How to Watch Fairy Tail in Order: Complete Guide

Fairy Tail, the high-fantasy masterpiece created by Hiro Mashima, stands as one of the most successful “Shonen” franchises in history. Since its manga debut in 2006 and subsequent anime adaptation in 2009, it has grown into a global phenomenon, selling over 72 million copies of the manga.

The story follows Lucy Heartfilia, a young celestial wizard who joins the notorious and rowdy Fairy Tail guild, teaming up with the fire-breathing Dragon Slayer Natsu Dragneel and his blue cat, Happy. Known for its themes of “nakama” (friendship), explosive magic battles, and an iconic soundtrack, the franchise spans 328 episodes, several Original Video Animations (OVAs), and two feature-length films. 

Now, navigating its vast library of content can be daunting for newcomers. So, we have made a structured watch order essential to fully grasp the lore of Earth-land.

Fairy Tail Complete Watch Order List

A recommended watch order is a curated sequence designed to give you the best narrative experience. It typically blends the release order with logical story placement, ensuring that movies and side stories (OVAs) are watched only after the viewer has enough context to understand the characters and their current power levels.

Here is the correct watch order:

1. Fairy Tail — Episodes 1–68
2. Fairy Tail OVA 1: Welcome to Fairy Hills!!
3. Fairy Tail — Episodes 69–124
4. Fairy Tail OVA 2: Fairy Academy (non-canon)
5. Fairy Tail OVA 3: Memory Days
6. Fairy Tail — Episodes 125–150
7. Fairy Tail the Movie: Phoenix Priestess
8. Fairy Tail OVA 4: Fairies’ Training Camp
9. Fairy Tail — Episodes 151–175
10. Fairy Tail — Episodes 176–200
11. Fairy Tail OVA 5: The Exciting Ryuzetsu Land
12. Fairy Tail — Episodes 201–226
13. Fairy Tail OVA 6: Fairy Tail x Rave
14. Fairy Tail OVA 7: Natsu vs. Mavis
15. Fairy Tail — Episodes 227–249
16. Fairy Tail OVA 8: Fairy Christmas
17. Fairy Tail — Episodes 250–277
18. Fairy Tail: Dragon Cry (Movie)
19. Fairy Tail: Final Series — Episodes 278–328
20. Fairy Tail: 100 Years Quest

Fairy Tail Chronological Watch Order

The chronological order arranges the series based on the timeline of events within the story. This is the preferred method for fans who want to see the world evolve linearly, ensuring that every flashback, prequel arc, and “side mission” happens exactly when it would in the characters’ lives.

1. Fairy Tail (Episodes 1–68)

This introductory block covers the formation of Team Natsu. It encompasses early adventures like the Galuna Island and Phantom Lord arcs. It establishes the guild’s dynamics and introduces key rivals, ending during the early stages of the Oración Seis conflict, where the world-building truly starts to expand.

2. OVA 1: Welcome to Fairy Hills!!

Lucy finds a mysterious request to look for an object in the female dormitory, Fairy Hills. This is a lighthearted, fanservice-heavy episode that gives a glimpse into the daily lives of the female guild members. It takes place during the peaceful lull after the Battle of Fairy Tail.

3. Fairy Tail (Episodes 69–124)

This segment covers major plot points, including the Edolas arc, where the guild travels to a parallel universe, and the Tenrou Island arc. On Tenrou Island, the guild’s elite members face the dark guild Grimoire Heart. It is one of the Baram Alliance’s strongest dark guilds. It leads to the terrifying arrival of the dragon Acnologia, leading to a seven-year timeskip.

4. OVA 2: Fairy Academy

A “high school AU” (Alternate Universe) episode where the characters are students and teachers at Fairy Academy. While non-canon to the main plot, it is based on Hiro Mashima’s omake chapters and provides a comedic break from the high-stakes battles occurring in the main series timeline.

5. OVA 3: Memory Days

Natsu and the gang find a magical book that sends them back in time to the days before Lucy joined the guild. It serves as a nostalgic look at the characters’ younger selves and explains a few minor “mysteries” regarding the guild’s past and Natsu’s childhood.

6. Fairy Tail (Episodes 125–150)

This section contains the”Daphne” and “Key of the Starry Heavens” arcs. Though the former can be skipped entirely, the latter is often considered soft canon (even though anime-original filler) as characters from this arc are mentioned later in the manga. It focuses on Lucy’s family heritage and a mysterious clock that could trigger chaos.

7. Fairy Tail the Movie: Phoenix Priestess

The first feature film introduces Éclair, a priestess who carries a mysterious Phoenix Stone. The guild must protect her from a prince seeking immortality. Chronologically, it fits after the Tenrou Island returnees have settled back into the world but before the Grand Magic Games.

8. OVA 4: Fairies’ Training Camp

To prepare for the Grand Magic Games, Team Natsu heads to a beach resort for training. However, the training quickly turns into a series of comedic mishaps and beach parties. This OVA specifically bridges the gap between the timeskip and the tournament arc.

9. Fairy Tail (Episodes 151–175)

The start of the Grand Magic Games (GMG). This is one of the most popular arcs, featuring the guild’s attempt to reclaim its title as the number one guild in Fiore. It features intense tournament matches and the introduction of the Twin Dragons of Sabertooth.

10. Fairy Tail (Episodes 176–200)

The conclusion of the GMG and the Eclipse Gate incident. Future Rogue arrives to warn of a dragon apocalypse. The guild must fight off several dragons that emerge from the past. This section ends the 2009/2012 production run of the anime.

11. OVA 5: The Exciting Ryuzetsu Land

Taking place during the Grand Magic Games, the wizards from all competing guilds take a break at the Ryuzetsu Land water park. It is a chaotic episode featuring plenty of slapstick humor and interactions between rival guild members outside of the arena.

12. Fairy Tail (Episodes 201–226)

Starting the 2014 series, this block includes the Sun Village arc and the beginning of the Tartaros saga. The guild discovers a village of frozen giants and begins to encounter the “Nine Demon Gates,” soldiers created by the dark wizard Zeref himself.

13. OVA 6: Fairy Tail x Rave Master

A crossover special where characters from Fairy Tail meet characters from Hiro Mashima’s previous series, Rave Master. It’s a fun meta-tribute for fans of the author’s work, though it doesn’t impact the main storyline of either series. It came out before 2014, but should be watched in this order, as it is optional/non-canon.

14. OVA 7: Natsu vs. Mavis

Mavis Vermillion, the ghost of the first guild master, is feeling bored and decides to challenge the guild to a series of games. It is a short, comedic episode that highlights the playful nature of the guild’s founder during a rare moment of peace.

15. Fairy Tail (Episodes 227–249)

The height of the Tartaros arc. The battle against E.N.D.’s demons reaches its peak, leading to massive character developments for Wendy and Gajeel. The arc is much darker than previous ones, ending with the guild’s temporary disbandment and Igneel’s fateful appearance against the dragon king, Acnologia.

16. OVA 8: Fairy Christmas

The guild celebrates Christmas in Magnolia with a “Gift Destruction” game. It’s a classic holiday special filled with the usual Fairy Tail chaos, drinking, and fan-favorite “ship” moments. It takes place during the one-year timeskip while Natsu is away on his solo training journey.

17. Fairy Tail (Episodes 250–277)

This includes the Fairy Tail Zero arc (Episodes 266-275), which details the origin of the guild and Mavis’s friendship with Zeref. These episodes cover the immediate aftermath of Tartaros and the quest to reunite the guild. Natsu returns from his training stronger than ever and reunites with Lucy. Together, they travel across Fiore to find their scattered comrades and convince them to reform Fairy Tail.

18. Fairy Tail: Dragon Cry (Movie)

Set just before the Final Season, the guild is hired to retrieve a staff called the “Dragon Cry” from the Stella Kingdom. The movie is essential for Natsu’s character development, as it hints at his true demonic nature and his connection to Zeref. The movie includes lore elements that align with later revelations about Natsu and dragons.

19. Fairy Tail: Final Series (Episodes 278–328)

The epic conclusion of the original story. The guild faces the Alvarez Empire and Zeref’s elite “Spriggan 12.” Secrets about Natsu’s identity as E.N.D. and the ultimate battle against Acnologia are resolved in this action-packed finale.

20. Fairy Tail: 100 Years Quest

The sequel series follows Natsu and the core team as they travel to the northern continent of Guiltina. Their mission is to seal the Five Dragon Gods, a task that has remained uncompleted for over a century.

Fairy Tail Release Watch Order

Release order tracks the series based on when the episodes and movies were first broadcast or released on DVD/Blu-ray. This is often the best choice for first-time viewers as it ensures you experience the animation evolution and plot twists exactly the way the original audience did.

Here is the correct release order for new fans:

Title	Release Date	Format	IMDb Rating (as of May 14, 2026)
Fairy Tail (2009)	Oct 12, 2009	TV Series	7.8 / 10
OVA 1: Welcome to Fairy Hills!!	Apr 15, 2011	OVA	8.1 / 10
OVA 2: Fairy Academy	Jun 17, 2011	OVA	7.8 / 10
OVA 3: Memory Days	Feb 17, 2012	OVA	7.1 / 10
Movie 1: Phoenix Priestess	Aug 18, 2012	Movie	7.0 / 10
OVA 4: Fairies’ Training Camp	Nov 16, 2012	OVA	7.1 / 10
OVA 5: The Exciting Ryuzetsu Land	Jun 17, 2013	OVA	7.1 / 10
OVA 6: Fairy Tail x Rave Master	Aug 16, 2013	OVA	6.6 / 10
OVA 7: Natsu vs. Mavis	Nov 17, 2016	OVA	8.4 / 10
OVA 8: Fairy Christmas	Dec 16, 2016	OVA	8.3 / 10
Movie 2: Dragon Cry	May 6, 2017	Movie	6.9 / 10
Fairy Tail: Final Series	Oct 7, 2018	TV Series	7.8 / 10
Fairy Tail: 100 Years Quest	Jul 7, 2024	TV Series	7.5 / 10

Are There Any Fillers in Fairy Tail That Can Be Skipped?

While Fairy Tail is largely faithful to the manga, it does feature several “filler” episodes, which are basically content that cannot be found in the original source material. If you want to experience only the core story, you can skip.

The Daphne Arc (Episodes 125–127): Widely considered the weakest and most forgettable arc.

Key of the Starry Heavens (Episodes 128–150): While anime-original, the arc is loosely acknowledged later in the franchise, making it closer to “soft canon” than standard filler. Skip if you are strictly following the manga plot.

Eclipse Celestial Spirits (Episodes 204–226): This arc is often criticized for its slow pacing and can be skipped without losing context for the Tartaros arc.

The OVAs and the movies are almost entirely non-canon and comedic. If you are only interested in the serious plot, these can be skipped. However, Fairy Tail: Dragon Cry is highly recommended as it contains canon-compliant lore regarding Natsu’s heritage that becomes relevant in the finale.

These are the episodes that can be skipped:

• Episode 19
• Episodes 69-72
• Episodes 73-75
• Episodes 125-150
• Episodes 204-218
• Episode 221
• Episode 225
• Episode 268

The episodes below are optional to watch, so you can either skip them or watch it as per your liking:

• Episode 9
• Episode 20
• Episode 50
• Episodes 202-203
• Episodes 219-220
• Episodes 222-224
• Episode 226

Where to Watch Fairy Tail?

Fairy Tail is widely available on major streaming platforms. In the United States, parts of the franchise are available on Hulu and Crunchyroll, though availability varies by region. Crunchyroll carries Fairy Tail, Fairy Tail: Dragon Cry, and Fairy Tail: 100 Years Quest, while Netflix (India) currently lists both Fairy Tail and 100 Years Quest.

Additionally, AnimeSchedule also lists 100 Years Quest on Apple TV, Hulu, Crunchyroll, and YouTube, depending on region. However, it is better to check the streaming platform in your region to get accurate information on whether the series is available or not. For the most recent sequel, 100 Years Quest, Crunchyroll remains the primary simulcast home for international viewers.

TitleCreatorProduction StudioRelease DateTotal Episodes / OVAsMAL Rating (as of May 14, 2026)Streaming Availability

Fairy Tail	Hiro Mashima	A-1 Pictures, Satelight	October 12, 2009	175 Episodes	7.57 / 10	Crunchyroll, select Netflix regions
Fairy Tail OVAs	Hiro Mashima	A-1 Pictures, Bridge	April 15, 2011	8 OVAs	7.45 / 10	Limited availability on Blu-ray and select regions on Crunchyroll
Fairy Tail the Movie: Phoenix Priestess	Hiro Mashima	A-1 Pictures	August 18, 2012	Movie	7.38 / 10	Crunchyroll
Fairy Tail (Series 2)	Hiro Mashima	A-1 Pictures, Bridge	April 5, 2014	102 Episodes	7.66 / 10	Crunchyroll
Fairy Tail: Dragon Cry	Hiro Mashima	A-1 Pictures	May 6, 2017	Movie	7.56 / 10	Crunchyroll
Fairy Tail: Final Series	Hiro Mashima	A-1 Pictures, Bridge, CloverWorks	October 7, 2018	51 Episodes	7.63 / 10	Crunchyroll
Fairy Tail: 100 Years Quest	Hiro Mashima	J.C.Staff	July 7, 2024	25 Episodes	7.61 / 10	Crunchyroll

Ultimately, Fairy Tail’s enduring appeal lies in its unwavering celebration of family. As the franchise marks its 20th anniversary in 2026, the world of Earth-land remains more vibrant than ever. While loyal fans feel that Natsu and Gray should have been the Naruto and Sasuke of Fairy Tail, Hiro Mashima took the easy way out by choosing wholesome camaraderie over a darker, deep-seated rivalry.

With the 100 Years Quest sequel continuing to push Natsu toward legendary heights and Mashima’s new projects launching, the adventure never truly ends. For this guild, the fire is just getting started.

Which Fairy Tail arc or movie do you think deserves more love from fans? Drop your ranking in the comments below!

Fairy Tail is streaming on Crunchyroll and Netflix globally.