Fate/Stay Night

"I will save everyone"

Imagine you are a victim of great war and disaster. You want to do something to protect everyone.. but in the end it all fails because you don't have enough power.

That is how Emiya Shirou feels. Shirou is a victional character from light novel, game, and anime series Fate/Stay Night フェイト/ステイナイト. The light novel is created by Type-Moon. Fate/Stay Night is also available in PC games and PlayStation 2 game. A movie entitled Fate/Stay Night Unlimited Blade Works was released in Japanese theaters last January.

This series follows Shirou, a high schooler and also a sorcerer. 10 years ago, he was a victim of a great war called Holy Grail War, left him alone and orphaned. He was rescued and adopted by Emiya Kiritsugu, and the two lived together in Fuyuki City.

Shirou learns of his foster father's failed life ambition is to become a "Hero of Justice", a guardian of mankind who could protect the weak and innocent. Touched by Kiritsugu's conviction, Shirou affirms to his foster father that he intends to devote his life to achieving that distant ideal. To do this, Shirou pleads with a bedgrudging Kiritsugu to teach him sorcery, but being born without the capabilities of a magus, Shirou proves to be talentless in almost all the fundamental sorcerous disciplines.

Shirou is a very kindhearted and helpful student. His traits make his friends often take it for granted and ask him to do a lot of jobs. One day, when he is on the way home after cleaning the school archery dojo, he sees Tohsaka Rin, one of his schoolmates with her servant Archer are figthing other servant Lancer, who is skilled in using spears. Lancer happens to see Shirou takes a look at their fighting (which are not supposed to be seen by mortals) and runs after him. Unfortunately Shirou is caught by Lancer, has his heart pierced by spear, and passed out (but not dead, pleace notice). Rin saves him with some kind of jewel.

Feeling better, Shirou walks home, and finds out that Lancer is still after him, even in his house. Panicked, Shirou escapes to the warehouse. In the same time, a magic circle appears in the warehouse floor. Lancer got him and nearly kills Shirou when the seventh servant, Saber, is summoned from the circle and fights Lancer, therefore Shirou is saved. After some confusion, Shirou realizes that he is involved in Holy Grail War, where all the servants have to fight each other until the only one win and the winner has the opportunity to take the Holy Grail.

Want to know what happens next? Will Shirou and his servant Saber win the war? Watch the anime here

Fate/Stay Night is a very exciting anime and has unique theme. It contains a lot of cool fighting scenes between the servants, features a number of greatly made characters as well. Overall, the storyline is fine, and the character development and interaction is explored very well, and every character has enough on-screen time. This anime shows with friendship and the power of love, mixed with war and sorcery. If you like gore and violence, this anime might be the right one for you.

In summary,

(+) Great and enjoyable fighting scenes

(+) Well-made characters

(+) Unique theme

(-) Complicated storyline

Story = 4/5

Artwork = 3.5/5

Animation and Color = 3.5/5

Character development = 4.5/5

Soundtrack = 4/5

Overall rating = 4/5

Genre = action, fantasy, fighting, war, supernatural, drama, romance, comedy

Demographic = shonen

Original creator = Type-Moon

Director = Yuji Yamaguchi

Seiyuu = Noriaki Sugiyama (Shirou), Kana Ueda (Rin), Ayako Kawasumi (Saber), Junichi Suwabe (Archer), and more.. just check it here