Shout Out / Carnival Phantasm

General

• Lancer's dislike of dogs can be seen as a shout-out to how his Heroic Spirit died.
• To South Park of all things, copying the infamous They Killed Kenny lines: "Lancer died!" "YOU BASTARDS!"^note A popular fansub has "You aren't human" instead. However, the exact Japanese quote used in both this show and the dub of South Park is "kono hitodenashi!" ("この人でなし!") which translated means "these brutes!", ergo, "you bastards!" (which can be singular in context). "You aren't human" is just a poor translation, erroneously interpreting the line as "kono hito de nashi", but "hitodenashi" is supposed to be one word.

Season 1

• Episode 1: At the end of the quiz show, Berserker "dies" standing with his right hand up in the air just like Raoh.
• Episode 2:
  • The episode is actually called "Badump! Melty Blood: Xtream Beach Volleyball".
  • Ciel tells Arcueid that she is supposed to yell words like "Potemkin" and "Gal Undo".
  • "Miyako. What is it that you see ahead of your fist?"
  • Taiga's movement freezes at the end of second episode in the middle of a Shoryuken.
• To Tokimeki Memorial in the fourth episode, when the affection statuses of each of Shiki and Shirou's respective haremettes are shown with blinking bombs.
• Tohsaka, in a rare double reference, "Spider-Man, I choose you!"

Season 2

• In episode 5 Illya is playing games like Tekkyaku, Gilty Blood and another one with a Super Saiyan on the cover. She also has what appears to be a pink Wii.
• The finale of White Princess Phantasmoon is a reference to the final battle in REIDEEN. Also, the enemy is Tamami from Mahoraba.
• Hell and Heaven.

Season 3

• The Grail-kun segments in the last Season stylistically resemble a typical episode of Doraemon.
• Episode 9:
  • Rider accidentally launching her bicycle into the air and ending up as a silhouette in front of the moon is an homage to E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial.
    Shin-Ji phone home.....
  • Episode 9's Holy Grail Grand Prix intro has some similarities with Fuji TV's F1 Grand Prix intro during the 90's.
  • Berserker transforms into the Berser-car.
• Episode 10: Brainwash Detective Hisui always opens up with a gate opening and the title of the episode, which is a reference to Case Closed.
• Episode 11
  • The whole episode is a shout-out to the Final Destination franchise, with Lancer trying to avoid all his deaths and failing anyhow. Complete with custom credits!
  • The end credits use the same "flowing blood" style as the opening credits of the 2004 version of Dawn of the Dead (2004).
  • The way he averts his death by car is by saving a kid who was playing ball too close to the street. Basically, a reversal of the first chapter/episode of YuYu Hakusho.
• The Warning screens for Illya and Akiha in episode 12 are right out of the Darius games. And does the close-up of Sakura's face imply she has a Persona?
  • Either that or a Stand.
• Rin watches The Ring with Shirou in episode 12. Also, one of the movie tickets shows Mari Makinami Illustrious.
  • One of the movie tickets that Shiki has for Arc in episode 12 is for Michael Jackson's This is It!
• The stages in the Tempest: Illya's Castle special were all based on challenges found in the Takeshi's Castle Game Show. Yes, even the one with the giant spinning mushrooms.
• Archie would be impressed by Shiro going as far as three (okay, that was technically even four) dates in one episode.
  • Note as well the similarities between Rin and Veronica, as well as Saber/Sakura and Betty.

Bonus Episodes

• In EX there's one to Himitsu Sentai Gorenger of all things using three new Lens.
• The Extra episode features a veiled reference to the NES version of The Legend of Zelda.
• The 2013 episode had Kohaku jumping over a pit...and crashing into a block that only appeared upon impact and ejected a coin out, but sent her plummeting to the bottom of the pit.
• The start of the 2013 episode has Kohaku playing a game that, based on the menu structure, is a Tsukihime spoof of Phantasy Star III.
• During the start of the second half, just before Shiro's scene, along flies a cicada before it lies on the ground and dies.
• The sprites in the character select screen in the Illya Castle Special are done in the style of the Famicom Final Fantasy titles.
• Shinji celebrates as he declares an unknown internet user "fell for his elaborate trap," and eagerly attempts to learn this individual's reaction.
• One of the Afterschool! Alleyway Alliance skits mentions Amazon.com.