An Anime Viewer’s Brief Guide to the Fate Series

The Fate franchise has become one of the most popular and talked about anime series in recent years, but it can be a tough one to get into due to its sheer size and varying series quality. Fortunately, this guide provides a quick and easy way for newcomers to jump into the series and enjoy it to the fullest.

The Fate franchise first exploded onto the anime scene in the last decade, after Ufotable’s adaptation of Gen Urobuchi and Takeshi Takeuchi’s light novel, Fate/Zero, in 2011. Following this, the Fate anime series experienced an enormous boom that spawned many sequels and spinoffs, which has made it difficult for new fans to find a starting point. However, there is a set watch order for the various adaptations that can help you navigate this vast universe.

Although the Fate series can be tricky to begin to navigate without any prior information, it is actually more straightforward than it may seem with the right information. The biggest source of confusion mainly stems from its first installment being a terrible adaptation. That said, there are more than one methods for newcomers to dive into this immensely popular series.

One method is the Anime-Only Fate Watch Order, which is recommended for fans who want to start with the anime and avoid the source material. The Fate/stay night anime is an adaptation of the visual novel of the same name, which consists of three alternative story routes called “Fate,” “Unlimited Blade Works,” and “Heaven’s Feel.” The narrative intent is to play each route in the given order. However, when Studio Deen adapted the visual novel in 2006, it wasn’t clear if there would be a sequel. Instead of adapting the Fate route alone, the studio decided to create a Frankenstein’s monster of an anime that took bits and pieces from all of the routes. The resulting anime was predictably subpar quality.

The Fate series eventually gained redemption when Ufotable took over the rights and released Fate/Zero, which immediately garnered critical acclaim. Studio Deen also adapted the Unlimited Blade Works route into a movie, which fortunately got remade by Ufotable in 2014 as a TV series of the same name. Ufotable then followed this up with a trilogy of movies covering the Heaven’s Feel route, the third of which was released in 2020.

Unfortunately, since Ufotable has yet to remake Studio Deen’s terrible adaptation of the Fate route, anime-only fans are left with the single option of powering through the 2006 adaptation in order to experience its story. The next series in the Fate watch order would be 2014’s Fate/stay night: Unlimited Blade Works, followed by the Fate/stay night: Heaven’s Feel trilogy. The brilliant Fate/Zero series, which is a prequel to the events of Fate/stay night, can be watched immediately after the 2006 adaptation, although it’s best advised to watch up until Heaven’s Feel II beforehand in order to avoid any spoilers. Lastly, it’s recommended to watch Fate/Grand Order – Absolute Demonic Front: Babylonia after Heaven’s Feel III, and the remaining Grand Order films afterwards.

Another method is the Only the Good Fate Shows Watch Order, which allows fans to skip Studio Deen’s adaptation altogether and start with the Fate/Zero series. Although this watch order is sure to spoil certain events from the Fate/stay night anime, it ensures fans are immediately hooked into the series instead of having to drudge through the 2006 anime, which may leave a bad impression. The Fate/Zero series provides enough lore and context for Fate/stay night: Unlimited Blade Works to make sense without having to watch the Fate route.

However, this watch order is not the most advisable for new fans as it may result in a less content-rich experience, compared to the other methods mentioned. It’s ideal for viewers who want to experience the best parts of the Fate franchise without having to deal with a mediocre adaptation or a lengthy visual novel.

For those who are ready to consume the Fate franchise in its intended order, the third method is the best option, and it involves starting with the visual novel. The visual novel allows fans to experience the Fate route in its unadulterated form. After playing through the Fate route, viewers can proceed to the Unlimited Blade Works anime series and the Heaven’s Feel movies before concluding the main series with Fate/Zero. After that, they can watch as many of the optional Fate spinoffs as they want, in any order desired.

This method ensures that viewers get the definitive experience without having to put up with any less-than-stellar adaptations. Although the visual novel lacks the great animation that defines Ufotable’s adaptations, it is miles better than the 2006 anime and is also very good in its own right as far as visual novels go.

In conclusion, the Fate franchise can be overwhelming for newcomers due to its sheer size and varying series quality. However, there are different ways to approach the series, depending on personal preferences. Whether you prefer to start with the anime-only Fate watch order, the Only the Good Fate Shows Watch Order, or the visual novel method, all of these methods are sure to get newcomers hooked on the franchise and showcase just how good the Fate series is.

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Shirou Emiya,Saber,Illyasviel von Einzbern,Archer,Kirei Kotomine