With Bleach finished I guess it is about that time that anime fans whether cliche or unique are looking for the anime to fill it's slot and I think this is it. Fairy Tail is a magical comedy fantasy that is Pg-13. As I am writing this review I will not be comparing it to the manga because I have not read it nor One Piece because too many people are comparing it to One Piece when they are not that alike.
The story follows the tale of the Fairy Tail Guild wizards as Lucy becomes a member after a fateful encounter with Natsu the dragon slayer. From there you are thrown into smaller arcs filled with battles, tears, and secrets leading you closer to the main story. Some people say there is not main plot to this story, but they are highly mistaken. Each arc reveals another part of the jigsaw as it touches on each main character personal story and background. Unlike many shounen that only focus on the history the one main character this anime does not leave one out no matter how weak or strong they are; keeping the motto that the Fairy Tail guild is one big family.
The art towards this anime is good, but it does have it shares of disappointment. If you are a fan of blood, sorry, but this anime has no blood shed. The characters could have bruises covering their body and you would still not see any blood shed. If you are sick of the same shounen fan service I apologize again. The girls on the shows aren't lacking in their racks no matter their age, well maybe Wendy, but that's it. Some good points about the art is that battle scenes do show great detail of damage to their surroundings exposing the powers of our characters. Also after a while how they look grow on you.
The biggest aspect of this show that makes it a top contender for the next big three is it sound! From the voice acting to the original soundtrack, fairy tail knows how to make it epic. The voice acting is outstanding in Japanese as each voice matches the character splendidly. The English did a nice try, but there were some holes in it as some of the female characters sounded superficial. Also the English adaption is not finished for the dub fans as it is only up to episode 48. Other than that the English adaption was nice as well, but FUNimation usually does a good job. The soundtrack is what pulls you end though as it matches the mood 100%. From Natsu fiddling theme, to the soft flute of sadness, you are sway by the characters emotions.
Speaking of characters... yeah they are very cliche. Natsu is the typical strong, hot blooded guy everyone loves. Lucy is the typical sidekick that is weak at times,but I must admit she does surprise you at times. Wendy is the soft spoken healer. I would go on, but basically the characters are not original. Despite the setback they still grow on you. Even the most cliche character has something about them that is different and it shows in these characters.
I have not finished this anime, but overall I must say I have enjoyed it. This anime offers something for all kinds of anime fans. I don't think you could be disappointed and don't be surprised if this is the top 3 in a year or so. It's already in the top 5!
