User blog comment:Miskos3/Fairy Tail Episode 241: Tartaros arc: Devil Reincarnation, Review/@comment-24228963-20150711160527/@comment-7418318-20150711174005

Yes, in the manga seceral spells have circles or other symbols, but those spells are usually something unusual (lol... usually something unusual ^^). Stuff like Etherion, Abyss Break, Urano Metria, 5 layer magic circle.

When you see a magic circle in the manga you know it means business... but the only anime used it for literally everything, including Happy unfolding his wings on at least one occaison! A wonder they didn't draw a magic circle over Mira pouring a drink.

And on top of the overuse, they also used it inconsistently. Sometimes the very same spell had a magic circle and sometimes not.

I prefer it much more how it is in the manga and the new anime.