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List of Sword Art Online Alternative: Gun Gale Online episodes

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First North American home media volume for Sword Art Online Alternative: Gun Gale Online

Sword Art Online Alternative: Gun Gale Online is a Japanese anime television series based on the light novel series of the same name written by Keiichi Sigsawa and illustrated by Kouhaku Kuroboshi. The series is a spin-off of Reki Kawahara's Sword Art Online light novel series and its adaptation was announced at the Dengeki Bunko Fall Festival 2017 event in October 2017.[1] It is produced by Egg Firm and animated by studio 3Hz, directed by Masayuki Sakoi, and written by Yōsuke Kuroda, with character designs by Yoshio Kosakai.[2][3] The series aired from April 8 to July 1, 2018,[a][5][4] on Tokyo MX and other networks.[2] The anime series was released on six home video sets with two episodes each, for a total of 12 episodes.[6] Aniplex of America licensed and simulcasts the series on Crunchyroll and Hulu.[7] Anime Limited announced that they had licensed the series for release in the United Kingdom and Ireland.[8] Madman Entertainment licensed the series for release in Australia and New Zealand,[9] and simulcasts it on AnimeLab.[10] The opening theme song is "Ryūsei" (流星, lit.'Meteor') performed by Eir Aoi,[11] while the ending theme song is "To See the Future" performed by Tomori Kusunoki.[12][13]

A second season was announced at the Dengeki Bunko 30th anniversary event in July 2023. The main staff returned from the first season,[14] with A-1 Pictures as the animation studio, replacing 3Hz.[15] It premiered on October 5, 2024.[16][17][b]

Series overview

[edit]
SeasonEpisodesOriginally aired
First airedLast aired
112April 8, 2018 (2018-04-08)July 1, 2018 (2018-07-01)
212[18]October 5, 2024 (2024-10-05)TBA

Episodes

[edit]

Season 1 (2018)

[edit]
No.
overall
No. in
season
Title [19][20]Directed by [c]Storyboarded by [c]Original air date [21]
11"Squad Jam"
Transliteration: "Sukuwaddo・Jamu" (Japanese: スクワッド・ジャム)
Takahiro MajimaMasayuki SakoiApril 8, 2018 (2018-04-08)
In the online virtual reality game, Gun Gale Online, a girl with the username Llen participates in a team-based Squad Jam event alongside her teammate M. Taking cover, the two observe as one skilled team takes out another, deducing that they must be combat pros using GGO to gain battle experience. While the other teams eliminate each other, Llenn and M retreat to the residential area to come up with a plan against the pros. Using her small stature and quick speed to her advantage, Llenn launches a surprise attack on the pro team, leading the survivors to resign. In the real world, Llenn's user, Karen Kohiruimaki receives praise for her efforts.
22"GGO"Hidemi YamashitaMasayuki SakoiApril 15, 2018 (2018-04-15)
Karen Kohiruimaki, who has a complex about her tall height, takes up an interest in VR gaming, but ends up constantly panicking and logging out whenever her Llenn avatar turns out to be too tall or otherwise outrageous. After going through several games, Karen eventually tries Gun Gale Online and becomes delighted with the diminutive avatar that's generated for her, only to discover that the game she picked is one of gunfire and survival. Deciding to stick with the game anyway, Karen gradually improves her skill and updates her outfit to a pink color to suit her taste. Upon finding herself surrounded by other players, Llenn manages to defeat them using pink camouflage and high speed, quickly gaining a reputation as "The Pink Devil". Later, Llenn is befriended by another female player named Pitohui, who helps her pick out a new gun which she nicknames P-chan. Forming a squadron together, Pitohui makes a promise with Llenn that if she can manage to defeat her one day, they will meet each other in real life.
33"Fan Letter"
Transliteration: "Fan Retā" (Japanese: ファンレター)
Takuma SuzukiHiroyuki ShimazuApril 22, 2018 (2018-04-22)
Pitohui tells Llenn about the upcoming Squad Jam team battle royale tournament, inspired by the events of the previous Ballet of Bullets tournament. Unable to participate due to real life obligations, Pitohui suggests that Llenn should enter the tournament in a team with another male player. After her friend fails to get her tickets to a concert taking place on the same day, Llenn agrees to enter the tournament, meeting up with her arranged partner, M, while also learning she has been appointed as the team leader as part of a strategy. Later, Karen writes a fan letter to singer Elsa Kanzaki, whose concert she couldn't attend, detailing how her songs had helped her through hard times. On the day of the Squad Jam, M gives Llenn a combat knife to use as a backup weapon before the tournament gets underway.
44"Death Game"
Transliteration: "Desu Gēmu" (Japanese: デスゲーム)
Yasuhiro NodaHiroyuki ShimazuApril 29, 2018 (2018-04-29)
With three teams remaining in Squad Jam, Llenn and M find themselves up against another team using hovercraft. Using a shield for cover, M uses his skills as a sniper to take out the opposing team without relying on the game's assist systems. Just as the two are suddenly ambushed by the remaining team, SHINC, and retreat to a mountain area, where M reads a letter and attempts to kill Llenn.
55"Leave the Last Battle to Me"
Transliteration: "Rasuto Batoru wa Watashi ni" (Japanese: ラストバトルは私に)
Norihiko NagahamaMasayuki SakoiMay 6, 2018 (2018-05-06)
Managing to reverse the situation by activating the safety on M's gun, Llenn is surprised to find M caving under pressure when questioned about his actions. M, who reveals his true nature, explains that he was frightened over what Pitohui would do to him in real life if he dies in the game, so he attempted to kill Llenn in order to become leader and surrender. Leaving M alone, Llenn tries to take on SHINC herself, only to get caught up in their trap. Realizing she cannot run away, Llenn faces SHINC head on, soon receiving backup from M. Coming down to a final battle against the remaining member, Llenn is protected by P-chan and wins using the knife she received from M. Later in the real world, Karen gets a haircut to symbolize overcoming her complex while also meeting a group of high school girls, who are revealed to be the team she faced in GGO.
66"SAO Loser"
Transliteration: "SAO Rūzā" (Japanese: SAO失敗者ルーザー)
Tomonori MineYasuhiro IrieMay 20, 2018 (2018-05-20)
The rhythm athletics club who Llenn faced in the Squad Jam as SHINC come over to Karen's place to learn her secrets. Later, as Karen receives news about the next Squad Jam event while heading home to Hokkaido to see her parents, she is approached by M's real life persona, Gōshi Asōgi. He explains how Pitohui became obsessed with Sword Art Online during its beta test, becoming enraged when she was unable to take part in the death game that was the SAO Incident. Believing that Pitohui intends to commit suicide if she dies during the next Squad Jam, Gōshi asks Karen to defeat Pitohui in order to fulfil their promise to meet up in real-life. Agreeing to help, Karen calls upon her best friend Miyu Shinohara, aka Fukaziroh, to form a team with her.
77"Second Squad Jam"
Transliteration: "Sekando・Sukuwaddo・Jamu" (Japanese: セカンド・スクワッド・ジャム)
Sumito SasakiHiroaki ShimuraMay 27, 2018 (2018-05-27)
Receiving some funds from Gōshi upon her arrival in GGO, Fukaziroh decides to buy a pair of grenade launchers as her main weapons. On the day of Squad Jam 2, Llenn has a brief confrontation with Pitohui before the tournament gets underway.
88"Booby Trap"
Transliteration: "Būbī Torappu" (Japanese: ブービートラップ)
Takuma SuzukiHiroyuki ShimazuJune 3, 2018 (2018-06-03)
Squad Jam 2 begins with Llenn's team and Pitohui's team starting on opposite ends of the playing field. Fukaziroh quickly runs into trouble when her legs are temporarily blown off by a booby trap, but Llenn manages to take out the first opposing team without too much trouble. The pair then head to a train station, where Llenn gives Fukaziroh directions to launch grenades at the enemy. After discovering that seven teams have gathered around the base of the mountain, Llenn deduces they are all working with each other to take down Pitohui.
99"Ten Minute Massacre"
Transliteration: "Juppunkan no Ōsatsu" (Japanese: 十分間の鏖殺)
Kazuma SatōYasuhiro IrieJune 10, 2018 (2018-06-10)
Undeterred by the number of opposing teams, Pitohui and her team launch an ambush on them, taking them all out within ten minutes. Meanwhile, Llenn and Fukaziroh make their way through a dome, having to resort to using a smokescreen tactic when they are discovered. After taking out the other players in the dome, the girls end up having to deal with the remaining player, Clarence, for her remaining magazines, before coming up against the skilled MMTM team.
1010"The Devil's Comeback"
Transliteration: "Maō Fukkatsu" (Japanese: 魔王復活)
Masayuki IimuraMasayuki SakoiJune 17, 2018 (2018-06-17)
Helped out by SHINC's Eva, who forces MMTM to retreat, Llenn explains the situation concerning Pitohui to her. Following this, Eva leads SHINC in an assault against PM4, using one of their dead teammate's body as a pedestal an anti-tank rifle to destroy M's shield. This provides Llenn with the opportunity to make a beeline towards Pitohui, only for another team's sniper to hit her first, bringing her down to a sliver of health. With Pitohui passed out and MMTM closing in on their location, the rest of PM4 sacrifice themselves to protect Pitohui before she regains consciousness.
1111"Psycho Llenn"
Transliteration: "Ikareta Ren" (Japanese: イカれたレン)
Hidemi YamashitaHiroyuki ShimazuJune 24, 2018 (2018-06-24)
After Pitohui finishes off MMTM all by herself, Fukaziroh pins an uncertain Llenn in place while she and the rest of SHINC launch an attack on Pitohui and M. Although SHINC gets wiped out, Llenn is motivated into action, luring out Pitohui and M as they pursue her in a vehicle. Just as Llenn is cornered, Fukaziroh comes to her rescue in her own vehicle, resulting in a car chase between hot geysers that culminates in a one-on-one confrontation between Llenn and Pitohui.
1212"Applause"
Transliteration: "Hakushu" (Japanese: 拍手)
Masayuki IimuraMasayuki SakoiJuly 1, 2018 (2018-07-01)
Pitohui's attempt at killing Llenn with her own weapon backfires when P-chan self-destructs, but she still manages to put a stop to Llenn's counterattacks before killing M for his betrayal. However, Fukaziroh manages to give Llenn the opportunity to deal Pitohui a fatal blow, reminding her of their promise before finishing her off. After Squad Jam 2 ends with Llenn's team ending up in second place due to a sneak attack by the remaining team, Goushi invites Karen and Miyu to meet with the real-life Pitohui, explaining how he formed a masochistic relationship with her. Goushi brings the two to Elsa Kanzaki's, where it is revealed that Elsa is Pitohui herself. Although Karen had already figured out Pitohui's identity due to Elsa and Goushi knowing details that they would only know from reading her fan letter, she is taken aback when Elsa kisses her. A post-credits scene shows LLENN and Pitohui back in Gun Gale Online as they enjoy the game again together.

Season 2 (2024)

[edit]
No.
overall
No. in
season
Title [22][20]Directed by [c]Storyboarded by [c]Original air date [23][b]
131"What Happens Twice Will Happen Thrice"
Transliteration: "Ni do Aru Kotowa San do Aru" (Japanese: 二度あることは三度ある)
Kazuho KunimotoMasayuki SakoiOctober 5, 2024 (2024-10-05)
With the Third Squad Jam beginning, Pitohui convinces LLENN and Fukaziroh to join her and M's team "LPFM" so they can cooperate rather than compete against each other. LLENN is hesitant until Pitohui reminds her of her promise to have a rematch against Team SHINC. Meanwhile, other teams make their preparations for the Squad Jam as well while Fukaziroh warns LLENN that the Third Squad Jam will introduce new secret rules as teams are eliminated. As the teams begin to assemble, a man approaches the winners of the previous Squad Jam, T-S, and passes on a secret message to them. Meanwhile, LLENN's team makes their last minute preparations as the Third Squad Jam officially starts.
142"The Great Freight Car Operation"
Transliteration: "Dai Kasha Sakusen" (Japanese: 大貨車作戦)
Yūki NishiyamaYūki NishiyamaOctober 12, 2024 (2024-10-12)
LPFM find themselves on an island with an unknown region at the center they nickname the "Black Box". They also discover that the island is slowly sinking, which will eventually funnel all the teams towards the Black Box. Once the first satellite scan starts, LPFM find themselves surrounded by an alliance of teams determined to take them out first. A member in the audience reveals he arranged for the weaker teams to ally against the stronger ones. LLEN distracts the enemies giving time for the rest of LPFM to take cover in an armored freight car, which they use as a strongpoint to eliminate the other teams. However, despite being in a strong defensive position, LPFM have no choice but to keep moving as the island continues to sink.
153"Clarence and Shirley"
Transliteration: "Kurarensu to Shārī" (Japanese: クラレンスとシャーリー)
Daisuke TsukushiKenichi KawamuraOctober 19, 2024 (2024-10-19)
With the ocean closing in, M tells LPFM they have no choice but to attack the remnants of the allied teams head on to escape. Meanwhile, Clarence joins the alliance and advises them to split up into smaller teams to completely surround LPFM. However, once the teams split up, Clarence betrays them on a whim and kills most of the allies. Shirley also intervenes, killing the remaining allies with custom sniper bullets that can kill in one shot as she is determined to get revenge on Pitohui. While they are both trying to escape the ocean, Clarence and Shirley end up encountering and mutually killing each other. With Shirley dead, the rest of her team is either killed or decides to resign.
164"A Special Rule Launched"
Transliteration: "Tokubetsu Rūru, Hatsudō" (Japanese: 特別ルール、発動)
Daisuke TsukushiHirohide ShikishimaOctober 26, 2024 (2024-10-26)
LPFM manage to commandeer a truck to escape the trainyard and discover Shirley and Clarence's bodies, surmising they eliminated their opposition before killing each other. Meanwhile, in the southeast corner of the island, SHINC observes an enemy team launching flares and quickly deduce they are calling for backup. They wipe out the team and steal their flares, using them to lure the rest of the enemy teams into ambushes. Elsewhere on the island, Team MMTM uses their stealth tactics to wipe out their foese, while Team ZEMAL mount their machine guns on makeshift armored shopping carts to get an edge over their opponents. T-S end up being stranded on top of a skyscraper after their area floods. With the number of teams reduced, the organizers announce the first special rule: one member of each of the remaining teams will be designated a "traitor", and the traitors will be organized into a new team with a different win condition. Pitohui reveals that she has been chosen as LPFM's traitor, and is ecstatic at the thought of battling LLEN again.
175"BTRY's Choice"
Transliteration: "Bitoreiyāzu・Choisu[d]" (Japanese: ビトレイヤーズ・チョイス)
Kazuho KunimotoHiromitsu KanazawaNovember 2, 2024 (2024-11-02)
Pitohui from LPFM, Eva from SHINC, Elvin from T-S, Tomtom from ZEMAL, David from MMTM, and Cole from TOMS are selected to be the "Betrayers". They are transported to the secret area at the center of the map, which is revealed to be a grounded cruise liner named There is Still Time. As the other teams rush to the ship to escape the rising tide, Pitohui takes charge of the betrayers and names their team "BTRY". Meanwhile, LPFM and the other teams stop a safe distance away from the ship to plan their next moves. M advises that they stay in cover and wait for another team to advance first to draw BTRY's fire so they can make a dash for one of the entrances to the ship. However, the other teams have the same idea and wait for the others to make the first move. Realizing their advantage is keeping the other teams off the ship, Pitohui begins dropping the ship's lifeboats, blocking off the entrances and causing the other teams to panic.
186"The Offensive and Defensive Battle That Still Has Time"
Transliteration: "Mada Jikan wa Aru Kōbōsen" (Japanese: まだ時間はある攻防戦)
Shigehisa IidaShigehisa IidaNovember 9, 2024 (2024-11-09)
All of the teams make a run for the ship as Pitohui and David cut the lifeboats loose. Eva, Elvin, Tomtom, and Cole do their best to repel the other teams. Tomtom and Cole end up getting killed by return fire. TOMS is wiped out trying to ally with ZEMAL when the latter find out they have no appreciation for machine guns. When TomTom is killed, ZEMAL loses any interest in taking the ship and instead decide to fight each other, ending with the team wiping itself out. MMTM and SHINC manage to reach the ship after losing a single member each. LPFM manages to reach the ship with no casualties. Meanwhile, with their team no longer at full strength, Pitohui has them fortify themselves in the ship's bridge. The ship's AI Clara then activates, and Pitohui orders it to keep all of the watertight doors open, guaranteeing the ship will sink within two hours. She also decides to listen to Elvin's request and sets the ship's course to where T-S is stranded. Belowdecks, the other teams wait for the scan and LPFM and SHINC are shocked to find that they are right next to each other. Both teams engage, and while Fukaziroh as able to blast most of SHINC with a grenade, the surviving member attacks M, strangling him while using his body as a human shield to prevent LLEN and Fukaziroh from shooting her.
197"Turn Over"
Transliteration: "Tān・Ōbā" (Japanese: ターン・オーバー)
Takanori YanoHironori TanakaNovember 16, 2024 (2024-11-16)
M is able to shake off the last SHINC member and she accidentally kills herself with her own grenade. Meanwhile MMTM attempt to storm the bridge, but Pitohui lures them into a trap and kills them with electrified fire sprinklers. She then sends the rest of BTRY to confirm MMTM's deaths and takes the chance to rest, still being fatigued from a live concert she performed the previous day. She then orders Clara to ram the building T-S is trapped on, eliminating the entire team. A shocked Elvin returns to the bridge to confront Pitohui, only to be killed by her. Realizing that Pitohui has betrayed them, David heads off to confront her while Eva decides to go fight LLEN as they promised. David engages in a photon sword duel with Pithoui, but is ultimately defeated. Pitohui then destroys Clara and the ship's controls. LPFM confronts Pitohui, and she reveals that she isn't the actual traitor, LLEN is. She simply bluffed her way into BTRY, with LLEN staying silent and assuming they were both picked as traitors. Pitohui then returns to LPFM, teaming up with M and Fukaziroh against LLEN. LLEN becomes furious at Pitohui's duplicity, which is exactly what Pitohui wants, but their standoff is interrupted by Eva's intervention as she helps LLEN escape.

Recap specials

[edit]
No.Title [19][20]Original air date
5.5"Refrain"
Transliteration: "Rufuran" (Japanese: ルフラン)
May 13, 2018 (2018-05-13)
A recap of the first five episodes
12.5"GALA"September 27, 2024 (2024-09-27)
A recap of the first season

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ Tokyo MX listed the series premiere on April 7, 2018 at 24:00, which is effectively April 8 at midnight JST[4]
  2. ^ a b Tokyo MX lists the second season's premiere on October 4, 2024, at 24:00, which is effectively October 5 at midnight JST
  3. ^ a b c d Production staff information is taken from the ending credits of each episode
  4. ^ Betrayer's Choice

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Sword Art Online Alternative Gun Gale Online TV Anime Announced". Anime News Network. September 30, 2017. Archived from the original on 2017-10-01. Retrieved February 4, 2018.
  2. ^ a b "Sword Art Online Alternative Gun Gale Online Reveals Visual, Studio 3Hz". Anime News Network. January 31, 2018. Archived from the original on 2018-01-31. Retrieved February 4, 2018.
  3. ^ "Sword Art Online Alternative Gun Gale Online Anime Reveals TV Ad, Staff". Anime News Network. February 7, 2018. Archived from the original on 2018-02-08. Retrieved February 7, 2018.
  4. ^ a b "Sword Art Online: Alternative Gun Gale Online Anime Premieres on April 7". Anime News Network. March 10, 2018. Archived from the original on 2018-03-10. Retrieved March 10, 2018.
  5. ^ "Sword Art Online Alternative: Gun Gale Online Anime Premieres in April". Anime News Network. January 3, 2018. Archived from the original on 2018-01-04. Retrieved February 4, 2018.
  6. ^ "BD/DVD Vol.6". gungale-online.net (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 2018-04-09. Retrieved April 8, 2018.
  7. ^ Ressler, Karen (March 30, 2018). "Aniplex USA to Stream Persona 5, Sword Art Online Alternative Gun Gale Online on Crunchyroll, Hulu". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on 2018-03-31. Retrieved March 30, 2018.
  8. ^ Stevens, Josh A. (October 28, 2018). "Anime Limited To Release Sword Art Online Alternative & More". Anime UK News. Retrieved October 28, 2018.
  9. ^ "Sword Art Online Alternative: Gun Gale Online Vol. 1 (Eps 1–6) (Blu-Ray)". Madman Entertainment. Retrieved February 28, 2019.
  10. ^ Bortignon, Tegan (April 17, 2018). "AnimeLab Spring Simulcast Lineup 2018!". AnimeLab. Archived from the original on July 21, 2018. Retrieved February 28, 2019.
  11. ^ "Eir Aoi Performs Opening Theme for Sword Art Online: Alternative Gun Gale Online Anime". Anime News Network. March 7, 2018. Archived from the original on 2018-03-08. Retrieved March 7, 2018.
  12. ^ "Tomori Kusunoki Performs Ending Theme for Sword Art Online: Alternative Gun Gale Online Anime". Anime News Network. February 17, 2018. Archived from the original on 2018-02-17. Retrieved February 17, 2018.
  13. ^ Pineda, Rafael Antonio (March 22, 2018). "Sword Art Online: Alternative Gun Gale Online Anime Reveals Ending Song Title in Video". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on 2018-03-23. Retrieved March 22, 2018.
  14. ^ Loo, Egan (July 15, 2023). "Sword Art Online Alternative Gun Gale Online Anime Gets 2nd Season". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on July 15, 2023. Retrieved July 15, 2023.
  15. ^ Hodgkins, Crystalyn (June 17, 2024). "Studio 3Hz Transfers Animation Planning, Production Business to A-1 Pictures (Update)". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on June 17, 2024. Retrieved June 18, 2024.
  16. ^ Hodgkins, Crystalyn (March 23, 2024). "Sword Art Online Alternative: Gun Gale Online II Anime Reveals October Premiere in 2nd Teaser Video". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on March 24, 2024. Retrieved March 24, 2024.
  17. ^ Pineda, Rafael Antonio (August 2, 2024). "Sword Art Online Alternative: Gun Gale Online II Anime Premieres on October 4". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on August 2, 2024. Retrieved August 2, 2024.
  18. ^ "BD/DVD/CD | Sōdo Āto・Onrain Orutanatibu Gangeiru・Onrain II" BD/DVD/CD | ソードアート・オンライン オルタナティブ ガンゲイル・オンラインII [BD/DVD/CD | Sword Art Online Alternative Gun Gale Online II]. gungale-online.net (in Japanese). Retrieved October 4, 2024.
  19. ^ a b "Sutōrī - Terebi Anime Sōdo Āto・Onrain Orutanatibu Gangeiru・Onrain" STORY - TVアニメ ソードアート・オンライン オルタナティブ ガンゲイル・オンライン [Story - TV Anime Sword Art Online Alternative Gun Gale Online]. gungale-online.net (in Japanese). Retrieved October 15, 2024.
  20. ^ a b c "Sword Art Online Alternative: Gun Gale Online". Crunchyroll. Archived from the original on 2018-04-07. Retrieved April 7, 2018.
  21. ^ "On'ea - Terebi Anime Sōdo Āto・Onrain Orutanatibu Gangeiru・Onrain" ON AIR - TVアニメ ソードアート・オンライン オルタナティブ ガンゲイル・オンライン [On Air - TV Anime Sword Art Online Alternative Gun Gale Online]. gungale-online.net (in Japanese). Retrieved October 15, 2024.
  22. ^ "Sutōrī | Sōdo Āto・Onrain Orutanatibu Gangeiru・Onrain II" STORY | ソードアート・オンライン オルタナティブ ガンゲイル・オンラインII [Story | Sword Art Online Alternative Gun Gale Online II]. gungale-online.net (in Japanese). Retrieved October 4, 2024.
  23. ^ "On'ea | Sōdo Āto・Onrain Orutanatibu Gangeiru・Onrain II" STORY | ソードアート・オンライン オルタナティブ ガンゲイル・オンラインII [On Air | Sword Art Online Alternative Gun Gale Online II]. gungale-online.net (in Japanese). Retrieved October 4, 2024.