.hack

Anime 2002 · 3 seasons · Action & Adventure
6.8 Popular

Series finished

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Action & Adventure Animation Mystery Virtual World Video Games Anti-Hero Amnesia Magic Denpa

.hack follows several young players as they navigate the vast, mysterious MMORPG known as “The World” – a place, it turns out, that is sometimes impossible to leave.

Country of origin
🇯🇵 Japan
Year
2002
Studio
Bee Train
Channel
TV Tokyo · TV Aichi · TVQ · TV Osaka
Studio
BeeTrain

Trivia & behind the scenes

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Origins

The project began in early 2000 as a joint effort between Bandai and CyberConnect2, originally conceived as an actual online game before the team decided a fixed storyline like a standard offline RPG would be more appealing, resulting in .hack//Sign as a TV series tied to a simulated MMORPG called The World.

Origins

Bandai's Shin Unozawa suggested dividing the game into four parts released at three-month intervals, inspired by four-panel manga style, and the team also created the OVA series .hack//Liminality to accompany each game release; .hack//Sign was produced as an additional TV show timed to air with the first game's release.

Origins

Writer Kazunori Ito conducted extensive research on existing online games such as Phantasy Star Online, Final Fantasy XI, and Ultima Online while designing The World, though the staff aimed to create a 'futuristic and alien' game system rather than mimic real MMORPGs.

Filming

Director Kōichi Mashimo had a hectic schedule during production, as he was simultaneously directing both .hack//Sign and .hack//Liminality while also in the midst of developing the Noir anime series.

References

Character designer Yoshiyuki Sadamoto drew on Celtic imagery for the cast, and director Mashimo acknowledged that the design of the character Bear resembled Mel Gibson in his role as William Wallace in Braveheart.

Music

Composer Yuki Kajiura's score blends Celtic style with gaming themes, featuring vocals by Emily Bindiger and Yuriko Kaida, including an uilleann pipes solo in 'Open Your Heart' and a track sung over saxophone in 'Mimiru'.

Reception

Director Kōichi Mashimo deliberately mixed the music louder than the dialogue in the early episodes as an experiment, stating it was his intent to provoke complaints from the audience.

Trivia

The BT character's name comes from her dislike of lettuce: it is derived from a BLT sandwich with the 'L' removed.

Memorable quotes

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"The World" and all of its wonders... This is my world, you see.

Tsukasa Expressing his attachment to the digital world.

I like it this way.... It's not so bad.

Tsukasa Accepting his existence within The World.

Who do you think you are?! The net is the same as the real world!

Mimiru Defending the importance of the online realm.

Justice without power is incompetence. Power without justice is also incompetence.

Silver Knight On the balance required in leadership.

The bell has rung. Now... let the curtain rise.

BT Signaling a pivotal moment in the game.

Recognize your weakness, and change it into your strength. Under the current circumstances, you can't protect Subaru.

Crim Offering advice on overcoming limitations.

If you want to know the truth, you must have the courage to accept it.

BT On the necessity of confronting hard truths.

Instead of dwelling on the fact that I can't log out.... Or maybe thinking that I don't have to. It's now clear. After all, now I don't have to return to that ludicrous world. I like it this way. It's not so bad.

Tsukasa Rationalizing his inability to leave The World.

I understand now. If I want to see something, I just need to open my eyes. And I realize that everything in front of me is part of something important. Like Subaru, and Mimiru. Even if seeing it is... very painful.

Tsukasa Recognizing the value of what he perceives.

I've been waiting for you, for such a long time. I need you, just as you need me. Let us walk together. As long as we walk together, I shall protect you.

Morganna Mode Gone Expressing a bond with the player character.

So lame!

Sora A dismissive reaction.

Hey, you look strong. Are you busy?

A-20 Initial approach to recruitment.

It is not easy, to act in the name of justice.

Silver Knight On the difficulty of upholding justice.

First I'll get the treasure... then I'll get you... and then I'll get them all.

Sora Stating his ambitions for conquest.

Because I want to try.... Isn't that reason enough?

A-20 Answering why he wants to do something.

I want to protect you.

Mimiru Expressing protective feelings.

It's okay. I'm used to pain.

Tsukasa His relationship with suffering.

I have a feeling you won't find the answer by just chasing after a character on the net.

Bear Advising against superficial pursuits.

I'm no longer afraid of you or my father!

Tsukasa Overcoming his fears.

We eliminate all characters who break the rules. There are no excuses.

Silver Knight On enforcing system rules.

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