| Shirou Emiya | |
|---|---|
| Fate character | |
 Shirou Emiya in Fate/Grand Order, as illustrated by Takashi Takeuchi | |
| First game | Fate/stay night (2004) |
| Created by | Kinoko Nasu |
| Voiced by |
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Shirou Emiya (Japanese: 衛宮 士郎, Hepburn: Emiya Shirō), also written as "Shiro Emiya" in Fate/unlimited codes, is a fictional character and the main protagonist of the 2004 visual novel Fate/stay night, published by Type-Moon. Shirou is a teenager who accidentally participates in the "Holy Grail War" alongside six other mages looking for the eponymous treasure, an all-powerful, wish-granting relic. Shirou was the sole survivor of a fire in a city and was saved by a man named Kiritsugu Emiya who inspired him to become a hero and avoid killing people during fights. While fighting alongside the servant Saber, Shirou develops his own magical skills and, depending on the player's choices; he forms relationships with the novel's other characters. He also appears in the visual novel sequel Fate/hollow ataraxia, the prequel light novel Fate/Zero, and printed and animated adaptations of the original game.
Writer Kinoko Nasu created Shirou and Saber in stories he had written as a teenager. Nasu was worried that the story would not work as a bishōjo game because the main character was a girl. Artist Takashi Takeuchi suggested switching the genders of the protagonist and Saber to fit into the game market. For the anime adaptations following Fate/Zero, the staff wanted to make the character more serious in his interactions with the other characters while giving him a more cheerful personality in contrast to the original visual novel. Shirou is regularly voiced in Japanese by Noriaki Sugiyama as a teenager and Junko Noda as a child; multiple voice actors have voiced him in the English releases of the anime adaptations.
Critics have commented on Shirou's different characterizations; his role in each part of the original Fate/stay night visual novel has received positive reaction due to his character development and relationship with the character Archer. Shirou's appearance in Studio Deen's first Fate/stay night-based anime received a mixed response; critics initially disliked Shirou but praised how his relationship with Saber evolved. In Ufotable's anime series, based on the visual novel's route Unlimited Blade Works, the character was praised for how he dealt with questions about his ideals. Shirou has also appeared in multiple polls related to Fate and anime in general.