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Fairy Tail Watch Order: The Complete Guide (2026)

Only Hiro Mashima can make a guild hall full of loudmouth wizards feel like home. One minute Natsu is flattening a city block, the next everyone’s arguing over dinner as if nothing happened. It’s ridiculous, heartfelt, and somehow never stops being fun.

The Fairy Tail watch order, thankfully, isn’t nearly as chaotic as the guild itself. The main story unfolds in a straightforward timeline, but the OVAs and movies are where most fans require some hand-holding.

That’s where this guide comes in. Below, you’ll find the complete Fairy Tail watch order, including every TV series, movie, and OVA, arranged in the recommended viewing order.


The Complete Fairy Tail Watch Order: Master List

The recommended watch order below includes every animated Fairy Tail release, placing the bonus content where it fits best without interrupting the flow of the main story. 

OrderTitleTypeEpisodesOriginal Release
1Fairy TailTV Anime1752009–2013
2Fairy Tail OVA 1–5 (Optional)OVA52011–2013
3Fairy Tail the Movie: Phoenix PriestessMovie12012
4Fairy Tail (2014 Series)TV Anime1022014–2016
5Fairy Tail OVA 6–9 (Optional)OVA42016
6Fairy Tail: Dragon CryMovie12017
7Fairy Tail: Final SeriesTV Anime512018–2019
8Fairy Tail OVA 10 (Optional)OVA12018
9Fairy Tail: 100 Years QuestTV Anime252024–2025

Fairy Tail TV Anime 

The four TV anime tell one continuous story, following Natsu, Lucy, Happy, and the rest of the guild from their earliest adventures to the events of 100 Years Quest. If you’re only interested in the main plot, these are the entries you absolutely shouldn’t skip. 

1. Fairy Tail (2009–2013)

This image features key members of Team Natsu from the popular anime and manga series Fairy Tail, created by Hiro Mashima.

Watch it on Amazon Prime Video

TypeTV Anime
Episodes175
Original Release2009–2013
DirectorShinji Ishihira
IMDb Rating7.9/10
Watch AfterStart here

Lucy wanted to join the kingdom’s most famous wizard guild. She got Natsu, Happy, Gray, Erza, and a front-row seat to absolute mayhem instead. 

From dark guilds and Dragon Slayers to laugh-out-loud guild brawls, the original series perfectly captures Fairy Tail’s larger-than-life characters and the unbreakable bonds they build along the way.


2. Fairy Tail (2014 Series) 

The image features key characters from the popular Japanese fantasy anime and manga series Fairy Tail, created by Hiro Mashima. The artwork highlights members of the Fairy Tail guild led by Natsu Dragneel.

TypeTV Anime
Episodes102
Original Release2014–2016
DirectorShinji Ishihira
IMDb Rating7.9/10
Watch AfterFairy Tail the Movie: Phoenix Priestess

After a seven-year absence, Fairy Tail returns to find its glory days long gone. Watching the guild fight its way back to the top is immensely satisfying, especially during the fan-favorite Grand Magic Games arc. Just when things start looking up, the story takes a darker turn with some of the franchise’s toughest battles.


3. Fairy Tail: Final Series 

The image shows an official key visual for the final season of the anime series Fairy Tail, featuring the rival brothers and main opposing forces: Zeref Dragneel on the left using dark magic, and Natsu Dragneel on the right engulfed in fire.

Watch it on Amazon Prime Video

TypeTV Anime
Episodes51
Original Release2018–2019
DirectorShinji Ishihira
IMDb Rating7.9/10
Watch AfterFairy Tail: Dragon Cry

This is everything the series has been building toward. Long-buried secrets finally surface, familiar faces return when they’re needed most, and the Alvarez Empire pushes Fairy Tail to its absolute limit. It’s an emotional send-off that delivers spectacular magic battles without losing sight of the guild’s biggest strength.


4. Fairy Tail: 100 Years Quest 

The image is the official key visual poster for the anime series Fairy Tail: 100 Years Quest, which premiered in Japan on July 7, 2024. It features main characters Natsu, Lucy, Gray, Erza, and Wendy alongside Happy, Carla, a large blue dragon, and a new antagonist.

Watch it on Amazon Prime Video

TypeTV Anime
Episodes25
Original Release2024–2025
DirectorToshinori Watanabe
IMDb Rating7.5/10
Watch AfterFairy Tail: Final Series

Just when you think the adventure is over, Fairy Tail accepts the one quest that’s gone unfinished for more than a century. The sequel introduces the fearsome Dragon Gods, unexplored lands, and a fresh wave of enemies while keeping the guild’s trademark mix of humor, heart, and explosive action completely intact.


Fairy Tail OVAs: The Bonus You Needed

Think of the OVAs as bonus quests between the main adventures. Some adapt Hiro Mashima’s special manga chapters, while others are completely original stories packed with comedy, fan service, slice-of-life moments, and extra time with the guild. 

5. OVA 1: Welcome to Fairy Hills!! 

Fairy Tail featured in the franchise's first original video animation (OVA) titled Welcome to Fairy Hills!! (2011), where Lucy Heartfilia wears a cat outfit to find a lost treasure in the women's dormitory.

TypeOVA
Runtime26 minutes
Original Release2011
DirectorShinji Ishihira
Watch AfterFairy Tail (2009–2013)

Fairy Hills is where the guild’s craziest off-duty antics happen. This lighthearted OVA trades world-ending threats for everyday comedy, giving the female members of Fairy Tail the spotlight and plenty of laughs along the way.


6. OVA 2: Fairy Academy 

This image features key characters from the popular anime and manga series Fairy Tail dressed in school uniforms for the franchise's second original video animation (OVA) titled Fairy Academy - Yankee-kun and Yankee-chan!.

TypeOVA
Runtime27 minutes
Original Release2011
DirectorShinji Ishihira
Watch AfterWelcome to Fairy Hills!!

Ever wondered what Fairy Tail would look like as a high school anime? That’s exactly what Fairy Academy delivers. Familiar faces take on new roles in a goofy alternate universe that pokes fun at classic school-life tropes without taking itself seriously for a second.


7. OVA 3: Memory Days 

This promotional artwork features the main characters from the Fairy Tail anime and manga series—specifically from its third original video animation (OVA) titled Memory Days (released on February 17, 2012).

TypeOVA
Runtime26 minutes
Original Release2012
DirectorShinji Ishihira
Watch AfterFairy Academy

Before they became inseparable guildmates, Natsu and Lucy had to survive their very first mission together. Memory Days fills in that missing piece, offering a nostalgic look back at the partnership that became the heart of the series.


8. OVA 4: Fairies’ Penalty Game 

Fairy Tail Volume 55 manga by Hiro Mashima, which was bundled with the 7th series OVA/OAD DVD titled Fairies' Penalty Game (Yosei-tachi no Batsu Game).

TypeOVA
Runtime26 minutes
Original Release2012
DirectorShinji Ishihira
Watch AfterMemory Days

When Erza comes up with a punishment, nobody gets off lightly. A harmless game quickly snowballs into one ridiculous challenge after another, giving nearly every guild member a chance to embarrass themselves in spectacular fashion.


9. OVA 5: The Exciting Ryuzetsu Land 

Fairy Tail OVA 5: The Exciting Ryuzetsu Land (Dokidoki Ryūzetsu Rando), released on June 17, 2013. It features chibi-style characters from the guild visiting a hot-spring and water park resort during the Grand Magic Games.

TypeOVA
Runtime26 minutes
Original Release2013
DirectorShinji Ishihira
Watch AfterFairies’ Penalty Game

A day at Ryuzetsu Land sounds like the closest thing Fairy Tail will ever get to a vacation. Naturally, it doesn’t stay peaceful for long. Between attractions, unexpected trouble, and nonstop banter, it’s another fun excuse to watch the guild bounce off each other.


10. OVA 6: Fairy Tail x Rave 

The image shows the official promotional artwork and DVD cover for Fairy Tail x Rave, released as the sixth original video animation (OVA) for the Fairy Tail anime series on August 16, 2013. It is a special crossover story based on manga creator Hiro Mashima's two famous works, Fairy Tail and Rave Master.

TypeOVA
Runtime27 minutes
Original Release2013
DirectorShinji Ishihira
Watch AfterFairy Tail (2014 Series)

If you know Hiro Mashima’s earlier work, this crossover is pure fan service in the best way. Heroes from Rave Master and Fairy Tail finally share the screen, creating the kind of crossover fans had imagined for years.


11. OVA 7: Fairies’ Training Camp 

The image shows key characters from the popular anime and manga series Fairy Tail created by Hiro Mashima, featuring Team Natsu members Erza Scarlet, Natsu Dragneel, Wendy Marvell, Gray Fullbuster, and Lucy Heartfilia enjoying a beach or training camp setting.

TypeOVA
Runtime27 minutes
Original Release2016
DirectorShinji Ishihira
Watch AfterFairy Tail x Rave

Training with Fairy Tail is exactly as unhinged as you’d expect. The guild heads to the beach for what should be a simple training camp, but competitive personalities, ridiculous situations, and plenty of laughs quickly steal the spotlight.


12. OVA 8: Natsu vs. Mavis 

The image shows the official DVD cover art for "Natsu vs. Mavis" (Fairy Tail OVA 8), released on November 17, 2016. It features the main protagonist Natsu Dragneel holding a flame and the first guild master Mavis Vermillion holding a small treasure chest.

TypeOVA
Runtime27 minutes
Original Release2016
DirectorShinji Ishihira
Watch AfterFairies’ Training Camp

Don’t let the title fool you. This isn’t some earth-shattering showdown. Instead, it’s a playful bonus story that gives guild founder Mavis more time in the spotlight while delivering the lighthearted humor Fairy Tail fans know and love.


13. OVA 9: The 413 Days 

This image features Juvia Lockser (left) and Erza Scarlet (right) from the anime series Fairy Tail. The scene comes from Episode 220 ("413 Days"), which focuses on Juvia reflecting on her time and relationship with Gray Fullbuster.

TypeOVA
Runtime27 minutes
Original Release2016
DirectorShinji Ishihira
Watch AfterNatsu vs. Mavis

Gray and Juvia don’t always get the spotlight, which is exactly why The 413 Days stands out. It’s a quieter, character-driven story that explores one of Fairy Tail’s most beloved relationships without needing an all-out battle to leave an impression.


14. OVA 10: Fairies’ Christmas 

This image shows the DVD cover art for "Fairies' Christmas" (Yōsei-tachi no Kurisumasu), the ninth and final OVA episode of the Fairy Tail Anime series. Released on December 16, 2016, it was bundled with the special edition of Volume 59 of Hiro Mashima's manga.

TypeOVA
Runtime26 minutes
Original Release2018
DirectorShinji Ishihira
Watch AfterFairy Tail: Final Series

Trust Fairy Tail to turn Christmas into complete pandemonium. The guild’s holiday celebration delivers festive laughs, familiar faces, and one last helping of the warm, chaotic family dynamic that has always been the series’ greatest magic.


Fairy Tail Movies 

Unlike the TV anime, Fairy Tail’s movies are standalone adventures that don’t interrupt the main story. Watch them where they’re placed in the order below for the smoothest experience. 

15. Fairy Tail the Movie: Phoenix Priestess 

The image shows the official Japanese theatrical release poster for the 2012 anime film Fairy Tail the Movie: Phoenix Priestess (known in Japan as Gekijōban Fairy Tail: Hōō no Miko), which premiered in cinemas on August 18, 2012.

TypeMovie
Runtime86 minutes
Original ReleaseAugust 18, 2012
DirectorMasaya Fujimori
IMDb Rating7.0/10
Watch AfterFairy Tail OVA 1–5

What starts as a simple escort mission quickly spirals into a race to stop the resurrection of an ancient force tied to the legendary Phoenix Stone. With movie-quality animation, memorable new characters, and plenty of magic-fueled spectacle, Phoenix Priestess feels like a natural extension of the anime rather than a throwaway side story.


16. Fairy Tail: Dragon Cry 

The image shows the theatrical release poster for the 2017 anime fantasy film Fairy Tail: Dragon Cry, produced by A-1 Pictures and based on Hiro Mashima's popular manga series. It features main characters Natsu, Lucy, Erza, Gray, and Wendy posed in front of a menacing crystal dragon and the Stella Kingdom landscape.

TypeMovie
Runtime85 minutes
Original ReleaseMay 6, 2017
DirectorTatsuma Minamikawa
IMDb Rating6.7/10
Watch AfterFairy Tail OVA 6–9

If you wished Natsu had one more big adventure before the Final Series, Dragon Cry delivers exactly that. Centered around a legendary magical artifact with enough power to reshape kingdoms, the film raises the spectacle with stunning fight sequences, gorgeous visuals, and a few surprises that longtime Fairy Tail fans will especially appreciate.


Want to know the good thing about Fairy Tail? It doesn’t ask you to juggle multiple timelines or alternate universes. Follow the TV series in order, sprinkle in the OVAs whenever they appear in the watch order, and save the movies for their recommended spots.

That’s all it takes to experience the guild’s journey from Lucy’s first day in Magnolia to the legendary 100 Years Quest

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