Fate/Zero

Fate/Zero
	First volume cover of Fate/Zero, featuring Irisviel von Einzbern (left), Saber (center), and Kiritsugu Emiya (right)
運命/ゼロ; (Unmei Zero)
Genre	Action; Dark fantasy; Tragedy;
Light novel
Written by	Gen Urobuchi
Illustrated by	Takashi Takeuchi
Published by	Type-Moon
Original run	December 29, 2006 – December 29, 2007
Volumes	4
Manga
Written by	Gen Urobuchi
Illustrated by	Shinjirou
Published by	Kadokawa Shoten
English publisher	NA: Dark Horse Comics;
Magazine	Young Ace
Original run	December 29, 2010 – June 2, 2017
Volumes	14
Manga
Fate/Zero Kuro
Written by	mendori
Published by	Kadokawa Shoten
Magazine	Altima Ace (2011); Monthly Asuka;
Original run	2011 – 2012
Volumes	1
Anime television series
Directed by	Ei Aoki
Produced by	Atsuhiro Iwakami
Written by	Akira Hiyama; Akihiro Yoshida;
Music by	Yuki Kajiura
Studio	Ufotable
Licensed by	AUS: Madman Entertainment; NA: Aniplex of America; UK: MVM Films;
Original network	Tokyo MX, GYT, GTV, TV Saitama, TV Aichi, MBS, CTC, tvk, TVh, TVQ, BS11, Kids Station
Original run	October 1, 2011 – June 23, 2012
Episodes	25

Fate/Zero is a Japanese light novel series written by Gen Urobuchi and illustrated by Takashi Takeuchi. It serves as a prequel to all routes in the Fate/stay night visual novel by Type-Moon. It was published by Type-Moon with four volumes released between December 2006 and 2007. The story follows the Fourth Holy Grail War, which is a magical tournament that is held in Fuyuki City, Japan. Seven mages known as Masters must summon Servants, which are reincarnations of legendary souls and heroes from all across time, where they fight in a deadly battle royale where the winner obtains the Holy Grail, a legendary magical chalice capable of granting wishes. The main protagonist of Fate/Zero, Kiritsugu Emiya, joins the tournament on behalf of his wife's family, the Einzberns.

An anime adaptation was produced by Ufotable, the first season of which aired from October 1 to December 24, 2011, and the second season of which aired from April 7 to June 23, 2012. A manga adaptation was published by Kadokawa Shoten between 2011 and 2017. American publisher Dark Horse Comics licensed the manga and released it in English for North America.

Fate/Zero was praised for its animation, themes, characters, soundtrack, and story. The series has also been a commercial success, with it selling over several thousand Blu-ray box-sets and winning multiple awards at the Newtype Anime Awards, including "Title of the Year".