Story: 9
Writing a prequel to an already well-established series has proven in many cases to be difficult to do (i.e. Star Wars) but Fate/Zero passes with flying colors. Even if you have seen Fate/Stay Night prior to watching this, it still provides many twists and turns that leave you guessing all the way up until the final episode, all the while seamlessly setting up the story for Fate/Stay Night. The dialogue is genuine and the ways the characters interact with each other always make for great moments. The first few episodes are a bit of an information dump, but really help to explain the world you are immersing yourself in. Philosophically, it chronicles the eternal struggle of morality in the face of war that never becomes too preachy, but leaves you wondering what is right and wrong.
Art: 9
Staying consistent to the TYPE-MOON art style, it looks very nice in an updated setting. Although there is a rather consistent use of CGI, it does not take away from the action all too much. It does, however, enhance large scale attacks very nicely. The character designs, again, are the highlight as they are able to craft characters of unique traits and avoid making them appear hokey.
Sound: 10
In regards to the dub, I watched the English dub which I thought was executed very well. The voices matched the attitudes and statures of the characters and never once felt miscast. Rider’s voice in particular couldn’t have been a better fit. Even the characters with somewhat deadpan personalities like Kiritsugu and Kirei are well acted and the subtleties of their emotions really shine through. The soundtrack is fantastic. Yuki Kajiura creates a very immersive and powerful score that has you on the edge of your seat during every battle. Also, the opening theme of the second season is one of the best anime openings I’ve ever heard.
Characters: 10
The character development in this anime is astounding and is easily the best part of the show. Rather than primarily focus on one main character, besides the two episodes of Kiritsugu backstory, the show really helps to flesh out each character’s personality and their ambitions towards why they lust after the Holy Grail. Even if you don’t particularly like certain characters, you still understand the reasons behind their actions and are interested to see how they act because of it.
Enjoyment: 10
I can’t talk enough about how much I enjoyed this anime. I was captivated as soon as I finished the first episode. It was difficult for me not to pound out the whole show in a few days, which I have a bad knack of doing. Every character, good or bad, left an impression on me and were memorable no matter how large their role was. I will definitely be re-watching it to enjoy it again.
Overall: 10
A great anime that has awesome characters, a compelling story, and an intriguing philosophical battle to go alongside the well-choreographed fights. Definitely in my Top 10 Anime list. Great for both the casual and avid Anime fan. You can also enjoy it whether you've seen Fate/Stay Night or not.
