The theme song is "Ouke" by LiSA! Sword Art Online the Movie - Progressive - Aria: A Night Without Stars" trailer has been released! Comments from the original author, Reki Kawahara, and other staff members have also arrived!

The trailer for "SWORD ART ONLINE THE MOVIE - Progressive - Aria: A Night Without Stars," which will be released on October 30, 2021 (Sat), has arrived. It was also announced that the theme song will be "Ouke" by LiSA.

The "Sword Art Online" series of novels by Reki Kawahara (published by Dengeki Bunko) won the 15th Dengeki Novel Award (Grand Prize). The story of the main character Kirito's adventures in the next-generation VRMMORPG "Sword Art Online" has been highly popular since the first volume of the original novel was released in 2009, and as of 2021, more than 26 million copies of the novel have been sold worldwide.
As of 2021, a total of 26 million copies of the novel have been sold worldwide. A new "Aincrad" version, "Sword Art Online the Movie: Progressive - Aria on a Starless Night," will be released on October 30, 2021 (Saturday), and will be written by Reki Kawahara, the author of the original novel, from the perspective of Asuna.

⇒Sword Art Online the Movie - Progressive - Aria: A Night Without Stars " will be released in the fall of 2021! New character "Mito" is played by Inori Minase!

⇒Click here for the screening schedule of the anime movie.

The trailer for "Aria: A Night Without Stars," which takes a closer look at the origin of the "Sword Art Online" series and depicts the relationship between Asuna and Mito, has been unveiled.
The theme song is sung by LiSA and composed by Ayase, who is also known as the composer of YOASOBI. Comments from the original author, Reki Kawahara, and other staff members have also arrived.

The trailer takes a closer look at the origin of the series and reveals the relationship between Asuna and Mito.

The film begins with a scene in which Asuna Yuki, the main character and heroine of the series, looks up at a vision at a scramble crossing in Shibuya. While studying hard for her entrance exams, Asuna spends her after-school hours on the roof of her school with her classmate, Misumi Tozawa.
Fukasumi, who loves games, asks Asuna if she wants to play with him. Asuna, who loves video games, invites Asuna to join her in the world of "SAO" as "Asuna". As Asuna joins Mito (Fukazumi) and all the players, including Asuna, are told that "SAO" is an un-loggable death game in which lives are at stake.
In the midst of all this, Mito is determined not to let Asuna die. ......

The second half of the trailer features Asuna and Mito fighting hard against monsters, Kirito and Asuna's encounter, and a hand-clapping battle scene set to the theme song "Ouke (Yomi: Yuke)," which was written by LiSA herself and is closely related to the work.
The world of "Sword Art Online" will once again be impacted by the "Aincrad Arc," the origin of "Sword Art Online," which will be depicted as a completely new animation.

LiSA sings the theme song and Ayase, who also works as YOASOBI, composes the music!

LiSA has sung the opening theme song "crossing field" for the first season of the "SAO" TV anime series, as well as "Fate/Zero," "The Lesser Student of Magical High School," "Demon Slayer," and other popular anime titles, which have been hits in Japan and abroad. The song "Kourenka", which began to be distributed in April '19, swept the daily distribution charts and won 38 awards.

The music was composed by Ayase, who is also known as the composer of YOASOBI. His VOCALOIDO songs, popular for their sad and melancholy melodies and thought-provoking lyrics, have received a high number of views. He has also provided songs for various artists.

The song "Ouke" will be available as a single for download and streaming from October 15 (Fri.), prior to the release of the movie version.

LiSA's comment
It has been about 10 years since I was in charge of the opening theme song "crossing field" for the "Aincrad" version.

And this time, I feel as if I have touched the reason for Asuna's true beauty and strength in "Progressive".

She was not strong from the beginning.

After overcoming betrayal, sadness, anxiety, and conflict, she is a woman who is sensitive, flexible, and has strength and beauty at her core.
Ayase has entrusted us with a melody suitable for singing the heart of such Asuna.

Even if the world continues to change, may we continue to run straight, supple and strong like her.

Go. Go, me, go.

Profile:
Born in Gifu Prefecture.
She has sung theme songs for many popular anime such as "Fate/Zero," "Sword Art Online," "The Lesser Student of Magical High School," and "Demon Slayer," and has had hit records not only in Japan but also in the world.
In October 2008, she released the album "LEO-NiNE" and the single "Flame" at the same time, which reached No. 1 on the Oricon Daily Album and Single Ranking (as of October 13, 2008). At the end of the year, they were awarded the "62nd Japan Record Award" at the TBS "62nd Shine! Japan Record Award" at the TBS "62nd Japan Record Awards," and also participated in the "71st NHK Kohaku Uta Gassen" for the second year in a row.
In '21, she celebrated the 10th anniversary of her solo debut and released her 10th anniversary mini album "LADYBUG.
Her overwhelmingly passionate performances and singing ability, and her live performances centered on positive messages, quickly gained popularity, and she has established herself as a live artist not only in the ani-song scene but also at numerous rock festivals.
Motto: "Today is a good day.

Ayase's comment】 ※原文ママ
When I was chosen to compose the theme song, I remember jumping up and down with joy. I am a fan of "SAO" myself, and it is my favorite work. It was also my first encounter with LiSA's music. This time, I composed the music and LiSA wrote the lyrics, so it was like we were working together. I expressed hope, strong will, and light in my music and sound, and LiSA spun them in her own words with Asuna's thoughts on her shoulders. I hope that both fans of the "SAO" series and those who are new to "SAO" through this work will enjoy every bit of it with this song.

Profile:
Born on April 4, 1994 in Yamaguchi Prefecture.
Started submitting VOCALOID songs in December 2018. She has gained popularity for her sad and melancholy melodies and thought-provoking lyrics, and her song "Last Resort," released in April 2019, has received over 11 million views on YouTube. He is also known for his self-covers of Vocaloid songs sung by himself,
As soon as he started streaming "Yoru Nadeseru Menou" released in 2020 in September 2021, it ranked No. 1 on the LINE MUSIC Daily Chart.
In addition to his activities as a Vocaloid P and composer for YOASOBI, he also provides music to various artists.

Comments from the staff, including Reki Kawahara for the original story and Yuki Kajiura for the music

Reki Kawahara Original story and story draft by Reki Kawahara
This fall will mark 20 years since I first started writing the story of Kirito and Asuna.
It is an inexpressible feeling to think that I have spent almost half of my life with the two of them ......, but in such a milestone year,
It is a great pleasure for me to release "Sword Art Online - Progressive - Aria on a Starless Night", the story of the beginning of our relationship.
I sincerely hope that many people will be able to see this film, which is filled with the spirit of the many staff and cast members.

abec Original illustrations and character drafts
This is the second theater version of the film, and it is all thanks to you, 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 with the new additions including Director Kono,
I believe that the production team has been further strengthened by the combination of the new additions, such as Director Kono, and the staff who have supported the work up to this point.
For those who have already read the original work, I am sure that this work will be filled with the same enjoyment of "SAO" as before, but in a fresh way.
Whether you are new to the world of "SAO" or have been a fan of the show, I hope you will enjoy it at the theater!

Director Ayako Kono
To all the fans of the "SAO" series, welcome back to the "Aincrad" version, the origin of the series! Once again, it is a pleasure to meet you!
It is truly amazing and nerve-wracking to be able to draw one of the works in a series that is loved by so many people around the world,
However, the fragile and fragile characters in the original work, as they move forward in a straightforward manner, are very moving and inspiring.
This "SWORD ART ONLINE THE MOVIE - Progressive - Aria on a Starless Night" is a new story of the "SAO" strategy that has never been told before.
Please enjoy the new story of the "SAO" strategy that has not been told until now!

Character Design and Chief Animation Director: Kento Toya
February 14, 2012, was the first day I went up to work on the first episode of the T.V. series as an original artist.
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 film as a character designer,
I never imagined then that I would be participating in the production as a character designer. I hope to make a movie that both those who have already seen the TV series and those who are new to "Sword Art Online" will enjoy.
I hope to make a film that will be enjoyed by those who have already seen the TV series as well as those who are new to "Sword Art Online".

Yasuyuki Kai Action Director, Monster Design
I was very conscious of the atmosphere of the past "Sword Art Online" games, especially the T.V. series.
Action Director: We focused on how the battles in the "Aincrad" version would look from Asuna's point of view,
We focused on how the battle scenes would look from Asuna's point of view, and tried to bring the realistic feeling of the battle scenes to you! We hope you enjoy it!

Yuki Kajiura Music
Now that the main story of the "Alicization" Arc has come to a close, let's take a look at the beginning of "Sword Art Online",
As a fan who has been following the series for a long time, it is an unexpected pleasure to be able to see the beginning of "Sword Art Online", this time from Asuna's point of view.
I will do my best to color the nostalgic and new "Aincrad" with appropriate dramatic sounds.
I am looking forward to seeing it!

Film Information

SWORD ART ONLINE THE MOVIE - Progressive - Aria on a Starless Night
＜Release date

October 30, 2021 (Saturday)

＜Cast
Kirito : Sadaaki Matsuoka
Asuna Yuki: Haruka Tomatsu
Mito / Usagiwawa Fukasumi: Minase Inori
Klein: Hiroaki Hirata
Egil: Hiroki Yasumoto
Shirika: Rina Hidaka
Diavel: Hiyama Shuyuki
Kibao: Tomokazu Seki

＜Staff
Original story and story idea : Reki Kawahara ("Dengeki Bunko")
Original illustration and character design idea : abec
Director : Ayako Kono
Action Director & Monster Design: Yasuyuki Kai
Character Design & Chief Animation Director: Kento Toya
Sub-character Design: Aya Akizuki, Tomomi Ishikawa, Keisuke Watanabe
Prop Design: Hisashi Higashijima
Art Director: Yusa Ito
Art Setup: Akihiro Hirasawa
Color Design: Naomi Nakano
Director of Photography: Yuki Oshima
CG Director: Kengo Oda, Hiroshi Nakajima
2D Works: Yohei Miyahara, Kaori Seki
Editing: Kiyoshi Hirose
Music: Yuki Kajiura
Sound Director: Miwa Iwanami
Sound Effects: Yasumasa Koyama
Sound Production: Sonirudo
Produced by EGG FIRM and Straight Edge
Production: A-1 Pictures
Distributor: Aniplex
Production: SAO-P Project

<Music
Ouke" LiSA (SACRA MUSIC)
Lyrics: LiSA / Composition: Ayase / Arrangement: Ryo Eguchi

＜Story
This is the story of "Flash" and "Black Swordsman" before they were called by their names.
Asuna Yuki, a girl in her third year of junior high school who was accidentally covered in Nerve Gear that day, was originally a girl who had nothing to do with Internet games.
On November 6, 2022, the world's first VRMMORPG 《Sword Art Online》 was launched.
However, the players, who had not yet cooled off from the excitement of logging in, were suddenly deprived of the means to log out by the game master, and became trapped in the game world. The game master tells them, "This is a game, but it is not play.
This is a game, but it is not a game.
Death in the game is directly connected to death in reality.
Hearing this, all the players were confused, and the game was filled with screaming. One of them was Asuna, who, not understanding the rules of the world, set out to conquer "Aincrad," a floating castle of steel with no visible top.
As she survives in a world where death is a fact of life and death is a fact of life, a fateful "encounter" comes her way. And then, farewell.
She is tossed about by the "reality before her eyes," but the one who appears before her, fighting with all her might, is the lone swordsman, Kirito...

<Introduction
Reki Kawahara, the author of the original manga, has created a completely new animated film version of "Aincrad" from Asuna's point of view.
This is a game, but not a game.
Game over is directly connected to death in real life. Sword Art Online, the death game that started it all, opens anew on the theater screen.

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