Fate/stay night: Unlimited Blade Works Episode 0 Review

My most anticipated series of the entire year is here, and it does not disappoint. 

Fate/stay night: Unlimited Blade Works, the sequel to Fate/Zero, and if you somehow do not know about the series, check out my beginner's to the Fate franchise by clicking here. 

Also, for those who have yet to watch the episode, I will hold off on the spoilers until after the rating, and if you do not have not access to Crunchyroll, you can click here to watch the first episode on KissAnime.com.

Fate/stay night takes several years after the events of Fate/Zero during the Fifth Holy Grail War. From the start, the series almost expects that you have seen Fate/Zero since it does not provide a lot of exposition as to what exactly the Holy Grail War is, or how it works. It provides hints, but if you have not seen Fate/Zero, you are likely to be a little confused. Of course, for viewers of either Fate/Zero or the original Fate/stay night, it is relatively easy to follow. Since I have intentionally avoided the original Fate/stay night and most spoilers about the series in general, I do not know exactly how the series will play out, so if you have seen the original series please reframe from spoiling it in the comments. However, this remake is taking a different route from the original series, so the ending will be different. 

Rin Tohsaka is the main character of this version of the series, and the majority of the episode focuses exclusively on her. Having only seen Rin briefly in Fate/Zero, I do not know much about the character. From the onset, Rin is obviously a tsundere with an antagonistic demeanor but with an obvious softer side to her, as she blushes after Archer's comments. Archer is the other character introduced, and he is Rin's Servant. If you are not familiar with the Holy Grail War, each mage that participants summons a Servant based on various historical figures each with their own special abilities. The mages and servants battle to determine who will have their wish granted by the Holy Grail, and thus a game of death and deception begins. 

With the heavy focus almost exclusively on Rin and her Servant, the series does appear to be taking a narrative structure similar to the original opposed to Fate/Zero, which split the screen time among the seven masters and their servants. Providing that Fate/stay night is able to develop the characters effectively, the focus on the characters could work well. Even after the first episode, Rin and Archer are adequately established characters with likable traits, so hopefully the series will continue to execute the characterization well.

 

 

Wow, just wow! Unlimited Blade Works’ animation amazing! The series is from studio Ufotable, aka the best animation studio in the entire freaking universe, and Fate/stay night's animation does not disappoint in the slightest. Seriously watch Kara no Kyoukai, Fate/Zero, or this new Fate/stay night and tell me that the animation is not the mind blowing. They are delivering film quality animation in an anime series. Throughout the 45 minute episode (the first two episodes are twice as long as a typical series), the animation is beyond amazing, and even the school setting had high quality animation. However, the action sequence towards the end is, hands down, the best action sequence of the year; nothing even comes close. It was intense, expertly animated, and stunning. 

Even though famed music composer, Yuki Kajiura, did not return to score the new series, Hideyuki Fukasawa is doing a fine job of reusing some of her amazing music, while also adding in some new tracks. All of the voice cast is top notch, and without any negatives as well.

Knowing that the original Fate/stay night lends itself more to a shounen action series than the psychological suspense thriller that is Fate/Zero, Fate/stay night will hopefully add more serious, seinen, aspects like Fate/Zero. If it does remain a mostly serious shounen action series, Fate/stay night can still be one of the best series of the year providing that the characterization and plot are well executed, like last year's Attack on Titan.

Overall: 9.0/10- Fate/stay night is off to a visually stunning start that continues to make me hyped for what is to come. Of all the series released this fall anime season, none are off to a more satisfying and impressive start than Fate/stay night: Unlimited Blade Works.

Note: Ratings of first episodes are relative to all other pilot episodes only. 

Please do not forget to check the first parts of my review of the summer anime season by clicking on the links below.

Summer Anime Review: Top 20: Part 2

Summer Anime Review: Top 20: Part 1

For another opinion, check out Arvin Saints' impression of the first episode by clicking here.

What did you think of the episode? If you have not seen it, do you plan to watch the series? Please comment below and let me know.

If you want to contact us or have any questions please send an e-mail to johnstarslayer@gmail.com.

Fate/stay night Trailer and Explanation

Out of all the television series of 2014, there is absolutely nothing that I have been more excited for than Ufotable's remake of Fate/stay night. Fate/stay night is both a sequel to the incredible Fate/Zero series, and a remake of the original Fate/stay night, except with amazing animation, as well as taking the story in a different direction. If you have Netflix, or access to Hulu, Fate/Zero is an absolute must-watch, even if anime is not your thing (unless you are sensitive to violence) and if you are still not convinced, check out my review by clicking here. Now that you know how much you need to watch Fate/Zero, I will explain how Fate/stay night fits in with the rest of the Fate universe, without spoiling anything.

Fate/stay night originally started out as a visual novel (and an H-game). If you are not familiar with visual novels, it is like a "Choose Your Own Adventure" novel, except with visual artwork and voice acting. Most visual novels have different story "routes" depending on your choices, and they usually involve romancing different female characters in the game. For example, back in 2006, Studio Deen created an adaptation of Fate/stay night, which took the "Fate" route, mostly involving the characters Saber and Shirou Emiya. However, the original Fate/stay night is said to be fairly mediocre compared to Fate/Zero, which is one of the reasons that I have avoided it, and the other is not to spoil what happens in this upcoming remake. Ufotable's upcoming remake of Fate/stay night is going to take the Unlimited Blade Works route featuring Rin Tohsaka and Archer (Studio Deen did create a rushed adaptation of the route a few years ago). Additionally, Ufotable is creating a film about the third route, Heaven's Feel, which will be released sometime this year or early in the next (trailer below). My only concern about Fate/stay night is that Gen Urobuchi does not have a hand in the writing like he did with Fate/Zero, which was based on his novel. However, some of the creative team from Fate/Zero are returning, so there is definitely hope that it can reach similar heights.

Now that you know about the Fate series, be sure to watch Fate/Zero and be ready for the upcoming Fate/stay night remake. Providing enough people are watching the series, I might decide to review each episode as it airs. If you are already familiar with the Fate franchise, be sure to check out the Kara no Kyōkai film series, which takes place in the same universe. Also, please check back Monday for my Fall Anime Preview, and tomorrow for my Log Horizon review.

Below is the trailer for the Heaven's Feel movie.

If you want to contact us or have any questions please send an e-mail to johnstarslayer@gmail.com.