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Type-Moon[a] is a Japanese company that produces video games, anime, manga, light novels, and affiliated merchandise. It was founded by illustrator Takashi Takeuchi, writer Kinoko Nasu, programmer Nobuyuki Kiyotake, and composer Keita Haga. The company is known under the name Notes Co., Ltd.[b] for its publishing and corporate operations, as it is the company's official name, while the use of the brand name Type-Moon is a homage to the founder's origins as a doujin circle of the same name. After releasing the visual novel Tsukihime as doujin soft, the group incorporated and commercially released the visual novel Fate/stay night which became the company's most well-known title. Both works have received several adaptations in other mediums that have amassed a global fanbase.

Key Information

History

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Doujin circle (1999–2003)

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Before the founding of Type-Moon, starting in October 1998, illustrator Takashi Takeuchi and writer Kinoko Nasu (friends since their time at junior high school)[citation needed] released the first five chapters of the light novel series The Garden of Sinners through the web page of their doujin circle, Takebouki[c], and sold the last two at Comiket 56 in August 1999.[1] At that same time, the two alongside programmer Nobuyuki Kiyotake and composer Keita Haga (colleagues of Takeuchi when he worked for Compile)[citation needed] distributed a free floppy disk announcing the formation of the doujin circle Type-Moon (the name originating from Notes. [sic], one of Nasu's previous works) and the start of the development of the visual novel Tsukihime.[2]

Tsukihime was initially released at Comiket 59 in December 2000.[3] Soon after, Sunshine Creation [ja] 10, in January 2001, saw the release of Tsukihime Plus-Disc: an omake disc that mainly served to fix issues the first copies of Tsukihime had and which also featured bonus content.[4] Later, at Comiket 60 in August of the same year, the fan disc Kagetsu Tohya was released.[5] In September,[6] the members of Type-Moon established Notes Co., Ltd. while remaining active as a doujin circle. After the great response it received following the inclusion of its first four chapters in Plus-Disc, Type-Moon printed a complete edition of The Garden of Sinners split in two volumes that were sold at Comiket 61 in December.[7]

On 30 December 2002, in collaboration with French-Bread (known as Watanabe Seisakujo[d] before 2003), Type-Moon released at Comiket 63 the fighting game/visual novel Melty Blood,[8] a doujin game for compatible PCs that serves as the third proper entry in the Tsukihime series. It was followed by the expansion Melty Blood Re-Act, released on 30 May 2004, which received a patch update, Final Tuned, as a free download over the Internet.[citation needed] Type-Moon and French-Bread partnered with Ecole Software to develop and publish a commercial version titled Melty Blood Act Cadenza that was released for Sega NAOMI arcade systems on 25 March 2005[9] and for the PlayStation 2 on 10 August 2006.[10] A Windows port of Melty Blood Act Cadenza Ver. B, an upgraded version of the arcade edition, was released on 27 August 2007.[11]

To mark the end of activities as a doujin circle, Type-Moon released at Comic Revolution [ja] 33 in April 2003 Tsuki-Bako: a specially packaged three-disc set that includes Tsukihime, an expanded version of the omake disc named "Plus+Disc", the fan disc, and a new arrangement for all BGM.[12] Tsukihime's popularity led to a 12-episode TV anime adaptation by J.C.Staff with the title Lunar Legend Tsukihime that aired from October to December 2003 on BS-i,[13] which was later licensed by Geneon Entertainment for release in North America in 2004.[14] A manga adaptation illustrated by Sasakishonen [ja] using the same title as the anime was serialized in the magazine Dengeki Daioh from the October 2003 to September 2010 issues,[citation needed] with its chapters collected across ten volumes published by ASCII Media Works.[15] It was initially licensed by ComicsOne for an English release in North America in 2004,[16] but later, in 2005, DrMaster took over the publication of ComicsOne's manga titles, including Lunar Legend Tsukihime.[17] However, DrMaster went bankrupt in 2009, and so only six of the ten volumes went published.[citation needed]

Company

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2004–2006: Fate/stay night, hollow ataraxia, and Zero

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On 30 January 2004, they released the first commercial release, a PC-based visual novel game, Fate/stay night. It was later adapted into an anime series that aired 24 episodes in Japan starting 6 January 2006; a second anime series that premiered on 4 October 2014; and a manga series that ran in publication between 26 December 2005 and 26 October 2012, in Monthly Shōnen Ace. A sequel to Fate/stay night, Fate/hollow ataraxia, was released on 28 October 2005. Fate/stay night was also released on the PS2 platform on 19 April 2007. A prequel, Fate/Zero, was released as a light novel written by Gen Urobuchi (from nitro+) under Kinoko Nasu's supervision, featuring art by Takashi Takeuchi, in 2006–2007, followed by an animated adaptation by ufotable in 2011–2012.[citation needed]

2007–present

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At Comiket 72 on 27 August 2007, they released the "All Around TYPE-MOON drama CD".[18]

In August 2019, Type-Moon announced that they established a new company called Type-Moon Studio BB, a video game development studio with former Square Enix and Atlus employee Kazuya Nino, the director for the series Trauma Center, Etrian Odyssey, and Dragon Quest Builders, becoming the head of the studio.[19] According to Nino, the company plans to develop medium to large-scale 3D games in cooperation with external developers and small-scale 2D games developed in-house.[citation needed]

Releases

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Type-Moon has developed and produced the following:

Tsukihime series

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  • Tsukihime, PC-based adult visual novel game, originally released on 28 December 2000. A television adaptation of the visual novel, Lunar Legend Tsukihime, by J.C.Staff, aired from 10 October – 26 December 2003.
  • Tsukihime Plus-Disc, released on 21 January 2001.
  • Kagetsu Tohya, PC-based Tsukihime fan disk, released on 13 August 2001.
  • Melty Blood, PC-based fighting game, in association with French-Bread, released on 28 December 2002. Manga serialized from June 2005 to August 2011.
  • Melty Blood Re-ACT, PC-based expansion to Melty Blood, released on 20 May 2004.
    • Melty Blood Re-ACT Final Tuned, update patch to Melty Blood Re-ACT, released as a free download.
  • talk. and Prelude, are two short stories published in Tsukihime material book's Plus Period published on 22 October 2004, and the Type-Moon's Character material published on 20 August 2006, respectively, intended to act as a prologue to a potential Tsukihime sequel.
  • Melty Blood: Act Cadenza, arcade port to Melty Blood released on 25 March 2005, and re-released on the PS2 platform on 10 August 2006.
    • Melty Blood: Act Cadenza Version B, the updated PC port of Act Cadenza, was released on 27 July 2007.
  • Melty Blood: Actress Again, arcade released on 19 September 2008, and PS2-port on 20 August 2009.
    • Melty Blood: Actress Again Current Code, the first 2D fighting game for Sega RingWide arcade board, was released on 29 July 2010. Ver. 1.07 was released later for Arcade on 14 October 2011, and a PC port on 30 December 2011, along with the Blu-ray release of Carnival Phantasm Season 3 limited edition. An updated version was released on Steam on 19 April 2016.
  • Tsuki no Sango, is a story by Nasu for Maaya Sakamoto's Full Moon Recital Hall, a project organized by the Japanese online magazine Saizensen, that consisted of Sakamoto reading short novels in a theater while an accompanying short animation was aired in the background. Tsuki no Sango was the first of the recitals on 21 December 2010, also got a manga adaptation with a story and art by Sasaki Shōnen.
  • Tsukihime -A piece of blue glass moon-, the first visual novel re-telling the story of Tsukihime. Released on 26 August 2021, for the PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch.
  • Melty Blood: Type Lumina, the first Type-Moon fighting game and overall for Xbox console port, as well as a "What-If" story to Tsukihime Remake titles and Reboot to the Melty Blood series, released worldwide on Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Microsoft Windows, and Steam on 30 September 2021.
  • Tsukihime -The other side of red garden-, the second visual novels re-telling the story of Tsukihime. (release TBA)

Fate series

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  • Fate/stay night, PC-based visual novel game, released on 30 January 2004. A DVD version was released on 29 March 2006, and a non-ero PS2 port entitled Fate/stay night [Réalta Nua] was released on 19 April 2007, and re-ported non-ero to PC on three versions covering each arc. Currently, four anime adaptations exist of Fate/stay night: the first was produced by Studio Deen and primarily based on the visual novel's Fate route,[citation needed] the second was a film adaptation of the Unlimited Blade Works route and also produced by Studio Deen,[citation needed] and the third was a TV remake of the Unlimited Blade Works route produced by ufotable.[citation needed] The Heaven's Feel route has been adapted into a movie trilogy by ufotable.[20]
  • Fate/hollow ataraxia, PC-based Fate/stay night sequel, released on 28 October 2005, re-released for PS Vita on 27 November 2014.
  • Fate/school life, is a comedy 4-koma manga by Eiichirou Mashin revolving around the normal life at school of the minor characters of Fate/stay night and Fate/hollow ataraxia, in later volumes, other characters from different TYPE-MOON works would also appear.
  • Fate/Zero, a light novel prequel to Fate/stay night, were released from 29 December 2006, to 29 December 2007. Made in collaboration with Nitroplus. Anime adaptation by ufotable aired from 1 October 2011, to 23 June 2012.
  • Fate/Prototype, is an animated short by Studio Lerche, distributed with the third home release of Carnival Phantasm on 31 December 2011. Based on the Second Tokyo Holy Grail War, it is the original concept of Kinoko Nasu's for Fate/stay night. It has yet to be adapted as a full series, with only a short animated feature and production notes detailing the story.
    • Fate/Prototype: Fragments of Sky Silver, a light novel written by Hikaru Sakurai, illustrated by Nakahara, and published by Kadokawa Shouten, were released from 10 September 2014, to 26 April 2017. It is a prequel of Fate/Prototype, the original version of Fate/stay night with a female protagonist.
  • Fate/kaleid liner Prisma Illya, a spin-off manga series written and illustrated by Hiroyama Hiroshi, serialized in Comp Ace magazine from 26 September 2007, to 26 November 2008, followed by two sequels entitled 2wei! and 3rei!!
  • Fate/tiger colosseum, PSP 3D fighting game, released on 13 September 2007. Made by Capcom and Cavia.
  • Fate/unlimited codes, arcade, PS2, and PSP 3D fighting game, released on 28 October 2008.
  • Fate/Extra, an RPG dungeon-crawler for the PSP-system, released on 22 July 2010. Sequel Fate/Extra CCC was released on 28 March 2013. An anime version titled by Shaft as Fate/Extra Last Encore
  • Fate/Apocrypha, a light novel by Yuuichirou Higashide and illustrated by Konoe Ototsugu, was released between 29 December 2012, and 30 December 2014, spanning five volumes. An anime adaptation by A-1 Pictures aired between 2 July 2017, and 30 December 2017, with international localization by Netflix.
  • The Case Files of Lord El-Melloi II, a light novel written by Makoto Sanda, illustrated by Sakamoto Mineji and published by TYPE-MOON under their label TYPE-MOON BOOKS[21] on 30 December 2014, to 17 May 2019. It is considered a side-story to Fate/Zero, following one of the protagonists as an adult. A manga adaptation illustrated by Tō Azuma has been serialized.[22] An anime adaptation by Troyca aired from 6 July – 28 September 2019.
    • The Adventures of Lord El-Melloi II, sequel to The Case Files, began publishing on 25 December 2020.
  • Fate/strange fake, a light novel series written by Ryohgo Narita, illustrated by Morii Shizuki, and published in Dengeki Bunko starting on 10 January 2015. It is a remake of the original 2008 April's Fool's web-published one-shot known as Fake/states night, which was later edited and included in TYPE-MOON Ace Vol.2 in 2009. A manga adaptation, also illustrated by Morii Shizuki, is being released alongside the aforementioned current novelization.[23]
  • Fate/Labyrinth, a light novel by Hikaru Sakurai, illustrated by Nakahara. It is a side-story to Fate/Prototype: Fragments of Blue and Silver and was released on 9 January 2016, between Fragments' 3rd and 4th volumes.
  • Fate/Grand Order, an RPG for the Android/iOS that was released on 30 July 2015. The game contains characters from previous TYPE-MOON properties along with new characters. A new class, Shielder, was added to the game. The first chapter of the game was animated by Lay-duce as a television movie titled Fate/Grand Order First Order aired on 31 December 2016.
    • Fate/Grand Carnival, an OVA series that is a spiritual successor to Carnival Phantasm, focusing on characters from Fate/Grand Order.
  • Today's Menu for the Emiya Family, a spin-off manga series written and illustrated by TAa, serialized in Kadokawa Shoten's Young Ace Up starting on 26 January 2016. It received an original net animation adaptation by ufotable from 2018 to 2019. A video game adaptation for the Nintendo Switch was released on 28 April 2021.
  • Fate/Requiem, a light novel by Meteo Hoshriza, published on 31 December 2018. Set in a timeline where a large Holy Grail War took place, which resulted in everyone having a servant in the aftermath.
  • Fate/type Redline, a spin-off manga series written by Keikenchi and illustrated by Ryoji Hirano, based on the gag manga Koha-Ace.
  • Fate/Samurai Remnant, an action RPG released in 2023 for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5 and Windows. It is the story of the Waxing Moon Ritual, a subspecies of a Holy Grail War taking place in Japan during the Edo period.

Other

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  • The Garden of Sinners, known in Japan as Boundary of Emptiness (空の境界, Kara no Kyōkai) and sometimes referred to as Rakkyo (らっきょ), is a light novel series originally released as a series of chapters released independently online or at Comiket between October 1998 and August 1999, the chapters were later republished by Kodansha into two volumes released both on 8 June 2004, and again in three volumes between 15 November 2007, and 16 January 2008. Ufotable produced a series of seven anime films based on the series between 1 December 2007, and 28 September 2013, and also produced an original video animation episode on 2 February 2011. A final anime film was produced and released in 2013. A manga adaptation illustrated by Sphere Tenku started serialization in September 2010 in Seikaisha's online magazine Saizensen.
  • Notes. is a short novel by Kinoko Nasu and published in May 1999 for an angels-centered doujin anthology Angel Voice.
  • Decoration Disorder Disconnection (DDD), a light novel by Kinoko Nasu and illustrated by Hirokazu Koyama, published irregularly in the Faust magazine, with two volumes released in 2004, the series is currently on hiatus.
  • Carnival Phantasm, animated OVA series by Lerche based on Take Moon a parody manga created by Eri Takenashi, mixing characters from Tsukihime, Kagetsu Tohya, Melty Blood, Fate/stay night, Fate/hollow ataraxia with minor cameo appearances from Fate/Zero, Fate/EXTRA, Kara no Kyoukai, Mahoutsukai no Hako and KOHA-ACE characters.
  • All Around Type-Moon, is a drama CD released at Comiket 72 on 17 August 2007. Various TYPE-MOON characters interact within Ahnenerbe and find themselves in comedic situations. It has a manga adaptation.
  • 428: Shibuya Scramble, Nasu wrote a special scenario for the game, with Takashi Takeuchi providing the character designs. This scenario sequel is an anime, Canaan.[24]
  • Witch on the Holy Night, a visual novel written by Kinoko Nasu, featuring art by Hirokazu Koyama and music by Fukasawa Hideyuki. Originally written and set before The Garden of Sinners and Tsukihime, the story follows a young Aozaki Aoko alongside two new faces – Kuonji Alice and Soujuuro Shizuki. In an interview with 4Gamer, Kinoko Nasu expressed the desire to make a game that feels like a finished work and considers this a success.[25] It was released on 12 April 2012. This is the first Type-Moon visual novel not to be an adult game. An upcoming film adaptation by ufotable has been announced.
  • Fire Girl, a light novel with an original story by ex-Liarsoft member Hoshizora Meteor and illustrations by bunbun, published by Type-Moon under their label TYPE-MOON BOOKS, were released from 29 December 2012, to 18 March 2016.
  • World Conquest Zvezda Plot, a 2014 anime television series directed by Tensai Okamura, written by Hoshizora Meteor and animated by A-1 Pictures.
  • Sekai Seifuku 〜 Shiroi Keito to Manatsu no Berubiaaje, a light novel side-story of World Conquest Zvezda Plot, written by Kimura Kou and illustrated by Kouhaku Kuroboshi was released on 22 March 2014, published under the TYPE-MOON BOOKS label.
  • Girls' Work was announced on 1 June 2008, as a PC visual novel work written by ex-Liarsoft members Hoshizora Meteor, Myogaya Jinroku, and Kimura Kou, with character designs by Takenashi Eri, but on 24 December 2010, it was announced to be restarted as a joint animation project with animation production company ufotable and Aniplex. Released date has not been revealed.[26]

Notes

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References

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[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
Type-Moon is a Japanese entertainment company specializing in s, , , light novels, and affiliated merchandise, renowned for creating expansive multimedia franchises such as the and Fate series. Founded in 2000 as a dōjin circle by writer and illustrator , Type-Moon initially focused on self-published works, with its breakthrough coming from the vampire-themed Tsukihime, released the same year at and quickly gaining a dedicated fanbase for its intricate storytelling and character development. The success of Tsukihime prompted the establishment of Notes Co., Ltd. as the parent company in 2003, allowing Type-Moon to transition from independent circle activities to professional publishing and development while retaining its brand identity. Headquartered in , , the company expanded rapidly with the release of Fate/stay night, a that introduced the Holy Grail War concept and achieved significant commercial success, selling over 100,000 copies in its early years and inspiring numerous adaptations, including anime series by studios like and . This work solidified Type-Moon's influence in the visual novel genre, emphasizing branching narratives, philosophical themes, and richly detailed worlds that blend supernatural elements with human drama. Type-Moon's franchises have since proliferated across media, with the Fate series alone encompassing dozens of spin-offs, such as the action RPG Fate/Extella and the mobile title Fate/Grand Order, the latter becoming one of the highest-grossing mobile games worldwide with over $7 billion in revenue as of 2023. Other notable contributions include the Kara no Kyoukai light novel series, adapted into acclaimed films, and ongoing projects like remasters and new entries in the Tsukihime remake series, including the 2024 English release of Tsukihime -A piece of blue glass moon- and the Fate/stay night Remastered edition, demonstrating the company's enduring impact on anime and gaming culture. Through subsidiaries like TYPE-MOON BOOKS for publishing and collaborations with developers such as Delightworks (now Lasengle), Type-Moon continues to innovate in interactive storytelling and transmedia expansion.

History

Doujin circle origins (1998–2003)

Type-Moon began as doujin activities in October 1998 with the serialization of Kara no Kyoukai (also known as The Garden of Sinners), formally establishing as a doujin circle by writer Kinoko Nasu and illustrator Takashi Takeuchi, who had been friends since junior high school and shared a passion for creating original stories and artwork. Initially, the group focused on producing doujinshi and short stories, operating with minimal infrastructure and self-publishing through personal efforts and online platforms. Their debut project, the novel Kara no Kyoukai, was serialized online on their doujin website Takebouki from October 1998 to May 1999, with physical doujinshi editions self-published and sold at events in 1999. This work introduced key thematic elements like supernatural mysteries and philosophical explorations of existence that would define their later output. Building on this foundation, Type-Moon shifted toward visual novels with (Moon Princess), releasing a demo version at 58 in summer 2000, limited to just 300 copies on CD. The full version launched at Winter on December 29, 2000, as a Windows-based featuring branching narratives centered on vampire lore, human fragility, and moral dilemmas. It achieved critical acclaim for its innovative storytelling and atmospheric world-building, achieving significant success in its doujin release and establishing the core concepts of Type-Moon's —later termed the "Nasuverse"—where entities coexist with human society under metaphysical rules like "Mystic Eyes" and "True Ancestors." The game's success stemmed from its emotional depth and replayability, drawing a dedicated fanbase despite the amateur production. In 2002, Type-Moon expanded into spin-off content with , a 2D co-developed with the doujin circle (then known as Watanabe Seisakujo) and released at 63 on December 30. This title adapted 's characters into fast-paced battles with visual novel-style story modes, blending action gameplay with extensions of the Nasuverse. It further solidified the circle's reputation, with its arcade-inspired mechanics appealing to enthusiasts while maintaining ties to the original visual novel's lore. As a small doujin group, Type-Moon faced significant challenges, including severe budget constraints that limited development tools to basic software and hardware, often requiring Nasu and Takeuchi to handle writing, art, programming, and even packaging themselves. Distribution relied almost entirely on events twice a year, where they competed for booth space among thousands of circles and sold limited print runs directly to attendees, leading to inconsistent revenue and logistical strains like transporting heavy boxes of discs. These hurdles underscored the nature of their early years, yet the passionate reception at conventions propelled them toward broader recognition.

Incorporation and early success (2004–2006)

In early 2003, and established Notes Co., Ltd. as the corporate entity to formalize Type-Moon's operations, transitioning the doujin brand into a professional structure funded by the success of . Type-Moon continued as a label under Notes, enabling the production of commercial titles while maintaining creative independence. This incorporation marked the end of the group's doujin phase, with Tsuki-Bako—a compilation of prior works—serving as their final amateur release in April 2003. Type-Moon's first major commercial release, the Fate/stay night, launched on January 30, 2004, for Windows PCs, introducing the iconic Holy Grail War—a ritualistic battle among mages summoning heroic spirits to claim an omnipotent artifact. The game featured three branching narrative routes (Fate, Unlimited Blade Works, and Heaven's Feel), each exploring different themes of heroism, identity, and sacrifice, which contributed to its critical and commercial acclaim as Type-Moon's breakthrough title. Distributed primarily through direct sales and select retailers, it achieved significant success, solidifying the company's viability in the market. Building on this momentum, Type-Moon released Fate/hollow ataraxia on October 28, 2005, as a sequel and expanded sequel to Fate/stay night. The delved into side stories, alternate perspectives, and deeper lore within the Holy Grail War universe, blending humor, drama, and resolution for unresolved elements from the original. This release further demonstrated Type-Moon's growing expertise in serialized storytelling, with initial PC distribution mirroring the self-managed model of its predecessor. In 2006, Type-Moon expanded into light novels with Fate/Zero, a written by under Notes' supervision and illustrated by . The series, published across four volumes from December 29, 2006, to December 29, 2007, chronicled the Fourth Holy Grail War a decade before Fate/stay night, emphasizing moral ambiguity and tragedy among its participants. Early partnerships emerged during this period, including collaborations for merchandise such as premium artbooks tied to Fate/stay night. Financially, the shift to commercial distribution via Notes enabled broader market access, culminating in the July 2005 announcement of the first anime adaptation of Fate/stay night by , set to air in 2006.

Growth and diversification (2007–present)

Following the success of its early visual novels, Type-Moon began diversifying into anime adaptations with the launch of the Kara no Kyoukai film series in 2007, produced in collaboration with . The seven main films were released between December 2007 and August 2011, culminating in the Future Gospel epilogue film in September 2013, marking Type-Moon's entry into theatrical animation and expanding its narrative universe beyond . In parallel, Type-Moon formalized its publishing operations through Notes Co., Ltd., established in 2003 as the corporate entity but evolving into a dedicated arm for light novels and print media by the mid-2000s. Notes handled the serialization and release of light novels tied to Kara no Kyoukai and other properties, enabling Type-Moon to build a robust literary extension of its franchises while maintaining creative control over prose adaptations. A major milestone came in 2015 with the development and release of the mobile game , created in partnership with Delightworks (later rebranded as Lasengle). The title, featuring Type-Moon's scenario writing, achieved rapid global success, surpassing 5 million downloads within months of its Japanese launch in July 2015 and generating billions in revenue through ongoing events and updates into 2025. By 2025, continued to receive major content expansions, including its 10th anniversary celebrations and crossovers, solidifying Type-Moon's presence in the mobile gaming sector. Type-Moon invested in remakes and remasters to modernize its catalog for contemporary platforms. The * remake launched in 2021 for and PC, reworking the original 2000 with updated visuals and expanded story routes. In 2024, Fate/stay night REMASTERED arrived on , PC, , and Android with multilingual support, including English. This was followed by Fate/hollow ataraxia REMASTERED in August 2025 for Switch and PC via , enhancing accessibility for its sequel narrative. The company expanded its fan engagement through events and periodicals, starting with the inaugural TYPE-MOON Fes in 2016, an annual convention featuring announcements, merchandise, and live performances. Complementing this, TYPE-MOON Ace magazine, launched in 2008, reached its 17th volume in July 2025, providing in-depth interviews, concept art, and serialization for ongoing series like Fate/Grand Order. In 2025, Type-Moon's Fate/EXTRA Record, initially announced for , , , and PC, was delayed to Spring 2026. Additionally, the Fate/strange Fake TV , following a preview special on December 31, 2024, is scheduled to premiere its full series run on January 3, 2026, produced by . Amid these developments, Type-Moon navigated challenges such as key staff transitions and deepened partnerships with (a subsidiary) for distribution and production support on projects like Fate/Grand Order and anime adaptations. In a philanthropic move, established the Healthy Children's Foundation in 2024 to support child nutrition initiatives in , reflecting the company's commitment to . Type-Moon enhanced its global outreach through English localizations and international collaborations, including the 2017 English release of Fate/Grand Order via Aniplex of America and official translations for remakes like Tsukihime and Fate/stay night. These efforts, coupled with partnerships with publishers like Kadokawa for overseas licensing, have broadened the brand's accessibility beyond Japan.

Organization

Key personnel and leadership

Type-Moon was co-founded by writer and illustrator , who have served as its central creative forces since the company's origins. Nasu, as representative director, is the primary scenarist responsible for scripting all major visual novels, including the foundational and Fate/stay night, while developing the expansive lore of the shared Nasuverse universe across Type-Moon's productions. His role extends to supervision of adaptations, ensuring conceptual consistency in themes like magecraft and parallel worlds. Takeuchi, also a representative director and president of the parent company Notes Co., Ltd., leads as producer and chief character designer, creating iconic visuals for , the Fate series, and spin-offs like . His design philosophy emphasizes expressive, detailed character aesthetics that integrate with Nasu's narrative depth, influencing Type-Moon's artistic identity. Beyond the founders, key contributors include writer , who penned the prequel Fate/Zero from 2006 to 2007, expanding the Fate timeline with his distinct psychological storytelling under Type-Moon's oversight. Novelist Makoto Sanda authored Fate/Apocrypha, a major alternate-universe entry, serving as a guest writer for related projects like Fate/Grand Order. Artist Hirokazu Koyama has provided character designs for Fate works, including contributions to Fate/Grand Order, enhancing the series' visual continuity. The leadership structure positions Nasu and Takeuchi as creative directors, guiding Type-Moon's emphasis on intricate world-building and interconnected universe mechanics that allow for multimedia expansions while maintaining lore integrity. This has evolved to incorporate specialized producers, such as Yosuke Shiokawa, who directed from 2016 until 2022, driving its operational success and global reach. Their collaborative approach fosters a culture of rigorous narrative and artistic synergy, evident in the Nasuverse's enduring appeal.

Subsidiaries and affiliates

Type-Moon operates under the official corporate name Notes Co., Ltd., established in as a to manage its publishing and operational activities following the transition from its origins. Notes Co., Ltd. oversees the publication of visual novels, light novels, and related media through imprints such as Type-Moon Books, which specializes in novel releases, supplementary materials, and merchandise tied to the company's intellectual properties. In 2019, Type-Moon founded its subsidiary studio, Type-Moon Studio BB, to expand in-house game development capabilities. This studio, directed by Kazuya Niina, focuses on producing mid-to-large-scale 3D games in collaboration with external developers, as well as smaller 2D projects internally, with an emphasis on content within the Fate/Grand Order ecosystem and broader Type-Moon universe. Type-Moon maintains key affiliations with external entities to support multimedia expansion. , a of , partners with Type-Moon for production, film adaptations, and global distribution of Fate series content, including publishing the Fate/Grand Order. Additionally, Type-Moon collaborated with Delightworks on Fate/Grand Order's initial development and operations starting in 2015; following Aniplex's acquisition of Delightworks' game division in 2021, the team restructured as Lasengle Co., Ltd. in 2022, continuing FGO support as a of . Other ventures include TYPE-MOON Ace, a bimonthly launched in as a spinoff of Kadokawa Shoten's , dedicated to Type-Moon-exclusive interviews, serialization, and promotional content. In the philanthropic domain, Notes Co., Ltd. established the Notes' Healthy Children's Foundation in April 2024 to fund children's cafeterias and nutrition programs across , providing meals and support to underprivileged youth. The company remains wholly owned by its founders, and , maintaining private control over creative and strategic decisions. For merchandise production and distribution since the early , Type-Moon has partnered with the COSPA Group, leveraging their expertise in character goods and apparel collaborations.

Core productions

Visual novels

Type-Moon's visual novels represent the company's foundational medium, originating as works before achieving commercial success through intricate narratives, branching storylines, and richly detailed worlds that form the core of the Nasuverse. These interactive stories typically feature choice-based , where player decisions influence multiple endings and character developments, blending elements of mystery, supernatural lore, and dramatic tension. Released primarily for Windows PC initially, many have received remastered editions with updated graphics, full , and console ports to broaden accessibility. The company's debut visual novel, Tsukihime, launched on December 29, 2000, for Windows PC, introducing a gothic centered on lore and the Shiki Tohno's "Mystic Eyes of Death Perception" ability, which allows him to perceive and sever the "lines of death" in all things. The game features five main routes with branching paths based on player choices, exploring themes of mortality, family secrets, and human monstrosity through encounters with heroines. A , Tsukihime: A Piece of Blue Glass Moon, released on August 26, 2021, for , , and PC, expands the original with revised routes, enhanced visuals using modern sprite art and animations, and additional content like new bad ends, while maintaining the core mythology. The has sold over 300,000 units worldwide, including shipments and digital sales, underscoring its enduring appeal. Fate/stay night, released on January 30, 2004, for Windows PC, established Type-Moon's most iconic series with its premise of the War—a ritualistic battle among seven Masters summoning heroic Servants to claim a wish-granting artifact. Players control Emiya Shirou across three primary routes—"Fate," "Unlimited Blade Works," and "Heaven's Feel"—each offering distinct perspectives on alliances, betrayals, and moral dilemmas, unlocked sequentially through branching choices that reveal deeper lore on magecraft and heroism. As a cornerstone of the Nasuverse, it integrates mechanics like command seals for Servant interactions and combat resolutions via dialogue options. A remastered version, Fate/stay night REMASTERED, launched on , 2024, for PC (), , and , features high-definition assets, adjustable text speeds, and multilingual support including English. The original achieved significant commercial success, selling over 100,000 copies in its early years, contributing to the franchise's massive cultural impact, while the remaster exceeded 100,000 units sold globally within months of release. Serving as a direct sequel to Fate/stay night, Fate/hollow ataraxia debuted on October 28, 2005, for Windows PC, shifting to a more introspective tone with a four-day time-loop structure set in a dream-like Fuyuki City, where Shirou navigates recurring scenarios to unravel mysteries involving familiar characters' hidden psyches and unresolved arcs from the prior game. Gameplay emphasizes puzzle-like exploration, mini-games, and relationship-building choices that lead to extended character-focused endings, blending humor, drama, and subtle horror elements. The 2025 remaster, Fate/hollow ataraxia REMASTERED, released on August 7 for PC () and , includes updated interfaces, widescreen support, and English localization, enhancing the original's intricate narrative web. Mahoutsukai no Yoru (Witch on the Holy Night), Type-Moon's next original visual novel after years of development delays from the early 2000s, premiered on April 12, 2012, for Windows PC, as a kinetic novel with a linear storyline devoid of branching paths, focusing on themes of magic, inheritance, and youthful discovery through the perspective of teenage witch Aoko Aozaki training in sorcery amid family legacies and supernatural threats in 1980s Misaki Town. It serves as a prequel to Tsukihime, detailing Aoko's formative experiences with astronomy, rune magic, and mentor-student dynamics. Console ports for PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch arrived on December 8, 2022, with full voice acting and refined visuals, followed by a Steam worldwide release on December 14, 2023, supporting English and Chinese. The enhanced editions sold over 150,000 copies combined across platforms.

Published literature

Type-Moon's published literature encompasses a range of novels and light novels issued under the Type-Moon Books imprint, often adapting and expanding the established in their visual novels into formats. These works typically feature intricate narratives blending supernatural elements, mystery, and philosophical themes, with illustrations by enhancing the visual storytelling. The imprint emphasizes seamless integration of lore from into linear , allowing for deeper exploration of character backstories and world-building without the branching structures of visual novels. The foundational series in this category is (The Garden of Sinners), a seven-volume authored by . Initially released as a series between October 1998 and August 1999, it centers on occult mysteries investigated by the enigmatic Shiki Ryougi in a modern urban setting fraught with supernatural phenomena. The series was reprinted in a commercial edition by from 2004 to 2007, marking Type-Moon's transition from independent publishing to broader distribution. A key expansion of the Fate franchise is Fate/Zero, a prequel to Fate/stay night written by and illustrated by . Spanning four volumes published from December 2006 to December 2007, it chronicles the brutal events of the Fourth Holy Grail War, focusing on the ideological clashes among seven Masters and their summoned Servants. The narrative delves into themes of ambition, sacrifice, and moral ambiguity, providing essential backstory for the larger Fate universe. Subsequent titles further diversify the imprint's output. The Character Material series, launched in 2006 and continuing periodically, compiles art, character profiles, and lore details from across Type-Moon's works, including and Fate entries, serving as essential reference compendiums for fans. Fate/Apocrypha, a five-volume by Yūichirō Higashide published from 2012 to 2014, reimagines the Holy Grail War as a large-scale conflict between two rival factions in a alternate timeline. Additionally, the 2021 remake was accompanied by Tsukihime Material I, a companion volume released on August 26 that includes expanded settings, interviews, and supplementary prose elements tied to the updated narrative. By 2025, Type-Moon Books had released over 50 titles, encompassing original novels, series, and collections that weave additional threads into the Nasuverse. This prolific scope underscores Type-Moon's commitment to prose as a medium for enriching their ecosystem, with Takeuchi's illustrations consistently bridging the gap between textual depth and visual iconography.

Extended media

Video game spin-offs

Type-Moon has expanded its intellectual properties into action-oriented spin-offs, primarily through collaborations with external developers, focusing on fighting games, RPGs, and hack-and-slash titles derived from its universes. These spin-offs emphasize gameplay mechanics like real-time combat and multiplayer elements, diverging from the narrative-driven structure of the original s. The series, launched in 2002 as a collaboration between and (formerly Watanabe Seisakujo), consists of 2D fighting games set in the universe, featuring characters like Arcueid Brunestud and Shiki Tohno in meta-sequel scenarios involving supernatural threats. Key installments include arcade releases such as Act Cadenza (2005) and console ports like : Actress Again Current Code (2010 for ), which introduced refined combo systems and story branches. The most recent entry, : Type Lumina (2021 for , , , and PC), incorporates tag-team battles and updated visuals while preserving the series' fast-paced, aerial combat style; it has sold over 500,000 units worldwide as of June 2024. The Fate/EXTRA series represents Type-Moon's entry into RPG spin-offs, beginning with Fate/EXTRA (2010 for ), a dungeon-crawler RPG developed with and published by Marvelous Entertainment, where players navigate a digital War as a Master summoning Servants like Saber (Artoria Pendragon) in turn-based battles. Its sequel, Fate/EXTRA CCC (2013 for PSP), expands on themes of digital realms with enhanced relationship mechanics and new Servants. A remake of the original, Fate/EXTRA Record, developed by Type-Moon's Studio BB using , was announced for , , , and PC, initially slated for 2025 but delayed to spring 2026 to refine quality and incorporate updated scenarios. Building on the EXTRA universe, the Fate/Extella series shifts to action hack-and-slash gameplay, starting with Fate/EXTELLA: The Umbral Star (2016 for , , and PC), developed by Marvelous and published by them internationally, where players control Servants in high-speed arena battles across the SE.RA.PH digital world, featuring form changes for powered-up attacks. The follow-up, Fate/EXTELLA LINK (2018 for multiple platforms including ), adds co-op multiplayer, over 20 playable Servants, and branching narratives post-Holy Grail War, emphasizing combo chains and Noble Phantasm executions. Other notable spin-offs include Fate/Samurai Remnant (2023 for , , , and PC), an action RPG co-developed with Koei Tecmo's , set during the Edo period's Waxing Moon Ritual—a variant Holy Grail War—involving Master Iori Miyamoto and Saber in tandem combat systems blending swordplay and magecraft. Additionally, the arcade-exclusive Fate/Grand Order Arcade (2018, developed and published by ) adapts the Grand Order storyline into a real-time team-based card battle RPG, allowing physical card printing for gacha summons and featuring full 3D models for Servants in hack-and-slash encounters.

Anime and film adaptations

Type-Moon's works have been adapted into numerous anime and projects, primarily through collaborations with studios such as and , under the distribution oversight of . These adaptations focus on key narratives from the Fate series and earlier projects like Kara no Kyoukai, emphasizing battles and character-driven dramas while maintaining fidelity to the original source materials. Type-Moon typically provides scripting supervision to ensure alignment with creator Kinoko Nasu's vision, often partnering with for production and global release. The Kara no Kyoukai film series, adapting Kinoko Nasu's novel collection, consists of seven original video animations (OVAs) produced by and released theatrically in from December 2007 to February 2011. These films, titled Overlooking View, A Study in Murder (Parts 1 and 2), The Pain of Death, A Moment of Oblivion, Paradox Spiral, and Oblivion Recorder, explore the enigmatic relationship between Shiki Ryougi and Mikiya Kokutou amid supernatural incidents. An additional epilogue film, Kara no Kyoukai: - Future Gospel, was released in September 2013, serving as a side story. The series was distributed by , with Blu-ray box sets achieving strong sales, including over 25,000 units for the complete collection in its debut week. Fate/stay night, Type-Moon's seminal , received its first adaptation in as a 24-episode television series produced by , primarily covering the "Fate" route while incorporating elements from other paths. later handled subsequent adaptations, including the 2010 film Fate/stay night: Unlimited Blade Works and the 2014-2015 television series of the same name (26 episodes including specials), which faithfully adapted the "Unlimited Blade Works" route. The "Heaven's Feel" route was adapted into a trilogy of films directed by Tomonori Sudō: Presage Flower (2017), Lost Butterfly (2019), and Spring Song (2020), noted for their dark tone and high production values. These projects, supervised by Type-Moon and distributed by , contributed to the franchise's expansion, with the Heaven's Feel films grossing approximately 4.8 billion yen combined in . Fate/Zero, a series by set 10 years before Fate/stay night, was adapted into a two-season television (25 episodes total) by , airing from October 2011 to June 2012. The series depicts the Fourth Holy Grail War through the lens of morally complex Masters and Servants, earning acclaim for its animation and narrative depth. Produced in partnership with and under Type-Moon's supervision, it achieved widespread popularity, ranking among the most-viewed with over 900,000 user ratings on major platforms and influencing subsequent Fate adaptations. More recent adaptations include Fate/strange Fake, based on Ryohgo Narita's light novels, which premiered as a 55-minute television special titled Whispers of Dawn in July 2023, produced by . This entry explores a "fake" Holy Grail War in the United States, with the full television series delayed to January 2026 following production adjustments announced in September 2025. handled distribution, with Type-Moon overseeing the adaptation to preserve the original's chaotic tone. Fate/Grand Order, the mobile game's multimedia extensions, has spawned multiple anime projects since 2016, including the special Fate/Grand Order: First Order (, December 2016), the short Moonlight/Lostroom (, 2017), the 21-episode television series Absolute Demonic Front: (, October 2019–March 2020), the two-part film duology Wandering; Agateram and ; Agateram (, 2020–2021), and the film Final Singularity: Grand Temple of Time – Solomon (, 2021). These adaptations cover key singularities from the game's storyline, with as the primary producer and Type-Moon providing supervisory input. In 2025, a 10th Anniversary Movie was released on August 3, commemorating the game's milestone through an original animated short. The series, in particular, garnered significant attention for its faithful adaptation and high viewership, boosting the franchise's global reach.

Manga and other print adaptations

Type-Moon's manga adaptations began with the serialization of Tsukihime in Kadokawa Shoten's Monthly Dragon Age magazine from 2004 to 2012, illustrated by Shinkura Aoi, and collected into 10 volumes. The series adapts the visual novel's narrative, focusing on Shiki Tohno's encounters with supernatural elements, and has been praised for its faithful rendering of the source material's horror and romance elements. International releases have been handled by publishers like Digital Manga Publishing, though English localization efforts were limited. The Fate/stay night manga, illustrated by Datto Nishiwaki, ran in Square Enix's Monthly Shōnen Gangan from 2005 to 2014, compiling into 20 volumes that cover the three main routes of the original visual novel. Multiple versions exist, including adaptations of specific routes like Unlimited Blade Works (serialized 2021–ongoing in Young Ace UP, illustrated by Daisuke Moriyama) and Heaven's Feel (2015–ongoing in Young Ace, illustrated by Task Ohna). These print works expand on the Holy Grail War storyline through detailed artwork and additional character insights, with Tokyopop releasing an English edition of 11 volumes before discontinuation in 2011. Fate/Zero, a illustrated by Shinjiro, was serialized in Kadokawa Shoten's from 2011 to 2013, spanning 14 volumes and adapting Gen Urobuchi's light novels with emphasis on the Fourth Holy Grail War's moral conflicts. licensed the English version, releasing volumes from 2016 onward. Serialization in magazines like and Monthly Comic Gene has been common for Type-Moon's print works, facilitating crossover appeal in the shōnen demographic. By 2025, Type-Moon series collectively exceed 100 volumes across adaptations. The Fate/Grand Order franchise has spawned over 20 manga spin-offs since 2015, including Fate/Grand Order -mortalis:stella- by Shiramine (serialized in Ichijinsha's Monthly Comic Zero-Sum from 2017, 11 volumes) and Fate/Grand Order: Turas Réalta by Takeshi Kawabuchi (serialized in Kodansha's Bessatsu Shōnen Magazine from 2017, 7 volumes). Other titles like Fate/Grand Order -Epic of Remnant- (2018–2024 in Monthly Comic Zero-Sum, 9 volumes) explore side stories from the mobile game's singularities, often blending action and lore expansion. Yen Press has facilitated international releases for several, such as Fate/Grand Order -turas réalta- volumes starting in 2020. A 2021 manga adaptation of Melty Blood, illustrated by various artists under Type-Moon supervision, was serialized in Kadokawa's Comp Ace as Melty Blood: Type Lumina - Piece in Paradise, tying into the fighting game's storyline with 1 volume released. Earlier Melty Blood manga by Takeru Kirishima ran from 2005 to 2011 in Comp Ace, comprising 9 volumes focused on Shiki Tohno's investigations. Other print adaptations include drama CDs, such as the 2005 Fate/stay night character song releases featuring voice actors in scripted scenarios expanding on character backstories, distributed by Geneon Entertainment. Art books like the Fate/complete material series (2006–2012, five volumes by Type-Moon staff) compile concept art, character designs, and world-building details from Fate/stay night and spin-offs, with Udon Entertainment localizing volumes I and II in English from 2014 to 2017. These supplementary prints enhance fan engagement without altering core narratives.

References

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