Anime Reviews (2010-2019): Fate/Apocrypha Limited Edition Blu-ray Box Set 2 (A Neo-Tokyo 2099 Anime on Blu-ray review) (2017)

Having watched many “Fate” series and films, “Fate/Apocrypha” is no doubt quite different. And I mean to say “different” in a good way. It brings a fresh style, cool characters, a different type of dark, yet captivating storyline and remains consistent with many high-octane action-driven scenes and more! “Fate/Apocrypha” was no doubt an awesome series! “Fate/Apocrypha Limited Edition Blu-ray Box Set 2” is highly recommended!

TITLE: Fate/Apocrypha Limited Edition Blu-ray Box Set 2

ANIME RELEASE DATE IN JAPAN: 2017

DURATION: EPISODES 13-25 (307 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: February 12, 2019

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

Beyond each of their wishes is where the “Apocrypha” is woven.

“Miracle Child” Amakusa Shirou Tokisada — Shirou Kotomine, wishes for the salvation of all humanity using the Greater Grail. “Holy Maiden” Jeanne d’Arc – as Ruler, seeks harmony within the Great Holy Grail War. Sieg — an unknown boy, who picks up the sword for the sake of his own wishes after harboring the power of the “Dragonslayer” within him.

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.

With the first box set released back in November 2018, the second box set will be released in February 2019.

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!

For “Fate/Apocrypha”, the main characters are Sieg, a homunculus who was killed by Gordes but brought back to life by Siegfried, who sacrificed his life by putting his heart into Sieg. In the second half, Sieg becomes a master of Rider of Black/Astolfo.

While Jack the Ripper continues to kill and Sieg and Ruller (Jeanne d’Arc) try to lure her out in hopes to stop her.

And the conclusion of the battle between the Black and Red Factions and who will become the Holy Grail War!

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.

But the second half of the series is all-out action as battles are intensified and the remaining characters left in the battle, no doubt provided captivating fights and in essence, led to a finale that I enjoyed.

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. e get to see a different Sabre, a heroic Jeanne ala Rider and a homunculus in the protagonist role.

How the storyline went overall and how character dynamics were strengthened towards the end, I was most appreciative in all that went into making this series entertaining.

The animation for “Fate/Apocrypha” 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.

For special features, you get a season 2 PV, Blu-ray Disc Box CM’s, textless opening and endings and previews. While the special features are slim, the good news is that you do get extras!

You do get a 27-track soundtrack by Yokoyama Masaru, with nearly an hour worth of music. You also get a 24-page booklet featuring interviews 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 wasn’t sure how I would enjoy this new entry into the “Fate” storyline but it turned out much better than I expected and was definitely entertained from beginning to end!

But overall, having watched many “Fate” series and films, “Fate/Apocrypha” is no doubt quite different. And I mean to say “different” in a good way. It brings a fresh style, cool characters, a different type of dark, yet captivating storyline and remains consistent with many high-octane action-driven scenes and more! “Fate/Apocrypha” was no doubt an awesome series!

“Fate/Apocrypha Limited Edition Blu-ray Box Set 2” is highly recommended!

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