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Fate / Stay Night is a 2006 anime adaptation of a popular visual novel. The series ran from January through June 2006. There are 26 episodes in total.

The anime tells the story of the lead character, Shiro Emira. Orphaned in a fire that happened 10 years ago, Shiro was adopted by Kiritsugu Emiya. Before his death, Kiritsugu reveals to Shiro that he is actually a magi and teaches Shiro the basics. However, Shiro proves to be talentless in the magical arts. The present Shiro is a student of Homurabara Gakuen in Fuyuki City. Since his foster father’s death, he has been secretly honing his magical talents. He is also an amateur mechanic who employs his limited knowledge of fortification magic to aid in repairs.

Unknown to Shiro, Fuyuki City was the site for a mystical tournament known as the War of the Holy Grail. During the war, seven magi (known as Masters) are chosen to participate in the war, aided by Servants. It is said that the winner who obtains the grail will be granted a single wish. Over the centuries, there have been five such wars, the last one happening exactly 10 years ago (Shiro later learns that the previous war was the cause of the fire that killed his family).

To participate, Masters summon powerful heroes from the past, present, and future that are brought to the present through the powers of the grail. These Servants are bound to serve the Masters through a magical contract. Servants can be from one of seven classes; namely Archer, Berserker, Saber, Magician, Rider, Lancer, and Assassin.

During a fateful night after school, Shiro witnesses a battle between Lancer and Archer. Noticing his presence, Lancer hunts Shiro down and kills him. For some unknown reason, Rin Tosaka (Archer’s master) saves Shiro. Sensing that his prey is not dead, Lancer revisits Shiro at his home. Through a chain of events, Shiro unwittingly summons Saber, rumoured to be the strongest of the seven Servants. Slowly but surely, the unwilling Shiro gets drawn into the battle royale.

Those who have played the game will be no doubt familiar with the storyline. There’s plenty of action and battles packed into the 26 episodes. In no particular order, I enjoyed the battles between Archer vs. Berserker, Saber vs. Berserker, and Saber vs. Gilgamesh (final boss). But the series is not all battles and brawn. There’s plenty of funny scenes, bits that twinge your heart strings, and some unexpected twists (only for the unfamiliar).

While the plot itself is shallow, the storyline and characters (which draws greatly on ancient mythology) slowly grows on you. And that’s where my only gripe originates; the series is too short. I would have loved to see more of my favourite characters and how they developed. But then again, if it was any longer, I might have lost interest.

I’m a sucker for swords fights, mythology, and fantasy. So this is a must watch in my book. Besides, it’s Fate / Stay Night. That’s ’nuff said as it is.