Inspired by Rod Hilton’s Star Wars Machete Order, I propose an alternate watch order as an accessible entry point into the Fate series: start with the prologue of Fate/Zero (Episode 0). Additionally since Unlimited Blade Works was released after Zero, some character exposition is missed, as it is assumed you watched Zero first. Alternatively, if you decide to watch Unlimited Blade Works first, there is an episode that blatantly spoils the ending to Fate/Zero. While the Zero anime was technically released before the Ufotable adaptation of Unlimited Blade Works (and is also set ten years earlier), the later episodes of the show assume that the viewer is already familiar with the Fate universe and its structure. Both of these watch orders have their merits, but they also come with inherent drawbacks. Some will argue that release order is best, while others may recommend watching in the chronological order that the events take place.
In a series with multiple seasons and movies, the question arises of what order to watch them in. There are also other spin-off games and anime series that have been released since, though those are not important for this article. Fate/Zero was also produced as a two-season show by Ufotable. After the success of the visual novel, Gen Urobuchi penned a light novel, Fate/Zero, that’s set ten years prior to the events of Fate/stay night.
Unlimited Blade Works was later adapted into a two-season show by the studio Ufotable, and Heaven’s Feel is being adapted into a movie trilogy with two entries currently released. And while you’re at it, skip the Studio Deen film adaptation of Unlimited Blade Works as well. While I have not watched the original Fate/stay night anime adaptation by Studio Deen, I have it on good authority that it is not good. The original visual novel has three branching pathways: Fate, Unlimited Blade Works, and Heaven’s Feel-which are intended to be played in that order. Look forward to the series on CrunchyRoll and Hulu on October 4th.Fate/stay night is an early 2000s visual novel written by Kinoko Nasu that has, in the years since, amassed many adaptations and spin-offs. All that work only to end at a crucial point in the prologue definitely both filled me with disappointment and excitement for this week when the series official premieres on streaming channels. The subtleties of the character animation and attention to background details could have had me fooled for something with a movie budget.
ufotable brought a level of quality that was rare in TV animation with fate/zero and UBW already exceeds beyond that. While I’m sure the majority of the viewers already know the story of fate/stay night, I’ll spare the exposition and say right off the bat that it’s gorgeous eye candy from start to finish. They thanked the fans for all their support and to look forward to upcoming series. On the way into the theater, we were handed this lovely memorabilia that lists the main characters along with the other locations that the premiere was being held.Īs the premiere started, audiences were first screened a short Q&A from the team at ufotable.
Fate/stay night chronicles the story of the 5th Holy Grail War and its characters across three different stories: Fate, Unlimited Blade Works, and Heaven’s Feel. Seven individuals (known as Masters) are selected and assigned a servant who will do battle in their stead. It tells the tale of a war fought every sixty years to win the Holy Grail, a device that would grant the winner any wish. The event was sold out within a week and people already began lining up hours before the screening.įor those who aren’t initiated, Fate/Stay Night was originally released as a highly successful visual novel in 2004 by TYPE-MOON, a Japanese game company.
Announced as a full TV series, ufotable’s much anticipated adaptation of the UBW story was greeted with a lot of enthusiasm and hype among the international fans.
Those are the words of one who is ready to fight in the next Holy Grail War. We were lucky to be in attendance at the worldwide premiere of Fate/stay night: Unlimited Blade Works (UBW) at the Downtown Independent in Los Angeles.