Fangirl Monthly: March Box

Hello

Annyeong

Konichiwa

Ni Hao

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Were my predictions right for the Sword Art Online March box from Fangirl Monthly? I wouldn't say I am a die hard fan of SAO but I do enjoy the anime even though there are certain characters that I just deal with because they are popular if you've seen my past posts on the anime you'll know who I am talking about, if not then go and check out my posts for Aincrad & Fairy Dance and also for Phantom Bullet, Calibur & Mothers Rosario. Shall we get checking out what we got in our Sword Art Online box?

First up we have an EXCLUSIVE ASUNA YUUKI POSTCARD PRINT, that again the artwork is done by Mayu Matsumoto. To say that Asuna isn't the character I enjoy, the artwork is breathtaking and absolutely stunning. I think it's one of my favourite prints we've received.

Next we have our Fangirl Monthly CUSTOM ASUNA'S & KIRITO'S SWORDS JEWELRY POUCH. I really like that each month the jewelry comes in a customised pouch that is based upon that months anime. So far I've never been left disappointed with the pouches as you can tell a lot of time and effort goes into creating them.

Next we have YUI'S HEART GLASS PENDANT COSPLAY NECKLACE, Yui is basically an AI who is found by Kirito and Asuna on their travels, having lost her memory she becomes attached to both Kirito and Asuna and begins referring to them as her mum and dad. She was created to help the players with their mental state while playing the game but was prevented from doing so when the real purpose of the game was revealed. Yui sacrifices herself for Kirito and Asuna when she remembers why she was created and a pendant that is seen to be worn by Asuna & Kirito. The necklace is a really nice fit and I like that it's not a normal chain.

Next we have a CUSTOM KETSUMEI KISHIDAN PIN, this pin is made by GeekMePretty and translates as Knights of the Blood Oath which is the guild Asuna is a part of and is classed as the lead and most powerful guild in Aincrad. I love this pin it's really pretty, I've not pinned it to any of my jackets yet but I assure you it will be at some point, it's too pretty to keep packaged up and hidden away.

Next we have a SWORD CHARMS NECKLACE, my prediction was indeed correct and we have Kirito's swords on a necklace, I would have been surprised if we didn't get anything to do with Kirito's swords. The necklace is your usual chain and it fits really nice, I think it would have been better if both sides of the swords were matching in colour as the middle one especially turns around while being worn.

Our last item is a SWORD ART ONLINE INSPIRED BRONZE POCKET WATCH, and I have to say I think this is my favourite item from our March box. I know I won't really use it but it's a nice item to have as a collectible. The design of it for me gives of a steam punk feel and looks a bit vintage, I love how it's designed and set, even the clock face itself looks vintage.

It's now time to get into all the business side of the Fangirl Monthly subscription box, whatever month you subscribe, as long as it's before the deadline you will get that months box, if it's after the deadline you will receive the next months box. Each box comes with 3-5 anime and manga inspired jewelry, accessories and goodies from a selected series each month. You get the choice of what term of what subscription plan you would like, there's a 6 month plan which is $102/£83.69 and renews every 6 months until you cancel, there is a 3 month plan which is $52.50/£43.08 and renews every 3 months until you cancel, and finally there is a monthly plan which is the plan I am on, which is $18/£14.77 and renews every month until you cancel. You are able to skip any of the months boxes if you need to for any reason. These boxes do not include shipping and each shipping price varies for where they are shipping to, I pay £24.81 a month which is including shipping. If you are interested in subscribing or fancy checking them out then you can head over to the Fangirl Monthly website.

I really liked this box especially the pin and pocket watch, I may not follow Sword Art Online as much as I do Sailor Moon, Fairy Tail and Naruto but it is an anime that I really enjoy and I keep checking news on when we'll be getting a 3rd season. Like for this box I'm really curious at what items we will be getting in our April box as it's from a series that I got into via it's manga and then got into the anime, surely there will be a pin or something that associates with a certain mask.

April box is Tokyo Ghoul.

See you soon!

Annyeong

Sayonara

Zai Jian

Bye

Sword Art Online Anime

Hello

Annyeoung

Konnichiwa

Ni hao

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I think this is my first anime post since my hiatus and I decided on an anime that has been really popular lately: Sword Art Online.

Sword Art Online is often shortened and known as SAO and the anime is created from the light novel series written by Reki Kawahara and illustrated by abec. The anime adaptation was announced in 2011 and is directed by Tomohiki Ito with music by Yuki Kajiura. The anime is produced by Aniplex and animated by A-1 pictures.
The first season was aired between July 7th 2012 and December 22nd 2012, it was also streamed via Crunchyroll and Hulu. As I mentioned above the series is based off the light novels and season one is adapted from the first 4 volumes as well as parts of volume 8. The first season contains 25 episodes which is in turn split into 2 story arcs: Arc 1 Aincrad has 14 episodes where Arc 2 Fairy Dance has 11 episodes.

The first season has 2 opening themes with the first one being my favourite and 3 ending themes one of which is the first opening theme which is used for the final episode. I want to share these with you below.

Opening 1 - LiSA - Crossing Field

By boruto

She also released the track in English.

By AniplexUS

Opening 2 - Eir Aoi - Innocence

By Ma fer

Ending 1 - Haruka Tomatsu - Yume Sekai

By Delta's Adventures

Ending 2 Luna Haruna - Overfly

By lunaharunaVEVO

Google Images

The first season follows Kirito (real name Kazuto Kirigaya), a beta tester for the online virtual reality game named Sword Art Online. On the launch day all the players are unable to log out of the game Kirito and new friend Klein notice that the log out button is missing and put it down to a glitch in the game, later SAO creator Akihiko Kayaba confirms the worst to the players that it's in fact not a glitch and the log out button has in fact been removed and the only way to return to the real world is to complete the game by beating the levels and the final boss, and that if they die in the game then their bodies die in the real world too. By the end after gaining and losing friends 2 skilled swordsmen team up to complete the death game: they are Kirito and Asuna.

Google Images

Arc 2 follows Kirito 3 months after the end of the death game in Aincrad, with Asuna in a coma and held captive in another online virtual reality game: Alfheim Online(ALO). In ALO the player takes on the role of fairies, all with different powers. Kirito heads into Alfheim Online in the bid to rescue Asuna and along the way makes new friends, one of which is a female fairy named Leafa.

Google Images

Andrew started watching this anime long before me and kept telling me I needed to watch it, he was constantly watching it to the point when I decided to give the series a try I'd already seen quite a few of the episodes and lost interest. It wasn't till my hiatus I decided to give SAO another try. I'd already seen a majority of the Aincrad Arc and either though I didn't feel hooked I pushed past all my sighs and eye rolls and continued to watch it. I was honestly surprised with myself for the fact that as the credits were rolling at the end of the Aincrad Arc I was crying and applauding it, gutted that that was the end. I was more hooked on the Fairy Dance Arc with the suspense of when and where Kirito would find out that Leafa was actually his sister (she's really his cousin, both were lead to believe they were siblings). I love the animation for both Arcs but I think I lean more towards Fairy Dance because it's a lot more colourful. I think what may surprise SAO fans is that I'm personally not drawn to Kirito and Asuna as a couple, I think this is the first anime I've watched where I've not really liked the lead characters and not fancied the lead male character. My favourite characters are actually characters you don't see as often as Kirito and Asuna and they are Klein and Leafa. I've seen a lot of people comment that SAO is overrated and don't understand why it's as popular as it is, with many also stating that it's changed to follow the romance of Kirito and Asuna, with fans of the light novels have stated that it follows the light novels. I personally found the romance part boring to the point I was rolling my eyes and calling bullshit. I love romance manga and anime so I don't think that was because I was against it, I think it's because I'm not really into Asuna and Kirito. I recently read that as a couple they may not get a happy ending and as bad as it sounds that made me happy. Overall I think Sword Art Online is a series I would recommend anyone to watch that hasn't. I think if I'd not already seen a majority of the episodes so many times already I would have got into it a lot quicker. I'm looking forward to the film being released as well as season 3 (season 2 to be posted in a future post) and I'm curious on how it's going to work as a live-action TV series. If you like action, romance, comedy and edge of the seat moments then I highly recommend watching Sword Art Online. The complete 1st season is still available dubbed on Netflix and both season 1 and 2 are available subbed on Crunchroll.

Have you watched Sword Art Online?

Are you a fan?

Who are your favourite characters?

Let me know in the comments below.

See you soon!

Annyeoung

Sayonara

Zai Jian

Bye