Fairy Tail: 100 Years Quest

Fairy Tail: 100 Years Quest (stylized in all caps) is a Japanese manga series written and storyboarded by Hiro Mashima, and illustrated by Atsuo Ueda. It is a sequel to Mashima's previous series, Fairy Tail. The manga was launched in Kodansha's Magazine Pocket manga app in July 2018, and is licensed by Kodansha USA for an English release in North America. As of April 2026, twenty-three volumes have been released in Japan. An anime television series adaptation produced by J.C.Staff aired from July 2024 to January 2025.

Plot

One year after the demise of Zeref and Acnologia, Natsu Dragneel and his team from the Fairy Tail wizard guild disembark to the continent of Guiltina for the 100 Years Quest, a mission that has been unaccomplished for over a century. Their client, the immortal Dragon Slayer Elefseria, reveals that the quest's purpose is to seal renegade dragons called the Five Dragon GodsSelene, Ignia, Mercphobia, Aldoron, and Viernes—who threaten to cause worldwide destruction. Natsu subdues Mercphobia with aid from Ignia, Igneel's malicious biological son, who challenges Natsu to strengthen himself for a one-on-one battle.

Meanwhile, Fairy Tail recruits a new member, Touka, unaware that she is the host of another wizard named Faris. Claiming to be the White Wizard, the leader of a malevolent white magic cult, Faris takes control of Fairy Tail in a crusade to erase sources of powerful magic. Wendy Marvell separates Faris from Touka after Selene deceives Faris into awakening the slumbering Aldoron, who is killed by Natsu. Despite Faris's actions, the team saves her and Touka's home, the parallel world of Elentear, after learning that Selene has been blackmailing Faris with Elentear's destruction.

Selene seizes control of Diabolos—a Dragon Slayer guild that feuds with Fairy Tail over the 100 Years Quest—to retrieve knowledge of Athena, a weapon built by Elefseria's pupil for use against the Five Dragon Gods. However, Fairy Tail and Diabolos are forced to unite against Ignia's ally Dogramag, a sixth Dragon God believed to have been slain by Elefseria, who ends hostilities with Selene after Natsu kills Dogramag. Further investigation reveals Athena to be the true, mechanical White Wizard utilized by Gold Owl, an alchemist guild formed from Viernes's disembodied will. Persuaded by Lucy Heartfilia to rebel, Athena helps Natsu kill Viernes.

As the last remaining Dragon God, Ignia reveals his plan to destroy humanity by recreating the Dragon King Festival, a historic event in which Acnologia exterminated much of the dragon race. To this end, he uses Dogramag's power of resurrection to revive the slain Dragon Gods, and casts a spell that drives all four dragons berserk and transforms Guiltina's population into dragons. The battle is joined by Faris' native Earthland counterpart, a black wizard imbued with Acnologia's power.

Production

Development on a sequel for Fairy Tail began prior to the release of the original manga's final tankōbon volume following its end of publication in July 2017.[2] Series creator and artist Hiro Mashima initially had no intention to continue the story himself, as the project's developers had decided that another artist would draw it. He was later asked by the manga's editor to be involved as the series storyboarder.[3] Mashima revealed the sequel's development in a tweet on April 5, 2018.[2] On June 27, Mashima announced that the manga was tentatively titled Fairy Tail Zokuhen (FAIRY TAIL続編),[4] which was confirmed on July 4 to be drawn by Atsuo Ueda.[5]

Media

Manga

The manga was launched with two chapters in Kodansha's Magazine Pocket manga app on July 25, 2018, while the first chapter was simultaneously published in the 34th issue of Weekly Shōnen Magazine.[5][6] The following chapters were released weekly until September 5, 2018, when they transitioned to a biweekly release schedule.[7] The manga was published for an English language release by Kodansha USA in August 2019.[8][9]

Anime

An anime television series adaptation was announced during the "Hiro Mashima Fan Meeting" livestream in September 2021.[10] The anime series is produced by J.C.Staff and directed by Toshinori Watanabe, with Shinji Ishihira serving as chief director, Atsuhiro Tomioka supervising scripts, Yurika Sako designing the characters, and Yasuharu Takanashi composing the music. It premiered on July 7, 2024, on TV Tokyo and its affiliates.[11][12] Crunchyroll streamed the series outside of Asia.[13] Muse Communication licensed the series in Southeast Asia.[14]

Reception

The manga's first tankōbon volume debuted at the eleventh spot of Oricon's weekly Japanese sales charts for printed comics.[15]

Anime News Network's Rebecca Silverman gave the first volume an overall "B" score, considering its two storylines to be a "promising start" to the series, and praising the setting for expanding the original story's mythology. However, she criticized its slow pace and inconsistencies to the previous series. Silverman opined that Ueda does a "very credible job" copying Mashima's artstyle, calling the differences "fairly negligible".[16]

References

  1. Fairy Tail: 100 Years Quest Kodansha USA, retrieved June 16, 2022^
  2. Crystalyn Hodgkins. Hiro Mashima Launches New Manga on June 27, Also Plans Fairy Tail Sequel & Spinoff Manga Anime News Network, April 5, 2018, retrieved August 3, 2018^
  3. Hiro Mashima. Fairy Tail: 100 Years Quest, Volume 1 Kodansha, 2018^
  4. Jennifer Sherman. Hiro Mashima Reveals Fairy Tail City Hero Spinoff Manga Anime News Network, June 27, 2018, retrieved August 3, 2018^
  5. Jennifer Sherman. Atsuo Ueda Launches Fairy Tail Sequel Manga on July 25 Anime News Network, July 4, 2018, retrieved August 3, 2018^
  6. Karen Ressler. Fairy Tail's Happy Spinoff Manga Launches Anime News Network, July 25, 2018, retrieved August 3, 2018^
  7. Atsuo Ueda. 今週より『FAIRY TAIL 100 YEARS QUEST』は隔週更新になります. なので、次の更新は9月5日になりす. もともと隔週更新で開始予定でしたが、単行本をなるべく早く出すために6話までは毎週更新でした. という訳なので今後ともよろしくお願いします! August 28, 2018, retrieved August 29, 2018^
  8. Jennifer Sherman. Kodansha Comics, Vertical Add Bakemonogatari, Cells at Work! Code Black, Granblue Fantasy Manga Anime News Network, March 13, 2019, retrieved March 13, 2019^
  9. Fall 2019 New Licensing Announcements from Kodansha Comics + Vertical Kodansha Comics, March 11, 2019, retrieved March 13, 2019^
  10. Egan Loo. Fairy Tail: 100 Years Quest Sequel Manga Gets TV Anime Anime News Network, September 11, 2021, retrieved September 11, 2021^
  11. Rafael Antonio Pineda. Fairy Tail: 100 Years Quest Anime's Teaser Reveals Cast, Staff, July Debut Anime News Network, March 12, 2024, retrieved March 12, 2024^
  12. Rafael Antonio Pineda. Fairy Tail: 100 Years Quest Anime Reveals More Cast, July 7 Premiere Anime News Network, May 23, 2024, retrieved June 7, 2024^
  13. Alex Mateo. Crunchyroll to Stream Fairy Tail: 100 Years Quest, The Elusive Samurai, True Beauty, More Anime for Summer Season Anime News Network, July 3, 2024, retrieved July 3, 2024^
  14. [DISTRIBUTION ANNOUNCEMENT] Muse has acquired the license to: 『Fairy Tail 100 Years Quest』 April 22, 2024, retrieved May 24, 2024^
  15. Karen Ressler. Japanese Comic Ranking, November 5–11 Anime News Network, July 4, 2024, retrieved November 14, 2018^
  16. Rebecca Silverman. Fairy Tail: 100 Years Quest GN 1 - Review Anime News Network, July 4, 2024, retrieved November 8, 2019^