Anime tends to build large and connected universes, and Fate/Zero functions as an integral piece of the greater Fate franchise. Fate/Zero digs deeper into the events surrounding the Fourth Holy Grail War and the powerful magical users involved in the competition. Fate/Zero functions as a satisfying prequel to the anime that pulls from the popular series of light novels—and Fate/Zero Remix functions as an addendum of sorts to this series.
It’s not easy to flesh out an interconnected anime franchise. Plenty of these anime franchises fail before they can be fully realized. Still, Fate/Zero Remix offers an important context to Fate/Zero, which further expands upon the Fate universe.
8 It’s Two Specials That Cover The Events Of Season One
The larger Fate universe can be a little disorienting to newcomers. It can be difficult to determine what to watch the respective content and which entries are simply offshoots of others and not full series. Fate/Zero Remix is unsurprisingly connected to Fate/Zero, but it's meant to bridge the first two seasons rather than act as an extension to the series.
Although Fate/Zero Remix isn't a recap, it still only covers the first season's events through two concise half-hour specials. It's an excellent way to experience season one's story, and it still feels somewhat fresh for seasoned Fate/Zero viewers. It's not necessary to watch, but it's still enjoyable.
7 It Doesn’t Have An English Dub
The difference between an anime turning into mainstream success and a modest hit can sometimes come down to whether it has an English dub to accommodate audiences. Fate/Zero proper has an English dub for both seasons, but Fate/Zero Remix doesn't have one.
As a result, Fate/Zero Remix is slightly harder to find. This is a shame because there is still a creative angle and lots of passion in this recap project.
6 It Helped Lead To Better Production Quality In Season Two
There are many different ways to run the production of an anime series. Some anime continually air all of their episodes with no break, whereas other shows will divide themselves into two or more cours with brief gaps in between.
The original plan for Fate/Zero was that all 25 episodes were to air with no intermission. Instead, Fate/Zero took a break after season one's episode 13 to improve the anime's animation for the next batch of episodes. This break between episodes also facilitated Fate/Zero Remix I and II's production to fill in the details in a creative manner. If Fate/Zero Remix didn't happen, there'd be no break, and the anime would suffer as a result.
5 It’s More Than Just A Recap Special
Recap specials are a dangerous proposition in the anime world. While they can sometimes lead to creative endeavors, audiences have preemptively written off due to how lazy they can sometimes be. Fate/Zero Remix does qualify as an example of a recap special, but it applies a more character-driven structure to its narrative.
It remixes season one around each Master/Servant pairing rather than the regular production order of the episodes. This makes Fate/Zero Remix flow differently and recontextualizes other material. Remix also slightly improves the visuals in some scenes too.
4 It’s Animated By The Studio Ufotable
There's no one way to create a popular anime series, and there are plenty of factors to consider. Typically it's the anime with the most gripping stories and entertaining characters that become the most successful, but none of that is important if the series is just ugly to look at.
Anime has reached a point where the production studio involved is as important as any other detail. Ufotable is an acclaimed studio that improves its reputation through gorgeous series like Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba. Ufotable works on Fate/Zero, and thankfully they return for the two Remix installments. Fate/Zero Remix features stronger work from ufotable than what's present in season one, and the quality increases even more in the following season.
3 It Incorporates A Mix Of Season One And Two’s Opening And Ending Songs
It's incredible to see the community formed around the opening and ending numbers that bookend anime series. Some careers of performers have been made through the notable opening and ending songs, and it's exciting to see how they're used to celebrate the anime, not just feature credits. Fate/Zero Remix stays true to its name, and it features a remixed version of the opening and ending numbers from Fate/Zero's seasons.
Thematically, this is powerful, and it helps tease some of the music that lies ahead in season two. Fate/Zero Remix uses "oath sign" as its opening, and "MEMORIA" and "to the beginning" are the ending numbers for the two specials.
2 There Are Different Producers For This Series
Every aspect of an anime production is important, and sometimes it requires the right mix of creative sensibilities to bring a project to life properly. Fate/Zero Remix is created with a surprising amount of producers, which includes Aniplex, Nitroplus, and Aniplex of America.
However, the producers on Fate/Zero are slightly different and are instead Aniplex, Nitroplus, Seikaisha, and Notes, with Aniplex of America as a licensor. It's an interesting breakdown that highlights the different priorities before season two begins and where help was most needed.
1 It's Framed Around The Master/Servant Dynamic
The various Fate series all tackle slightly different territory and even lean towards different genres that mix with the broader fantasy structure. The whole Master and Servant dynamic is fundamental to the Holy Grail Wars and isn't just a fixture of Fate/Zero.
Fate/Zero Remix uses this concept as an effective framing device. The Master/Servant relationship is reflected on Remix's eyecatcher title cards, which are used to frame the characters and mark the special's midway point. These are dropped between Remix I and II, but the theme remains as Artoria/Saber finds herself with a new Master.