Fate/strange Fake
Fate/strange Fake is a Japanese light novel series in Type-Moon's Fate franchise, written by Ryōgo Narita and illustrated by.
It was originally placed on Narita's homepage under the title of "Fake/states night" on April 1, 2008, presented as a prologue and introduction for a role playing style game as an April Fool's prank. The text was taken down after April Fool's, but was later re-released in the form of a novel included as an extra with the magazine TYPE-MOON Ace 2 in 2009, with illustrations by Morii Shizuki and an afterword by the author.
In 2014, it was announced that both a novel and manga series would be published and a brief trailer was made. An anime television special produced by A-1 Pictures titled Fate/strange Fake: Whispers of Dawn premiered in July 2023, which adapts most of the chapters of the first volume. An anime television series adaptation also produced by A-1 Pictures premiered its first episode in December 2024, while later episodes premiered in January 2026.
Plot
The world of Fate/strange Fake is primarily structured around the concept of a “Holy Grail War,” a conflict in which participants summon Heroic Spirits and fight for possession of the Holy Grail—an omnipotent wish-granting device said to be capable of fulfilling any desire.The story centers around a Grail War faultily copied from the Third Holy Grail War in Fuyuki. After the end of the third Grail War, an organization from the United States that has magi separate from the London-based Mage Association as members took data from Fuyuki's Grail War and planned their own ritual. After seventy years, they used the city Snowfield as the Sacred Land for their own Grail War. They were unable to successfully copy every aspect of the ritual, which led to it acting only as an imitation that has lost the Saber class and allowed for the summoning of strange Servants due to the definition of a "hero" being blurred.
The Mage's Association has sent Langal and his pupil, Faldeus, to investigate the city and the status of the war. Faldeus, a spy from the US organization, has Langal sniped upon arrival, despite knowing that Langal was simply a puppet. He announces that their Holy Grail War has been in development and that it is real, which causes an uproar at the Clock Tower, and wishes to "advertise" the project to the Association.
Characters
Main characters
;Ayaka Sajyou;Saber - Richard I
;Tiné Chelc
;Tsubaki Kuruoka
;Orlando Reeve
;Jester Karture
;Flat Escardos
;The Synthetic beast Silver Wolf
;Sigma
;Faldeus Dioland
;Bazdilot Cordelion
;Francesca Prelati
;Haruri Borzak
;Archer -
;Lancer -
;Rider -
;Caster -
;Berserker - Jack the Ripper
;True Archer - Heracles
;True Rider - Hippolyta
;True Assassin - Hassan-i Sabbah
;True Caster - François Prelati
;True Berserker - Humbaba
;Watcher
;Ishtar
Secondary characters
;Clan Calatin;Hansa Cervantes
;Waver Velvet
;Langal
;Fillia
;El-Melloi Classroom
;Thia Escardos
Minor characters
;Caubac Alcatraz;Cashura
;Kischur Zelretch Schweinorg
;Yuukaku Kuruoka
;Mrs. Kuruoka
;Master of Archer
;Synthetic beast creator
;Doris Lusendra
;Van-Fem
Media
Light novel
Published by Dengeki BunkoManga
Published by Type-Moon Books with sales by Media PalAnime
An official animated promotional video was released on December 31, 2019, it was animated by A-1 Pictures and uses the song "Belong" by Hiroyuki Sawano.An anime television special adaptation was announced during the Aniplex Online Fest 2022 event in September 2022. Titled Fate/strange Fake: Whispers of Dawn, it is produced by A-1 Pictures and directed by Shun Enokido and Takahito Sakazume, with scripts written by Daisuke Ōhigashi, character designs by Yūkei Yamada, and music composed by Hiroyuki Sawano. It was originally set to air on December 31, 2022, during the annual Fate Project New Year's Eve TV Special, but was later delayed due to production issues. The film premiered on July 2, 2023, on Tokyo MX and BS11, following its world premiere in Los Angeles at Anime Expo. The theme song is "FAKEit", performed by Hiroyuki Sawano|SawanoHiroyuki:Laco. Aniplex of America licensed the special.
During their panel at Anime Expo 2023, an anime television series adaptation was announced. The main staff members from the television film are reprising their roles. The first episode aired during the annual Fate Project New Year's Eve TV Special on December 31, 2024, though it had a live broadcast at the Fate 20th Anniversary Showcase in Hollywood on November 23, 2024. Later episodes starting from the second episode were originally set to premiere in 2025, but were later delayed and eventually premiered on January 10, 2026. The opening theme song is "Provant", performed by SawanoHiroyuki featuring Jean-Ken Johnny of Man with a Mission and Takuma of 10-Feet and the ending theme song is "Senzaiteki na Ai", performed by 13.3g. Crunchyroll has licensed the series for streaming.