For a limited time, Crunchyroll's official YouTube channel will be streaming the first episode of Fate/strange Fake for free. Fate/strange Fake is an adaptation of the light novel series by the same name, penned by Ryogo Narita (of Durarara!! and Baccano! fame). Its full adaptation has been anticipated for years following the release of its first episode as an OVA, Fate/strange Fake -Whispers of Dawn-.

As an April Fool's joke which blossomed out into an entire light novel series, Fate/strange Fake has one of the strangest origins in the entire Fate universe spinning off of the iconic visual novel and anime the new anime being hotly anticipated by fans—and thanks to Crunchyroll, the OVA is available to stream, free of charge.

Crunchyroll Streams Fate/strange Fake For Free Following Release Schedule Updates

Fans Can Watch The First Episode Of The Anticipated Anime For A Week—With A Catch

On November 24, 2024, Crunchyroll's X posted that Fate/strange Fake's first episode could be streamed free via their official YouTube channel for one week only. Notably, Crunchyroll only provided a free stream for the English dub, leading to the ire of fans in the comments. While many Fate fans have grown accustomed and loyal to Japanese voice acting, the option to watch free on YouTube remains open to fans in selected regions.

The free stream follows Crunchyroll's further announcements at Aniplex Online Fest 2024 in September. After so much anticipation, Fate/strange Fake will receive its full adaptation very soon, with the TV anime premiering before the end of 2024. It was also announced that Fate/strange Fake would be available to stream on Crunchyroll in the future, although a precise date hasn't been provided yet.

Can Fate/strange Fake Be Watched First?

The Series Can Be Watched Before Other Fate Entries, But Viewers Might Be Confused.

The Fate franchise is peculiar because it's composed of diverse stories intersecting over a unified set of mechanics and ideas. The general line in the community is that if an entry is backed by TYPE-MOON Studios, it can be considered canonical. In combination with Fate/strange Fake's unique take on the Fate universe, it's tempting to see Fate/strange Fake as an entry point. Certainly, it might be, as Fate/strange Fake will be the first adaptation of a Fate series in a while to feature a Grail War, a fundamental concept throughout many entries.

However, Fate/strange Fake technically takes place after the Grail War of Fate/stay night. Vital context about its world and events would be absent if a viewer is to go into Fate/strange Fake as their first Fate entry. Moreover, it's hard to completely understand the importance of what's happening in Fate/strange Fake. As an example, the trailer for Fate/strange Fake -Whispers of Dawn- would depend on viewers' familiarity with a certain character spoiler to build hype.

For fans more familiar with the wide-ranging and notoriously complex Fate franchise, though, Crunchyroll's YouTube offering is a great chance to watch the first episode of Fate/strange Fake without commitments.

Source: Crunchyroll/X