The Ultimate Halloween Anime: Unveiling the Underrated Series by Fate/Stay Night Creator

Despite Kinoko Nasu's current prominence for the Fate series, fans should not overlook The Garden of Sinners, which served as a prototype for his future fantasy works and is the ideal anime to watch during the Halloween season. Consisting of seven main movies and several spin-offs, ufotable's 11 adaptations of this story also mark the beginning of their collaboration in animating various Fate shows. With its gritty and eerie mysteries, this anime serves as the perfect choice for Halloween.

While Fate takes on a bombastic time-traveling fantasy direction, The Garden of Sinners stands out as one of the most genuinely "occult" detective stories, showcasing Nasu's mastery of the mystical and blending strange sorcery with disturbing subject matter. With ufotable's exceptional art bringing chilling cityscapes to life, the end result is a series of films that truly showcases the terrifying nature of the supernatural.

The Garden of Sinners Is A Dark, Delightful Anime Worthy Of Halloween

In the dark and macabre world of Shiki Ryougi, magic takes on a grotesque and gothic form. Ghosts and zombies roam freely, and Shiki, armed only with her knife and the unique power of "Death Perception," battles ancient monks and deranged mages. Sinners, as an occult detective series, delights in challenging its audience with a puzzling plot, as the events of each movie unfold in a non-linear fashion. This hostile and alien magic creates a perfect atmosphere of terror for the viewers.

However, this hostility also means that The Garden of Sinners explores subjects that are not for the faint of heart. In a society where being normal is disregarded, profound questions about the nature of murder arise. The first movie delves into the theme of suicide, while the third presents a graphic portrayal of sexual assault, always done with a seriousness that amplifies the supernatural horror. It is worth noting that after the fifth movie, which is regarded as one of the darkest and most mind-bending, ufotable decided to lighten things up in the sixth, focusing on drug dealing and revenge within an all-girls private school.

Regrettably, ufotable's subsequent triumphs have cast a shadow on the movie series, despite its undeniable artistic accomplishment. This is where the tradition of incorporating Yuki Kaijura's musical compositions into Fate anime began. The generous budget allotted to the production consistently delivers top-notch visuals that bring the eerie urban gothic setting to life, with ominous camera sweeps capturing abandoned buildings, desolate underground parking lots, and grimy back alleys. It stands in stark contrast to the extravagant splendor of Fate/Stay Night and its sequels. If you're looking for a spine-chilling Halloween experience, the first seven films of The Garden of Sinners are perfect for a seasonal marathon.