I know that Sword Art Online fans around the world have been anxiously awaiting this news, so I’m pleased to be the one to deliver it to you!
As most of us know by now, the new Sword Art Online movie titled Sword Art Online The Movie -Progressive- Aria of a Starless Night will premiere in Japan at the end of October. In an announcement posted to the official Funimation blog on Wednesday, September 29th, we can also now report that the movie will hit theaters overseas this December!
In the announcement, Funimation revealed they are teaming up with Aniplex of America to release the movie in theaters in early December. The first countries to get the new movie after Japan will be the US and Canada on Friday, December 3rd. Australia and New Zealand will follow this on December 9th before it will finally premiere in Latin America, the United Kingdom, and Ireland at an undisclosed later date. There will be both subbed and dubbed screenings with the original voice cast from the previous TV seasons and movie reprising their roles.
No word on if overseas theaters will also get to watch this movie in IMAX format like their Japanese counterparts, but we’ll keep you informed of future updates as they are revealed. Tickets go on sale in the US/Canada on November 5th and in Australia and New Zealand on November 9th.
Based on the light novel and manga spinoff series, which itself is based on the original Sword Art Online series, this Sword Art Online movie is an alternate re-telling of the original Aincrad story. More specifically, it tells the story from Asuna’s point of view as she struggles with surviving the first floor of the death game that she is now trapped in, along with her anime-original friend, Mito.
Returning to produce the animation is powerhouse studio A-1 Pictures with Ayako Kono serving as the director. Also returning to the series is Yuki Kajiura who will compose the background music much as she did with every other installment of the franchise.
To say that I am hyped for this feature is an understatement. I’ve read the first couple of manga volumes of the Sword Art Online: Progressive spinoff and am very excited to see it translated to the big screen!
Source: Funimation
