Anime Reviews (2010-2019): Sword Art Online Alternative Gun Gale Online - Vol. 1 (A Neo-Tokyo 2099 Anime on Blu-ray review) (2018)

“Sword Art Online Alternative Gun Gale Online” may not be as emotional as “Sword Art Online” or “Sword Art Online II”, nor does it feature a lot of characters and it may not be RPG based but more gun battles/survival, but it’s still an entertaining series worth watching. And I can’t wait for the second volume of the Blu-ray release. “Sword Art Online Alternative Gun Gale Online” is recommended!

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TITLE: Sword Art Online Alternative: Gun Gale Online – Vol. 1

ANIME RELEASE DATE IN JAPAN: 2018

DURATION: Episodes 1-6 (164 Minutes)

BLU-RAY INFORMATION: 1080p High Definition, 16×9, Japanese and English Linear PCM

COMPANY: Aniplex of America

RATED: 13+

Release Date: March 26, 2019

Originally Created by Sigsawa Keiichi, Kawahara Reiki

Directed by Sakoi Masayuki

Series Composition: Kuroda Yousuke

Music by Starving Trancer

Character Design by Kosakai Yoshio

Mechanical Design: Ishiguchi Juu

Art Director: Nemoto Kuniaki

Anime Production: Studio 3Hz

Featuring the following voice talent:

Kusunoki Tomori/Reba Buhr as Karen Kohirumaki/Llenn

Hikasa Yoko/Allegra Clark as Pitohui

Akasaki Chinatsu/Faye Mata as Fukaziroh

Okitsu Kazuyuki/Ray Chase as M

Ichikawa Aoi/Mark Whitten as Kenta

Tanezaki Atsumi/Rebecca Davis as Rosa

Imaruoka Atsushi/David Vincent as Huey

Asai Ayaka/Cindy Robinson as Eva

Morinaga Chitose as Tohma

Shiraishi Haruka/Morgan Berry as Tanya

In the world of guns and steel that is Gun Gale Online, LLENN has been a devoted, female solo player. She is obsessed with two things: donning herself entirely in pink and honing her skills with consistent gameplay. She soon discovers her love for hunting other players (a.k.a. PK or Player Killing), and quickly becomes known as the “Pink Devil.”

Meanwhile, LLENN meets a beautiful yet mysterious player, Pitohui, and the two click right away. Doing as she is told by Pitohui, she enters the Squad Jam group battle.

In 2014, a light novel series titled “Sword Art Online Alternative Gun Gale Online” made its debut. Written by Sigsawa Keiichi and illustrations by Kuroboshi Kouhaku, the light novel is a spin-off of Kawahara Reki’s popular “Sword Art Online” series.

The light novel series is supervised by Kawahara and so popular, as of May 2018, “Gun Gale Online” has now sold over a million copies and is a best-selling light novel series.

A manga adaptation would be released in 2015 by Tamori Tadadi and a 12-episode anime series adaptation by Studio 3Hz would air in April and June 2018.

And now, the first half of the first series will be released on Blu-ray courtesy of Aniplex.

The series revolves around Kohiruimaki Karen, a tall young woman who is interested in VR gaming. After going through several games and with the suggestion of her friend, she gives “Gun Gale Online” a try and likes the avatar created for her and goes by the name of LLENN.

When she finds out that the game she chose is about survival and utilizing guns, while not her taste at first, she decides to give it a try and overtime, she begins to improve her skill and dons a pink outfit and because of her quick, close combat style, she would be known as “The Pink Devil”.

Karen befriends another female player named Pitohui and Pitohui helps her, by taking her to a weapon shop, helping her find a new gun and form a temporary squadron together. But Pitohui tells her that if LLENN ever defeats her, they will meet each other in real life.

With the Squad Jam Team Battle Tournament coming up, Pitohui, who is unable to participate to IRL obligations, Pitohui suggests LLENN partner up with M. M is not a good person, she says, but would help her learn about combat before the tournament starts.

So, LLENN and M form a squad and compete in the Squad Jam Team Battle. How will they do in the tournament?

VIDEO:

“Sword Art Online Alternative Gun Gale Online” is presented in 1080p High Definition and 16×9 Widescreen. Because of the ever changing landscape within the online game and IRL, there is a good balance between well-painted buildings and interiors and also beautiful painted backgrounds for outdoor scenes. Black levels are nice and deep but its the colorful palette and the beautiful backgrounds that captivate you. For the most part, anime production by Studio 3Hz is very good.

Colors are absolutely vibrant and I didn’t notice any problems with artifacts or banding during my viewing of each episode.

AUDIO & SUBTITLES:

Sword Art Online Alternative Gun Gale Online” is presented in Japanese and English linear PCM stereo. The voice acting for the Japanese soundtrack is solid. With that being said, having watched the series first in Japanese, watching it with the English dub, I felt the casting was well-done!

Subtitles are in English.

SPECIAL FEATURES:

Note: Japanese audio commentary features English subtitles

Episode 1 Audio Commentary – Featuring audio commentary by Japanese voice actress Kusunoki Tomori (voice of LLENN), Okitsu Kazuyuki (voice of M) and Sigsawa Keiichi (author of “Gun Gale Online”).
Episode 4 Audio Commentary – Featuring audio commentary by Japanese voice actress Kusunoki Tomori (voice of LLENN), Hikasa Yoko (voice of Pitohui), Okitsu Kazuyuki (voice of M)
Episode 5 Audio Commentary – Featuring audio commentary by Japanese voice actress Kusunoki Tomori (voice of LLENN), Asai Ayaka (voice of Eva), Okitsu Kazuyuki (voice of M)
Episode 5.5 Refrain – A recap of the first five episodes.

EXTRAS:

The Blu-ray release comes with a slipcase, a 24-page deluxe booklet and postcard set. Plus an Exclusive Bushiroad’s Weiß Schwarz card (while supplies last).

When I first heard about a new “Sword Art Online” related series not written by Kawahara Reki, I have to be truthful in saying that I was not too interested. But when the video game “Sword Art Online: Fatal Bullet” was released, then I started to take notice.

When I watched the first episode, at first I was thinking, how it was totally different and uninteresting as the series starts with the main characters LLENN and M fighting without any introduction. By episode 2, then we get the introductions and up to the end of the first half of the series, I found myself captivated and now wanting to watch the second half!

The characters and situations are different from “Sword Art Online” and it’s main connection is the introduction of “Sword Art Online” and how people died playing that game and now the popularity of other games and for Kohiruimaki Karen, she is a person wanting to jump in and not long after, she starts playing and improving and becoming one of the top players of “Gun Gale Online”.

And now, she competes in her first tournament with her partner M. But can they survive and defeat the rival squads and win the tournament?

That is what the first half features, until episode 6 and we learn that someone can die and the only way to prevent the death is if Karen (LLENN) wins the next Squad Jam event. Which will set up the second half of the series.

I like where the anime series is heading story-wise, I like the fact that Aniplex offers the three Japanese audio commentaries with English subtitles, plus the recap episode and of course, being an Aniplex release, you get the booklet, postcard and Bushiroad card which makes this set quite enticing.

Overall, “Sword Art Online Alternative Gun Gale Online” may not be as emotional as “Sword Art Online” or “Sword Art Online II”, nor does it feature a lot of characters and it may not be RPG based but more gun battles/survival, but it’s still an entertaining series worth watching. And I can’t wait for the second volume of the Blu-ray release.

“Sword Art Online Alternative Gun Gale Online” is recommended!

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