Originally scheduled for release in late March, Fate/Stay Night: Heaven’s Feel III. spring song was one of many films that saw a traumatic delay due to the COVID-19 shutdown in Japan. Almost all merchandise for the film was recalled before it saw public release, save for volume eight of the Heaven’s Feel manga, and the film’s theme song, “春はゆく” by Aimer. It was a confusing weekend. Many people, including myself, were not informed the film was delayed until the day before the intended release. Come July, it was announced that the film would finally be released this summer on August 15th. The biggest question was “Would it be worth the delay?”
The answer: every second.
Be warned, spoilers ahead.
From the moment the film starts, the tone is set and it is made clear the film will be a rollercoaster right up till the end. Co-produced and animated between Aniplex and Ufotable, the latter studio has set a gold standard of animation with projects such as Kimetsu no Yaiba, sometimes delaying broadcasts of seasons in order to polish off animation quality, as they did with Fate/Zero. The first two films had already been next-level in terms of smoothness, lighting, and a seamless blend of hand-drawn and CGI animation, but Fate/Stay Night: Heaven’s Feel III. spring song pushes audiences’ expectations above and beyond the studio’s own pinnacle. The film reached number 1 in the Japanese box office ranking during opening weekend.
Heaven’s Feel III. spring song features more action sequences than the previous two films. You’ll want to watch them on repeat for their explosive energy alone. Each moment has a suspenseful, dynamic flow to it where — even if you’re familiar with the original source material — will still be blown away. Ufotable knows how to add the right touch of suspense and build-up, giving leaps and bounds between fight scenes and dramatic conversations between characters. Whether it’s Medusa removing the plate over her eyes, Saber Alter unleashing Excalibur Morgan, or Shirou beating Berserker into the dirt, it all comes down to full-blown entertainment.
As if Aniplex and Ufotable hadn’t shown their faithfulness and attention to detail from the original source material with Fate/Stay Night: Unlimited Blade Works (TV series), it’s all there in Heaven Feel’s III. spring song. Kotomie’s little “surprise” when he fights Assassin in a one-on-one battle, a tearful final moment between Shirou and Illyasviel, and even Shirou’s fate after the Holy Grail War comes to an end. On top of it all, it’s refreshing to see Sakura going from a one-dimensional deredere archetype in the first film, to a fully realized character standing on her own at the end of the final installment.
Spring has come five months late, but it was worth every day of waiting. Heaven’s Feel is without a doubt the most well-adapted screenplay from the original Fate/Stay Night visual novel.
With the Heaven’s Feel route wrapped up and the Unlimited Blade Works route having been covered in the 2014/2015 TV anime, this means that Fate/Stay Night has finally come to a close. Unless they plan on reanimating the Saber route in the near future. It wouldn’t be unwelcomed, considering even the most diehard Fate fans pretend the original 2006 anime doesn’t exist. Until then, next in line from Fate is the continuation of Fate/Grand Order with the release of Divine Realm of the Round Table: Camelot, happening in December this year for Japan.
There is still no official release date for either film outside of Japan, yet, most likely due to numerous delays from the COVID-19 pandemic, but know that it is coming, and it is worth it.
