If you are a fan of anime and manga, you may have heard of the popular series Fairy Tail, created by Hiro Mashima. The series follows the adventures of a guild of mages who use magic to fight evil and protect their friends. Fairy Tail ran from 2006 to 2017, with over 500 chapters and 300 episodes.
But what about Edens Zero, another series by Hiro Mashima that started in 2018 and has an anime adaptation airing in 2021? Edens Zero is a sci-fi/fantasy series that tells the story of Shiki, a boy who travels across the cosmos with his friends Rebecca and Happy, looking for the legendary Mother, a goddess who can grant any wish. Edens Zero has many similarities to Fairy Tail, such as the themes of friendship, adventure, and humor. But is Edens Zero related to Fairy Tail in any way? Is it a sequel, a spin-off, or a crossover? Or is it just a coincidence that they look alike?
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The Creator’s Perspective
The first thing to consider is the creator’s perspective. Hiro Mashima is the author and illustrator of both Fairy Tail and Edens Zero, as well as another series called Rave Master. Mashima has a distinctive style of drawing characters, especially their faces and hair. He also likes to reuse some of his character designs and names across his works, such as Happy, Plue, Elie, and Sieg.
However, this does not mean that his series are connected in terms of plot or setting. Mashima has stated in interviews that he likes to create new worlds and stories for each of his series, and that he does not plan to make them part of a shared universe. He also said that he does not consider Edens Zero to be a sequel or a spin-off of Fairy Tail, but rather a completely new work with its own identity.
According to Mashima, the reason why he reused some of his characters from Fairy Tail in Edens Zero is because he wanted to challenge himself and see how they would fit in a different genre and environment. He also wanted to give his fans a sense of familiarity and nostalgia, as well as surprise them with new twists and developments.
The Evidence from the Series
The second thing to consider is the evidence from the series themselves. While Fairy Tail and Edens Zero share some similarities in terms of characters, themes, and tone, they also have many differences in terms of plot, setting, and magic system.
Fairy Tail is set in a fantasy world where magic is common and people can join guilds to take on various missions. The main characters are members of the Fairy Tail guild, which is known for its chaotic and destructive behavior. The series focuses on their battles against various enemies, such as dark guilds, ancient demons, and evil dragons.
Edens Zero is set in a sci-fi world where humans have colonized different planets and travel through space using spaceships. The main characters are part of the Edens Zero crew, which is led by Shiki’s grandfather figure Ziggy, who is also a robot. The series focuses on their quest to find Mother, who is said to be the source of all life in the universe.
The magic system in Fairy Tail is based on Ether, a mystical energy that flows through everything and can be manipulated by mages to perform various spells. There are different types of magic, such as elemental magic, transformation magic, celestial spirit magic, dragon slayer magic, etc.
The magic system in Edens Zero is also based on Ether, but it is more like a technology than a mysticism. Ether can be used to power machines, weapons, and robots. Some people can also use Ether Gear, which are devices that enhance their physical abilities or grant them special skills. There are different types of Ether Gear, such as gravity gear, speed gear, leaper gear, etc.
The Crossover Factor
The third thing to consider is the crossover factor. While Mashima has said that he does not intend to make his series part of a shared universe, he has also made some exceptions for fun and fan service. He has drawn several crossover artworks featuring characters from Fairy Tail , Edens Zero , and Rave Master together. He has also written some crossover stories for special occasions or collaborations.
One example is HERO’S , a crossover manga that was published in 2019 to celebrate the 60th anniversary of Weekly Shonen Magazine . HERO’S features the main characters from Fairy Tail , Edens Zero , and Rave Master teaming up to stop a villain who threatens to destroy their worlds. In this story, Mashima explains that each world exists in a different dimension that can be accessed through special portals.
Another example is the Fairy Tail x Edens Zero Christmas Special , a crossover anime episode that was released in 2020 as a bonus for the Edens Zero Blu-ray and DVD. In this episode, Shiki and his friends visit the Fairy Tail world through a portal and celebrate Christmas with Natsu and his friends. In this episode, Mashima does not explain how the portal works or why the characters look alike.
The Final Verdict
So, is Edens Zero related to Fairy Tail ? The answer is: not really. They are separate series with separate stories and settings, created by the same author who likes to reuse some of his character designs and names. They are not part of a shared universe, but they can occasionally cross over for fun and fan service. They are similar in some ways, but different in many others.
If you are a fan of Fairy Tail , you may enjoy Edens Zero as well, as it has the same spirit of adventure, humor, and friendship. If you are a fan of Edens Zero , you may also like Fairy Tail , as it has the same style of action, magic, and comedy. But you do not need to know one to understand the other. They are both independent and enjoyable series that can stand on their own.
