Fairy Tail: Part 6 Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		2.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		2.5
Overall		3.5

Fairy Tail: Part 6 Blu-ray Movie Review

Wizards vs. a Walking City. No upsell required.

Reviewed by Kenneth Brown January 6, 2014

One of the benefits of a long-running, no-end-in-sight anime series is that it can slow down whenever it feels the urge, take its sweet time and spend as many hours living in the moment of a climactic battle or dramatic conflict as it likes. In the case of Fairy Tail: Part 6 (episodes 61-72), it's a single night in which Natsu and his friends fight to defeat Nirvana, a powerful spell that's taken the form of an enormous -- and enormously destructive -- ancient city hellbent on Cait Shelter's obliteration at the behest of Oración Seis leader Brain. For eight of the 2-disc set's 12 episodes, the Fairy Tail Guild battles to save the very same native people whose descendants created Nirvana. And what a battle it is. Brain summons an even deadlier personality called Zero, Natsu goes toe to toe with Cobra, Midnight takes on HotEye, Brain's staff Klodoa proves a formidable opponent, the guild realizes they have to take out all six legs of the Nirvana city in quick succession, Natsu powers up to survive a clash with Zero and... whew, the hits keep on comin'. Newcomers who dare to jump into the series head first with Part 6 will be absolutely lost. No two ways about it. Fans, though, will hurtle from one episode to the next, agreeing that the latest stretch of the Fairy Tail saga is a gripping one.

Once the dust settles, you might expect episodes 69-72 to drag. Not so. While the action is smaller in scale, the stakes are as high as ever, with Natsu racing to stop a woman named Daphne, a legion of Lizardmen and a dangerous Dragonoid. No rest for the wicked; no rest for the weary. Part 6's second story arc complements the first quite well, and the series' humor and heart are given more room to work amidst all the chaos. It's lighter fare than the Nirvana war, but no less engaging, demonstrating how effortlessly the show can switch gears yet maintain its momentum. Those who've been with Fairy Tail from the beginning will have a blast with both discs and come away itching to find out what happens next. And with Part 7 inching closer and closer, not to mention a string of releases after that (there are, after all, 170 episodes, with more being produced each month) sure to expand, enrich and further embrace the Fairy Tail mythos.

Nirvana continues its march to destroy Wendy's guild along with a dark secret. Team Natsu and the coalition, as well as an unexpected ally - go full-force against the top sorcerers of Oracion Seis to expel the ancient city's evil curse before it becomes unstoppable. Then, when Natsu goes on a mission to see a woman about a dragon, his trip becomes a trap that could force him to turn Magnolia into ash and rubble. Can his friends snuff the Salamander's involuntary rampage without torching their friend?

Read our reviews for the first five parts of Fairy Tail by clicking the corresponding links below:

• 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
• Fairy Tail: Part 5 Blu-ray review

The 2-disc Blu-ray release of Fairy Tail: Part 6 includes series episodes 61-72. Episodes 61-68 (as well as an audio commentary) are found on the set's first BD-50, while episodes 69-72, 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:

• #61: Super Aerial Battle: Natsu vs. Cobra! (Chôkûchûsen! Natsu vs. Kobura)
• #62: Wizard Saint Jura (Seiten no Jura)
• #63: Your Words (Kimi no Kotoba koso)
• #64: Zero (Zero)
• #65: From Pegasus to Fairies (Tenma kara Yôsei-tachi)
• #66: The Power of Feelings (Omoi no Chikara)
• #67: I'm With You (Watashi ga Tsuiteiru)
• #68: A Guild for One (Tatta Hitori no Tame no Girudo)
• #69: Call of the Dragon (Ryû no Izanai)
• #70: Natsu vs. Gray!! (Natsu vs. Gurei!!)
• #71: Friendship Overcomes the Dead (Tomo wa Shikabane o Koete)
• #72: A Fairy Tail Wizard (Fearî Teiru no Madôshi)

Fairy Tail: Part 6 Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Fairy Tail: Part 6 features one of the most -- if not the most -- problematic 1080p/AVC-encoded series presentation to date. With the bulk of the episodes set at night, contrast is dull, colors are dim and diluted, black levels are dusty and drab, and, more to the point, banding and macroblocking are out in full, unsightly force. A bit of aliasing even leaps into the fray. Granted, many of the issues trace back to the source animation, and brighter scenes do look significantly better. But it's hard not to be distracted by all the anomalies littering the screen at inopportune times (not that there's ever actually an opportune time), particularly when fights heat up, magic engulfs the battlefield or... well, when everyone is just standing around talking, framed by the midnight blue and gray skies. Primaries fortunately still hit hard, detail is reasonably decent (for a softer upscaled show) and there are still plenty of semi-showcase scenes (as Fairy Tail episodes go). Viewers not engrossed in the story will simply find it difficult not to notice so many flaws, minor as each one tends to be.

Fairy Tail: Part 6 Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

As is the case with the series' previous Blu-ray releases, Fairy Tail: Part 6 features two lossless options comparable to those included with Part 5: 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 6 Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Audio Commentaries: Two brisk, entertaining English Dub Team audio commentaries are available, the first for "Episode 64: Zero" with ADR director/line producer/script writer Tyler Walker and voice actors Philip Weber and Micah Solusod, the second for "Episode 70: Natsu vs. Gray!!" with Walker and voice actors Gwendolyn Lau and Todd Haberkornand.
• Textless Opening & Closing Songs (HD, 3 minutes): "Fiesta" and "Be As One."
• U.S. Trailer (HD, 1 minute): Fairy Tail: Part 6 English dub trailer.
• Additional FUNimation Previews (HD/SD): One Piece, Eureka Seven AO, Chrome Shelled Regios, Sengoku Basara and Remnants Knights Game.

Fairy Tail: Part 6 Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Fairy Tail never says die and that's A-Okay with me. With 72 episodes now under my belt (with more to come), I'm in for the long haul, and I'm enjoying every step of the way. Like any sprawling series, there are naturally a few misses tucked amongst all the hits, but I have to say episodes 61-72 didn't disappoint. The second arc (69-72) isn't quite as enthralling as the first (61-68), sure. But who's keeping score? Unfortunately, FUNimation's Blu-ray release of Part 6 is more problematic than most. Episodes 61-68 take place at night and the resulting video presentation is riddled with issues. On the plus side, matters improve dramatically when the sun comes out, FUNimation's lossless audio tracks remain a highpoint of the series' AV presentation, and the English dub commentaries are as entertaining as ever. Be that as it may, fans shouldn't hesitate to continue plowing through Fairy Tail. Part 6's video woes may make it one of the series' lesser releases, but the episodes themselves should help alleviate any sting.