Common Sense Media Review
By Emily Ashby
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Sexy, violent anime with some merit, mixed messages.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 12+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Fairy Tail
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 39 parent reviews
Parents say this show is a mix of action and comedy that emphasizes friendship and teamwork, though it does include some mild suggestive content, including revealing outfits and a running gag of a character stripping down to his underwear. While some reviews argue the content could be inappropriate for younger viewers, many parents appreciate the positive messages and emotional depth of the characters, suggesting it's suitable for ages 10 and up, depending on maturity.
- fan service
- positive messages
- age appropriate
- mild violence
- character depth
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
Based on 202 kid reviews
What's the Story?
FAIRY TAIL is an anime series about a teen named Lucy (voiced by Cherami Leigh) who runs away with her new friend, Natsu (Todd Haberkorn), to join the well-known wizards guild, Fairy Tail. Natsu is a powerful wizard endowed with rare fire magic who's on a quest to find his foster parent, a dragon named Igneel who disappeared years ago. Lucy's powers are celestial, allowing her to summon spirits to help her in times of need. Together with Natsu's cat, Happy (Tia Ballard), the two face one adventure after another, battling evil wizards and attacks from new foes at every turn.
Is It Any Good?
Fairy Tail appeals to anime fans, thanks to a plot that's layered with curious characters, legends, and a story that evolves at a believable pace rather than all at once. It's more complex than most, and the characters run the gamut of personality styles, which helps keep things interesting. Both Lucy and Natsu have positive qualities that make them decent protagonists as well.
But what the show has an excess of is content that's not suited to the kids who typically seek out anime series. Violence is the norm in this genre, but Fairy Tail's is even more prevalent than its peers'. Even more noticeable is the show's rather questionable portrayal of women, whose physical attributes (busty chests, thin frames, and accentuated curves) get more attention than their abilities do, and who often have less upstanding characteristics (apparent alcoholism and a bad case of popularity envy, to name a couple) than do their male counterparts. The bottom line? Its story is well developed and will keep viewers' interest, but the mature content is better suited to teens than to kids.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about social situations and fitting in. What does it feel like to be the newcomer to a group? Do your tweens have an easy time warming up to new people?
What does peer pressure feel like? To what extent does it change how you feel about yourself? Have you ever make adjustments to your appearance or your personality because of how you want others to see you?
What messages does this series send about body image, to girls in particular? What other shows have you seen with similar tones? Do you think the media perpetuates negative impressions about self-image and good health?
TV Details
- Premiere date : November 22, 2011
- Cast : Cherami Leigh , Todd Haberkorn , Tia Ballard
- Network : Online
- Genre : Kids' Animation
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic )
- TV rating :
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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