Disclaimer: The following article is a non-profit fan-translation, all .hack title series, including .hack//Sekai no Mukou Ni is owned by CyberConnect 2 and Bandai Namco Entertainment.
Original date: January 16, 2012
Source: Famitsu
Translated by Jikanet
The latest episode in the series is finally here!
Starting January 21, 2012, the 3D animated theatrical film “.hack//Sekai no Mukou Ni” (hereafter referred to as Sekai no Mukou Ni) will begin its nationwide theatrical release. This work marks the first-ever 3D (stereoscopic) animated film in the .hack series.
Since it is a nationwide theatrical release, the film features an original story that can be enjoyed even by those unfamiliar with the .hack series. At the same time, it also portrays an important episode within the larger narrative flow that has been depicted throughout the .hack series. Furthermore, it has already been announced that a new game set in the world of 2025, following this film, is currently in production.
In this article, we will primarily explain to long-time game fans of the .hack series how Sekai no Mukou Ni fits within the .hack universe.
“.hack//Sekai no Mukou Ni” Opens the Second Act of the .hack 3rd Season!
The “.hack” series has expanded its story universe through a wide range of media, including games, anime, manga, and novels. The image above shows an overview of this structure, and Sekai no Mukou Ni serves as the latest episode in the 3rd Season of the franchise, which began with .hack//Link.
The “.hack” series is set in the network game “The World,” whose core System was built by the genius programmer Harold Hewick, based on the “Epitaph of Twilight” left behind by Emma Wielant. The story depicts both the in-game world and the real world. At the heart of this overarching narrative is the ultimate AI, “Aura.” It would not be an exaggeration to say that the history of “.hack” is the history of Aura.
Here, we will explore the history of “.hack,” with a focus on the events surrounding Aura.
■ 1st Season – Aura’s Birth and Awakening (2007–2015)
Aura was born at the hands of the genius programmer Harald Hoerwick, who developed the core System of “The World.” In the anime .hack//SIGN, Aura awakened as the “Shining Child” after witnessing the mental growth of the PC Tsukasa, who had linked with her. Later, in the four-part PS2 game series beginning with .hack//Infection, Aura was once cornered and dismantled, but ultimately awakened to the concept of “self-sacrifice” and achieved full awakening as the ultimate AI.
■ 2nd Season – Aura’s Disappearance (2016–2018)
Believing that “human problems should be solved by humans,” Aura dissolved herself into the digital sea and disappeared. However, a massive network crisis soon erupted. In the PS2 game .hack//G.U., Aura appeared before Haseo and his allies, who were confronting this threat, and entrusted them with the future of the world.
■ 3rd Season – Aura’s Destruction (2020–)
Captured by the elite hacker group “Schicksal,” Aura was transformed into the “Queen of Demise” by a brainwashing virus. In the PSP game .hack//Link, she was released from the brainwashing when she was destroyed by Tokio, but she lost most of her power.
■ Movie – Sekai no Mukou Ni – Aura’s revival (2024)
■ Game ??????????? (2025)
What is the latest game following the movie!?
Now, let’s revisit the images from the latest .hack game and the interview with CyberConnect2’s Hiroshi Matsuyama that were originally published in the January 5/12/19, 2012, combined issue of Weekly Famitsu. By reading this, you’ll understand why Sekai no Mukou Ni is truly a must-see movie for .hack fans and gamers alike.
Are the newly released screenshots just concept images?
Matsuyama: No, they’re not. These are running on the actual hardware. I can’t say which hardware, but they’re real-time images running on a development machine.
Wow! These screenshots differ from those of the previous titles in the series.
Matsuyama: Titles like .hack//G.U. and .hack//Link had a more anime-like visual style, but this time we’ve shifted towards a slightly more photo-realistic direction to increase the sense of realism. The characters who will appear from here on are also being designed with a slightly higher level of realism.
The character shown in these screenshots is Haseo (the protagonist of .hack//G.U.)
Matsuyama: Yes, that’s Haseo.
…Wait, that Haseo?
Matsuyama: I can’t tell you that yet (laughs).
If this is running on real hardware, that means Haseo isn’t just being used as a placeholder image, right?
Matsuyama: That’s correct. Well… let’s just leave it at that for now (laughs).
Alright then, let’s change the subject (laughs). When did the development and planning of this game begin?
Matsuyama: The planning itself started at the same time as Sekai no Mukou Ni. We even wrote the script together, so yes, we’ve been working on this for quite a long time.
Is the game set after the events of Sekai no Mukou Ni?
Matsuyama: Sekai no Mukou Ni takes place mainly at the end of 2024, but the game is set in the following year, 2025.
I see. So, just like Sekai no Mukou Ni, will the game also take place in “THE WORLD FORCE: ERA”?
Matsuyama: No, while “FORCE: ERA” is still active, the game’s setting will be a different version of “The World.”
So, does that mean there are two versions of “The World” coexisting?
Matsuyama: Well… let’s leave it at that for now (laughs). We’ll be making an official announcement eventually, so please wait just a little longer. The main reason we decided to release this scoop information now is that many people have misunderstood Sekai no Mukou Ni.
What do you mean by misunderstood?
Matsuyama: Since Sekai no Mukou Ni is a theatrical film, we’ve been emphasising that “it’s a movie anyone can enjoy” so that as many people as possible will watch it. Because of that, it seems that some .hack series fans have assumed, “This movie has nothing to do with us.”
So, in other words, that assumption is wrong?
Matsuyama: We did make it so that anyone can enjoy the movie, but Sekai no Mukou Ni is a film made for .hack fans. It tells an important story in the 3rd Season of .hack//, and if you don’t watch it, you won’t be able to fully enjoy the upcoming game. This is a movie we especially want the fans to see.
Then as a .hack fan, what key points should we pay attention to in the film?
Matsuyama: First of all, Sekai no Mukou Ni features the appearance of Aura. What has been depicted in .hack is essentially the history of “The World,” which is synonymous with the history of Aura (see reference box below). After the incidents that occur in Sekai no Mukou Ni, something further happens to Aura… and that is what the newly announced game will be about.
I see. So the basic thing is to focus on the scenes involving Aura, right?
Matsuyama: To go even further, this movie is the gateway to the final chapter of .hack//’s 3rd Season, and it’s the story where Aura ??? …
In a previous interview, you said it was “the story of Aura’s revival,” right?
Matsuyama: That was just the public-facing explanation (laughs). In reality, it’s not that simple—something outrageous happens. You might not fully grasp it just by watching the movie, but once you learn what’s coming next—the part that connects to the scoop screenshots we released this time—you’ll be like, “Seriously!? That’s what this movie was really about!?” As for what happens to Aura herself… let’s just say you’re going to feel like “I’ve been hit hard!” (laughs).
What I can say is that if you don’t watch the movie, you won’t understand “How and why did Aura end up like this?” That’s why I want everyone to properly pay attention to what happens to Aura in Sekai no Mukou Ni.
Finally, could you give a message to the readers?
Matsuyama: We plan to officially announce more details about the game soon, so you won’t have to wait too long. And we’re planning for you to be able to enjoy it not too long after the movie. After all, the film and the game are part of a single project that we started planning simultaneously, so we want you to enjoy them together.
For now, please fully enjoy Sekai no Mukou Ni!
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