In a certain city in Japan called Fuyuki City, every few decades, a treasure known as the ‘Holy Grail’ appears that can grant the wish of the one who acquires it. Seven magicians sign a contract with seven spirits known as ‘Servants’. It is said that those who get the Holy Grail can realize any wish. In order to pursue the power of the Holy Grail, these seven magicians and the seven Servants that they summon fight in a battle known as the ‘Holy Grail War’ in order to defeat the other teams and become the one to acquire the Holy Grail.
Only one team can get the Holy Grail. Each of these 7 groups kills each other in order to try to be the last one standing. However, this battle and the magic involved are almost completely hidden from the public. Shirou Emiya, the protagonist of the original visual novel that started the Fates series, also entered one of the Holy Grail Wars.
Reasons for the High Popularity of the Fate Series
Fate is written to truly immerse fans in the fantastical yet deep history and setting. For example, at first, the protagonist may originally start off as a completely unqualified person to join a Holy Grail War, but the Heroic Spirits who they fight together with after summoning them as a Servant were originally the souls of heroes who surpassed normal human existence after death. The more time we spend with these Heroic Spirits, we can view the world and its values in a more idealistic way. This can give fans a kind of ideological evolution, thinking about our world and how heroes are created from a different perspective.
List of Entries in the Fate Series
In addition to the original visual novels and games, there are also multiple anime series released as part of the overall Fate franchise. The anime featured in this article accomplished a lot in bringing the fascinating story of the Fate series to audiences who did not have any experience with the games. If you don’t want to spend a lot of your time and energy in play the long games, you can take a look at the following list of anime series compiled below to understand the world of Fate through anime.
| 2006 | Fate/stay night | 24 Episodes |
| 2010 | Fate/stay night: Unlimited Blade Works | Movie Ver. |
| 2014～2015 | Fate/stay night: Unlimited Blade Works | 26 Episodes |
| 2017～ | Fate/stay night: Heaven’s Feel | Movie Ver. |
| 2011～2012 | Fate/Zero (2 seasons) | 25 Episodes |
The Characters of The Fate Series
Both the ordinary characters and heroes featured in the Fate franchise have their own engrossing background stories and personalities. Let’s take a brief look at what kinds of people make up this unique world!
Saber
The original story’s sword-wielding knight heroine who first made contract with the protagonist Shirou Emiya, is a beautiful girl with a bright blonde hair and dark green eyes, who is known as the best of all Servants. Loyal, honest, and serious, her true identity is the hero of the British legend, King Arthur, who in this universe is a woman whose real name is Artoria Pendragon, wielding King Arthur’s famous sword Excalibur.
Sakura Matou
Her real name is Sakura Tohsaka, and she is Rin Tohsaka’s younger sister, who possesses a powerful magic circuit comparable to Rin Tohsaka, along with other rare abilities. Sakura is one grade lower than the protagonist Shirou Emiya in school, and is a famous beauty among her peers, as well as a member of the archery club. Born into a magician family, she has had a very different life from ordinary people.
Shirou Emiya
The main male protagonist. An apprentice magician who was one of the few survivors from the fire in Fuyuki City 10 years ago. Rescued and adopted by the magician Kiritsugu Emiya, he is a fan of heroes, and has vowed to become a ‘ally of justice’ when he grows up. In the beginning of the story, he only had magic ability equal to about half that of an entry level magician.
Lancer
A Lancer-class Servant. Uninhibited and self-centered at the same time, but attaches great importance to promises rather than life. Not interested in the Holy Grail, Lancer just wishes to find a strong enemy to fight. His true identity is the half-human and half-god hero Cu Chulainn from Irish Celtic mythology, and is also known as the ‘Child of Light’. He can attack at a speed that is so fast that it is difficult to see clearly. The Servant Archer said that Lancer was fast enough to rank among the world’s top three masters of agility.
Rin Tohsaka
A beautiful female magician who attends the same school as the protagonist Shirou Emiya. She is the heir of the Tohsaka family, a famous magician family with a long history, which have been the guardians of the land of Fuyuki City for generations. Initially much more powerful than Shirou Emiya.
Gilgamesh
This Heroic Spirit who has appeared in multiple Holy Grail Wars is the oldest hero king of mankind. Served as Archer in Fate/stay night, Fate/Zero and Fate/strange Fake. Was a classless Servant in Fate/EXTRA. Served as Archer and Caster in Fate/Grand Order.
EMIYA (Archer)
The Archer class Heroic Spirit who made a contract with Rin Tohsaka. He was summoned because he was carrying the gem necklace that Tokiomi Tohsaka left for Rin. A realist who often mock others, but also has a strong bond with Rin. A powerful Command Seal spell cast by Rin, caused Archer, who initially disobeyed her, to submit to her will. Archer, surprised at Rin’s strength, then agreed to have her as his master. He claimed to have forgotten his true identity due to an accident during the summoning process.
Kirei Kotomine
Participated in the last (Fourth) Holy Grail War. Rin Tohsaka’s guardian. At the same time, he was the priest who supervised the Holy Grail War, and a subordinate of the Holy Church, with a complex thought process that normal people could not hope to understand.
Ilyasviel von Einzbern
The eldest girl of the Einzbern family, nicknamed Ilya, she is one of the seven masters in the Holy Grail War and the master of the Berserker-class Servant. She is also a homunculus raised by the Einzbern family for the Holy Grail War, who are some of the strongest masters around. She has long snow-white hair and red eyes. Due to always being regarded as just a tool by her family, her personality is a bit distorted. She is usually a frank and innocent girl, but she also has a cold and merciless side. A girl who is reminiscent of snow.
In the Fate series, in addition to the characters listed above, there are many other important names to learn and remember. Just by giving any series related to Fate franchise one look, you will be able to understand the important relationships between the different groups and personalities involved. If you are interested, we recommend that you give this world a try!
