Do NOT Miss Your Chance to Watch the New Fate Series Early

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Key Takeaways

  • Fate/strange Fake offers a bold new direction for the franchise with a chaotic and exciting storyline.
  • Episode 1 focuses on Richard the Lionheart’s introduction and the increasingly Herculean feat of covering up the Grail War’s destructive effects.
  • The performances, visual storytelling, and fresh spin on a familiar formula further build anticipation for the season to come.
Title Fate/strange Fake
Directors Shun Enokido, Takhito Sakazume
Studio A-1 Pictures
Release Date 11/23/2024 (Preview)

As a long-time fan of the Fate franchise, I can confidently say that Fate/strange Fake is shaping up to be one of the most exciting additions to this series in years. Being an American viewer who has followed the franchise since its early days, it’s fascinating to see the supernatural shenanigans unfold in a setting so close to home.

Warning: The following contains minor spoilers for Fate/strange Fake, Episode 1, “The Heroic Spirit Incident”, temporarily available on Crunchyroll’s official YouTube channel. The episode will only be available until 11/30/2024.

The Fate Series by Type-Moon has undergone multiple adaptations, but despite recurring characters, similar storylines, and the central theme of the Grail War, each installment remains distinct. This uniqueness is particularly evident in Fate/strange Fake, a fresh take on the franchise that’s poised to be its next big success, given its promising performance last year.

2023’s special “Fate/strange Fake: Whispers of Dawn” was a one-hour adaptation of the initial volume from Ryohgo Narita’s light novel series (similar to Durarara!), earning us a 7 out of 10. We appreciated its impressive visual style, engaging action sequences, and the excitement it built through storytelling, even though we noticed some gaps compared to the original material. Now, more than a year has passed, and the first episode of the TV anime has been released ahead of schedule, and it certainly lived up to expectations.

The Dawn’s Cantankerous Aftermath

In Episode 1, the story unfolds straightaway following the thrilling events from last year’s special. As dawn breaks over Snowfield, Nevada, there’s a flurry of activity among the authorities trying to conceal the chaos caused by the unforeseen meeting between Gilgamesh and Enkidu. Within mere moments of screen time, news outlets attribute the resulting crater to a gas explosion, maintaining a long-running joke within the franchise.

From the very beginning, it becomes clear just how extraordinary this project is. Back in 2019, directors Enokido and Sakazume created an animated commercial for the latest volume of Strange Fake, accompanied by Hiroyuki Sawano’s “Belong” featuring Yosh Morita from Survive Said the Prophet. Now, in a dream come true for every fan who saw it before, the same team has returned to bring us a full adaptation. The opening strains of “Belong” at the start of each episode are the perfect finishing touch.

Catching Up and Charging Ahead

The Heroic Spirit Incident” doesn’t dwell excessively on events previously covered in the special. After all, it was a must-see, even if a rewatch is due after more than a year since its release, the main points are hard to forget. Since all False Servants have been summoned, the premiere chooses instead to concentrate on the significant storyline from the first volume that Whispers of Dawn saved for later; specifically, the summoning of the Saber-Class Servant and their master’s appearance.

In the world of Fate/strange Fake, nothing could be more fitting than its title. This tale defies every preconceived notion about a Grail War and offers unexpected twists at every turn. Contrary to what many might expect, a Saber-Class servant believed to be absent from this conflict is summoned nonetheless, and it’s not the Artoria Pendragon that some characters anticipated (I’ll never refer to her as Altria). Instead, it’s Richard the Lionheart, bearing a crimson-hued take on Excalibur as his weapon of choice.

How Fate/strange Fake Embraces Chaos At Every Turn

Richard’s introduction serves as the climax, yet the foundation is centered on Ayaka Sajou, a puzzling girl who enters Snowfield to join the Grail War. Her recollections are scanty, even about her origin, and although she lands exactly where she was directed, there’s an atmosphere that she desires to defy the destiny imposed upon her. She’s an unusual heroine for an equally peculiar narrative.

As a fan, I find the hilarious twist in Strange Fake lies not just in its subversion of the norm, but in the sheer breadth of it. Reflecting on 2017’s Fate/Apocrypha, I suggested that this series derives its appeal from its ability to creatively reimagine its basic foundations. Among all entries, Strange Fake stands out as the most daring and exhilarating subversion yet, primarily due to its unique setting and equally impressive direction.

Fate Throws Discretion Out the Window

Concealing a Holy Grail War Isn’t Exactly the Easiest Task

In other parts of the Fate Series, the supernatural activities are effortlessly concealed, but in this particular instance, it’s become strikingly clear how challenging it is to hide them, especially when they’re brought into the spotlight. Ordinarily, the Church and the Mages Association manage to manipulate things behind the scenes. However, during this Grail War, there are no such connections, and the character Faldeus quickly senses the lack of these influences.

In comparison to Earth’s long timeline, America is relatively new, and the group orchestrating the Grail War, regardless of their specific faction, may struggle to conceal such a violent conflict. This adds an intriguing level of tension that usually creates a sharp divide between the ordinary world and the supernatural realm. Given this chaos, this version of the Fate series could become the most tumultuous yet, which is one of its most compelling aspects.

A Bold New Direction For Fate

Ryohgo Narita’s talent for creating complex characters in his stories is well-known, so it’s reassuring to see he was closely involved with the adaptation of this series. The way the directors capture Narita’s character depth grows more apparent over time. Our review of Whispers of Dawn noted a few missing elements from the novel, but the visual storytelling used by Enokido and Sakazume is truly impressive.

It appears that my initial objections to the overlooked aspects have become less harsh over time. The first episode, similar to the prequel, boasts a strong pace, skillfully introducing new characters while maneuvering them across the game board. Each character’s importance is emphasized effectively, adding a touch of style. The scene following the credits serves as an intriguing sneak peek into the diverse array of characters yet to come, making the extensive cast of Fate/Apocrypha seem more manageable.

Strong Performances Seal the Deal

It’s quite intriguing that Aniplex appears to be heavily promoting the English version of Fate/strange Fake in the Western market, similar to their approach with Whispers of Dawn. At present, only the English dub is accessible, which may displease those who prefer the original Japanese. However, this might have added pressure on the dubbing team, and it seems they rose to the challenge effectively.

Frank Todaro, playing False Caster, provides a standout performance that consistently entertains, while Ben Balmaceda brings an instantly appealing charm as Richard. Micah Solusod’s portrayal of Faldeus is unique, with a more serious tone in his delivery hinting at the character’s ruthless nature. Overall, the cast’s performances are pleasing to listen to and the dubbing is skillfully directed, similar to the original series itself.

The animated series, titled Fate/strange Fake, is set to debut on December 31, marking the start of the new year with one of the most eagerly awaited installments in years for this franchise. After quite some time, there were concerns that the production delays might suggest difficulties, but if there have been hardships behind the scenes, they haven’t been apparent on the screen to a concerning extent. Good things often take time, and given the promising indicators, it seems likely that this will be an exceptional series.

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2024-11-28 22:36