Sword Art Online Alternative: Gun Gale Online will return for a second season, and the good news is that fans of the anime spin-off to one of the most popular isekai franchises of all time. The original Sword Art Online featured the protagonist Kirito taking on dangerous quests while exploring a digital landscape. The anime universe of Sword Art Online is so huge that it was able to expand on its universe with a spin-off anime that traded fantasy visuals for more modern aesthetic on the virtual world, and now we have a release window for Season 2.
As revealed by the official X (formerly Twitter) account of the spin-off anime, Sword Art Online Alternative: Gun Gale Online Season 2 will premiere in 2024, six years after the first season debuted in April 2018. The cast of Season 1 will reprise their roles with Tomori Kusunoki (Llenn), Yoko Hikasa (Pitohui), Chinatsu Akasaki (Fukaziroh), and Kazuyuki Okitsu (M). You can check out the new character visual and announcement tweet below:
Gun Gale Online Season 2 was officially announced in July 2023, during the 30th Dangeki Bunko Summer Festival that was held on ABEMA TV. Masayuki Sakoi, who helmed Season 1 of the spin-off anime, will be returning to direct Season 2.
The first season aired in Spring 2018 anime season, and it consisted of 12 episodes from Studio 3Hz, the animation company who will also return to animate the second season. Other anime titles Studio 3Hz worked on are The Devil is A Part-Timer!!, Healer Girl, The Marginal Service and more.
What is Sword Art Online Alternative: Gun Gale Online about?
Sword Art Online Alternative: Gun Gale Online is based on Keiichi Sigsawa’s Sōdo Āto Onrain Orutanatibu Gangeiru Onrain (Sword Art Online Alternative: Gun Gale Online) light novel series, and it follows Karen Kohiruimaki, a university student who plays a VR game called Gun Gale Online after it gives her the cute avatar she has always wanted. Venturing on a digital landscape far more like Apex Legends versus Final Fantasy or World of Warcraft, Karen discovers more than she bargained for. It's a spin-off series to the Sword Art Online light novel series by Reki Kawahara.
You can check out the official description of Sword Art Online Alternative: Gun Gale Online:
"In the world of guns and steel that is Gun Gale Online, LLENN has been a devoted, female solo player. She is obsessed with two things: donning herself entirely in pink and honing her skills with consistent game play. She soon discovers her love for hunting other players (a.k.a. PK), soon to be known as the "Pink Devil." Meanwhile, LLENN meets a beautiful yet mysterious player, Pitohui, and the two click right away. Doing as she is told by Pitohui, she enters the Squad Jam group battle."
The first season of Sword Art Online Alternative: Gun Gale Online is available to stream on Crunchyroll.
