Accel World (novel/manga/anime/film/game)
Accel World (アクセル・ワールド, Akuseru Wārudo) is a Japanese light novel series written by Reki Kawahara and illustrated by HiMA. The series began publication in ASCII Media Works‘ Dengeki Bunko imprint from February 2009 and is licensed in North America by Yen Press. Two manga series began serialization in Dengeki Bunko Magazine from May 2010, with another series beginning serialization in Dengeki Daioh in January 2013. An anime adaptation by Sunrise aired in Japan between April and September 2012. An English-language version began streaming on Viz Media‘s Neon Alley service from April 2013. Two video games were released for the PlayStation Portable and PlayStation 3 in September 2012, and January 2013, each containing an original video animation episode. An anime film titled Accel World: Infinite Burst featuring an original story by Kawahara premiered in Japan in July 2016.
Plot
Haruyuki “Haru” Arita is a short, overweight boy who is frequently ridiculed by delinquents at the Umesato Junior High School. Using his Neuro Linker to escape the torment of real life, he logs onto the school’s local network cyberspace where he always plays virtual squash alone, and his innate video game skills bring him to the attention of Kuroyukihime (literally meaning “Black Snow Princess”), the school’s popular, highly intellectual and attractive female student council vice-president.
After helping him against the delinquents, Kuroyukihime introduces Haruyuki to Brain Burst, a secret program that is able to accelerate the human cognitive process to the point at which time appears to stop. Haruyuki soon learns that Brain Burst is more than just a program, but an augmented-reality massively-multiplayer online (ARMMO) fighting game where people fight each other in fierce duels in order to obtain burst points, which can be spent for acceleration abilities in the real world.
Kuroyukihime then enlists Haruyuki’s help in reaching level 10 within Brain Burst by defeating the “Six Kings of Pure Colour” and ultimately meet the creator of Brain Burst to learn its true purpose. With every challenge they face in the accelerated world, Haru and Kuroyukihime, under their aliases “Silver Crow” and “Black Lotus”, gather trusted allies and confront treacherous enemies. Their bond grows stronger while working to attain their ultimate objective: to reach the highest in-game level and meet the game’s creator, who will reveal why the game was created and the true purpose of it.
Light novels
Accel World began as a light novel series written by Reki Kawahara and illustrated by HiMA. Originally, Kawahara entered the first novel in the series into ASCII Media Works‘ 15th Dengeki Novel Prize in 2008 and the novel won the Grand Prize. The first novel was published by ASCII Media Works on February 10, 2009, under their Dengeki Bunko imprint. As of March 2022, 26 volumes have been published. At their Japan Expo USA panel, Yen Press announced the rights to publish the light novels in English. The English version is translated by Jocelyne Allen. The first volume was released on July 22, 2014.
| No. | Title | Original release date | English release date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kuroyukihime’s Return Kuroyukihime no Kikan (黒雪姫の帰還) |
February 10, 2009 978-4-04-867517-8 |
July 22, 2014 978-0-316-37673-0 |
| 2 | The Red Storm Princess Kurenai no Bōfūki (紅の暴風姫) |
June 10, 2009 978-4-04-867843-8 |
November 18, 2014 978-0-316-29636-6 |
| 3 | The Twilight Marauder Yūyami no Ryakudatsusha (夕闇の略奪者) |
October 10, 2009 978-4-04-868070-7 |
March 24, 2015 978-0-31-629637-3 |
| 4 | Flight Toward a Blue Sky Aozora e no Hishō (蒼空への飛翔) |
February 10, 2010 978-4-04-868327-2 |
July 21, 2015 978-0-31-629638-0 |
| 5 | The Floating Starlight Bridge Hoshikage no Ukihashi (星影の浮き橋) |
June 10, 2010 978-4-04-868593-1 |
November 17, 2015 978-0-31-629639-7 |
| 6 | Shrine Maiden of the Sacred Fire Jōka no Miko (浄火の神子) |
October 10, 2010 978-4-04-868969-4 |
March 22, 2016 978-0-31-629640-3 |
| 7 | Armor of Catastrophe Saika no Yoroi (災禍の鎧) |
February 10, 2011 978-4-04-870276-8 |
September 20, 2016 978-0-31-635819-4 |
| 8 | The Binary Stars of Destiny Unmei no Rensei (運命の連星) |
June 10, 2011 978-4-04-870550-9 |
December 13, 2016 978-0-31-631761-0 |
| 9 | The Seven-Thousand-Year Prayer Nanasennen no Inori (七千年の祈り) |
October 10, 2011 978-4-04-870954-5 |
March 21, 2017 978-0-31-650270-2 |
| 10 | Elements Elements |
December 10, 2011 978-4-04-886241-7 |
June 20, 2017 978-0-31-646605-9 |
| 11 | The Carbide Wolf Chōkō no Ōkami (超硬の狼) |
April 10, 2012 978-4-04-886521-0 |
September 19, 2017 978-0-31-646606-6 |
| 12 | The Red Crest Aka no Monshō (赤の紋章) |
August 10, 2012 978-4-04-886795-5 |
December 12, 2017 978-0-31-646607-3 |
| 13 | Signal Fire at the Water’s Edge Mizugiwa no Gōka (水際の号火) |
February 10, 2013 978-4-04-891330-0 |
April 10, 2018 978-1-97-530006-7 |
| 14 | Archangel of Savage Light Gekkō no Daitenshi (激光の大天使) |
June 7, 2013 978-4-04-891608-0 |
June 26, 2018 978-1-97-532723-1 |
| 15 | The End and the Beginning Owari to Hajimari (終わりと始まり) |
October 10, 2013 978-4-04-866005-1 |
September 18, 2018 978-1-97-532725-5 |
| 16 | Snow White’s Slumber Shirayukihime no Madoromi (白雪姫の微睡) |
February 8, 2014 978-4-04-866320-5 |
December 18, 2018 978-1-97-532727-9 |
| 17 | Cradle of Stars Hoshi no Yurikago (星の揺りかご) |
October 10, 2014 978-4-04-866936-8 |
March 19, 2019 978-1-97-532729-3 |
| 18 | The Black Dual Swordsman Kuro no Sōkenshi (黒の双剣士) |
June 10, 2015 978-4-04-865189-9 |
June 18, 2019 978-1-97-532731-6 |
| 19 | Pull of the Dark Nebula Ankoku Seiun no Inryoku (暗黒星雲の引力) |
October 10, 2015 978-4-04-865438-8 |
September 9, 2019 978-1-97-533218-1 |
| 20 | The Rivalry of White and Black Shiro to Kuro no Sōkoku (白と黒の相剋) |
June 10, 2016 978-4-04-892115-2 |
December 17, 2019 978-1-97-533271-6 |
| 21 | The Snow Sprite Yuki no Yōsei (雪の妖精) |
December 10, 2016 978-4-04-892390-3 |
April 21, 2020 978-1-97-533273-0 |
| 22 | Sun God of Absolute Flame Zetsuen no Taiyōshin (絶焔の太陽神) |
November 10, 2017 978-4-04-893465-7 |
September 22, 2020 978-1-97-533277-8 |
| 23 | Kuroyukihime’s Confession Kuroyukihime no Kokuhaku (黒雪姫の告白) |
September 7, 2018 978-4-04-893917-1 |
December 15, 2020 978-1-97-533275-4 |
| 24 | Sword Sage of the Blue Flower Seika no Kensen (青華の剣仙) |
August 10, 2019 978-4-04-912676-1 |
April 27, 2021 978-1-97-532133-8 |
| 25 | Deity of Demise Shūen no Kyoshin (終焉の巨神) |
September 10, 2020 978-4-04-913440-7 |
November 9, 2021 978-1-97-533508-3 |
| 26 | Conqueror of the Sundered Heavens Retten no Seifukusha (裂天の征服者) |
March 10, 2022 978-4-04-914133-7 |
August 22, 2023 978-1-97-536784-8 |
Manga
A manga adaptation titled Accel World illustrated by Hiroyuki Aigamo was serialized between April 10, 2010, and June 9, 2017, in ASCII Media Works’ Dengeki Bunko Magazine. The series has been collected in eight tankōbon volumes, released between July 27, 2011, and July 27, 2017. A four-panel comic strip manga titled Axel World. (あくちぇる・わーるど。, Akucheru Wārudo) illustrated by Ryuryū Akari was serialized between April 10, 2010, and June 10, 2016, in Dengeki Bunko Magazine. Five tankōbon volumes were released between July 27, 2011, and October 26, 2013. In February 2014, Yen Press announced they had licensed Accel World for an English release in North America. The English translation is by Jocelyne Allen. They released the volumes between September 23, 2014, and December 11, 2018. A spin-off manga, Accel World / Dural: Magisa Garden, written and drawn by Ayato Sasakura was serialized in Monthly Comic Dengeki Daioh (published by ASCII Media Works) from March 2012 to August 2017 and collected in eight volumes. It spotlights female burst linkers who attend a private school, Kiyomi Gakuin, in Nakano, Tokyo. Some of the characters from the main story also appear.
- Accel World
| No. | Original release date | Original ISBN | English release date | English ISBN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | July 27, 2011 | 978-4-04-870630-8 | September 23, 2014 | 978-0-316-33586-7 |
| 2 | July 27, 2011 | 978-4-04-870634-6 | December 16, 2014 | 978-0-316-29634-2 |
| 3 | August 27, 2012 | 978-4-04-886421-3 | March 24, 2015 | 978-0-316-29635-9 |
| 4 | February 27, 2013 | 978-4-04-891398-0 | July 21, 2015 | 978-0-316-30216-6 |
| 5 | February 27, 2014 | 978-4-04-866389-2 | October 27, 2015 | 978-0-316-30614-0 |
| 6 | February 27, 2015 | 978-4-04-869286-1 | February 9, 2016 | 978-0-316-26898-1 |
| 7 | July 27, 2016 | 978-4-04-892107-7 | March 28, 2017 | 978-0-316-46920-3 |
| 8 | July 27, 2017 | 978-4-04-893296-7 | December 11, 2018 | 978-1-975-32913-6 |
- Axel World
| No. | Release date | ISBN |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | July 27, 2011 | 978-4-04-870619-3 |
| 2 | August 27, 2012 | 978-4-04-886808-2 |
| 3 | October 26, 2013 | 978-4-04-866082-2 |
| 4 | March 27, 2015 | 978-4-04-869342-4 |
| 5 | July 27, 2016 | 978-4-04-892108-4 |
- Accel World / Dural: Magisa Garden
| No. | Release date | ISBN |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | August 27, 2012 | 978-4-04-886934-8 |
| 2 | April 27, 2013 | 978-4-04-891617-2 |
| 3 | January 27, 2014 | 978-4-04-866238-3 |
| 4 | September 27, 2014 | 978-4-04-866839-2 |
| 5 | May 27, 2015 | 978-4-04-865110-3 |
| 6 | January 27, 2016 | 978-4-04-865650-4 |
| 7 | September 27, 2016 | 978-4-04-892295-1 |
| 8 | August 26, 2017 | 978-4-04-893241-7 |
Anime
An anime television series adaptation aired in Japan between April 7, 2012, and September 22, 2012. The opening theme until episode 13 is “Chase the world” by May’n and the ending theme is “→unfinished→” by Kotoko. From episode 14 onwards the opening theme is “Burst the Gravity” by Altima and the ending theme is “unite.” by Sachika Misawa. Warner Home Video, ASCII Media Works, Namco Bandai Games, Sunrise and Genco were involved in the production of this adaptation. Viz Media announced the streaming of the anime on Hulu as of April 6, 2012. An English-dubbed version premiered on Viz Media’s online streaming service, Neon Alley, on April 19, 2013. An anime film titled Accel World: Infinite Burst featuring an original story by Kawahara was released on July 23, 2016. Hanabee Entertainment has licensed the series alongside Little Busters!, and previously From the New World, Campione! and The Familiar of Zero in May 2014. Muse Communication has licensed the series in Asia-Pacific and is streaming on Muse Asia YouTube channel.
Video games
Two video games based on the series were developed by Banpresto and published by Namco Bandai Games for PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Portable. The first of these, Accel World: Awakening of the Silver Wings (アクセル・ワールド ─銀翼の覚醒─, Akuseru Wārudo -Gin’yoku no Kakusei-), was released in Japan on September 13, 2012. The second one, Accel World: The Peak of Acceleration (アクセル・ワールド ─加速の頂点─, Akuseru Wārudo -Kasoku no Chōten-), was released in Japan on January 31, 2013. The limited edition versions of these games include an original video animation of the anime series (Blu-ray Disc for the PS3 version, DVD for the PSP version). In Z.H.P. Unlosing Ranger VS Darkdeath Evilman for PSP, Silver Crow is an unlockable costume. In Sword Art Online: Lost Song, Black Lotus is an obtainable character and is also one of the opponents you can defeat.
An action role-playing game titled Accel World vs. Sword Art Online: Millennium Twilight was announced in October 2016. The game is a crossover with Sword Art Online, developed by Bandai Namco Entertainment for PlayStation 4 and PlayStation Vita and released on July 7, 2017. The Windows PC version was released on September 12, 2017.
Reception
Rebecca Silverman of Anime News Network reviewed the series and gave a story rating of A−, stating a similar basis of Sword Art Online with improved characters. Richard Eisenbeis of Kotaku praised the anime for its well-thought out story, relatable main character, and great villain protagonist, but criticizes the anime for its third arc. At the end, he says that the anime starts out strong, but ends on a weak note.
| Accel World | |
First light novel volume cover, featuring Kuroyukihime
|
|
| アクセル・ワールド (Akuseru Wārudo) |
|
|---|---|
| Genre | |
| Light novel | |
| Written by | Reki Kawahara |
| Illustrated by | HiMA |
| Published by | ASCII Media Works |
| English publisher | |
| Imprint | Dengeki Bunko |
| Magazine | Dengeki Bunko Magazine |
| Demographic | Male |
| Original run | February 10, 2009 – present |
| Volumes | 26 |
| Manga | |
| Written by | Reki Kawahara |
| Illustrated by | Hiroyuki Aigamo |
| Published by | ASCII Media Works |
| English publisher | |
| Magazine | Dengeki Bunko Magazine |
| Demographic | Seinen |
| Original run | April 10, 2010 – June 9, 2017 |
| Volumes | 8 |
| Manga | |
| Axel World | |
| Written by | Reki Kawahara |
| Illustrated by | Ryuryū Akari |
| Published by | ASCII Media Works |
| Magazine | Dengeki Bunko Magazine |
| Demographic | Seinen |
| Original run | April 10, 2010 – June 10, 2016 |
| Volumes | 5 |
| Manga | |
| Accel World / Dural: Magisa Garden | |
| Written by | Ayato Sasakura |
| Published by | ASCII Media Works |
| Magazine | Dengeki Daioh |
| Demographic | Shōnen |
| Original run | January 27, 2012 – June 27, 2017 |
| Volumes | 8 |
| Anime television series | |
| Directed by | Masakazu Obara |
| Written by | Hiroyuki Yoshino |
| Music by |
|
| Studio | Sunrise |
| Licensed by |
Hanabee
MVM Films
|
| Original network | Tokyo MX, TV Saitama, Chiba TV, tvk, TV Aichi, MBS, AT-X, HBC, RKB, BS11 |
| English network | |
| Original run | April 7, 2012 – September 22, 2012 |
| Episodes | 24 (+ 2 OVA episodes) |
| Film | |
| Video games | |
|
|
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