Release Date
31-07-2025 (Preview)
Fateis back, and though it never technically went away, the franchise comes in waves, never felt more strongly than when the right artists come together to adapt the right story. The series has to live up to studios like Ufotable, directors like Ei Aoki, and composers like Yuki Kajiura or Hideyuki Fukasawa, butFate/strange Fakelooks eager to accept the challenge.
What started as an April Fool’s joke turned into a ten-volume novel series, of which nine have been released so far, written by none other than Ryohgo Narita (Durarara,Baccano). As the posters will tell you,Fate/strange Fakeis the story of a “Holy Grail War covered in lies”, set not in Fuyuki, Japan, but in America of all places, in the fictional city of Snowfield, Nevada.
Fate/strange Fake Feels Different
Indeed,Fatenever left, but it does feel like it’s been a while. Many of the recent works have come in film form, like the long-awaitedHeaven’s Feeltrilogy (2017-2020) orFate/Grand Order’s adaptations ofCamelot(2020-2021) andSolomon(2021). Their lastbigTV anime wasFate/Grand Order: Absolute Demonic Front - Babylonia(2019-2020), the biggest in a series of impressively-producedF/GOadaptations released around that time.
To see a newFateanime that wasn’t based on the work of creator Kinoko Nasu or the popular mobile gameFate/Grand Orderwas already enough to pique some fans’ interest. Divorced from franchise trends, however,Strange Fake’s story itself was alluring, not only for its setting and notable characters but for its promise of something different from the norm. Furthermore, to fans of Narita’s work, his authorship was practically an endorsement itself.
The Innate Charm of Ryohgo Narita’s Writing
People love stories likeBaccanoandDurararabecause Narita’s prowess for weaving complex stories through ensemble casts is unparalleled. Where similar shows likeFate/Apocryphaare arguably hindered by the number of characters, Narita’s works thrive under such conditions. It’s a difficult balance to achieve and a testament to how he crafts his characters, to say nothing of the importance of dialog in conveying the feelings of his narratives.
For a story likeFate, whose central concept is a battle royale, Narita’s involvement feels like a match made in heaven. It’s the promise of rich dialog, unexpected twists, and face-offs 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 stands toelevate the typical Grail War to new heights, in a franchise that is already no stranger to iconic characters with magnetic personalities.
A Killer Directing Duo
Here’s the twist: Ryohgo Narita is a great storyteller, but how many of us are basing that position solely on the adaptations of his work? I know I certainly am, having obsessed over theDurararaanime in high school, but that affinity for the story was no doubt in large part due to the work of director Takahiro Oomori. The point is that Narita’s prose would be wasted on a project lacking solid directing, a problem thatFate/strange Fakethankfully doesn’t have.
Shun Enokido and Takihito Sakazume aren’t just directors, and they aren’t just impressive animators to boot. They are a major creative force behind the aesthetic of theFate Seriesacross the 2010s and beyond, having worked on or directed many ofthe commercials forFate/Grand Order. These commercials, whichFatefans have fawned over for years, are the work of many incredible artists, of which Enokido and Sakazume are just two shining examples.
The Defining Artists of the Current Fate Series
In an interview with Anime News Network, Enokido and Sakazume describe their history with the franchise, from their early fondness for it to their work on Grand Order’s commercials. Said Sakazume, “That led to us working together as action directors onFate/Apocrypha- and since then, we have often worked together onFate/Grand Order’s [other] commercials.”
Their work onApocryphais especially significant. Not only does it feel like the spiritual predecessor toStrange Fake, but at its best,Apocryphawent above and beyond to express the potential of its artists, even if it could be a bit rough around the edges at times. That anime was a turning point for the kinds of animation that this franchise would produce, a movement that animators like Enokido and Sakazume were at the forefront of.
From 30 Seconds to a Full Series
At the end of 2019, asBabyloniawas in the midst of an impressive TV run, a special commercial was released to celebrate the sixth volume ofFate/strange Fake. Sakazume directed and storyboarded it, andAttack on Titancomposer Hiroyuki Sawanocomposed 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 true adaptation was announced just two years later, the same team was reunited, Sawano included. Audiences wanted that vision ofStrange Fakeand they were going to get it. Best of all, Enokido and Sakazume have been open about their intention to adapt it as faithfully as possible, keeping both Narita and novel illustrator Morii Suzuki close to the production. Per Richard Eisenbeis of ANN:
“From the script to the storyboards, Narita-san has been overseeing the process of turning it all into animation,” Enokido told me. “Morii Suzuki, who is the one behind the novel’s illustrations, also checks them—adding to the level of detail for each of the characters,” Sakazume mentioned.
A Grail War Like Never Before
As anticipated as this project has been, and as painful as the wait may be,it’s a blessing that it was not rushed outearlier. It was only this year that the novels were confirmed to be ending with the tenth volume, meaning the adaptation need not fear catching up too early. With that peace of mind, hopefully, the wait will be all the easier, whenever it truly premieres. Episode 1 will be released on December 31, but as for the rest… it’s not confirmed yet.
Between the skill of its original writer, the vision of its directors, the talent of A-1 Pictures, and Hiroyuki Sawano’s expectedly enthralling score,Fate/strange Fakehas serious potential. Potential to elevate the franchise to a levelnot seen since Ei Aoki’sFate/Zeroor the success ofUnlimited Blade Works. Perhaps that’s wishful thinking, but whether it meets the upper limits of its potential or not, it feels fantastic to be waiting in anticipation of aFateadaptation again.
Fate/strange Fake: Whispers of Dawnis available to stream onCrunchyroll.Fate/strange Fake, Episode 1, “The Heroic Spirit Incident”, will be released on Jul 03, 2025.
