Sword Art Online - Anime General Discussion [NO SPOILERS]

[relentlessflame]

Originally Posted by serenade_beta

I'm more amused that it got its own forum before the first episode started and the thread got enough topics per episode to deserve a separate forum. Guess now if someone asks for a separate forum and a moderator says they need to wait and see if there is enough discussion, we can point at this.

It's not really about precedent. Decisions are made on a case-by-case basis, based on factors discussed among the staff. In some cases, we will still want to wait and see if there's enough discussion, or if it's the right kind of discussion, or a whole lot of other things. Whining that "but SAO got a forum..." is not going to be an argument in anyone's favour.

[AmeNoJaku]

Originally Posted by serenade_beta

I'm more amused that it got its own forum before the first episode started and the thread got enough topics per episode to deserve a separate forum. Guess now if someone asks for a separate forum and a moderator says they need to wait and see if there is enough discussion, we can point at this.

Well the show is very heavily promoted to begin with, and the moderators' like all fans are subject to the hype... that's not necessarily a bad thing. Also shows that have a very dedicated fanbase are better of with distributing the conversation over several threads, instead of bloating one.

[Iron Maw]

Well damn, a sub-forum and before first episode has even aired. I guess this a new record or something.

In anycase I'll probably avoided getting too hyped for this, it isn't the second coming or anything. But I have a feeling I'll probably enjoy it a lot more than Accel World from same author at least.

[kyp275]

Originally Posted by Dann of Thursday

Ah, well that is interesting. I wasn't aware of that particular model of doing things. Did it have any particular length originally or was the web version not organized the same way?

Yea, Kawahara originally wrote SAO back in 2002, he tried to get it published but was rejected, so he continued to write and publish it on his own blog as a web novel. It wasn't until after Accel World that his publisher decided to publish SAO as well.

The 14~ish volume were estimates based on the amount of materials in the original web novel, as it wasn't put out as individual volumes. The rewrite so far have not really changed the length of the story, but apparently that's about to change with vol.10 and beyond.

Originally Posted by Dann of Thursday

Indeed, that would be quite a lot, though I can't recall any anime based on a novel that has ever followed the series to its conclusion. Usually, they end up either just ending with no end in sight or making significant changes.

Shakugan no Shana, Zero no Tsukaima, Toradora, Katanagatari, and the Monogatari series all have (or will) follow the novels to the end.

[Utsuro no Hako]

Originally Posted by serenade_beta

I'm more amused that it got its own forum before the first episode started and the thread got enough topics per episode to deserve a separate forum. Guess now if someone asks for a separate forum and a moderator says they need to wait and see if there is enough discussion, we can point at this.

Considering this thread already has more posts than several shows from last season ....

Really, though, given how many people have already read the novels, a subforum was inevitable just so there's someplace for spoiler discussions without cluttering the novel thread. I've been cringing for the last two months every time the conversation drifts towards discussion of the plot arcs and overall structure of the series.

[lansglenn]

Based on some people's reactions to the previews, I'm super scared the anime will f up the story =(

*holds breath*

[Shinji103]

Holy crapcrapcrapcrapcrap.

After reading most of novel volume 1, I am so psyched for this series. I really hope they do animate chapter 16 loyal to the novels. Big romance buff here.

My blurb on the subject over in the light novel thread.

Originally Posted by kyp275

Shakugan no Shana, Zero no Tsukaima, Toradora, Katanagatari, and the Monogatari series all have (or will) follow the novels to the end.

And Toaru Majutsu no Index will probably be another, especially considering it's from the company beind Shana and ZnT.

[grylsyjaeger]

Don't worry Shinji, I only came across SAO about two weeks ago and had the same feelings when I finished the first volume.

Pretty psyched myself. I think there is still at least ten hours until it airs.

[grylsyjaeger]

24/26 episodes. Speculated we'll see volumes 1-4 animated.

Half a season to volumes 1 & 2 (SAO arc) and 3 & 4 (ALF arc).

[Dann of Thursday]

Originally Posted by kyp275

Yea, Kawahara originally wrote SAO back in 2002, he tried to get it published but was rejected, so he continued to write and publish it on his own blog as a web novel. It wasn't until after Accel World that his publisher decided to publish SAO as well.

The 14~ish volume were estimates based on the amount of materials in the original web novel, as it wasn't put out as individual volumes. The rewrite so far have not really changed the length of the story, but apparently that's about to change with vol.10 and beyond.

Shakugan no Shana, Zero no Tsukaima, Toradora, Katanagatari, and the Monogatari series all have (or will) follow the novels to the end.

Interesting, considering the positive reactions I've seen towards it from those who have read it (haven't gotten to it myself quite yet as I'm reading another novel currently).

Well, hopefully it will be changes that work. I like the mention by several people that he seems to believe in Earn Your Happy Ending.

Are those first two good examples though? Shana ended up doing so, but did change quite a bit if I recall. ZnT has pretty much always butchered the story and character development in favor of fanservice...

Originally Posted by lansglenn

Based on some people's reactions to the previews, I'm super scared the anime will f up the story =(

*holds breath*

That's a bit worrying, though wasn't it said that the previews were not necessarily a final version?

[Wild Goose]

Worth getting. Seriously, if there were english versions available legit, i would buy them in a heartbeat.

Note that i am a Malaysian, and our national hat is not paying for whatever we can pirate.

[Ray]

Originally Posted by lansglenn

Based on some people's reactions to the previews, I'm super scared the anime will f up the story =(

*holds breath*

When you say "previews", are you referring to the PVs (trailers), or the pre-screening of episode 1 and the first 10 minutes of episode 2? If it's the former, the reactions were actually quite positive. And as for the latter, the reactions were also positive; it's just that the version of the episode 2 that they saw wasn't the final one. Plus, as I've said many times before, Kawahara attended almost all of the script meetings; there's no way he'd allow the anime "f up" his story.

[Kikuichimonji]

If Kawahara attended the sessions then I'm quite happy. One of my greatest fears of this anime was the studio destroying the story lol. Now I'm really excited since this has to be one of the best light novels I've come upon. Now, if they changed the animation to resemble the light novels, I'd be extra happy lol.

[lansglenn]

Originally Posted by Aphrah

When you say "previews", are you referring to the PVs (trailers), or the pre-screening of episode 1 and the first 10 minutes of episode 2? If it's the former, the reactions were actually quite positive. And as for the latter, the reactions were also positive; it's just that the version of the episode 2 that they saw wasn't the final one. Plus, as I've said many times before, Kawahara attended almost all of the script meetings; there's no way he'd allow the anime "f up" his story.

I meant to say the pre-screening instead of preview. Only a few more hours until the moment of truth, so I'll just keep the reasons for concerns to myself.

Aside from a faithful rendition of the story being important, I think in order for anime/manga storytelling to progress in the future we need these non-standard tales to set as examples. It would be an awful shame if bad reception impeded in the further development of these more-believable (more relateable?) approaches to romance, and in modern settings like MMORPGs/virtual-reality.

[Utsuro no Hako]

Originally Posted by Kikuichimonji

If Kawahara attended the sessions then I'm quite happy. One of my greatest fears of this anime was the studio destroying the story lol.

But then again, I recall Noboru Yamaguchi was involved with the production of ZnT and approved of all the changes.

[Wild Goose]

Yeah, but Reki Kawahara isn't Noboru Yamaguchi.

ZnT: Tsundere, physical abuse, status quo resetting never stops.

SAO: Love. Awesome. Badass. Partners. A love that works because they work at it.

[kokolores]

Well, I'd say this was a great start to what might be an awesome series. Usually I'm not a fan of light novel adaptations, because the anime rarely does the original justice. However, unlike many of the epic failures like ZnT or SnS SAO is a novel which I believe is very well suited for an anime adaptation. The stories are quite short and contained within themselves and the author writes in an episodic style.

What will make or break this series is how far they want to go. I think the best would be if both seasons were about SAO Aincrad and if they finished with volume one.

[serenade_beta]

Originally Posted by relentlessflame

It's not really about precedent. Decisions are made on a case-by-case basis, based on factors discussed among the staff. In some cases, we will still want to wait and see if there's enough discussion, or if it's the right kind of discussion, or a whole lot of other things. Whining that "but SAO got a forum..." is not going to be an argument in anyone's favour.

Hmm~
Well, doesn't matter to me much. I usually never ask or want sub-forums anyways. I'm not gonna ask about what "factors", because that is always something you can come up with afterwards and I wouldn't know you did so.
Just first time I saw this type of incident, so I was amused by it.

Originally Posted by Utsuro no Hako

Considering this thread already has more posts than several shows from last season ....

It happens.

[flack]

Man Loved the first episode. I have a feelin this is going to be one of those rare animes.

[relentlessflame]

By the way, I moved 44 posts from this thread -- that consisted of basically nothing but novel readers speculating on how the anime would adapt the novel -- to the Spoiler & Speculation thread. Please keep those topics out of this thread.