Fate/Strange Fake has the potential to be the best Fate ever made

Key points

• Fate/strange Fake offers a new take on the Fate universe, set in America and featuring an original story.
• Narita's complex storytelling paired with Enokido and Sakazume's direction promises a compelling adaptation.
• A large creative team promises a television anime that could surpass the heights reached by previous Fate adaptations.

Destiny is back, and while it technically never disappeared, the franchise comes in waves, never felt stronger than when the right artists come together to adapt the right story. The series must live up to studios like Ufotable, directors like Ei Aoki and composers like Yuki Kajiura or Hideyuki Fukasawa, but Destiny/strange fake he seems eager to take on the challenge.

What started as an April Fools' joke turned into a ten-volume series of novels, of which nine have been published so far, written by none other than Ryohgo Narita (Durarara, Noise). As the posters will tell you, Destiny/strange fake is the story of a “Holy Grail War covered in lies,” set not in Fuyuki, Japan, but in America of all places, in the fictional town of Snowfield, Nevada.

Fate/strange fake seems different

Indeed, Destiny He never left, but it feels like it's been a while. Many of the recent works have come in the form of films, such as the long-awaited The feeling of paradise trilogy (2017-2020) or Destiny/Grand Orderthe adaptations of Camelot (2020-2021) e Solomon (2021). Their latest big The television anime was Fate/Grand Order: Absolute Demon Front – Babylon (2019-2020), the largest in a series of impressive productions F/GO adaptations released in that period.

To see a new one Destiny anime that was not based on creator Kinoko Nasu's work or the popular mobile game Destiny/Grand Order it was already enough to pique the interest of some fans. Unlike franchising trends, however, Strange fakeThe story itself was fascinating, not only for the setting and important characters, but also for the promise of something different from the norm. Furthermore, for fans of Narita's work, his authorship was practically an endorsement itself.

The innate charm of Ryohgo Narita's writing

People love stories like Noise AND Durarara because Narita's ability to weave together complex stories through ensemble casts is unparalleled. Where similar shows are popular Destiny/Apocrypha are probably hampered by the number of characters, Narita's works thrive under such conditions. It's a difficult balance to strike and a testament to how he creates his characters, not to mention the importance of dialogue in conveying the feelings of his narratives.

For a story like Destinywhose central concept is a battle royale, Narita's involvement seems like a match made in heaven. It's the promise of rich dialogue, unexpected twists, and confrontations that can change the course of the entire Grail War. Sure, these are the tenets of any good Battle Royale story, but Narita's writing is set to elevate the typical Grail War to new heights, in a franchise that's already no stranger to iconic characters with magnetic personalities.

A couple of killer directors

Here's the twist: Ryohgo Narita is a great storyteller, but how many of us base this position solely on adaptations of his work? I certainly know I am, being obsessed with the Durarara anime in high school, but that affinity with the story was undoubtedly largely due to the work of director Takahiro Oomori. The point is that Narita's prose would be wasted in a project without solid direction, which is a problem Destiny/strange fake luckily he hasn't.

Shun Enokido and Takihito Sakazume aren't just directors, and they aren't just impressive animators. They are one of the main creative forces behind the aesthetic of the Destiny series in the 2010s and beyond, having worked on or directed many commercials Destiny/Grand Order. These commercials, which Destiny fans have been fawning over for years, they are the work of many incredible artists, of which Enokido and Sakazume are just two shining examples.

The artists who define the current Fate series

In an interview with Anime News Network, Enokido and Sakazume describe their history with the franchise, from their initial passion for it to their work on the Grand Order commercials. Sakazume said: “This led us to work together as action directors Destiny/Apocrypha – and since then we have often worked together Destiny/Grand Order'S [other] commercials.”

Their work continues Apocrypha is particularly significant. Not only does it look like the spiritual predecessor of Strange fakebut at best, Apocrypha he went above and beyond to express the potential of his artists, even if he could be a little rough around the edges at times. That anime was a turning point for the type of animation this franchise would produce, a movement that animators like Enokido and Sakazume were at the forefront of.

From 30 seconds to a full set

At the end of 2019, how Babylon was in the midst of an impressive television broadcast, a special commercial was released to celebrate the sixth volume of Destiny/strange fake. Sakazume directed and storyboarded it, and Attack on Titan composer Hiroyuki Sawano composed the theme; “Belong” featuring Yosh Morita of the band Survive Said the Prophet. Those 30 seconds of crisp animation and stellar music had audiences clamoring for a full adaptation.

It's a testament to how effective this marketing was that when a real adaptation was announced just two years later, the same team reunited, including Sawano. The audience wanted that vision of Strange fake and they would get it. Most importantly, Enokido and Sakazume have been clear about their intention to adapt it as faithfully as possible, keeping both Narita and novel illustrator Morii Suzuki close to production. According to ANN's Richard Eisenbeis:

“From the script to the storyboards, Narita-san oversaw the process of turning everything into animation,” Enokido told me. “Morii Suzuki, who is behind the novel's illustrations, also controls them, increasing the level of detail of each of the characters,” Sakazume said.

A Grail War like never before

As anticipated as this project was, and as painful as the wait may be, it is a blessing that it was not completed sooner. It was only this year that it was confirmed that the novels will end with the tenth volume, meaning the adaptation need not fear catching up too soon. With this peace of mind, hopefully, the wait will be even easier, whenever it premieres. Episode 1 will be released on December 31st, but otherwise… it's not confirmed yet.

Between the skill of the original writer, the vision of its directors, the talent of A-1 Pictures, and Hiroyuki Sawano's predictably compelling score, Destiny/strange fake It has serious potential. Potential to elevate the franchise to a level not seen since Ei Aoki Destiny/Zero or the success of Unlimited blade jobs. Maybe it's wishful thinking, but whether or not it reaches the upper limits of its potential, it's great to wait in anticipation of a Destiny adaptation again.

Fate/Strange Fake: Whispers of the Dawn is available to stream on Crunchyroll. Destiny/strange fakeEpisode 1, “The Heroic Spirit Incident,” will be released on December 31, 2024.

Sources: Anime News Network [Link 1][Link 2]