What is Sword Art Online?
{{italic title}} {{Nihongo|'''''Sword Art Online'''''|ソードアート・オンライン|Sōdo Āto Onrain|lead=yes}} (also known as '''SAO''') is a 2009 Japanese [[light novel]] series written by [[Reki Kawahara]] and illustrated by abec. The series is about many [[virtual reality]] video game worlds. ''Sword Art Online'' was commercially successful. According to [[Oricon]], SAO was the top selling light novel series of 2012.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2012-12-02/top-selling-light-novels-in-japan-by-series/2012|title=Top-Selling Light Novels in Japan by Series: 2012|publisher=Anime News Network|date=3 December 2012|access-date=2 July 2016}}</ref> More than 16 million copies of the light novel has been printed.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2014-12-19/sword-art-online-light-novels-have-more-than-16.7-million-copies-in-print-worldwide/.82398|title=Sword Art Online Light Novels Have More Than 16.7 Million Copies in Print Worldwide|publisher=Anime News Network|date=20 December 2014|access-date=1 July 2016}}</ref> The novel was later acted into a [[Japan|Japanese]] [[Anime]]. An [[anime]] television series titled ''Sword Art Online'' aired in Japan between July and December 2012. It was produced by [[A-1 Pictures]]. Its second season called ''Sword Art Online II'' aired between July and December 2014. The third season of the anime titled ''Sword Art Online: Alicization'' [[wikt:premiered|premiered]] on October 7, 2018. == References == {{reflist}} {{stub}} [[Category:Series of books]] [[Category:2012 anime television series]] [[Category:2014 anime television series]] [[Category:2018 anime television series]] [[Category:A-1 Pictures]] [[Category:Light novels]]