Sword Art Online (Anime)

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Name: Sword Art Online
Type: Anime

Official Rating: TV-PG

Director: Reki Kawahara

Seasons: 2
Genre: Action, adventure, science fantasy, romance
Age Rating: 17+

Review:
Thousands of players around the world suddenly find themselves trapped inside the video game universe of Sword Art Online. Hero Kirito must fight his way to the top level in order to defeat the game and release the players.

There were a lot of surprisingly heavy themes in this anime including suicide, kidnapping, heartbreak and the definition of the term, "hero." The art was good, and the whole idea of being able to experience a video-game firsthand--as if you were actually there--is certainly an intriguing one. SAO stands as one of the most popular anime in the genre, as it appeals to both genders and delivers adventure, romance, and virtual reality. I loved all the cool elements in the game, and it managed to provide believable aspects such as instant messaging, a trading system, and juggling finances within the SAO universe.

Though not set in a distant future, the technology presented in SAO greatly surpass our own, giving the show a more futuristic feel. Ironically it doesn't list romance as one of the genres, because that is a major focus of the show later on. The romance between Kirito and Asuna is sweet, though a little forced and somewhat stifling at times. Kirito appears as a quiet, brave, and handsome hero who wants to do the right thing and save the world of Sword Art Online (and later on rescue his beloved Asuna). The amount of females who fall in love with him is sad, considering that Kirito is your typical oblivious male. 

In all honesty, this wasn't one of my favorite animes because I felt it had a lot of elements and scenes that just weren't needed, didn't flow well with the plot, or simply made no sense. The whole "kidnapping Asuna" story line changed what the show started off as in the beginning episodes, and it was completely unnecessary to have a creepy sexual predator as the villain. The ending scenes in the first season with Asuna in chains while "Fairy King Oberon" ripped her clothes off and licked her face was absolutely sickening and uncomfortable to watch. And why did there have to be a whole side-plot about Kirito's stepsister's loving feelings towards him? I like the idea of this show, but it wasn't as good as I could have been, in my opinion, and was more about romance than I was expecting to be.

Mature Content:

• Sexual References- Oberon kidnaps Asuna because he is physically attracted to her. Later on, he chains her up, and rips her clothing and touches her in inappropriate ways against her will
• Asuna is fondled quite intimately by two alien-like creatures when she tries to escape from her prison
• Suguha, who was raised as Kirito's younger sister, is in love with him
• All the girls fall in love with Kirito's character
• Oberon laughs sadistically about raping Asuna in real life
• Nudity- Asuna's breasts are almost fully revealed (all but the nipple are drawn) when her shirt is ripped off
• Some excessive cleavage is shown
• Asuna's thighs are exposed in later scenes
• Violence- Video-game violence and death
• A few suicides take place (when they die, people explode into sparkles)
• Profanity- Use of the word "ass," "damn," "dick," and "shit"
• Intense Scenes- This anime is very emotionally intense

Personal Note: 
The voice actor who voices King Oberon was the same voice as Prince Raj in Snow White With the Red Hair!