Anime Film 'Fate/Stay Night: Unlimited Blade Works' News

Less a true sequel than an alternate account of its source material, Fate/Stay Night: Unlimited Blade Works looks in the direction of one young man's inevitable conflict with magi, sorcerers, and ancient warriors resurrected for what appears to be his own destruction. For anime fans familiar with the original Fate/Stay Night TV series (last re-released in the U.S. in 2009), Unlimited Blade Works should prove an interesting addition to their collection. In this anime feature, viewers trace the efforts of Shirou Emiya, but the circumstances surrounding his survival of the Holy Grail War are slightly different.

The source of Shirou's problems rest in a fantastical variation of ancient Babylonian lore. The Holy Grail can grant a single wish to anyone who wields it. The catch? Its wielder must surmount a grueling war with countless masters of magic and the supernatural. In essence, if you are the last competitor alive, then you may have the fortune of being selected by the Grail to become its next possessor. Young Shirou, however, is completely ignorant of the Holy Grail War. It isn't until he stumbles into summoning a servant warrior that the young man takes it upon himself to stand up for what he feels is just.

Fate/Stay Night: Unlimited Blade Works, released by Sentai Filmworks, is based on the second story track of the Fate/Stay Night visual novel. As such, interested viewers are heavily encouraged to become familiar with the 2006 TV series (Fate/Stay Night), before jumping into the present film.

In the second narrative route, there are different battle outcomes, a higher level of interaction certain characters, and new character motivations that rise to the surface.

In Unlimited Blade Works, available on Blu-ray Disc ($39.98) and standard DVD ($29.98) this week, Shirou still summons Saber (sword class weapons warrior), but also conspires to participate in battle himself. Ideally, the anime film gives Shirou's chivalrous attitude a nudge in the right direction, balancing his youthful optimism with the demands of the real world.

Directed by Yuji Yamaguchi (Fate/Stay Night), the Unlimited Blade Works film assumes the most and jumps right into the action. Shirou isn't as particularly talented or experienced as the magi who oppose him in the Holy Grail War, but it seems certain that unless he can get a grasp of the situation, then he's a dead man. Unfortunately, his allies are just as dangerous as his enemies. Shirou forms a necessary if temporary partnership with a beautiful young sorceress, Rin Tohsaka, but quickly learns that the warrior Rin has summoned, Archer (specializing in long-distance weapons), holds an inexplicable grudge against the young man.

The Unlimited Blade Works branch of the Fate/Stay Night franchise hopes to interject some basic truths into Shirou's more intolerable lack of sophistication. The boy is naive, and his tendency to harbor affection for those of whom he fights alongside could stir trouble among those more powerful and influential than he.

There are many other warrior classes -- berserkers, assassins, and so forth -- and it's going to take all Shirou has if he's planning on surviving this game of sorts.

Recent Sentai Filmworks Anime News:
"Kurenai Anime Series on DVD" / {watch} at AnimationInsider.net (06/2012)
"Late Spring 2012 Anime Licensing Announcements" at AnimationInsider.net (05/2012)