Fairy Tail: Final Season - Part 26 Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		5.0
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		2.5
Overall		4.5

Fairy Tail: Final Season - Part 26 Blu-ray Movie Review

The conclusion of the beloved Fairy Tail anime series.

Fairy Tail: Part 26 is the epic conclusion. Fairy Tail is one of the best anime series ever made. The series is an adaptation of the original manga by Hiro Mashima. Fairy Tail: Part 26 includes episodes 317-328. Featuring animation produced by A-1 Pictures, CloverWorks, and Bridge, Fairy Tail was originally broadcast on TV Tokyo in Japan. The series was licensed for distribution by Funimation.

The final season of the long-running (and fan-favorite) anime series is produced by Aya Yoshino (Soul Eater, Sgt. Frog), Naritoshi Sato (Fairy Tail x Rave, Cautious Hero: The Hero Is Overpowered but Overly Cautious), and Akiko Nabeiwa (Convenience Store Boy Friends, The Seven Deadly Sins: Revival of The Commandments). Fairy Tail: Part 26 brings the Alvarez story-arc to a close. A conclusion with epic action and an emotional farewell.

The final battle for the future of the Fairy Tail guild is underway on Fairy Tail: Part 26. The stakes have never been higher before and danger is imminent for the entire magical guild. The battle against the ruthless enemy Zeref (Akira Ishida) is one that puts every wizard in Fairy Tail to the test – of their skill and dedication. Natsu (Tetsuya Kakihara) continues to fight with a determination to win the fight at any cost.

Will Natsu make the ultimate sacrifice in order to save the Fairy Tail guild? As the war wages on, all the guild members must unite in order to help protect Ishgar from destruction. Yet secrets still remain – with Mavis Vermilion (Mamiko Noto) and Zeref holding back long-held secrets that could determine the final outcome. The last chapter unfolds...

The characters made the show. Fairy Tail became one of the best anime series of all time as a result of great characters. Lucy (Aya Hirano), Happy (Rie Kugimiya), Wendy (Satomi Satou), Erza (Sayaka Ohara), Natsu (Tetsuya Kakihara), and Gray (Yuichi Nakamura) were just some of the characters behind the magic. There was something wonderful about the cast from episode one – and that is something that kept the magic alive for all these years.

There is something special to be said about the English dub cast as well. Natsu (Todd Haberkom), Lucy (Cherami Leigh), Happy (Tia Ballard), Gray (Newton Pittman), Carla (Jad Saxton), Erza (Colleen Clinkenbeard), and Wendy (Brittney Karbowski) are at the forefront of the English dub voice-cast. Funimation has produced some of the best English dubs in anime (with the revamped dub for One Piece and the quintessential Yu Yu Hakusho). Fairy Tail joins the ranks as one of the best English dubs produced.

One last farewell.

The animation is spectacular. With art direction by Masaaki Kawaguchi (Engaged to the Unidentified, Plastic Memories), Fairy Tail is a beautiful looking anime. So much effort was invested in to making this series. The team of animators gave their best to make the series an ongoing thrill ride for fans to experience.

The character designs by Shinji Takeuchi (Gintama, Nandaka Velonica) always stood out as some of the best designs in anime. Each central character had a distinctive style. None of the characters felt “forgettable” and there was something special about each character design. Takeuchi did excellent work.

The cinematography by Atsushi Iwasaki (Wolf's Rain, Digimon Adventure) shines bright. Fairy Tail is one of the best looking anime productions of the 2000's. The series has an excellent use of lighting to explore the journey of the Fairy Tail guild. The visual components are superb: colorful and engaging.

The music score composed by Yasuharu Takanashi (Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Crystal, Naruto Shippūden) has always been one of the best elements of the series. The score finds a way to bring dramatic depth to the storytelling and highlights the action scenes beautifully as well. Takanashi brought their best to the material.

Masashi Sogo (Hunter X Hunter, Bleach) penned the screenplays. Sogo did an outstanding job of adapting the source material. Fairy Tail is a powerhouse production. The characters were so well written – there was always something special about the cast of characters and how Sogo told the tale. There is no doubt in my mind that Sogo found it hard to say goodbye to the series. Fairy Tail is a well written gem.

Director Shinji Ishihara (Tokyo Majin, Sasaki and Miyano) brings the epic adventures of Fairy Tail to its close. It is important to remember that the journey is more important than the destination: even if some fans feel the final arc isn't the best of the series run, Fairy Tail was always a great series with plenty of action, adventure, comedy, and pathos. Fairy Tail is a special series and it will always be around for fans to revisit time and time again.

Fairy Tail: Final Season - Part 26 Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Arriving on Blu-ray from Funimation Entertainment, Fairy Tail: Part 26 is presented in 1080p MPEG-4 AVC encoded high definition in the original television broadcast aspect ratio of 1.78:1 widescreen. The series is presented in native high-definition. The release is not an upscale (as was featured on some of the earliest seasons). The visuals look outstanding. Color reproduction is top-notch. The release has a worthwhile encode.

Fairy Tail: Final Season - Part 26 Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The release includes multiple lossless audio options: English Dolby TrueHD 5.1 surround sound and Japanese Dolby TrueHD 2.0 stereo (with English subtitles). The high-resolution audio is a good showcase for both dub options. The English dub sounds exceptional and the surrounds are well utilized (adding cinematic gravitas to the anime). The music score is well integrated in to the sound mix. A worthy lossless encode.

Fairy Tail: Final Season - Part 26 Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

The release could have benefited from a few more supplements (as the series has reached the end). Fairy Tail fans deserved more behind- the-scenes goodies for the final volume. Nonetheless, the supplemental package is as follows:

Disc 2:

Fairy Tail Final Season: Top 5 Moments (HD, 13:15)

Textless Opening Song (HD, 1:31)

Textless Closing Song (HD, 1:43)

Fairy Tail: Final Season - Part 26 Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

It's hard to say goodbye. Fairy Tail is one of the most entertaining anime series ever produced and for almost a decade it has provided fans with wonderful entertainment. There is something magical about the series (and it isn't just the magical guild). The series cast of characters is undeniably charming and fun to spend time with: Natsu, Lucy, Happy, and others. Fairy Tail is a must-see anime series and one that no anime fan should go without seeing.

The Blu-ray release from Funimation has an excellent video-audio presentation. The release includes a small selection of bonus features as well. Fans of Fairy Tail will undoubtedly want to pick up the release to complete the collection. Fairy Tail can live on forever in the hearts of all fans. Highly recommended.