The appeal and evaluation of "Fate EXTRA Last Encore": A profound story and how to present the characters

"Fate EXTRA Last Encore" - The glorious end of Encore and a new beginning

"Fate EXTRA Last Encore" is a TV anime series based on the game by TYPE-MOON and Marvelous, and was broadcast on TOKYO MX and BS11 from January 28 to April 1, 2018. Although it is a short series of only 9 episodes, its deep story and beautiful visuals have captivated many fans. This work depicts Hakuno Kishinami and Saber fighting to end the Holy Grail War, and is an epic story that intertwines the past and the future, and hope and despair.

■ Story

Hakuno Kishinami and Saber have risen through the battles from the lowest floor to the sixth floor, overcoming many decisions along the way. Hakuno, who awakened as "someone", acknowledges that he is the sum of death and resolves to fight as a new "someone". However, the past they are fighting is long gone, and the opportunity to achieve a victorious ending is lost forever. Will the hope in Hakuno's heart reach the Serpent Cage? The end of the Holy Grail War, the last fragment of the moon to be told, the final curtain comes here.

■Explanation

Fate EXTRA Last Encore is worthy of being called a glorious Encore. Directed by Akiyuki Shimbo, Shaft's animation production faithfully recreates the worldview of the original work while adding its own unique aesthetic to maximize visual appeal. Series composer Kinoko Nasu's storytelling delves deeply into the inner lives of the characters, encouraging viewers to empathize with them deeply. Additionally, Wada Arco's original character ideas and character designs by Masaaki Takiyama and Hiroki Yamamura vividly portray the individuality of each character.

■Cast

Abe Atsushi was cast as Hakuno Kishinami, and Tange Sakura was cast as Saber. Other cast members include Ueda Kana as Tohsaka Rin, Kamiya Hiroshi as Matou Shinji, Shimoya Noriko as Matou Sakura, Imamura Ayaka as Shiri Misao, Toriumi Kosuke as Archer, Takano Rei as Rider, Nonaka Ai as Caster, Yasui Kunihiko as Berserker, and Mizushima Takahiro as Gawain. Their performances express the emotions of the characters realistically, adding depth to the story.

■ Main staff

The original work was written by Kinoko Nasu, TYPE-MOON, and Marvelous, and the series was composed by Kinoko Nasu. The original character designs were by Arco Wada, the general director was Akiyuki Shinbo, the series director was Yukihiro Miyamoto, the character designs and general animation directors were Masaaki Takiyama and Hiroki Yamamura, the action director was Kazuhiro Miwa, the art director was Takuma Mochizuki, the color design was Jin Hibino, the CG director was Shinya Takano, the director of photography was Takayuki Aizu, the editor was Rie Matsuhara, the sound director was Yota Tsuruoka, the sound production was by Rakuonsha, and the music was by Satoru Kanzaki (MONACA). The animation was produced by Shaft.

■ Main Characters

Saber (Nero Claudius)
A servant who will participate in the Holy Grail War of the Moon. Emperor of the Rose, Saber of Crimson, Nero Claudius. He is the Fifth Emperor of the Roman Empire, known as a free-spirited dictator and tyrant. A lonely girl who ended her life in despair, never knowing the love of her parents or the love of the people. Her Noble Phantasm is the "Aestus Domus Aurea", which is not a physical sword, but an anecdote as her weapon. She creates a Golden Theater where she can fully exercise her "Emperor's Privilege" and uses it as a battlefield. In addition, she has the "Fax Caelestis", which uses the burning and collapsing Golden Theater to attack. 1000 years ago, she fought alongside Hakuno Kishinami and reached the Cage of Fiery Heaven, but was defeated by Saber. However, in response to Hakuno Kishinami's voice at the bottom of the Hell saying "I will fight to the end", she will once again participate in the Holy Grail War. Saber burns her life for what she believes to be beautiful. On the fifth level, she revealed her true name to Hakuno, truly forming a bond as Master and Servant. She then reached the Serpent Cage once more, and as the representative of all the Servants involved in the Holy Grail War, delivered the final Master to the core of the Moon Cell. The smallest wish she made to the Holy Grail - "I want someone to be by my side at the end" - was never granted in her lifetime, but it became the single greatest reward she was given.

Hakuno Kishinami <br> A student at Tsukimihara Academy. He is not "Shirono Kishinami", but a totality of death that has her elements and is composed only of hatred for the living. Many losers, dead people, and a huge record of defeats. The storage of those records sensed the end of SE.RA.PH, and this change occurred only once in 1000 years. When he woke up, it was the last day of the qualifying venue in the limbo, and the memories he saw on each floor were fragments of the memories of countless losers. Although it was a change that only occurred once in 1000 years, it was not a miracle. If there was a miracle, it was that he gained the will to fight, not hatred. The fact that he picked up his sword to survive in a desperate situation is the biggest bug and miracle in the limbo that had been simulating the same result for 1000 years. Hakuno Kishinami is not Shirono Kishinami. However, he is not a fake or a counterfeit, but a new "someone" with the same emotions and the same heart. No matter how much his appearance changes, no matter how different his nature becomes, something based on the same soul will reach the same conclusion. You didn't want to die, and you didn't know what to do, so you aimed higher. And to become "someone" and no one else, you, the nameless you, awakened. After fighting up to the seventh floor, the mask of the dead fell off. The dead became the living, and the goals they had to achieve were reversed. On the other hand, you lost your immortality as a Dead Face, and your fighting power was greatly reduced. Because, as a living person, you die if your chest is pierced. But the dead cannot stop the living, and the dead cannot grasp the shadow of those who pass away with dignity.

Tohsaka Rin <br> A student at Tsukimihara Academy. 1000 years ago, she was active on the surface as a terrorist and anti-government wizard. The reason she participated in the Moon Holy Grail War was to pursue Leonardo Vistario Harwey, the head of a Western European conglomerate, and change the "future" that had entered a period of stagnation under the control of the Western European conglomerate. Tohsaka Rin and Rani VIII both won and fought each other at the same time. However, even the Moon Cell was unable to determine the outcome. The Holy Grail War stopped when neither of them died or won, and they were protected in a state of suspended animation, and the two were incorporated as auxiliary devices to maintain the floor. In their slumber, the two redefined themselves, and as both the floor itself and the master, they made their avatars fight. However, since the result had already been determined as a draw, there was no point in the fight. The two, who had become biological units, had no choice but to kill each other forever and forever, and to continue to increase their remains forever and forever. However, 500 years ago, when their self-modification and self-strengthening had ceased to show any significant changes, they made a truce with one common goal. There was only one mission. They were to send their clones from the first to fifth floors, find the Master who was still alive, and push him up to the sixth floor where their real bodies were waiting. Rin was in charge of the fifth, third, and first floors. (Even though they were in a cooperative relationship, Rani was still a rival, so she used stealth to hide her presence on the second and fourth floors. She also hid herself on the sixth floor using stealth, but Hakuno's heartless words caused her to reveal herself and she was captured.) What they wanted was a clear "end." To be liberated from the distorted "infinite life" that was just not dying.

Matou Sakura <br> A woman in the nurse's office at Tsukimihara Academy. Her presence plays an important role in the story, and creates deep drama through her relationships with other characters. Her conflict between the past and the present leaves a strong impression on the viewer.

Misao Shiri <br> A student at Tsukimihara Academy. Her character's background is gradually revealed as the story progresses, providing the viewer with a new perspective. Her actions and decisions have a major impact on the development of the story.

Rani = VIII
She is a former Master who lost her Servant, and helps Hakuno. She is the last magician of the Atlas Academy, which has passed down magic to the present day, and is an artificial life form created by humans, a homunculus. She was given the highest specs as a cyber magician (wizard), and in terms of specs as a magician alone, she exceeds that of Leonardo Vistario Harwey. 1000 years ago, she participated in the Holy Grail War, taught by her master to "obtain the Moon Holy Grail" and "know humans." She has a hidden mission to "destroy anything that cannot obtain the Moon Holy Grail," and for that reason, her heart is made of an extremely high-density collection of spirit particles. This is the deepest part of the Atlas Academy, which is different from the Moon Cell's technical system, and if it goes out of control, it will destroy the SE.RA.PH, and if used with the Serpent Cage, it will cause great damage to the Moon Cell itself. This is why Hakuno was able to treat Rin's heart but was unable to treat Rani's. Because it was too complicated in structure, he was unable to treat it and could only watch Rani die. The areas covered by the clones were the 5th, 4th, and 2nd floors. Unlike Rin, she does not prioritize the parameter of loyalty and human feelings (she feels it, but does not put it first), so she did not accompany Hakuno and the others on the 4th and 5th floors, and left the mission to her next clone (herself). "However, the mission of the Atlas Academy and your mission are different. If possible, find your desire as a human and make it come true. That is the wish of a mother who will disappear before you, leaving you behind." That is what Rani's teacher, who was on the verge of death due to her life expectancy, left behind. A star that changes destiny. Or, a star that overcomes destiny. In her final moments, she watched the outcome with a dazzling look on her face.

Ryder (Francis Drake)
Shinji Matou's servant. Rider, Francis Drake. He is the one who traveled around the world and connected the world. In real life, he is a man, but in Fate, he appears as a tomboyish female pirate. He is nicknamed "Temerosso El Drago", the woman who brought down the sun, because he defeated the Spanish fleet, the best in the world at the time. He is a rare servant with the trait of "Pioneer of the Stars", and an adventurer with strong luck. His Noble Phantasm is "Golden Deer and Stormy Night (Golden Wild Hunt)". After hearing Shinji's brag that "I can make gold even from mud", he accompanies him in managing the city. ...Drake himself has a premonition that his luck, which has "always snatched victory at the most crucial moment" due to the long, long stagnation, will work in the opposite way in a decisive moment.

Matou Shinji <br> A student at Tsukimihara Academy. He once defeated his opponent and earned the right to move up, but when he was confronted with the fact that the Holy Grail War was "truly killing the opponent," he gave up the fight. He was the only Master who did not climb the ladder and remained on the first floor. 14 days later, Chakra Valtin was established, and as the only surviving Master on the first floor, he automatically became the Floor Master. Using his remaining resources, Shinji created a city of pleasure where Masters who had given up on moving up could gather, and ran a new system. Refusing to disappear without leaving anything behind, he clung to an innocent dream: "If we gather the world's leading hackers, we may not be able to save SE.RA.PH, but we should be able to do something."

Archer (Robin Hood)
Dan Blackmore's Servant. Archer, Robin Hood. A Heroic Spirit praised as a righteous thief in British legend. He is skilled in guerilla warfare and possesses two types of Noble Phantasms. The "Faceless King (No Face Making)" hides his appearance, and the "Prayer Bow (Yi Bow)" amplifies and explodes the target's accumulated impurity. He once believed in "no waste, no danger" tactics to kill enemy Masters by surprise attacks and poisoning, but when he was touched by Dan Blackmore's beliefs, he was granted a small wish from his life. After that, he was resurrected as a Servant when Dan was resurrected, and accompanied Dan, who had already been defeated and was no longer qualified to be a Master, wandering through the deep forest for 1000 years. Even if he loses his face, he will not forget his pride. Please leave our remains under the yew tree---

Dan Blackmore <br> Floor Master of the second floor. A warrior who values ​​chivalry and an old knight who has been through many battles. However, after the establishment of Chakra Valtin, he was chosen as the strongest of the Masters defeated in the second floor and was forcibly resurrected. However, there is no way for the dead to be resurrected in the same state as they were in life, and after 1000 years, he has transformed into a hunter obsessed with victory. Although Dan is the Floor Master of the second floor, he was defeated 1000 years ago, so he is no longer a participant in the Holy Grail War and therefore no longer a Master, and no matter how many Wizards who hold Master status he kills, he has no right to move up.

Caster (Nursery Rhyme)
Alice's Servant. Caster, Nursery Rhyme. Not an actual hero, but a general term for an actual picture book. A concept was formed as she accepted the dreams of many children, and she became a Servant. Her Noble Phantasm is the unique barrier "Nursery Rhyme: A Story for Someone". She reflects the Master's heart and creates a pseudo-Servant in the shape of the Master's dream. The Noble Phantasm that was created after she gained a Master called Alice is "Perpetual Motion Machine: Queen's Glass Game". She rewinds the situation and keeps redoing it forever until she gets a favorable result. Since it is a retry and not a loop, the memories and time before the redo are also accumulated.

Alice <br> Floor Master of the 3rd Floor. Floor Master of the 3rd Floor. A girl who died of illness and suddenly appeared as a cyber ghost in SE.RA.PH. She was invisible to normal humans. Holding in her heart a promise from a certain person that she would "definitely come back," she tried to maintain herself by using the "Nameless Forest" as a resource, and became a monster. She continued to rewind "this day." No matter what form she took, she only dreamed of that promise coming true--

Berserker (Li Shuwen)
Julius' Servant. Berserker, Li Shuwen. Originally a Servant manifested as an Assassin class. Julius has compensated for his lost sanity. His Noble Phantasms are "No Second Strike" and "The Fierce Tiger Claws at the Mountain". "No Second Strike" is a casual first strike at the start of a battle, but this strike contains the deadly power to destroy the enemy from the inside. For those who do not know his true identity, it is truly a first-hit killer Noble Phantasm. "The Fierce Tiger Claws at the Mountain" is one of the secret techniques of Bajiquan. The name comes from the first strike, which looks like a tiger clawing at a mountain. Each strike is "energy from the earth, with the warrior Li Shuwen as its output."

Julius <br> A murderer wandering the 5th floor. He is the older brother of Leo Vistario Harwey, who was said to be the greatest Master in the history of the Holy Grail War. Before becoming a Master, he was the captain of a private army for a Western European conglomerate on the surface, and was also an assassin who eliminated Harwey's political enemies. During the Holy Grail War, he also killed many Masters behind the scenes. He was defeated by Saber and her former Master on the 5th floor, but was revived as the best Master on the 5th floor, but became a Dead Face and began to wander the 5th floor. He is angry at the "filthy living" things that keep appearing no matter how many times he kills them. In the Holy Grail War, he was defeated in the fifth round, but saw a ray of hope in a "close one" who overcame him, saying "If it were him," "If it weren't for him, then maybe," but after being revived as a Floor Master, he learned the fate of that "close one," and was seized by an obsession after suffering, becoming a Dead Face. To Julius, all the Masters who visited the fifth floor appeared to be "opponents he had fought on this floor before." However, perhaps due to their connection on the surface 1000 years ago, only Tohsaka Rin seemed to be able to be recognized correctly.

Gawain <br> Leo's Servant. Silver Saber, Gawain. Sir Gawain is one of the Knights of the Round Table who appears in the Arthurian legend. He is a knight who respects his opponents and serves his king by separating his own emotions and thoughts. His Noble Phantasm is the anti-army Noble Phantasm "Rolling Sword of Victory (Excalibur Galatine)". It is another holy sword of the stars, with a pseudo-sun sealed in its hilt. It boasts absolute power while the sun is up, but that power has already been lost. While Leo was in a 900-year slumber, he continued to manage and care for the seventh level. He was confident that as long as his king was the "righteous king", a worthy opponent would surely appear who could reach the king. He says that he cannot fight alone due to the wounds he received from Nero Claudius, but even alone he has enough power to overwhelm Hakuno Kishinami and Saber.

Leonardo Vistario Harwey <br> A student at Tsukimihara Academy. He is said to be the strongest of all the Masters who participated in the Holy Grail War, and is the next head of the Harwey family that will rule the world. He is the vessel of an ideal king designed to be the savior of the earth and the ruler of the world. Like Julius, he was transplanted with many magical organs from birth and is a leader of the European cultural sphere who inherited a vast amount of knowledge. 1000 years ago, he declared defeat to Kishinami Hakuno and chose to be burned by the offensive barrier, but his life was saved by Twice Peaceman. After that, he lost the premise of condemning Twice's ideology, gave up on the future of humanity, and became the guardian of the seventh floor, but he defeated several Masters who reached the seventh floor and went to sleep. With Kishinami Hakuno's arrival, he will be awakened for the last time. A small flame remains in the ashes of the burned-out King Saint.

Twice H. Peaceman <br> A fragment of the savior who hates and encourages war. (*Quoted from EXTRA material) In 1970, as a boy, Twice experienced war and flames - the hell of a warped human history. As he grew up and became a scientist, he worked in medical care on the battlefield, but in 1999, he encountered a bioterrorism attack and died helplessly. Later, an NPC recreating him was placed in SE.RA.PH. However, he was an irregular NPC. He retained the memories of Twice, even acquired a sense of self, and after hundreds of trials and errors (retries), he reached the Seraph Cage, where the Seven Heavens Holy Grail was enshrined. However, as an NPC, he did not have the access rights to reach the Moon Cell core, and was unable to obtain the Holy Grail. He waited for a successor who embodied his ideas, and Twice sought an equal fight for all of humanity. When human civilization reached a dead end, he quietly accepted the fact that even the most accurate king, Leo, could not save humanity, and when he broke with Shirou Kishinami, the "embodiment of the fighting ideology" who was his last hope, he realized that the transformation of humanity was a pipe dream. After erasing Shirou Kishinami and Saber, Twice himself accessed the Moon Cell core, knowing that he would be burned, and changed the way SE.RA.PH was and the Moon Cell's management policy. "Accept the death of humanity. Witness the end of this civilization." And in the Cage of the Fiery Sky, all that remained was the remains of the cyber body that called itself Twice - the living dead who continued to cling to the way of humanity even after their consciousness was burned away.

Kishinami Hakuno <br> Former Master of Saber. Former Master of Saber, Nero Claudius. His true identity was not a Wizard, nor a Master to be precise, but a reproduction of a human who existed in the past, a kind of AI - an NPC. Like Kishinami Hakuno, even after finishing the preliminaries for the Holy Grail War, he was unable to acquire his own past, did not know who he was, and did not know what wish he should make for the Holy Grail, yet he made it to the Cage of Serpents, a Master who "started from the weakest, and eventually defeated the strongest."

■Subtitle

Episode 1: Now at the bottom of the old purgatory (Preteritus Limbus Volago)
・Episode 2/Dead Face
Episode 3: The Golden Deer and the Stormy Night (Golden Wild Hunt)
・Episode 4/The Faceless King (Making of No Face)
Episode 5: Prayer Bow (Yi Bau)
・Episode 6/Perpetual Motion Machine・Girl Empire (Queen's Glass Game)
Episode 7: A Story for Someone (Nursery Rhyme)
Episode 8: Dead End
Episode 9: The Inviting Golden Theater (Aestus Domus Aurea)
Episode 10: Infinite (Unlimited/Raise Dead)
Episode 11: The Rolling Sword of Victory (Excalibur Galatine)
Episode 12: Chakra Valtin

■ Theme songs and music

The opening theme is "Bright Burning Shout," with lyrics by Tomoya Tabuchi, music and arrangement by Akira Kanzaki, and vocals by Takanori Nishikawa. The ending theme is "Moon and Bouquet," with lyrics and music by Sayuri, arrangement by Ryo Eguchi, and vocals by Sayuri. These songs are important elements that add to the atmosphere of the story.

■ Evaluation and recommendation

"Fate EXTRA Last Encore" has captivated many fans with its unique worldview and deep story development. Director Akiyuki Shinbo's visual expression brings out the atmosphere of the original work to the fullest, pursuing visual beauty. In addition, the storytelling that depicts the inner world of the characters encourages strong empathy in the viewer and makes them feel the depth of the story. In particular, the relationship between Kishinami Hakuno and Saber, the battles on each floor, and the drama behind them leave a strong impression on the viewer.

This work is recommended not only for fans of the Fate series, but also for anime fans looking for a deep story and beautiful visuals. In particular, it is a must-watch for those who like stories that depict character growth and conflict. The music is also an important element in adding excitement to the story, and the opening and ending songs are perfect for enjoying the afterglow after watching.

Furthermore, this work depicts the end of the Holy Grail War and a new beginning, and is closely related to other works in the Fate series, so it can be said to be an important piece for enjoying the entire series. After watching it, you can gain a deeper understanding and be moved by enjoying other works in the Fate series.

"Fate EXTRA Last Encore" ended as a glorious encore, but its story will be deeply engraved in the hearts of viewers. The journey of Hakuno Kishinami and Saber, who have been reborn as a new "someone", teaches us many things as hope and despair intertwine. Please experience their story through this work.