From the “Sword Art Online the Movie: Progressive – Aria of a Starless Night”, the footage “Asuna Beginner Arc” has been released, and it featured the first hunt of Asuna after she just joined “SAO” and is unfamiliar with the battle system.

“Sword Art Online” is the “Grand Prize Winner” of the 15th Dengeki Light Novel Awards by Kawahara Reki, and it depicts the achievements of the main protagonist Kirito in the next generation VRMMORPG.
“Sword Art Online Progressive: Aria of a Starless Night” is the film that depicts the “Aincrad Arc” from the perspective of Asuna and it is written by the original creator Kawahara Reki.

The released footage “Asuna Beginner Arc” depicts the first hunt of Asuna in “SAO” and this is the precious scene of her first step toward “The Flash”.

Asuna faced the two low-leveled bees with a rapier. However, it seems that her action got predicted and she ended being attacked and losing HP instead, which gives an unreliable impression.

Then, the game lover Mito happened to see that situation nearby, and while telling her “Your step is too predictable”, she defeated the monster in one strike with her boosted weapon. She then teaches Asuna on the boost mechanism by saying “Instead of relying on the motion assist of the system, you can boost the speed and power of the sword skill with your own athletic ability.”

When we are talking about Asuna, she is known as the “powerful heroine” since her appearance in the TV anime series, but this work started off with her unreliable side. Please do watch this film at the theatres to find out how Asuna become powerful after participating in “SAO” and also how her developed skill will affect the story.

“Sword Art Online the Movie: Progressive – Aria of a Starless Night”
【STAFF】
Original Creator, Original Story Idea: Kawahara Reki (“Dengeki Bunko” Publishing)
Original Illustrator, Original Character Design: abec
Director: Kouno 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: Tojima Hisashi
Art Director: Itou Yusa
Background: Hirasawa Akihiro
Coloring: Nakano Naomi
Photography Director: Ooshima Yuki
CG Director: Oda Kengo, Nakajima Hiroshi
2D Works: Miyahara Yohei, Seki Kaori
Editing: Hirose Kiyoshi
Music: Kajiura Yuki
Sound Director: Iwanami Yoshikazu
Sound Effect: Koyama Yasumasa
Sound Production: Sonilude
Producer: EGG FIRM, Straight Edge
Production: A-1 Pictures
Distributor: Aniplex
Production Committee: SAO MOVIE Project

【CAST】
Kirito: Matsuoka Yoshitsugu
Asuna/ Yuuki Asuna: Tomatsu Haruka
Mito/ Tozwa Misumi: Minase Inori
Klein: Hirata Hiroaki
Egil: Yasumoto Hiroki
Silica: Hidaka Rina
Diavel: Hiyama Nobuyuki
Kibaou: Seki Tomokazu
Kayaba Akihiko: Yamadera Koichi

【MUSIC】
“Yuke” LiSA (SACRA MUSIC)
Written by LiSA/ Composed by Ayase/ Arrange by Eguchi Ryou