A place to talk about how much I love Fairy Tail? Yes please
Ah, Fairy Tail, my 18th favorite anime of all time (yes, I’m a weirdo who keeps track of that), what is there to say about you?
To start with, the guild itself. From pretty much the second episode, it’s made clear that Fairy Tail is home to a bunch of wild, rambunctious weirdos who spend most of their days doing wild, weird shit and getting into fights whenever they’re not on quests. And while it might just seem “lol random” on the surface, as the series goes on, you start to find some comfort in that, a bit of light is shed on so many members of Fairy Tail over the course of the series, from Gray, to Cana, to Loke, to Mirajane, their dynamics and weird quirks are slowly contextualized and the bonds they share feel all the more genuine. After a while, the guild feels so much like a community, and it’s hard not to feel a sense of comfort in just seeing them be themselves around each other, it becomes *your* guild as much as it is their guild, and it overall strengthens the Power of Friendship message which rings throughout the series
Speaking of which, while a lot of people hate on FT for using the Power of Friendship so much, I can’t help but love it. The show wears its heart on its sleeve like no other, it feels so earnest in its approach to its themes in a way I can’t help but be fond of, and the way the cast’s relationships and dynamics are built up and focused on throughout the series makes it feel earned imo.
Circling back to the cast, though, the individual characters are great too. Erza is a badass and the layers to her which come forth during the Tower of Heaven arc shot her up into my all-time favorites. Gray is Best Boy and every time his personal issues are brought to focus is always a highlight. Wendy is just fantastic and her understated growth throughout the series will always be one of its finest points. Natsu is just fun and perfectly embodies everything the show stands for. I would go on, but there’s so many characters in this show that I love
And damn does Mashima just excel at emotional moments. The hype moments are riveting and always get my blood pumping, the sad moments fucking tear my heart out, rarely is there a backstory flashback that doesn’t make me feel things, and that final arc, flawed as it was, deeply affected me on every level
Also, the music. The OST is fantastic, and the OPs and EDs live rent-free in my head
It might not be the most perfectly made Shonen in the world, but it’s one that will always hold a special place in my heart |