Funimation Licenses Fairy Tail Anime

[Battle Trainer 111]

Source: http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/new...n-adds-fairy-tail-live-action-treasure-hunter

The North American anime distributor FUNimation announced at its Sakura-Con panel on Friday that it licensed the first 48 episodes of the Fairy Tail fantasy adventure television anime series.

The Fairy Tail television anime series adapts Hiro Mashima's manga of the same name. In the story, a teenaged girl named Lucy Heartfilia aims to join the world's most notorious mage guild, Fairy Tail. During a daring rescue, Lucy encounters Natsu "Salamander" Dragneel, a quirky Fairy Tail member and a teenaged practitioner of the ancient Dragon Slayer magic. Lucy is eventually welcomed into the Fairy Tail guild as she, Natsu, and other members go on various quests together.

FUNimation has already begun dubbing this anime, and it will release the first 48 episodes on DVD and Blu-ray Disc later this year. Tyler Walker is directing the English dub with Todd Haberkorn as Natsu. The anime studios A-1 Pictures and Satelight have been producing the anime for TV Tokyo, and CrunchyRoll has been streaming the anime outside Japan since the anime premiered in October of 2009. Del Rey published the 12th volume of the manga in North America last September, and Kodansha will take over the manga as of the 13th volume next month.

Update: More background information added.

This is amazing news, but I'm going to try to contain my excitement until actual exact release dates are announced.

 

[Joshawott]

Manga Entertainment UK announced their license of Fairy Tail a while ago, and due to their special relationship with FUNimation, it's no surprise they had it.

FUNimation did mention that the first set will be released in America this Autumn, but Manga UK have confirmed are more specific month for the UK - first 12 episodes on DVD in February 2012.

 

[Battle Trainer 111]

Manga Entertainment UK announced their license of Fairy Tail a while ago, and due to their special relationship with FUNimation, it's no surprise they had it.

FUNimation did mention that the first set will be released in America this Autumn, but Manga UK have confirmed are more specific month for the UK - first 12 episodes on DVD in February 2012.

Doesnt change the fact that america will be getting the dub before you guys, lol.

 

[Poyo]

I've heard of Fairy Tail and most people say that it's really good so I'm happy that it's being dubbed since it will give me a chance to actually give it a proper look. Hopefully it will land on television somewhere so I won't have to buy the DVD's before I can make any solid conclusion on it. I wouldn't want to buy the DVD and find out that it's a bad show or that the dub isn't that well made after all.

 

[Nekusagi]

I remember being a huge fan of the Rave Master manga before I lost track because the library started lagging on their volumes of it, so I'm familiar with at least one of Mashima's works. I've been interested in this one but I've heard it's basically a One Piece ripoff. Anyone care to confirm or disprove that?

 

[Luna Tiger]

I've been interested in this one but I've heard it's basically a One Piece ripoff. Anyone care to confirm or disprove that?

It's not. The stories, history, characters, and settings aren't similar at all. The only thing comparable is the artwork, which is rather similar under some light. If you wanna push it, Natsu's a glutton and so's Luffy. That's about all they share.

 

[double trouble!]

I remember being a huge fan of the Rave Master manga before I lost track because the library started lagging on their volumes of it, so I'm familiar with at least one of Mashima's works. I've been interested in this one but I've heard it's basically a One Piece ripoff. Anyone care to confirm or disprove that?

Far from it.
That reminds me, I need to start watching again, because I'm behind.