Sword Art Online (2012)

Name: Sword Art Online
Released: 2012
Rating: 7.4
Cast: Yoshitsugu Matsuoka, Haruka Tomatsu, Hiroaki Hirata, Ai Kayano, Rina Hidaka

TV-MA 24m 7.4/10 IMDb

Animation Sci-Fi & Fantasy Action & Adventure

In the near future, a Virtual Reality Massive Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game (VRMMORPG) called Sword Art Online has been released where players control their avatars with their bodies using a piece of technology called Nerve Gear. One day, players discover they cannot log out, as the game creator is holding them captive unless they reach the 100th floor of the game's tower and defeat the final boss. However, if they die in the game, they die in real life. Their struggle for survival starts now...

Cast: Yoshitsugu Matsuoka, Haruka Tomatsu, Hiroaki Hirata, Ai Kayano, Rina Hidaka

Content Warnings

Identity & Discrimination

Stalking / harassment

Mental Health & Emotional

Death of a child Grief / bereavement (major focus) Suicide (discussed or ideation) Terminal illness

Other

Gaslighting / emotional manipulation Genocide / ethnic cleansing Kidnapping / abduction War / combat Wrongful imprisonment

Phobias & Sensory

Blood / medical gore Body horror Confined spaces (claustrophobia) Needles / medical procedures

Sexual Content

Age-gap relationships (predatory) Explicit sexual content / nudity Sexual coercion / non-consensual situations

Violence & Physical Harm

Child abuse / harm to children Gore / graphic violence Gun violence Self-harm / suicide (depicted) (referenced)Sexual assault / rape Slavery / forced labor Torture

View full breakdown

Does It Get Worse?

Gets Worse Content intensity increases in later seasons.

2 series-wide warnings apply across all seasons.

Season 1 11 warnings

Avg severity:(3.0)

Grief / bereavement (major focus)Suicide (discussed or ideation)Gaslighting / emotional manipulationKidnapping / abductionConfined spaces (claustrophobia)Needles / medical proceduresSexual coercion / non-consensual situationsGore / graphic violenceGun violenceSelf-harm / suicide (depicted)Sexual assault / rape

Season 2 10 warnings

Avg severity:(3.0)

Stalking / harassmentDeath of a childGrief / bereavement (major focus)Terminal illnessKidnapping / abductionNeedles / medical proceduresSexual coercion / non-consensual situationsGore / graphic violenceGun violenceSelf-harm / suicide (depicted)

Season 3 10 warnings

Avg severity:(3.5)

Grief / bereavement (major focus)War / combatWrongful imprisonmentBlood / medical goreBody horrorChild abuse / harm to childrenGore / graphic violenceSexual assault / rapeSlavery / forced laborTorture

Season 4 10 warnings

Avg severity:(3.5)

Death of a childGrief / bereavement (major focus)Genocide / ethnic cleansingWar / combatBlood / medical goreBody horrorGore / graphic violenceGun violenceSexual assault / rapeTorture