Rider (Fate/stay night)

Rider
Fate/stay night character
First appearance	Fate/stay night (2004)
Created by	Kinoko Nasu Takashi Takeuchi
Voiced by	Japanse: Yū Asakawa English: Karen Strassman (Studio Deen) Melissa Fahn (Ufotable)
Profile
Species	Gorgon
Relatives	Stheno (sister) Euryale (sister)
Nationality	Greek
True identity	Medusa

Rider (Japanese: ライダー, Hepburn: Raidā) is a fictional character who appears in Type-Moon's Fate franchise. Created by Kinoko Nasu, the character first appeared in the visual novel Fate/stay night as one of the seven servants fighting in the Fifth Holy Grail War, serving Shinji Matou. Initially a supporting character in the visual novel's first two routes; Fate and Unlimited Blade Works, the character is given more prominence in the Heaven's Feel route where she becomes one of the main characters. The characters also appears in both of Fate/stay night's anime series adaptations, its film adaptation and its two manga adaptations. Rider also appears in the visual novel's sequel Fate/hollow ataraxia as a supporting character and has made numerous other appearances in its various spin-offs.

In Heaven's Feel it's revealed that Rider's real identity is that of Medusa from Greek mythology. It's also revealed that her true master is Sakura Matou, Shinji's sister. However, because Sakura never wanted to participate in the Holy Grail War, she told Rider that Shinji would be her master. Rider followed Sakura's orders and acted as Shinji's servant. While an extremely powerful servant, due to Shinji himself not being a magus and holding her back, she gets killed early in both the Fate and Unlimited Blade Works routes.

The character went through major overhaul when Nasu, who had originally written Fate/stay night as a novel in college, decided to turn it into a visual novel instead. Originally a man, Perseus, Rider was changed into Medusa following the transition of the story from novel to visual novel. The character has proven to be very popular with fans of Fate/stay night as shown in various popularity polls held by Type-Moon. Numerous merchandise relating to Rider has also been released.

Appearances

Other appearances

Anime

Rider appears as a main character in the parody crossover anime Carnival Phantasm.

Literature

Rider appears in the second chapter of Fate/kaleid liner Prisma Illya, an alternate universe spin-off featuring Illya as a magical girl. Rider is the first enemy that Illya has to battle with and although she was able to overpower her, Miyu was able to kill her using Gáe Bulg. Her role remains the same in the second episode of the anime adaptation.

Video games

Rider appears as a playable character in both Fate related fighting games; Fate/tiger colosseum and Fate/unlimited codes. She also appears as a playable character in Fate/Grand Order. In the game, Medusa also appears as a Lancer and Avenger-class servant. As a Lancer, she is summoned as a child, whereas her Avenger form is based on her monster gorgon form. In the anime adaptation Fate/Grand Order: First Order, she appears as a Lancer in her adult form, having been corrupted by Saber Alter. She also appears as a Servant the player can summon in Fate/Extella: The Umbral Star. Outside of Fate / Type-Moon related video games, Rider was also included in Capcom's Monster Hunter: Frontier G.

Creation and development

As shown in Fate/Prototype, which is based on the original concept of Fate/stay night, Rider was originally a completely different character. Rider was a man and his real identity was that of Perseus, the man who killed Medusa. Nasu had originally intended for Rider to have a fight with Saber in Heaven's Feel over their goals but due to the story not allowing for such a scene, it was discarded.

Characterization

Noriko Shitaya, voice actress of Sakura Matou, stated that during her first recording session with Yū Asakawa she thought of Rider as "scary and cold-blooded". However, she realized that Rider actually cares deeply for Sakura and acts like an elder sister to her, as Rider herself didn't have anyone to rely on. On her portrayal of the character and how Rider differs from the 2006 adaptation in comparison to the Unlimited Blade Works adaptation, Asakawa stated that:

"The staff would usually change or add a little bit more. For example Rider, the previous Rider was just a cool, faceless killing machine but for the new Rider, the director directed me to make Rider a little bit more elegant although she’s really cool and emotionless. The director wanted her to be more elegant and to have a softer husky voice. So, maybe years ago I couldn’t act so elegantly as I was too young. Rider became a little bit more lady-like now compared to before where she’s just a servant killing-machine."

Reception

File:Cosplayer of Rider, Fate-stay night at Otakuthon 20150807.jpg

Rider has proved to be extremely popular with the franchise's fanbase. Here, a woman is dressed as the character at Otakuthon 2015.

Popularity

In Type-Moon 10th anniversary character poll, which included characters from various Type-Moon franchises, Rider came in at 23rd place with 3.297 votes. In 2014, Ufotable, the company animating Fate/stay night: Unlimited Blade Works, held a popularity poll featuring only characters from the anime; Rider came in at 11th place with 748 votes. In 2015, a Nendoroid figure of Rider was released, the figure includes two facial expressions as well as her visor, dagger and chain.