AH! It’s International Women’s Day today! WCW just happened to be today too! Epic coincidence! Really exciting to find that out but! I digress! For this week’s WCW I’m going to continue with my SAO theme this week and feature Asuna.
Asuna is the deuteragonist and Kirito’s partner in the anime Sword Art Online. What I love about Asuna and Kirito is that their relationship doesn’t have either one depending on one another; but rather a relationship that is built on mutual support, respect, care and love for one another. They are able to draw the best out of their partners and that makes them a formidable pairing. They actually mirror each other quite well. They’re a great duo!
Asuna is a great standalone character. She’s not the damsel in distress as she’s a capable fighter in the world of Sword Art Online. So much so that her skills with her weapon of choice, the “rapier”, has given her the nickname “the flash”. Asuna is also very kind hearted, mentally tough, trustworthy and physically strong. The girl’s got beauty, brains, cooking skills and incredible swordsmanship; she’s got it all!
Prior to meeting Kirito in SAO, she didn’t seem to care much about living or dying when it became apparent they couldn’t log-off. However, her chance encounter with Kirito opened her eyes and pushed her to strive for her own independence and survival to get out of the game.
What I really loved about Asuna, was her determination to break free of the mold of perfection her Mother had wanted her to be. Her mom laid out her entire life via scheduling her school and after school activities. She had also planned to arrange Asuna’s marriage so that her daughter would have a comfortable future. This left Asuna feeling caged up more than anything. She struggled against these expectations she had from a well to do family. Due to the amount of pressure she felt in her real life and not being able to be the one in control she escaped to the world of gaming to oppose those ideals imposed on her and she found solace in her avatar. In SAO/ALO she was free to be who she wanted to be; and people loved and accepted her for who she was and her personal interest.
She finally steels her nerves and confronts her mother and invites her mom to see her virtual world in order to get her point across of how she wants to lead. She wants to lead a life that leads to sharing bliss with one another; in support of one another rather than living for one’s own sake. She promises to her mom that she’d still study and work hard but at the same time she wants to do all the other things she also loves. She’s trying to repair the awkward relationship she and her mother have due to wanting different things for Asuna’s sake; but she gets her point across and her mom caves and allows her to continue at her current school and do as she pleases; just as along as she makes it to college; as well as becomes stronger to be able to support others the way she really hopes to.
Asuna, is yet another strong female lead that continues to inspire like the rest of the women that I’ve been featuring. She teaches us to fight for what’s really important especially in the face of adversity.
What do you think of Asuna? I know she’s definitely a fave of many of my readers! Let me know in the comments below!
ARCHI-ANIME 
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Asuna is by far my favourite female character in Anime, so it’s great to see her get more love.
I loved her relationship with Kirito and how it was based upon mutual respect and effort as opposed to the typical “guy does everything for girl” relationships we often see from Anime.
I’m curious though what you think of Asuna’s predicament during the ALO arc where she’s held captive. A lot of people tend to call her a “damsel in distress” due to how “useless” she was while imprisoned. Since you specifically said she wasn’t that, I’m curious on how you feel about her during this arc.
I personally feel she isn’t at any point in the story.
Excellent post! I had a great time reading it and look forward to more SAO posts from you!
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Yeah, I would say Asuna flies under the radar is underrated. She’s phenomenal. The mutual effort and respect is indeed one of the best things about this partnership, like you said compared to a lot of other relationships. It’s a rarity.
Also, for the ALO arc where she’s captive. I’m on your side. Asuna never exhibited ‘damsel in distress’ at any point of the story. A few reasons come to mind.. She was being held captive in a CAGE by that Creepy dude that was obsessed with her *cringe* under lock and key, does that make her automatically a damsel in distress? No, not at all. She was a prisoner both physically and mentally. She had no control over that inside ALO. However despite those, she did TRY to get out! I find that the ‘damsel in distress’ relies on others to save her with no attempt on their own. They think they’re too weak to do it alone. Did Asuna expect to be saved? No, I don’t think so to be honest; she probably hoped she’d be saved by Kirito; but she ACTIVELY tried to get out; she memorized the pin code; she swiped a security card and actually left the cage! If it weren’t for those octopus looking things she ran into I’m sure she would’ve escaped.
I’m glad you’re enjoying SAO week at the blog! I have 2-3 more posts this week on SAO, then I might be SAO’d out for awhile. LOL.
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Exactly! That’s my argument too! She was instrumental in her own escape and thus was more than just a “damsel” like many critics claim. I’m glad I’m not the only one who feels that way, since most tend to brush off my thoughts there are “overthinking” haha.
If she hadn’t dropped the card down from the tree, Kirito would never have been able to save her at all!
And yeah I’m really enjoying it! Some really unique posts about the series!
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She is pretty awesome. I’m just happy she isn’t one of those annoying female characters. She can actually fight.
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GAH exactly!!
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Asuna is really an inspirational character. Unlike some female action characters, she is not blindly going on a killing spree and is not overpowered too. I loved how she can bond so well with Kirito too. Great post!
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Thanks! Glad you liked it!! 🙂 Asuna is s great character!
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I really like Asuna too. All the points you made are all reasons I love her. Plus, her relationship with Kirito was amazing. Neither was dependent on the other and both could hold their own in a fight!
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Exactly! That’s how healthy relationships should be 🙂 thanks for reading and taking the time to comment!
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SAO is not one of my fav anime. I started watching this years ago and have still not completed it. Might need to go back to it. I like that Asuna was an actual character that could do something for herself and did not need to be continuously rescued or be in the way. I like how she also helped Kirito and saved him a few times.
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lol it’s okay if you don’t finish it honestly. The first arc of the first season is probably the best. 🙂 but yah I loved Asunas independent spirit
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I got to just the start of the 3rd arc I think
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Season 2? Gun Gale Online?
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Saw up until they solve it and every one that still in school now has special lessons and they in the real world…So he saves Asuna from the random fairy dude. Then my memory gets foggy
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Ohh hmm seems like 1/2 way thru season 2
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I really admire Asuna. She is both strong and beautiful. I always thought she was like Kirito in essence. She’s a fighter like Kirito and she is willing be there for him.
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She totally is! After seeing Ordinal Scale the more I love this duo!
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I agree. In Ordinal Scale, she was like Kirito. They are the perfect pair.
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Yes, an entire post about my favorite Anime girl. Exactly because she is so strong abd able to overcome her weaknesses, is what I like her so much for. I also love the relationship she has with Kirito, another thing that makes Sword Art Online such a great series. Great post! 😊
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Asuna is great! I’m a bit disappointed in myself that I overlooked her character the first time I watched SAO.
Btw, happy belated birthday! I remember it was the 9th right??
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Aww, thank you so much for remembering. Yes it was the 9th, very kind of you and appreciated 😊 Yes, Asuna can be overlooked the first time, because in the beginning her role is a bit low key, which is why I like it so much, that she becomes such a powerful character (and force to be reckoned with) later in the series 😊
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Yuuki’s arc broke my heart and really fleshed Asuna out for me. While I still feel that Kirito is a static Jesus-kun (I remember 😏😏), Asuna really calls out to me as one of the better developed characters (if not the most) of the series.
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Yuuki was totally heart breaking. I had my friend watch SAO and he called me a monster for making him watch that arc. lol. And I agree Asuna definitely has much more depth than Jesus-kun haha
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