The Fate series has plenty of entries for anime fans to enjoy, but starting the series can seem intimidating. This is the best way to experience Fate.
Why settle for stories with ancient heroes when mages can summon these warriors to fight on their behalf? Type-Moon’s Fate franchise combines noble warriors, historic figures, and mythological beings. Moreover, its premise requires them to duke it out in a battle royale that rewards one wish to the victor. Originally just the Fate/stay night visual novel, the Fate franchise evolved its story across more VNs, light novels, and even anime and film.
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Of course, having this much material to view can make any newcomer feel overwhelmed with the Fate franchise. Thankfully, following a specific order can help viewers feel more acquainted with Fate and the machinations of its Holy Grail War.
Updated on March 25, 2023, by Rhenn Taguiam: With the Fate series getting a new anime in the form of Fate/strange Fake -Whispers of Dawn- and upcoming games such as Fate/Samurai Remnant, fans might be inclined to get into the Fate franchise to see what’s up with this female King Arthur and why everyone’s so crazy about her. And before fans deep-dive into the intense story of the Fate/Grand Order mobile game, gamers might want to consider watching the entirety of the Fate franchise’s offerings to get a better sense of the world. Included among must-watches is the first draft of the Stay Night series, the mage-centric adventures in between the Fourth and Fifth Holy Grail War, and some of the more recent events that adapt some of F/GO’s more pivotal arcs.
Fate/Stay Night (Anime, 2006)
This anime adaptation stars Shirou Emiya, the sole survivor of an incident that engulfed an area in Fuyuki City in flames. A decade later, Shirou keeps himself busy by the day with schoolwork and some odd jobs. Meanwhile, he also secretly practices basic magic taught by his late adoptive father, Kiritsugu. Despite his ordinary nature, Shirou aspires to live by his adoptive father’s code: becoming a hero of justice. Unfortunately, a series of events would drag Shirou to the Holy Grail War.
Being a 2006 adaptation, fans should only treat Fate/stay night as a base introduction to the franchise. Moreover, given the anime tries to incorporate all three routes in the VN, it’s arguably kind of a mess. However, fans should strictly treat this 2006 anime as an interpretation of the “Fate Route,” focusing on Shirou’s relationship with Saber.
Why Watch It? Despite reviews, Fate/stay night remains a decent introduction to the Fate franchise as a whole. It makes a fair attempt to summarize all the routes in the VN, leaving viewers enticed to play the game themselves. This is a great way for viewers to see whether Saber is their best waifu, or if they prefer being closer to Rin Tohsaka or Sakura Matou.
Fate/Stay Night: Unlimited Blade Works (Anime, 2014)
At first glance, Unlimited Blade Works seems to copy the first few episodes of the original Fate/stay night adaptation. However, things begin to change when Shirou Emiya and Rin Tohsaka are forced to team up for their survival. This time around, Shirou begins to have a growing friendship with the more experienced magi Tohsaka. At the same time, Shirou explores his immense dislike of her Servant, the mysterious Archer.
This adaptation branches away from the VN’s “Fate Route” and takes its “Unlimited Blade Works Route,” where Rin becomes Shirou’s leading lady. Given its recent adaptation, UBW 2014 has quite the striking visuals and more fleshed-out characters.
Why Watch It? Given its more updated visuals, UBW finally gets to showcase the awesome fight scenes that the 2006 anime failed to show and the VN only got to describe in words. Fans of the Nasuverse’s tendencies for technical magical jargon will love the serious take on magic here. This is a perfect gateway to Fate/Zero, another anime that tries to get technical on the Holy Grail War.
Fate/Stay Night: Heaven’s Feel I to III (Movies, 2017, 2019, 2020)
Again, as with Fate/stay night and UBW, the Heaven’s Feel trilogy seems to copy the first few days of Shirou’s life going into the Holy Grail War. However, this time around, Shirou becomes much closer to his childhood friend Sakura Matou. Unbeknownst to him, Sakura has a mysterious past connected not just to the Holy Grail War as a whole, but to the entity that has begun killing off the War’s participants.
As with UBW, the Heaven’s Feel films explore the titular route in the VN, where Sakura becomes Shirou’s leading lady. Fans would greatly appreciate Heaven’s Feel as it further expanded the personalities of the characters from the previous series. Moreover, the focus on Sakura greatly helped in building her as a solid deuteragonist in the films.
Why Watch It? Heaven’s Feel is arguably one of the more emotional routes of the original VN. Shirou, Rin, and Saber will have to find a way to save Sakura Matou from impending danger. Being set across full-length films, Heaven’s Feel manages to expand on the original cast much better than the series.
Fate/Strange Fake: Whispers Of Dawn
While Fate media officially begins with the Fate/stay night visual novel, the franchise has expanded to tell its stories across various media – all featuring different Fate characters from multiple perspectives. One example of this is Fate/Strange Fake: Whispers of Dawn, based on the light novel Fake/strange fake, which explores the more niche aspects of the Holy Grail War Phenomenon.
Set prior to the Fourth Holy Grail War of Fate/Zero, the story of Strange Fake explores the Snowfield Grail War, an attempt of magi from the United States to create their version of the ritual separate from the original Holy Grail War managed by London’s Mage’s Association. Adapted as an OVA via Whispers of Dawn, the Strange Fake reveals there are two (2) Holy Grail Wars in the US version, a “Fake” one and a “True” one shortly after that. As with other Fate stories, the Snowfield Holy Grail War stars Ayaka Sayjou, the master of Richard the Lionheart who is assigned the Saber Class.
Why Watch It: While slated for a Summer 2023 release, Whispers of Dawn may give players a fresh take on the Fate franchise. Steering clear further from direct associations with popular cast members, Whispers of Dawn can become a decent starting point for fans who want to delve deeper into Fate lore. The original light novel, which is still ongoing, seems to be a prevailing influence in the anime, which means fans will also get to witness the unraveling of the “rules” that surround the two (2) Holy Grail Wars.
Fate/Prototype
Despite the reception towards Fate/stay night as an interesting take on the battle royale concept, this was not necessarily the first and only version of the story. In Fate/Prototype, the story stars Ayaka Sajyou, the last member of the Sajyou family whose destiny calls her to participate in the Second Holy Grail War in Fuyuki City. When a warrior saves her from being pursued by a mysterious man and some creatures, she is pulled into the middle of the conflict.
Before Kinoko Nasu’s Fate/stay night became the most popular entry of Type-Moon’s Nasuverse, the story of the Fifth Holy Grail War was originally the Second Tokyo Holy Grail War. Being the “original” take on the /stay night story, it’s a refreshing take to see the first versions of Fate’s characters, such as Arthur Pendragon’s Saber and a louder (and less-armored) version of Gilgamesh.
Why Watch It: One of the best elements of Fate/Prototype is its nature as a 12-minute OVA, making it a pretty condensed piece of media to digest. Being a story set a few Holy Grail Wars before Shiro Emiya’s journey, Fate/Prototype is an interesting take on a more severe version of the Holy Grail War concept – especially considering Ayaka’s more personal stakes on the Second Holy Grail War. The short nature of the OVA makes it a fascinating look into what the Fate series could offer without diving deep into specifics. Considering it’s a “piece of history” in the context of modern Fate stories, the short peek into the overall Fate mythos makes this a neat must-watch.
Fate/Zero (Anime, 2011)
Fate/Zero once again takes place in Fuyuki City, a decade before the events of Fate/stay night. As this setting implies, Fate/Zero serves as the prequel to Shirou’s adventures. This time around, Kiritsugu Emiya becomes a participant in the Fourth Holy Grail War. Unlike the innocent Shirou, Kiritsugu has a noticeable edge as the world-renowned mage killer. He also receives the backing of the Einzberns, his wife’s family.
This anime serves as the adaptation of the Fate/Zero light novels. Unlike the main series, Fate/Zero has a profoundly deeper approach to the complexities of the Holy Grail War. Aside from its stellar animations, its exploration of the themes of sacrifice and ambition earned the praise of viewers and critics.
Fate/Zero serves as a great third piece of media to bridge the main Fate/stay night story and its spinoffs. After Fate/Zero, fans may also choose to play the /stay night sequel, /hollow ataraxia.
Why Watch It? Arguably one of the best prequel anime out there, Fate/Zero is a great way to look at the Holy Grail War from the perspectives of more mature audiences. Unlike Shirou Emiya and his desire to be a hero, Kiritsugu Emiya has a darker look at the world – something reflected by most other participants in the war and certainly evident throughout the series. This stark change in tone makes Fate/Zero a worthwhile watch in the entire series.
An argument can be made that Fate/Zero should be watched before Fate/stay night; however, the latter’s visual novel is meant to be read prior to the former’s. Consequently, the same can hold true for the anime versions.
Lord El-Melloi II’s Case Files
Aside from the gut-wrenching story between Kiritsugu Emiya and Irisviel von Einzbern in Fate/Zero, Waver Velvet’s relationship with his Servant Rider remains one of the most appealing parts of the story. Originally a young mage out to prove himself to his peers in the Mage’s Association, Waver eventually transitions into a professor of the organization. Not only that, but his position as head of the Department of Modern Magecraft, Waver – now Lord El Melloi II – is in charge of solving various mysteries and problems plaguing the world of magic.
Lord El Melloi II’s adventures with his apprentice Gray are explored in Lord El Melloi’s Case Files, where their cases eventually lead them deep into the politics of the Association’s deeper echelons in the form of the Clock Tower.
Why Watch It: While there are no direct relations to the Holy Grail War in Lord El-Melloi II’s Case Files, the anime offers a much-needed look into the deeper aspects of Fate lore. Given how it’s the Mage’s Association’s mission to “regulate” magic around the world, fans of Fate can get more insights about the world’s lore – especially on the side of technical magic. Viewers planning on getting into more Fate media such as the Fate/Grand Order mobile game may appreciate concepts explored in Case Files, especially with how the gacha game emphasizes the narrative.
Fate/Apocrypha (Anime, 2017)
What if the Holy Grail War followed the conventional definition of a war? The story takes 60 years after the Third Holy Grail War, where the Yggdmillennia clan declares war upon the Mage’s Association. In this new Greater Grail War, Black and Red teams (assigned to the aforementioned factions) are comprised of Master-Servant pairs who want nothing else for their side to become the victor. And like in the events in Fuyuki City, the Holy Grail War isn’t always as straightforward as it seems.
Unlike the /stay night series, Fate/Apocrypha takes place in an alternate timeline. Given its older premise, fans who appreciate historical fiction will love the Servants and the overall narrative featured in this anime.
Likewise, viewers will love the separate story /Apocrypha shares, and the two sets of Servants who have their own abilities, personalities, and aspirations. This is the perfect start to a renewed look into /stay night spinoffs.
Why Watch It? Fans of alternate history will appreciate the more nuanced take on historical personalities in Fate/Apocrypha. Unlike the waifu-focused premise of the Fate/Grand Order game, Apocrypha finally gives players a deeper look into the relationships of characters within the time period as well as the new cast coming from various timelines that have to participate in this war to the death.
Fate/EXTRA Last Encore (Anime, 2018)
Events of Fate/EXTRA Last Encore start hazy, and that’s by design. In this anime, Hakuno Kishinami wakes up in a strange world accompanied only by a Servant. With no recollection of his past, he somehow apparently has to win the Holy Grail War and, hopefully, regain his identity in the process.
As with the mainline /stay night series, Fate/EXTRA Last Encore also adapts a game – this time, Fate/EXTRA. Fans will appreciate Last Encore for being a loose adaptation of the game. This means they can play the game and watch the anime in any order.
Moreover, fans of isekai will also love Last Encore for its TYPE-MOON take on the “inescapable VR game” genre. Likewise, some of its terminologies and concepts become relevant to Grand Order.
Why Watch It? Thanks to Last Encore, fans of Nasuverse will get to see the Fate creators dabble in the idea of the virtual reality isekai but this time with the Holy Grail War twist. Despite its nature as a video game adaptation, it’s still interesting to see how Hakuno manages to resolve the mystery behind the Holy Grail War without all the grinding and boss battles in between.
Fate/Grand Order: First Order (Movie, 2016)
Unbeknownst to the world at large, the Chaldea Security Organization relies on the analysis of various experts to determine potential extinction events to threaten mankind. Thankfully, their initial 2015 forecast predicts safety for the next century. However, the verdict suddenly announces the end of the world in 2016. With no apparent cause, Chaldea only knows of a link – the events of 2004’s Fifth Holy Grail War, the setting of Fate/stay night.
In turn, Chaldea has announced a Grand Order: to change the past and restore the future. To do this, protagonist Fujimaru Ritsuka – a new Chaldea recruit – and the mysterious Mash Kyrielight need to go back in time.
Fans of the Fate franchise would fondly remember Grand Order as the hit gacha game – with a gripping narrative despite its mobile nature. This movie adapts the prologue of the game’s “Observer on Timeless Temple” storyline.
Why Watch It? People who couldn’t be bothered to grind through the mobile game’s hours’ worth of story can watch First Order as it is a faithful adaptation of the game’s first chapter. Fans of the game also won’t feel bored watching the film despite knowing what would happen throughout the story, as the adaptation incorporates stellar fight scenes and gives more personality to the characters.
Fate/Grand Order THE MOVIE – Divine Realm Of The Round Table: Camelot (Movies, 2020, 2021)
Courtesy of Operation Grand Order, Chaldea’s Ritsuka and Mash travel in time to “repair” Singularities that would cause Earth’s destruction in 2016. This time around, they stumble upon their sixth Singularity during the Crusades.
As with the other Grand Order media, the two-part Camelot films cover the sixth chapter of the Grand Order game. Newcomers who get to watch the films will appreciate the rather solid narrative, despite only being a part of a larger story. Conversely, fans will love how Camelot manages to tackle this chapter in both a self-contained story while also sharing its larger implications to the overall plot.
Why Watch It? While the movie takes place in the sixth chapter of the game, Camelot won’t fail to help viewers get reacquainted with the rest of the story. With each chapter of Grand Order being its own standalone arc, viewers with no prior knowledge of the game won’t have a hard time getting dragged into Ritsuka and Mash’s timeline-saving adventures.
Fate/Grand Order – Absolute Demonic Front: Babylonia (Anime, 2019)
In Babylonia, Chaldea’s Ritsuka and Mash travel in time to Mesopotamia in 2655 B.C. Their goal is to fix the Singularity in this era to prevent the Earth’s destruction in 2016 – only for a monster-besieged region to surprise them.
The pair soon discovers that mankind’s only hope against these monsters lies in Uruk, a fortress city. To their surprise, the King of Heroes Gilgamesh has taken leadership in humanity’s last effort against these monsters. And he’s been calling the aid of various Heroic Spirits to aid him.
As with First Order, Babylonia also adapts a chapter from the “Observer on Timeless Temple” storyline in the game. This time around, Babylonia adapts the seventh chapter of the main game. Thankfully, with the way the anime is written, newcomers don’t necessarily need to play Grand Order to understand the ongoing events in Babylonia.
Why Watch It? Taking place yet again within Grand Order‘s timeline-saving adventures, Ritsuka and Mash show viewers a magnificent take on one of the most ancient civilizations in existence. Perhaps what’s amazing here is how fans finally get introduced to younger versions of more iconic heroes in the franchise, such as Gilgamesh. The film serves as an interesting take on developing his persona, as well as cementing his status as one of the fan favorites in the franchise.
Fate/Grand Order: Final Singularity – Grand Temple Of Time: Solomon (Movie, 2021)
In Ritsuka and Mash’s adventures to repair the world’s timeline and prevent Earth’s destruction, they stumble upon one final Singularity to fix. Surprisingly, their journey ends when the world is about to end, in 2016. Ritsuka and Mash need to stop Solomon’s plans once and for all.
This upcoming film is slated for a July 30, 2021 release. As with the other Grand Order media, this story adapts a chapter of the “Observer on Timeless Temple” storyline. This film covers the Solomon Singularity, the final chapter of said storyline.
Why Watch It? As the name implies, Grand Temple of Time: Solomon showcases the final storyline available in the Grand Order game so far. As this film reveals Solomon as the antagonist of the current storyline, some fans may be afraid that this release will be skipping quite a ton of build-up for this grand reveal. However, Grand Temple of Time: Solomon compensates for this through compelling storytelling and quite a captivating take on the game’s final chapter.
Fuente: successacademy.edu.vn
Categorías: Anime
