Aniplex to Release Sword Art Online in a Limited Edition Blu-ray and DVD Sets

sao-box-ray-set-i
Cover Art Subject to Change
©REKI KAWAHARA/ASCII MEDIA WORKS/SAO Project

SANTA MONICA, CA (May 24, 2013) –Recently at their panel at Anime Boston, Aniplex of America Inc. announced their release plans for the hit anime series Sword Art Online in North America: 4 volumes per format, Limited Edition Blu-ray Box Set and Standard Edition DVD. Release dates are as follows:

Volume 1 – Aincrad Part 1 – August 13th
Volume 2 – Aincrad Part 2 – September 17th
Volume 3 – Fairy Dance Part 1 – October 15th
Volume 4 – Fairy Dance Part 2 – November 19th

All SKUs will be available for pre-order and purchase through rightstuf.com and Aniplex ‘s official retailers (Aniplexusa.com/retailers) from May 28th. Each of the Limited Edition Blu-ray Box Sets will come with tons of bonus materials including Original Soundtrack CD (Vol.1 & 3) or Bonus DVD of English cast interviews (Vol.2 & 4), a deluxe 16 page booklet, illustration pin-ups as well as exclusive collectible card from Bushiroad. In addition, bonus contents on each Blu-ray discs will include audio commentary by creators and Japanese cast, Special Animation “Sword Art OFFline”, and more. The Box Set will also feature an exclusive rigid box illustrated by abec (Original Character Design), and clear BD Cases with double-sided Japanese cover design. Both Blu-ray and DVD will have Japanese and English dialog, English subtitles as well as Spanish subtitles.

Limited Edition Box Sets will be available while supplies last.

Sword Art Online Limited Edition Blu-ray Box Set I features:

  • Video: 16:9 widescreen
  • Audio: Japanese & English dialogue
  • Subtitles: English and Spanish (*OP/ED themes and Bonus features have English subtitles only)
  • Episodes 1-7 (175 min.)
  • Trailer
  • 1st Season Textless Opening

Exclusive Bonus Materials and Special Packaging

  • Original Soundtrack CD 1
  • Deluxe 16-page booklet
  • Illustration Pin-ups
  • Exclusive Collectible Card
  • Rigid Box illustrated by abec (Original Character Design)
  • Clear BD cases with double-sided wraps of Japanese Cover Designs

Sword Art Online Standard Edition DVD Vol.1 features:

  • Video: 16:9 widescreen
  • Audio: Japanese & English dialogue
  • Subtitles: English and Spanish (*OP/ED themes and Bonus features have English subtitles only)
  • Episodes 1-7 (175 min.)
  • Trailer
  • 1st Season Textless Opening

Exclusive Bonus Materials and Special Packaging

  • Mini pin-up poster
  • O-sleeve case
  • Clear DVD case with double-sided wrap of Japanese Cover Designs

All Sword Art Online Releases can be pre-ordered and purchased at:

Right Stuf: http://www.rightstuf.com/
Official Retailers: http://AniplexUSA.com/retailers

Title Street Date SKU # UPC SRP Store
Sword Art Online
Limited Edition Blu-ray
Box Set 1
August 13 AOA-2901B 850527003325 $89.98
Sword Art Online
Limited Edition Blu-ray
Box Set 2
September 17 AOA-2902B 850527003349 $112.98 $89.98
Sword Art Online
Limited Edition Blu-ray
Box Set 3
October 15 AOA-2903B 850527003363 $112.98 $89.98
Sword Art Online
Limited Edition Blu-ray
Box Set 4
November 11 AOA-2904B 850527003387 $112.98 $89.98

 

Title Street Date SKU # UPC SRP Store
Sword Art Online
DVD Vol.1
August 13 AOA-2901D 850527003332 $49.98 $39.98
Sword Art Online
DVD Vol.2
September 17 AOA-2902D 850527003356 $49.98 $39.98
Sword Art Online
DVD Vol.3
October 15 AOA-2903D 850527003370 $49.98 $39.98
Sword Art Online
DVD Vol.4
November 11 AOA-2904D 850527003387 $49.98 $39.98

“This is a game, but it isn’t something you play.”
Sword Art Online Programmer Akihiko Kayaba

About Sword Art Online


Sword Art Online is an anime adaptation of one of the most popular light-novel series (Dengeki Bunko / ASCII MDIA WORKS) written by author Reki Kawahara . The story is set in a not-so-distant future where people are able to play video games more realistically with the emergence of the NerveGear, a virtual reality generating device, which the players wear to stimulate their senses to control their avatars in the world of the game. Kirito is an experienced player who was excited for the release of the new Virtual Reality Massive Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game (VRMMORPG), Sword Art Online , a.k.a. SAO . But, when Kirito and all the other players logged on to SAO for the first time, they quickly realized that something was not right. The creator of the game, Akihiko Kayaba, reveals to them that they will not be able to leave the game world unless they defeat the final boss atop a tower that is 100 floors high! To make things worse, Kayaba informs them that if a player dies in the game, he or she will also die in the real world. Now Kirito must fight along with players to defeat the boss and free everyone from Kayaba’s dreadful ploy. Kirito and his friends will soon learn that Sword Art Online is more than just a game.
SwordArt-OnlineUSA.com

About Aniplex of America


Aniplex of America Inc. (Santa Monica, California) is a subsidiary of Aniplex Inc. (headquartered in Tokyo, Japan), a group of Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) Inc. and leading provider of anime content and music production and distribution in Japan. Aniplex of America has launched fan-favorite DVD and Blu-Ray releases such as Bakemonogatari , Durarara!! , Puella Magi Madoka Magica , The Garden of Sinners and Blue Exorcist . The company’s ever-growing line-up of shows includes our most recent titles, Sword Art Online , Magi, Blast of Tempest , Oreshura and Vividred Operation .

AniplexUSA.com
Youtube.com/AniplexUS

About Right Stuf


Currently celebrating its 23rd year in business, Right Stuf, Inc. was one of the first players in the U.S. Japanese Animation (“anime”) industry, as both an anime producer/distributor and a retailer. Right Stuf works to promote knowledge of its own products, as well as the anime and manga industry, through its online storefront at RightStuf.com and a variety of media including podcasts and special publications.
www.RightStuf.com