Sword Art Online: How The Progressive Films Can Improve

Sword Art Online: Progressive is an anime series that appeals to longtime fans of the franchise. It revisits the storyline that started it all, but with an opportunity to do more. As A1 Pictures continues to bring these stories to the big screen, it might be time to assess what they’re doing well and what they can improve on going forward to make the most out of this second chance.

The Progressive series began in 2012 and was written to expand upon the Aincrad arc of the main series, where everyone was trapped in Sword Art Online. It serves as a return to fans’ most beloved arc but also a chance to show how Reki Kawahara’s writing skill has improved ever since he started writing the series when he was younger. As of the time of writing, Progressive has received two feature films: 2021’s Aria of a Starless Night and 2022’s Scherzo of Deep Night, which celebrated the anime’s 10th anniversary.

While the films offer the same penchant for great music and flashy action that fans are used to, they can feel like they are playing things safe and should strive for something bigger. It’s clear that A1 Pictures is willing to change things up even more, and depending on one’s view of the films, this can be seen as either good or bad. However, to their credit, they are taking creative liberties and introducing new elements to the franchise.

Kawahara’s chief objective with Progressive was to explore untold parts of SAO’s story, specifically each floor boss, and have Kirito and Asuna partner up sooner rather than later. He is quite unabashed about wanting to diverge in the name of creating a story he wanted to tell, and it makes sense to expand on what was a fairly rushed part of the story.

Progressive was already conceived to expand without much concern about contradiction to the main storyline, and the anime followed suit by taking even more creative liberties. The emphasis on Asuna as a protagonist is unique to the film adaptations, as is the existence of Mito, Asuna’s friend who is a major character in the two films released thus far. Mito might be one of the best new additions to the cast thanks to her complicated relationship with Asuna and her own hangups explored therein. It serves as a bright spot within the otherwise middling core that is Scherzo.

Future Progressive films could benefit from shortening their scope, but being bolder with their execution. The stories shouldn’t feel like TV episodes edited together, but one cohesive whole, built around a central tension that’s easy to latch onto. This is also a byproduct of the production values, which can feel less than stellar compared to past SAO films, especially Ordinal Scale.

Like the best standalone episodes from SAO’s first season, these stories should be different and explore ideas that deepen the audience’s relationship with these characters and this world. To its credit, this is something that the films have tried to do, like in Scherzo, when Kirito and Asuna look for collectibles. In theory, this incentivizes exploration while also using the video game motif.

SAO is infamous for portraying an MMO but sorta dropping the ball when it comes to exploring the world beyond the dungeons. This is where Progressive has a chance to make amends and create a richer and more vibrant world than ever before. The idea of having a clear mission to climb the floors of the tower can lend itself well to exploring the ins and outs of the world.

In conclusion, Sword Art Online: Progressive has the potential to be a fresh and exciting take on the franchise. By taking risks and being bolder with its execution, it can elevate the series to new heights and offer fans a unique and engaging experience. While the films have taken some creative liberties, they could benefit from a stronger focus on a central tension and improving their production values.

The character of Mito has proven to be a standout addition to the series, and exploring more complex relationships between characters can deepen the audience’s connection with the world of SAO. By focusing on exploring the world beyond the dungeons and creating a rich and vibrant environment, Progressive can make amends for past shortcomings and give fans a new reason to love the series.

Overall, Sword Art Online: Progressive is a promising addition to the franchise, and with each new release, there is potential for growth and improvement. Fans can look forward to seeing how the series evolves and how A1 Pictures continues to push the boundaries of what can be done with this beloved anime.

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