I’m going to be completely honest in this review. I was quite hesitant and sceptical about watching Puella Magi Madoka Magica purely because magical girls and all that jazz are usually something that I don’t like to watch. But I am pleased to say that when I did go ahead to watch this anime, I was pleasantly surprised. I didn’t know what to expect, though I had seen it floating around for quite some time. The first episode past and I was still not convinced on the show but after the second episode was finished, I found myself up to episode 8 just like that and before I
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knew it I had completed the show.
The concept and storyline is not like what you would expect from a ‘magical girl’ kind of anime. The theme of Madoka Magica is tragic and grievous, depressing and heart-rending. It follows the lives of a middle school girl Madoka Kaname and her friend Sayaka Miki who meet Kyuubey who is a ‘mysterious and friendly’ familiar who can grant the girls any wish they would like. All they have to do is make a contract with him and become a Magical Girl. Whilst the idea seems intriguing and fascinating little do they realise that with that power comes severe and serious consequences that would change their lives forever. I don’t want to really give the storyline away to those who are yet to see this anime but just know that Puella Magi Madoka Magica is not your light romance/comedy.
Themes: The main themes in this anime are friendship, nothing is for free, and the manipulation of evil.
Friendship is key part of this anime as it’s what keep the girls fighting through and battling each witch. But the power of friendship and loyalty is something I noticed occurring repeatedly throughout the show eg. Homura looks out for Madoka and protects her as best she can from becoming a Magical Girl.
Another theme is the manipulation of evil. Evil twists deeper and deeper into the storyline, Kyuubey as cute and innocent as he may look is quite deceitful and insidious. Since he cannot understand the values and morals that humans carry, he looks upon them as merely useless shells. The only part worth capturing is their souls which he can then make immortal. The lesson the girls learn and come to realise is that nothing is for free. Wishes may be granted but in turn, making someone else happy will create despair and doom for others. Changing destiny, is something that is not to be messed with, as it can alter and destroy all of what they’ve known. I found the story to be quite engaging, interesting, and twisting the usual spin on ‘magical girls’ was a surprising and new experience for me to see.
Art:
I found the artwork of this series to be very simplistic and different. I can’t say that I was a huge fan of the way the characters were drawn but I did enjoy the futuristic settings and environments in which the story is set in. The houses and schools in this anime seem spacious and ultra modern which makes the school setting different from most anime I have seen. The contrast between light and dark colours portray a statement in the ‘Good vs Evil kind of way. Though the colour palate can be quite gloomy and dreary at times, the contrast between their world and the characters clothing and colour scheme is something I seemed to have noticed quite a bit. It makes me feel like the characters are trapped in their world and cannot escape it until they fight off the darkness that is suffocating them.
Characters: The character development was like a journey through an electric storm. Thinking you know what to expect from these characters and then they surprise you with devastating and heart breaking backstories that changed the way I perceived the character. From Kyoko Sakura’s past to Sayaka Miki’s future. Each one is so depressing and some what emotional that it gives a depth into how magic can destroy lives. Through the character of Madoka, I feel like I can relate to how she couldn’t fit in or do anything really extraordinary. She wanted to prove to everyone around her that she could protect others too. Her dejected facade made watching this show interesting because you didn’t know what she was going to do. The characters are each individuals and have their own morals and values of what they believe is right and wrong. I found that the characters in this anime were memorable, my favourite being Kyoko Sakura. Homura Akemi, was the silent badass type which I immediately loved. Sayaka Miki started off alright but gradually disliked her more and more. A character that I absolutely loved was Kyoko Sakura. Her fieriness, her blunt and straight up personality is something that made her stand out in this series. I personally think she is the best character in this series and her backstory is quite tragic and depressing. All the characters take dark and twisted turns, but keeps the story engaging.
Sound: In many aspects, the soundtrack I found was perfectly suited for this anime. The opening theme Connect suited the atmosphere of the show quite well. I wouldn’t say it was my favourite opening or that it is one I found very memorable but it provided a nice touch to the series. I found the second ending theme Magia so perfect for this anime. It really captured the emotions and deep aspects of evil and manipulation that is conveyed in show.
Enjoyment: Overall I think Puella Magi Madoka was worth watching. Everyone is obviously entitled to their own opinion but I can say that this show isn’t for everyone. I enjoyed the pace of this anime and the overall concept of themes behind it. It left me thinking about just how cruel life can get sometimes and the obstacles we have to face in order to live. I would give this anime a 8/10.
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Jun 2, 2015
Mahou Shoujo Madoka★Magica
(Anime)
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I’m going to be completely honest in this review. I was quite hesitant and sceptical about watching Puella Magi Madoka Magica purely because magical girls and all that jazz are usually something that I don’t like to watch. But I am pleased to say that when I did go ahead to watch this anime, I was pleasantly surprised. I didn’t know what to expect, though I had seen it floating around for quite some time. The first episode past and I was still not convinced on the show but after the second episode was finished, I found myself up to episode 8 just like that and before I
...
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