A while back, I got to know about the Sword Art Online anime series, and ended up finishing Season 1. Then Season 2. Then the movie. Then Season 3, and even managed to catch up to the latest season airing on TV now. Even as I was watching Season 1, the protagonist, Kirito, struck me with his similarity to Yang Guo, the protagonist of the wuxia novel The Return of the Condor Heroes 神雕侠侣 by Jin Yong (Louis Cha).
Note: Some spoilers follow.
Like Yang Guo, Kirito's sword is black and made from a special material. When he fights together with his girlfriend Asuna, they complement each other in their attacks and defences. Just like Yang Guo and Xiaolongnü.
And Kirito had to lose his right arm, like Yang Guo, in Season 3. And become "depressed" (it is more complicated than that, but that is the gist) just like Yang Guo after Xiaolongnü disappeared (jumped off the cliff) and he was so down he came up with the An Ran Xiao Hun Zhang 黯然销魂掌.
Also, all the girls seem to keep falling for Kirito, just like the many girls in The Return of the Condor Heroes falling for Yang Guo. But just like Yang Guo, who only has space in his heart for Xiaolongnü, Kirito only has space for Asuna.
So yes, there are many similarities. Is Kirito based on Yang Guo? Who knows? But the important thing is, these are probably common elements of the hero's journey. Having to embark on a journey, a quest to look for something, finding love, facing trials, and finally overcoming all those difficulties to return home.
And maybe that is why the story of Kirito captivates me. It is the same storyline, in a different setting. A story of adventure, of love, of challenges.
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