Mature (May contain sex, drugs, and extreme graphic violence)
Vintage:
October 2, 2011
Status:
Still Airing
Summary:
* Based on Urobuchi Gen and Type-Moon's Fate/Zero novel
The Holy Grail War - A death-match between 7 magi (Masters) and their summoned heroic spirits (Servants) in which the prize is the legendary Holy Grail, said to have the power to grant miracles.
This is now the 4th Holy Grail War. The 3 preceding Wars had ended without a victor. In pursuit of their individual goals and ambitions, the magi congregate at a place called Fuyuki. All the magi will do anything, rationalize away any atrocity, in pursuit of the Holy Grail.
All of them, but one...
Kotomine Kirei is a mage, but one without a reason to fight. Unable to release himself from the threads of fate, he is drawn reluctantly into this War.
However, as fate would have it, one of his rival Masters turns out to be an old enemy, Emiya Kiritsugu, a man more severe and merciless than anyone else. A man who desires the miracles offered by the Holy Grail...
~ translated and adapted from official site by Cranston
Fate/Zero is (in my opinion at least) a prequel which has far surpassed the main series.
Story: I'll try to avoid spoilers.... There is an incredible amount of character development and background reselling, whether it's in the flashback of season 2 or the gradual development of a rather (at the start anyway) pathetic master or even in the unabashed tearing down of the honor of the "King of Knights" the series develops subtly most aspects of the characters motivations and backgrounds. Oh and then there is Kirei Kotomine, I love Kirei Kotomine. Basically a plot filled with development, intrigue, betrayal and crushed ideals, a great mix.
Dialogue: was the one thorn in my side about Fate/Zero, don't get me wrong, I like dialogue and it gave great insight to the story but some episodes simply contained too much, I think it was episode 9 the we got 10~minutes of (don't get me wrong engrossing) dialogue. It was interesting dialogue but lack of movement and vigor meant the episode dragged a bit (don't worry the last 5 minutes were epic enough to do a season of most animes).
Animation: was in a word jaw dropping. The animation highlights for the season were for me in S1 ep 9 and S2 ep 2, I won't tell you what happened but bear them in mind and see if you agree with me, trust me you can't miss it. This is an anime that I wold definately advise watching in HD, the stunningly beautiful lights of the Saber, Rider and Archer contrast so well with the darkness of Lancer and Assassin and the shocking imagery of Caster (and well berserker is berserker....). I actually found that the best cinematography was to be found with Caster, because obviously some things cannot be uncensored on TV (unless you are Mirai Nikki) the ability to imply becomes so much more important.
Entertainment: the series is gripping in the extreme, with huge build up between the episodes and even a moe block episode (if you can call it that) to build huge tension for the climatic moments. One thing that might annoy you is the climax for season one happening in season two... But I didn't care as the was too epic. There are occasional funny moments but if you are looking for comedy this isn't your anime. I think that the greatest entertainment factor for this anime is the pure epicness of it, interspaced with the aforementioned buildup, I rewatched one scene five times in one day because of its pure amazingness (I'm going to stop breaking the English language now and use normal adjectives. Basically this anime has epicness more artistic than Bleach, more grounded then Tengen Tonpa Guerren Lagann and more controlled than Naruto. Oh and did I mention Kirei Kotomine, I LOVE Kirei Kotomine (as a character please).
Basically unless you are in a Triple Bypass surgery you have no reason not to have watched/ be watching/ be downloading this anime. And of course sleep is no constraint. Jarl
