First conceived as a self-published series of novels by Reki Kawahara that ran between 2002 and 2008, Sword Art Online quickly took the world by storm. The subsequent light novel series began running in 2009 and is still going strong as of January 2022. In 2012, the landscape of anime would truly be changed, as the series saw the beginning of its anime adaptation on July 8th. A-1 Pictures is the studio behind the series’ development, a well-known studio also responsible for Darling In The Franxx, Your Lie In April, and Black Butler.
Every element of the Sword Art Online anime comes together to create a truly unforgettable viewing experience, for better or worse. Even when the consistency of the plot falters, the visuals, music, and personality of many of the characters keep fans coming back. A large reason for this is the phenomenal job the voice talents working on the series did, and many of them have played parts in other beloved series as well.
10 Yoshitsugu Matsuoka: Food Wars! & Is It Wrong To Try To Pick Up Girls In A Dungeon?
The Japanese voice actor for Kirito is Yoshitsugu Matsuoka, who not only has big roles in anime but within video games as well. The two most notable and recent games he’s voiced in are Zodiark, Fandaniel, and Hermes in Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker, and Xiao in Genshin Impact.
Anime fans will still have a plethora of roles from which they may recognize him, and many of them are well-known protagonist roles like Kirito. One of these is Soma Yukihira from Food Wars!, and another is Bell Cranel from Is It Wrong To Try To Pick Up Girls In A Dungeon?.
9 Haruka Tomatsu: Darling In The Franxx & Persona 5: The Animation
Asuna is not only one of the most beloved characters in the Sword Art Online universe, but in the realm of anime as a whole. She’s strong, independent, and is a reliable shoulder for Kirito to lean on, and her personality is captured wonderfully by Haruka Tomatsu.
Haruka plays many other popular roles within anime, including ones like Asuna, who go on to become many fans’ best girls. These include Zero Two from Darling In The Franxx and Haru Okumura from Persona 5: The Animation.
8 Ayana Taketatsu: Magia Record & Pop Team Epic
Leafa, also known as Suguha outside of the VRMMO world, is Kirito’s incredibly kind cousin. She picks up kendo after Kirito quits simply to save him from their grandfathers’ wrath without a second thought, and her personality is brought out wonderfully by Ayana Taketatsu.
She’s had a wide variety of roles, including Pipimi from Pop Team Epic. Ayana can even play an incredibly convincing villain, having voiced Alina Gray from Magia Record: Puella Magia Madoka Magica Side Story.
7 Miyuki Sawashiro: Fruits Basket & Kakegurui
Sinon quickly became popular after her introduction in the second season of Sword Art Online that focused on Gun Gale, a VRMMO that came after Sword Art without all the nasty perma-death. She has an icy exterior that gives way to a lonely, caring girl who simply doesn’t know how to get close to others.
She’s portrayed phenomenally by Miyuki Sawashiro, who has quite the lineup of strong roles under her belt. These include Kyoko Honda from Fruits Basket and both Kirari and Ririka Momobami from Kakegurui.
6 Kanae Ito: Shugo Chara & One Piece
Yui is the adorable pseudo-adoptive daughter of Kirito and Asuna, and while parts of her character aren’t written into the plot as well as they could be, she still found her way into many fans’ hearts.
Kanae Ito does a wonderful job capturing her cuteness, and one of her biggest roles before SAO is actually from the late 2000s, being Amu Hinamori from Shugo Chara. Her very first role, dating all the way back to 1999, is Carrot from the still-running One Piece.
5 Ayahi Takagaki: Durarara! & Black Butler: Book Of Circus
Lisbeth is Asuna’s closest friend who often makes playful jabs regarding her relationship with Kirito. This is especially true before the two officially start dating, where their simmering feelings for one another are painfully obvious to most others around them.
Her playful and confident personality is depicted perfectly by Ayahi Takagaki who’s also starred in Durarara! as Erika Karisawa. She also voices Doll, one of the most beloved side characters from the ‘Book of Circus’ arc of Black Butler.
4 Rina Hidaka: Magical Girl Raising Project & A Certain Magical Index
Silica is a bright, cheerful girl who never gives up despite any and all odds that might be stacked against her. This is best seen whenever her dragon, Pina, dies, and she and Kirito must go on a seemingly impossible quest to retrieve an item to revive her familiar in time.
Her voice actress, Rina Hidaka, does a great job portraying Silica and does a stellar job even with roles of contrasting personalities like Hardgore Alice from Magical Girl Raising Project. She’s also incredibly well-known for her work as Last Order from A Certain Magical Index.
3 Aoi Yuuki: Puella Magi Madoka Magica & My Hero Academia
Yuuki is a tragic yet hope-inspiring character within the series, having an incurable disease yet still desiring to live her life to the fullest and retain hope despite this. Aoi Yuuki is an incredibly well-known voice actress who does an impressive job bringing Yuuki to life.
One of her most well-known roles, who’s similar to Yuuki in that she retains hope even in the darkest of situations, is Madoka Kaname from Puella Magi Madoka Magica. She’s also gained popularity more recently for her performance as Tsuyu Asui from My Hero Academia.
2 Nobunaga Shimazaki: Free! Iwatobi Swim Club & Jujutsu Kaisen
Eugeo is another one of Sword Art Online’s incredibly kind and selfless cast members. He’s originally someone who can never imagine breaking the law or going against the established order, but this changes after he’s treated unfairly by the system himself.
Nobunaga Shimazaki does a terrific job with his performance as Eugeo, and has had many other well-known roles in the industry. These include Haruka Nanase from Free! Iwatobi Swim Club and Mahito from Jujutsu Kaisen.
1 Saori Hayami: My Next Life As A Villainess & Boruto: Naruto Next Generations
Although Sachi isn’t present within the series for long, it’s impossible to partake in the show without feeling her impact. After all, she’s the one who truly teaches Kirito what it means to lose someone close to him, as well as having to accept that there’s no way to bring them back.
Sachi is voiced by Saori Hayami, who perfectly captures her soft-spoken and timid yet kind nature. She also has popular roles as Maria Campbell from My Next Life As A Villainess and Himawari Uzamaki from Boruto: Naruto Next Generations.
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