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Hiro Mashima is one of the most famous mangaka in the world thanks to the world-renowned anime franchiseFairy Tail, and for good reason.Fairy Tail’s themes of friendship, combined with its fun cast and great action, have given it great appeal for fans ofshonenanime and manga for years, and few other stories have matched its success over the past 20 years.
Fairy Tail’s success can’t be understated, but it wasn’t where Hiro Mashima’s career began. When Mashima first got started as a mangaka, he made his debut with another hit manga calledRave Master, its anime airing on Toonami in the 2000s, and as big asFairy Tailmight be,Rave Masteris the series that truly stands out as the best of Hiro Mashima’s work. Obviously,Rave Masternever became a massive franchise in the same vein asFairy Tail, or evenEdens Zero, and with how muchRave Masterhad to offer, that’s nothing but a shame.
What Made Rave Master Such A Great Anime & Manga
Rave Masterstands out as one of the best works of Hiro Mashima, by far, and it’s easy to see why. Mashima’s works are known for their great comedy and action which are further complemented by the great cast of characters, and despite being his first work,Rave Masterhas all the same great action and writing as Hiro Mashima’s other works with the added benefit of a slightly more serious narrative tying everything together. It’s the most straightforward adventure series Mashima has ever written, and it still holds up 25 years after the fact.
Rave Masteris a truly underrated manga, and the anime is equally underrated. While the anime didn’t always have the best art and animation, the anime still did a good job of translating the manga into animation, and the English dub was especially fun to watch thanks to the great dub and the infectious theme song by Reel Big Fish.Rave Masterwas one of thebest anime to air on Toonamithanks to its stellar adaptation and dub, and old and new fans alike would be remiss not to give a rewatch or a chance, in general.
Rave Master Is A Breath Of Fresh Air For Anyone Who Got Tired Of Fairy Tail
Why Rave Master Might Be Better Than Fairy Tail
Rave Masteris a truly standout series, and that’s especially true for anyone who might have gotten sick ofFairy Tail. As popular asHiro Mashima’sFairy Tailmight be, it’s also divisive for its heavy use of fanservice and its overuse of the power of friendship, and whileRave Masteralso has those issues, it’s nowhere near the same extent as what happens inFairy Tail.Rave Masterexecutes some of the most divisive quirks ofFairy Tailin a far more palatable fashion, and that can be great for anyone who might have gotten exhausted byFairy Tail.
Another point of comparison can be found in their differing tones.Fairy Tailis often criticized for not taking itself seriously enough thanks to its lack of deaths, the anticlimactic nature of many fights, and how misplaced a lot of the comedy is, butRave Masteris far more willing to kill characters and make them work for their victories, all while having a better balance of comedy, as well.Fairy Tail’s style isn’t necessarily bad, butRave Masteris perfect for anyone who’s criticizedFairy Tailfor not taking itself more seriously, and that’s still great to see.
Will Rave Master Ever Get More Respect In The Anime Community?
With how underrated a seriesRave Masterwas, that begs the question of whether there’s any chance of it ever becoming big. The manga ended 20 years ago and the anime ended without finishing the story, and with both quickly eclipsed in popularity byFairy Tail’s success,it’s unlikely forRave Masterto find new life in modern anime culture whenFairy Tailand the rest of Hiro Mashima’s more modern works are so successful.ARave Masteranime rebootcould help things, but with how much of a cult series it is, that’s unlikely to happen anytime soon.
Rave Masteris unlikely to get proper respect, but that doesn’t mean it’s completely irrelevant.Rave Masteris still referenced in Hiro Mashima’s works, most notably in how often he reuses Sieg and the Oracion Seis, and on a meta level,the serious tones ofEdens ZeroandDead Rock, at least compared toFairy Tail, could be an acknowledgment of the strengths ofRave Master’s style. Even if it never becomes as big asFairy Tail,Rave Masteris still plenty worth experiencing, and anyone who hasn’t given it a try should do so as soon as they can.
Rave Master
Cast
Rave Master follows Haru Glory as he embarks on a quest to find the Rave Stones, which hold the power to vanquish the Dark Bring, stones that bring chaos and destruction. Alongside his friends, Haru aims to restore peace to the world, facing numerous adversaries and challenges on his journey. The series combines elements of fantasy, adventure, and action, set within a richly detailed world.
