Fate/stay night
Fate/stay night
Overview
Fate/stay night is the first commercial release by Type-Moon and the series that launched the expansive Fate media franchise. It was originally released as an adult visual novel for Windows in Japan in 2004 and has since spawned a wide range of media including light novels, video games, anime, movies, and more.
Plot
Fate/stay night follows the story of school boy Shirou Emiya, who unwittingly becomes a participant in an epic battle for the Holy Grail called the Holy Grail War in which mages called Masters fight against each other using magic and Servants, the souls of heroes from throughout history called forth by the Grail. Each team of Master and Servant vyes to be the last one standing in order to obtain the Holy Grail and have any wish granted.
The sole survivor of a tragic explosion 10 years prior, Shirou wants to become a protector of justice just like his dad, Kiritsugu Emiya, who saved him when he was on the verge of death years ago. However, one night at school he witnesses two powerful fighters dueling and is chased down and attacked. His life seems all but over when suddenly he is saved by a beautiful blonde knight named Saber who calls him her Master. Thus begins Shirou’s fight as a Master in the Fifth Holy Grail War.
The story of Fate/stay night is divided into three routes: “Fate,” “Unlimited Blade Works,” and “Heaven’s Feel.” The main theme in Fate/stay night is “conquering yourself.” Each branching route also has its own theme as well. As series creator Kinoko Nasu describes, the first route, “Fate,” is themed after "oneself as an ideal." The second route, “Unlimited Blade Works,” is themed after "struggling with oneself as an ideal." And the third, “Heaven's Feel,” is themed after "the friction between real and ideal."
Media
Visual Novels
The visual novel was originally released on Windows PC on Jan. 30, 2004 with an adult rating. In 2007, a version of the game for ages 15 and up titled Fate/stay night Réalta Nua was released on the PlayStation 2. This version of the game cut out the sexual scenes to target a wider audience but included voice acting. A PlayStation Vita port of the game was later released on Nov. 29, 2012. This version of the game includes the true ending to the Fate route as well as new opening animations by anime studio Ufotable.
A sequel to Fate/stay night titled Fate/hollow ataraxia was released Oct. 28, 2005. The game is set a year and a half after the events of Fate/stay night and features several new characters alongside fan-favorites including Shirou, Saber, and Rin.
Light Novels
Fate/stay night has spawned several light novel sequels including Fate/Zero, Fate/Apocrypha, and Fate/strange fake.
Fate/Zero is a collaboration between Type-Moon and game developer Nitroplus and was written by Gen Urobuchi. It is a prequel to Fate/stay night and follows multiple characters through its narrative, unlike Fate/stay night. It was released in four volumes between 2006 and 2007.
Fate/Apocrypha is the second light novel released. It takes place in a parallel world in which the events of Fate/stay night and Fate/Zero never occurred and follows two opposing factions as they fight for the Greater Grail in a Great Holy Grail War. It was published in five volumes between 2012 and 2014.
Fate/strange fake is a light novel written by Ryogo Narita and illustrated by Morii Shizuki. The story revolves around a faulty Grail War in which there is no Saber class and strange Servants are allowed to be summoned due to the definition of an Epic Hero being blurred. It began being published in January 2015 under the Dengeki Bunko imprint. Five volumes have been released to date.
Manga
A manga adaptation of Fate/stay night by Datto Nishiwaki began being serialized by Kadokawa Shoten in their magazine Shonen Ace in February 2006 and ran until the December 2012 issue. The story follows the Fate route while combining elements from both Unlimited Blade Works and Heaven’s Feel. It has been released in 20 collected tankobon volumes.
Other manga adaptations that have followed include Himuro no Tenchi Fate/School Life, a 4-koma comedy manga about the school lives of lesser known Fate characters, and Fate/kaleid liner Prisma Illya, which focuses on Illya as she lives an alternate life as a school girl. Two sequels to Prisma Illya, Fate/Kaleid liner Prisma Illya 2wei! and Fate/Kaleid liner Prisma Illya 3rei!!, have also been released.
Anime
An anime adaptation premiered in Japan on Jan. 7, 2006. The anime is directed by Yuji Yamaguchi with series composition by Takuya Sato, character designs by Megumi Ishihara, music by Kenji Kawai, and animation production by Studio Deen. The anime spans 24 episodes.
A sequel to Fate/stay night exploring the Unlimited Blade Works route was also created. It premiered in Japan on Oct. 4, 2014 and ran for two cours, totalling 26 episodes. It is directed by Takahiro Miura and produced by Ufotable.
Movies
Movies based on Fate/stay night include Unlimited Blade Works released in 2010 and a trilogy based on the Heaven's Feel route that includes Heaven's Feel I. presage flower (2017), Heaven's Feel II. lost butterfly (2019), and the upcoming Heaven's Feel III. spring song which will be released in Japan on March 28, 2020.
Video Games
Aside from the visual novels, other types of video games based on Fate/stay night have also been released, ranging from 3D fighting games to dungeon RPGs. Notable releases include Fate/unlimited codes, Fate/tiger colosseum, Fate/Extra, and Fate/Extella: The Umbral Star. However, the most popular release of all is the free-to-play mobile RPG app Fate/Grand Order which is massively popular worldwide.