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Home Lists Fate/Stay Night: Every Single Series And Spin-Off, Ranked

Fate/Stay Night: Every Single Series And Spin-Off, Ranked

The Fate series has no shortage of adaptations and spin-offs. With so many out there, you're bound to Jnd something just perfect for your
tastes.
BY ADRIANO VALENTEPUBLISHED JAN 15, 2020

The Fate series has become one of the largest and most popular multimedia franchises in
Japan. Starting with the Fate/stay night visual novel released back in 2004, the franchise has
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grown tremendously in the near two decades since. There has been a boom in Fate related
media. Everything from games to manga, light novels, merchandise and of course, anime.

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Fate related media has spawned a bunch of different anime titles over the years. They’ve
ranged from adaptations of the various original game routes, to spin-offs and reimagining’s. REVIEW: Marvel's I Am REVIEW: Marvel's
Even if you’re not into the original source material, the various Fate anime out there cover a Iron Man #1 Rogue & Gambit #1

whole bunch of different genres. There’s something for everybody. With that said, here’s every
single Fate/stay night series and spin-off, ranked.
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11 Fate/stay night
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Staring off with the original adaptation, the Studio Deen anime is a bit of a mixed bag. Though
it isn’t a terrible anime – it isn’t on part with the Ufotable adaptations in terms of animation
quality and respect for the source material. The original anime released back in 2006 and does
certainly look dated, but serves as an excellent introduction to the series for newcomers. Deen
also adapted the Unlimited Bladeworks route into an anime film, but the Ufotable anime is far
superior in every way – so we’ll count that as part of the original Deen production.

10 Today’s Menu for The Emiya Family

One of the more recent entries on this list, Today’s Menu for The Emiya Family is an
adorable, light-hearted spin-off that sees the main cast of the FSN series bonding over food.
It’s probably the most mundane of the spin-offs, so don’t go into this looking for any action or
big battles. But if you want to see some more peaceful interactions between characters – as
well as some great Japanese food then this is the anime for you. Ufotable is also responsible
for this title, though the animation style looks drastically different compared to their other
entries in the series – it’s as clean and crisp as you’d expect.

9 Fate/Apocrypha

Based on the light novel series of the same name, Fate/Apocrypha is set in a parallel world to
the original series, and focuses on a battle between two fractions; Red and Black. The conflict
is a larger scale Grail War, and thus involves more servants than the original. Apocrypha
certainly has its moments, and the premise is interesting enough. But there are times when
the narrative just loses you and things feel a little too condensed – at least that’s how the
anime adaptation feels. Still, if you’re into Fate lore this is a worthwhile watch as it features
servants that up to that point were only featured in the light novels and FGO.

8 Fate/Grand Order Absolute Demonic Front: Babylonia

Speaking of FGO, the currently airing Babylonia anime is staring off great. Though it’s still a
little too premature to sing its praises, the anime seems to be doing a good job of adapting the
games story while giving fans what they want in terms of seeing their favourite servants on
screen. But who knows, by the time it finishes airing it could rank lower or maybe even higher.
For now, this seems like a solid place to have it.

7 Fate/Extra Last Encore

Loosely based on the Fate/Extra series, Last Encore isn’t the best adaptation in the series. But
it does have its positives. Sadly those don’t outweigh the show’s negatives – mainly a rushed
and convoluted plot that doesn’t serve the source material well at all.

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On the other hand, you get to see Nero animated. That’s something fans of the series have
wanted for a while. Studio Shaft was in charge of the project, so while its narrative may have
not come out great, it looks stunning.

6 Lord El-Melloi II’s Case Files

Another one of the newer spin-offs, Lord El-Melloi II’s Case Files is a great anime for fans who
want to bypass the fighting element of the series, and focus more on the lore surrounding it.
Case Files focuses on the often overlooked magical elements of the series, and presents it from
a different and more refreshing angle than previous spin-offs.

5 Carnival Phantasm

Of all the entries thus far, Carnival Phantasm might be the most drastically different of the
Fate series anime. It’s a parody of all things Type-Moon, but essentially focuses on Fate/stay
night and Tsukihime characters.

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The show is packed with laughs, but you do have to be somewhat familiar with Type-Moon
characters and lore to get most of them. This isn’t exactly a good starting point, but can be a
real treat for series veterans looking for something light.

4 Fate/kaleid liner PRISMA☆ILLYA

Probably one of the most drastically different Fate spin-offs out there, the Kaleid anime is
based off of the manga of the same name and is set in an alternate universe from the original
series. As the name suggests, the anime focuses on Illya – though much younger here than her
original universe counterpart – and reworks the series’ lore in a magical girl format. The
anime has four seasons, with a fifth on the way and an anime film. Though things start off
light hearted, the plot eventually picks up. It might not be for everyone, but it’s one of the
more ambitious spin-offs considering just how different it is.

3 Fate/stay night: Heaven's Feel Movies

Not yet complete, the Heaven’s Feel films cover the last and most infamous route in the FSN
light novel. The Heaven’s Feel route is the darkest of the three, and so far the movies have
done a great job of capturing the tone and atmosphere.

Another Ufotable production, the animation quality for the films has been what you’d expect
thus far, and visually they seem to be the best looking Fate media put out thus far. This is
another example of something that’s intended towards veteran fans of the series, so it’d be
best to familiarize yourself with the Deen adaptation and the Unlimited Blade Works anime
before checking the films out.

2 Fate/stay night: Unlimited Blade Works

This is the anime that really put Fate on the map in the west. Unlimited Blade Works was a hit
when it came out, and served as a gateway into the series for a lot of fans. The animation
quality is superb and the narrative does an amazing job of recreating the game’s route, while
condensing it for a TV audience.

If you’re new to the series, this is likely a good starting point as it outshines the Deen
adaptations in every way and still manages to serve as an introduction while delivering for
series veterans.

1 Fate/Zero

The spin-off that gets the most love from the majority of the community, Fate/Zero serves as a
prequel to the original story and takes on a noticeably darker tone. While the original series
wasn’t light-hearted by any means, it had moments of repose. With Zero, things hit the fan
and they never quite come down. Be it its engaging narrative, solid animation or diverse cast
of characters – Zero delivers in every way, and is the most exceptional Fate anime because of
that.

NEXT:
Dragon Ball: 5 Characters Every Fan Loves (& 5 That Get Too Much Hate)

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About The Author

Adriano Valente(156 Articles Published)

Home Anime The Female Body Envy Trope in Anime Needs to Go Away

The Female Body Envy Trope in Anime Needs to Go Away

When one anime girl envies another's bust size, it sends a pretty bad message to anime fans. It doesn't do the show itself any favors, either.
BY LOUIS KEMNERPUBLISHED 4 DAYS AGO

Japanese animation is known for many things, from shouting attack names to obligatory
beach episodes and generous use of fan service, with some anime like Fairy Tail being
notorious for it. A little fan service goes a long way, and when fan service is excessive or mean- TRENDING NOW
spirited, it can send a bad message to anime fans.
10 Anime Couples That Outshined
The Main Couple
One example is the running gag of some female characters bitterly envying their well-endowed
female friends. Just like anyone else, girls and women have different body shapes that develop 10 Anime Characters Who Aren't
in different ways. Anime makes this clear with the various physical designs of its female Really Human But Pretend To Be
characters, which is fine; however, it's shallow and unnecessary to so frequently make less-
endowed anime girls so envious of their friends' bustier figures. Why Do Some Anime Characters
Always Have Their Eyes Closed?

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Frequently Showing Nudity

When the Narrative Mocks Female Characters' Bodies

envious beach girls in tomo chan

Sometimes, it seems like an anime character will think, feel or say something strictly for the
sake of humor or to live up to well-established anime conventions rather than speak for
themselves. Such dialogue or actions rarely develop the character, as that character is bound
by the script to live up to certain conventions. In a way, that even breaks the immersion, and
female body envy is an R-rated example of that. It's true that people, fictional and otherwise,
are often conscious of their own bodies and may compare themselves to others for all kinds of
reasons. Having body image issues is a real thing and can be relatable, so it shouldn't be
treated as a cheap, obligatory gag in anime episodes.

This particular running joke suggests that in most anime series, at least one female character,
often a teenager, will bitterly envy another girl's bustier figure. For discretion's sake, the first
girl usually only thinks about this to herself and doesn't say anything aloud, but the internal
dialogue makes everything clear to the audience even if the other female character is unaware.
The envious girl will feel terrible about herself, unfavorably comparing her bust to the other
girl's, and she might wonder how on earth the other girl attained such a figure. Often, the joke
ends there, leaving a lot that's merely implied. Perhaps the envious girl is upset that her
better-endowed counterpart will get all the boys' attention, for example, or the envious girl
was already having body image issues and seeing her better-endowed friend or classmate
makes it worse.

Rarely does this joke lead to substantial character development or explore sympathetic and
relatable themes in a constructive way. This recurring joke is typically shallow and done purely
for humor's sake, and by nature, it's at the envious girl's expense. With a lack of substance and
a focus on body shaming, this recurring joke is actually mean-spirited on the script's part and
serves no real purpose in the story. Such scenes can and arguably should be omitted from
anime if cheap humor is the only intention. Anime stories often explore deep personal themes
about self-worth, facing one's inner demons, overcoming personal flaws and more, and that
includes the topic of body image. However, having one girl superficially envy another girl's
generous bust and then dropping the subject entirely once the joke is delivered does no one
any favors.

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Appealing Traits Go Beyond Appearance

Juvia Lockser in Fairy Tail.

Even by anime fan service standards, it's superficial and pointless for jokes to focus on
something as simple and typically meaningless as a girl's chest size. Fan service is a deeply
ingrained part of manga/anime and will probably remain so for many years to come, but
discretion is still essential, and mean-spirited jokes are becoming less and less accepted. A
little fan service goes a long way, and even with characters like Juvia Lockser in Fairy Tail or
Tomo Aizawa in Tomo-chan Is a Girl!, outward beauty is just one small part of a character.

With or without fan service, any anime character must be designed as a well-rounded person
so they can be compelling, sympathetic and exciting to watch, no matter the genre or plot. This
is a universal must in storytelling, but in anime in particular, female characters often have
unbalanced and even warped designs. A lot of attention is paid to their appearance, which
opens the doors to fan service and certainly body envy from other, less-endowed female
characters. There's no harm in having an outwardly beautiful female character who's adored
by her viewers and fellow cast members, but making that the primary focus is often asking for
trouble.

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Such characters can easily become a walking excuse for fan service, and some creators, such as
Fairy Tail's Hiro Mashima, often fall into that trap. Juvia Locker is like that, being defined
mainly by her obsessive love for Gray Fullbuster and the young Wendy Marvell's intense envy
of Juvia's motherly figure (and that of other Fairy Tail members, too). The best-designed
female characters are well-rounded with their appearance, personality, flaws, goals, thematic
relevance, combat strength, relationships and more.

When that happens, a great female character can be admired and even envied for far more
than her ample chest. Superficial bust envy goes nowhere, but if a female character inspires
the other girls with her genuine strengths, then those others might envy her or feel
intimidated at first, then constructively strive to be more like her. Such a situation is flattering
and positive for everyone involved, and that's what makes for a real Best Girl.

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About The Author

Louis Kemner(5658 Articles Published)
Louis Kemner has been a fan of Japanese animation since 1997, when he discovered Pokemon and Dragon Ball Z in
elementary school. Now he's a bigger anime/manga fan than ever, and is ready to share what he knows with reade…
worldwide. He graduated high school in 2009 and received his Bachelor's in creative writing from UMKC in 2013,
then put his skills to work in 2019 with CBR.com. He's always looking for a wonderful new anime to watch or manga
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