Aniplex of America has announced the August debut of the first volume of the hit anime series Sword Art Online, which is based on a series of light novels by Reki Kawahara that was adapted into a 25-episode anime series produced by A-1 Pictures that aired in Japan in 2012.  The series takes place in the near future and deals with several virtual reality MMORPG worlds, especially the eponymous Sword Art Online where once players log on, they are unable to log out until they have reached the 100th floor of the game’s tower and defeated the final boss.  The anime series is slated to debut on the Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim in August of this year.
 
Volume 1 of the Sword Art Online anime contains the first seven episodes of the series.  Three additional volumes will be released.  The Blu-ray edition not only features superior visuals and sound, it also contains a wealth of bonus features including an original soundtrack CD (Volumes 1 and 3 of the 4-volume set), a bonus DVD of English cast interviews (Vols 2 & 4).  Each Blu-ray volume comes with a 16-page booklet as well as an exclusive collectible card from Bushiroad, which has created trial decks and boosters based on Sword Art Online for its Weiss Schwarz Trading Card Game (see "'Sword Art Online' Trial Decks and Boosters").