Aniplex of America announced that Sword Art Online II will air on Adult Swim’s Toonami block. The series will begin airing on March 28, 2015 at 1:00AM (Eastern & Pacific), with new episodes running weekly.

Currently, Naruto Shippuden airs in the 1:00AM slot.

Sword Art Online II to Debut on TOONAMI This March

©2014 REKI KAWAHARA/PUBLISHED BY KADOKAWA CORPORATION ASCII MEDIA WORKS/SAOII Project

Kirito Returns in the Hit Sequel on the Adult Swim Saturday Night Lineup!

SANTA MONICA, CA (February 14, 2015) –Fans at Katsucon (National Harbor, MD) were ready to “Link Start!” when Aniplex of America surprised them with their announcement today that Sword Art Online II will be debuting on TOONAMI™, the animation programming block that airs on Adult Swim™ each Saturday night, on March 28th from 1:00AM (PST/EST). This will be the second announcement this year by Aniplex of America of their licensed title to air on national television since

KILL la KILL premiered on TOONAMI™ on Febraury 7th. The highly anticipated second season ofSword Art Online makes its return to the Saturday late night lineup since the first season ended in 2014.

The all-star English dub cast returns in Sword Art Online II, including Bryce Papenbrook (Blue Exorcist, DURARARA!!) playing Kirito, Cherami Leigh (Blue Exoricst, Baccano!) as Asuna, Cassandra Lee Morris (Madoka Magica, Blue Exorcist) as Leafa, Sarah Anne Williams (Madoka Magica, KILL la KILL) as Lisbeth, Christine Marie Cabanos (Madoka Magica, KILL la KILL) as Silica, Kirk Thornton (Blue Exorcist) as Klein and Stephanie Sheh (Blue Exorcist, KILL la KILL) as Yui. Aniplex of America confirmed that Michelle Ruff (GURREN LAGANN, DURARARA!!) will be joining the star-studded cast as Sinon in the sequel.

About Sword Art Online II

1 year after the SAO incident, Kirito is approached by Seijiro Kikuoka from Japan’s Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications Department “VR Division” with a rather peculiar request.

That was an investigation on the “Death Gun” incident that occurred in the gun and steel filled VRMMO called Gun Gale Online (GGO). “Players who are shot by a mysterious avatar with a jet black gun lose their lives even in the real world…” Failing to turn down Kikuoka’s bizarre request, Kirito logs in to GGO even though he is not completely convinced that the virtual world could physically affect the real world.

Kirito wanders in an unfamiliar world in order to gain any clues about the “Death Gun.” Then, a female sniper named Sinon who owns a gigantic “Hecate II” rifle extends Kirito a helping hand. With Sinon’s help, Kirito decides to enter the “Bullet of Bullets,” a large tournament to choose the most powerful gunner within the realm of GGO, in hopes to become the target of the “Death Gun” and make direct contact with the mysterious avatar.

For details on Sword Art Online II, please visit: www.SwordArt-OnlineUSA.comwww.Facebook.com/SwordArtOnlineUSA

STAFF

Original Story: Reki Kawahara (Dengeki Bunko / ASCII MEDIA WORKS)

Original Illustration & Character Design Concept: abec

Director: Tomohiko Ito

Character Design: Shingo Adachi

Sub Character Design: Yu Yamashita

Chief Animation Director: Shingo Adachi, Yu Yamashita

Action Animation Director: Ryuta Yanagi, Tetsuya Takeuchi

Gun Animation Director: Satoshi Mori, Yu Aoki

Main Animator: Kengo Matsumoto

Monster Design: Ryuta Yanagi

Prop Design: Shinobu Tsuneki, Takahiro Ishimoto, Harumi Takagi

Art Director: Yusuke Takeda, Takayuki Nagashima

Art Setting: Yoshinori Shiozawa

Conceptual Art: Sotaro Hori (CyDesignation)