Animus

Animus rules Stella with an authoritarian temperament and little patience for incompetence. He readily uses his power to restrain Zash Caine when the minister fails him and expects his commands to be followed without hesitation. His desire to obtain Dragon Cry increasingly dominates his decisions.

His behavior toward Sonya is considerably more complicated. Animus is protective of her and explicitly refuses to allow Zash to treat her as expendable during the hunt for Dragon Cry. Sonya remembers him as kinder in the past, indicating that the ruthless ruler pursuing the staff is not the only side of his personality.

Animus possesses Dragon Slayer Magic and can perform a Dragon's Roar as a massive energy-based breath attack. He also uses telekinetic power to immobilize people from a distance, demonstrating this ability repeatedly against Zash.

His Dragon Soul Technique allows a severely injured dragon to place its essence within a human vessel while recovering. Thought Projection can produce an independent-looking manifestation of the user's consciousness, while Animus can also communicate and exert influence through the unusual connection produced by his Dragon Soul Technique.

Animus is actually a dragon, and the human king seen for much of the film is a Thought Projection produced while his true body recovers within Sonya. His natural form is a large blue dragon with crystalline Stellanium-like protrusions. Dragon Cry can empower this body further, first changing its appearance and then dramatically amplifying its strength.

Animus directs Stella's effort to acquire Dragon Cry, an artifact containing enormous magical power. After Fairy Tail temporarily recovers the staff, he orders Zash to take the Three Stars and retrieve it, while insisting that Sonya must not be harmed.

Animus eventually reveals that he has existed inside Sonya for centuries, having used her as a vessel after being grievously injured during the era of the Dragon King Festival. The visible King Animus is his projected human appearance, and he has manipulated Sonya's understanding of Stella's crisis so that she will help obtain Dragon Cry.

When Zash steals Dragon Cry for himself and uses Evil Eye on Animus, the dragon is driven into a rampage. After breaking free of that interference, Animus takes Dragon Cry into his body and fights Natsu, intending to use its power in pursuit of a restored age of dragons. Natsu's own draconic power emerges during their battle, and Animus identifies him with E.N.D. before being defeated.

Sonya has been connected to Animus for centuries. After both are gravely injured in the distant past, Animus persuades the young Sonya to become the vessel for his Dragon Soul Technique. Their lives remain intertwined for centuries, and although he later manipulates her, he also raises her and develops genuine affection for her.

Zash Caine serves as Animus's Minister of State but repeatedly tests his patience. Animus uses Zash to obtain Dragon Cry while making it clear that Sonya's safety takes precedence over the minister's plans. Zash eventually turns against him, steals Dragon Cry and uses Evil Eye to distort Animus's mind.

Natsu Dragneel becomes Animus's principal opponent after Fairy Tail travels to Stella. Their final confrontation exposes Natsu's partially dragonized power, which causes Animus to recognize his connection to E.N.D.

Acnologia encountered Animus centuries earlier. After Animus and other dragons attacked the young Sonya, Acnologia slaughtered his companions and left Animus grievously wounded, creating the circumstances that led him to use Sonya as a vessel.

Swan, Gapri and Doll comprise the Three Stars under Animus's authority. They serve as his elite soldiers and are especially charged with protecting Sonya.