This was a dream come true. Ever since I first watched Fate/Zero, the Nasu verse has captivated me. When I moved out to Los Angeles, I knew there would be a lot of opportunities to attend premieres, conventions, and gaming trade shows. Fate/Zero got me through one of the hardest times of my life. As I became immersed in the world, I started researching the visual novel (although I didn’t play it; piracy is bad!). Fate/Zero was only the tip of the iceberg. While Zero is my favorite anime of all time, the third route of Fate/stay night is perhaps one of the greatest stories ever told. Fans have been waiting years for the film adaptations for Heaven’s Feel to come out. While our review is in the works, VGCultureHQ had an amazing time at the premiere at the Ace Hotel in downtown Los Angeles and we want to share our experience with you, our readers.
I’m honestly jealous that Shinji got Rider as a servant. 🙁
One of the coolest parts of attending the premiere was getting to dress up as Emiya Shirou. Although Kiritsugu is my favorite character, Shirou is just as layered and a fantastic character. I even got to take a picture with my dear friend Shinji and his “servant” Rider! Aniplex USA put on a fantastic show, having characters in costume who were more than gracious enough to take pictures with fans. While I was attending in order to cover the premiere, I have to say, it was a really amazing experience to be able to take pictures with some of both the most storied characters in anime history and some of my favorite characters in all of storytelling.
Best girl Tousaka Rin. I love her!!!
Key art for the film littered the lobby and features some of the best art from the Fate series. Heaven’s Feel is by nature one of the darkest and most tragic stories of all the routes, even including its prequel, Fate/Zero. In fact, I would say that Heaven’s Feel is the true successor to Fate/Zero, although Unlimited Blade Works carried on the legacy of Kiritsugu’s ideals and how they shaped Shirou’s worldview, refusing to reject those ideals. Heaven’s Feel is somewhat the opposite, though that is more spoilery in nature and I won’t delve into that any further. What I love about the artwork is how varied it is. There are pieces that showcase Sakura, the heroine of the film, Saber, Shirou’s servant, Rider, Shinji’s servant, and even two different theatrical posters. The art for the film is amazing and the way it was showcased in the lobby of the theater was masterfully done.
My favorite piece of artwork on display!
There premiere of Fate/stay night: Heaven’s Feel I. presage flower was nothing short of amazing. The film was great, the question and answer afterward was very insightful (if you would like to read a transcript you can check it out here; spoilers are hidden behind a button), and I couldn’t ask for a better experience. It was a ton of fun and it was a delight to have the opportunity to socialize with fellow fans and get their take on the series, being a journalist myself.
While this was the North American premiere of Fate/stay night: Heaven’s Feel I. presage flower, it’s not your only chance to see the film in theaters. The film is being shown all over the country during November and December, so check to see if it’s playing a theater near you!
Thank you so much Aniplex USA for putting on such an amazing event! Expect our review shortly. This premiere was definitely a once in a lifetime experience.