close
You've Earned Badges!
you have earned more badges → see all badges
don't want a popup? edit settings here
view your badges any time in your profile
Ten years before Shirou Emiya's and Saber's fateful meeting, Japan is the stage for the fourth Holy Grail War. Seven Masters, each with his own dreams, step forward to win the boon of the mystic relic. Into this fray comes Kiritsugu Emiya, the enigmatic "Mage Killer" who wants to use the Grail to make a better world. Can he, paired with the indomitable Saber win the War? Or will he fall to the ambitions of the other mages?
One night, Madoka has a terrible nightmare – against the backdrop of a desolate landscape, she watches a magical girl battle a terrifying creature, and lose. The next day, the teen's dream becomes reality when the girl – Homura – arrives at Mitakihara High School as a transfer student, mysteriously warning Madoka to stay just the way she is. But when she and her best friend Miki are pulled into a twisted illusion world and meet a magical creature named Kyubey, the pair discovers that magical girls are real, and what's more, they can choose to become one. All they must do is sign a contract with Kyubey and agree to fight witches that spread despair to the human world, and in return they will be granted a single wish. However, as Homura's omen suggests, there's far more to becoming a magical girl than Madoka and Miki realize...
Madoka Magica and Fate Zero have several key things in common: stunningly animated battles, duels that get your heart racing, generous helpings of magic and fantasy, and an interesting bunch of tragic characters that must rail against their fate. The two shows also possess similarly dark atmospheres, with their colours leaning towards crisp gloominess, and, of course, haunting music by Yuki Kajiura. Thrills and drama come naturally to these two shows, and any fan of one would adore the other.
Both of these anime don't hold back when it comes to bringing out dark themes. These anime share the same brilliant writer, Gen Urobuchi.
Both are dark fantasy stories with magic, contracts, duels, death and lovecraftian monsters. All while being beautifully animated. (F/Z more so than Madoka.)
Once upon a time, two brothers passed the happy days of their childhood by studying alchemy, which is governed by the equal transfer principle: an eye for an eye -- you can't get more than you give. But these brothers tried to defy that law, and a horrific accident resulted. Now, the older brother, Edward, is called the Full Metal Alchemist because of his metal limbs, and the younger, Alphonse, is a soul without a body, trapped within the confines of an automaton. Together they search for the power to restore themselves, to find the lives they lost so long ago...
If you're looking for anime dealing with Alchemy, these two are the best I've found so far. Both the Homunculus in FMA and the Servants in Fate/Zero have a similar formula. Plots are very distinct though.
They both have dark themes and creative use of magic. Fullmetal Alchemist has less ambiguous protagonists and antaganists, but both shows are excellent about developing character motivations.
The foundation of alchemy is based on the law of equivalent exchange; you cannot produce something from nothing. As such, alchemy is bound by one taboo - human transmutation. Four years ago two young brothers, Edward and Alphonse Elric, broke this taboo when they tried to resurrect their dead mother. During the process Al's body disintegrated and Ed lost his leg. In a desperate attempt to prevent his brother from disappearing completely, Ed sacrificed one of his arms so he could affix Al's soul to a suit of armor. When his missing limbs are replaced by auto mail parts, Ed bears the name of the Fullmetal Alchemist - the youngest ever State Alchemist and dog of the military. Now, alongside his brother, Ed uses his status within the military to attempt to find any way that he can return their bodies back to their original state.
If you're looking for anime dealing with Alchemy, these two are the best I've found so far. Both the Homunculus in FMA and the Servants in Fate/Zero have a similar formula. Plots are very distinct though.
They both have dark themes and creative use of magic. Fullmetal Alchemist has less ambiguous protagonists and antaganists, but both shows are excellent about developing character motivations.
Yuki is a disaffected middle school boy who has no dreams or goals in life; in fact, the only thing he has is his diary. Writing down everything he observes and documenting every thought, the young boy uses it as an outlet for his imagination. One morning, however, Yuki wakes up to find his cell phone filled with diary entries for the next ninety days. Thinking nothing of it, he continues his morning until he begins to realize that everything on his phone is rapidly coming to pass, and it isn't just mere coincidence. Now, Yuki suddenly finds himself thrust into a survival game against other future diary owners to become the new Lord of Time.
Both are dark animes where several players fight a game to either become a god or have their wish fullfilled. Although fate/zero is more supernatural, it has the same feel to it. If you like the temporary alliances/betrayal/bets and psychological warfare in either of the series, you'll like the other.
Fate/Zero and Mirai Nikki share the premise of a survival game where the winner gains an incredibly large price. Both series explore the possibilities of temporary alliances with people you might end up having to kill.
While Fate/Zero rely more heavily on supernatural elements, Mirai Nikki also includes a mixture of supernatural and natural fighting styles.
All in all the two are similarly dark and share many plot elements. As such, if you liked one of them, you should give the other one a chance.
Hakaze, princess of the Kusaribe mage clan, has been betrayed and marooned on an island by her own people. They seek to revive the Tree of Exodus, an incomprehensibly powerful entity of alien origin, to save the world from the tyranny of its antithesis: the Tree of Genesis that powers their magic. Hakaze, however, believes their efforts put humanity in jeopardy; and with her power limited, she can only reach out to the world to beg for aid. Her call reaches Mahiro Fuwa, a young man grieving the mysterious death of his sister, Aika. He and his friend Yoshino agree to help - on the condition that Hakaze track down Aika's killer with her magic. The deal is made, and the battle that will determine civilization's fate is begun: but who will play the part of its villain, and who its savior?
1. Magic exists in both worlds, but only certain people can utilise it. The magic in both anime also require some form of sacrifice before the magician can equip it (i.e., tools that civilisation use in Zetsuen no Tempest, magical power in Fate/Zero)
2. The two main male protagonists in both anime seek completely different goals. However, in Zetsuen no Tempest, the two protagonists are friends. Also, all four characters from the respective anime are really intelligent.
3. A lot of planning and plotting are involved in both anime. All the planning and execution are really intriguing and entertaining.
