For a limited time, Crunchyroll’s official YouTube channel will be streaming the first episode ofFate/strange Fakefor free.Fate/strange Fakeis an adaptation of the light novel series by the same name, penned by Ryogo Narita (ofDurarara!!andBaccano!fame).Its full adaptation has been anticipated for yearsfollowing 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 Fakehas one of the strangest origins in the entireFateuniverse spinning off of the iconic visual novel and animeFate/stay night. Its bizarre reimagining ofFatemainstays like Servants and Grail Wars follows suit. Despite its odd presentation, it has become a beloved entry in the franchise withthe 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 August 24, 2025,Crunchyroll’s X account posted thatFate/strange Fake’s first episode could be streamed freevia 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 manyFatefans 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 followsCrunchyroll’s further announcements at Aniplex Online Fest 2024in September. After so much anticipation,Fate/strange Fakewill receive its full adaptation very soon, with the TV anime premiering before the end of 2024. It was also announced thatFate/strange Fakewould be available to stream on Crunchyroll in the future, although a precise date hasn’t been provided yet.
CanFate/strange FakeBe Watched First?
The Series Can Be Watched Before OtherFateEntries, But Viewers Might Be Confused.
TheFatefranchise 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 withFate/strange Fake’s unique take on theFateuniverse, it’s tempting to seeFate/strange Fakeas an entry point. Certainly, it might be, asFate/strange Fakewill be the first adaptation of aFateseries in a while to feature a Grail War, a fundamental concept throughout many entries.
However,Fate/strange Faketechnically takes place after the Grail War ofFate/stay night. Vital context about its world and events would be absent if a viewer is to go intoFate/strange Fakeas their firstFateentry. Moreover, it’s hard to completely understand the importance of what’s happening inFate/strange Fake. As an example,the trailer forFate/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 complexFatefranchise, though, Crunchyroll’s YouTube offering is a great chance to watch the first episode ofFate/strange Fakewithout commitments.
