Anime Essentials:
Name: Fate/Stay Night
Publisher: Geneon
Studio: TYPE-Moon / Studio Deen
Release Date: 2006-01-06 ∼ 2006-06-16
Genre: Modern-Fantasy, Comedy, Action, Drama, High School, Romance

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Fate/Stay Night continues to amaze me every time that I watch it. This gem by TYPE-Moon is one of those anime that keeps you captivated, and wanting to continue to keep your eyes glued to the TV episode after episode. This review here-on in shall be referring to the Japanese DVDs with English subtitles.

Storyline is not lacking in this beauty. Where a good script and storyline usually takes a backseat to action and fleshy-parts (I'm looking at YOU Bakuretsu Tenshi), Fate jumps right into it all. The story surrounds a high school nerd, Emiya Shiro, and his trials and tribulations as a Master of one of the seven Servants, Saber. The other six Servants get slowly introduced throughout the storyline; Archer, Lancer, Rider, Berserker, Caster, Assassin, and with each of those Servants are their own completely separate Masters, where some are students of Shiro's school, others...a bit more foreign.

Showing that he is indeed able to be a Master, voluntary or not, the Holy Grail hosts a ritual through destiny that aids it in deciding a Master suitable enough to hold it, and allow their wishes to be granted. This ritual is called the 'Holy Grail War', and lives are lost indeed. Unique characters become involved in the war, such as Berserker's master, the very young, and blood-lust fueled Russian Illyasviel von Einzbern, and the cloistered Master of Caster, Soichiro Kuzuki. These masters fight amongst each other in battles unbeknown to the outside world, and blood is shed, lives are lost, and progression is made towards the climactic end of the Holy Grail War. Spoilers? None here.

Animation is top notch in this anime. As it is with most modern day anime, this one holds no bars with artistic stylings of the realistic design of the Casters and Masters each. Extras in the public scenes are very well drawn, rather then just blurred over businessmen and schoolgirls that other Studios feel content with. Special effects are not lacking by any means, flashy effects are abound in every battle, and not at all tasteless or obvious. Audio is a large selling point for me. If a studio decides to skimp on the audio, then I really get turned off as an audiophile and techie at heart. With extremely detailed and in depth audio, the musical scores really stand out as epic, detailing the finer battles, and the emotions of the more tender moments.

As a whole, this anime is not one to be missed. With a recent import deal with Geneon, there is no reason not to see this gem by Studio TYPE-Moon. As just a quick ratings breakdown:
Animation: 4.5
Audio: 4
Story: 5
Originality: 4.5
Overall: 4.5