Fate/Zero
Summary: With the promise of granting any wish, the omnipotent Holy Grail triggered three wars in the past, each too cruel and fierce to leave a victor. In spite of that, the wealthy Einzbern family is confident that the Fourth Holy Grail War will be different; namely, with a vessel of the Holy Grail now in their grasp. Solely for this reason, the much hated "Magus Killer" Kiritsugu Emiya is hired by the Einzberns, with marriage to their only daughter Irisviel as binding contract.
Kiritsugu now stands at the center of a cutthroat game of survival, facing off against six other participants, each armed with an ancient familiar, and fueled by unique desires and ideals. Accompanied by his own familiar, Saber, the notorious mercenary soon finds his greatest opponent in Kirei Kotomine, a priest who seeks salvation from the emptiness within himself in pursuit of Kiritsugu.
Based on the light novel written by Gen Urobuchi, Fate/Zero depicts the events of the Fourth Holy Grail War—10 years prior to Fate/stay night. Witness a battle royale in which no one is guaranteed to survive.
[Written by MAL Rewrite]
Description
With the promise of granting any wish, the omnipotent Holy Grail triggered three wars in the past, each too cruel and fierce to leave a victor. In spite of that, the wealthy Einzbern family is confident that the Fourth Holy Grail War will be different; namely, with a vessel of the Holy Grail now in their grasp. Solely for this reason, the much hated "Magus Killer" Kiritsugu Emiya is hired by the Einzberns, with marriage to their only daughter Irisviel as binding contract.
Kiritsugu now stands at the center of a cutthroat game of survival, facing off against six other participants, each armed with an ancient familiar, and fueled by unique desires and ideals. Accompanied by his own familiar, Saber, the notorious mercenary soon finds his greatest opponent in Kirei Kotomine, a priest who seeks salvation from the emptiness within himself in pursuit of Kiritsugu.
Based on the light novel written by Gen Urobuchi, Fate/Zero depicts the events of the Fourth Holy Grail War—10 years prior to Fate/stay night. Witness a battle royale in which no one is guaranteed to survive.
[Written by MAL Rewrite]
Available At
Warning: Array to string conversion in /home/hianime.me.uk/public_html/anime.php on line 243
Array
Warning: Array to string conversion in /home/hianime.me.uk/public_html/anime.php on line 243
Array
Fate/Zero Trailers
Fate/Zero Pictures
Fate/Zero Review
Fate/Zero — With the promise of granting any wish, the omnipotent Holy Grail triggered three wars in the past, each too cruel and fierce to leave a victor. This overview is intentionally spoiler-free and focuses on tone and intent rather than plot specifics.
Thematically, It sits firmly within Action, Fantasy conventions as a TV work and has garnered attention (MAL score: 8.27). This work explores character dynamics, tonal shifts, and the interplay between narrative ambition and execution. The story's pacing and tonal choices are crafted to complement the central ideas, often emphasizing atmosphere and emotional truth over explicit exposition. The show's ability to evoke a consistent mood — whether melancholic, exuberant, or contemplative — is a recurring strength, and the scenes are constructed so viewers can infer stakes without needing explicit spoilers.
Characterization is a core pillar here. Protagonists and supporting figures are written with distinct motivations and narrative roles; even when archetypal, the series invests in small behavioral details that make choices feel earned. Character arcs are handled with an eye for gradualism: development often arrives through incremental beats rather than abrupt, expository shifts. The interactions between characters create texture, and relationships are used to illuminate both personal flaws and larger thematic concerns.
On the visual front, production values play a significant role. The animation quality varies by sequence but frequently showcases thoughtful direction and composition. Background art, framing, and color palettes are used deliberately to support tone — quieter scenes favor muted palettes while action or heightened emotional beats employ brighter, more kinetic visuals. Direction choices, such as camera movement and shot selection, often elevate scenes beyond their raw script, creating moments that linger in the viewer's mind.
The soundscape — score, incidental music, and sound design — complements the visual language. Music cues are placed to maximize emotional resonance without manipulating the audience with melodrama; this restraint often leads to more authentic emotional payoff. Sound design punctuates key moments, and when the series leans on silence, those quieter moments are given weight by measured audio choices.
Pacing and structure are handled with craft. Episodes are arranged to build tension and release methodically, and the narrative rarely rushes through important emotional beats. That said, the deliberate pacing may feel slow to viewers who prefer faster plot turnover; the reward is greater nuance and an accumulation of meaning across the series. Accessibility is generally good — one can appreciate surface-level pleasures, while repeat or attentive viewing reveals additional layers.
No title is without flaws. Occasional unevenness in subplots or variable animation across episodes can be distracting. Some tonal shifts might feel abrupt if you expect uniformity; others will argue that those shifts are purposeful. These are worth noting, but they seldom undercut the larger achievements of the work.
In sum, Fate/Zero offers a rich experience for viewers who value character-driven storytelling, considered visual design, and a soundtrack that supports rather than overwhelms. For fans of Action, Fantasy, this is an especially rewarding watch. It's recommended for those who appreciate layered narratives and artistry in animation, and best approached with patience and attention to nuance.
Characters & Voice Actors
Emiya, Kiritsugu
Main
Koyama, Rikiya
Japanese
Emiya, Kiritsugu
Main
Mercer, Matthew
English
Emiya, Kiritsugu
Main
Hong, Si Ho
Korean
Emiya, Kiritsugu
Main
Koch, Michael-Che
German
Emiya, Kiritsugu
Main
Irino, Miyu
Japanese
Emiya, Kiritsugu
Main
Basurto, Alfredo Gabriel
Spanish
Gilgamesh
Main
Seki, Tomokazu
Japanese
Gilgamesh
Main
Vincent, David
English
Gilgamesh
Main
Dawn-Claude, René
German
Gilgamesh
Main
Son, Won Il
Korean
Kotomine, Kirei
Main
Freeman, Crispin
English
Kotomine, Kirei
Main
Nakata, Jouji
Japanese
Kotomine, Kirei
Main
Kim, Il
Korean
Kotomine, Kirei
Main
Brecklinghaus, Tobias
German
Saber
Main
Kawasumi, Ayako
Japanese
Saber
Main
Wahlgren, Kari
English
Saber
Main
Yang, Jeong Hwa
Korean
Saber
Main
Hassenzahl, Iris
German
Saber
Main
Barragán, Alicia
Spanish
von Einzbern, Irisviel
Main
Ohara, Sayaka
Japanese
Staff
Doi, Yoshinao
Producer
Iwakami, Atsuhiro
Producer
Kondou, Hikaru
Producer
Mori, Yasunori
Producer
Oota, Katsushi
Producer
Takeuchi, Takashi
Producer, Original Character Design
Aoki, Ei
Director, Episode Director, Storyboard
Iwanami, Yoshikazu
Sound Director
Fukuyama, Hiroshi
Episode Director, Storyboard, Key Animation
Nonaka, Ato
Episode Director, Storyboard, 2nd Key Animation, Key Animation
Nonaka, Takuya
Episode Director, Storyboard
Sudou, Tomonori
Episode Director, Storyboard, Key Animation, Character Design, 2nd Key Animation, Animation Director
Suhara, Takashi
Episode Director, Storyboard, Key Animation, 2nd Key Animation
Tsunematsu, Kei
Episode Director, Storyboard, Assistant Director
Uda, Akihiko
Episode Director, Storyboard, Key Animation
Hiyama, Akira
Script, Storyboard
Satou, Kazuharu
Script
Sasajima, Keiichi
Storyboard, Key Animation, Background Art
Aoi, Eir
Theme Song Performance
LiSA
Theme Song Performance