".hack//SIGN" (2002) TV series

User Rating:

7.2/10   

Seasons:

1

Release Date:

1 February 2003 (USA)

Genre:

Animation | Action | Adventure | Drama | Fantasy | Mystery | Sci-Fi | Thriller

Tagline:

The only thing he can't do....Is log out

Plot:

A strange boy named Tsukasa appears in the online video game "The World". He claims to be alive, and without a computer.

Plot Keywords:

Multiplayer | Escapism | .hack | Subtitled | Internet

Cast

Mitsuki Saiga	...	Tsukasa (2 episodes, 2002)
Megumi Toyoguchi	...	Mimiru (2 episodes, 2002)
Kazuhiro Nakata	...	Bear (2 episodes, 2002)
Akiko Hiramatsu	...	BT (2 episodes, 2002)
Kaori Nazuka	...	Subaru (2 episodes, 2002)
Isshin Chiba	...	Silver Knight (2 episodes, 2002)
Rie Tanaka	...	Morganna (2 episodes, 2002)
Hiroshi Yanaka	...	Sora (2 episodes, 2002)
Mitsuyo Kondo	...	Grunty (2 episodes, 2002)
Brianne Siddall	...	Tsukasa (2 episodes, 2002)
Amanda Winn Lee	...	Mimiru (2 episodes, 2002)
Paul Mercier	...	Bear (2 episodes, 2002)
Kim Mai Guest	...	Subaru (2 episodes, 2002)
Douglas Rye	...	Silver Knight (2 episodes, 2002)
Valerie Arem	...	Morganna (2 episodes, 2002)

Runtime:

USA:25 min (25 episodes and 3 bonus episodes)

Country:

Japan

Language:

English | Japanese

Color:

Color | Black and White

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Canada:14 | South Korea:12 | Spain:7 | UK:PG (some episodes) | UK:U (some episodes) | USA:TV-Y7 | Australia:PG

Company:

Bandai Entertainment

Trivia:

The ending sequence for .hack//GIFT features the //GIFT versions of the characters from //SIGN and the games in place of Subaru and Tsukasa walking across, respectively. At the end of the sequence, //GIFT versions of Subaru and Silver Knight are also shown.

Goofs:

Factual errors: In the episode "Party" Tsukasa initially miscalculates the product of 331 and 3 in answering the second riddle. This is only in the English dub.

Quotes:

Sora: Tsukasa! Let's play red light-green light.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Yuki Kajiura Live (2008) (V)

Soundtrack:

Yasashii Yoake

A very goooood anime series

This is, whatever anyone might say, one of the best anime ever created. I say this because, although i do admit that the story plot pace is slow - slower than anyone could imagine - it still holds a valuable plot and of course, opens up much more for the following series of games, and manga. Of course, there is a novel before this series as well, and overall i just have to say that Project Hack was such a good success, at least in my opinion. Espscially the use of many different approach was good - manga, anime, games and novels.

If someone was to watch only .hack//SIGN, then of course it may seem unsatisfying, because it really does not give much info about anything. Since it was meant to be a prequel of the games, if you want to find out what happens to Sora, Aura or Tsukasa after wards, you would have to play the games.

Overall, i do admit that there were much more talking than action - in which it lost many action-anime fans. However it is an anime that is more inspirational movies than the action-packed ones. You had to get into the human emotions and philosophy to fully enjoy the meaning behind the anime - hard lives, choices, obstacles that appear in the real life, the players (characters) try to avoid by logging into "The World". However in the end they all realize to face fear and live their life to fullest extent.

Overall, i personally would give this anime 10/10, for its superb performance. Whether it was the heart-touching quotes, the ever-beautiful music, or the mind-blowingly complex plot, i find that .hack//SIGN is a must for all anime fans.

P.S: Just adding a reply to one of the comments... Tsukasa is NOT an AI character.