Anakin while just a boy was a slave on Tattoine with his mother Shmi.  They were sold to a Toydarian junkdealer named Watto where Anakin learned and practiced his mechanical skills.  He even built a driod known as C-3PO.  His mother knew that he was special from an early age, that he had 'special powers'.  These powers were put to the test when he raced in the Boonta Eve Podrace.  He won not only the race and the parts for his new friend's ship he also inknowing won his freedom and the chance to become a Jedi.  The only thing that would have kept him from going was his mother, though she was very adement about Anakin taking advantage of this so he could live the life he had always dreamed of. 

The one who will bring balance to the Force was a prophecy in which Qui-Gon Jinn believed whole heartedly.  He also believed that Anakin was the one, and wouldn't take the council's 'he will not be trained' as an answer.  He was going to train him, no matter what.  The invasion of Naboo pushed aside his traing however, though Anakin still played a large part in the defense of the planet by taking out the Trade Federation control ship.  Unfortunately Qui-Gon was killed in battle and Obi-Wan Kenobi was then granted permission to train him.

This is where Episode I ends.  About ten years after the first movie the second begins with a teen Anakin as a head strong Padawan.  In episode two we will see him fall in love with Padme Amidala the known mother of his children Luke and Leia.  We do now yet known when Anakin Skywalker ceases to exsist and is taken over my Darth Vader.

We do know however that Anakin was turned back to the light side by his son Luke and completed his destiny by killing Emperor Palpatine a Dark Lord of the Sith.  He died soon after and continued on to join the rest of the Jedi and become one with the Force.