Fate Grand Order Absolute Demonic Front: Babylonia Pt1 and Pt2 Collector’s Edition Review

4 stars, two Grand anime collections.

Fate Grand Order Absolute Demonic Front: Babylonia Pt1 and Pt2 are a Japanese animated series and an adaptation of the seventh chapter of the role playing mobile game Fate/Grand Order.

Adapted for TV by studio Cloverworks (Horimiya, Spy x Family), both instalments are available to own now in the UK on Collector’s Edition Blu-ray.

Fate Grand Order Absolute Demonic Front: Babylonia Pt1 comprises episodes 00 to 11 and is available to buy here. Fate Grand Order Absolute Demonic Front: Babylonia Pt2 comprises episodes 12 – 21 and is available to buy here. Both include a special booklet.

“Mesopotamia is a civilisation that flourished between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers, which flowed into the Persian Gulf. The Age of the First Kings. That’s our destination.

At the remote mountain fortress of Chaldea, the battle to save humanity continues, led by The Grand Order. Our heroes, Chaldea’s last master Ritsuka Fujimaru (Griffin Burns – Sakamoto Days, Ishura) and his demi-servant Mash Kyrielight (Erica Mendez – Your Lie in April, Fate Grand Carnival) are about to depart on their most challenging mission yet. With Romani Archaman (Xander Mobus – Boruto: Naruto the Movie, Tougen Anki) and DaVinci (Erika Harlacher – Penguindrum, Sound! Euphonium) at the controls, they Rayshift to ancient Mesopotamia, the site of the Seventh Grail and the Final Singularity, to put an end to the plans of the King of Mages, Solomon.

Once there, they are thrown off course by a forcefield surrounding the city of Uruk, reigned over by King Gilgamesh (David Vincent – Jujutsu Kaisen), who is besieged by demonic creatures. He is unimpressed at their appearance and sets them to work on menial tasks to await his judgement. They meet up with two heroic spirits, Merlin (Robbie Daymond – March Comes in Like a Lion, A Silent Voice) and Ana (Melissa Fahn – Noein, Eureka Seven – High Evolution 1) and between them, they discover that they seem to be up against a three goddess alliance which ahs the land under it’s control.

Their opponents appear to be Ishtar (Mela Lee – Date Everything!), Quetzalcoatl (Gloria Garayua -Cyberpunk: Edgerunners), and Gorgon (Melissa Fahn), as well as the strange long haired friend of Gilgamesh, Enkidu (Marin Miller – Delicious in Dungeon). But as the story continues, true identities and alliances are revealed as the final singularity battle races towards it’s dramatically and beautifully animated conclusion.

“You must guard your heart and empathise not with the hateful one. Keep your wits and celebrate not with the joyous one. Finally, you must maintain a steadfast will and extol not the pained one.”

This is a fantastic continuation of the Grand Order story, well written and keeps you on the edge of your seat right to the end. It has rich and highly detailed animation with gorgeous backdrops which set every scent brilliantly.

The characters are well developed and the fast paced high stakes battle sequences keep everything moving along nicely. This story is set well into the narrative so it may be a little confusing for newcomers who don’t know the background. However, with the special art books and attractive packaging these two are a must own for fans of the Fate franchise.

“After all, I am a Goddess, am I not? I suppose it’s my duty to accept that responsibility. After all, my actions are what brought you to this point anyway, right?”