FUNimation Acquires Rights to Anime Series “Fairy Tail”

FUNimation Entertainment today announced that it has acquired home entertainment, broadcast, digital, mobile and merchandise rights for the first 48 episodes of the magical anime series Fairy Tail from KODANSHA LTD.

Based on the manga of the same name by Hiro Mashima originally serialized in the Weekly Shonen Magazine published by KODANSHA LTD., the ongoing series is produced by A-1 Pictures and Satelight and directed by Shinji Ishihara.

The series follows the adventures of Lucy Heartfilia, a young girl who wants desperately to be a full-fledged mage. She runs away from home and towards the land of Fiore to join the most prestigious of all mage guilds in the world: the Fairy Tail Guild. Along the way, she meets Natsu Dragneel, a quirky teenage boy and practicitioner of the ancient Dragon Slayer magic. With his best friend, Happy the cat, beside him, Natsu is looking for his foster parent, a dragon named Igneel. They become a team and take on odd jobs for fame and profit. Epic adventures await!

FUNimation has begun production on the U.S. release and its English dub featuring actor Todd Haberkorn as Natsu. Tyler Walker is ADR Director.

The anime studio will release the complete series on DVD and Blu-ray later this year.

For more information about the series, please visit www.funimation.com/fairytail