuna’s point of view is an unexpected joy for me as a fan who has been following the series for a long time.
I will do my best to add the right dramatic sound to the nostalgic and new “Aincrad”.
I’m looking forward to everyone seeing it!

[STAFF]
Original Writer/Original Story: Kawahara Reki (Published by “Dengeki Bunko”) Original Illustration/Character Design: abec
Director: Kono Ayako
Character Design, Chief Animation Director: Toya Kento
Action Director, Monster Design: Kai Yasuyuki
Sub Character Design: Akizuki Aya, Ishikawa Tomomi, Watanabe Keisuke Prop Design: Higashijima Hisashi
Art Director: Ito Yusa / Art Setting: Hirasawa Akihiro / Color Design: Nakano Naomi / Director of Photography: Oshima Yuki
CG Director: Oda Kengo, Nakajima Hiroshi / 2D Works: Miyahara Yohei, Seki Kaori
Editing: Hirose Kiyoshi
Music: Kajiura Yuki
Sound Director: Iwanami Miwa / Sound Effects: Koyama Yasumasa / Sound Production: Soniludo
Produced by EGG FIRM / Straight Edge Production: A-1 Pictures
Distributor: Aniplex
Production: SAO-P Project

[CAST]
Kirito: Matsuoka Yoshitsugu
Asuna / Yuki Asuna: Tomatsu Haruka
Mito / Tozawa Misumi: Minase Inori
Klein: Hirata Hiroaki
Agil: Yasumoto Hiroki
Silica: Hidaka Rina
Diabel: Hiyama Nobuyuki
Kibaou: Seki Tomokazu

Music
“Ike” LiSA（SACRA MUSIC)
Words: LiSA / Music: Ayase / Arrangement: Eguchi Ryo

(C) 2020 Kawahara Reki/KADOKAWA/SAO-P Project