Mahou Shoujo Madoka★Magica

Both are about a young girl encountering a familiar(animal) who introduce them to magical powers. in the Magical Girl genre. Even though Madoka Magica is a little darker, but its just as great. 

report Recommended by MoonXArtemis

Sailor Moon established the Magical Girl genre as it stands today, providing the archetypes that a show like Madoka Magica is manipulating. Both shows center around middle school girls who possess magical powers and use them to fight against evil, accompanied by cute animal guardians which guide their development as heroines. Sailor Moon establishes the storyline that you expect to see replicated in Madoka Magica. Both shows are cute in animation style, which contrasts with their surprising moments of darkness. The young girls in both shows prove to be less naive than they are portrayed, demonstrating acts of personal sacrifice and actively confronting ethical problems. If you are a fan of Sailor Moon, Madoka Magica is an interesting take on the magical girl archetype, and if you enjoyed Madoka Magica but have not watched Sailor Moon I would recommend it as an important predecessor. read more 

report Recommended by moonpopsicle

If you're looking for another top notch magical series, then Mahou Shoujo Madoka Magica is definitely the series for you! Be warned--it's much darker than Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon, but it still showcases what all magical girl series' have to offer: friendship! 

report Recommended by enchantedsloth

Both shows are "Magical Girl" anime that explore darker themes than other shoujo, such as death, responsibility, violence and divinity, alongside the usual friendship and occasional romance. While Sailor Moon is a light-hearted villian of the week show that gradually gets darker with every season, Madoka Magica is a twist on the genre that takes shows such as Sailor Moon and skips the filler and goes straight for the dark stuff. Both Madoka and Usagi serve as the watchers self-insert into their worlds, although Usagi presents much more personality and relatability than Madoka does. These series have great supporting casts that steal the show. If you liked Madoka Magica and you want to know the influences on the show, if you wanted more romance (either straight or yuri), and to basically enjoy a classic anime to lighten the mood, Sailor Moon is a great choice. And if you liked Sailor Moon and want to watch an anime that emulates later episodes, if you need action instead of romance, and a more macabre version of your favorite group of heroines, Madoka Magica is the one for you. read more 

report Recommended by chapoble_

Both are shows in the magical girl genre, though Madoka Magica is more mature and grim.  

report Recommended by Slugadubdub

Girls with magical powers trying to defend the world. 

report Recommended by melfluere

Both are magical girl themed storeis and both leads encoutner a cute animal that grants them the powers that are utilzed in the story and both do have a mix of life outside and the darker side of magical girls too. 

report Recommended by Disapeared_Ghost

Both anime are considered top-notch mahou shoujo and for good reason. They feature unique and memorable aesthetics, an easily recognisable main cast, great soundtracks and can be enjoyable for watchers of both sexes. 
 

report Recommended by Krankastel

Uta∽Kata addpermalink

Both are very dark takes on the mahou shoujo genre, but while Madoka may seem like the more serious of the two, Uta Kata is much better at portraying the physical and emotional damage inflicted on the one who becomes controlled by their power. 

report Recommended by Archaeon

Uta~Kata is another darker mahou shoujo anime that successfully deconstructs its genre much like Puella Magi, although it doesn't go to the same lengths. Both show that being a magical girl is not always a good thing (if at all) and characters might have to face some terrible consequences. 

report Recommended by insoo

Both involve Magical Girls discovering powers that aren't what they seem at first glance. The shows start out innocently  but descend into darker themes.  

report Recommended by Archon_Wing

Both are not your average magical girl show, as they portray the dark side of that it really means to be a 'hero of justice'. Darkness exists because happiness exists. 

report Recommended by MagicFlier

presents the magical girls as a curse instead of blessing, explores psychological aspects and darker world perspective 

report Recommended by ChenChilla

Both series start out fairly slow, seemingly as an innocent magical girl anime. However, they both start to turn darker as the story proceeds, and show the struggles and changes the protagonist have with being a magical girl. Uta Kata proceeds slower and, somehow, less radical, but I think if you enjoyed Madoka Uta Kata is definitely worth a shot.  

report Recommended by d34ct1v4t3d

Both are dark themed magical girl series that focuses on touchy subjects as well as on a young cast as well too and also focuses on a close bond between the 2 leads. 

report Recommended by Disapeared_Ghost

Both are psychological/dark Mahou Shoujo anime with pain and drama and both MC are about the same age. 

report Recommended by Ashhk

Uta Kata and Puella Magi Madoka Magica are two magical girl anime that are not your typical magical girl show (at the time each were released at least), with both featuring a 14-year-old female protagonist who meets a strange girl who appears in her dreams. Many people have even seen Uta Kata as an inspiration to Madoka Magica, as both anime seem to have similar ideas, (good) soundtracks with a lot of violin playing, and even demonstrates the troubles of magic. 

report Recommended by Fario-P

Charlotte addpermalink

Charlotte starts off like most Key series.  A lighthearted beginning with a forced tragic ending. It even has an innocent naive girl (Yusa) common in all Key series.  You will see similar themes in Madoka Magica: innocent girls with seemingly funny stories in the beginning but becomes tragic in the end.  However the folks at Key seemed to copy the plot of Madoka into this show.  I won't reveal any spoilers but involves having the main character saving those who face potential anguish.  Essentially taking in the burdens of others for themselves becoming a Christ-like figure. 

report Recommended by Makise

Both of these shows explore the realm of saving people (that's all I can without spoiling). The love between each of the characters is definitely and visibly what drives them. Both of these show also explore the duality of hope and despair, although Madoka Magica does it on a much more contrasting manner.

The music of both anime is quite amazing, and although the art style is different, both are refreshing in their own ways (with Madoka being more abstract and Charlotte being more "normal").

If you enjoyed one, chances are you'll enjoy the other! 

report Recommended by suitangi

Both series are not what they seem at first, which is kinda expected in both.
Cute characters and magic but have a darker twist.
Emotional and tragic.

Spoilerish?:

Saving people with time magic! 

report Recommended by OddOnes

You can easily see how Madoka served as an inspiration to Charlotte. Time travels to save friends, multiple realities and people with superhuman powers becoming god-like. 

report Recommended by Z_Tetriminos

Change the fate and saving a important person with the power of time ..
thats presented from both series, the power of time ..
Both have moe design with some dark theme and despair ..
with these unique plot, they become interesting show and very nice .. 

report Recommended by TKZmine

Protagonist with hidden enormous ability saved the world.

And also that spoiler character in black suit to Yuu is like Homura to Madoka. 

report Recommended by You

both focus on polar opposite characters with supernatural abilities and the shit that comes along with it as well too. 

report Recommended by Disapeared_Ghost

Charlotte is about a group of high school students who manifest superpowers during adolescence. They search for other teenagers who abuse their powers and persuade them to cease using their powers. Like Madoka Magica, Charlotte focuses on the unexpected consequences that come with having superpowers. They both are anime that present as cheery and lighthearted, but have very serious and heavy moments that catch the viewer off-guard. 

report Recommended by danfat

A supernatural venture with a plot twist. Charlotte and Puella Magi Madoka Magica are both about children who obtain powers, in which doing so, leads to a dark truth behind them.

Charlotte has students with superpowers enrolled in a high school based on those powers. While PMMM has girls become Magical Girls to fight against witches.

Without slipping too much detail, both anime give a massive similar plot twist, in stories supernatural elements and drama. 

report Recommended by NextUniverse

Alien 9 addpermalink

Both seem to have a cutesy art and all, but in reality they are much darker and cruel. Things like underage girls communicating with alien life forms and getting strange powers as a result. 

report Recommended by insoo

Girls forming a contract with another being in order to fight off foreign 'disturbances' (aliens or witches).  Both start seemingly light-hearted but turn dark pretty quickly. 

report Recommended by siutou

Take a handful of little girls and toss them into one horrible situation or another where they have to use powers that are not all sunshine and sparkles. 

report Recommended by fiore777

Both are deconstructions of the magical girl genre and very cerebral. They both also have pretty strong sci fi plots, although the Alien 9 story in the anime doesn't really finish the story started by the manga. Both have excellent animation and some really well designed monsters, which contrast well to the very moe girl characters. Both of them are pretty damn sad and have some super surreal animation sections. Also, both of them are great and I love them. 

report Recommended by Chromephone

The art styles are extremely similar, both juxtapose their darker more horror-esque themes alongside cute/kawaii/moe type anime styles.
Both see a lovable cast thrust into a seemingly righteous role of protection that as we learn more about, has extremely sinister undertones. 

report Recommended by JVskunkape

Alien 9, like PMMM, comes off as an innocent and fun show at first, but slowly devolves into a story about mere children facing the reality of what they've gotten into. Both are extremely interesting to watch despite being " Cute Little Girls in Tragic Situations " shows. 

report Recommended by majokkodaisy

Both feature an innocent girl getting into a contract with a strange yet cute creature and are put into all sorts of horrific shit as time goes by in guise of its cute setting. 

report Recommended by Disapeared_Ghost

Alien 9 made moe girls suffer a decade before Madoka, in similarily surreal and ansty ways. The girls in Alien 9 are younger, the setting is more school oriented, there is more (moe!) body horror, and they fight aliens rather than witches. The basic feeling of being overwhelmed by powers way above one's understanding and being played by others is identical in both. Alien 9 unfortunately has a read-the-manga ending. 

report Recommended by inim

They involve a group of 3 girls obtaining powers from space beings who use those powers to fight against supernatural enemies. They both start of fairly ordinary, but get increasingly emotional and intense towards the end. 

report Recommended by Eziprez

School Days addpermalink

If you are feeling like “Oh drat, that dick boss makes me show him how to reboot his router again, I’m exhausted body and mind, I need refreshment. Yes, maybe I should take a bath, have some fries and watch that good stuffs I got the other day. What does it call? MAGICAL GIRL? And some comedy called SCHOOL DAYS? Oh I’m gonna have my great time with cute anime chicks and of course without idiot boss, heck yeah.” (This is the rendition of an exhausted working man at the best extent the writer can imagine, as he is currently unemployed.)

However, both shows “first impression” is entirely different from what you will experiences on your couch 25 minutes from now on. Both shows, in short, solve a problem of Desperate Housewives using the method of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. There are even some saws used.

The key idea of both shows is to do everything the audiences never expected to see in that kind of shows (namely Cutesy Magical Girl Revolution and Sparkling Lovey Dovey School Life.) Promote the show as if it was that kind of show, then release stream of bloody depressing nightmare upon unsuspecting audiences ove the course of three months. Only after both show ended that public will know truly what the damp red gory hell was the shows about. 

If you are looking for pure viewing pleasures without helluva depressing content, consults critic before start watching any show from now on, or at least take a clean look at rating. Pretty sure no consumers are safe from horrific nightmare trap in the age that directors love to play with surprise element. read more

report Recommended by lapisdragon

Similar in that it appears to be a light hearted anime about love and then suddenly dun dun dun! 

report Recommended by Wackydude1234

Both of these shows start out pretty innocent and sweet, but early on there's a plot twist that completely changes the mood of the show. Both of these anime are also famous deconstructions. Madoka deconstructs magical girl anime while School Days deconstructs the harem genre. Both of these shows are worth checking out if you like dark anime.  

report Recommended by Fujaku

Both shows take the conventions and ideas of an established genre and rework them into a dark series with a heavy emphasis on negative character development. 

report Recommended by smileyboyrocks

Nope this is not a joke, these two series have a fundamental similarity which cannot be ignored. These shows fundamentally break down their respective genre by showing you what would happen if people were really thrown into the situations found in anime:

-School days shows what would probably happen if a generic teenager found a harem of girls forming around him
- Mahou Shoujo Madoka★Magica shows what would probably happen if young girls were given magical powers and expected to fight 

report Recommended by birdwithoutaword

Among the shows you can't judge by their cover you have School Days and Mahou Shoujou Madoka Magica. Despite the apparence they have dark tones, their general concept becomes "clearer" the more episodes you watch, which means it is required to watch many episodes if not all of them "to get it". Due to their uniqueness they are must-watch, at least for reference.

It's harder to appreciate school days than madoka magica though because the concept is somewhat more extreme and school days has also many flaws due maybe to the too ambitious storyline.

Note : avoid spoilers avoid reading reviews the more you can
...
really.
 

report Recommended by Ysad_Ziwezhan

Both of them look like a cute shoujo anime on the outside, then both the Anime take a dark turn, which makes the shows a little more interesting. 

report Recommended by Mugenfights

Both start off cute but later on get pretty dark af and also violent and bloody too and also cute girls and cute art as well too. 

report Recommended by Disapeared_Ghost

You thought you were in for a cute anime? Unfortunately, you won't find that here, despite looks, School Days and Madoka Magica are both anime that does a complete 180 to the viewer, subverting expectations quite well in such a manner too.

Although it is more like a cumulative turnaround with School Days than PMMM, both anime still have that one turning point in their stories that quite literally changes how everything plays out. It is no happy turn around too, it is there to serve as the catalyst to what are some of the most memorable stories I could ever suggest to one. School Days does this with a high school love story going wrong, PMMM does this with a magical girl world that doesn't like to give happiness of any kind.

Both are great anime with quite intriguing stories. Great use of psychological aspects too. Both OPs are lies, but great ones despite that.
 read more 

report Recommended by NextUniverse

Yakusoku no Neverland addpermalink

Both shows use a dark theme covered up with a cute atmosphere. The main characters are children, which must fight to survive in this cruel world. 

report Recommended by Cold_Raw

Both seem like your run-of-the-mill moe-moe anime, but beneath that is a thriller-mystery with some very dark themes. (PS: ignore the fact that I dropped the Neverland anime - I just preferred the manga).  

report Recommended by tjrq

Both anime can be summed up as "more than meets the eye". Madoka Magica and Promised Neverland use a more cutesy, easily recognisable and seemingly upbeat artstyle as a contrast to an emotion-and-thrill packed plot.

Also, they have beyond awesome direction, lots of details per episode and magnificent music and voice acting. Neverland has yet to finish airing, but these are what I judge to be the shared qualities with Madoka Magica, 

report Recommended by Krankastel

If you enjoy the "starts cute but darker than it seems" concept, then check out Madoka as well. Both shows play with the theme of youth and existential crisis. 

report Recommended by fivelillians

Children are faced with horrific truths and learn of their predetermined fates 

report Recommended by -CatScratches-

Deception. Madoka Magica and TPN are both anime where characters are being deceived in their peculiar lives.

Both anime start off at ignorance is bliss stage due to the connotations of their life, then as become more and more aware of what surrounds them and the truth in their lives.

Where Madoka Magica is a story that presents the struggles of being a magical girl, TPN is a fight against the world they live in. All in all, it is fighting for your life in these anime.

report Recommended by NextUniverse

Both Mahou Shoujo Madoka★Magica and Yakusoku no Neverland look cute at first sight, but appearances aren’t everything, as these two anime are much darker than they initially appear. The plot of both anime involve children trying to survive a dark world, and there’s definitely some similarities in the characters, with Madoka being similar to Emma and Homura being similar to Ray. If you want short anime with interesting and dark storylines, these two are your best bet. Just avoid the second season of Yakusoku no Neverland, and you’ll be fine! 

report Recommended by SebCyrSC2000

Both are about young girls living happy innocent lives until something happens that turns the show into a psychological drama. Both are very sad at times and the music in both is unique powerful. 

report Recommended by BoosterSeat123

Psychologically disturbing, features young children as the protagonist, dark reality disguised as a utopia, keeps you on the edge of your seat.  

report Recommended by UltimateBastard

Angel Beats! addpermalink

Both have great stories, are very emotionally charged, and have similar feels.  Mahou is much darker in the bulk of the episodes, while Angel Beats has more comic relief, but both are powerful anime that I highly recommend. 

report Recommended by baltar

both have an ideal of universal happenings, in some sort of another, both contain action that is relevant and meaningful, but they also leave you with an eerie feeling towards the end, and somewhat through both of them 

report Recommended by Classicola

What starts off light, gradually gets darker and sadder. Although Madoka is a bit more graphic. 

report Recommended by Jenaimemepas

Both involve a group of characters fighting against some kind of force until they reach a bittersweet end to the story.

Madoka is about girls who face death, and Angel Beats is about kids who want to stay dead together. 

report Recommended by LoidNerdy101

Both have a pretty cheerful and bright start but as time goes by things do start to get darker and a focus on friendship and some spunky female leads too. 

report Recommended by Disapeared_Ghost

Termination. Although Madoka Magica and Angel Beats don't share many similarities, it is similar to its characters Angel and Homura.

Both Angel and Homura both try their hardest to stop a force from committing their actions. AB has Angel stop the SSS from causing havoc, PMMM has Homura stop Kyuubey from letting Madoka become a magical girl.

AB is a joyous comedic anime with supernatural elements, with PMMM being a great dark, despairful, psychological magic anime. 

report Recommended by NextUniverse

both make you really feel something 

report Recommended by json14

They are both one season anime's and both have heart breaking stories. They are both fantasy-esque anime that will get you thinking about it for days afterwards. I thoroughly enjoyed them both. Highly recommended 

report Recommended by skypheonixdragon

There's one thing and one thing only, "Everything is not what it seems."

Though Angel Beats does already appear as not innocent (others may think different, but to me it didn't look innocent), It has a similar way to twist their stories. Angel Beats does not include much magic itself but the world itself is just magical. Nobody there is still alive, which leaves surprising ways for them to twist the storyline. Have fun watching and surfing anime/manga to anyone reading this. 

report Recommended by SpacePatroller

Cardcaptor Sakura addpermalink

Both are awesome mahou-shoujo anime titles. 

report Recommended by sasazuka

In short, both shows, although similar in general structure for the magical girl and the formula shown and popularized by Sailor Moon, offer up a unique outlook and a type of inspection in their own genre. By doing so, challenging their status quos by not only shifting ideologies, beliefs, and preconceived notions about the genre, but in turn, challenging in their own simple, but unique way of storytelling.  

report Recommended by Alufei

Madoka takes the magical girl genre and decapitates it. If you like the concept and you want to see your favorite characters succeed, find love, and well, LIVE, then a classic like Cardcaptor Sakura is what you've been looking for.

Cardcaptor Sakura is such a sweet, delightful show that it's hard not to bounce in your seat each episode. The style (by CLAMP) is clean and bright, and reinforces the tone of the show in the way that Madoka's nightmarish landscapes and dark architecture reinforces its own tone. Madoka and Sakura are both young girls given the power to help others at their own risk, and they're both motivated by love for their friends and family, but how they handle the "magical girl" responsibilities are where they differ most greatly.

Both shows have secondary characters with rich stories, but Cardcaptor Sakura manages to depict really subtly complicated relationships in touching ways without resorting to killing off each character. Like Madoka, Cardcaptor Sakura does have some light yuri, yaoi, and everything else, but never shows anything explicit or overtly sexual, since most of the characters are still kids. Cardcaptor Sakura is definitely not as dark as Madoka, but it's not a fluff anime. Each character experiences longing, jealousy, loss and self-doubt, but each also manage to overcome, which is what makes this show so uplifting and inspiring.

Cardcaptor Sakura will leave you feeling satisfied with your emotional journey without breaking your heart as violently as Madoka. read more

report Recommended by mayoi89ji

Well, it's different but by the same time they have a lot in common. While Madoka is the more "mature" and edgy version, and even a parody (though not a funny one) of the mahou shoujo genre, Sakura is much more light hearted and many times is aimed for kids. but don't let it confuse you - Sakura is mature as well. Sakura shows that even without forcing something to be edgy, it can be as good and as mature. Both have some very surreal scenes, and you can see Madoka has taken several aspects from Sakura, without even changing a bit of them. If you watched one, you will enjoy the other more than if you haven't. Though, if you are looking for something as edgy as Madoka, Sakura isn't the right adress. read more 

report Recommended by gambitmay

both of the Mahou Shoujo genre and with very lovable leads which grow through the series as they learn from their new powers. 

report Recommended by Baconpopsicle23

Both are pretty damn good shojos that break away from the norm (Well, Sakura no That much) 

report Recommended by bart00ts

Both are classic magical girl series with a cheerful female lead who tries her best to overcome dangerous circumstances and a focus on friendship as well too and a cute magical animal side kick as well too.  

report Recommended by Disapeared_Ghost

Magical Girls and Cute Characters 

report Recommended by DerpyKingG

Senki Zesshou Symphogear addpermalink

The main character in the series is very naive about the way the world works. The colors are bright and the creatures styles are not normal. The costume designs on the magical girl outfits are also quite elaborate. 

report Recommended by Yemi_Hikari

Have similar graphic and gives you the same feeling. 

report Recommended by SymbolicLayer

Madoka Magica and Symphogear are magical girl series with the same intent that take place in a futuristic setting, and the protagonist in both is voiced by Aoi Yuuki. The enemies in each have a different art style compared to everything else. Both rely on shock value. 

report Recommended by randomperson2229

Gives the same feeling and most of the characters in both are females living in a more modern world than that we are living in and the heroines  in both can transform 

report Recommended by OhanaNiArashi

both anime involves friendship (skinship) between girls with some weird psychological aspect that toys with your feeling. the model for the main character also resembles each other. it is an anime of a girl fighting monsters 

report Recommended by sora2eugene

Both have a cult following.

The only difference is that one pretends to be deep while the other knows how to have fun. 

report Recommended by Amakasu

Incredibly fun and engaging, perhaps for different reasons, but good stuff nonetheless. Big emphasis on the relationship of the female characters, and weird enemy's designs. 

report Recommended by Ignisalge

If you're looking for a dark magical girl anime like Madoka Magica, but you want the music to be a more upfront component of the scene, look no further then Senki Zesshou Symphogear! It's got death, magic, and best of all - music you can sing along to! Each magical girl activates their powers through song, and each track will keep you pumped up! I absolutely love this series, almost as much as I love Madoka Magica, and I hope you will love it, too! 

report Recommended by passing_through

Bakemonogatari addpermalink

I know this might seem like its very unlikely, I am doing this recommendation through their artistic direction. Because Shaft and the ever crazy Shinbou were responsible for the production of this series, their art direction is very close to being 100% parallel. They are both filled with so many abstract images and one could even see a completely similar frame in Madoka and compare it to one in Bakemonogatari. Even their choice for the voice actors for their main heroines are the same people. (Saito Chiwa) for both Akemi and Hitagi, (Kitamura Eri) For one Karen and Sayaka, and ofcourse (Kato Emri) for Hachikuji and Kyuubey. The character interactions almost feel identical, even Saito Chiwa was able to carry that cold aura from Hitagi into Akemi.  read more 

report Recommended by end3rr

Both have dense dialouges.
Both have characters that tilt their heads in a slow-motion fashion

If you liked the way monogatari created design and color that stood apart from other anime you'll find Madoka very suitable to your liking, with its alternative worlds and hallucinogenic nature 

report Recommended by jamesjaimegarcia

I thought these two anime had very similar vibes. A lot of the scenes in Madoka Magica reminded me of Monogatari. Also the stories can be pretty dark and twisted along with some of the characters. If you liked one of these anime then you should check out the other.  

report Recommended by Fecal-Jesus

They may not be too similar like you are thinking, but since they're made by SHAFT, you'll expect similar stuff on both:

-Thought-provoking dialogues
-Twists on the storyline
-Weird visuals
-Creativity
-Similar Japanese voice cast
-Slow-motion head tilts 

report Recommended by parallelle_slip

This recommendation is mostly because of the directing and art of each show - Madoka is, at times, a toned down version of Monogatari in that sense, and the trippy art direction is something I consider to be a huge plus. Not to mention many of the voice actors that were in Bakemonogatari also appear in Madoka Magica and do a great job (e.g. Homura and Senjougahara are voiced by the same person). Granted, there are large differences in the plot and themes of each show, but I think that there are enough similarites there so if you liked one, there's a better than average chance you'll like the other. read more 

report Recommended by barycentricbash

Same feeling of an empty, desolate world and main characters wanting to save everyone around them. 

report Recommended by EdgyEcchiSenpai

Both were animated by shaft and both have a similar sense of wordplay too and both have a focus around strange supernatural ongoings too and have tsundere like female leads included. 

report Recommended by Disapeared_Ghost

Both made by shaft with similar amount of dialogue, pacing, and art style weirdness. 

report Recommended by Salty_Boi

Houseki no Kuni addpermalink

Both series begin with a calm tone and unexpected things happens. Characters also undergo series of events that completely changes them from their originals selfes. 

If you like cute girls, dark tones, unexpected twists and beautiful animation packed nicely together both series are for you.  

report Recommended by Cryptodess

- Young and innocent main characters that get subjected to very intense realities
- Supernatural opponents with unique designs that are simultaneously beautiful and terrifying
 

report Recommended by OmaLee

Similar character designs. Similarly executed character drama and relationships, character writing is similar in general. Similar tone, walks a line between cutesy lighthearted slice of life VS. horrific drama and mystery. 

Examines relationship to duty: wanting to be strong and capable Vs. being kind to yourself - Similar internal conflict in main character of feeling weak and useless but also being afraid of combat. 

report Recommended by s1eeps

Both series' conflicts are centered on the characters fighting off Eldritch Abominations that can strike at any time, and pose a lethal (or rather, in both cases, the closest equivalent to lethality) threat to these fighters.

 

report Recommended by chaosveritas

Both have an sweet innocent character put into all kinds of horrible shit in it and also tsundereish characters too that have dark hair in contrast to the lead that has bright hair too and things being more complex as time goes by. 

report Recommended by Disapeared_Ghost

- Cast almost entirely consists of girls
- Raid-like behaviour of mostly generic enemies (they appear from time to time, they aren't personalised, fights are not the main focus of the show, but still have noticeable impact).
- Both have mystic atmosphere
- Both shows have unique artstyle (Madoka is generally beautifull, while "Gemland" has probably the best 3D style i saw after Disney)
- Actually, they both feel unique at story too

While watching Houseki no Kuni i definitely had "Madoka's vibes". I also felt it was executed better, (characters were more attractive on average). Anyway, i consider both shows a must watch 

report Recommended by Leenbow

Both shows are set in a melancholic and dark setting, featuring characters and narratives that interrogate the value of existence and connections. There are plenty of thematic parallels, of loss and tragedy, and humanity.  

report Recommended by ObserversAreFun

Do you like anime where all is not as it seems? A series with a strong, foreboding atmosphere, but also cute girls fighting generic enemies? Well these two match perfectly. Like Madoka★Magica, Houseki no Kuni (Land of the Lustrous) is gorgeous, and inventive with it's (ab)use of medium. In both shows it feels like the creators were intent on pushing the limits of their chosen visual format. Although the quality of CGI has been notoriously unpredictable in anime, such as in the recent Berserk adaptations, Houseki no Kuni's grand, sweeping cinematography, fast pacing, and character-driven dialogue should all easily make up for any misgivings one might have about 3D anime. 

Beyond this, action scenes actually engage your brain with their surrealist stylings — almost undoubtedly this aspect of Houseki no Kuni was inspired in part by Madoka★Magica, but Houseki no Kuni provides such a fleshed out world on it's own that it does not feel like simple plagiarism. Furthermore, characters in both series are very well-developed, engaging, and particularly memorable — each provides a few solid choices for "favourite character" to suit your taste. 

Bottom line is: I can hardly recommend Land of the Lustrous enough, especially for fans of Madoka — and, naturally, vice versa. read more 

report Recommended by 3looming

Haibane Renmei addpermalink

Both anime are shorter series with an mainly all female cast. both series the characters have to deal with a situation not exactly being all that it seems to be. Both characters deal with an extended amount of sadness and both carry along some fantasy elements with them. 

report Recommended by FordFocus96

Where Madoka features Magical Girls, Haibane Renmei feature the Haibane or Charcoal Feathers. These two series explore some of the more intricate parts of human nature through a fantasy setting, and the general development of their plots are very similar. Worlds that at first seem to be utopic suggest more melancholic truths, while cute and likable characters deal with heavy existential questions and are forced to make difficult choices.  

report Recommended by ataraxial

Similarities:
+ A group of girls who are put into a rough situation where they must work together
+ They look similar to normal humans, but are no longer human
+ Plenty of drama

Differences:
- Haibane Renmei is calmer with more of eerie mood throughout whereas Madoka Magica has more obvious dark aspects
- Madoka Magica is a magical girl show while Haibane Renmei is an "afterlife" one 

report Recommended by Asfaria

At first, both series start with a slow pace but then they both start to get darker and deeper. however, madoka magica takes the turn faster.... both series also have similar atmosphere... you should watch this anime if you haven't, it's awesome. :)
   

report Recommended by ah55329

Both of these series are dramas with supernatural elements that have an emphasis on the relationships between compelling female characters. They both start out innocently enough and both have unexpected dark twists. Haibane Renmei is more peaceful and episodic, whereas Madoka Magica is much darker and more suspenseful. Each anime has its own strengths and weaknesses. Madoka has a stronger cast of characters, better writing, and is much more addicting. However, Haibane doesn't really need to have an epic plot that will constantly keep you on the edge of your seat to stand on its own. Haibane's atmosphere, symbolism and character interactions are nothing short of magical. I like to call Haibane "the subtler Madoka" because I found a lot of similarities in the relationship dynamic between the two most important characters in each series. Either way, both of these series are nearly equally matched terms of how they will move you emotionally. If you're looking for something more dark and tragic, try Madoka. In the mood for something more uplifting? Try Haibane. Absolute must watches, the both of them! read more 

report Recommended by DeleteSystem32

Despite being completely different at first sight, both shows share similar characters' traits and concept. Both, Puella Magi and Haibane, have similar protagonists, anti-hero and "antagonists" (will not say anything further regarding the last one to not spoil anyone). In both series the characters must fight against inner struggles to find their own identity, in other words, the constant fight of girl vs self that is present in both ultimateley leads them to reach their own salvation. 

report Recommended by floury

Both are supernatural themed stories with an all female ya cast and their relationships together as well as them getting caught up in a bunch of strange shit happening around them as well too. 

report Recommended by Disapeared_Ghost

Pandora Hearts addpermalink

Both places have a Gothic and surreal other world that effects the real world in supernatural ways. The cost of power is also rather great. 

report Recommended by Yemi_Hikari

Really dark and obscure Wonderland-like. 

report Recommended by Eriis

Similar dark atmosphere and the music is made for Kajiura Yuki 

report Recommended by kanbe

Like everyone said before, The dark side, characters' strong emotions, enemies' strange forms, the ost made By Kajiura Yuki. For me Madoka was strong magical girl then she turn into a normal weak heart girl, in the other side we see strong Alice but she wasn't like this when she was human. We can say they are opposite. Also thankful is the most important point between the characters in these two series. Although the look is different, but they have many similarties. Go and watch them ^^ 

report Recommended by Smiley_Nahla

The art style is very similar in quality.  The mixture of sadness, darkness, and a little light humor also is very much alike.  Pandora Hearts is basically Black Butler and Madoka Magica mashed together. 

report Recommended by RrhianBlade

Both share spooky and dark af storylines,characters caught up in strange events, and also lots of stylish visuals and action as well too. 

report Recommended by Disapeared_Ghost

While they don’t look similar at first glance, Pandora Hearts and Mahou Shoujo Madoka★Magica share some elements. The soundtracks of both anime are very similar, as they were both composed by Yuki Kajiura, which gives both anime a similar atmosphere as a result. The main characters, Oz and Madoka, also act similarly, and most importantly, both anime subvert their respective genres. Out of the two, I prefer Mahou Shoujo Madoka★Magica, but Pandora Hearts has it’s moments. 

report Recommended by SebCyrSC2000

Black★Rock Shooter (OVA) addpermalink

Both feature the alter ego of a young girl fighting strange creatures in a surreal otherworld. 

report Recommended by Archaeon

You are a girl (a hot one) and you wanted to save your friend from something audience never get to know. But there are more than two girls in a show, and you can't get along with one without epic catfighting with the others. 

1- Imagine yourself in that kind of situation, with physics-teaching alien who try to save the universe but lack the understanding of human emotion (aka. see human as disposable-condom-used-to-keep-the-excess-magical-power-used-to-save-universe-from-heat-death), and that alien is your employer. You got Magical Madoka. 

2- Imagine yourself in that kind of situation in a black and white TV series that ended halfway and never announced sequel. You got BRS. read more 

report Recommended by lapisdragon

These shows both have the same feeling. Also, both have middle school girls who end up fighting in "another world." Plus the animation is similar.  

report Recommended by BRC

'magical' girls, story about friendship and a hidden universe. When I watched the first ep, it hit me. This was like BRS, only more colorful and a lot darker[if that made sense] 

report Recommended by HRinka

both have 2 worlds it seems, and gives off the same feeling and have really similar points in it. Both first start off with a dark scene, then introduce the characters with a light tone feeling, but gradgually gets darker. 

report Recommended by Nikoru-san

Though the plots of Magica and Black Star are different, the animation is basically the same way. If you love how Magica was drawn, you will love Black Star Shooter. Black Star also has a similar dark tragedy story like Magica, where its a female friend fighting for a female friend. It also involves alternate dimension like scenes. The only real difference is the two girls fight each other as opposed to Magica they fought 'witches' 

report Recommended by Jessymoto

Both demonstrate the inner turmoil of schoolgirls as otherworldy combat. Both take their approach quite differently, but that twisted world is the one significant thing they share, and likely what you are looking for.

Modoka Magica takes the route of magical girls who work toward squaring off against the inner evil of humanity. Only to be subject to the inner evil amongst themselves. As they come to learn of the twisted reality of the fate they have chosen, infighting occurs just before they face their greatest foe.

Black Rock Shooter divides the world in two: the real world and the otherworld. In the otherworld you see girls squaring off in mortal combat, while in the real world these schoolgirls are living their normal lives. A jarring contrast until you find that the characters within each world looks like each other. read more 

report Recommended by Wrathful_Chicken

Hunter x Hunter (2011) addpermalink

Both deal with child main characters coming face-to-face with their destinies. Both are doing what they were born to do. 

report Recommended by crazyisgood

-Both have characters fighting (with blood, sweat, and tears) for their destinies.
-The main characters in both anime have similar personalities: Madoka = Gon - Homura = Killua
-Both are dark, violent, and edgy, the difference is that Madoka is a magical girl anime while HxH is an action adventure fighting shounen.
-HxH has more lighthearted moments than Madoka
-Madoka is more popular (and overrated) than HxH even though Madoka has 12 episodes (and the Rebellion movie) while HxH has 148 episodes. 

report Recommended by Markdoka

At first glance, they seem like pretty happy-go-lucky series to watch for fun and a bit of good action. As you keep watching, you realize that they're not happy series. Actually, they're closer to black holes. There's lots of drama, violence (more so in HxH), and dark concepts.

They both have somewhat childish and misleading art and character designs. 

Main protagonist is a young naive person. 

report Recommended by toblynaruto

Both series start out happy-go-lucky, until the drama begins later on. Madoka Magica is shorter and focused on a psychological thriller side, while Hunter x Hunter takes it's action into more darker levels after it's given moment, while being less weirder. 

report Recommended by parallelle_slip

Both shows take their own dark spin on their respective genres, turning their typical genre tropes on its head. Both shows also feature an underlying darkness that you have to watch through the entire show to discover. 

report Recommended by DekumDora

Both have protagonists who are children. Also, both of them contain psychological elements. They both start similarly to a kids' show but eventually get darker. The two main characters have a very strong friendship. However, Madoka Magica is more of a thriller while Hunter x Hunter is more action-oriented. 

report Recommended by hello243

Despite its childish and cute,light-hearted cover, once you enter chimera ant in hxh, the darker tone begins,while Madoka begins at ep 3 

report Recommended by ishowhatred

Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Kai addpermalink

Probably a huge spoiler, but their point of origin is exactly the same. Mahou Shoujo Madoka★Magica seemed like the "sugar-pink contacts on for some tension" version of Higurashi series after I finished watching it.  

report Recommended by kyounii

Read recommendations by 5 more users

Both have deceptively cute artstyles that hide a dark plotline.
 

report Recommended by jessifer

Both animes try to change fate by retrial, both are very psychological, making you think about human values. 

report Recommended by bogdy18

Kai and the last few episodes of Madoka Magica both follow a similar story of changing fate 

report Recommended by Rinthronhael

Both of these series have a similar style, both have this naive design that may look like it's just childish anime even when they are so dark and deep. Not only this, but those two also have similar plotlines when it comes to the development of the series. Both are really great at character and plot development. With this said, I could not recommend a better anime that looks like Higurashi. 

report Recommended by Euph1

I was originally going to write yet another recommendation for Steins;Gate, but after a while I decided on recommending Higurashi Kai to PMMM instead. Here's why~
Well, both shows obviously use time travel as a major point of the plot. You can expect to see a character endlessly repeating the same sequence of events over and over again to attain a desired outcome in both.
However, the reason why I didn't just point you guys to the ultimate granddaddy of time travel anime, Steins;Gate, was because both Higurashi Kai and PMMM have a "mysterious" feeling to them. Both give you an uneasy feeling, which is supported by kawaii artstyles and adorable characters, with some seriously provoking themes in the background. Couple this with some immensely satisfying endings, and you have two very similar anime.

If you like one, watch the other. If you haven't seen either, you're missing out on some great stuff here. read more 

report Recommended by Dechie

**POSIBLE SPOILER**

Time travelling, an dark psychotic atmosphere, the main protagonist suffering like a bitch and a lot of deaths (Higurashi's are goriest). Is easy to see their similities cause Rika and Homura are practically the same character, both having to watch their beloved ones diying, having a very serious personality 'cause the timetravels, watch their friends going crazy in some timelines and both are a hidden protagonist. Although the reason why Rika and Homura go through time are different, the two have to be with saving another people.

Also, the two are masterpieces and this is practically demostrated with their high rating in MAL! 

report Recommended by SuzuMine-chan

Shoujo☆Kageki Revue Starlight addpermalink

A strange talking animal lures our MC into a strange world and promises them something. A bunch of young girls all putting their dreams on the line. A distant, dark-haired girl with ties to our naive main character and inexplicable motives. There's more in common between these two shows than you might expect -- Revue Starlight takes a fair amount of inspiration from Madoka Magica, despite being a much different show. 

Both feature a cast of schoolgirls and some surrealist aspects; additionally, both are heavily and memorably stylized, with great soundtracks. The dynamics between Karen/Hikari and Madoka/Homura are quite similar (in particularly Hikari and Homura are exceedingly similar characters). Both have a lot of memorable and intriguing side characters with their own conflicts and rivalries who all get their time to shine (However, Starlight struggles in this aspect due to trying to juggle 9 major characters). There's also a significant twist in each show; Madoka Magica's twist comes a lot sooner and turns a lot darker/heavier than Revue Starlight, while also having greater plot relevance. 

Both shows are very ambitious and unique, but Madoka Magica realizes these ambitions a lot more than Revue Starlight. Madoka is also far more tightly written than Starlight (which spreads itself far too thin). read more 

report Recommended by Mistrals

Both have a different take on the Mahou Shoujo concept and have a somewhat tragic third act. Madoka is much heavier both in tone and violence whereas Starlight is far less violent and has a slice of life going on on top of the magical girl thing.
Some of the relationships between the girls do remind me of Madoka, but on a good way. Starlight is not as intense or experimental as Madoka, but it has great pacing, abundant energy and is just simple fun 

report Recommended by mendelwn

They are pretty much the same even the wish of the main character but revue starlight is softer without despair for anyone who don’t really want to be depressed but just emotional 

report Recommended by SamTHK

Both series have literal bows and swords with their own purpose, while madoka directing is almost felt like a theater experience, Revstar is the theater itself and share deep messages of friendships with a good crafted symbolism 

report Recommended by ishowhatred

Visually stunning anime for those who like tragic lesbians with swords.

Both share a lot of character types, themes, narrative tools, and subversions on the magical girl genre to make it more tragic. Madoka leans more into horror-esque storytelling while Revue Starlight is more for musical theater fans. Otherwise, they are fairly similar stories.  

report Recommended by CyberpunkBoyToy

They are pretty much the same even the wish of the main character but revue starlight is softer without despair for anyone who don’t really want to be depressed but just emotional. 

report Recommended by Varcolacsquadron

Kill la Kill addpermalink

The most obvious similarity comes from the fact that both shows put their own twist on the "mahou shoujo" genre. But while Madoka Magica explores this theme in a serious tone, Kill la Kill jumps around the comedy and parody territory, with some drama gems in between.
Both have very unique art styles.
The true main villans in both anime share a very similar goal and origin.
Both have really intricate stories with lots of plot twists.
The main diference is the pacing and overall atmosphere, Kill la Kill being more slap-stick comedy and ecchi, Madoka having a more well-paced story.
Both were great shows to watch. 

report Recommended by yaysoro

Madoka Magica and Kill la Kill are both shows that you have to look past have how they're advertised (Madoka for the the cute magical girls and Kill la Kill for the fanservice) and see them for the deep, underlying themes they have and engrossing plot. Both anime also have great action and animation, as well as some of the best soundtracks in anime to date.  

report Recommended by Protaku

Both were great shows. I was skeptical about both at first, only watching them because they're popular and my friends recommended them, but I love them both.
Both follow a teenage girl who reluctantly accepts power and then later finds out she is extremely powerful for one reason or another.
Both have surprisingly touching endings.
Both have (censored) nudity either from a transformation scene or someone losing their clothes for whatever reason.
Both also have (spoiler that's revealed about one third to halfway in each show) an alien race that guided humanity through evolution for personal gain. 

report Recommended by GhostFetus

Both are magical girl themed stories that have darker and edgier twist to them and share a particulalry facinating art and animation style too and have some pretty unorthodox moments of storytelling too. 

report Recommended by Disapeared_Ghost

Both are magical girl anime that explore different themes then other magical girl series. Both these shows are a bit more mature then the majority of the magical girl genre. 

report Recommended by Ameonna93

Little Witch Academia (TV) addpermalink

The very late half of the show is pretty similar to Madoka. Both contain dark themes for the magical girl genre (Though Madoka is darker) and have the main characters go in despair as they lose something that is very important. Both get less dark for the ending and have some yuri subtext. 

report Recommended by Hydreigonfan01

Assault Lily: Bouquet addpermalink

Cute magical girls fighting against monsters.
At first glance, they don't have much in common and Assault Lily seems more light-hearted but Madoka is just the same at the beginning. 
Also, if you appreaciated Madoka and Homura relationship dynamics, you will probably like that of Riri and Yuyu. 

report Recommended by KamiDesu

Shaft. Need I say more?

In seriousness, Madoka Magica and Assault Lily are somewhat very similar in what they give. Girls taking up their life in a duty to fight astronomical forces that bring despair against humanity. 

Madoka Magica generally being quite serious on the matter, going as far as to explain the effects and psychology of characters during this juxtaposed hell of a time in life. Assault Lily being a bit more energetic, taking on a similar route, watering the themes of Madoka Magica only to season it back up with a more flamboyant (though still of intrinsic quality) and easy-to-read story.

But honestly, if nothing else, the name Shaft should scream something, you already know fretting about the quality only accumulates to time waste, I'd tell you everything here is of at least good quality, with good audiovisuals as usual. read more

report Recommended by NextUniverse

Group of cute girls fighting monsters, characters' looks and dynamics have a slight similarity. Both were made by Shaft studio. 

report Recommended by ar1sh

The meaning of friendship, in my opinion, is felt a little in these two anime.  Starting from admiring to being a companion in his life.  

report Recommended by Osshin

Both anime started out as your normal moe anime where everyone seems to be enjoying their life. However, we are greeted by the dark reality of being a Magical Girl/Lily, which while they are fulfilling their duty, they may get injured or even die. 

Both also feature some depressing and emotional moments. Overall, Madoka has a sadder and more serious tone compared to Assault Lily. 

If you crave more Madoka, Assault Lily is a good alternative for you.

report Recommended by TheRockzSG

Vivy: Fluorite Eye's Song addpermalink

Innocent naive girl suddenly get called to save the world by mysterious entity.

Such entity doesn't care how much humans it sacrificed, as long as it could accomplished it's goal. 

report Recommended by x4ynt

Imagine, you are just some normal mf and some dude pulls up and be like "ayo, save da world" or "become meguca :)". Bruh.

It is really a switch-up situation down here with PMMM and Vivy's Song, in that both anime feature girls who've, until now, are pretty much the guardians of an unspeakably incomprehensible number of human inhabitants. It wasn't as if there was a choice as well (only in one of the anime), but the forceful nature in both has a hand-in-hand coherence making it all the more similar.

PMMM is about meguca and their suffering, despair, and all those other negative emotions that come with something you thought wouldn't exist with such a job. Vivy's Song is about saving humanity from the robopocalypse because what other plots can you make with robots being a central theme?

Both are good anime, about how one has to let things go at times in the worst of situations and overcome some emotional obstacles to just fight for what it is they have to do. It's a dark world out there, but these two anime present that amazingly. Full of good visuals and audio to take out of as well if nothing else.
 read more 

report Recommended by NextUniverse

>both feels like cute normal anime that evolve to something more dark
>both are elements time travel
>madoka is more like descontruction of mahou shoujo and vivy is for music 

report Recommended by xnando

It has a similar premise of taking a rather cutsie genre, Madoka being Magical girls and Vivy being Idols, then bringing a dark twist to that normally preppy genre.
Vivy is incredibly beautiful and has horrific/gruesome visuals whereas Madoka is all around very cute with a dark story being unveiled through the series.

I think if you liked the thriller and horror of magica madoka you would like the story of Vivy and vice versa. 

report Recommended by Sakura1302

The plot is dark and there are time travels, fights and music aren't epic like vivy, but it's still very similar 

report Recommended by ChronoDux

Claymore addpermalink

Claymore is also an anime about magical female-fighters, making moral decisions on their way to find purpose in the life. Before you decide to watch it: characters are a bit mature (mostly young women), mood of the series is more serious and there is some violence, too. 

report Recommended by Trzynastka

A bit odd one at first glance - what could a dark fantasy story and a magical girl anime have in common? Well, in this case, plenty.
By now Madoka Magica is widely famous for being an unconventional, dark deconstruction of the magical girl genre, and it shares many similarities with Claymore.
The two stories are very dark and mature both in their presentation and themes, and share many tropes like the "Despair Event Horizon", being set in a gloomy, crapsack world and having an all-female cast of characters.
Both shows have great artwork ( although Madoka is clearly on a whole different level ) and feature virtually no fan service whatsoever. Both are heavily character-driven and tragic, and both stand out in their respective genres for subverting, averting or inverting many of the established tropes. 
While Claymore and Madoka are birds of a feather in sharing dark and mature themes, their main difference is in their respective narrative forms; Madoka being a brilliant example of a modern tragedy, and Claymore being a drama. The basic difference between these two narrative forms is that a drama puts the heroes in control, and they are defined by their saving graces, while a tragedy toys cruelly with its characters, who fall because of their one glaring flaw. 
Both Claymore and Madoka are tragic, but only one of them is a *tragedy*.

 read more 

report Recommended by name93

Despite the very different setting, something about Claymore kept reminding me of Madoka: the fact that all warriors are women, and their "fate" seems to be to become the very beings they're fighting against. 
Other than that, both series have a dark atmosphere, althought Madoka doesn't seem like that at first. And both are very good, of course. 

report Recommended by raifuresu

Although both shows may look completely different on the superficial level (mainly in the style of animation), they are in many ways similar. Madoka Magica basically retells premise and parts of Claymore's narrative in its own cute-looking nightmarish world*, while adding much more plot twists, character development and using much broader set of plot devices. And it doesn't focus on battles so heavily. This is sort of one-way recommendation - if you like Claymore and you are not scared off by moe art style, the chances are you will love Madoka Magica. In the other direction it's more difficult to say -  Madoka being so much more than Claymore - so the chances are lower, nonetheless they are still there. read more 

report Recommended by awerture

Action-packed anime with strong lead female character. Magica's cute animation is different from the seinen style in Claymore, but I think both are very similar in the character development and story. The kind of fast-paced anime that picks your curiosity. These two shows are perfect to binge watch ! 

report Recommended by fredcourch

Anime: Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon Crystal

Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon Crystal addpermalink

When it comes to takes on magical girls, Sailor Moon is the known classic, while Madoka is known for taking a dark spin on the classic, not shying away from focusing on the tragedy of being a magical girl, yet Sailor Moon, despite being a classic doesn't shy away from pushing boundaries for the time either. 

report Recommended by Yemi_Hikari

Both are good magical girl stories where school girls transform into magical beings to fight the forces of evil and save the world. Where Sailor Moon is the classic magical girl series, Madoka Magica takes a different new approach. Both of these series are worth watching if you haven't already seen them. 

report Recommended by Renkku

Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Crystal is directly based off of the manga, so it contains the much darker tones that the manga is known for rather than the more lighter tones from the 1992 anime. If you enjoyed those darker tones, you may enjoy Puella Magi Madoka Magica, another popular magical girl series with similarly dark tones, very cute magical girl outfits, and notable soundtrack (headphones recommended!). 

report Recommended by Fario-P

So I hear you like sweeping action magical girl romance anime with plenty of suffering, whose animation isn't the greatest but whose story compels you all the same.

Just as Sailor Moon Crystal is that, so too Puella Magi Madoka Magica is that. Except Madoka is even more gay.

The downside is that PMMM is only one cour and one movie long, but to make it up for you there's an expansive multiverse of side stories and spin-offs (although, sadly, the gacha which comprises a large part of the lore is closing its doors to monolingual English speakers on 2020 September 29). Also, did I mention that it's gay? Because it is very very gay. You'll love it, trust me. (Try not to spoiler yourself, okay?) read more 

report Recommended by KyubCube

Sailor Moon Crystal is a more faithful manga adaptation in comparison to the 1992 version, and it includes the darker moments that make it more similar to Madoka Magica. 

report Recommended by GreyStoneFlinger

Boku dake ga Inai Machi addpermalink

Basically same story but Madoka is much darker and depressing. 

report Recommended by DeidaraSanji

-Both have happy moments or art only to trick you by taking a dip for the worst shortly after
-Both have characters with specific powers they use to change the life of a girl voiced by Aoi Yuuki. 
-Both shows are scored by Yuki Kajiura
-You feel the race against time in both shows utilizing the concept in similar ways. 

report Recommended by ruthekangaroo

Both share similar themes of friendship, love and sacrifice, if you enjoy one you will likely enjoy the other. They both hit you like a truck.

They both also lack typical anime tropes and so are good for non-anime fans as well while being the pinnacle of what the medium has to offer.

report Recommended by Nox0s

So this is another one of those shows riddled with out-of-this-world twists and crazy time-loop elements thrown into this chaos.

Cute little magical girls, an adorable and fluffy pet-like creature, a seemingly normal life clad with a bit of magic—what could possibly go wrong? As we inevitably find out, magic actually comes with a price. And in Puella Magi Madoka Magika, the price is GRAVE!
Magic mayhem, witchery, an evil cutesy creature—what started up as an innocent magical girl anime progresses into something sinister! 

report Recommended by NyeLink

Both are psychological series and having to save a special friend no matter what while uncovering the truths of who are behind the mysteries they have been facing throughout their lives. Each episode makes you really think and be excite to what happens next and its twists.   

report Recommended by berrypotchiii

Toki wo Kakeru Shoujo addpermalink

First off, Mahou isn't romance (then again, Toki wa kakeru shoujo doesn't display a lot of romance) but both animes are both built upon a solid relationship with loved ones and friends. 
Mahou Shoujo: Magic Girls. However, is not like Sailor Moon or Pretty Cure, but displays more darker and chaotic elements within that involve time, space, and energy. A quintet of girls involve themselves with giving up their souls to a cat-like crature who is titled "the Messenger of Magic". In return, they are granted a wish and are turned into a magic girl to fend off the city by killing witches to clean their soul gems. If the gems are not purged, then they, in return, will receive a cruel fate. 

Toki wo Kakeru Shoujo:
 The protagonist Makoto Konno is a bit of an airhead, innocent, and caring but also involves herself with Time Leaping, which enables her to shape her past. Her aunt (the protagonist of the prequel) explains this is 'natural' and to be careful while she's time traveling, but she is doing it almost every second of the day. Hysterical emotions wage within you, reverting to laughter, and quick terror. Personally, this had my heart racing with all the stupid actions she took. T_T She involves herself, not only with the death, but as well as an impossible romance~! read more 

report Recommended by oraxonaa

Based around the concept of time travelling and what is happiness. Definitely had the same theme running through it.  

report Recommended by BlackGeass1214

Both are about girls who gain a strange new ability that seems awesome at first but they soon learn there are great consequences. Both involve time travel where characters have to go back and redo events to save someone they care for. Both get more suspenseful towards the end. Madoka and Makoto are also very similar. They're quirky, they're a bit clumsy, but most of all, they love their friends dearly. Both have unconventional endings that leave you with questions. I can't get enough of these anime so if you loved one, you'll love the other! 

report Recommended by mushroomcloud

Both have elements of time travel in it and also the consequences of the choices the female lead makes as a result of said unusual power. 

report Recommended by Disapeared_Ghost

Without going into too much detail, both do have a twist revolving time travel, and honestly, you should just watch it for yourself to see the beauty these two anime can bring about with such twists. 

With similar starting stories of getting more than you bargained for, The Girl Who Leapt Through Time and Puella Magi Madoka Magica really do understand what ascending normality in humans can cause. TokiKake basing their story on time travel, PMMM on the despair that comes in being a magical girl.

Both are good anime with very interesting deep themes. Though, TokiKake is a light romance drama, whereas PMMM is a psychological anime. read more 

report Recommended by NextUniverse

Psycho-Pass addpermalink

Both written by Gen Urobuchi and are similar in the sense that they provoke the viewer to question things about our society through the deconstruction of themes and genre. 

report Recommended by sheep4lyf

Selector Spread WIXOSS addpermalink

Similar dark themes throughout. Both involve cute girls with much a much deeper story than your typical SoL. Good op and ed for both series 

report Recommended by kevinshi3

Little Busters! Refrain addpermalink

Little Busters and Mahou Shoujo Madoka Magica are both driven by powerful friendship and unstoppable antiheroes. Natsume Kyousuke and Akemi Homura are willing to go to the extremes while enduring feelings of hatred and betrayal to fulfill their ulterior motives, and their powerful story impact are greatly impressionable, as they're often considered to be the stars of the show by the end.

While the setting, genre, and characters differ quite a bit, both series' writers (Gen Urobuchi and Jun Maeda) come from a Visual Novel writing background and thus retain a similar storytelling style akin to Key's pattern of Slice of Life / Comedy =>Intense Drama. Overall, I think that if you take each story seriously for their themes of friendship, regret, and perseverance despite despair, you'll enjoy each of them.  read more 

report Recommended by Vladz0r

Anime: Narutaru: Mukuro Naru Hoshi Tama Taru Ko

Narutaru: Mukuro Naru Hoshi Tama Taru Ko addpermalink

Both series take a genre (pet monsters for Shadow Star Narutaru, magical girls for Mahou Shoujo Madoka★Magica) and deconstruct it by removing every safety feature associated with it. Do NOT make the mistake of showing these to children unless scarring fragile young minds is your intent. 

report Recommended by Yuunagi

Noragami addpermalink

Both madoka magica and noragami uses super-natrual occurrences to explain why corrupt and malicious outcomes occur in people's daily lives; such as demons, spiteful spirits, and corruptions of the soul in the hearts of people in a modern society 

report Recommended by josenewtype

Fate/kaleid liner Prisma☆Illya addpermalink

Both Madoka and Fate/kaleid are rather dark magical girl anime that deconstruct the genre.The main character has to face the dangers of actually being a magical girl. Several of the characters between them are also similar. 

report Recommended by Fujaku

Anime: C: The Money of Soul and Possibility Control

C: The Money of Soul and Possibility Control addpermalink

Both of the main protagonists are living a normal life in the early part of the series. They were offered something life changing that comes with a great cost. 

report Recommended by zetsuboSensei

Kaitou Tenshi Twin Angel addpermalink

Both are not your average magical girl show, as they portray the dark side of that it really means to be a 'hero of justice'. Darkness exists because happiness exists. 

report Recommended by MagicFlier

Cossette no Shouzou addpermalink

Both abound in surreal and frightening dreamscapes, Art Noveau aesthetics, references to European literary classics, and both feature music by Yuki Kajiura. 

report Recommended by Forion

Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood addpermalink

To gain something, you must give equivalent exchange. For a miracle to occur, you must sacrifice equal happiness. 

report Recommended by ninryu

Mekakucity Actors addpermalink

Without getting into spoilers, let's say they have similar tropes. The opening scene of MCA is also reminiscent of the opening scene of Madoka.  

report Recommended by ninryu

Elfen Lied addpermalink

Both shows may look cute and innocent from a first glance at the characters and some posters but in fact they are hiding really dark concepts behind their cute-seeming facade in different ways and also have many other things in common.

An amazing story, sick and unexpected plot twists, lots of character development, cute girls kicking some ass, (hence) a good amount of gore, the frequent use of firearms and somewhat like a hidden past are merely a few out of the several similarities that both anime share.

Elfen Lied, however, includes a little more gore and also makes occasional use of fan service, whereas Madoka provides none of the latter at all at all. 
Madoka, however has more plot twists and (in my opinion) more cunning and nicely animated fighting scenes.
Concerning the dark plot and the violence, Elfen Lied throws its cards on the table in the very beginning, while it takes a little longer for Madoka to reveal its true colors...

On a site note, both series include classical artworks plus ideas and concepts based on or referring to those and are therefore also nice pieces for the intellectual individuals among us who love to read between the lines. Furthermore, they are not about a simple fight between good and evil and I have rarely experienced such a blurry border between those two positions in anime as in these pieces, so prepare to be thought provoked…

Finally, both shows are rather short but nevertheless well-executed (around 13 episodes) and have amazing and really touching endings that provide a nice closure to the series, making them a definite must-see for every fan of the psychological Seinen genre. read more 

report Recommended by Kottbullar

Vividred Operation addpermalink

Both anime have five magical girls and a main character with ponytails that is really interested in a dark-haired mystery girl. They are also both are somewhat dark series. 

report Recommended by BreezeElric

Happy Sugar Life addpermalink

I recommend since there is a similar relationship in both of these animes. Though happy sugar life is more darker. There is a bunch of school girls having to deal with a scary and dark situation.  

report Recommended by mewon

Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon S addpermalink

Polar opposites of each other in town, Sailor Moon and Madoka are magical girl series which both pushed the boundaries of the Magical genre for the time they were made yet also upped the standard of what was expected for a female heroine for the Shoujo genre. They're also memorable and just as Sailor Moon has come to be considered a classic, so has Madoka, not to mention both series age quite well. 

report Recommended by Yemi_Hikari

Was Madoka is the first dark magical girl show? Don't forget how dark Sailor Moon got at times. This season -- the third -- in particular reminds me of Madoka and vice-versa. The friendship between the cheerful pink-haired girls and lonely dark-haired girls have similar vibes. Certain scenes with the same pair from Madoka and the canon yuri pair from S bring a very, very similar feel -- you'll know what I'm talking about if you've seen both. Overall, you'll get action, drama, and friendship, sometimes yuri-ish or outright yuri relationships from both series, and if you like one you'll probably like the other. 

report Recommended by prepare4trouble

Both shows are "Magical Girl" anime that explore darker themes than other shoujo, such as death, responsibility, violence and divinity, alongside the usual friendship and occasional romance. While Sailor Moon is a light-hearted villian of the week show that gradually gets darker with every season, Madoka Magica is a twist on the genre that takes shows such as Sailor Moon and skips the filler and goes straight for the dark stuff. Both Madoka and Usagi serve as the watchers self-insert into their worlds, although Usagi presents much more personality and relatability than Madoka does. These series have great supporting casts that steal the show. If you liked Madoka Magica and you want to know the influences on the show, if you wanted more romance (either straight or yuri), and to basically enjoy a classic anime to lighten the mood, Sailor Moon is a great choice. And if you liked Sailor Moon and want to watch an anime that emulates later episodes, if you need action instead of romance, and a more macabre version of your favorite group of heroines, Madoka Magica is the one for you. read more 

report Recommended by chapoble_

Both are magical girl shows with cute characters. Sailor Moon S doesn't get as dark as Madoka but it has it's moments. 

report Recommended by Nyapire

Devilman: Crybaby addpermalink

Short, intense, dark in tone, visually stunning (often surrealist), god tier soundtracks, plot twists and an increasingly fucked up story with a majestic conclusion. 

report Recommended by Herbrax

Yuri Kuma Arashi addpermalink

Basically, you can think of imagine YKA as every subtle element of PMMM (queerness, minimalism, surrealism) turned up to a blatant 11.  

report Recommended by Netbug

Fate/Zero 2nd Season addpermalink

Both animes have a dark plot line to them, though Fate/Zero is darker in respect. They are very powerful and well-paced; with amazing animation and well developed personalities in each character. The soundtracks are very similar and are perfect for the anime. The same creator I believe too.  

report Recommended by Azunyan55

Gunslinger Girl addpermalink

Both series use fantastic elements (magic for Madoka★Magica, futuristic technology in the case of Gunslinger Girl) to set up stories which revolve around complex themes.

Expect drama, an immersive ambiance, top-notch music, surprisingly appropriate lyrics, references to classic works, and cute girls in unenviable professions. 

report Recommended by Yuunagi

Same deal, cute little innocent girls suffer for our entertainment.

I guess at this point everyone in the solar system has heard the name of Madoka, so I wouldn't say much about that.

If you can get pass the ridiculous premise of Gunslinger Girl (well it's an anime), you may be surprised by how subtle the show is handled instead of making it as loud as possible. There is no super hyper character, no crazy plot twist or epic music, all you have is a great atmosphere created with good pacing, expert timing editing, great voice acting and appropriate music. Instead of trying to make you care about the characters, the show just presents them as real people with real emotion, little girls act like little girls even though they are messed up at some level. When a character died, it's genuinely sad rather than shocking or comedic, almost nothing is exaggerated. With all these care and passion the creator put into the show, they successfully create a truly unique work that is not just a copy and paste of some previous successful works, which makes the show more immersive and enjoyable. With well executed gun battles and one of the best use of classical piece in anime as icing on the cake, even though you may not be impressed but I doubt you would ever be angered by it.

Turns out when it is done well, little girls suffering can be really sad.

Damn it. Somehow I mess up the order, it should be the other way around.

Btw, Mal is such a tsundere, she wouldn't let me change. read more

report Recommended by raveninthemuddle

Both series have are very strong drama. Both use the little girls for storytelling. Great music, clever dialogues and interesting characters. 

report Recommended by Kns-

Hai to Gensou no Grimgar addpermalink

Mahou Shoujo Madoka Magika is opposing the traditonal mahou shoujo genre rules with a harsh reality. Hai to Gensou no Grimgar does the same to fantasy  

report Recommended by 33orion77

Fate/Extra: Last Encore addpermalink

both anime sort of venture in a dungeon-like world with a psychological setting. the visual style was not that similar, but sometimes it does (the hypnotizing background)  

report Recommended by sora2eugene

Anime: Kara no Kyoukai Movie 1: Fukan Fuukei

Kara no Kyoukai Movie 1: Fukan Fuukei addpermalink

Similarly dark and foreboding. Also features Kalafina for the EDs/OPs. 

report Recommended by WaffleWolf

Ga-Rei: Zero addpermalink

Supernatural dark-themed catfight with casualties. The timing of event is so well done you will be surprised and can't wait-until-next-week. Kickass combat keep you glued to your seat when the next-week finally comes. Entire lesbian casts keep you sealed to your seat once more when the next next episode come. And finally when the next next next week come once again, here come explicit confession of lesbianship on air, which once more stick you to your seat. 

Short summary? Explicit Yuri (lesbian) attitudes, beautiful combat sequences, girls politic presented unlike your average Sex and the City catfight, great screenplay, and well timed stories will keep you glued to your seat throughout the season. I'm out of synonyms for glued already. read more 

report Recommended by lapisdragon

Tsubasa Chronicle addpermalink

Involve epic scale of universe-changing physics. We all know Anime physics is mysterious, overly bouncy boobs, swords always beat guns, midair direction changing, easy to rip girl clothing, etc. But no, this two shows talk some serious physics and unlike what mentioned above, is difficult to prove untrue.

That makes many audience think "this might be true" since it's impossible to prove untrue. The laws mentioned in both shows are time-space continuum, multidimensional and multi-existence stuff. Really difficult to prove untrue. This make both shows look as credible as philosophy teacher, which is actually not much, but more believable than most sci-fi anime featuring Martians, which is much easier to prove untrue. (I'm not saying it is.)

No one is recommending you to learn quantum physics by watching anime. It's just that if you love epic-scale sci-fi setting with characters messing with laws of the universe, these are the shows for you. read more 

report Recommended by lapisdragon

Yumekui Merry addpermalink

Gothic anime geared towards a female audience with bright colors and a surreal other world only a select few can go into. There is a lot of angst and losing what one holds important and for each it is different. 

report Recommended by Yemi_Hikari

Kannazuki no Miko addpermalink

They both have 'changing destiny for beloved's sake' as main theme. What's more, their soundtracks are amazing (though they are made by other composers). WARNING: Kannazuki no Miko is shoujo-ai while Mahou Shoujo Madoka★Magica isn't. 

report Recommended by revale

Universe addpermalink

The music short is styled exactly like the worlds the witches reside in. 

report Recommended by lanblade

Akuma no Riddle addpermalink

Both Akuma no Riddle and Madoka Magica involve a female cast who have different motives behind their actions for a wish. In Akuma no Riddle, they are attempting to assassinate one of their classmates for the ability to have any wish they desire granted while in Madoka Magica the girls can have any wish they want fulfilled in return of them becoming a magical girl who fights witches for the rest of their lives. 
Some characters resemble each other in both personality and appearance like Madoka Kaname and Haru Ichinose along with Haruki Sagae and Kyouko Sakura.

Both Akuma no Riddle and Madoka Magica are beautiful and if you enjoyed one, you'll surely enjoy the other! read more 

report Recommended by DragonA7X

Hidamari Sketch addpermalink

They're both created by Shaft, there's an all-female cast, and Miyako and Mami are both voiced by Kaori Mizuhashi! 

report Recommended by HidamariSeashore

Death Note addpermalink

If you are looking for popular dark and Gothic anime like Death Note, Madoka Magica is the best shot. Do not judge the anime by it's cover picture. Although there isn't any mind game in the series, if you enjoyed the dark and Gothic atmosphere that surrounded Death Note (drawings, music, ect) you will also enjoy Madoka Magica. Is like enjoying Death Note in  a different genre with a different plot. 

report Recommended by Duo02

Jigoku Shoujo addpermalink

Both have the devil leitmotif & oppressive atmosphere. In both series seemingly happy life turns out to be full of sorrow, hatred & despair, and children are opposed to the wicked, cruel world. However, there are some differences: "Madoka" has a better storyline & its plot develops more dynamically; "Madoka" 's main trope is contrasting, whereas "Jigoku Shoujo" 's one is reiteration. 
Also, i'd like to say, that when i was watching these two animes sometimes i had a strange feeling: i failed to define, whether they're masterpieces or just junk. I was uncertain about "Jigoku Shoujo" especially because of its repetitiveness, and about "Madoka" because of its not realistic representation of emotions. But, ultimately, i still like both of them and think, that if they-re not masterpieces, they're at least original and stylish. read more 

report Recommended by lotrus28

Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Gou addpermalink

Cute girls doing cute things but the things aren't cute they're SCARY! Twisted narratives that keep you guessing where this wild and tragic ride is going. 

report Recommended by Keirik

Glass no Hana to Kowasu Sekai addpermalink

Both have magical girls who deal with tragedy. They face enemies but unsure exactly why. Starts out happy but deteriorates into misfortune. Not your average Magical Girl genre show. 

report Recommended by Kosshi

Shokei Shoujo no Virgin Road addpermalink

Big unexpected plot twists, yuri, and a show that leads to think it's your run-of-the-mill story of this genre, only to find, nope! No this is most definitely not with a lot of deeper story.  

report Recommended by Sara_Isayama

Princess Principal addpermalink

Both have amazing action scenes, relatively dark stories, yuri undertones, and soundtracks by Yuki Kajiura. If you like short stories with lot's of twists and cute girls suffering; this is the show for you. 

report Recommended by LegendaryRQA

Both are dark, complex anime with strong female characters, revolving around a group of 5 girls, and have the same composer (Yuki Kajiura). Additionally, pretty much all of the main characters can be compared to each other:

Madoka====>Beatrice- Kindest members of the group who act as the emotional centre, disapprove of the more shady actions of the others and have similar hairstyles.

Homura====>Ange- Very stoic and serious girls who care more about protecting the one they love than they do about the bigger picture.

Sayaka====>Chise- Japanese, wield swords, very stubborn and cause the most conflict in the group.

Kyoko====>Dorothy- Ruthless, slow to trust, prone to grinning menacingly, and have a very tragic past involving their father in some way.

Mami====>Charlotte- Blonde, refined and generally very nice but also have their creepy moments.

Both are well worth watching, though I think "Madoka Magica" is slightly better. read more

report Recommended by Joe_Devaney

Both feature all female lead characters who get involved with top secret operations. One fights witches, while the other engages in espionage. Although staring very cute high school age girls, they both deal with very dark subject matter and heavy moral obligations; the difference being Princess Principal was more upfront about it. The biggest similarity would have to be in the character personalities and motivations. Much like every character in Princess Principal is different and has different reasons for joining, each character in Madoka are very different with different motivations. Watching them all try to work together despite these differences is what makes both shows great. read more 

report Recommended by whereistreycool

Red Garden addpermalink

Both shows have a primarily female cast. The main characters are forced (more-so in Red Garden) to fight beasts/witches, and if they give up they die. Characters don't fully understand the situation they're in for most of the series. They're both pretty dark series, and there are definitely some more similarities.  

report Recommended by Yatsura

Hells addpermalink

Both focus on a young girl getting caught up in strange events beyond their understanding, and being friends with another girl thats the polar opposite of her as well too and also both share some really kino looking art,animation and character designs too. 

report Recommended by Disapeared_Ghost

Mahou Shoujo Tokushusen Asuka addpermalink

Both are dark twisted magical animes that explore concepts like death, ptsd. 

report Recommended by mickeystrand1

"Oshi no Ko" addpermalink

similarity: Both have cutesy concept but yeah. Better watch both of them to fully understand. It also caters social dilemma. 

difference: Madoka Magica has obviously a "magical girl" concept, while Oshi no Ko focuses on entertainment industry.  

report Recommended by ochinchinpai6969

Blue Reflection Ray addpermalink

Both are dark themed magical girl stories with a ya cast as well as focus on strange events happening around them. 

report Recommended by Disapeared_Ghost

Mononoke addpermalink

If you see the sypnosis of both animes, they may not look too similar: Mononoke is about a medicine seller in which job is to try to protect people from Mononoke/demons, while Madoka is basically an Evangelion-like turn on magical girls. If you watch both animes, then you'll be surprised that they would look somewhat similar: plot twists, weird imagery, unsettling moods, fighting against monsters, and places taken something from an overly surreal world.

Mononoke is more episodic as it tells a different story through it's arc-driven plot, but if you're looking for dark, psychedelic anime, then those shouldn't be missed. 

report Recommended by parallelle_slip

Anime: Shin Shirayuki-hime Densetsu Prétear

Shin Shirayuki-hime Densetsu Prétear addpermalink

Both of these magical girl titles start out light-hearted, but have a darker twist to them as the story progresses. While Madoka has that twist much earlier in the show and Pretear has a slower start, both end up being darker than your average mahou shoujo anime. One of the key ideas in Madoka is also explored in Pretear, though in a slightly different way. This is a spoiler though, so you'll just have to watch them to find out. Overall, both are mahou shoujo series that are more than meets the eye, though Madoka has a much higher art and writing quality and Pretear is still very much a shoujo series. read more 

report Recommended by _mahoushoujos_

Anime: Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon SuperS

Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon SuperS addpermalink

Both are about a young girl encountering a familiar(animal) who introduce them to magical powers. in the Magical Girl genre. Even though Madoka Magica is a little darker, but its just as great. 

report Recommended by MoonXArtemis

Anime: Yuuki Yuuna wa Yuusha de Aru: Washio Sumi no Shou

Yuuki Yuuna wa Yuusha de Aru: Washio Sumi no Shou addpermalink

Is near the same, but Yuuki is more of a ''friendly'' kind, i think is more a slice of life, but let's see how it turns out. 

Also Madoka is better in so many ways, but if you wanna see something ''near'' to it well, this is your best shoot. 

report Recommended by Jaisondfm

Dennou Coil addpermalink

Both starts looking as kid's shows, and both plots center around the relationship between two girls, the shy main character and the stoic one that seems at the beginning as an antagonist. 

report Recommended by ObscureObsidian

Houkago no Pleiades (TV) addpermalink

There are many blatant and obvious features in both anime series that make them increasingly similar to one another. For the most part, both are based off the mahou shoujou series and feature their magical powers. Although minor, both also have 5 people in the protagonist's group which makes comparison much easier between the two. Aiming for a goal, both groups' themes are based off friendship and their power extracted from them. The art style and music from both are equally beautiful and pretty though it may differ from time to time. Ultimately, Houkago no Pleiades and Mahou Shoujou Madoka Magica are similar in several factors that make them both enjoyable animes to watch. read more 

report Recommended by Shiruet

Shamanic Princess addpermalink

Both anime are darker versions of the magical girl genre, including drama and mature themes. The ending episodes also reveal details and events about what set the original plot in motion. 

report Recommended by Noodle070

Smile Precure! addpermalink

Magical girls fight against villains that have a similar motive, collecting human despair in order to fulfill their goals. 

report Recommended by GreyStoneFlinger

Akira addpermalink

Both Akira and Madoka Magika get cataclysmic at the end.
This is when a new world is created, with one of the protagonists as a god.

If you want to see the boundaries of space and time transcended, both titles can be recommended. 

report Recommended by Estefan

Casshern Sins addpermalink

Both are dark and depressing that messes around with philosophical themes and tropes about reality. 

report Recommended by WingZeroRequiem

Samurai Flamenco addpermalink

Both share: cute characters, ordinary beginnings that create a false sense of comfort, decent action, (sometimes) deep introspection of key characters, twisted themes, unexpected tone shifts, and a more-or-less successful deconstruction of their original genres. 

Both Madoka and Samurai Flamenco are decent deconstructions of the magical-girl and super-hero genres respectively, but Madoka is much more focused and consistent in it's analysis of narrative/character tropes. Flamenco (unexpectedly) goes fairly deep into some of it's key cast members, even more so than Madoka at times, but the constant shift in character responses/genre/themes made Flamenco's narrative far less believable and effective than it could have been, in which case Madoka is certainly the superior of the two. But don't write either off, give them both a try. read more 

report Recommended by jhan2294

Vanitas no Karte addpermalink

The music, the damn music really. There's also Itamura Tomoyuki but the music in particular. They are both eloquent due to the prestigious use of stellar music. Like really, it is kinda crazy how good music makes an anime.
 

report Recommended by NextUniverse

Lycoris Recoil addpermalink

Girls fighting evil in secrets
Similarity in Main Characters representing the contrasting personality
Hinting of dark theme
The mystery surrounding their secret organization (Magical Girls and Lycoris)
OP is sung by Claris
Both are original anime 

report Recommended by dindasmart

Another addpermalink

Both are centered around a younger crowd and have a dark artistic style to them.  The story lines themselves aren't particularly similar but the style is simalar. Another is atmospherically darker. Madoka may feel at first like it's too "pink" but it gets darker very quickly and becomes very interesting. 

report Recommended by calicodragon

Akame ga Kill! addpermalink

The truth of the world. On a superficial surface, Akame Ga Kill and Puella Magi Madoka Magica give a fairly genuine and peaceful atmosphere for their protagonists, though deep down the line, this once great fantasy gets flipped completely with a new dark world that was always lingering to being with.

MCs Tatsumi and Madoka, with Sayaka, understand that the ideas that were once given to them slowly go back to the fantasy that they always were. AGK being about fighting against a tyrannical empire, and PMMM being about magical girls dark truth slowly unravelling.

Both are good anime about how people change with the lies that were given to them, and how hopes get crushed left and right with no warning whatsoever. With AGK being an action, PMMM is more focused on magic and psychology read more 

report Recommended by NextUniverse

Granbelm addpermalink

Both anime involve characters who get transported into illusionary worlds and use magic to fight. While they start out cutesy, the shows have plot twists and get much darker as they progress. They both have characters who are magical girls, but Granbelm also includes mechs. Also, they both share the same theme of getting a wish granted 

report Recommended by Noodle070

Shadows House addpermalink

    Both stories revolves around two girls, one is pure and cheerful and the other is mature and cautious. Every episode they endure hardship and grew a bond which makes them closer together ╰(*°▽°*)╯(¬_¬ ). 

I need more (❁´◡`❁)

report Recommended by Mewbie

Lost Song addpermalink

Trying to spoil as little as possible here, but while it starts as a typical fantasy anime with some great music, Lost Song eventually takes a crazy and unexpected twist that rivals those of Madoka, give it a change and you definitely won't be disappointed. 

report Recommended by Punkero

Anime: Fate/stay night: Unlimited Blade Works 2nd Season

Fate/stay night: Unlimited Blade Works 2nd Season addpermalink

Both series have characters with magical powers.
Both series have the main characters going to school who are not involved in the conflict between mages. (Shirou / Madoka)
Both series show situations where the population is in danger due to the presence of unknown and mysterious enemies.
Both series show at the end of very intense and epic battles .. 

report Recommended by TanakaTari

FLCL addpermalink

The similarity is apparent—you do not need to go past the first episode. The moment you begin watching Madoka, you receive a chill revealed through an apparent chaos in the anime. Concepts that you are previously unaware of now present themselves with the most convoluted of thought.

On one hand, you have the chaos of plot, in which foreshadowing and motifs pile themselves one after another, forcing you to think hard on what is really happening, what are the intentions of each character, and maybe wonder who, really, is the antagonist; On the other hand, you have a world that may seem normal at first—at the insistence of the protagonist—though everything is torn apart when the main character meets a girl or unknown origin.

In which order do these characteristics describe the respective shows? It's up to you to decide; for me, the characteristic describes both of the shows perfectly~ read more 

report Recommended by imjustjk

Kami no Tou addpermalink

Both involve the granting of wishes for those willing to risk everything  by braving the tower/the life of a Mahou Shoujo.  

report Recommended by JVskunkape

Shugo Chara! addpermalink

Are they similar? Well, yes and no. Shugo Chara! is a fairly straight-forward magical girl series, whereas Madoka errs much darker as a deconstruction, but it just so happens that Shugo Chara! is a perfect example of the kind of series Madoka seeks to deconstruct. If you've seen Madoka, perhaps you need more standard fair to pick you up -- and if you're done with Shugo Chara!, perhaps you're interested in something that starts similar, but shows you how dark the genre can go... 

report Recommended by lithiumflower

Mahou Shoujo Lyrical Nanoha A's addpermalink

The shows are both content and market-wise similar. Dramatic story, lesbian attitude, darker atmosphere than your average CCS, target older rather than younger demographics, oh yes and magical girls too.

I put my rec on A's because I seriously never watched the first Nanoha. My knowledge of magical girls genre is limited but these similarities are true and clear, see for Yourself. 

report Recommended by lapisdragon

JoJo no Kimyou na Bouken addpermalink

Both series share some key themes: supernatural abilities determined by one's deepest wishes, the concept of soul, similar "food chain" theme of superhuman creatures and a character who can stop time. 

report Recommended by Rade-chan

Kuroshitsuji addpermalink

Both are dark animes which involves selling one's life/soul to a different being(demon/incubator) in exchange for a single wish. 

report Recommended by zetsuboSensei

Anime: Danganronpa: Kibou no Gakuen to Zetsubou no Koukousei The Animation

Danganronpa: Kibou no Gakuen to Zetsubou no Koukousei The Animation addpermalink

Both have a heavy theme of Hope vs. Despair. 

report Recommended by HatchetGirl

AKB0048 addpermalink

Both Anime take their genre and make it darker then what we normally get, one being "pop idol" and the other being "magical girl". Both have a devirce cast of characters and a story line that draws people in and makes one fall in love with the characters. The designs are also very detailed. 

report Recommended by Yemi_Hikari

Nanatsu-iro★Drops addpermalink

Both of these Anime are magical girl Anime. One is a more classic type, while the other makes its own ground. However, there are "rules" the girls have to follow and in both Anime the girls are looking for something specific. 

report Recommended by Yemi_Hikari

11eyes addpermalink

The main characters are fighting off an apocalypse. However, in doing so they find tragedy ends up following them no matter what they do. There are also alternate worlds/realities, not to mention multiple time lines. Both series styles are nice as well. 

report Recommended by Yemi_Hikari

Anime: Bleach Movie 1: Memories of Nobody

Bleach Movie 1: Memories of Nobody addpermalink

When the world is going to come to complete and utter destruction what does one do? Well, both the B;each movie and the Magical Girl Anime honestly have the same answer. Also, both have a happy go lucky feel to them and yet the darker side of things as the story progresses. 

report Recommended by Yemi_Hikari

Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon R addpermalink

Ground breaking - both series broke ground in different ways. Sailor Moon for example helped to step up what was expected for a heroine in the genre, raising the bar above what it was, while Madoka is one of the series which helped to introduce a darker tone to the genre while still keeping the light and fluffy look to the outfits. 

report Recommended by Yemi_Hikari

Higashi no Eden addpermalink

Faustian bargains, main characters need to save the world, mysterious story draws you in.  These two are very similar, though Madoka is rather darker. 

report Recommended by baltar

Moetan addpermalink

Both have a device for transform. have animal that can talk.

while madoka was a serious mahou shoujo, moetan were the parody. 

report Recommended by CruciG

Suzumiya Haruhi no Yuuutsu addpermalink

Both anime are parodies of already existing genres but executed in a very serious (and very good) manner. I felt the idea of 'a greatness that heavily impacts the world' was very similar, though the anime have a different feel overall. 

report Recommended by Lazhward

Brigadoon: Marin to Melan addpermalink

Both look like generic, light-hearted shows at the beginning... until the plot really begins to kick in. Both also involve a young girl living through quite a bit of hardship. 

report Recommended by greymousie

Kamikaze Kaitou Jeanne addpermalink

Both are Magical Girl shows that can get a somewhat dark tone sometimes. They also share a kind of 'religious' theme at some point. Other than that, they arey as different as magical girl shows can be. 

report Recommended by PokeL

Witch Hunter Robin addpermalink

Dark series that revolve around hunting witches. 

report Recommended by Numi