Is Sword Art Online Season 5 Release Date, Spoilers, Cast, Plot & New Updates
Sword Art Online Season 5 Release Date: Sword Art Online is one of the most popular and influential anime series in the world. Based on the light novels by Reki Kawahara, the anime follows the adventures of Kirito, Asuna, and their friends in various virtual reality worlds. The anime has spanned four seasons, two movies, and several spin-offs, attracting millions of fans worldwide. But the question that many fans are asking is: when will Sword Art Online Season 5 come out?
The answer is not so simple, as there has been no official announcement or confirmation from the studio A-1 Pictures or the author Reki Kawahara. However, based on some clues and rumors, we can make some educated guesses and predictions about the possible release date, spoilers, cast, plot, and new updates of Sword Art Online Season 5. Here is everything we know so far.
Sword Art Online Season 5 Release Date
The release date of Sword Art Online Season 5 is still unknown, but we can estimate it based on the previous seasons and the current status of the light novels. The first season of Sword Art Online aired in 2012, covering the first four volumes of the light novels. The second season aired in 2014, covering volumes five to eight. The third season, also known as Alicization, aired in two parts, from 2018 to 2020, covering volumes nine to 18. The fourth season, also known as War of Underworld, aired in two parts, from 2019 to 2020, covering volumes 19 and 20.
The fifth season of Sword Art Online is expected to adapt the Unital Ring arc, which is the latest and ongoing arc of the light novels. So far, only three volumes of the Unital Ring arc have been published, from volumes 21 to 23. The author Reki Kawahara has stated that he plans to finish the arc with volume 25, which means that there are still two more volumes to be written and released. Assuming that each volume takes about a year to be published, we can expect the Unital Ring arc to be completed by 2025.
However, this does not mean that the anime has to wait until then to start production. The anime could start adapting the Unital Ring arc with the existing volumes, and then catch up with the light novels later. This has happened before, as the anime adapted the Alicization arc before the light novels were finished. Therefore, it is possible that Sword Art Online Season 5 could start airing as early as 2023 or 2024, depending on the pace and schedule of the studio and the author.
Sword Art Online Season 5 Spoilers
The Unital Ring arc is set three months after the end of the War of Underworld arc, where Kirito and Asuna have returned to the real world and resumed their normal lives. However, one day, they discover that their VR devices have been hacked, and they are forced to log into a new game called Unital Ring, which is a fusion of all the VR worlds they have visited before, such as Aincrad, Alfheim, and Underworld. In this game, they have to start from scratch, with no items, skills, or memories of their previous adventures. They also encounter new and old friends and foes, such as Leafa, Sinon, Alice, Eugeo, and Gabriel.
The Unital Ring arc is a return to the roots of Sword Art Online, as it focuses on the survival and exploration aspects of the VR worlds, as well as the mystery and danger behind the new game. It also explores the themes of identity, memory, and reality, as the characters have to deal with the consequences of their actions and experiences in the VR worlds. The Unital Ring arc is also the final arc of the Sword Art Online saga, as the author Reki Kawahara has confirmed that he intends to end the story with this arc.
Cast
The cast of Sword Art Online Season 5 is expected to include the main and recurring characters from the previous seasons, as well as some new characters introduced in the Unital Ring arc. Here is a table of the cast and their roles:
| Cast | Role | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Yoshitsugu Matsuoka | Kirito | The main protagonist of Sword Art Online, a skilled and legendary VR gamer who has survived and saved many VR worlds |
| Haruka Tomatsu | Asuna | The main heroine of Sword Art Online, Kirito’s girlfriend and partner, a strong and loyal VR gamer who has supported and fought alongside Kirito |
| Ai Kayano | Alice | A former Integrity Knight and Kirito’s friend, who was brought to the real world after the War of Underworld, and now lives with Kirito and his family |
| Nobunaga Shimazaki | Eugeo | Kirito’s best friend and partner in Underworld, who sacrificed himself to defeat the Administrator, and now appears as a ghost in Unital Ring |
| Ayana Taketatsu | Leafa | Kirito’s cousin and adoptive sister, a skilled VR gamer who uses a fairy avatar in Alfheim and a goddess avatar in Underworld |
| Miyuki Sawashiro | Sinon | Kirito’s friend and rival, a sniper and gunner in Gun Gale Online, and a goddess in Underworld |
| Yoshimasa Hosoya | Gabriel Miller | The main antagonist of the War of Underworld arc, a ruthless and sadistic VR hacker who tried to steal Alice’s soul, and now returns as a ghost in Unital Ring |
| Reina Kondo | Medina Orthinanos | A new character introduced in the Unital Ring arc, a noble girl from Underworld who joins Kirito and his friends in Unital Ring |
| Hiroaki Hirata | Klein | Kirito’s friend and leader of the Fuurinkazan guild, a samurai-themed VR gamer who has helped Kirito in many VR worlds |
| Rina Hidaka | Silica | Kirito’s friend and member of the Fuurinkazan guild, a beast tamer and healer in Aincrad and Alfheim |
| Ayahi Takagaki | Lisbeth | Kirito’s friend and member of the Fuurinkazan guild, a blacksmith and crafter in Aincrad and Alfheim |
| Kanae Ito | Yui | Kirito and Asuna’s adoptive daughter, an artificial intelligence who acts as their guide and assistant in the VR worlds |
Plot
The plot of Sword Art Online Season 5 is based on the Unital Ring arc of the light novels, which is the fifth and final arc of the Sword Art Online saga. The plot is as follows:
Three months after the end of the War of Underworld arc, Kirito and Asuna have returned to the real world and resumed their normal lives. They are also taking care of Alice, who was brought to the real world as a humanoid robot, and Eugeo, who appears as a ghost in their VR devices. However, one day, they discover that their VR devices have been hacked, and they are forced to log into a new game called Unital Ring, which is a fusion of all the VR worlds they have visited before, such as Aincrad, Alfheim, and Underworld.
In this game, they have to start from scratch, with no items, skills, or memories of their previous adventures. They also encounter new and old friends and foes, such as Leafa, Sinon, Alice, Eugeo, and Gabriel. They soon realize that Unital Ring is not just a game, but a trap set by a mysterious enemy who wants to destroy all the VR worlds and their inhabitants. Kirito and his friends have to survive and escape from Unital Ring, while also uncovering the secrets and mysteries behind the new game and its creator.
New Updates
As of December 7, 2023, there are no new updates or official announcements regarding Sword Art Online Season 5. However, there are some rumors and speculations that suggest that the anime could start production soon, as the light novels are nearing completion and the anime studio has a good track record of adapting the Sword Art Online series. There are also some fan-made trailers and posters that have been circulating on the internet, but they are not confirmed or endorsed by the official sources.
The most recent update related to the Sword Art Online franchise is the release of the movie Sword Art Online Progressive: Scherzo of Deep Night, which premiered on October 22, 2022. The movie is a spin-off of the Sword Art Online series, which retells the events of the Aincrad arc from Asuna’s perspective. The movie is based on the Sword Art Online Progressive light novels, which are a reboot and expansion of the original Sword Art Online light novels. The movie has received positive reviews from critics and fans, and has been a commercial success at the box office.
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Sword Art Online Season 5
| Information | Details |
|---|---|
| Title | Sword Art Online Season 5 |
| Source | Light novel |
| Arc | Unital Ring |
| Studio | A-1 Pictures |
| Release Date | Unknown, possibly late 2023 or early 2024 |
| Episodes | Unknown, possibly 24 or 25 |
| Genres | Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Romance |
| Themes | Love Polygon, Video Game |
| Synopsis | Kirito and Asuna are forced to log into a new game called Unital Ring, which is a fusion of all the VR worlds they have visited before. They have to start from scratch, with no items, skills, or memories of their previous adventures. They also encounter new and old friends and foes, such as Leafa, Sinon, Alice, Eugeo, and Gabriel. They soon realize that Unital Ring is not just a game, but a trap set by a mysterious enemy who wants to destroy all the VR worlds and their inhabitants. Kirito and his friends have to survive and escape from Unital Ring, while also uncovering the secrets and mysteries behind the new game and its creator. |
Where to Watch
If you are wondering where to watch Sword Art Online Season 5, you have several options to choose from. Depending on your location and preference, you can watch the anime on different platforms and services. Here are some of the possible places where you can watch Sword Art Online Season 5:
- Crunchyroll: Crunchyroll is one of the most popular and reliable streaming services for anime fans. It offers a large library of anime titles, including Sword Art Online. You can watch the anime with subtitles in various languages, such as English, Spanish, French, German, and more. You can also watch the anime in high quality, with no ads, and with access to exclusive content, if you subscribe to the premium plan. Crunchyroll is available on various devices, such as smartphones, tablets, computers, TVs, and consoles. You can visit the official website or download the app to start watching.
- Funimation: Funimation is another streaming service that specializes in anime. It offers a similar library of anime titles, including Sword Art Online. You can watch the anime with subtitles or with English dubbing, depending on your preference. You can also watch the anime in high quality, with no ads, and with access to exclusive content, if you subscribe to the premium plan. Funimation is available on various devices, such as smartphones, tablets, computers, TVs, and consoles. You can visit the official website or download the app to start watching.
- Hulu: Hulu is a streaming service that offers a variety of content, including anime. It has a partnership with Funimation, which means that you can watch some of the anime titles from Funimation on Hulu, including Sword Art Online. You can watch the anime with subtitles or with English dubbing, depending on your preference. You can also watch the anime in high quality, with no ads, and with access to exclusive content, if you subscribe to the premium plan. Hulu is available on various devices, such as smartphones, tablets, computers, TVs, and consoles. You can visit the official website or download the app to start watching.
Rating
The rating from MyAnimeList is based on the average score given by the users who have watched the anime. The rating is out of 10, and it reflects the overall quality and enjoyment of the anime. The rating may vary depending on the season and the episode, as well as the opinions of the viewers.
As of December 7, 2023, the rating from MyAnimeList for Sword Art Online Season 5 is not available, as the anime has not been released yet. However, we can look at the ratings for the previous seasons of Sword Art Online, to get an idea of how the anime is perceived by the fans. Here are the ratings from MyAnimeList for the previous seasons of Sword Art Online:
- Sword Art Online Season 1: 7.20 (scored by 2,111,242 users)
- Sword Art Online Season 2: 7.16 (scored by 1,302,125 users)
- Sword Art Online Season 3: 8.03 (scored by 1,007,050 users)
- Sword Art Online Season 4: 8.13 (scored by 1,006,057 users)
As you can see, the ratings for Sword Art Online are generally high, with the third and fourth seasons being the highest rated. This suggests that the anime has improved over time, and that the fans are satisfied and impressed with the story, animation, and characters. It also indicates that the anime has a loyal and passionate fanbase, who are eagerly waiting for the fifth season.
Sword Art Online Season 5 is one of the most anticipated and awaited anime series in the world, as it will conclude the epic and thrilling saga of Kirito and his friends in the VR worlds. The anime will adapt the Unital Ring arc of the light novels, which is the latest and final arc of the Sword Art Online saga. The anime will feature the return of the main and recurring characters, as well as some new characters and enemies. The anime will also explore the themes of identity, memory, and reality, as the characters have to deal with the consequences of their actions and experiences in the VR worlds.
The release date of Sword Art Online Season 5 is still unknown, but we can estimate it based on the previous seasons and the current status of the light novels. The anime could start airing as early as 2023 or 2024,
