Anime Reviews (2010-2019): Fate/Apocrypha Limited Edition Blu-ray Box Set 1 (2017)

Having watched many “Fate” series and films, “Fate/Apocrypha” is no doubt quite different, but I mean to say “different” in a good way. It brings a fresh style, a different type of storyline and remains consistent in high-octane action and more! I’m hooked and can’t wait for the second half of the series! “Fate/Apocrypha Limited Edition Blu-ray Box Set 1” is recommended!

TITLE: Fate/Apocrypha Limited Edition Blu-ray Box Set 1

ANIME RELEASE DATE IN JAPAN: 2017

DURATION: EPISODES 1-12 (280 Minutes)

BLU-RAY INFORMATION: 1080p High Definition, 16×9, Japanese and English Linear PCM Stereo, Subtitles: English

COMPANY: Aniplex of America, Inc.

RATED: 13 and Up

Release Date: November 20, 2018

Originally Concept: Kinoku Nasu

Directed by Yoshiyuki Asai

Series Composition: Yuichiro Higashide

Music by Masaru Yokoyama

Character Design by Yukei Yamada

Art Director: Kazuhiro Inoue

Anime Production: A-1 Pictures

Featuring the following voice talent:

Kouki Uchiyama/Max Mittelman as Shirō Kotomine

Maaya Sakamoto/Erika Harlacher as Ruler

Natsuki Hanae/Zach Aguilar as Sieg

Ai Nonaka/Sarah Anne Williams as Berserker of Black

Chinatsu Akasaki/Kayli Mills as Fiore Forvedge Yggdmillennia

Emiri Katō/Erica Mendez as Roche Frain Yggdmillennia

Junichi Suwabe/Ben Pronksky as Saber of Black

Kei Shindou/Allegra Clark as Assassin of Red

Kenji Nomura/Patrick Seitz as Kairi Sisigou

Koji Yusa/Chris Niosi as Lancer of Red

Mai Nakahara/Allegra Clark as Reika Rikudou

Makoto Furukawa/Joe Zieja as Rider of Red

Mitsuru Miyamoto/Cam Clarke as Caster of Black

Miyuki Sawashiro/Erica Lindbeck as Saber of Red

Nobuyuki Hiyama/Ben Diskin as Darnic Prestone Yggdmillennia

Rumi Okubo/Faye Mata as Rider of Black

Ryotaro Okiayu/Ray Chase as Lancer of Black

Sakura Tange/Erica Mendez as Assassin of Black

Saori Hayami/Allegra Clark as Archer of Red

Satoshi Tsuruoka/Joshua Tomar as Berserker of Red

Shizuka Ishigami/Lauren Landa as Celenike Icecolle Yggdmillennia

Shunsuke Takeuchi/Jalen K. Cassell as Archer of Black

Tetsu Inada/Keith Silverstein as Caster of Red

Toru Ohkawa/Brad Venable as Gordes Musik Yggdmillennia

Yūsuke Kobayashi/Tom Bauer as Caules Forvedge Yggdmillennia

“I chose to fight. From that instant, my hands were covered in blood.”

The Black Faction seized the Greater Grail for the sake of the clan’s most earnest wish to symbolize its independence from the Mage’s Association. The Mage’s Association gathers the Red Faction in order to thwart such ambitions. Taking place in Trifas, Romania, the Great Holy Grail War that takes place between 14 Heroic Spirits summoned by the two factions transforms thanks to Shirou Kotomine, one of the Masters of the Red, who is also the Overseer for this Great War.

Please note that we use the Japanese way of name honorifics (family name, first name):

Back in 2012, a new Japanese light novel series in Type-Moon’s “Fate” was created. Considered as a parallel world to the original “Fate/stay night”, a total of five Japanese light novels written by Higashide Yuichiro and illustrated by Konoe Ototsugu were released from December 2012-2014.

A manga adaptation was serialized in Kadokawa Shoten’s “Comp Ace” magazine and an anime series adaptation by A-1 Pictures was released in July 2017.

Now, the anime series will be released on Blu-ray in North America courtesy of Aniplex of America, Inc.

The anime series is set when the House of Einzbern summoned a Ruler than an Avenger during the Third Holy Grail War. The Holy Grail was removed from Fuyuki City to Romania after the war and there is a conflict between two rival factions, Red and Black.

Each have summoned their seven Servants and the Grail summoned a special Ruler class to serve as a mediator of the Holy Grail War.

The Red faction are members who are mages sent by the Clock Tower Mage’s Association, while the Black faction are part of the Romanian group of magi known as Yggdmillennia.

The series begins with Sisigou Kairi being summoned to the Clock Tower by Rocco Belfeban and learning that Darnic Prestone Yggdmillennia has gone rogue and he is claiming that he possesses the Holy Grail that was stolen from Fuyuki during the Third Grail War and he plans to form a new Mage Association that will conflict with the Clock Tower.

The Clock Tower activates an emergency system in the Greater Grail which triggers a Great Holy Grail War pitting the Seven Masters of Red vs. Seven Master of Black.

Sisigou accepts the Clock Tower’s offer to become a Master of Red, while in Romania, Darnic has begun his plans of building an army of golems. Meanwhile, Jeanne d’Arc is summoned to Romania as a Ruler-class servant, to make sure that the Holy Grail War proceeds.

The Red Faction servants consist of Saber, Archer, Lancer, Rider, Caster, Berserker and Assassin.

The Black Faction servants consists of Astolfo, Chiron, Frankenstein’s monster, Siegfried, Avicebron, Vlad Tepes III and Jack the Ripper.

But a new danger takes place and these rival servants may need to work together to take on a greater threat!

Having watched the first 12 episodes of “Fate/Apocrypha”, it’s definitely a whole different type of storyline that I find fascinating, entertaining and like that it still maintains that consistent action-driven theme.

In previous “Fate/stay night” series, it’s always been master/servants taking on other master/servants but in this case, it’s the red vs. black factions which consists of various servants for each faction. And it’s rather interesting how the storyline works itself out for one to actually care about Frankenstein’s monster, the Homunculus and other characters.

To complicate matters is that you have Darnic Prestone Yggdmillennia going rogue, going crazy and without spoiling the storyline, let’s just say things get increasingly crazy and chaotic after the first few episodes. The series literally goes on high adrenaline and it leaves you wanting more!

The animation looks vibrant and wonderful in HD and you get both Japanese and English Linear PCM stereo lossless soundtracks. Both are well-acted and for the most part, fans of the series should be happy with the voice acting on both soundtracks.

While there are no special features, you do get a 26-track soundtrack with nearly an hour worth of music. You also get a 24-page booklet featuring an interview with the lightnovel author Higashide Yuichiro plus character artwork and more. The Blu-ray cases are housed in a pretty cool slipcase and for the most part, it’s a solid set!

If anything, I’m glad that Aniplex is releasing the first 12 episodes as a set, instead of splitting them up via 8-episodes as they have done with series in the past.

But overall, having watched many “Fate” series and films, “Fate/Apocrypha” is no doubt quite different, but I mean to say “different” in a good way. It brings a fresh style, a different type of storyline and remains consistent in high-octane action and more! I’m hooked and can’t wait for the second half of the series!

“Fate/Apocrypha Limited Edition Blu-ray Box Set 1” is recommended!

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