History Anime / PhantasyStarOnline2TheAnimation

** The School name ("Seiga" Academy) is a allusion to SEGA name, the mascot of school seems to be ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog'' as noticied in many parts of school.

** The anime have many referencies for SEGA games like ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog'' or ''VideoGame/HouseOfTheDead'' for exemple

** The fountain at the center of Seiga Academy is in the shape of VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog's head, which is also the logo of Sonic Team, the developers behind many ''Phantasy Star'' titles.

* LawyerFriendlyCameo: UsefulNotes/PSVita-like consoles are often seen in the hands of ''[=PSO2=]'' players, albeit with distinct design changes, and using stock footage of the game itself, to avoid invoking a ConsoleCameo.

* TheThingThatGoesDoink: Kouta is shown having a miniature one in his dorm room in Episode 2. It makes its signature "doink" during a moment of awkward silence.

* AuthorityEqualsAsskicking: The Council of Six, who are the highest-ranking members of the ARKS and among the most powerful.
** [[spoiler: Quna acts as Aika's direct superior, a [[LateArrivalSpoiler Late]] ''[[LateArrivalSpoiler EPISODE 1]]'' [[LateArrivalSpoiler Spoiler]] that she is the highest-ranking member OF The Council Of Six.]]

* OffModel: [[spoiler:Dark Falz Apprentice]] is rather disproportionately drawn in the opening compared to her in-game counterpart.

* UncannyValley: In-universe, [[spoiler:this is what the ARKS perceive the video game players as, although they do not know that the "mysterious ARKS" are video game players from another dimension.]]

The anime ran on Japanese television between January 7th, 2016 and March 31st, 2016 as part of the Winter2016Anime season. An official English subtitled broadcast was launched by Crunchyroll on January 9th, 2016 and ran through April 1st, 2016. It was licensed for an English release by Creator/SentaiFilmworks ([[NoExportForYou much to the dismay of those still waiting for the game,]] [[SavedFromDevelopmentHell at least for three more years]]).

* MixAndMatchWeapon: Itsuki's WeaponOfChoice is Gunslashes, combination swords and handguns. [[spoiler:Later literally becomes this when he gains Radiant, a Gunslash that can also perform as a Sword.]]

* HotSpringsEpisode: Episode 6 involves the Seiga student council taking an annual field trip to an ''onsen'' to take a load off. It's a break for everyone except Itsuki, anyway, because his increasing play time in ''[=PSO2=]'' has started dropping his grades. So he is forced to catch up while everyone else has fun, which also means he can't play ''[=PSO2=]'' until his grades improve.

* HotSpringsEpisode: Episode 6 involves the Seiga student council taking an annual field trip to an ''onsen'' to take a load off. It's a break for everyone except Itsuki, anyway, because his increasing play time in ''[=PSO2=]'' has started dropping his grades, so he is forced to catch up while everyone else has fun.

* YouGottaHaveBlueHair: Just like AnimeHair, practically averted for pretty much everyone in the real world. The closest anyone gets to it is a nameless classmate of Itsuki's with magenta-reddish hair, and even that isn't too unnatural. Played completely straight in the ''[=PSO2=]'' scenes, which is completely par for the course as [[TruthInTelevision it's everywhere in the actual game.]] Except for Itsuki, whose character [[ContrivedCoincidence coincidentally]] looks identical to him after using the randomizer.

* MulticoloredHair: [[spoiler:Aika's braids]] become dark violet after [[spoiler:she uses Florenberk to absorb the remnants of Dark Falz Apprentice.]]

* ACupAngst: The Episode 5 outro card shows Tiea as having this toward her bustier twin, Patty.

* ThemeTuneCameo: In Episode 9, [[spoiler:when Itsuki [[LetsGetDangerous gets dangerous]], he's accompanied by the opening riffs of the ''Mining Base Defense'' theme from the game.]]

* BeamOWar: In a sequence ''very'' evocative of ''Mining Base Defense: Demise'', [[spoiler:Apprentice and a giant laser cannon manned by ARKS clash beams during Apprentice's assault on the Mining Bases. However, unlike ''Demise'', Apprentice interrupts the opposing laser by blasting it with FrickinLaserBeams. [[NiceJobFixingItVillain This cripples her.]]]]

* FrickinLaserBeams: [[spoiler:As is Falz tradition, Apprentice Gia enjoys them. Unlike her ''Demise'' incarnation, which only gets a WaveMotionGun, her true form gains the ability to blast laser storms MacrossMissileMassacre style at her foes.]]

** Some of the Photon Arts, compared to the game. In the game, Aiming Shot is a stock PA for Gunslashes that just fires a big energy bullet. In the anime, it essentially becomes a ''[[FrickinLaserBeams gigantic laser blast]]'' with enough recoil to knock Itsuki off his feet. Also, Over End is a useful and powerful Sword PA, but in the anime, it's powerful enough to cleave a Vol Dragon in two.

** [[spoiler: Quna acts as Aika's direct superior, a [[LateArrivalSpoiler Late Game Spoiler]] that she is the highest-ranking member OF The Council Of Six.]]

* CharacterClassSystem: ''[=PSO2=]'' has one, consisting of nine classes: [[FighterMageThief Hunter, Ranger, Force]], [[CloseRangeCombatant Fighter]], [[GunsAkimbo Gunner]], [[MagicKnight Techer]], [[BowAndSwordInAccord Braver]], [[MagicKnight Bouncer]], and [[SummonMagic Summoner]]. Each player is able to switch classes freely at the Class Counter, which SORO does to level alongside Itsuki.

** The default HUmar skin shown before Itsuki chooses his actual skin is Ash, the default appearance from the [[VideoGame/PhantasyStarOnline first game]].

** Quna performs a concert as Itsuki and company rush to the final battle. [[spoiler:In the actual game, a Dark Falz boss always appears about ten minutes or so after Quna's concert ends.]]

* POVSequel: [[spoiler:The anime focuses on the ''Phantasy Star Online 2'' story from the Earthlings' point of view, during a TimeSkip where TheProtagonist, the PlayerCharacter, is recovering from his/her battle with the Profound Darkness.]]

** Three people are shown in the intro with a different uniform to Seiga Academy. [[spoiler: They're attendees of Tensei Academy, where you arrive in EPISODE 4.]]

* DistantFinale: [[spoiler:The final scenes of the show take place several months ahead of Apprentice's defeat, at the end of the school year. This also places the ending in parallel with ''EPISODE 4''.]]

* SequelHook: The final scene is [[spoiler:an ARKS Ship materializing just outside the Moon, a reference to ''EPISODE 4'' Chapter 2 when Sierra transports an ARKS Ship to the outer reaches of Earth to support Hitsugi, and it could very well be the same ship...]]

* TimeSkip: The final scenes of the show take place [[spoiler:in 2028, just after Rina's graduation and during the events of ''Phantasy Star Online 2: EPISODE 4'', with the implication that the ship that dropped off Aika is the same ship the PlayerCharacter uses.]]

The anime ran on Japanese television between January 7th, 2016 and March 31st, 2016 as part of the Winter2016Anime season. An official English subtitled broadcast was launched by Crunchyroll on January 9th, 2016 and ran through April 1st, 2016. It was licensed for an English release by Creator/SentaiFilmworks ([[NoExportForYou much to the dismay of those still waiting for the game]]).

** The School name ("Seiga" Academy) is a allusion to SEGA name, the mascot of school seems to be ''Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog'' as noticied in many parts of school.

** The anime have many referencies for SEGA games like ''Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog'' or ''VideoGame/HouseOfTheDead'' for exemple

** The fountain at the center of Seiga Academy is in the shape of Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog's head, which is also the logo of Sonic Team, the developers behind many ''Phantasy Star'' titles.

* LethalLavaLand: Volcanoes, a rocky, [[CaptainObvious volcanic]] region of Amduscia populated by the Hi clan of Dragonkin. Many players can expect ConvectionSmonvection and hostile, weapon-wielding Dragonkin.

* LighterAndSofter: Probably the lightest and softest work to bear the ''Phantasy Star'' name. [[spoiler:This lasts until its mid-season CerberusSyndrome hits and the plot begins to thicken.]]