MovieChat Forums > Sword Art Online (2012) Discussion > [SPOILERS] I'm very confused (about anim...

[SPOILERS] I'm very confused (about anime reviews)...

posted 10 years ago by NERigby
5 replies | jump to latest

I've never watched this anime for a number of reasons, but the reason I will give is this: Every single review of it I watched/read complained about a time-skip. All of the reviewers said that they'd have preferred to see the characters develop from the beginning and work their way to the top of Aincrad. This (among other things) is why I steered clear of the show. However, I didn't want to give up on the concept entirely, as it appealed to me greatly, so I sought out the first of the light novels and read it (finished it today, in fact). I was totally prepared to dislike it, but I didn't; I found myself enjoying it quite a lot, despite the time-skip.

Now, here's where I got confused.

I decided to look at the anime on Wikipedia, as I wanted to see how many episodes it took for Kirito to get out of SAO. Imagine my surprise, then, when I discovered that the anime went in a completely different direction to the novels. Indeed, instead of skipping almost two years, it appears to start at the beginning (with everyone becoming trapped inside SAO) and work towards Kirito's escape (episode 14/15). Why, then, did every single reviw I read/watched of the anime say that there was a huge time-skip?

I am utterly confused. I just can't understand it. The main reason I avoided the anime is a total lie; in fact, I'm way more interested now, for all I really wanted from the novel was to follow Kirito's journey from the beginning, getting to know him and his motives, discovering why he was so awkward with everyone, whether he missed the real world (indeed, why he seemed not to miss it, as in the novel), et cetera...

Can anyone explain this to me? Is there another time-skip that I don't know about?

Thanks in advance for any answers!

tl;dr
I didn't watch the show because I'd heard there was a time-skip; I read the first light novel instead and enjoyed it (despite the time-skip); now I have discovered that the show covers far more of Aincrad than the novel did; why did every reviewer say that there was a massive time-skip in the anime?

[–] davidmaximb 10 years ago

Between the first episode and around the sixth or seventh, there is a lot of time skipped between episodes. For example, between the second and third episode, about a half a year skips between the boss battle at the end of episode two and Kirito joining the guild he does.

[–] mw-leunam 10 years ago

Well the show stays pretty close to the light novel. The only difference is that the anime includes many side story's from the other novel's (Volume 2 & 8 and Progressive) and the anime tries to put them in order.

[–] NERigby 10 years ago

...between the second and third episode, about a half a year skips between the boss battle at the end of episode two and Kirito joining the guild he does

Oh, I see. This really wasn't made clear in the reviews I read/watched. Thanks for clearing that up for me.

...the anime includes many side story's from the other novel's (Volume 2 & 8 and Progressive) and the anime tries to put them in order

That makes sense. Thank you.

So would you recommend the anime, or should I just stick with the books for now? I mean, I was actually quite impressed with the first light novel, so I'm wondering whether I'd like the show as well. Is it worth watching?

Thanks for your answers!

[–] mw-leunam 10 years ago

In my opinion, both are great, but I like the light novels more.

I'd recommend you to give the anime at least a try.

[–] FrmSyriaWithLuv 8 years ago

Did you ever watch it?
There were a few time skips.

"You mustn't be afraid to dream a little bigger, darling." 