Fate/Grand Order Absolute Demonic Front: Babylonia

With only three days away from release, I'd figure it was for the best to keep any discussions, declarations of love and hatred and everything in between in a single thread.

To kick things off, here's a Sakuga Booru article talking about the production and what we can expect out of it, so give it a read so you can keep your hype properly calibrated.

You can check the zeroth episode on Crunchyroll, but will have to wait a full month before getting to watch each episode on the same platform because Funimation are a bunch of cunts.

If you're just joining us, here's a quick introdutory vid:

Also, quick word to the old guard, no spoilers of what is to come. Anything pertaining Fate Zero, the original Fate/stay night and its adaptations or other entries to the franchise like Fate/EXTRA or Lord El Melloi II Case Files should also be referenced with as few spoilers as possible.

I'm curious if anyone would watch this who hasn't already played Grand Order.

By the same token, I'm curious how newbie friendly this will be.

you may as well tell me not to breathe...

I need to get back into Grand Order. I got bored waiting for the new eras so I deleted the app and haven't gotten back into it yet despite re-installing it.

I'm also wondering why they didn't continue the OVA series that came out a few years ago.

I'm curious if anyone would watch this who hasn't already played Grand Order.

I'm planning to, at least. Fairly fond of the franchise as a whole, but don't like gacha games

Same. I just hope it'll be a little more newcomer-friendly than Last Encore.

It's... half-and-half.

See, the chapters of the first story arc are relatively self-contained, so it shouldn't be too much of a hassle to keep up.

That said, Babylonia wraps up several meta arc of several characters from past installments (particularly Gilgamesh and Medusa) so a certain familiarity with the franchise is required.

All you really need to know, besides what the first OVA showed, is that the main villain is a Grand Servant called Solomon, as in the blibical king, and Mash is being posessed by Galahad the Arthurian knight and therefore has access to his powers.

I've been obsessing over this things production since the staff list was released so you bet your butt I'll be here!

As for newcomer friendly, regardless of how self contained the chapters story are its still the 7th chapter of a longer narrative made via fan votes so expect scenes where characters say stuff expecting you to know what they're talking about and a few stuff that would only make sense if you've played through Camelot. If you haven't at least watched a play through at this point or at least first order you only have yourself to blame

And like, there's a character that REALLY needs context from Camelot appearing

Episode 1:

So I agree with that Sakugabooru blog entry that the intro was fairly slow-paced, but it was very straightforward in adapting the plot so far.

Though I'm dismayed that they went with CG for the monsters several times, but the upside is that they did use 2D and seemed to know when to alternate between them, which gives me hope for certain fights.

dunno how I feel about the OP, gonna wait to see the proper sequence before I decide anything.

Kobayashi as Enkidu is definitely one of the best parts so far.

There's a little Adaptation Expansion (the beginning was a gut punch), but not too much so far.

First episode's out on Funi.

Very nice first episode, speaking as a player of the game. I think it does an okay job of summarizing the story so far for new viewers... but if anyone's still lost, here's a summary of the key points (given what's shown in this episode, nothing I'm about to say is a spoiler):

The things you really need to know is that the King of Mages is trying to annihilate humanity by placing seven Holy Grails at key points in time to disrupt humanity's history. These points are called "Singularities". Ritsuka and Mash have been travelling to those points in history and undoing the Holy Grails' effects with the help of various Heroic Spirits, and six of the seven have now been resolved. So they pretty much know what's up and are fairly experienced at this point.

Why the Mage King is doing this has not been revealed at this point in the story.

Also, it seems that the identity of the Servant Mash has within her has been casually revealed this episode, so that's not a spoiler anymore, I guess.

Looks like they're only giving Mash her third Ascension outfit when she activates her Noble Phantasm. Interesting choice. I suppose not having the cloth most of the time makes her easier to animate.

Edited by DarkHunter on Oct 5th 2019 at 1:11:25 PM

Seems like whoever did Bradamante's NP animation worked on this episode as well.

Edited by HailMuffins on Oct 5th 2019 at 4:35:49 PM

I'm going to cry of happiness, this was everything I wanted. I didn't really care much about the Gil and Enkidu beginning scene, but it like everything was well directed so I'm happy. Op sounds fun, really looking forward to the animation

Enkidu's "what the fuck is a handshake?" moment was the most precious part of the episode.

Ugh I forgot I'd have to watch Mashu animated. Trash tier waifu. Also forgot that for some reason Enkidu is written in Japanese as Erukidu why is it an r huh it sounds weird when you say your name now.

This definitely seems like it would be hard to understand for people who haven't played the game, but the background plot doesn't actually matter much I guess.

Imagine being so hateful that you hate Mash of all characters.

Oh right this is out.

I may watch it.

Mash is an appropriate name for her. She has all the complexity and charm of a potato.

YOU DON TALK SHIT BOUT POTATO. I WILL END YOU!!!

I'd say "Protect the kouhai!" but Mash's shield is more than enough to deflect Arha's opinions.

*ahem*

Her name is Eggplant!

Edited by Rynnec on Oct 5th 2019 at 12:00:15 PM

The Servant she's combined with is also an omega-level prick & douchebag son so that's another strike against her.

That's victim blaming right there.

Yeah don't talk bad about Galahad like that, he's a good boy.

Also her name is Matthew, her Valentine said so.