From Sword Art Online's Director Comes a Movie That Will Transport Fans to a New World of Adventure

The creator of Sword Art Online, Tomohiko Ito, was also involved in the production of Hello World, a movie that merges stunning visuals with a distinctive narrative.

Sword Art Online is an anime of great fame and popularity among its fans. The success of this anime can be attributed, at least in part, to the direction of Tomohiko Ito, who was responsible for the show’s first two seasons. Besides his work on Sword Art Online, Ito also directed a film that did not receive the recognition it deserved, but that fans of Sword Art Online will surely enjoy.

Tomohiko Ito’s directing of the first two seasons of Sword Art Online is considered a significant factor in the anime’s immense popularity among its fans. Additionally, Ito directed a film that may have been overlooked but is likely to be appreciated by Sword Art Online fans.

What Is Hello World?

“Hello World” is a story revolving around Naomi Katagaki, a Kyoto-based high-schooler in 2027. The city is currently undergoing a major transformation thanks to the Chronicle Kyoto initiative, which uses a group of drones to continuously scan the area in real time. The data collected by these drones is then fed into a large computer system known as Alltale.

Naomi, who is introverted and prefers reading over socializing, does not benefit from this technology. However, his life takes a dramatic turn when a three-legged crow steals his book and he meets a mysterious man. This man claims to be a version of Naomi from a decade in the future and informs him that the younger version of Naomi is not the real one, but a version residing inside the memory of Alltale. The older Naomi assigns his younger self a task to undo the events that caused Ruri Ichigyo to fall into a coma, so that history can be rewritten. Naomi quickly realizes that changing history is a challenging task.

Why Hello World Will Appeal to SAO Fans

Sword Art Online and Hello World share a significant likeness, as Ito employs comparable visual methods in both works. Ito masterfully utilizes light and color to construct ambiance and express sentiment. For example, both SAO’s dark dungeons and Hello World’s high-contrast virtual environments serve to evoke unease in the viewer, mirroring the characters’ apprehension as they enter threatening and unnatural spaces. Additionally, Ito’s framing of action scenes in both projects captures the pandemonium and disarray of battle, resulting in memorable and thrilling sequences.

SAO and Hello World have similarities in the portrayal of their characters. Naomi Katagaki and Kirito are teenage boys who struggle with social interactions and experience emotional isolation. Despite their intelligence and problem-solving skills, they find themselves in situations that exceed their expectations, leaving them feeling like realistic underdogs even though they strive to overcome the odds. Their actions are infused with a natural teenage quality which makes them relatable characters despite the fantastical elements of the storyline.

The themes in Sword Art Online and Hello World are quite alike, including their outlook on technology. The two stories explore the impact of virtual reality technology on reality itself, acknowledging its prospects for positive outcomes but also the possibility of its misuse by malevolent individuals for personal or inhumane purposes.

The two stories, The Alltale and Sword Art Online, share several similarities. The Alltale is comparable to the Sword Art Online game world and the Underworld from SAO’s “Alicization” arc. Both Alltale and SAO’s universe are life-like virtual worlds that are difficult to distinguish from reality. They also have conscious beings who perceive it as their reality. Additionally, external forces manipulate the false reality for their own advantage, distorting personalities and events within it. However, Hello World takes a different and mind-bending approach to the concept, making it an original companion piece to Sword Art Online.

Hello World is a film that will appeal to Sword Art Online enthusiasts. It delves into the theme of technology and its impact on human lives, featuring protagonists who are thrust into unfamiliar and unsettling scenarios as their worlds crumble. With Tomohiko Ito at the helm, the direction of the movie amplifies its potency, transforming it into a mesmerizing and moving spectacle that will captivate audiences until the very end.