.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]

Tsukasa Main

Saiga, Mitsuki Japanese

Subaru Main

Nazuka, Kaori Japanese

Mimiru Main

Toyoguchi, Megumi Japanese

Bear Main

Nakata, Kazuhiro Japanese

BT Main

Hiramatsu, Akiko Japanese

Kite Supporting

Aida, Sayaka Japanese

Balmung Supporting

Hiyama, Nobuyuki Japanese

Sora Supporting

Yanaka, Hiroshi Japanese

Crim Supporting

Miki, Shinichiro Japanese

Blackrose Supporting

Asano, Masumi Japanese

Sasaki, Shirou Producer

Nozaki, Keiichi Producer

Uchiyama, Daisuke Producer

Morimoto, Kouji Producer

Reviews

Oct 18, 2024

NitaKodiak

Recommended

.hack//Sign is a solid 7/10 for fans of slower, thought-provoking anime. Set in an MMORPG, it follows Tsukasa, who’s stuck in the game with no way out. The show nails its mysterious vibe with a beautiful soundtrack by Yuki Kajiura and cool world design, though the animation feels a bit dated now.

Where the show shines is in its deep dive into themes like identity and loneliness. It’s more about character drama and conversations than flashy action, so if you’re into fast-paced shows, it might feel slow. But if you like exploring complex characters and psychological themes, this one's worth a watch.

Reviewer’s Rating: 7

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Feb 25, 2025

NfeKteD

Mixed Feelings

.hack is one of those animes where everything is separated into different locations, animes, games, mangas, novels, etc. However, the anime is not an adaptation of these other contents, but rather a complement, which makes people who know the universe more immersive in the story.

A highlight not only of this, but of the entire franchise, is its soundtrack, easily becoming an album to listen to while working or doing other tasks.

The anime is focused entirely on the narrative, with combats being "complementary". I would recommend watching it if, for some reason, you are interested in the franchise, that is, watching the other animes, playing the ... games, etc., otherwise it may be boring to watch.

Reviewer’s Rating: 7

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Dec 21, 2023

TheWiseChampion

Not Recommended

I don't often write reviews as I like to just enjoy and appreciate what I'm watching, but this anime was a complete waste of time. Not to sound immature but with the fantasy RPG setting, the massive franchise it spawned, and the flashy upbeat opening, I thought this was gonna be some grand, action-packed epic adventure. It was not. It's 26 episodes of everyone just moping and talking. Not that talking's bad, but where did any of these conversations go? Absolutely nowhere. I don't care about any of these characters. They're so dull and flat. The main character whose name I never remember even while ... watching is just Shinji Ikari except instead of not wanting to be in the robot he doesn't seem to really want to play the game. But who's forcing him? This was just an absolute chore to watch. I'm normally pretty good with 26 episode series because even if I only have time to watch 1 a day I can still knock it out quick. This took me months because the whole time I couldn't decide to drop or just finish it off. If you want a sci-fi series that moves at a slower pace but is actually good go watch Ergo Proxy.

Reviewer’s Rating: 3

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