Games That Copying Fate Stay Night Character Designs

The giant multimedia franchise that is Fate Stay/Night began as a popular visual novel back in 2004, but no one could've predicted just how big it would get. With the original novel's ever-increasing popularity have come several adaptations of the series and story, including manga, anime, films, video games, and of course, spin-offs from the original story. The series – no matter what its format – has become hugely popular with fans, spawning memes, cosplay, and more.

The latest anime film – Fate/Grand Order: Divine Realm Of The Round Table: Camelot- Wandering; Agateram – is scheduled for release on December 5, 2020 and will complete the three routes introduced by the original light novels. Over the years, the anime has veered away from the original light novel in various ways, while keeping many elements the same.

10 DIFFERENT: The Fight Between Shirou & Archer

In the visual novel, the battle between Shirou and Archer is the crux of the story to that point. Shirou is truly questioning his ideals, which represents the culmination of a development that has been brewing in the story since the beginning. The original fight involves a lot of shouting and narration from Shirou that puts it all into context.

This wouldn't have translated well to anime, though, where the fight itself is more exciting – less shouting, more action, and the Unlimited Blade Works are used much earlier.

9 SAME: The Basic Story & Scenario

The basics of the story remain the same both in the visual novel and the anime series. Fate/Stay Night is the story of the Fifth Holy Grail War that takes place 10 years after the Fourth Holy Grail War (which is the subject of Fate/Zero).

The Holy Grail Wars are supposed to take place every 60 years but in this case, the Fifth begins early. Each of the Magus (or Masters) competing has a Servant to help them out. The Servants are familiars who are based on historical figures or legendary characters from the greatest forms of literature ever read.

8 DIFFERENT: The Characters Get Unequal Treatment

Writer Kinoko Nasu's scheme of using different character routes in the light novel to emphasize different people doesn't translate as well to the anime, which can only stick to one route at a time. This means that while some characters have relatively significant roles in the anime, viewers don't know much about their backstories, motivations and more. At worse, viewers may not even care.

For example, Illya's character isn't as fully fleshed out as it is in the source material so when she dies, it doesn't have much impact. Similarly, there is also less backstory for Kotomine (pictured above), so his true evil nature is less apparent. Specifically, what he did to the orphans isn't' delved into in the anime.

7 SAME: The Basic Outlines Of Shirou's Story

The basics of Shirou Emiya's life remain the same throughout the various entries in theFate media franchise. Both of Shirou's parents are killed as the result of a huge fire in Fuyuki City when he was a small child. He's raised by Kiritsugu Emiya (pictured above), a retired mage who tries to teach him the ways of magic.

He's a high school student when he witnesses a battle that is part of the Holy Grail War and is attacked, setting off a chain of events that drags him unwillingly into the life-or-death battle.

6 DIFFERENT: Shirou's Inner Nature Is Less Developed In The Anime

In a visual novel, there is much more time and space for character exposition and development. Fans get to know Shirou's inner turmoil and struggles in ways they just can't in the anime series. For one, Shirou has survivor's guilt from the terrible fire that took his parents' lives and he feels a very need to be of service and use to others.

That's what compels him to do what he does in the story. Over the course of his original development, he gradually comes to realize how wrong this way of life is and abandons his original goal. Unfortunately, this is not always apparent in the anime.

5 SAME: Shirou's Monologues

The visual novel is full of Shirou's monologues and this is how his thoughts and emotions are revealed to the player. An anime might be expected to focus more on action but in this case, several of Shirou's monologues are taken directly from the visual novel and put into the anime.

It does slow down the action at times, but it helps audiences understand Shirou. "If you walk down the path that you believe is right, you cannot be wrong," he says in the beginning... only to prove himself wrong later on. Talk about character development!

4 DIFFERENT: The Servants & Their Importance

The original light novel was released in one go, and the story with its three routes is meant to be experienced as a whole. With the anime versions stretching across a period of several years, the roles of the various Servants aren't all that clear unless fans actually view all episodes and movies. And even then, the importance they're given isn't always the same.

For example, Caster's (Medea) original role isn't as extensive as it is in the anime. Rider's true identity as Medusa isn't revealed until the Heaven's Feel movies, the first of which was released in 2017.

3 SAME: The All-Ages Realta-Nua Mana Transfer

To put it as tactfully as possible, there were several NSFW scenes in the original Japanese light novel. The way that mana is replenished, for example, is an adults-only scene that could be mistaken for a straightforward sex scene to the uninitiated. As a result, the light novel was re-issued in what is called the Realta-Nua version, or an all-ages reprint. This more mainstream-friendly version is what the anime is based on

Just like the original light novel, mana transfer still looks a bit suggestive but now, it stays inside the all-ages boundaries. As the franchise became more popular, it was bound to get watered down a bit so that it could become more accessible to as many people of all ages as possible.

2 DIFFERENT: Illya Kidnapped Shirou In The Light Novels

Illya kidnaps Shirou in the Fate route of the light novels. Saber is weakened by her fight with Rider and Illya kidnaps Shirou. She wants him to be her Servant, but he refuses. In response, Illya sends Berserker (above) after Saber, Rin and Archer.

In the anime, things play out very differently. Saber recovers and when Caster assaults the Emiya family, Caster takes Saber as her servant. Rin tells Shirou the bad news that he's not Saber's Master anymore, and it plunges Shirou into a depression. He gets confused, and doesn't know what direction to take.

1 SAME: Shirou Loves Saber (& Rin & Sakura)

Over the course of the anime adaptations, as in the light novel, Shirou has relationships with three different heroines. In the Fate route, the focus is on Saber. At first, Shirou sees her as too warlike but he comes to see the necessity for fighting. Out of all the Master-Servant combinations, they win the Fifth Holy Grail.

In Unlimited Blade Works, Shirou and Rin become allies, and in Heaven's Feel, Shirou falls in love with the dangerous Sakura. Simply put, he can't seem to stay put with one romantic interest in the anime.

NEXT: My Next Life As A Villainess: 5 Things That The Anime Changed From The Novel (& 5 That Stayed The Same)

Next Naruto: The 10 Best Things About Ino & Sakura's Friendship

About The Author

Anya Wassenberg (132 Articles Published)

I'm a long time freelance writer, blogger, and editor with a specialty in entertainment, arts, culture and travel. I'm also a longstanding science fiction/fantasy/comic book fan. My work has been cited and referenced in numerous books, magazines, and academic publications all over the world. I teach creative writing courses at the college level and in my other identity, I'm also a singer-songwriter known as Anya Mia. You can check out me and my work on my website at AnyaWassenberg.ca, and follow me on Twitter at @AnyaArtsMaven