DVD Corner

Fairy Tail Part 1 Blu-ray Review

“Fairy Tail” isn’t very magical.

In the first 12 episodes of the popular anime series, viewers are introduced to Natsu (a powerful wizard of the Fairy Tail guild), a flying cat named Happy, and a young wizard named Lucy who eventually joins the Fairy Tail guild. The 12 episodes contain plots about: a devious wizard posing as Fairy Tail wizard Salamander, a monster possessed wizard, a book called “Daybreak,” a killer flute known as Lullaby, the evil Guild Eisenwald, Fairy Tail wizards Ezra, Gray and Makarov, people trapped in giant monsters, Natsu Vs. Ezra, an island curse, and an attempt to resurrect the demon Deliora.

Going into “Fairy Tail,” I was expecting an exciting wizard centric anime series that offered up well rounded characters and a unique universe the characters inhabit. Instead, what I saw was a dopey anime that felt like “One Piece” with magic.

Perhaps it’s because I have seen so much anime over the years, but there was nothing fresh about “Fairy Tail”. The series is filled with over-the-top Manga esque visual/pop-up gags (like sparkly eyes, heart icons), bombastic spellcasting, and groan worthy sight gags involving a giant chicken, a cow monster, scary maids, and goofy fashion. It’s nothing more than a mindless anime series that is more concerned with style over substance. It’s fine if you like loud, humorous, action oriented anime, but if you’re looking for something more deep or sophisticated, you will be sorely disappointed.

Video/Audio:

If there’s one positive thing I can say about “Fairy Tail,” it’s that it is visually engaging. The 1080p transfer is especially colorful and glossy.

The Blu-ray discs contain English Dolby TrueHD 5.1 and Japanese Dolby TrueHD 2.0 audio tracks. The English dub is merely so-so. I think my main problem with the track is that the voices are all sounding like other characters from other series. I think it may be time for a bigger variety of voice talent over at Funimation. The Japanese track on the other is fairly strong voice acting wise. It does like that 5.1 punch though. The DVD editions contains English Dolby Digital 5.1 and Japanese Stereo tracks.

DVD and Blu-ray Extras:
* Trailers for “Yu Yu Hakusho,” “Soul Eater,” “Hetalia Axi Powers,” “One Piece,” “Fairy Tail,” “Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood,” “Birdy The Mighty: Decode,” “Bamboo Blade,” “Chaos; HEAd,” and Funimation.com.
* Episode 1 commentary by the English ADR director, voice actor, and two voice actresses and Episode 9 commentary by the ADR director, a voice actor, and two voice actresses. If you’ve heard one English Funimation commentary, you’ve heard them all.
* 2 textless opening songs and 2 textless closing songs

November 26, 2011 - Posted by nicklyons1 | Blu-Ray review | Fairy Tail Guild, Fairy Tail Part 1 Blu-ray Review, magic, Natsu, Wizards