A new video previewing footage from the upcoming Sword Art Online -Progressive- Kuraki Yuuyami no Scherzo (Scherzo of Deep Night) movie has been released, offering a fans a glimpse of Asuna and Kirito’s next adventure.
The movie is set to premiere in Japan in Autumn. The previous Sword Art Online -Progressive- movie, Aria of a Starless Night, premiered in the country on October 30.
The Progressive movies are based on the Kadokawa-published spin-off light novel series that expands on the “Aincrad arc” of the original and still ongoing Sword Art Online series. Scherzo of Deep Night is the title of the story in Sword Art Online Progressive‘s fourth volume.
Yen Press describes the volume as:
It’s been just two months since they were trapped in the game of death that is Sword Art Online, and Kirito and Asuna continue their struggle at the vanguard of progress through the game. The fifth floor of Aincrad is a mazelike ruin, and the two dare to take pleasure in raiding it for the treasure it contains. Upon returning to the fourth floor, it’s time to do some questing on behalf of the Elf Lord Yofilis–but here begins Asuna’s discontent, for in doing so they will have to face her least favorite monster ever…
Like the first movie, Sword Art Online -Progressive- Kuraki Yuuyami no Scherzo‘s staff includes Ayako Kounou as director, Kento Toya as character designer and chief animation director, and Yasuyuki Kai as action director and monster designer. A-1 Pictures is the animation production company.
The first volume of the Sword Art Online Progressive light novels was published in 2012, while the eighth and latest volume was published in June 2021. The books are published under the Dengeki Bunko label.
Both the main and Progressive Sword Art Online light novels are written by Reki Kawahara with illustrations by abec. A manga adaptation of Sword Art Online Progressive by Himura Kiseki ran from 2014 to 2018 with seven tankoubon volumes.
Source: Aniplex YouTube channel
