Fate Stay Night is the BEST ANIME I've known! especially SABER! i give 9.5 >.<
People that haven't seen it... MUST WATCH!
Fate/stay night tv Review
Fate/stay night was originally a game developed by TYPE-MOON, and is also the first creation which TYPE-MOON made after going into business (instead of being a group of Doujinshi artists).
Seven Masters, Seven Servants. Only one can correspond to the Holy Grail.
In the legend, the Holy Grail is an artifact that can make your wishes come true, in order to summon the Holy Grail, a ceremonial is required. The seven Masters chosen by the Holy Grail will be granted the seven Servants chosen by the Holy Grail: Saber, Lancer, Archer, Rider, Caster, Assassin, and Berserker. The Master must prove him/herself that he or she is the only one qualified to use the Holy Grail. In other words, he or she must defeat all the other Masters to prove him/herself.
Shiro Emiya lost his parents in a fire when he was young, and was adopted by a magician, even though he denied teaching Shiro magic, the un-talented Shiro still master a little. When the magician died, Shiro remained a worthless magician. Entangled with the "War of the Holy Grail" by accident, Shiro was granted the Servant "Saber" and was chosen to be one of the seven Masters.
Credits: kulthuzard
NOTES:
- Alternative retelling from the perspective of different characters will be merged here.
- Tag only what you see! e.g. do NOT add the "Saber" tag if only Saber Alter is in the image.
Story & Characters
In history of ongoing time, 7 special people chosen to be Masters in Holy Grail War. Fighting it out until last one standing, they using spirits known as Heroic Spirits or Servants to aid them in this War. The Servants based on legendary figures from mythos or history have impressive power and often caused wholescale destruction. Divided into classes of Archer, Assassin, Berserker, Caster, Rider, Lancer and Saber which denotes their specialty and weapons ability. The last battle fought 10 years ago in Japan's Fuyuki City, resulted in leveling of few city blocks killed many innocent people in massive flames. Emiya Shirou is the sole survivor of the disaster and he was picked up by a kind stranger with wan look on his face. As he grow up he learned that this stranger was a Magi and he determined to emulate his foster father as hero for justice. For years he has carry this conviction and shape himself up for the day where he can be protector of justice but his foster father refused to train him in magical arts. After sometime, the foster father died and Shirou grow up to be a fine boy living his life normally while practicing his craft in secret. Then a strange encounter happens when he saw an inhuman duel between 2 men using archaic weapon in his school yard late in day change his life forever. While staggering from this strange encounter, he met a beautiful blonde woman with stern green emerald eyes clad in armour announcing that he was her Master and she is prepared to fight in his stead as Saber while bright moonlight reflecting her brilliant armour.
"Servant Saber arrive as summoned. Inquiry. Are you my Master?"
Fate/Stay Night is second major story created by Kinoko Nasu and it created a storm in Japan as one of the bestselling
novel game. Published in early 2004, it sold off 104,000 copies on release, and inevitably in early 2006, we got to see
the anime animated by Studio DEEN. After the debacle of Shingeshutan Tsukihime, many fans asked if history is going
repeat itself or not.
Rating:
Art
The art is not spectacular but it is good enough to convey the mood of the anime. In some parts the art dropped little bit but it is not that noticeable. The colour is not too pastel and garish, the background is bit static considering it is 24 episode series. Character designs are often accused as pandering to fanboy wet dream from leather clad Rider to short skirt Rin Tohsaka gracing the scenes. Even Archer is considered to have generic handsome man look but the accusation is baseless in my opinion.
In some battle scenes the art comes up a notch or two while during the conversation phase, it is often reduced to long shots of talking heads and eye expression.
However they kept the character design of original game and it was decision because the original art made the character look alive because of very lively eye expression. During the conversation phase this is important as the anime is quite heavy in conversation aspect and subtle changes of their eye expression is what makes the characters special. Rin especially carry this aspect strongly as she can be considered as the most complicated character in the story.
However in the middle of the series, the art quality drop noticeably. Typical mid series problem of lack of sufficient budget and time.
Rating:
Sound
The 1st opening song "Disillusion" by Sachi Tanaka is a variation of original opening from the game with more soulful melody instead of hard edge techno from the original opening. It set the correct mood for the anime whereas Jukai's "Anata ga Ito Mori" wraps up the excellent sound track bundle of the anime. But the real star is Kenji Kawai again with his masterful rendition actually make the story more poignant and insightful with his touching sound tracks. For example the theme for Saber evoked a warrior's dignity and nobility tone whereas Rider's theme gives a sense of foreboding with female lethality and beauty in motion.
The voices of character fits in the place except for Sakura who sounded a bit too high generic for her character
stereotype. Rin Tohsaka's VA however takes the cake by showcasing subtleness in proper tone and hard edged when she
is angry. But when Rin is being smug or sacrastic, one can actually feel it which a testament to her VA's skill,
Ueda Kana.
Rating:
Presentation
Some characters specialized in niche area of the story.
Fujimura seems to control the slapstick comedy aspect whereas Rin 's role is sacrastic humor department, does liven up the otherwise a dark story. Saber was more like non-chalant humor generator.
The concept is slow build up to an epic ending as the gamestory does showing how Shirou tribulations before he become a true hero in protecting people that he loves. Thus the numerous discussion or talky scenes is essential in creating plot devices to push the story forward.
The anime seems to alternate between discussion phase and brief if spirited action sequence. The anime makers is trying to strike a balance between these to address the complexity of the story. The atmosphere is one of mysticism and dark forebodings as the magus and Servants alike scrambling for the Holy Grail. What I like is the anime succeded in striking balance between two phases, first explaining why they have to be what they be and resolution(s) of the issues at hand with action.
One thing that does absent in anime which make the original material so enjoyable is extensive internal monologues which provided so much insight into the characters especially Shirou. That is the few flaws I can find with this anime.
During the Berserker arc however, the art quality and story progression is not on par with earlier episodes, much to my disappointment. It seems they suffered by limitation of budget here. But the jarring story transition is what makes it not so enjoyable. The subsequent Caster story arc also plagued by 1 not clearly explained issue which I let the viewers to find out. These 2 arcs did decrease my enjoyment of the series.
However the ending is very beautiful and moving, fits the characters life as they should be.
Overall, up to this point, this is one of the best anime in 2006 and it is clearly DVD worthy. Below is my small tribute to this awesome story.
The story is moving and tragic, as heroes and heroines forced to fight again, reliving their legends then get killed or kill in the end. You can say the magus are evil for not giving these so called heroic spirits peace by summoning them for totally unrelated war. Assassin made a good point that he was cursing the day that he was summoned to the world again. By plying to their desire to have the Grail, they awaken again to relive human frailties tampering their heroic deeds. It must be vexing for them to fight for the prize and relive their life's as they know it but in such alien circumstances.
Adding to that too, is the usual human story of maguses who fought for honour, for tradition or pacifistic altruism in this totally inhumane war.Not forgetting the all too familiar greed for more power. The fact that they not able living their life as normal people must be quite a strain on their being. It is sad too, to see a decent bloke like Shirou lost his normal life and get embroiled into something like Holy Grail War. Sometimes, the most precious thing life can give is semblance of normal life. His life will never be the same again. No more ignorant bliss. Maybe he wants it, maybe he don't.
Then Saber, with her commitment to protect her all-too-naive current Master also is quite sad too. She is a warrior who is fighting an alien war in distant time which have nothing to do with her real life. The only thing she has is her desire to acquire the Grail. At such heavy cost to fulfill an obligation that she felt responsible for.
The list goes on. Perhaps I am too pessimistic.
That's how I see Fate/Stay Night as.: A collection of sad stories with brave, heroic tragedy in poetic quality. This anime has build up slowly the reason why heroes/heroines exist and why they willing to fight for. Ultimately heroes/heroines is people who capable of self sacrifice for a cause they believe in.
Rating:
Final Verdict
8.0000 (good)
Reviewed by stormy001, Apr 08, 2006
Comments
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jaguar88 Apr 09, 2006
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white-zero Apr 09, 2006
I suggest you wait till its finished before you actually write a review on this. That will give you better judgment.
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Ultimaterra2005 Apr 09, 2006
I concur with white-zero. Fate/Stay Night isn't even finished. Wait before even making a review for it.
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illuzion Apr 09, 2006
I agreed. But I love it, the anime is pretty good. I hope Saber will survive to the very end. I reckon will be the anime of the year 2006. Hope so. :)
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Sayoo Apr 09, 2006
yeah, the anime is awesome ! its really g00d :D cant wait
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dystania Apr 10, 2006
it's really good so far. episode 14 was pretty intense.
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muzukashi Apr 10, 2006
sure, the anime is nice but they did not give much information on the slaves (whos rider? Medusa?) however after doing some research on the slaves i felt more attatched to the anime. (saber was king Arthur XD)
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harakiri Apr 10, 2006
The story is highly overrated with 10 points. It is rather dull with those 7-magicians scheme and it contains not more than some action and some harem. To get 10 points it would need a stunningly well thought plot and some deep characters but it is just the solid average. Furthermore there are too much cliffhangers and it takes always years before a fight starts. So I would give a neutral 4 points rating for the story.
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GrieverZero Apr 12, 2006
episode 14 without a doubt has been the best in the series so far.
Anyway I like the story so far, and all the servants have been pretty cool so far. And the character development is pretty good as well.
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DaRkKaWaIiMaHa Restricted Member Apr 12, 2006
wooooooooow
good review ^^
fate stay night is verry good... everyone who never seen it... should see ^^ -
drkandres Apr 13, 2006
ahhhhhh noooooooooooo really should wait until it ends how can people say the story is good or it sucks if its only episode 14 and there are 10 more to go. In a 24 episode story the main climax of th plot starts like at episode 18 or 17 so shoul'd be writing reviews right now. as for the rating, i think its low as for what i've seen the story does not deserve a 10 but others do
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Sayoo Apr 13, 2006
can someone tell me one thing?
they didnt make the rest of espisodes, or are they making? thanks hehe
i loved the anime :) -
natsuki-hime Apr 16, 2006
good review but shuld hav waited until the end of it still its a great anime indeed :D
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kidimoro Apr 20, 2006
fate/stay night is a good amine but it is very slow now onli got ep 15 or 16 onli. The problem is that it is so slow that i almost lost interest in it.But the nice part is that it is nice is because sabre n rin n lyrn or something is nice.added that the fight is attactive.>.<
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ZonSlashSykato Apr 21, 2006
I think in the beginning the story goes so slow. Its like having not enough battles. But for some reasons I m fine with that. I am a fan of Gundam Seed/Destiny and bleach. Hoever, I like Gundam Seed more. Once I ve seen fate/stay night ........ but for some explanation the anime gave me a feeling. I do not know how to describe it. Therefore, for me I think is some kind of anime thats better than bleach. Nonetheless, I'm still not happy that fate/stay night only have 24 epsiodes. That point is really disapointed me. I wish there were more episodes becuase I really enjoy this series. Finally. I will rate fate/stay night 9.5 To give away the other 5 I must watch the series to the end!
Oh yea, my fav character is Saber. -
Caliburn May 16, 2006
I like the anime, but has lost something from the game, so much that the story became cliche and most dialogues were unnecessary, it would be better to put the day life of Shirou and Saber. And they killed Archer, the most complex and interesting character, at least his death was well done. To those who doesn´t know *Spoiler*
Archer is Shirou Emiya that became a Heroic Spirit, by mastering Unlimited Blade Works. But at same time, he is different of Shirou, he is deluded and acid, like saying: "If someone can't learn to help himself, it is better off for him/her to die there". They also killed the relationship between Archer and Rin. I felt like he was happy to be her servant, probabily she is his most beloved person. If they do Shirou says "I am the bone of my sword", I will forgive them.
What really missed in the anime is probabily monologues and warm situations between Shirou and Saber, how much one is important to another. But this may be corrected, the show still has 6 eps, especially with the ep with the date Shirou/Saber.
I want Shirou to grow much more, understand that the path that his choose is selfish and arrogant, the path of hero, Shirou is so much arrogant now. If he becomes half as cool as Archer is, he will be more likeable.merged: 05-21-2006 ~ 05:15am
After seen 20, I must say I like Shirou much more now. He is much less dense and more concerned about his own feeling, and is nice to see Archer (his future) to regret about the path of hero and wanted to save Saber from her fate, even this being impossible. -
Lisu-pl May 29, 2006
Anime is great ! The new episode ( 21 ) is interesting.
The graphic, and story is awesome.I give 10 !
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kinoko-san Jun 14, 2006
I'll definitely give 10!
The story is really good and unique with interesting characters,in the beginning the main character,shirou,was too naive,careless,act like a hero,etc,etc,any many more that make me dislike him,but in the middle,he change into someone more likeable because he change his path,and don't want saber to repeat her life again if she gain the holy grail.
The graphic and music was nicely done,with background music fit with every scene and 2 openings fit the situations well.I'm waiting for the OST......
Overall,this is a must watch anime!
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Sanin Jul 04, 2006
woOOoo! fAte stay Night OWNZ!
MAD ANIME! thE whOle thIng was hectIK...each episode was as great as the next. with the whole destiny and 7 heRoz was MAD with saber and archer and the rest loved it all...IN the end was kinda a dissapointment. The graphics was great and the story was perfect..loved it ...- [ jowney was ere ] -
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Clad76 Jul 06, 2006
fate/stay night it's the best animé in the years lol (sorry im french ;) ) it's my favorit animé ^^
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Warpten29 Oct 13, 2009
It has good cjharacters but plot seem incomplete for me....
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rukasu04 Mute Member Feb 08, 2010
Nice review
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Sanisa Feb 24, 2010
Thanks for the review! Nice ^__^
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back07 Jun 23, 2012
I love the story too.
Watched Fate/Zero!
:D
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