A preview clip highlighting Sword Art Online’s upcoming third episode is now available – the main highlight being the introduction of a female character who looks quite identical to a generic iDOLM@STER character.
Within the next episode, it appears our protagonist experiences the hospitality of a guild – and while they treat him quite kind for a while, it seems the call of battle manages to cut everything short as one should already anticipate. Conflict is inevitable in this case, and it’s not a shock to see it arise within the guild – rather, the interest comes in the response, whatever that may prove to be. One must also wonder if the iDOLM@STER girl will have a role greater than side-character as she seems to be emphasized more than others.
As Sword Art Online is apparently going the route of episodic short stories, it also be quite a thrill to see how these all ultimately tie together at the end as certain characters are bound to reappear – and the progress of an episode will have to be shown off eventually through a more multi-tiered concern, meaning something will either start bubbling up in the background, or perhaps, a foe will be faced who simply cannot be beaten.
Yet that all comes later, as for now, the main point to note is character development in regards to the protagonist – it’s likely that each of these escapades are altering and expressing parts of him, and by the time the aforementioned calamity in the center of it all comes, his character will be one shining quite brilliantly.
However, that is assuming this series manages to achieve proper character development – otherwise, it would merely end up a poorly done series with no impact or factor of captivation. Much like Accel World, the episodes would all feel terribly pointless at that point – although unlike Accel World, the promise seems highly prevalent in this third episode, as well as onward in any future chapters.
And on that note, it’s only a few days of wait till one can see this digital harem grow.
Jul 18, 2012 @ 6:40 CDT
yes episode 3 XD
Jul 18, 2012 @ 9:34 CDT
OMG Sachi!! T___T
and wait, isn’t that Argo? The one LN whinners were bitching about that got cut last episode? Lol it’s like the director’s going “here’s your fuckin’ cookie”
Jul 18, 2012 @ 12:03 CDT
Well most people were complaining because of how rushed the last episode was how they think this episode will be rushed as well. Can’t blame them since I don’t see why they had to condense that episode because to my knowledge sword art online will run for 25 episodes and i think thats enough to adequately animate the SAO arc.
Jul 18, 2012 @ 15:40 CDT
I think the problem is a good portion of people who read the light novel think they’re masters and experts of animation, as often happens with any light novel or manga – and they speak as if understanding storyboard arrangements better than a studio that’s been making them for repeated hit series, after hit series.
If one feels the animation isn’t satisfying them as much as the light novel, that’s a personal issue – that’s not a fault of the animation unless said animation explicitly has some sort of mentionable flaw or aspect of bother, at which point, complaint is justified.
Because an anime is an “adapation”, this doesn’t mean it’s intended to be the light novel, or whatever source material, recreated – “adaptation” means to “adapt”, i.e., create a new product which can standalone amongst a different medium and relevant factors.
If someone wants to experience the light novel, go read the light novel – animation has movement, it’s something dynamic, and a few frames of animation can tell a book’s worth of writing when potential is maximized.
All the descriptive elements of the novel are being delivered in a superior visual form to ten times the effect, and then some, when a successful animation is made – packed alongside the necessary story aspects. If someone can’t grasp that, they might as well go over to the imaginary support desk of life and file a complaint to everyone who doesn’t care.
Now before a volcano erupts in my direction, I’m speaking in general, and it’s the truth.
Jul 19, 2012 @ 12:06 CDT
Oh yah totally, many complaints for adaptations, especially light novel adptations are unwarrented because of how complicated it is to not have enough episodes or not being able use a narrator. However in the past there have been some very accurate and succesful adaptations to light novels and i think some people just want to see that kind of care an quality in every adaptation that they see.
Jul 18, 2012 @ 16:28 CDT
wait a sec, there was an argo “event” during chrismas? did I miss something or they just found a way to put her in the show?
Jul 18, 2012 @ 10:23 CDT
i thought it was Onodera from Nisekoi XD
Jul 18, 2012 @ 10:51 CDT
I saw Haruka in the first episode. So which character is it now? Unless..if it’s the same Haruka as before… except she has blue hair now lol
Jul 18, 2012 @ 17:22 CDT
They’re all Haruka.
Jul 18, 2012 @ 13:25 CDT
ugh. Don’t feel like watching this episode. But they are gonna screw up anyway, so it might as well not have the same impact as the novel! …
Jul 18, 2012 @ 17:24 CDT
ugh. I don’t feel like reading the light novel, it’s going to be terrible anyways!
Jul 18, 2012 @ 14:18 CDT
Death flags.
Death flags everywhere!
Jul 18, 2012 @ 17:24 CDT
Sounds like Minesweeper.