name: Emiya Shirou
age: about 16 years old
nationality: Japanese
profession: student
family: Emiya Kiritsugu (father, although not natural)
likes: houseworks, fixing things, becoming a hero, protecting justice
dislikes: killing others, the Grail War, arguing
magic powers: Reality Marble, Tracing, Imaging (later on).
servant: Saber
seiyuu: Sugiyama Noriaki
personality: Emiya Shirou is a guy who enjoys very much houseworks (probably because he lives by himself) and who's always trying to get along well with people although he's not that sociable either. He doesn't joke that much, although he's sometimes involved in funny situations and he gets embarassed pretty easilly. He deeply cares for people he loves and admires and he could do anything in order to protect them. Since he was a children he had that dream to become a hero of justice, probably because he wanted to become like his father, a men whose magic powers were significantly helping people. He doesn't seem to fear death as he always tries to protect, even with his body, his precious Servant: Saber. Although he's not that talkative, Shirou doesn't seem to enjoy loneliness (and that's probably why he wants to introduce Saber to his dearest friends, because he can't stand to see her all by herself) and probably because of his deep sensibility he tends to show his kindness trying to take the burdens of the others and ending up in making part of their duties. Despite his natural kindness, Shirou can also show a very strong side, with his determination and his sense of duty he can barely forget those who're not acting correctly and sometimes he also finds it difficult to give a second chance to those who're making mistakes (that's why Archer is sometimes that cruel in other regards). Shirou doesn't have an high opinion on himself. He considers his magic skills as those of an amateur (well it's true after all) and despite his amazing and promising turns, he's always trying to improve himself, training hardly and probably too much for his chances.
Shirou can be easilly confused, that's why he always wants to hear the truth (without too many deciving words) from people. His simplicity is probably his winning key. He changes a lot through the story, turning completely down his ideals, because he chooses to save the most important person he has (his love) and sacrificing the most. He negates his position of heroe of justice, deranging his conscience and discovering his egoistich side.
personal story: Shirou lost his parents when he was only 10, during the destruction (or big fire) of Fuyutsuki City. He was the only survivor and he was adopted by Emiya Kiritsugu, a magician who tried to not introduce him too much in magic. Although Shirou had some skills, Kiritsugu only tought him some basic notions of magic, probably because he wasn't worth to become a mage, or because he wanted to be sure that was the path he wanted to take. Kiritsugu got ill and died pretty soon, leaving Shirou alone again.
He is involved in the Holy War because he happened to see the fight against Lancer and Archer and because of witnessing that event, he's persecuted by Lancer himself, who almost kills him (Rin saves him in extremis). The same day, after realizing what happened and after coming back home, he's attacked again by Lancer and almost killed again, when the evocation spell is completed and Saber appears as his Servant. Anyway Saber isn't fully evocated and for this reason she can't turn into a spirti and vanish from people's sight.
Shirou gets along well with her and he convinces himself that she hasn't to feel pain and sorrow and that he prefers to suffer at her place, always risking his life in combats. He doesn't really enjoy the war and he promises to himself to not kill anyone and to find a way to stop it. During the Fate scenario he learns a bit of magic thanks to Rin and he understands that his true ability is Tracing, or well creating new objects copying those he has seen at least once (something he improves later on, learning from Archer and copying his twin swords). He also learns that his regenerations abilities are due by the Avalon, the powerful sheath of Excalibur, implanted in his body by his father. He eventually learns how to use his Reality Marble, the Unlimited Blade Works, or well creating a world that represents his state of mind, his heart, his feelings, a world full of swords of different shapes and features, weapons he copies from others learning their secrets and how to use them as well. Thanks to this ability, to his will and determination he eventualy turns into the person he dreamt to become. In the second scenario he discovers that Archer is none else than his future self and he tries to understand why he keeps on fighting him. Archer lost all his hope in a bright future, becoming too cynical and ironic, loosing everything he was appreciating in his previous consciuosness and Shirou is desperatly trying to understand what happened to him and also trying to save him from his self destruction (that was what he was seeing happening in Archer's personality). In the last scenario Shirou matures and understands that he can't save everyone and he has to make a choice. Saving people also mean sacrificing other people and that is the concept that deeply changed Archer through his life. His choice is his true love, Sakura. He had a crush for Rin, he loved Saber for her determination and coolness, but he wants to protect Sakura more than anythign else. He even decides to sacrifice his life for her sake and not for the general safety of people (although he's always a positive character after all, and he has always tried to destroy the Holy Grail). He doesn't really mind anymore about his wounds, and although he loses an arm and he acquires something that makes him suffer enourmously (Archer's arm and his UBW ability), he keeps on fighting for her. I don't think he turns into an anti-hero, he just become the romantic heroe for excellency.