The next Fate anime series makes its debut on Netflix, in the streaming service’s continuing support and push for more frequent anime releases to the West. Based on the same Fate/stay light novel series of the same name by Type-Moon, Fate/Apocrypha focuses on the potential threat of a Great Holy Grail War.

Fate/Aprocrypha is a 2017 shounen anime series, it is produced by A-1 Pictures, and currently licensed by Netflix for streaming in Japan, with a US stream release to follow this November.

In a world parallel to the original Fate/Stay Night, a Ruler is summoned rather than Avenger by House of Einzbern.

Another year, another Fate/Stay Night series, in Fate/Aprocrypha is a story parallel to the core aforementioned series, where House of Einzbern has summoned a Ruler, whereas in the original story an Avenger was summoned. The Third Holy Grail War has gone underway, and the Holy Grail has been sent to Romania, thus effectively retconning the events of Fate/Stay Night & Fate/Zero. Warring factions Red & Black summon Servants to aide them in battle; Red features mages from Clock Tower Mage’s Association, whereas Black features Romanian magi group, Yggdmillennia.

The Third Holy Grail War effects an alternate world.

THE GOOD: Like many of the recent Fate anime series, the action sequences in Fate/Apocrypha are beautifully animated, and luckily for action junkies there’s quite a few of these in the first episode. We get a decent amount of time from both the Red & Black sides of the war, and a handful of characters get a bit of development throughout their respective scenes. At the end we get a tease of the Apocrypha version of Jeanne D’Arc. There’s actually quite a bit of information to process for  twenty-three minute episode, so there’s the possibility that a rewatch may be required to understand it all.

A good start for a fresh new Fate/ series.

THE BAD: Those not familiar with the Fate/ franchise will definitely be lost by the story, as it takes place within the events of previous Fate series in an parallel time line.

A new outlook on a seasoned franchise.

OVERALL THOUGHTS: Fate/Apocrypha is indeed for fans who are at least semi-aware of the series’ story, at least up to the point of Fate/Zero. It’s fast paced, with a lot of info to process in a single episode. The animation, action sequences, and perhaps even the story (despite its unwelcome feeling for newcomers) may be enough to keep you invested in its 25 episode run. Otaku Dome gives Fate/Apocrypha Episode 1 a 82 out of 1oo.