Line #8 EnsembleDarkhorse/SwordArtOnline


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8	Due to the number of characters present in ''Literature/SwordArtOnline'', it's unsurprising that several minor and unimportant characters became fan favorites.
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10	[[foldercontrol]]
11	[[folder:Debuting in Aincrad]]
12	* Argo is easily considered one of the most interesting characters and one of the biggest examples of [[TheyWastedAPerfectlyGoodCharacter wasted potential]] in the series. Her presence in the light novel gives her a very colorful personality of [[DeadpanSnarker sarcasm]] and [[OnlyInItForTheMoney greed]] as a KnowledgeBroker. She's also loved for endlessly [[TheGadfly trolling]] Kirito and Asuna. The anime had her DemotedToExtra and only appearing in a brief scene for one episode. Notably, the ''Progressive'' rewrites for the Aincrad Arc went out of their way to make Argo a recurring side character and AscendedExtra, and the whole [[AlternateTimeline game continuity]] turned her into a GuestStarPartyMember and potential love interest for Kirito before being PromotedToPlayable as the games went along. This finally reached its apex with [[spoiler: [[TheBusCameBack her surprise reappearance at the very end of volume 21 of the light novels]], with the implication of reintegrating into the main cast.]]
13	* Lisbeth and Silica. While they don't really qualify these days anymore given their status as {{Breakout Character}}s who were made into {{Ascended Extra}}s. These two girls were insanely popular back in the days of Season 1, despite only having a single episode each focusing on them. They ended up becoming two of the most heavily marketed characters of SAO, dominating merchandise and with prominent focus in video games. They eventually even gained their own spin-off in the form of "Girls Ops" where they, along with Leafa, serve as co-leads of the series with Kirito completely out of the picture.
14	* Klein and Agil are HUGE examples. As two of the most likable characters in the series, a large amount of fans wanted THEM to have their own spin-off and even Kawahara agreed with it. Klein takes the cake for acting like such a bro to Kirito, showing genuine emotion, and being a damn good fighter and guild leader whose entire guild survived from inception to finish. While Agil is the responsible TokenAdult among the kids who acts as the voice of reason and even runs a GoodGuyBar, with just a bit of VitriolicBestBuds with Kirito thrown in.
15	* Sachi, Kirito's first love who [[TheLostLenore tragically lost her life]]. Her single episode is often hailed as the best in the Aincrad arc and virtually everyone was saddened to see her go. It's not uncommon for people to wish Kirito ended up with her instead of Asuna, with some feeling his love for Sachi was more believable. Unlike Yuuki, fans were further disappointed that Sachi was not SparedByTheAdaptation in the video games.
16	* Kizmel from ''Progressive'', an NPC Dark Elf who displays a very advanced AI and befriends both Kirito and Asuna. Regarded as one of the most interesting characters from Aincrad with many wishing she had appeared in the anime, and the game continuity even allowed her to become a playable character in ''Hollow Realization'' after completing her side quest.
17	* [[ThoseTwoGuys The two players from the pilot]] who are revealed to be a {{GIRL}} and an overweight male, with the {{GIRL}} wearing the female armor in ''all'' his subsequent appearances. For a pair of unnamed characters with a few scattered cameos, they get a huge amount of attention in the fandom. Their possible RelationshipUpgrade was pretty well received, as is their reunion in real life where they embrace upon physically meeting for the first time. ''Integral Factor'' finally [[NamedByTheAdaptation provides their names]] with the {{GIRL}} named Miyurin and the fat guy named Ulrik.
18	* Godfrey, [[spoiler: who is killed off after 4 minutes of screentime]] is this. His bro-ness personality and appearance reminds viewers of another EnsembleDarkhorse: [[Literature/FateZero Rider]].
19	* The Gleam Eyes is fondly remembered as one of, if not the most, iconic bosses of ''Sword Art Online''. It was one of the most brutal boss fights shown, and forced Kirito to [[IAmNotLeftHanded unleash his]] DualWielding unique skill to put an end to its threat, resulting in a truly spectacular visual display.
20	* A small niche of fans (and some non-fans, {{ChubbyChaser}}s, and [[UsefulNotes/FurryFandom furries/scalies]]) tend to like Illfang the Kobold Lord due to his [[BigHandsomeMan design]].
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24	[[folder:Debuting in Alfheim Online]]
25	* Alicia Rue the Cait Sith Lord. A very [[PluckyGirl perky]] girl who cheekily flirts with Kirito. Quite memorable as a character despite her limited scenes.
26	* General Eugene, the Commander of the Salamanders. His duel with Kirito is regarded as one of the most memorable moments of the divisive ''Fairy Dance'' arc and he is notably one of the few cheats characters who is neither a main cast nor a villain to become a WorthyOpponent to Kirito. Made even better is the fact that he has a DefeatMeansFriendship moment with Kirito meaning he can return without trouble.
27	* Kuro/Lux from the ''Girls Ops'' spin-off manga, who is a DistaffCounterpart and IdenticalStranger to Kirito. However she's much more warmly received than Kirito for her more complex personality and sympathetic backstory.
28	* Tonkii the [[MixAndMatchCritters elephant-jellyfish hybrid]] from the Calibur arc that Leafa befriends is quite loved among the fandom.
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32	[[folder:Debuting in Gun Gale Online]]
33	* While not really a true character, Kirito's [[AttractiveBentGender feminine looking]] GGO avatar or "[[FanNickname Kiriko]]", is extremely popular in the fanbase. Expect any AU with a [[GenderFlip genderflipped Kirito]] to use said appearance and even name. The amount of fanart for him/her rivals that of the standard Kirito, with some fans even jokingly claim Kiriko to be their favorite SAO girl. Kiriko ended up becoming AscendedFanon of sorts with him/her being a separate avatar for Kirito in ''Fatal Bullet'' and a playable character in the [=PvP=] mode.
34	* [[HospitalHottie Natsuki Aki]], Kirito's personal nurse in charge of his rehabilitation. She was first seen in the ''Phantom Bullet'' arc where she already garnered a lot of fans. Her return in ''Alicization'' was met with joy.
35	* The one particularly psychotic Laughing Coffin member, seen during the Knights of the Blood Oath's raid on Laughing Coffin HQ. He manages to kill three members despite being surrounded and his HP already reduced to red. He was an especially memorable character for how brutal and batshit crazy he was, giggling madly as he stabbed others to death, with lots of viewers commenting on him and singling him out.
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39	[[folder:Debuting in Ordinal Scale]]
40	* Yuna only appears for this film, but is insanely popular among fans. In fact, it's hard to find someone who ''doesn't'' like her, due to the fact she's an AI idol who has given some of the most [[AwesomeMusic/SwordArtOnline beautiful songs]] seen in the series. [[spoiler: It was saddening for many fans to see her go.]] [[spoiler:However PopularityPower and her unique status as a CanonImmigrant has effectively allowed her to return as of the Alicization anime.]]
41	* [[TragicVillain Eiji]] has quite a large fanbase. He's easily one of the most sympathetic villains in the entire franchise, with him being DrivenToVillainy out of grief. He's also depicted as a [[EvilCounterpart dark mirror]] to Kirito, with the two boys having similar histories in SAO, only with Eiji having a less happier outcome. There's also those who like him just for being a pretty boy. [[spoiler:It seems his popularity has been acknowledged and he's made a full HeelFaceTurn as of the Alicization anime and joined the good guys.]]
42	* Ain-chan. The drone that Yuna rides on while singing and serves as her mascot. It remained unnamed for an extensive period of time, where fans constantly requested for its name, before finally [[WordOfGod Miki, Itou, and Kawahara]] decided to name it in a Behind the Scenes interview for ''Ordinal Scale''.
43	* The unnamed Ordinal Scale player (who's apparently called "Tosaneko" according to [[https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/movies/Sword-Art-Online-The-Movie-Ordinal-Scale/Tosaneko/ this]]) with a [[CatFolk humanoid tiger avatar]] has a lot of attention due to how much he stands out, curiosity over how he acquired said avatar, and his fighting style of using a rocket launcher.
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47	[[folder:Debuting in Alicization]]
48	* Young Alice Zuberg. While Alice Synthesis Thirty doesn't really count given she's permanently joined the main cast, the less featured Alice Zuberg, the {{Childhood Friend\|s}} of Kirito and Eugeo, is still insanely popular. Taken away from her home at the age of 11, she was kind hearted and bubbly, with Eugeo viewing her abduction as MyGreatestFailure. [[spoiler:She was never allowed to grow up given she was forcefully extracted by the Synthesis process and replaced with Alice Synthesis Thirty.]]
49	* Selka Zuberg who is Alice's little sister gained a lot of popularity for her cute design and a NiceGirl who looks after Kirito. [[TheBusCameBack Her return]] after a TimeSkip only sought to make her even more popular due to her UndyingLoyalty to Alice and deeming her one of the best little sisters in anime. Her popularity within the fandom is strong enough, that she was announced to have her own arc in the game with her as TheHero, while Alice takes the back seat for her instead.
50	* Johnny Black. Despite being a member of the BigBadEnsemble in both ''Aincrad'' and ''Phantom Bullet'', is ultimately a very minor character who is barely seen. He returns as a OneSceneWonder at the start of ''Alicization'', but he sells his one appearance for every cent it's worth, [[EvilIsHammy hamming it up big time]] and channeling his inner psycho, as well as [[SmallRoleBigImpact making the entire arc possible to begin with]] by poisoning and paralyzing Kirito.
51	* Sortiliena "Liena" Serlut, Kirito's senpai in Swordcraft Academy during ''Alicization'', beloved for her pretty design, being a badass ActionGirl, and how kind of a mentor she is to Kirito.
52	* Ronye and Tiese, the valets of Eugeo and Kirito respectively. These two girls garnered a tremendous following the instant they were introduced, with fans falling in love with how {{moe}} and cute they were. The amount of fanart existing of these two is staggering, to the point where someone unfamiliar with the series would mistake them for MainCharacters. SAO merchandise is all too aware of this and has been marketing these two just as heavily as any of the other main SAO girls. ''Moon Cradle'' would turn them into {{Breakout Character}}s, with Ronye being the overall protagonist of the interquel.
53	* Cardinal. A LittleMissBadass who is WiseBeyondHerYears and the BigGood of ''Alicization'', who is overall deeply loved by the fandom. Her appearances are limited, but she has [[SmallRoleBigImpact huge bearings on the story]].
54	* Fizel and Linel. The two mischievous TokenMiniMoe Integrity Knights who are the embodiment of CuteAndPsycho.
55	* The Central Cathedral elevator operator (later named Airy) who is briefly seen in Episode 16. Fans' hearts went out to her given she has one of the saddest and most pitiful existences in the Underworld. For 107 years, she's done nothing besides operate the elevator, eat and sleep. She's even forgotten her name and the only thing she wants to do if she's released from her Calling is fly the elevator through the sky. She later gets an expanded role in ''Moon Cradle'' where she adapts to a life outside operating the elevator.
56	* Bercouli Synthesis One is very fondly remembered for being a very kind and honorable Integrity Knight, even to his foes and acts as AFatherToHisMen. He's also popular to meme due to the whole bathtub scene and wearing a bathrobe all the time, making him a "man of culture". ''War of the Underworld'' only sought to make him even more popular with how much of an absolute badass he is, showing why he is Commander of the Integrity Knights.
57	* Renly Synthesis Twenty-Seven the cowardly Integrity Knight is very popular, especially among light novel readers. He almost has the reversed scenario of Eugeo, being the meek and gentle boy between the two best friends, but instead being the one who lived.
58	* Iskahn, leader of the Pugilist Guild from the Dark Territory. A BareFistedMonk and BloodKnight who just wishes to fight stronger opponents while getting stronger himself. He also pulls a HeelFaceTurn and sides with the Human Realm, even falling in love and later marrying Sheyta.
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62	[[folder:Video Game Continuity]]
63	* Zero from ''Hollow Realization'', who was derived from an AI set up on the internet who would interact with fans and learn from responses they taught her. She has a ''lot'' of amusing dialogue such as "Official waifu status will one day be mine..." or "The four emotions I can currently experience are happiness, anger, sadness, and [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking curry]]."
64	* Lievere from the ''Fatal Bullet'' DLC story line. Most fans agreed she made for a far more [[spoiler:interesting villain than Itsuki with a more compelling story line than the one offered by the main campaign.]]
65	* Eydis Synthesis Ten from the ''Rising Steel/Unleash Blading'', has also garnered a big fanbase despite debuting in a free-to-play mobile game. Her [[GenkiGirl cute and cheerful nature]], [[PseudoRomanticFriendship her devotion to Alice]], and [[CastingAShadow her cool weapon]], instantly made her a fan-favorite. Being voiced by Creator/KanaHanazawa does not hurt in the slightest, either. She was popular enough that she even got ported to ''Memory Defrag'' another mobile game as a playable character. Many fans wish for Reki to make her a CanonImmigrant and be made into the canonical ninth Integrity Knight.

Context EnsembleDarkhorse / SwordArtOnline