Search the Community

It was a decade ago tonight when, after having subsisted on a diet of mostly dubbed Yu-Gi-Oh!, I decided to break into the big leagues and willingly watch Toonami. And yeah, my reason for this was Sword Art Online. Just like everyone else! At the time, I had no idea what an ASMB was or how it and its successor forum would alter my brain chemistry. Here's what the bumps looked like back then: TOM 5 actually looks weird to me now. A little too clean and shiny (but perversely, with some scratches), and the proportions look off. But I think he's cool, and the 2013-era packaging is still gritty as hell. So getting back to the main topic, my mom ended up catching me watching anime in the middle of the night, which was hardcore behavior for 15-year-old me. I mean, it's about as hardcore as I've ever done, sorta pulling all-nighters. Back then, Toonami was an odyssey of animation. I started off going to sleep for a little while before Toonami (though I've gone looking through files I saved that night, and it might not be the case; I presumably got about 45 minutes in), but in one case it caused me to miss a huge chunk of the episode. I eventually got into the habit of staying up and either watching the shows that came on before SAO or doing something else. Good thing I eventually caught on and started watching other shows. And then I started actively chatting during them, which lead to a lot of debauched fun on Twitter and elsewhere circa the mid-2010s. Ironically, some of my exploits had to do with one guy's overbearing love for SAO to the point of blocking people who shat on it. Glad I eventually became neutral on the franchise, though it's not like I'm willing to go to bat for it nowadays. I even tried to get back in via Alicization, though I only watched the premiere before I went back to saying that Log Horizon is better in spite of having not watched it in years. I don't even know if that's true. Now, since this post feels a little weird otherwise, here's an [as] black-and-white bump announcing Toonami's acquisition of SAO. You know, the thing they seemingly don't do anymore? 6769.d.mp4 Well, both of them. Funnily enough, it doesn't mention Toonami at all. Wonder how many people here know that there was a time where they did this? It happened with Soul Eater, too. Sadly, I am not currently watching anything on this accursed block (I haven't even bothered to tape My Adventures with Superman, even after learning people actually enjoy it), and my livetweeting (or is it live-Xing now?) skills are washed up, but hey: I'm glad this block is still around and blowing minds on an... occasional basis. Maybe FLCL Grunge will do it for someone, I don't know. If nothing else, I'm just glad you are still around, you crazy UEMBers, an amazing oasis in the current reality known as "the Internet is made of four websites, all of which are barely functional", and hopefully this topic has dredged up some of your fondest memories watching Toonami. Here's to many more. Maybe ten more? Even if Toonami or even [adult swim] isn't around by then, I'm sure we'll still be the definitive online resource for all things Totally Spies!. [stay gold]

Sword Art Online Progressive: Aria of a Starless Night - I was advised not to watch this movie in the theaters when it came out, because of covid, then it took forever to come out on blu-ray and streaming (not sure why,) and I just now got around to watching it, couple days ago. I saw the second movie on February 8th. So, it was my understanding that the SAO Progressive novels were made to show the things that we didn't see in the original story. The original SAO story was written by Reki for a contest, and to avoid going over the word limit (he ended up going over it anyway,) he had to leave things out, which is why we had all those time skips and didn't see all 100, well 75 floors, since that's when they fought Kayaba and got out of the game. Though I can't imagine all the floors could ever be shown? Maybe all the bosses, at best? I think I now I know what that author of that article was talking about when she said there is no true canon of SAO. Anyway, first movie was good. I miss hearing those cool SAO sound effects, the music, and of course the art work and characters. Production values were high here. We saw some more of the characters training, for the people who were complaining about the lack of that in the original Aincrad arc. And whoa, Asuna's hair is more complicated than I thought! Sword Art Online Progressive: Scherzo of a Deep Night - We had some good moments in this movie between Kirito and Asuna, before they became "official." Right now they are just "partners" haha. I don't think any of this stuff was shown in the original anime, either, from any perspective or version of events, so this seems to be all new stuff here. Oh, and there is no fan service in these movies, unless you count the tasteful swimsuits Asuna and Argo wore in their "duel." I'm shocked! What has happened to you, SAO?! I still have no idea what the titles of these movies have to do with them, or what "Aria" or "Scherzo" mean, either. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/aria https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/scherzo Ok, that doesn't clear things up at all. But credit to Reki for not just making up words again haha. But yeah, this second movie was enjoyable for me as well. It's been a while, SAO. Anyway, if you at least liked the Aincrad Arc of SAO, you would probably like these movies. It is too bad that playing movies is mostly verboten on Toonami, as these would be great to air. If Demarco is desperate for content, he should play the GGO Alternative series. It wasn't written by Reki, so the people who don't like the other SAO stuff might like it. Although I do think Reki has been improving as a writer over the years.

Episode #23: "New World" Final Episode of the Alicization arc!! And believe it or not, tonight Toonami will have aired every episode of the main story of SAO to date! (Sorry, Ordinal Scale doesn't count...) Tomorrow Night at 1 AM (2/6-7/21) ONLY TOONAMI!!!

EPISODE 21: BEYOND TIME Only 3 episodes left, and now Kirito and Asuna are stuck in the 200-year trap! What awaits them now? Find out tomorrow night (1/23-24) at 1 AM ONLY TOONAMI!!!!

EPISODE 22: "ALICE" Hard to believe we're on the penultimate episode of everything SAO anime in existence, but after almost 8 years off and on Toonami, it really is true! (Though admittedly, they skipped Gun Gale Alternative...) Oh well, 1 AM Tomorrow night (1/30-31/21), ONLY TOONAMI!!

Episode 20: "The Night Sky Blade"

Episode 19: Awakening Now at 1 AM tomorrow night (1/9/21) following a Dub Premiere Episode of Attack On Titan! ONLY TOONAMI!!!

Episode 18: "Memories" One last time at 12:30 AM tomorrow night (1/2/2021) Before Attack On Titan's Final Season takes over the timeslot! ONLY TOONAMI!!!

Episode 16 - "Code 871" Sinon is back with guns blazing!! And we learn more about that mysterious code which has subjugated Underworlders for what they perceive to be since the dawn of time! Tonight (12/5-6/2020) at 12:30 AM Don't miss it!! ONLY TOONAMI!!!

Episode 15 - "Instigation" With no time to mourn Bercouli, the War of Underworld rages on!! 12:30 AM Tonight (11/21-22/20) ONLY TOONAMI!!!

Episode 14: End To Eternity The epic battle continues! 12:30 AM Tomorrow night (11/14-15/20) ONLY TOONAMI!!!

Episode 13: The War Of Underworld Can Kirito rescue Alice from her recent captivity, that was only moments ago for the characters, but 7 months ago for us? Please join us in welcoming Sword Art Online back to the block for the first episode of the Alicization arc's thrilling 11-episode conclusion! Opening and ending themes hidden behind spoiler tag below: November 7, 2020 - 4 years to the day before Kirito beat Aincrad!! Tonight at 12:30 - ONLY TOONAMI!!!

BREAKING NEWS: #SwordArtOnline Alicization: War of Underworld returns along with the new season of #FireForce on Saturday, November 7. Schedule is below. https://t.co/BFRkSFwG5l

Episode 10 Discussion

Episode 12 Discussion

Episode 6 Discussion

Episode 5 Discussion

Ep tile: Dark Territory time for Kirito to get molested by strange girls while he's catatonic and PROBABLY for more girls to get randomly raped also here's the most tasteful Kirito X Eugeo image I can find just to trigger y'all

Episode 3 Discussion

Episode 2 Discussion On the premiere of War of Underworld, we caught up with Alice several months after the battle in the tower. Kirito is in a catatonic state due to the attack on the Ocean Turtle, and Alice has retired and living a humble life outside her home Rulid Village, spending time with Selka, doing menial work. But it seems this peaceful life has come to an end, as the Forces of Darkness have attacked Rulid Village. Find out how Alice responds to this, tonight, on War of Underworld, on Toonami!

Episode 1 Discussion Last time, in a somewhat Pyrrhic Victory, Administrator Quinella was defeated, but in the process, Cardinal and Eugeo died, Alice's memory crystal was destroyed, and Kirito was struck down when the attackers invading the Ocean Turtle hit the power supply. Find out where things continue from here on out, on Sword Art Online: Alicization - War of Underworld, tonight, on Toonami.

https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/daily-briefs/2019-12-28/sword-art-online-alicization-war-of-underworld-anime-last-season-confirmed-for-april/.154870 https://comicbook.com/anime/amp/2019/12/24/sword-art-online-alicization-season-3-war-of-underworld-return-2/ https://www.anime-recorder.com/program/130692/ According to posts in that Reddit thread they are having production difficulties, and the Director of Photography/Compositing Director Kentaro Waki was having issues with depression. INB4 he's depressed because he's working on SAO LOLOLO! I found the tweets they were talking about. It seems like he took on too much work and was getting burned out, and felt he wasn't getting enough social recognition for his work. Also, his parents seem like assholes. But it looks like he started feeling better after the outpouring of messages of support and the birthday wishes. Hopefully Mr. Waki will feel better going forward and whatever difficulties the studio is having can be helped by the delay. I also read that things that appear later in the arc will be difficult to animate so that could be part of it too. Here is an interview with him from back in January discussing the sort of work his job entails. It is interesting. Seems like the guy has an attention to detail and wants things to be high quality but not over-produced. https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interview/2019-01-09/sword-art-online-alicization-director-of-photography-kentaro-waki/.140449 I'm not sure how this delay will affect a potential Toonami airing, if DeMarco will want to get the first 12 episodes as soon as they are available and he can work them in, or just wait til all the rest are out and then get them.

EPISODE 24 DISCUSSION Last time on Sword Art Online: Alicization, Kirito, Eugeo, Alice, and Cardinal, all stood up to Administrator and her sword golem. Unfortunately, it went against Cardinal's programming to attack that abomination because it was made of human souls and memories, combined with divine object weapons. She attempted to make a deal with Administrator to give her life to let the other three go. The others decided not to leave anyway because it wouldn't help things at all, and Eugeo had Cardinal TURN HIM INTO A SWORD AND HE FLEW AROUND THE ROOM AND KILLED THE GOLEM. But when Eugeo faced off against Administrator, while he chopped one of her arms off, he was broken in half in sword from, and when he returned to human form he was cut in half, but with ice freezing between the two halves. Eugeo is seemingly on death's door. This time Kirito froze up in battle, and Alice had to come to his assistance. Kirito blocked Administrator's strike in time to save Alice from sacrificing herself for him, but then Alice passed out anyway. Now Kirito faces off against Administrator alone. Find out how this battle turns out tonight on the mid-season finale of Sword Art Online: Alicization, on Toonami!

EPISODE 23: ADMINISTRATOR Get ready for the penultimate episode, featuring Quinella just as naked and as arrogant as ever... Can the quartet of Kirito, Eugeo, Alice, and Cardinal take her down, or will her reign of terror continue? Find out tomorrow night (7/6) at Midnight, ONLY TOONAMI!!

EPISODE 21 DISCUSSION Last time on Sword Art Online: Alicization, Kirito and Alice made their way through the Senate. It was revealed that the senators are all automatons living in tubes being fed on timers. One of these senators was the evil creepy head seen before when the Taboo Index was violated. They ran into Prime Senator Chudelkin, who revealed that Alice did not go for the synthesis ritual with Administrator, so a special forced synthesis had to be arranged by Chudelkin using the automated senators. After enough trolling to buy time, Chudelkin managed to escape, but Kirito and Alice were headed off by Eugeo, who had already become an Integrity Knight. Now Kirito has to fight his friend and try to bring him to his senses! How will this turn out? Find out tonight, on Sword Art Online: Alicization, on Toonami!