Sugar Apple Fairy Tale

Sugar Apple Fairy Tale (シュガーアップル・フェアリーテイル) is a Japanese fantasy light novel series written by Miri Mikawa and illustrated by aki. Kadokawa Shoten have published nineteen volumes since March 2010 under their Kadokawa Beans Bunko imprint. A manga adaptation with art by Alto Yukimura was serialized online via Hakusensha's Hana to Yume Online website from November 2012 to October 2014. It was collected in two tankōbon volumes. A second manga adaptation with art by Yozora no Udon was serialized in Kadokawa Shoten's seinen manga magazine Young Ace from November 2021 to December 2023, and a third manga adaptation with art by Konosagi has been serialized online via Kadokawa Shoten's Flos Comic website since August 2023. Both the light novel and second manga are licensed in North America by Yen Press. An anime television series adaptation produced by J.C.Staff aired from January to September 2023.

Plot
Anne Halford is a candy crafter determined to follow in her mother's footsteps and become a Silver Sugar Master, a title bestowed only by royalty. In order to travel to the capital and realize her dream, she purchases Challe, a handsome but foul-mouthed fairy, as her bodyguard. Anne wishes to befriend her new companion, but in this kingdom where fairies are treated as property upon possession of one of their wings, Challe wants nothing to do with humans.

Characters

 * Anne Halford (アン・ハルフォード)
 * Anne is the main protagonist and a Silver Sugar artisan, who is determined to follow in the footsteps of her recently deceased mother and become a Silver Sugar master. Anne leaves home to travel to the Royal Candy Fair to participate in its contest to win the Sugar Master title and purchases Challe, a warrior fairy to protect her in their travels, but promises to return his wing. Anne does not like the idea of fairies being forced into slavery and believes it is possible for fairies and humans to become friends. Anne is a hard working and gifted Sugar artisan, who continues to improve her skills as she meets more artisans and masters along her journey. Anne begins to fall in love with Challe as the story continues.
 * Anne is the main protagonist and a Silver Sugar artisan, who is determined to follow in the footsteps of her recently deceased mother and become a Silver Sugar master. Anne leaves home to travel to the Royal Candy Fair to participate in its contest to win the Sugar Master title and purchases Challe, a warrior fairy to protect her in their travels, but promises to return his wing. Anne does not like the idea of fairies being forced into slavery and believes it is possible for fairies and humans to become friends. Anne is a hard working and gifted Sugar artisan, who continues to improve her skills as she meets more artisans and masters along her journey. Anne begins to fall in love with Challe as the story continues.


 * Challe Fen Challe (シャル・フェン・シャル)
 * Challe is a obsidian warrior fairy who was purchased by Anne to serve as her bodyguard. Although very handsome and beautiful, Challe has a sharp tongue and constantly teases Anne, frequently calling her scarecrow. In the past, he was close friends with a young girl called Elizabeth, until she was killed by humans. Due to his years of enslavement and Liz's death, he distrusts humans, but gradually begins to grow close to Anne and decides to stay with her after she returns his wing. Over the course of the story, Challe becomes very protective of Anne and finds himself falling in love with her.
 * Challe is a obsidian warrior fairy who was purchased by Anne to serve as her bodyguard. Although very handsome and beautiful, Challe has a sharp tongue and constantly teases Anne, frequently calling her scarecrow. In the past, he was close friends with a young girl called Elizabeth, until she was killed by humans. Due to his years of enslavement and Liz's death, he distrusts humans, but gradually begins to grow close to Anne and decides to stay with her after she returns his wing. Over the course of the story, Challe becomes very protective of Anne and finds himself falling in love with her.


 * Mithril Lid Pod (ミスリル・リッド・ポッド)
 * Mithril is a water fairy who was saved by Anne from a ruthless fairy hunter. Although he dislikes humans, he is determined to repay the favor to Anne and becomes a friend and traveling companion on her journey. He ties his wing around his neck in the style of a scarf and prefers to be called by his full name. He is also aware of Anne's love for Challe and fully supports their relationship.
 * Mithril is a water fairy who was saved by Anne from a ruthless fairy hunter. Although he dislikes humans, he is determined to repay the favor to Anne and becomes a friend and traveling companion on her journey. He ties his wing around his neck in the style of a scarf and prefers to be called by his full name. He is also aware of Anne's love for Challe and fully supports their relationship.


 * Hugh Mercury (ヒュー・マーキュリー)
 * Hugh is the Silver Sugar Viscount who befriends Anne on her journey. He is impressed by Anne's skills and pushes her to be better in order to help inspire her own original work.
 * Hugh is the Silver Sugar Viscount who befriends Anne on her journey. He is impressed by Anne's skills and pushes her to be better in order to help inspire her own original work.


 * Kat (キャット) / Alph Hingley (アルフ・ヒングリー)
 * Kat is a Silver Sugar master who resides in the town of Lewiston. When his sugar confection order is destroyed in a robbery attempt, he falsely assumes Anne is responsible and has her work for him temporarily. Despite his harsh and tough demeanor, he respects Anne's hard work and skills and is willing to admit to his own mistakes, apologizing when she proves her innocence. He does not like people of high society or tolerate those who treat others unfairly, refusing to sell to customers he dislikes or petty artisans who harass Anne. Kat’s real name is Alph Hingley and he dislikes his nickname. He is also acquainted with Hugh Mercury and Keith Powell.
 * Kat is a Silver Sugar master who resides in the town of Lewiston. When his sugar confection order is destroyed in a robbery attempt, he falsely assumes Anne is responsible and has her work for him temporarily. Despite his harsh and tough demeanor, he respects Anne's hard work and skills and is willing to admit to his own mistakes, apologizing when she proves her innocence. He does not like people of high society or tolerate those who treat others unfairly, refusing to sell to customers he dislikes or petty artisans who harass Anne. Kat’s real name is Alph Hingley and he dislikes his nickname. He is also acquainted with Hugh Mercury and Keith Powell.


 * Jonas Anders (ジョナス・アンダー)
 * Jonas is Anne's former friend turned rival and nephew of the Radcliffe Workshop headmaster Marcus Radcliffe. He attends the Radcliffe Workshop as a sugar artisan, but lacks skill and ingenuity. Originally, he appears kind and helpful. Jonas is also determined to marry Anne, until he later drops his façade and reveals his true colors as a selfish manipulator after accomplishing his real plan: to steal Anne's sugar confection and present it as his own work at the Royal Candy fair. However, his plan fails after he is exposed as a cheater, which is proven when he is unable to replicate the piece. Jonas and Anne continue to hold a rivalry and dislike of each other. Despite his arrogance, Jonas is bullied by his uncle’s apprentice, Sammy Jones, and tries to stay out of trouble whilst preparing for the next Royal exhibition until he is later kicked out in the aftermath of Sammy's assault against Anne and flees for his life, refusing to get involved with Anne further. Later, he is seen getting drunk, apparently quits being an artisan and Anne reveals his name was cleared and he can return to Ratcliffe workshop. He refuses because he doesn't want to be compared to Keith, laments that he's a failure as a artisan. Anne manages to get through to him and he tells her he still wants to make sugar confections and he joins the Paige workshop. After Anne and Challe returned from Lafalle, Jonas looks away as he has not forgotten the cruel things he did to Anne at the beginning of the series.
 * Jonas is Anne's former friend turned rival and nephew of the Radcliffe Workshop headmaster Marcus Radcliffe. He attends the Radcliffe Workshop as a sugar artisan, but lacks skill and ingenuity. Originally, he appears kind and helpful. Jonas is also determined to marry Anne, until he later drops his façade and reveals his true colors as a selfish manipulator after accomplishing his real plan: to steal Anne's sugar confection and present it as his own work at the Royal Candy fair. However, his plan fails after he is exposed as a cheater, which is proven when he is unable to replicate the piece. Jonas and Anne continue to hold a rivalry and dislike of each other. Despite his arrogance, Jonas is bullied by his uncle’s apprentice, Sammy Jones, and tries to stay out of trouble whilst preparing for the next Royal exhibition until he is later kicked out in the aftermath of Sammy's assault against Anne and flees for his life, refusing to get involved with Anne further. Later, he is seen getting drunk, apparently quits being an artisan and Anne reveals his name was cleared and he can return to Ratcliffe workshop. He refuses because he doesn't want to be compared to Keith, laments that he's a failure as a artisan. Anne manages to get through to him and he tells her he still wants to make sugar confections and he joins the Paige workshop. After Anne and Challe returned from Lafalle, Jonas looks away as he has not forgotten the cruel things he did to Anne at the beginning of the series.


 * Keith Powell (キース・パウエル)
 * Keith is the son of the previous Silver Sugar Viscount. Since childhood, Keith has spent most of his life surrounded by sugar confections and has met many artisans, including Kat and Anne's late mother. He is well respected among his peers and aspires to become a silver sugar master himself, but due to his father's position, never entered the Royal Fair to prevent rumors of favoritism or unfairness. Following the death of his father, Keith decides to participate in the competition and currently attends the Radcliffe Workshop. He is a sincere young man who offers to help Anne due to their similar upbringings and circumstances and sees her as a worthy rival unlike Jonas and Sammy.
 * Keith is the son of the previous Silver Sugar Viscount. Since childhood, Keith has spent most of his life surrounded by sugar confections and has met many artisans, including Kat and Anne's late mother. He is well respected among his peers and aspires to become a silver sugar master himself, but due to his father's position, never entered the Royal Fair to prevent rumors of favoritism or unfairness. Following the death of his father, Keith decides to participate in the competition and currently attends the Radcliffe Workshop. He is a sincere young man who offers to help Anne due to their similar upbringings and circumstances and sees her as a worthy rival unlike Jonas and Sammy.


 * Elliot Collins (エリオット・コリンズ)
 * Elliot is a silver sugar master who attends the Paige Workshop and serves as its representative due to the headmaster's poor health. He is flirtatious and easy-going and is engaged to Bridget Paige.
 * Elliot is a silver sugar master who attends the Paige Workshop and serves as its representative due to the headmaster's poor health. He is flirtatious and easy-going and is engaged to Bridget Paige.


 * Bridget Paige (ブリジット・ペイジ)
 * Bridget is the daughter of the head of the Paige Workshop. She is arranged to marry Elliot Collins, but has no romantic interest in him. She instantly falls in love Challe after meeting him and is determined to have him for herself, despite him rejecting her affections and pointing out that she loves him because he is a fairy which is no different than getting a pet or a slave. Bridget harbors a strong dislike towards Anne, envious of her position as a sugar artisan and the support she receives from respected crafters, stemming from anger and resentment that she was denied the chance to become a sugar artisan herself due to her position as the headmaster's daughter, causing her to act rude and spoiled. Bridget later secretly witnesses another of Sammy Jones' sabotage attempts against Anne, but refuses to expose him until Challe surrenders his wing in exchange for her cooperation. Bridget begins treating Challe as her personal property and orders he stay away from Anne until her father gains possession of his wing after her behavior and treatment of Challe becomes obsessive and intolerable. After Elliott got attacked, Bridget shows real concern for and wanted to tend him. Later she brings in another fairy, Gladus, who is seemingly loyal to her, but later revealed that she was being used as a pawn so he could infiltrate the workshop to replenish his strength and take Challe and Anne away. She showed complete remorse for this, as it caused Orland to lose his right eye. Bridget apologized to Orland for what happened to him, and for her selfish and arrogant behavior. During The Holy Beginnings Festival, Bridget shows to have a crush on Orland and this time it is a genuine one.
 * Bridget is the daughter of the head of the Paige Workshop. She is arranged to marry Elliot Collins, but has no romantic interest in him. She instantly falls in love Challe after meeting him and is determined to have him for herself, despite him rejecting her affections and pointing out that she loves him because he is a fairy which is no different than getting a pet or a slave. Bridget harbors a strong dislike towards Anne, envious of her position as a sugar artisan and the support she receives from respected crafters, stemming from anger and resentment that she was denied the chance to become a sugar artisan herself due to her position as the headmaster's daughter, causing her to act rude and spoiled. Bridget later secretly witnesses another of Sammy Jones' sabotage attempts against Anne, but refuses to expose him until Challe surrenders his wing in exchange for her cooperation. Bridget begins treating Challe as her personal property and orders he stay away from Anne until her father gains possession of his wing after her behavior and treatment of Challe becomes obsessive and intolerable. After Elliott got attacked, Bridget shows real concern for and wanted to tend him. Later she brings in another fairy, Gladus, who is seemingly loyal to her, but later revealed that she was being used as a pawn so he could infiltrate the workshop to replenish his strength and take Challe and Anne away. She showed complete remorse for this, as it caused Orland to lose his right eye. Bridget apologized to Orland for what happened to him, and for her selfish and arrogant behavior. During The Holy Beginnings Festival, Bridget shows to have a crush on Orland and this time it is a genuine one.


 * Cathy (キャシー)
 * Cathy is a labor fairy belonging to Jonas and is secretly in love with him.
 * Cathy is a labor fairy belonging to Jonas and is secretly in love with him.


 * Benjamin (ベンジャミン)
 * Benjamin is a labor fairy and belongs to Kat. He is easily tired and often sleeping, but always happily obeys Kat's orders and gets the job done. He is revealed to have possession of his wing, but willingly chooses to stay with Kat.
 * Benjamin is a labor fairy and belongs to Kat. He is easily tired and often sleeping, but always happily obeys Kat's orders and gets the job done. He is revealed to have possession of his wing, but willingly chooses to stay with Kat.


 * William Alburn (ウィリアム・アルバーン)
 * William is the Duke of Philax, who commissions Anne to craft a sugar confection for him. He fell in love with the water fairy Christina, but her death caused him to neglect his duties as the duke, which leads to his subjugation by the Earl of Downing.
 * William is the Duke of Philax, who commissions Anne to craft a sugar confection for him. He fell in love with the water fairy Christina, but her death caused him to neglect his duties as the duke, which leads to his subjugation by the Earl of Downing.


 * Sammy Jones (サミー・ジョーンズ)
 * Sammy is a sugar artisan and a longtime apprentice at the Radcliffe Workshop. He is rude, arrogant, selfish, sexist, and disrespectful towards those he considers inferior such as Jonas, but respects those of higher rank such as Kat and Keith. He harbors a strong dislike and animosity towards Anne for what happened with Jonas at the last Royal Candy Fair, not knowing it was Jonas that caused the incident and refusing to acknowledge her as a sugar artisan and is upset when she allowed into the workshop in preparation for the next Royal Candy Fair. Sammy is held in high regard at the Radcliffe school, favored to win the exhibition and uses his influence to bully Anne. With the aid of the other students, Sammy uses Jonas to lure Anne and attacks her, threatening to burn her hands until Challe saves her. However, he avoids punishment by reporting the incident whilst hiding his involvement, making Jonas take the blame and getting him kicked out. Sammy makes further efforts to sabotage Anne on the day of the contest until he is exposed by Bridget, causing him to be disqualified and severely punished by the headmaster for his crimes.
 * Sammy is a sugar artisan and a longtime apprentice at the Radcliffe Workshop. He is rude, arrogant, selfish, sexist, and disrespectful towards those he considers inferior such as Jonas, but respects those of higher rank such as Kat and Keith. He harbors a strong dislike and animosity towards Anne for what happened with Jonas at the last Royal Candy Fair, not knowing it was Jonas that caused the incident and refusing to acknowledge her as a sugar artisan and is upset when she allowed into the workshop in preparation for the next Royal Candy Fair. Sammy is held in high regard at the Radcliffe school, favored to win the exhibition and uses his influence to bully Anne. With the aid of the other students, Sammy uses Jonas to lure Anne and attacks her, threatening to burn her hands until Challe saves her. However, he avoids punishment by reporting the incident whilst hiding his involvement, making Jonas take the blame and getting him kicked out. Sammy makes further efforts to sabotage Anne on the day of the contest until he is exposed by Bridget, causing him to be disqualified and severely punished by the headmaster for his crimes.


 * Orland Langston (オーランド・ラングストン)


 * King (キング)


 * Valentine (ヴァレンタイン)


 * Nadil (ナディール)


 * Gladice (グラディス)


 * Noah (ノア)

Light novels
The light novel is licensed in North America by Yen Press.

Manga
A manga adaptation with art by Alto Yukimura was serialized online via Hakusensha's Hana to Yume Online website from November 2012 to October 2014. It was collected in two tankōbon volumes. A second manga adaptation with art by Yozora no Udon was serialized in Kadokawa Shoten's seinen manga magazine Young Ace from November 4, 2021, to December 4, 2023. The second manga is also licensed in North America by Yen Press, who are publishing new chapters simultaneously with the Japanese release.

A third manga adaptation with art by Konosagi has been serialized online via Kadokawa Shoten's Flos Comic website since August 4, 2023.

Anime
On October 1, 2021, an anime adaptation was announced. It was later revealed to be a television series produced by J.C.Staff and directed by Yōhei Suzuki, with scripts written by Seishi Minakami, character designs handled by Haruko Iizuka, and music composed by Hinako Tsubakiyama. The first part aired from January 6 to March 24, 2023, on AT-X, Tokyo MX, BS Asahi, Sun Television and KBS Kyoto. The second part aired from July 7 to September 22, 2023. On August 6, 2022, during their industry panel at Crunchyroll Expo, Crunchyroll announced their license to the series outside of Asia. For the first part, the opening theme song is "Musical" (ミュージカル) by Minori Suzuki, while the ending theme song (for the episodes 2, 3 and 5 to 11) is "Kanaeru" (叶える) by Sumire Morohoshi. For the second part, the opening theme song is "Surprise" (サプライズ) by Rei Nakashima, while the ending theme song is "Door" by Nao Tōyama.