SUMMARY
  • Happy starts as a beloved character in Fairy Tail, known for his cuteness and charm.
  • Despite Happy’s frequent screen time, he struggles to maintain fans' affection, as his role lacks substantial development.
  • Happy's voice actress, Rie Kugimiya, pushed for a more significant role for the mascot, leading to a shift in how he was portrayed.

Only a few anime, like Naruto and One Piece, have had such a lasting effect, and Fairy Tail is still regarded as one of the best. From splendid storytelling to compelling characters, Hiro Mashima’s Fairy Tail has earned its place among other massively popular long-running anime series. 

Not to forget, Fairy Tail’s highly anticipated sequel, 100 Years Quest, soared in popularity, further solidifying the franchise’s legacy.

Fairy Tail (A-1 Pictures)
Happy and Natsu | Credits: A-1 Pictures

While some characters are fan favorites, others are divisive—Happy had plenty of screen time but struggled to win fans over. Hiro Mashima admitted they had little planned for Happy, but the voice actor’s efforts made the character as recognizable as they are today.

The Voice Behind Happy: How VA’s immense effort made Fairy Tail’s Mascot unforgettable

Fairy Tail gives the viewer a world of magic, friendship, and epic battles. The series takes the guild Fairy Tail through a series of trials, from evil guilds to fighting dragons.

Anime FairyTail 100YearsQuest KeyVisual 2
The main cast of the anime | Credits: A-1 Pictures

The show has everything that a battle shonen fan could ever ask for: powerful heroes who win despite everything, quirky characters who have special abilities, a dash of romance, and, of course, the power of friendship.

With its vibrant characters and epic storylines, Fairy Tail remains an iconic and timeless classic in the world of shōnen anime. However, with a cast that large, it’s not a surprise that some characters didn’t get the attention they deserved.

The franchise also had a long anime series of close to 330 episodes, which ended in 2019. While Fairy Tail had a good number of colorful characters, not all of them were capable of impressing the fans.

Happy was initially popular because of his cute and sweet nature; however, as the series progressed, he continued to get on the nerves of the fans. Happy, being the mascot of the group, doesn’t have much of a substantial role to perform in most situations.

Happy from Fairy Tail
Happy as Natsu’s buddy | Credit: A-1 Pictures

Hiro Mashima once admitted he never had specific plans for Happy, adding him purely for his cuteness as a charming companion to Natsu.

Happy is a recurring character in the anime, serving one of the main roles. This cute flying cat is by Natsu’s side throughout most of the series, but he doesn’t receive much attention when it comes to character development.

In a past interview with Livedoor News, Fairy Tail creator Hiro Mashima highlighted Happy’s VA’s immense efforts to make the mascot a truly recognizable figure. He added:

She had a much deeper insight than I had, and I was taken aback (laughs). I agreed, “That’s definitely true,” and from then on I started drawing the character like that.

Mashima shared that Happy’s VA voiced their initial opinion on the adorable cat, and believed it had a more important role to play in the future. This interaction with Rie Kugimiya (Happy’s VA) prompted Mashima to rethink and alter Happy’s role.

Fairy Tail
Natsu and Happy | Credit: A-1 Pictures

Despite Fairy Tail‘s immense popularity and notable feats, the series has had its fair share of controversy over the years, particularly due to excessive fanservice and its divisive ending.

Why Fairy Tail struggled to leave a mark in the Shonen World

Fairy Tail may not boast the largest fan base, but it certainly has a significant group of critics who frequently criticize the anime. The series is seen by many as everything that’s wrong with shōnen anime.

Lucy and Natsu in Fairy Tail
Lucy and Natsu | Credits: A-1 Pictures

The anime had a solid plotline, but its execution fell short, mostly due to the series’ incessant fan service and predictable storyline.

Fan service is not necessarily a bad thing, since most anime have subtle bits of entertainment for the audience. Fairy Tail does it, however, in a more obvious manner, displaying over-the-top character designs and revealing apparel.

Fairy Tail
The classic fan service of Fairy Tail | Credits: A-1 Pictures

The show is also extremely low-key. The stakes are hardly ever high, and the show’s formulaic and generic battles show this. Fairy Tail relies too much on the “power of friendship” to battle, using it as plot armor as well, which makes the show too predictable.

Fairy Tail and Fairy Tail’s 100-Year Quest are both available to stream on Crunchyroll.

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