Anime, known for its diverse storytelling capabilities, truly thrives in genres like fantasy. Currently, fantasy anime is experiencing a remarkable resurgence, with innovative shows pushing the boundaries of the genre. Among these standout series is Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End, which continues to impress audiences. The anime adaptation of Frieren is gaining momentum, now airing its second season alongside the ongoing popularity of its manga counterpart.

Frieren continues to captivate with its sharp and thrilling narrative. However, fans of this fantasy series might also find excitement in another groundbreaking anime set to make a significant impact in 2026, Fate/strange Fake. This series breathes new life into the fantasy genre, which can sometimes fall into repetitive patterns. Its unique take on classic fantasy worlds, innovative character development, and dynamic blend of action within its storytelling not only resonate with Frieren fans but also position Fate/strange Fake as a worthy successor in the genre.

At first, Fate/strange Fake may not appear to have much in common with Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End, yet both series challenge conventional fantasy tropes by offering fresh perspectives on classic narratives. Fate/strange Fake cleverly twists the familiar Holy Grail War concept by presenting a distorted version initiated by America. This corrupted attempt results in chaotic and unpredictable consequences, adding a new layer of intrigue to the fantasy landscape.

Fate/Strange Fake Subverts & Reinvents Fantasy Tropes As Well As Frieren Does

Fate/strange Fake may not seem to share a ton in common with Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End at first glance, but both of these titles subvert standard fantasy norms and expectations by looking at a traditional story through a fresh perspective. In the case of Fate/strange Fake, the franchise’s standard Holy Grail War formula is perverted into a hollow imitation of itself when America attempts to institute its own Holy Grail War, with the corrupt results leading to unexpected mayhem.

Fake uses the freedom of its farcical setup to undercut certain staples of not just the Fate franchise, but the fantasy genre as a whole. Fate/strange Fake doesn’t take itself too seriously, and it should perhaps come as no surprise that the series started as an April Fool’s joke before slowly taking on a life of its own. Part of what makes Fake such a successful spin-off is that it has two decades of lore and legacy to pull from.

The Fate franchise is rich in sequels, spin-offs, and side-stories, yet Fate/strange Fake makes a strong impression by having something deeper to say about the nature of franchises. The very nature of Fake’s shallow Americanized perspective on Fate’s Holy Grail War provides poignant commentary on commercialization and brand extension in a franchise that’s certainly guilty of this.

Fake has the luxury of subscribing to the Fate universe’s fantasy rules, but also indulging in the chaos that’s born out of a flawed imitation that’s full of incomplete data and false classes. There’s almost a fan fiction-like quality to the space that Fate/strange Fake operates in. This is also part of what drew fans into Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End. Frieren isn’t a smaller series that’s part of a bigger franchise, but it basically acts like it is and tells a story that spans hundreds and thousands of years. It’s almost like Frieren begins where most fantasy series would end and explores what happens after “happily ever after…”

Fate/strange Fake works as well as it does because it riffs on Fate’s existing world. That being said, Fake is a surprisingly strong entrypoint for Fate newcomers that gives them a playful, reflexive vantage point to experience this world. Entering the Fate franchise through Fake would also make a following watch of the core series especially interesting. Fake is an effective gateway anime for the Fate franchise and the post-modern fantasy genre as a whole. It’s no different than when Frieren breaks down many of the similar barriers that exist for fantasy through its subversive storytelling and characters.

Both Series Showcase Diverse Casts Of Characters

Frieren and Fate/strange Fake lovingly subscribe to many entrenched fantasy genre staples, particularly when it comes to the types of characters that are included within each series’ inner circle. Fake and Frieren are such exciting fantasy anime because they’re not ashamed of the genre’s archetypes. That being said, they also find ways to feature characters who simultaneously pay respect to the genre’s fundamentals while also doing something completely different.

What’s important here is how Fake and Frieren include eclectic casts that highlight their worlds’ respective ranges. Neither anime filters their narrative purely through their protagonists, while the supporting characters are treated like set dressing. Fake, and Frieren before it, use their assorted parties to facilitate multiple perspectives that further flesh out these characters and how they all independently perceive this world. The varied casts of characters aren’t just for show and are actually used as a means of stealth world-building.

Much like how both series subvert their genre’s tropes, they proceed to do comparable work with their characters. Fake‘s structure recontextualizes fan-favorite figures in new contexts, such as Gilgamesh and Richard the Lionheart, who evolves in exciting new ways. Alternatively, Frieren isn’t playing with established characters, but it does feature many stock fantasy JRPG classes like mage, paladin, healer, and archer, only to then turn them on their ear and do something different with them. The ways in which certain classes of characters are dressed down is never meant as a sign of disrespect and is instead meant to motivate the genre’s evolution.

Fantasy Culminates In Impressive Action Spectacles

Frieren and Fate/strange Fake are two of the decade’s more exciting fantasy anime. However, there’s no set definition for fantasy anime and the genre can be approached in a variety of ways. Action is an underrated component of fantasy that’s present in many of the most celebrated franchises. However, there’s a delicate balance in terms of it not overpowering the other storytelling elements. It should never feel more like an action series that’s set in a fantasy realm, rather than a fantasy series that includes some engaging action.

Action and combat may not necessarily be the aim of these fantasy series, but they’re quite prominent in both Frieren and Fake. These anime’s heightened battles gain quite a bit of depth through their cinematic-level visuals, whether it’s through the magic that Frieren conjures and how it’s used against demons, or the exaggerated battles between Masters and Servants in Fake that don’t hold back when it comes to the unique powers on display. Fake and Frieren understand how to use fantasy and action tropes to complement each other.

Audiences praise Frieren and Fake because of its inspired and subversive world-building and character development. That being said, it doesn’t hurt that any action sequence in either anime will be a guaranteed visual spectacle. Frieren and Fake make sure that their action becomes the highlight and major talking point of its respective episode, even if it’s not why people are watching these anime in the first place. This all further lends itself to how Fate/strange Fake thrives as Frieren’s subversive fantasy successor.