.hack//Sign

A young wavemaster, only known by the alias of Tsukasa, wakes up in an MMORPG called The World, with slight amnesia. He does not know what he has previously done before he woke up. In The World, the Crimson Knights suspects him of being a hacker, as he was seen accompanying a tweaked character in the form of a cat. Unable to log out from the game, he wanders around looking for answers, avoiding the knights and other players he meets along the way.

As Tsukasa explores The World, he stumbles upon a magical item that takes the form of a "guardian," which promises him protection from all harm. Subaru, the leader of the Crimson Knights, along with several other players who became acquainted with Tsukasa, set out to investigate why Tsukasa is unable to log out, and attempt to get to the bottom of the problem before it gets out of hand.

[Written by MAL Rewrite]

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Related Anime

Sequel:	.hack//Tasogare no Udewa Densetsu, .hack//Roots, .hack//Intermezzo, .hack//Unison
Alternative setting:	.hack//Liminality
Side story:	.hack//Gift
Other:	.hack//Quantum, .hack//The Movie: Sekai no Mukou ni

More characters

Characters & Voice Actors

Tsukasa

Main

Saiga, Mitsuki
Japanese

Subaru

Main

Nazuka, Kaori
Japanese

Mimiru

Main

Toyoguchi, Megumi
Japanese

Bear

Main

Nakata, Kazuhiro
Japanese

Balmung

Supporting

Hiyama, Nobuyuki
Japanese

Sora

Supporting

Yanaka, Hiroshi
Japanese

Crim

Supporting

Miki, Shinichiro
Japanese

Aura

Supporting

Sakamoto, Maaya
Japanese

Macha

Supporting

Helba

Supporting

Touma, Yumi
Japanese

More staff

Staff

Kajiura, Yuki

Producer, Theme Song Arrangement, Theme Song Composition, Theme Song Lyrics, Recording Engineer, Music

Sasaki, Shirou

Producer

Nozaki, Keiichi

Producer

Uchiyama, Daisuke

Producer

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Opening Theme

"Obsession" by See-Saw

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Ending Theme

"Yasashii Yoake (優しい夜明け)" by See-Saw

Reviews

Jun 4, 2023

IvanLaptev

Recommended

Have you played online games where the social component is important? And did you have the feeling that you will live your life in this game, find your love, ignoring the conventions of the game? If yes, then .hack//Sign will seem very close and familiar to you.

This is the story of people who want to believe that the game is more than just a game. And literally, story lives on this faith. The characters here are not just invented images. First of all, these are people who control their avatars. At any moment they can leave the game, and for them it will cease ... to matter. And their actions should be regarded from the position that they are trying to abstract from reality, but not get out of it. They don't feel the pain, or the warmth of their close player - but they want to believe it.

However, the composition of this anime is more complex than I described above. After all, there is the main character of this anime - Tsukasa.

Tsukasa doesn't know how he got into this world of the game. The mystery of its origin will hold until the very end. Unlike the players, he feels pain and warmth. However, this feature makes him the loneliest person in this world of illusions. The closest thing that can be cited as an example is LIMBO. And throughout history, he will face a choice - to close himself off from everyone remaining in the twilight world, or to try to return to reality?

Perhaps the period of indeterminacy in the characters is the most boring, but at the same time the most interesting moment of the narrative. After all, as they move forward, their worldview will change.

It is because of the process of character development in such an unusual composition that I think this anime is a damn masterpiece. Perhaps not one anime of this genre has not revealed this so plausibly, at the same time presenting itself as a techno-fantasy fairy tale. And if the director was faced with the task of revealing the social element of online games, then he coped with his task COMPLETELY.

This is one of the most underrated anime I've ever watched. But there is a reason for this - it is very boring. Seriously, in some episodes nothing happens except the characters' dialogues (sometimes with themselves), but at the same time it is... Quite naturally. After all, this story is not meant to entertain you. This story happens naturally. For example, "mushishi" a boring narrative did not prevent you from getting audience love, which suggests that sometimes you can get pleasure from watching only when you overpower yourself. Try to think about what this anime is trying to convey to you.
And then, perhaps, you will come out on your own special wave, "connection" with this story. Yes, even in anime there is catharsis!

But in the end I want to say that you should not be afraid of this catharsis. Entering this twilight, you will probably get the most unusual experience that you have ever received.

Open

Gift

Dec 5, 2023

CaptainKenshiro

Mixed Feelings

Ever since the trapped in videogame type of isekai sub-genre became a fad, you could read some people saying that this one show, the first of them all by a long margin, is actually the best, and since those comments come from people who hate that genre, I always wanted to check it out. I was initially planning to review the franchise as a whole once I finished it, but who knows if that will even happen.

Obviously, this anime is quite outdated when it comes to visuals, for a 2002 anime the artwork is solid and the backgrounds are great, while everything else is just ...

Open

Gift

Oct 12, 2022

delesley

Not Recommended

The soundtrack for .hack//sign is one of Yuki Kajiura's early works, and it is absolutely amazing. When it came out, it was unlike almost anything else. (Noir is another early work by YK, and also very good). You should absolutely buy the soundtrack. Don't bother watching the anime.

The music is especially noticeable, because there is almost nothing else that will grab your attention on screen. The background art is decent, but most of the animation simply reuses the same sets over, and over, and over again. The first few episodes make you think that the anime is going to ...

Open

Gift

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Poll: .hack//SIGN Episode 10 Discussion CyanideKoolaid - Jan 25, 2009	15 replies	by StateofOhayo »» Nov 25, 5:52 PM
Poll: .hack//SIGN Episode 5 Discussion CyanideKoolaid - Jan 23, 2009	26 replies	by StateofOhayo »» Nov 25, 7:13 AM
Poll: .hack//SIGN Episode 4 Discussion CyanideKoolaid - Jan 23, 2009	38 replies	by StateofOhayo »» Nov 25, 6:34 AM
Since the lyrics in .hack//SIGN are so powerful, I am putting them together in this thread JustOscar - Jun 30	2 replies	by Karinara »» Jul 12, 11:41 AM
Poll: .hack//SIGN Episode 3 Discussion jacobpaige - Mar 29, 2008	33 replies	by Queeneugi »» May 17, 8:56 AM

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.hack//Sign

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