Fairy Tail: Part 5 Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		3.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		2.0
Overall		3.5

Fairy Tail: Part 5 Blu-ray Movie Review

The saga continues...

Reviewed by Kenneth Brown January 2, 2014

As a standalone collection, Fairy Tail: Part 5 gets off to a slow start... if you're a newcomer to the still-ongoing 165+ episode series that is. For those intimately familiar with all things wizard-y and guild-y, Part 5 actually marks the start of the show's second season, which originally debuted in Japan in 2010 and in the U.S. in July of 2013. And like any sprawling fan-favorite story, director Shinji Ishihira's "slow start" is more of a character-building reprieve before Fairy Tail kicks into high gear. Of course, the 2-disc Part 5 FUNimation set is yet another small chunk of a much larger saga, but unlike previous entries, it offers a decent boarding platform for those who want to leap into the series without necessarily starting from the beginning. (Although wading into the waters with Part 1 and moving forward is highly recommended.) Devotees and zealots, meanwhile, will find more of what they love, more of what they crave, and more of the comic, action-packed insanity that they fell for from the outset. I'd even go so far as to say Season Two looks to be an improvement over Season One, with a more fleshed out mythos and more captivating collection of side stories and subplots. It might be too early to tell -- I've yet to dive into Part 6 and beyond -- but I, for one, remain firmly hooked. While Fairy Tail may not be for everyone, as anyone who's suffered binge-watching series fatigue will testify, it continues to serve up delightful episode after delightful episode, proving its mettle and its staying power all the way.

In the Kingdom of Fiore, powerful wizards make their living by joining magical guilds and contracting out their services to become "wizards for hire". Harnessing the forces of Dragon Fire, Ice, Weaponry, and the Zodiac, four young wizards of the infamous guild Fairy Tail team up to seek their fortunes. Growing stronger with every mission, they travel the countryside helping people and battling rival guilds, but with personalities as different as their magic skills, this team may end up doing more damage than good.

The first four parts of Fairy Tail have previously been reviewed by Jeffrey Kauffman:

• Fairy Tail: Part 1 Blu-ray review
• Fairy Tail: Part 2 Blu-ray review
• Fairy Tail: Part 3 Blu-ray review
• Fairy Tail: Part 4 Blu-ray review

The 2-disc Blu-ray release of Fairy Tail: Part 5 includes series episodes 49-60. Episodes 49-56 (as well as an audio commentary) are found on the set's first BD-50, while episodes 57-60, an additional audio commentary, textless opening and closing animations, and a selection of trailers are found on the set's second BD-50. Episode titles are as follows:

• #49: The Day of the Fateful Encounter (Unmei no Deai no Hi)
• #50: Special Request: Watch Out for the Guy You Like! (Tokubetsu Irai. Kininaru Kare ni Chûi Seyo!)
• #51: Love & Lucky (LOVE & LUCKY)
• #52: Allied Forces, Assemble! (Rengôgun, Shûketsu!)
• #53: Enter the Oración Seis! (Orashion Seisu Arawaru!)
• #54: Maiden of the Sky (Tenkû no Miko)
• #55: The Girl and the Ghost (Shôjo to Bôrei)
• #56: Dead Grand Prix (Deddo Guran Puri)
• #57: Darkness (Yami)
• #58: Celestial Skirmish (Seirei Gassen)
• #59: Jellal of Days Gone By (Tsuioku no Jerâru)
• #60: March of Destruction (Hametsu no Kôshin)

Fairy Tail: Part 5 Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Like previous series releases, Fairy Tail: Part 5 arrives with a bright, vibrant 1080p/AVC-encoded video presentation. It isn't the sharpest, slickest animation to cross the Pacific -- sometimes it's downright hazy -- it's in keeping with the show's source. However, unlike previous releases, Part 5 exhibits a bit more banding and macroblocking. None of it spoils the proceedings entirely, but eagle-eyed fans are likely to notice the (thankfully) slight dip in encoding proficiency. Otherwise, it's a solid presentation. Colors are vivid and playful, primaries pack a wallop, black levels are fairly satisfying (although a bit dusty and muted overall), and detail is decidedly decent. Visually, the second season doesn't depart from the first, and FUNimation still provides ongoing viewers with their money's worth. Could it be better? Yes, beginning with the animation and extending into the domestic presentation, but as long as you're having a good time with the series, chances are the various flaws and shortcomings will be easier and easier to shrug off.

Fairy Tail: Part 5 Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

In keeping with previous releases, Fairy Tail: Part 5 features two lossless options: a Dolby TrueHD 5.1 English dub and a Dolby TrueHD 2.0 presentation of the original Japanese mix. While I'm always a proponent of original language tracks, FUNimation's dub is quite entertaining. The six-channel surround makes it even more enticing. Voices are a touch "floaty", hovering above the soundscape a bit unnaturally, but it's par for the course. LFE output is aggressive, rear speaker activity is lively (albeit almost non-existent during quieter scenes), dynamics are solid, and dialogue is clean and clear at all times. The Japanese stereo track doesn't disappoint either, even though a fuller 5.1 mix would have been a godsend. But this is the series as it was produced. I'm just glad FUNimation continues to offer both audio options, especially when each one sounds as good as it does here.

Fairy Tail: Part 5 Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Audio Commentaries: Two chatty, fun-filled English Dub Team audio commentaries are included, the first for "Episode 49: The Day of the Fateful Encounter" with director/line producer/occasional script writer Tyler Walker, ADR engineer Kyle Phillips, and voice actors Todd Haberkorn and Cherami Leigh, the second for "Episode 58: Celestial Skirmish" with Walker and voice actors Aaron Dismuke, Lindsay Seidel and, returning, Cherami Leigh.
• Textless Opening & Closing Songs (HD, 3 minutes): "Bgao no Mahou" and "Holy Shine."
• U.S. Trailer (HD, 1 minute): Fairy Tail: Part 5 English dub trailer.
• Additional FUNimation Previews (HD/SD): One Piece, Eureka Seven AO, Oh! Edo Rocket, Toriko, Hetalia Axis Powers, Fairy Tail and Remnants Knights Game.

Fairy Tail: Part 5 Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

The Fairy Tail saga soldiers on with confidence and style in Part 5 as the next twelve episodes of the series -- the first installment of Season Two -- unfold with wild, addicting eruptions of color, comedy, action and ever-expressive witches and wizards. FUNimation's 2-disc set delivers too, although not quite as strongly as previous releases. Even so, Part 5's video presentation is a solid one, its lossless audio tracks are excellent, and its slim but entertaining audio commentaries inject just enough extra value into the mix to make the set's price tag less of a sting. Series fans, what are you waiting for?