If you’re jumping into Fairy Tail for the first time — or coming back after a long break — figuring out the right Fairy Tail watch order can feel like untangling a knot. The franchise spans nearly a decade of airtime, two separate sequel series, two theatrical movies, a stack of OVAs, and an ongoing anime adaptation that’s still releasing episodes. This guide cuts through all of it and gives you a clean, no-nonsense roadmap so you never watch something out of order or skip something that actually matters.
Whether you’re a completionist who wants every OVA or someone who just wants the main story, we’ve got you covered.
The Recommended Fairy Tail Watch Order (Quick Reference)
Before diving into each section, here’s the full watch order at a glance. Follow this sequence for the best experience — it matches the intended narrative flow and avoids spoilers from movies or specials landing at the wrong time.
| # | Title | Episodes / Runtime | Year | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fairy Tail (Original Series) | 175 episodes | 2009–2013 | Start here |
| 2 | Fairy Tail: Phoenix Priestess | ~85 min | 2012 | After ep. 124 |
| 3 | Fairy Tail (2014) | 102 episodes | 2014–2016 | Direct continuation |
| 4 | Fairy Tail: Dragon Cry | ~85 min | 2017 | After ep. 51 of 2014 series |
| 5 | Fairy Tail: Final Series | 51 episodes | 2018–2019 | Concludes the manga arc |
| 6 | Fairy Tail: 100 Year Quest | Ongoing (2024–) | 2024–present | Post-Final Series |
| 7 | OVAs (optional) | 9 OVAs | 2011–2016 | Non-canon, any order |
Now let’s break each section down properly.
Fairy Tail Original Series (2009–2013) — 175 Episodes
This is where the Fairy Tail watch order begins. The original series aired from October 2009 to March 2013 and covers the manga through the Tenrou Island arc. It introduces every major character — Lucy Heartfilia, Natsu Dragneel, Erza Scarlet, Gray Fullbuster, and the flying blue cat Happy — and builds the world of Fiore, mage guilds, and magical combat from the ground up.
The animation is handled by A-1 Pictures and Satelight, and while it looks a bit dated compared to later entries, the storytelling and world-building here are essential. You cannot skip this — everything else is built on top of it.
Major Story Arcs in the Original Series
| Arc | Episodes | Worth Watching? |
|---|---|---|
| Macao Arc | 1–2 | Yes — introduction |
| Daybreak Arc | 3–4 | Yes |
| Lullaby Arc | 5–8 | Yes |
| Galuna Island Arc | 9–20 | Yes — strong arc |
| Phantom Lord Arc | 21–33 | Yes — important |
| Tower of Heaven Arc | 33–40 | Yes — major Erza arc |
| Battle of Fairy Tail Arc | 41–51 | Yes |
| Oracion Seis Arc | 52–68 | Yes — alliance story |
| Edolas Arc | 76–95 | Yes — alternate world |
| Tenrou Island Arc | 96–122 | Yes — major climax |
| Key of the Starry Sky Arc | 125–150 | Filler — skippable |
| Grand Magic Games Arc (pt. 1) | 151–175 | Yes — major arc begins |
On filler: Episodes 69–75 and 125–150 are filler arcs. The Key of the Starry Sky arc (eps. 125–150) is the longest filler stretch — it’s entirely non-canon and you won’t miss anything story-relevant by skipping it. That said, it’s more polished than average filler if you want extra time with the characters.
Where to watch the Phoenix Priestess film: The first Fairy Tail movie slots in best after episode 124 — just before the filler stretch. It’s set during the time-skip and won’t spoil anything that follows.
Fairy Tail: Phoenix Priestess (2012) — Movie 1
The first theatrical film is a self-contained story following Natsu and the guild as they encounter a mysterious girl named Éclair and her magical companion. It runs about 85 minutes and feels like a feature-length episode — fun, emotional in the right spots, and fully faithful to the tone of the series without being required viewing for the main plot.
Phoenix Priestess is recommended if you’re enjoying the series and want more. It won’t change your understanding of the main story if you skip it, but it’s a genuinely solid standalone adventure that holds up on its own terms. The animation quality is a noticeable step up from the TV series at the time.
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Release Year | 2012 |
| Runtime | ~85 minutes |
| Canon? | No — original story |
| Watch After | Episode 124 of original series |
| Skip? | Optional, but recommended |
Fairy Tail (2014 Series) — 102 Episodes
After a roughly two-year hiatus, Fairy Tail returned in April 2014 with a direct continuation of the original series. This 102-episode run picks up exactly where the Grand Magic Games arc left off and carries the story through several major manga arcs — including the Eclipse arc, the Sun Village arc, the Tartaros arc, and others — all the way to the Avatar arc.
The 2014 series is widely considered the peak of the anime. The Tartaros arc in particular — which starts around episode 51 of this series — is the emotional and narrative high point for many longtime fans. Character writing, fight choreography, and emotional stakes all hit harder here than in any other part of the franchise.
Major Arcs in the 2014 Series
| Arc | Episodes (2014 numbering) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Grand Magic Games (conclusion) | 1–38 | Picks up from original series |
| Eclipse Celestial Spirits Arc | — | Filler — skippable |
| Sun Village Arc | ~39–50 | Canon |
| Tartaros Arc | ~51–86 | Must-watch — best arc |
| Avatar Arc | ~87–102 | Canon, bridges to Final Series |
Where to watch Dragon Cry: The second film fits best right after episode 51 of the 2014 series — just before the Tartaros arc kicks into high gear. Some fans prefer watching it after completing the 2014 series entirely since it loosely connects to the Final Series. Either placement works.
Fairy Tail: Dragon Cry (2017) — Movie 2
The second Fairy Tail film is a step up in animation quality from Phoenix Priestess and has a plot that connects more directly to the manga’s lore — specifically around Dragon Slayer magic and the history of dragons. It’s still a standalone story, but fans of Natsu’s character arc will get more out of it than casual viewers.
Dragon Cry was animated by A-1 Pictures and had a limited theatrical run in Japan before streaming releases. The action sequences are the strongest of any Fairy Tail film and the movie leans into drama more than Phoenix Priestess did. It’s optional but genuinely entertaining — worth your 85 minutes if you’re deep in the series.
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Release Year | 2017 |
| Runtime | ~85 minutes |
| Canon? | Loosely canonical |
| Watch After | Episode 51 of 2014 series (or after full 2014 series) |
| Skip? | Optional, recommended for Dragon Slayer fans |
Fairy Tail: Final Series (2018–2019) — 51 Episodes
The Final Series is exactly what it sounds like — the conclusion of the original Fairy Tail story based on Hiro Mashima’s manga. It aired from October 2018 to September 2019 and covers the Alvarez Empire arc, which is the largest and most ambitious storyline in the entire franchise. At 51 episodes, it’s shorter than the previous two runs, but it’s dense and moves fast.
A-1 Pictures returned to handle animation, and the quality is noticeably stronger than the 2014 series — though some battle sequences still show the limitations of a TV budget. The emotional payoffs here are built entirely on 300+ episodes of setup, so don’t even think about starting here without watching everything that came before.
Arcs in the Final Series
| Arc | Episodes | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Alvarez Empire Arc | 1–51 | Full arc — no filler |
The Final Series is unusually clean for a long-running shonen — there are zero filler episodes. The entire 51-episode run is adapted directly from the manga. Pacing debates aside (some manga readers felt things moved too quickly), this is a satisfying conclusion for anime-only viewers and gives every major character a proper sendoff moment.
Fairy Tail: 100 Year Quest (2024–Ongoing)
100 Year Quest is a direct sequel to the original Fairy Tail manga, written by Hiro Mashima and drawn by Atsuo Ueda. The anime adaptation launched in July 2024 and is still airing as of early 2026. It picks up immediately after the Final Series ending and follows Natsu, Lucy, and the guild as they take on a legendary S-Class job that no mage has ever completed.
This is new territory — the guild travels to the Elentir continent and encounters an entirely new set of enemies, including five powerful Dragon Gods. The power scale goes well beyond anything in the original series, and the story introduces a significant number of new characters while still keeping the core cast front and center.
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Premiere | July 2024 |
| Status (Early 2026) | Ongoing |
| Studio | J.C. Staff |
| Prerequisite | Must complete Final Series first |
| Canon? | Yes — official Mashima sequel |
| Manga ahead? | Yes — manga is significantly further |
If you finish the Final Series and can’t wait for new episodes to air, the 100 Year Quest manga is an excellent option. It’s officially licensed in English through Kodansha and is ahead of the anime by a substantial margin. Just be aware that reading ahead means the weekly anime episodes become more of a re-experience than a discovery.
Fairy Tail OVAs — Full List and Watch Order
There are nine official Fairy Tail OVAs released between 2011 and 2016. None of them are canon — they’re side stories, beach episodes, parody shorts, and fan service specials — but most of them are genuinely funny and a nice change of pace if you need a break from the main story.
| # | OVA Title | Year | Runtime | Watch After |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Welcome to Fairy Hills! | 2011 | ~26 min | After ep. 50 (original) |
| 2 | Fairy Academy: Yankee-kun and Yankee-chan! | 2011 | ~26 min | Anytime |
| 3 | Memory Days | 2012 | ~26 min | After ep. 96 (original) |
| 4 | The Exciting Ryuzetsu Land | 2013 | ~26 min | After ep. 164 (original) |
| 5 | Fairies’ Training Camp | 2014 | ~26 min | Anytime |
| 6 | Fairies’ Penalty Game | 2014 | ~26 min | After ep. 38 (2014 series) |
| 7 | Natsu vs. Mavis | 2015 | ~26 min | Anytime |
| 8 | Fairy Tail of the Dead Meeeeeeen | 2015 | ~26 min | Anytime |
| 9 | The First Morning | 2016 | ~26 min | After Final Series |
The easiest approach is to save most OVAs for after you’ve finished the main series. They’re all standalone and none of them will spoil anything. The “Watch After” recommendations above are for optimal context — Memory Days, for example, is more meaningful once you know the characters well — but you won’t break anything by watching them out of order.
Where to Stream Fairy Tail in 2026
Availability shifts over time, but here’s the current streaming landscape for Fairy Tail as of early 2026. All mainstream platforms carry the series in both sub and dub formats unless noted.
| Platform | What’s Available | Sub / Dub | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crunchyroll | Original series, 2014 series, Final Series, 100 Year Quest | Both | Best overall library |
| Netflix | Original series (partial), Final Series | Both | Library varies by region |
| Funimation / Wakanim | Full series (merged into Crunchyroll) | Both | Now redirects to Crunchyroll |
| Amazon Prime Video | Selected seasons | Sub | Region-dependent |
| Hulu | Full series (US only) | Both | Solid backup option |
For the movies (Phoenix Priestess and Dragon Cry), availability is spottier. Dragon Cry is on Crunchyroll in most regions. Phoenix Priestess has had more limited availability — check your local region or look for a digital rental/purchase option on Amazon or Apple TV if it’s not showing up on your subscription services.
For 100 Year Quest, Crunchyroll is your best bet for simulcast episodes. New episodes typically drop weekly, and the platform carries both Japanese audio and English dub releases — though the dub usually runs a few episodes behind the sub.
Dub vs. Sub — Which Should You Pick?
Both are solid choices for Fairy Tail. The English dub is well-produced — Todd Haberkorn as Natsu and Cherami Leigh as Lucy are highlights — and covers the full original and 2014 series. The dub for the Final Series was completed, and 100 Year Quest has an ongoing English dub release. If you’re new to anime and prefer reading less, the dub is a genuine option rather than a compromise. Long-time anime fans tend to prefer the Japanese audio for the vocal performances, particularly in high-emotion moments.
Should You Skip the Filler?
Here’s the honest take: most of the filler in Fairy Tail is watchable but not essential. Here’s a quick guide:
| Filler Arc | Episodes | Verdict |
|---|---|---|
| Daphne Arc | 69–75 (original) | Skip — lowest quality filler |
| Key of the Starry Sky Arc | 125–150 (original) | Skip or skim — long, non-canon |
| Eclipse Celestial Spirits Arc | 2014 series (mid-run) | Skip — feels disconnected |
If you’re racing to finish the main story, cut all three of those filler blocks and you’ll shave off roughly 50 episodes without losing a single plot point. If you’re in no rush and just enjoying the world, some filler episodes are genuinely fun character moments — especially anything involving Happy or the exceeds.