First published as a light novel series in 2002, Sword Art Online captured the imagination of thousands of fans all over the world with its vibrant world, relatable characters, and engaging plotline. Its anime adaptation, first aired in 2012, only made it more well-known. From the original light novel volumes, the world of Sword Art Online has since expanded to include the aforementioned anime series, a spin-off, 3 full-length movies, and a whopping 19 video games. Its main characters, Kirito and Asuna, have also become popular subjects for cosplay.
Attending a con and looking to pay tribute to this amazing series? Here are a few pointers on how to cosplay as Kirito:
Who is Kirito?
Kirito is the main protagonist of Sword Art Online, appearing in all SAO media except for the spin-off, Sword Art Online Alternative Gun Gale Online. Kirito is the character’s chosen gamertag; his real name is Kazuto Kirigaya. He is 14 years old at the beginning of the series, and was chosen to be one of 1000 beta testers for the closed beta release of Sword Art Online, a VRMMORPG (Virtual Reality Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game) set in the fictional world of Aincrad.
On launch day, he found himself trapped in the game with 10,000 other players, with no hope for escape save for beating Sword Art Online’s final boss. Over the course of playing the game, he became known as the «Black Swordsman» (黒の剣士, Kuro no Kenshi) due to his preference for black clothing.
He wields two swords, one dark, one light: Kirito’s sword Elucidator is his primary weapon, a dark blade dropped by a boss. His other blade is a one-handed long sword called Dark Repulser, which was created after completing a quest with one of his allies in the game. Both are wielded when Kirito uses his Dual Blades unique skill, which was reserved for the player with the fastest reaction time in the game.
Pointers for dressing up as Kirito
Get the outfit right
Black is Kirito’s representative color. He wears black in almost all of his outfits, whether it’s the swordsman outfit he wore while adventuring in Aincrad or in his regular life after finally escaping the game. He’s called the Black Swordsman for a reason, so lean into it!
The black swordsman outfit is composed of a black v-neck tee, slim-fitting black trousers with a black belt and a dark gray buckle, and black boots with large dark gray buckles. Over this ensemble, he wears an elaborate long black coat that goes all the way down to his ankles that is accented with thick straps. His swordsman outfit also includes the holster that he uses to carry his swords, which crosses over his chest.
Add authenticity with accessories
Kirito’s outfit isn’t complete without the accessories he wears. The character does not wear jewelry, but he does don a pair of black fingerless gloves. You may want to cut these gloves a bit further so that they rest against the knuckles.
You can buy size-accurate replicas of Kirito’s sword Elucidator on Ice Imports if you’re not into making your own. You can also choose to carry a replica of Dark Repulser or not, depending on how much weight you’d like to take on at the con.
Don’t forget the hair!
Unlike other anime and manga characters, Kirito’s hair is relatively easy to do. He sports a floppy hair style, letting his long bangs fall naturally down past his brows and ears. If you already have black hair, all you need to do is style it in place with some gel.
If not, you may want to purchase a black wig and cut and style it to your purposes. Happy cosplaying!
