The appeal and reviews of "Fate/Zero": A grand story and character depth

Fate/zero - A masterpiece anime depicting the ultimate Holy Grail War

■ Public Media

TV anime series

■ Original Media

18+ games

■ Broadcast period

October 1, 2011 - June 23, 2012 Series 1: October 1, 2011 - December 24, 2011 (episodes 1-13)
2nd Series/April 7, 2012 to June 23, 2012 (episodes 14 to 25)

■Broadcasting station

TOKYO MX / Tochigi Television / Gunma Television / Niconico Channel / Teletama / Television Aichi / Mainichi Broadcasting System / Chiba Television / tvk / Television Hokkaido / TVQ Kyushu Broadcasting / BS11 / Niconico Channel / Kids Station / not tv1

■Frequencies

half an hour

■ Number of Episodes

Episode 25

■Original Story

Nasu Kinoko (original concept), Urobuchi Gen (Nitroplus) (original story)

■ Director

Aoki Ei

■ Production

・Animation production: ufotable
Produced by: Aniplex, Seikaisha, Notes, Nitroplus, ufotable

■Works

©Nitroplus／TYPE-MOON・ufotable・FZPC

■ Story

This is a story that begins at zero...


In pursuit of the power of the Holy Grail that can make miracles come true, seven magician masters summon seven heroic spirit servants, and fight until only one remains: the Holy Grail War.

The battle has already been postponed three times, but now it is about to begin for the fourth time.
Magicians rush to the battlefield known as Fuyuki, each with their own fervent desire for victory. However, there is one man among them who cannot find meaning in his own battle.
His name is Kotomine Kirei.
Unable to understand the guidance of fate, Kirei is lost and continues to ask himself why the Command Spell was bestowed upon him. But the fate of the battle will eventually bring Kirei face to face with a nemesis.
That person was - Emiya Kiritsugu.
He was a man who sought the miraculous Holy Grail more fiercely and ruthlessly than anyone else.

■Explanation

The truth behind the Fourth Holy Grail War that took place 10 years ago, which was only mentioned in fragments in the hugely popular game "Fate/stay night", is now revealed! The truth behind the battle waged by Shirou's adoptive father, Rin's father, and a young Kotomine Kirei will now be revealed!

■Cast

・Kiritsugu Emiya/Rikiya Koyama・Saber/Ayako Kawasumi・Irisviel/Sayaka Ohara・Tokiomi Tohsaka/Sho Hayami・Archer/Tomokazu Seki・Kirei Kotomine/Jouji Nakata・Assassin/Akira Abe・Kayneth El-Melloi・Archibald/Takumi Yamazaki・Lancer/Hikaru Midorikawa・Waver・Velvet/Daisuke Namikawa・Rider/Akio Otsuka・Ryunosuke Ameo/Akira Ishida・Caster/Satoshi Tsuruoka・Karya Matou/Tarusuke Araki・Berserker/Ryutaro Okiayu

■ Main staff

Original work: Gen Urobuchi (Nitroplus), TYPE-MOON
・Director: Ei Aoki ・Character design: Takashi Takeuchi ・Character design: Tomonori Sudo, Atsushi Ikariya ・Color design: Emi Chiba ・Art director: Koji Eto ・Director of photography: Yuichi Terao ・3D director: Kojiro Shishido ・Music: Yuki Kajiura ・Animation production: ufotable

■ Main Characters

・Emiya Kiritsugu
A magician known as the "Magician Killer." His achievements led him to participate in the Holy Grail War through the Einzberns. He summons Saber using the excavated scabbard as a catalyst.
・Saber A heroic spirit of a swordsman who made a contract with Kiritsugu. When he acts with Airi, he materializes his body and wears a black suit. He exudes the beauty of a handsome young boy.
Irisviel von Einzbern: A homunculus created by the prestigious Einzbern family of magic. Kiritsugu's wife. She participates in the Holy Grail War to achieve Kiritsugu's ideals.
・Maiya Hisau
Kiritsugu's battlefield partner for the past 10 years. A beautiful woman, she is a devoid of glamour and doesn't even wear lipstick. Her black hair and narrow eyes are particularly striking.
Daughter born to Kiritsugu and Airi. She has an innocent and friendly personality. In "Fate/stay night", she becomes Berserker's master.
・Tokiomi Tohsaka
The head of the Tohsaka family, he is a true aristocrat. He has unwavering convictions and dignity, and acts with the logic of a magician. He devises strategies and vows to win the Holy Grail War.
・Archer A Heroic Spirit summoned by Tokiomi. One of the strongest Servants with an overwhelming Noble Phantasm. Arrogant and haughty, he is egocentric. He does not follow Tokiomi's wishes and prefers to act independently.
・Aoi Tohsaka
She is Tokiomi's wife, and is a beautiful and intelligent woman who possesses the dignity and determination of a magician's wife. She gave birth to two daughters, Rin and Sakura. She is also the love interest of Matou Kariya.
・Rin Tohsaka
Tokiomi's daughter. Her father's blood can be seen in her eyes and hair color. She later inherits the Tohsaka family's headship and takes part in the Holy Grail War. She is the heroine of "Fate/stay night".
・Mato Kariya
The second son of the Makiri/Magi family, one of the three great families of magicians. He ran away from home 11 years ago and had no connection with magic. After learning about the incident involving Sakura Tohsaka, he reunites with his father, Zouken.
Berserker: A heroic spirit summoned in response to Kariya's madness. A mad knight. Always wrapped in black mist and armor. He shows a strange obsession with Saber.
A young man studying magic at the Clock Tower, the headquarters of the Waver Velvet Magician's Association. In order to gain recognition as a magician, he summons Rider and takes part in the Holy Grail War.
A Heroic Spirit summoned by Rider Waver. He has an overwhelming physique and a carefree personality that matches his appearance. Waver is influenced by his personality.
・Ryunosuke Uryu
A serial killer who seeks the essence of death. He summons Caster by carrying out a ritual murder according to an ancient text. He worships Caster as his murder mentor.
A heroic spirit who calls himself Caster Bluebeard. A pleasure killer even more so than Ryunosuke. He has been stalking Saber for a certain reason, and his abnormal madness is enough to throw the Holy Grail War into chaos.
Kayneth El-Melloi Archibald is the heir to the prestigious Archibald family of magicians. He is a genius who has achieved many great feats and is a first-class magician who serves as an instructor at the Clock Tower.
A Lancer-class heroic spirit. A beautiful young man who exudes magical powers that attract women. He is loyal and values ​​honor, and goes to battle to offer the Holy Grail to his master.
Sola Nuazare Sophia, Kayneth's fiance. Perhaps because of her beauty, she can sometimes be selfish towards Kayneth, but in reality she has a very cold personality.
・Kirei Kotomine
The son of Kotomine Risei. In order to support Tohsaka Tokiomi, he takes part in the Holy Grail War as an Assassin's Master. His personality is broken, and he is tormented by his own distortion.
Assassin: An assassin heroic spirit summoned by Kotomine Kirei. Although his fighting ability is not as high as other Servants, he excels at espionage and operates under Kirei's orders.
He is the father of Kotomine Risei and a member of the Cathedral Association, which oversees the Holy Grail War. Following the Third Holy Grail War, he will also be overseeing the Fourth Holy Grail War.

■Subtitle

・Episode 1 / "Summoning the Heroic Spirits"
Episode 2: "The False War Begins"
・Episode 3 / "The Land of Fuyuki"
・Episode 4 / "The Blade of the Demonic Spear"
・Episode 5 / “Beast Roar”
Episode 6: "Night of Scheme"
Episode 7: "The Forest of Demons"
Episode 8: "The Magician Killer"
・Episode 9: "Master and Servant"
Episode 10: Rin's Adventure
・Episode 11/"Holy Grail Question and Answer"
Episode 12: "The Invitation of the Holy Grail"
Episode 13: "Forbidden Feast"

■ Theme songs and music

・OP1
・Oath sign
・Singer: LiSA
・ED1
・MEMORIA
・Singer: Eir Aoi

■Detailed evaluation and recommendation

"Fate/Zero" is a prequel to TYPE-MOON's popular series "Fate/stay night" and is an anime series based on the original novel by Gen Urobuchi. Broadcast from 2011 to 2012, this work captivated many fans with ufotable's beautiful animation and profound story development. Below, we will explain in detail the appeal of the work and its recommended points.

■ The appeal of the story

The story of "Fate/Zero" is set in the Fourth Holy Grail War. In the Holy Grail War, seven magicians (Masters) summon seven Heroic Spirits (Servants) and fight until only one remains in order to obtain the "Holy Grail" that can make miracles come true. This work particularly focuses on the conflict between Emiya Kiritsugu and Kotomine Kirei, and their thoughts and actions are explored in depth in the story.

Kiritsugu Emiya is a ruthless magician known as the "Magician Killer" who has the ideal of eradicating evil from the world by obtaining the Holy Grail. On the other hand, Kirei Kotomine has been unable to find the meaning of his existence and embarks on a journey to find the answer by participating in the Holy Grail War. The contrast between them makes us think deeply about ideals and reality, justice and evil, and the true nature of humanity.

Also, don't miss the relationships between each Master and Servant. The conflicts and growth of each character, such as Tohsaka Tokiomi and Archer, Waver Velvet and Rider, and Matou Kariya and Berserker, are depicted, drawing viewers in. The relationship between Waver and Rider in particular is moving, as they grow together as master and disciple.

■Charm of the characters

Each character in "Fate/Zero" has a deep background and personality. The inner workings of each character are carefully depicted, such as Emiya Kiritsugu's cold-heartedness and idealism, Kotomine Kirei's suffering and twisted faith, and Saber's nobility and loneliness. The acting of the cast is also excellent, with Koyama Rikiya's role as Kiritsugu and Nakata Jouji's role as Kirei being particularly impressive.

Saber is a swordsman heroic spirit who made a contract with Kiritsugu, and her beauty and strength are her charms. Irisviel is Kiritsugu's wife, and her purity and strong will, born as a homunculus, will strike a chord with viewers. Don't miss Tohsaka Tokiomi's arrogance and strategy, and Archer's haughty attitude and ability.

Another highlight is the story of Waver Velvet's growth. He participates in the Holy Grail War to prove himself as a magician, and grows significantly after meeting Rider. The scenes where Rider's carefree personality and Waver's growth intersect are very moving for viewers.

■Beauty of animation

ufotable's animations are known for their beautiful visuals and meticulous production. Their technical skills are fully displayed in "Fate/Zero," allowing viewers to enjoy the power of the battle scenes and the detailed expressions of the characters. In particular, the depiction of Saber's swordsmanship and Archer's Noble Phantasm is spectacular and has the power to draw viewers in.

The color design and art direction are also excellent, visually expressing the atmosphere of Fuyuki City and the tension of the Holy Grail War. The beautiful music by Yuki Kajiura adds excitement to the story and stirs the emotions of the viewer. The opening theme "Oath Sign" and the ending theme "MEMORIA" are important elements that further deepen the worldview of the work.

■ Recommendation points

"Fate/Zero" is a masterpiece anime that combines profound themes, beautiful animation, and charming characters. The following points are the reasons why we especially recommend it.

1. **Profound themes and philosophical considerations**: The conflict between Emiya Kiritsugu and Kotomine Kirei will make you think deeply about ideals and reality, justice and evil, and the true nature of humanity. It will be an opportunity for viewers to reexamine their own values.

2. **Beautiful animation and detailed direction**: The beautiful visuals and powerful battle scenes, which fully demonstrate ufotable's technical skills, are a visual treat. The battle scenes between Saber and Archer in particular are a must-see.

3. **Charming characters and growth stories**: Each character's deep background and personality, as well as their growth, are carefully depicted. Waver Velvet's growth story in particular is moving and leaves a strong impression on viewers.

4. **The Power of Music**: Yuki Kajiura's beautiful music adds excitement to the story and stirs the emotions of the viewers. The opening theme "Oath Sign" and the ending theme "MEMORIA" are important elements that further deepen the worldview of the work.

5. **Connection to the entire series**: Since it is depicted as a prequel to "Fate/stay night", it is an important work for understanding the background of the entire series and the relationships between characters. It is a must-see for fans of the series.

Conclusion

"Fate/Zero" is a masterpiece anime that combines profound themes, beautiful animation, and fascinating characters. Through the conflict between Emiya Kiritsugu and Kotomine Kirei, the true nature of human beings and the struggle between ideals and reality are depicted, giving viewers deep emotion and reflection. In addition, the beautiful visuals and powerful battle scenes made possible by ufotable's technical skills, as well as Yuki Kajiura's beautiful music are not to be missed. This is a work that can be highly recommended not only to fans of the series, but also to those who want to enjoy anime and profound stories.