Normally Asuna's family wouldn't appear until after Aincrad, but with the movie being told from her point of view, it's an opportunity to expand upon this aspect of her life. RELATED: The Sword Art Online: Progressive Films May Be Contradicting The Light NovelsĪsuna's inability to play video games is the result of her upbringing. This runs in sharp contrast to Kirito, who enters SAO as a beta tester as well as a veteran gamer. It's also surprising to see her like this as she's shown throughout the anime as a skilled and competent player. Asuna's amateur gamer status not only paints the Lightning Flash in a new light but also drives the plot of the "Aincrad Arc" in a new direction. There are hints of this in the original anime, but the movie makes it clear that she's starting off with no idea what she's doing. By focusing on Asuna, the movie shows an interesting side of her that fans might not think about or even realize exists.Īpparently, when Asuna first logs into SAO, she does so as a total novice. WARNING: the following contains spoilers for Sword Art Online Progressive: Aria of a Starless Night, now playing in theaters.Īs part of Sword Art Online Progressive: Aria of a Starless Night'sgoal of reimagining the "Aincrad Arc," the movie makes Asuna its protagonist. In doing so it not only changes the overarching story but also gives fans greater insight into the Lightning Flash as a character.