An anime is so good that I watch it once a year even though I already know it by heart

4. The battles in Fate/Zero are perfectly staged

Why are the battles so good? The studio behind Fate/Zero, Ufotable, has visually extracted everything possible from the anime. The camera movements feel like they are from a Hollywood movie, and the perspectives remain dynamic.

Additionally, no battle is like the other, as each character has their own style of fighting. When the participants of the Grail War clash, you never know who will ultimately emerge as the victor, even if you have a favorite.

What makes Fate/Zero different from other anime? Even though the battles are visually impressive, that’s not the main reason why the anime stands out from others. The real reason is probably that each Servant is bound to a Master, and this dynamic brings a lot of tension.

Berserker’s Master, for instance, Kariya Matou, is not actually a particularly powerful magician. To even participate, he allows himself to be infected by his sadistic clan leader with so-called mana worms – a painful procedure that takes a physical toll on him.

His Servant Berserker, on the other hand, is a completely unleashed lunatic who treats his Master more like a battery than a partner. 

It’s completely different with Lancer, an honorable knight. However, his Master thinks only of winning and forces him into unfair actions that internally tear Lancer apart. From this conflict arises battles where Lancer drags everything out and takes far too much consideration – simply because he does not want to lose his honor.

Fate/Zero thus offers tension on all levels. Not only do different teams have to fight a war against each other, but also within their own ranks they are struggling for survival in a certain way.

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.