#madoka magica anniversary analysis

[mistbornthefinal]

Madoka Magica Aniversary Analysis: Part 10

I Wished That I Could Turn Back Time

Well this is the episode, Episode 3 may have gotten people talking about Madoka but it was this one that cemented this series as a classic. 

We begin with Homura, but very clearly not the Homura that we’re familiar with. The introduction of this Homura is an inversion of what we saw in episode 1. Rather than brush off the curious students she needs to be “saved” by health officer Madoka. (rather than her transfer being mysterious we are told she just got out of the hospital for an unspecified heart condition that she still takes medicine for) This time Madoka leads and Homura follows, Madoka is the one setting the terms by which they refer to each other, Madoka complements Homura’s name which echo’s back to EP 1. Rather than Homura exhorting Madoka not to change it’s Madoka who exhorts Homura to try live up to her name. 

Also unlike in the first episode where Homura blows everyone away this Homura struggles with both academics and athletics. As she walks home she recalls Madoka’s call to “be cool to match her name” which only deepens her depression. She’s overcome with a sense of directionlessness and ennui that’s fairly similar to Madoka’s own insecurities. As he mood darkens the Witch Izabel calls to her seeding her with suicidal thoughts and then pulls her into her labyrinth. Her minions lurch toward Homura, all seems lost, but then a familiar theme is heard.

The Puella Magi, Mami and Madoka(?!) are here for a clutch save and they make short work of the witch. At Mami’s apartment Homura is (presumably) filled in on Meguca 101 but also that Walpurgisnact is soon to arrive. 

We cut to that immediately after that because this episode doesn’t mess around. Mami’s dead, Madoka is the only thing standing in the way of the mightiest Witch. Homura pleads with Madoka to run, that no one will blame her for it. But for better or for worse Madoka has the soul of a true hero. Even though it’s brought her into this seemingly hopeless situation Madoka doesn’t regret becoming a Puella Magi she leaps back into the fray with a smile on her lips.

She’s even able to defeat Walpurgisnact but only at the cost of her life. As Homura sobs over her body, she should have lived rather than save someone like her. In her grief Kyubey is there with the same offer as always, is there a wish she’s willing to trade her soul for? There is, of course.

I want to redo my first encounter with Kaname-san. But this time, instead of her protecting me, I want to be strong enough to protect her!

The soul gem rises from her chest shining, her wish has surpassed entropy. As she grasps it we see the gears of her shield start to turn. She awakens in a new timeline, the clock wound back to the day she was discharged from the hospital.

At school she grabs the hands of a very confused Madoka at the first oppertunity and tells her that she became a Puella Magi. We then cut to Homura demonstrating her power by wailing on an oil drum with a golf club in stopped time. It’s an impressive power but as Mami points out it’s limited by her ability to actually do damage as she seems to lack the superhuman physicality that the other Puella Magi seem to have. 

Homura elects to solve this problem by making pipe bombs, which we see her demonstrate on the witch Patricia. Much to Madoka’s... enthusiasm. 

Sadly the happy-fun-(yuri)-times can’t last while the shadow of Walpurgisnact looms. We’re back to were the last timeline ended, only this time there’s still a Soul Gem in Madoka’s hand one about to fully darken. Homura leans the terrible truth as Kriemhild Gretchen is loosed on the world, and then the clock is wound back yet again.

Now knowing the truth Homura attempts to warn the other Puella Magi about Kyubey’s deception. Unfortunately the other Puella Magi now incudes Sayaka, who is instinctively hostile to Homura and dismisses her out of hand. Though it might in part owe to swords comboing poorly with bombs. That part at least is something Homura can solve, by stealing guns from the Yakuza. 

Just in time for Sayaka to become a Witch. Madoka is on the “try to talk down Oktavia” plan that we saw in the last episode and it’s not any more effective than that last time we saw it. As Madoka is cornered by wheels Homura steps in with her time stop to deflect the attack with her new end the fight.

As the reality of what happened set’s in the girls are distraught, especially Mami who ties up Homura with her ribbons and then just shoots Kyouko’s soul gem. She turns her gun on Homura saying that if Witches are born from Soul Gems then they have no choice but to die. Before she can pull the trigger Madoka kills her. Homura tries to comfort Madoka saying that the two of them can still defeat Walpugisnact.

Well she was right, but though victorious the two of them are out of magic, and they both know what happens next. Maybe it won’t be so bad Homura muses, the two of them can become monsters together and lay waste to this awful world. Madoka has a different idea, she actually has one last grief seed and she uses it to cleanse Homura’s gem. She wants Homura to do something that Madoka can’t.

Could you save me from my stupidity... before I get fooled get fooled by Kyubey?

Homura agrees and in this moment that the Homura we know is truly born. She’ll do it no matter how many times it. But there’s on last thing, Madoka doesn’t want to become a Witch, the may be many sad and awful thing in this world but there are some worth protecting, and one last thing the two of them can do for this world. 

It’s in this moment that Homura is finally able to call Madoka by her first name, just as Madoka asked her two timelines ago. 

In the new timeline Homura leaps from her bed, heals her eyesight with magic, and undoes her braids, completing her transformation into the Homura we’ve gotten familiar with throughout the series. She then appears beside Homura’s window dead Kyubey in hand and tells her that if anyone offer a miracle she shouldn’t trust them.

Homura raids a military base and then wages a one girl war against Mitakihara’s Witch population. She makes a vow, she will never depend on anyone again, never allow Madoka to fight, she will destroy all the Witches by herself. Including Walpurgisnact. 

Just like that we’re back to the very beginning of the show. The scene that the current Madoka saw in her dream, Homura struggling alone against the legendary Witch. As before Madoka looks on in horror and Kyubey is there to tempt her into his trap. This time though we hear as Homura desperately calls out to Madoka not to trust his contract. 

And this time we see the aftermath.  Kriemhild Gretchen looms on the horizon like a mountain of darkness, Kyubey estimates that she will destroy the planet in about ten days. Kyubey predicted that something like this would happen but given he has met his quota it’s humanities problem now. But not Homura’s this isn’t her battlefield she says as she turns back time once again. 

We’re now in the main timeline seeing Homura hunt Kyubey in episode one from her perspective.

I’ll do it over... as many times as it takes. I’ll relive the same time over and over, searching for the one way out. I’ll find the one path that will save you from your fate of boundless despair. Madoka... my one and only friend. If it’s... If it’s for you, I don’t mind being trap in this endless maze... for all eternity. 

This episode ends with Connect rather than opening with it, just in case we weren’t now aware that it’s Homura song. This version ends with all five girls rather than Mami, Sayaka, and Madoka (who are never contracted at the same time in the main timeline)

So that was episode 10 as previously stated this episode is all about Homura’s character, her wish and how she came to be the person we met in episode one. Honestly I’d say that Homura is the most misunderstood characters in the series, like we’ve all seen plenty of “crazy stalker Homura” jokes.  Homura’s determination to save Madoka isn’t a totally one sided thing either, ultimately she working to fulfil the request of TL 3 Madoka. Rather the tragedy is that she decides her devotion to saving Madoka must take priority over her relationship with Madoka, which doesn’t leave anyone happy.

To a certain extent Homura is a foil to all the other girls. Much like Mami most of what we see from her is a façade, as much they both project confidence they’re hiding a lot of pain and loneliness. Like Sayaka she made a selfless wish for somewhat selfish reasons and is ultimately kept from the person they love in part because they are unwilling to be honest about their feelings. She puts on an air of cynicism despite being a disillusioned romantic in a similar way to Kyouko even though both of them are still willing to put it all on the line for the person they love. 

And of course Homura and Madoka share a self-sacrificing streak born from a low opinion of their own value, and what they both want form their wish is not only to save others but also to change themselves. Homura doesn’t wish merely to save Madoka but to become someone capable of saving her, much in the same way Madoka wants to be a person who saves others. 

[beneaththetangles]

Throwback Thursday: BtT’s Top 10 Anime

As we look back to ten years of Beneath the Tangles, it only makes sense to inspect the anime we’ve been analyzing all these years. I was interested in knowing which anime we covered the most, which were in effect our site favorites.

It seems like an easy task—just run through our tags and see which ones come up most. However, I set some conditions. The posts that “counted” would be those that were substantial in nature—no news articles or March Madness ones. And for a post to count toward a specific series or movie, that anime needed to be a major focus of the article; it couldn’t just tangentially be mentioned.

With those conditions in place, series like Rurouni Kenshin, Evangelion, and Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood just barely missed the cut. There were series which by word count may have made it—see Angel Beats, Noragami, and Kino’s Journey—but also just missed it by pure number of posts. Violet Evergarden and Fruits Basket will both surely make the top ten, maybe even as early as this year, but they’re too new to be there yet. And finally, a couple of those I assumed would make it did not, though they perhaps symbolize our site more than any other series: Puella Magi Madoka Magica and Haibane Renmei. As you can see, I did not cheat and include Magia Record along with the other PMMM post—otherwise, it would have ended up number four on our list.

-----

10. Clannad / Clannad After Story – 17 posts (tie)

I mentioned in a previous tenth anniversary post that my very first article on Clannad was one that provided momentum for our blog. Whereas before that post, I was merely hoping to reach twenty hits per article, my musings on Clannad and fatherhood ended up garnering thousands of views. I was glad for that for reasons beyond the obvious, too, because After Story is so rich in spiritual and emotional content that I could probably write another ten articles about the series and how it remains a most unique look at relationships in the way only anime can do.

10. Serial Experiments Lain– 17 (tie)

With its existential themes and moody aesthetic, Lain was a series we enjoyed covering before we did a 20 year anniversary, episode-by-episode breakdown of the show last year, paired with some other content like an interview with Boa’s lead singer. It’s amazing how prescient the series is, while remaining one that’s ripe for analysis regarding so many of the big questions in life, including perhaps the biggest of all: Who is God?

8. Naruto / Naruto Shippuden– 19

For an entire generation of otaku, the answer to “Which series is more important for anime fandom?” is Naruto. It gripped the west like no anime before (and none since), and its emphasis on character development, the challenges and goodness of teamwork, and sacrifice made it an obvious fit for us as a variety of writers took their aim at the series. Oh, the memories!

7. Toradora – 20 (Tie)

For many years, Toradora was my favorite anime series, and it still remains near the top. That seems to be the case for many of our other writers, too, both past and present. We’re still hammering out posts about this beloved series, which combines the fun of great shounen with unusual depth in its characters and development beyond what should be expected of a teen romcom.

7. My Hero Academia– 20 (Tie)

Before all is said and done, we might post more about My Hero Academia than any other series. There’s simply too much good stuff to talk about in this show, particularly in how it presents its heroes, both in idealized version and flawed. And as a people that look up to superheroes, like its central protagonist, Deku, the content is ripe for commenting. In fact, we’re working on a brand new type of content with the first post being about this series. Stay tuned!

5. Oregairu – 21

The influence from this series, and particularly from Hiki’s statement of desiring “something genuine,” has profoundly affected this blog. “Authenticity,” the central theme of Oregairu, is at the very center of what we’re trying to be here on Beneath the Tangles. And there’s no doubt that when the final season finally makes it to air, we’ll be digging into the show once again, and likely for years afterwards.

4. Your Lie in April – 26 (tie)

Five years ago, Your Lie in April took the otaku community by storm and for many of us, stole our hearts as well. I wrote a post about each episode of the series, which contributed to most of count here, but we’re still affected by this show, as evidenced by our most recent TangleCast episode, which investigated what this wonderful series has to say about music and about love.

4. The Promised Neverland – 26 (tie)

When The Promised Neverland was about to air, there was no doubt what I wanted to do with it. Taking a queue from the fabulous series of posts by the AV Club on Game of Thrones, I asked TPN fan and/or Tumblr admin, @thathilomgirl​, to post weekly along with me; I would do the series from the angle of n00b, and she would approach it from a manga reader’s perspective. They remain some of our most visited posts.

2. Sword Art Online– 27

Shock! I haven’t watched Sword Art Online in years, so I was surprised to see Kirito and company so high up on the list, but maybe I shouldn’t? The first cour of SAO remains one of my favorites in anime, and the relationship between Asuna and Kirito expressed in those episodes was magic (and even profound). Other writers, and again, our podcasters, have taken up the mantle in continuing the series, even as I haven’t.

1. Attack on Titan – 40

There’s a lot of things you could say in criticism against Attack on Titan—but unambitious is not one of them. The show has grown to become about something very unexpected during the course of its run, and I was never at a loss of what to discuss as I episodically covered much of the series. It hits that sweet spot of bringing out genuine emotion in its audience and giving us something to think deeply about, and that made for great content to chew on as I looked for topics on which to write. I can’t wait for the final season to get here!

=====

I hope you enjoyed that little trip down memory lane! But as we look forward, I’d love to hear about which shows you’d love for us to cover! What haven’t we covered enough? What haven’t we written about at all? Let us know in the comments!

[thewhitefluffyhat]

Conclusion

What is this review?

<-Previous (Gameplay)

You already know the conclusion I came to about this game - it’s the summary at the start of the review.  Instead, I want to talk a little about where I’m coming from, and why I ultimately chose to write and post 10+ pages analyzing a silly free to play mobile game.

The meta level

As I said in the intro, I really love the work Anime Feminist and its associated writers have been doing.  Even though I’m not a real writer myself, I wanted to try doing something like it!  

Madoka is also special franchise for me personally.  It’s the series that got me into anime, and it was the first series I watched that made a lesbian pairing I shipped into canon.  

But from a feminist perspective, Madoka Magica’s influence on the larger magical girl genre has almost been wholly negative, unleashing a torrent of grimdark clones that drown out the message of empowerment that used to be so central to the genre.

So, after nearly a decade of ruining magical girls, I found it deeply ironic that Madoka Magica’s big comeback is a much more typical lighthearted magical girl story.  And I’m curious if other people will see it that way.

I heard there’s going to be an anime?

I also write this just after the release date for the anime adaptation was announced.  

As such, with this timing, hopes and fears are at an all time high.  Can the anime rewrite the game to be better?  Or will the exodus of talent at SHAFT and the already shaky story doom the first Madoka Magica anime in years as well?  (Help us Kuroe, you’re our only hope!)

In either case, I wanted this review to be out before the anime airs, so there will be record of what my opinion was like before that changes everything.  And so when people ask what to expect from the anime from a feminist standpoint, they have at least one longform story analysis / review of the game to point to.

Last Thoughts

I started writing the disorganized notes that eventually coalesced into this review a few months before the game’s first anniversary in Japan - only to get sidetracked so long by other projects that it’s now more than a year later.  But that delay is probably a good thing, giving this piece a longer term perspective.  

My two years on playing on the Japanese server have been a rollercoaster of ups and downs - swinging between frustration that the game wasn’t more, to casual enjoyment, to deep obsession, to frustration yet again.  Thus, this review has had many changes in tone and motivation.  Is this an encouragement for others to play, in hopes of creating more active fan community?  Or is it a warning, an attempt to prevent others from facing the disappointments I’ve seen?  

Perhaps in the end it is both at once.  It’s just me finally sharing everything I’ve been thinking about this game over the years - the good and the bad.  Make of it whatever you like.

[mistbornthefinal]

Madoka Magica Anniversary Analysis: Introduction

Given that I for some reason have a whole 40 followers I figured I would actually make some meaningful posts of my own rather than just mindlessly relogging anime art and rationalist shitposts. 

This Thursday marks the 10th anniversary of the first episode of Puella Magi Madoka Magica. Therefore I figured I would start an analysis series for the original Madoka anime, covering each episode 10 years after it’s original airdate.

The first post of that series is already written and scheduled. One of my major points in that post is an attempt to rebut a common view of the show, that it’s a sort of bait and switch luring you in with the promise of happy funtimes and then ambushing you with grimdark. I don’t think that is the case for the show as a stand alone piece of art and I think my points to that effect in my other post bear that out.

That said the pre-airing marketing of Madoka was deceptive as fvck.

Much like Kyubey himself the marketing campaign for PMMM doesn’t outright lie but it created a false impression by stressing some things and omitting others. Famously the involvement of Gen Urobuchi was kept secret, less remembered is who the made face of the production.

The focus of the original market post was the character designs by Aoki Ume, mangaka of Hidmari Sketch a moe 4koma which Studio Shaft had brought to anime for three seasons at that point. If her involvement was the only thing someone knew about the project going in, it’s hard to fault them for assuming the show would be cute girls doing magical things.

[mistbornthefinal]

Madoka Magica Aniversary Analysis: Part 6

Do Not Throw Souls!

We pick up where we left off last episode. Kyouko goes for the kill on Sayaka and Homura moved to action by Madoka’s distress moves to interrupt the fight. Kyouko is confused by this turn of events and tries to hold Homura at spearpoint. Tries being the operative term there. Kyouko identifies Homura as the rumored irregular. Sayaka tries to continue the fight but Homura makes short work of her.

*timestops behind you* nothing personal kid

Kyouko’s fence thing dissolves and Madoka quickly rushes to her stricken friend who Kyubey assures us is merely unconscious. Kyouko as Homura who’s side is she on to which she replies.

“I’m an ally to those who maintain their composures and an enemy to idiotic aggressors. Which are you, Sakura Kyouko.”

The two meguca still standing have a staredown after which Kyouko elects to back off. Homura then chastises Madoka fairly harshly for still being involved. As Homura walks away Kyubey ponders “Akemi homura could you be...” (cue Connect.)

After the credits we’re at the Miki household watching Sayaka cleanse her gem. Kyubey informs here the now full grief seed is dangerous but he’ll take it off her hands cutely catching it on his head before tossing it into a hatch on his back. According to Kyubey if Sayaka is to have any hope standing up to Kyouko she’ll need a bunch more of those. The more magic you use the more you soul gem is tainted, thus if you have surplus Grief Seeds you can use magic more recklessly. 

Sayaka notes that Mami also never had enough Grief Seeds yet she seemed to be able to fight just fine. Mami had the benefit of talent and expertise says Kyubey as does Kyouko. Of course if Sayaka wants to even the odds there’s always Madoka and her vast potential. Surely if Sayaka were to ask her..? Sayaka rejects that answer this is her fight.

Elsewhere Kyouko is tearing it up at the DDR (Dog Drug Reinforcement) machine. Homura has a proposition for her, she’ll leave the city to her so long as Kyouko let’s her solve the Sayaka problem. Kyouko is down for that but she want’s to know what’s in it for Homura.

There’s a bigger threat on the horizon and Homura needs allies to fight it. Once Walpurgisnact is defeated Homura will leave Kyouko to handle Mitakihara’s affairs. Kyouko seems bullish about the two of them being able to handle the legendary Witch and offers to seal their pact with some Pocky (or rather Rocky).

The next day Sayaka and Madoka have returned to the scene of the crime. Unfortunately the Familiar’s trail has gone cold. Madoka wants to try talking it out should the run into Kyouko again but Sayaka reminds her that the two of them were seriously trying to kill each other yesterday, that bridge is burned. Attempted murder aside Sayaka can’t forgive Kyouko’s indifference to human life. She can’t forgive Homura either.

Sayaka was not privy to Mami and Homura’s confronation in EP 3 and Madoka has apparently neglected to tell her. So Sayaka belives that Homura intentionally let Mami die to eliminate the competition. Madoka tries to correct the record but it’s too late for that. 

Sayaka then rather viscously lays into Madoka asking her if she could so easily forgive Kyouko if the Familiar that Kyouko let live out of greed and callousness were to kill one of her family members. As far as Sayaka is concerned any Puella Magi that fails to live up to the image Mami projected is her enemy. Not the wisest course when both the other girls were each able to own her fairly handily.

Madoka asks for Kyubey to bring Sayaka back to reason where she has failed but again the bunnycat claims incapacity. 

That night Madoka is unable to sleep her worries keeping her from rest. She seeks counsel from her mom. Her friend is in a tough situation despite we she is doing not being wrong, rather her attempts to do right seem to make the situation worse. 

Her mom says that unfortunately that’s they way of the world. It sucks but virtue is not always rewarded. Her mom suggest that she instead do the wrong thing for her friend. It might not be the cleanest solution but this is the time in their lives were they can afford to make mistakes. When you’re young it’s easier to pick yourselves back up if you fall. It’s harder when you’re an adult, that’s why adults are allowed to drink.

OK so maybe Junko isn’t the best role model.

 Not the worst advice for you teenage daughter for ordinary problems, but of course Madoka neglects to mention the part where lives are on the line. So it’s hard to blame Junko for how Madoka acts on that advice.

The next day Sayaka rushes to Kyousuke’s hospital room only to find it empty. He’s been discharged already and seems to have neglected to tell her. So Sayaka goes to his house but lingers outside hesitating to ring the bell, and here we see clearly why Sayaka’s wish “failed”. 

As much as Sayaka wanted to see Kyousuke healed for his own sake, she also wanted a relationship with him. That’s all well and good but Kyousuke’s injury was never the thing stopping that from happening, it’s that Sayaka did not have the courage of her convictions to confess. Neither healing Kyouske’s hand nor becoming a magical girl changed that. 

Of course Kyouko is there for her in her hour of need with some free advice. Using magic to help others is a suckers game, what she should do instead is go in there with her shiny new magic and break his arms and legs so he’ll be helpless without her. Kyouko even offers to do it for her as a favor to a fellow magical girl. Needless to say Sayaka isn’t having any of it.

The two of them agree to take their incipient battle elsewhere.

Back at Madoka’s hose our heroine is still mulling over her mothers advice when bunnycat informs her of the immanent duel to the death. Given the travel time involved I’d have to assume this is before Kyouko and Sayaka have their confrontation. So I guess he decided to fetch an innocent bystander rather than tell Sayaka the girl who tried to kill her two days ago was still on her tail. Say it with me everyone bunnycat is a dick.

At the pedestrian bridge that our Megucas have for some reason decided is an inconspicuous place to fight Kyouko shows off her rad transformation sequence. Sayaka is about to do the same when Madoka arrives on the scene. Homura isn’t far behind her as always and she reminds Kyouko of their agreement. This doesn’t actually defuse the conflict. Sayaka is just as willing to fight Homura despite all signs pointing to that being an even lower percentage play. 

So Madoka grabs Sayaka’s Soul Gem and yeets it right off the bridge.

It falls onto a passing truck and despite her visible surprise Homura is after it in an instant. Sayaka asks “what the hell” and then

she collapses like a puppet whose string were cut. Perplexed Kyubey asks why Madoka just threw away her friend. Kyouko rushes over and grabs Sayaka’s body by the neck, and pronounces her dead.

Kyubey explains. After the contract is made the Soul Gem is the “real” magical girl, the girl’s literal soul ripped from their body and bound into a gem. The body is just a puppet a shell animated by magic and if the Soul Gem is more than 100 meters away the link breaks and the body is just a corpse. 

Needless to say neither Madoka nor Kyouko are happy about this revelation. Kyubey claims that it’s to their benefit that they are altered in this way so long as the Soul Gem is intact the body can recover from any injury. Of course it’s hard to imagine he has their best interests at heart given he failed to mention any of this beforehand. The girls are not convinced by the supposed benefits of this arrangement.

Kyubey claims not to understand why this upsets people pegging it to the irrational nature of humanity. Of course once again he knows that this upsets people and then doesn’t tell the before or after they contract. Bunnycat is a dick.

While Kyubey is expositing Homura uses her time powers to catch up to the truck a retrieve Sayaka’s gem. It’s only when she returns her to her bodies hand that she reactivates. Confused at everyone's distress she asks what’s wrong. (cue Magia)

So that was EP 6 it gives us the second of our big shocking revelations. Though the fandom sometimes claims the girls overreact to it I’d say that their reactions are totally appropriate given the context of their friend/frenemy suddenly becoming an empty husk.

This is also the first time we really get to see how alien and amoral Kyubey really is. He claims no understanding of why getting your Soul ripped out might upset someone and understanding that this part of the contract upsets people his solution is to just never mention it. It’s now clear the he’s a malevolent force if it wasn’t already. 

This is also interestingly enough the episode where no Witches or Familiars make an appearance. 

[mistbornthefinal]

Madoka Magica Aniversary Analysis: Part 5

My City Now!

We open at the hospital just before Sayaka made her contract. After confirming that she agrees to his terms Kyubey reached into Sayaka’s chest with his weird ear tentacles and pulls out her soul. The process is clearly painful and his words are not particularly comforting.

“Now... just accept it. This is your destiny.”

Cue connect.

At school Hitomi is telling Madoka and Sayaka that the whole suicide cult incident is being written off as some kind of mass sleepwalking incident. She doesn’t appear to have any recollection of what happened or that Madoka and Sayaka were involved. Hitomi doesn’t seem all that perturbed by what happened.

After school Madoka and Sayaka the newly minted Faustian bargain at the riverbank. Like at the end of last episode Sayaka seems almost relived to have made or choice to become a magical girl. Madoka ask if she is scared. Sayaka says yes but downplays it. 

It’s clear she’s riding high from her success taking down the Witch last episode and saving Madoka and Hitomi, literally patting herself on the back at one point. If she has regrets it’s not making the contract sooner and potentially saving Mami, a regret Madoka clearly shares. Sayaka tell Madoka not to beat herself up about it, it’s only after making the contract she considers it retroactively inevitable. Sayaka has a wish to fight for now, something she feels is worth risking her life, well see how long that confidence lasts.

We cut back to the hospital at sunset. It seems Sayaka’s wish was limited to Kyousuke’s hand thus the hospital is still keeping him for rehabilitation, they also baffled by the whole miraculous recovery. Kyouske apologizes for lashing out at Sayaka earlier so it appears that the boy isn’t completely blind to other peoples emotional landscapes. Sayaka seems like she’d rather brush that episode under the rug rather than let it interfere with the current happy moment.   

Sayaka brings Kyousuke up to the roof in a wheelchair, where Kyousuke’s parents and several doctors and nurses are waiting. His father returns to him the violin that he couldn’t bare to throw away, and Kyouske begins to play silhouetted against the setting sun. In the face of the culmination of her wish Sayaka vows never to regret her decision.

“This is the happiest I’ve ever been!” (She is so doomed now)

It turns out that unfriendly eyes are watching that scene on the rooftop. Sakura Kyouko is scoping out the competition and eating, can’t forget that charming character quirk which in no way indicates repressed trauma. Kyouko seems pretty confidant in her ability to kill Sayaka and asks if Kyubey would object if she did. Kyubey says no but points out there’s another meguca in the city. 

Kyouko asks who it is and what’s her deal, prompting Kyubey to admit he has no clue. Logically Akemi Homura must have made a contract with him but Kyubey admits no memory of actually making one. She’s an irregularity.

That doesn’t seem to dent Kyouko’s confidence. 

Elsewhere Madoka and Homura have sat down at the cafe. Madoka is clearly trying to convince Homura to help Sayaka saying that while the girl is bullheaded she is kind, courageous, and willing to go to any length to help people. Homura fires back that all the qualities that Madoka has listed even the positive ones are fatal for a Puella Magi.

“Excessive kindness leads to weakness. Reckless courage leads to carelessness. There’s no reward for dedication of any kind. You can’t be a magical girl if you don’t understand that. That’s why Tomoe Mami lost her life.” 

Needless to say that’s not the answer Madoka wanted to hear. (Also Homura punctuating that last part by ripping the lid off your coffee was over the line, don’t trigger the cupcake) Madoka outright ask Homura to not to fight and to cooperate with Sayaka, to protect her if she can. Homura says she don’t like to make promises she can’t keep. She tell Madoka to give up on her friend Sayaka has made a mistake that can no more be undone than the dead can be returned to life. 

“Once you become a magical girl there no hope for salvation.”

Madoka asks and Homura confirms that she includes herself in that. Accepting the contract means throwing everything else way in exchange for one hope. (The way Homura talks about the state of a Puella Magi, in terms of sin and salvation I can belive she went to a Catholic school)

Homura leaves with an apology.

At Sayaka’s house the newly minted Puella Magi is trying to psych herself up for the second night on the job. Waiting for her at the entrance to her apartment building is Madoka, she offers to accompany just like old times. Madoka says it’s just for moral support and Sayaka seems to welcome that, but Kyubey points out the real reason over telepathy. If Sayaka gets in too deep Madoka’s contract is always a possibility. 

It’s clear at this point that Madoka wants to become meguca, but is unable to logically justify that decision to herself. Which is why she keeps throwing herself into these situation hoping eventually a situation will come up where she has no choice. Ironically this would mean making a contract in the kind scenario that Mami explicitly didn’t want for her.

The two track a Familiar to narrow alleyway. It turns out crayon themed and Sayaka attempts to give it the unlimited blade works only to be foiled by Kyouko’s spear. 

The Familiar beats a hasty retreat it’s barrier vanishing with it. Kyouko bars Sayaka from pursuing it with her spear. What Sayaka ought to do according to Kyouka is let that Familiar kill a few people and become a Witch, then when she kills it it’ll actually drop loot. It’s the food chain, essentially.

Given what we later learn about Kyouko it’s sort of unclear how much of this she believes verse how much she’s just saying stuff in order to pick a fight. She’s pushes her way into Sayaka’s space (and specifically sections off Madoka from the fight an early indication she’s not as heartless as she presents). She keeps trying to wind Sayaka up dismissing her heroic ideals as a delusion until the other girl actually takes a swing at her. 

Kyouko blocks her strike and as the lock weapons it’s clear she vastly out muscles Sayaka as she is able to push her back with one hand. She finishes the taiyaki she was chowing down on and then seems to end the fight with viciously strike from her extendo-chain spear.

Sayaka isn’t done she stands up again blue magic knitting her wounds back together. This takes Kyouko off guard she expected the blow she struck to keep the other Puella Magi out of action for a while. Kyubey explains that a girls magic is tied to their wish, Sayaka wished to heal someone and as a result her magic is particularly adept at healing. 

The Sayaka is adamant that she is unwill to lose not against Kyouko the sort of person she considers responsable for Mami’s death. This seems to touch a nerve Kyouko goes on the attack again but this time Sayaka gives a much better account of herself. Neither is willing to back down their blood is up and it’s clear that if this allowed to continue someone is going to end up dead (or worse). Madoka pleads for Kyubey to intervene but bunnycat claims it’s out of his hands. If Madoka want this to stop though... there is a way.

Kyouko moves in for the kill and Madoka seems on the verge of contracting. Again though that won’t be necessary. Homura reveals herself and moves Sayaka out of the path of Kyouko’s spear.

And that cliffhanger is where EP 5 leaves us. (cue Magia) This is Kyouko’s big debut and as much as she’s usually presented as Sayaka’s foil it’s hard on this viewing not to see her as a foil to Mami as well. The big conflict in EP 4 was essentially who is going to replace the fallen Puella Magi and while the framing of that episode imply Sayaka in this one Kyouko makes the case for herself. She does refer to herself a senpai, though she seems like the delinquent type of senpai who’s lessons you probably shouldn’t listen to here.

This is also an episode where we get a much clearer look at how Homura sees things. She presents another philosophy about what it means to be a magical girl for Madoka to consider alongside Mami’s ideals which Sayaka claims loyalty to as well as Kyouko’s brutal pragmatism. 

[mistbornthefinal]

Madoka Magica Aniversary Analysis: Part 4

Unknowing of the Price

(spoilers below the cut)

We open on Sayaka running to Kyousukes hotel room but he isn’t there. The nurses explain that his physical therapy time has been moved up. As Sayaka leaves the recap what we should have figured out in the previous episode. Kyousuke was a violin prodigy before a tragic injury, while he may recover enough to walk he will never be able to play music again. The also praise Sayaka’s dedication to her friend.

On the elevator down Sayaka laments the cruelty of circumstance. She openly considers the prospect of using her wish to heal Kyousuke. Sayaka then wonder that if she did would would she want from Kyousuke in return before berating herself over her ulterior motive. A voice from a future Sayaka laments that at the time she had not idea what it meant to pray for a miracle nor what a miracle ultimately costs. (Cue connect)

At the Breakfast table Madoka stares into an egg yolk and remembers Mami and then bursts into tears. For some reason Madoka parents let her go to school after she breaks down sobbing about still being alive at breakfast. She meets up with Sayaka who is also desperately trying to maintain a façade of normalcy on the way there.

On the schools #Aesthic roof Madoka try to process the whole “secret magical conflict in which one of our Senpai died before our eyes”. Madoka says that since that day the people around her seem like strangers. Sayaka puts that feeling into more concrete words.

“We’re the only ones who know about the witches and Mami-san. Nobody else does. It’s like we’re living in an entirely different world from them.”

Essential even if they never make contracts they still can not return to the world of innocence and ignorance they inhabited in episode 1. Part of their minds will inhabit the world of magical girls and witches regardless. Sayaka asks Madoka if she still intends to become a magical girl, her lack of answer is enough even before the tears. 

Sayaka wonders to Kyubey what will become of Mitakihara with its’ protector gone. He replies that other magical girls will move in to the vacant territory. Sayaka laments that they are likely to be as she perceives Homura only caring for their own gain. Kyubey admits that Mami was a “rare breed” but in his opinion only other magical girls have the right to judge. He then bids them farewell (which is bullsquid he’s there immediately the second Sayaka falters)

After school Madoka is crying at Mami’s now abandoned apartment. She apologizes to Mami for being weak and she leaves behind her notebook of magical girl costumes from episode 2 as a sort of symbolic abandonment of her dreams of being a person like Mami.

Homura is waiting at the entrance of the apartment building. She seem to understand implicitly what Madoka is thinking saying that she is wrong to blame her self for Mami’s death. No one can fault Madoka’s decision not to become a magical girl, Homura won’t allow them to. Walking alongside Homrua, Madoka wonders that if she had been more attentive to her warning Mami might have been spared. Homura replies.

“That still wouldn’t have changed Tomoe Mami’s fate. But I was able to change yours. I’m glad to have save at least one life.”

(counting you chickens a little early Homura-chan) Madoka says that Homura seem like a veteran though not in the same way as Mami to which Homura is evasive. Madoka asks if Homura has seen people die before, Homura has stopped counting. Homura also explains that it will be a while until Mami is declared missing and as far as the world is concerned her fate will never be known. That is the ultimate fate of magical girls their bodies swallowed by the labyrinth with no one the wiser.

Madoka is distraught that after Mami spent so long protecting the city that not even the record of her death will remain. Homura says that it is simply the fare of magical girls who ultimately fight only for their wishes. This is simply the way it is. Madoka say no. 

Even if no one else does she will remember Mami, and Homura as well. Homura’s pain is visible. (this is another one of those scenes that hurts when you come back to it after ep 10)

At Kyousuke’s hospital room Sayaka sits by his bedside while he listens to a CD. She tries to make small talk but the atmosphere is too heavy. Kyousuke is in a black mood asking her if she trying to torture him with all these CDs full of music that he can no longer play. Sayaka tries to console him but apparently the doctors have told him to give up, only a miracle could restore his hand.

Madoka see Hitomi on the way home and immediately notices the witches kiss on her neck. When Madoka tries to talk with her she’s clearly out of it. Madoka decides to go along with her to wherever she’s going as she doesn’t have Homura’s cell and isn’t willing to abandon Hitomi. 

Their destination an abandoned warehouse and they are not alone. This witch is making a big play, a cult mass suicide by means of homemade poison gas. Madoka grabs the bucket of chemicals and throws them out the window, which prompts the witches thralls to go full zombie. Madoka locks herself in a storeroom but that’s not obstacle for the witch (H.N. Elly) herself who pulls Madoka into her labyrinth. 

The artstyle shift takes hold not only of the background but also Madoka herself losing her outlines and being animated in a more fluid style. 

Elly seems to have access to Madoka’s memories as images of Mami are displayed on the ubiquitous TV monitors. Pehaps effected by the witches presence Madoka starts to blame herself for Mami’s death again, seeing the current situation as her punishment for being a coward. The Fammiliars grab her body and stretch it in a really disturbing way. Before they can do too much damage a flash of blue cuts them down, and then slams into the Witch. Madoka flicker bad to the normal artstyle. 

Sayaka is a magical girl, and she makes short work of Elly. We see her victims start to come to their senses. Sayaka tries to wave away Madoka’s concern, but it’s clear she still has doubts. Sayaka turns to confront Homura who has arrived late to the party. It’s clear already that the two of them aren’t going to get along any better than Homura and Mami.

Back at the hospital Kyousuke awakens to stare disbelievingly at his hand, as if there was any doubt what Sayaka wished for. Elsewhere Kyoko complains through a mouth full of food as Kyubey tells her that there’s a new magical girl in Mitakihara. No matter says, Kyoko. It’s nothing a little violence cant fix.

So that’s Episode 4

The last one sort of left us in the lurch and so a lot of this episode just trying to grapple with what happened. The Mentor who help introduce Madoka and Sayaka into this world of magic and darkness is gone, and with her death has recontextualized their relationship with that world and denied them an easy exit. Both Madoka and Sayaka clearly feel an obligation to take up the torch, but at the same time how could they when the cost has been hammered home so brutally. 

Sayaka decides that she going to try to live up to the image that Mami projected, an image that unlike Madoka she never got the opportunity to see beneath. So by the end of the Episode she seamlessly inherits Mami’s antagonism with Homura, and is already hiding her fears from Madoka. I don’t think anyone who was paying attention thought this is going to go well, even if the somehow missed the whole unrequited romance. 

Madoka on the other hand is undecided. The more she learns about this whole magical girl thing the less she likes of it. Already she’s lost her initial dream of heroism represented by the notebook she abandoned at Mami’s apartment. That said she also made her first rejection of Kyubey’s system if a minor and symbolic one. If it’s Mami’s fate to be forgotten Madoka say’s she will remember her forever. Indeed come Episode 12 she will find a way to remember every magical girl who fought and died alone.

[mistbornthefinal]

Madoka Magica Aniversary Analysis: Part 9

Can Love and Courage Still Triumph?

The beginning of this episode replays the end of the last, Sayaka’s transformation into a witch. As Oktavia von Seckendorff looms over her Kyouko is initially uncomprehending or perhaps in denial of what just happened happened. Kyouko grabs Sayaka’s body as it falls and is forced to dodge a barrage of Okatavia’s signature wheels. Homura arrives on the scene and sets off another flashbang and the offers Kyouko her hand.

Kyouko takes it and we get our first look and Homura’s timestop from an inside perspective. Within the stopped time Kyouko demands to know where that witch came from and what happened to Sayaka, Homura reiterates the truth that Kyouko is unwilling to internalize, Sayaka has become a witch. Homura then says that unless Kyouko is unwilling to discard Sayaka’s body then they will have to run. Kyouko can not do that so they exit the barrier. (cue connect)

We find Madoka walking morosely along the railroad tracks only to run into Kyouko and Homura walking in the opposite direction. Seeing Sayaka’s lifeless body Madoka tearfully asks what happened to her friend. Homura lays it out her Soul Gem shattered and became a Grief Seed, Sayaka is gone. That is the final secret of the Soul Gem when they fully darken they become Grief Seeds and a girl is reborn as a witch. This is the inescapable fate of those who become magical girls. In payment for the number of people Sayaka has saved Oktavia will curse and equal number of people.

Of course this sort of law karmic balancing that the girls have been claiming for the past few episodes doesn’t really hold up if you think about it. Mami saved a large number of people and cursed no one due to dying before she became a Witch. Heck Kyubey’s whole operation sort of requires a certain amount of unfair exchange to be possible given they use magic to extent the life of the universe and leave other species with the bill.  That said it’s easy to buy equivalent exchange as something the characters believe,(especially Homura who at this point want’s to resolve her wish as “a life for a life”) but it’s something that Madoka’s wish ultimately rejects. 

Kyouko is angered by Homura’s cold words in the face of Madoka’s grief grabbing her by the collar, but Homura simply continues her monologue telling Madoka that this is the truth of what she aspired to become. Homura then tell Kyouko that there will be trouble if she isn’t cautious about disposing of the body. Kyouko similar to Madoka in episode 7 asks Homura how she can call herself human.

“I can’t, of course. And neither can you.”

We find Madoka sitting on her bed when Kyubey come for a visit. Madoka is unsurprised to find him alive, and he confirms that nothing that Homura said is wrong enough to require further explanation. He then lays out the reasoning behind the system his kind have inflicted on humanity. When the Soul Gem undergoes phase change a tremendous amount of energy is released and that energy is their ultimate goal. It is a source of power unbounded by thermodynamics that they can use to stave off the heat death of the universe. 

While he implies that this is ultimately for the benefit of humanity as well (and that humanity will eventually join the interstellar community) the next episode proves he is full of shit. That they have a fixed quota of energy that they expect each planet to produce and express no regret at humanities immanent extinction strongly implies that the extinction of the client species is the expected end state of their operation. In which case the relationship is purely predatory regardless of what he might claim in episode 11. 

He also gives the fig leaf that the girls all consented but that’s a weak dodge. Like forget informed consent this is maliciously and deliberately misinformed consent, he may claim that his species doesn’t understand the concept of deception that doesn’t seem to stop him from doing it constantly. Also while it’s not brought up I can’t help but feel then need to point towards all the normal humans who never consented to anything and are being eaten by witches regardless. 

Kyubey then says that given that there are billions of human’s he doesn’t understand why the death of a single human has her bent out of shape. 

you tell ‘em Madoka

Kyubey gives yet another sales pitch this time stressing the vas amounts of delicious energy she will produce when she becomes a horrible monster. Leaving with.

“So, if you ever feel like dying for the sake of the universe, just let me know.”

We check in on Kyouko who is using her magic to stop Sayaka’s gem from decaying. Kyubey shows himself to ask why and Sayaka answers his question with another question. “Can Sayaka be brought back.” Kyubey uses ambiguous phrasing to give Kyouko false hope like the dick he is. We leave this scene with Kyouko stuffing her face making it pretty clear that her eating habits are less “endearing character quirk” and more “worrying coping mechanism.”

As Madoka is walking to school with Hitomi (who tragically unaware of what has happened), Kyouko calls out to her with telepathy asking her if she’s really just going to go to school after what happened yesterday? Realizing that the fate of her friends soul is probably more important than compulsory education Madoka ditches Hitomi runs off. 

Kyouko tells Madoka that she can’t abandon Sayaka so long as there hope she can be saved. (and potentially even if there isn’t) He friends voice might still be able to reach her, might bring her back to humanity. Madoka asks if that will really work to which Kyouko replies that she has no idea. She want’s to do this because she doesn’t know, because that uncertainty allows room for hope

“Maybe if we slice that witch in half, Sayaka’s Soul Gem will fall out instead of a Grief Seed. Wouldn’t that be something? It’d be like one of those stories where love and courage triumph over all. Come to think about it, I probably became a magical girl in the first place because I loved stories like that. I’d totally forgotten about it, but Sayaka reminded me again.”

You did it Kyouko, you boiled your character arc down to the bare essentials. Kyouko asks Madoka if she is willing to help even if Kyouko can’t promise her safety or success. Madoka cinnamon roll that she is accepts immediately offers  her hand into which Kyouko places a piece of candy in lieu of a handshake. 

Back at school Homura decides to dich as soon as it’s clear that Madoka isn’t coming. 

As the two of them search for Oktavia’s labyrinth, Madoka asks if Homura is going to help them. Kyouko says no and denies that Homura is her friend, they simply share a common goal, to defeat Walpurgisnact an enemy neither of them could face alone. 

Within the barrier Madoka asks Kyouko if she is a coward for always leaving the fighting to others. Kyouko flips the script her life is happy one, to abandon that, to become a Puella Magi for a mere whim is the height of stupidity. Kyouko won’t allow it, if Madoka did she would be the first to kick her ass. 

“The only people who should put their lives in danger are those who’ve got no other choice. Anyone else is just playing around.”

Kyouko then says there might be a time when Madoka has no choice but to fight, she should only consider the contract then.

We then arrive at the center of the labyrinth, or rather Oktavia realizes that she has intruders and they are pulled to the center. Oktavia’s familiars supply the background music as Madoka glimpses the remnant of her friend for the first time. She calls out to Sayaka but Oktavia’s only reply is to summon her wheels.

Kyouko raises her barrier and perpares herself to intercept the Witches attacks. As Madoka calls out to Sayaka Kyouko deflects a barrage of wheels with her spear. However Oktavia only steps up her attacks and Kyouko seems to be struggling to fight a purely defensive battle. 

As Kyouko starts to take hits she reminisces about her first encounter with Sayaka. She had dismissed the girl a first but she kept getting up no matter what. As she recalls that day red and blue flows across the screen froming the silhouette of Kyouko and Sayaka before resolving as flowing blood. Several wheels hit Kyouko and she is thrown backward. As Madoka moves to help Kyouko to her feet Oktavia seizes her in a massive armored gauntlet and begins to squeeze. 

Kyouko finally strikes severing the Witches limb and berating Sayaka. Oktavia brings her sword down shattering the floor and reveling an inverse of the concert hall they were in presided over by a familiar that resembles a certain boy.

Homura is there to catch Madoka. Kyouko apologises to Homura for dragging Madoka into her idiocy and the creates another of her barriers between her and Homura. The message there is clear. Kyouko acknowledges Homura’s mission focusing on the one thing she wants to protect above all else, Kyouko used to think that was what she was doing as well. She undoes her ponytail to reveal the symbol of her fathers faith that she had hidden in her hair, she never truly stopped believing. 

As Homura flees Kyouko summons spears from the earth in massive numbers including on large enough for her to ride. From her clasped hand she draws her Soul Gem that she has fused with the symbol of old faith.

“Don’t worry, Sayaka I know you don’t what to be alone. It’s ok. I’ll be here with you Sayaka.”

She then unleashes a massive attack through her own Soul Gem killing both her and Oktavia.

Back at the Homu-home Homura asks an interloping Kyubey if there was any chance for Kyouko’s plan to succeed. Kyubey admits that it was impossible and that he basically manipulated Kyouko to her death so Homura would have to face Walpurgisnact alone, and thus Madoka has no choice but to contract in order to save the city. Homura says that she will never let that happen.

For this episode Magia does not make it’s usual appearance instead replaced by “and I’m home” sing by Ai Nonaka and Eri Kitamura (VA’s for Kyouko and Sayaka respectively.)

And that’s Episode 9, when you get down to this Kyouko’s episode as much as Episode 10 is Homura’s episode. Kyouko what had come into the narrative preaching selfishness stakes it all on trying to save the girl who remined her of her old ideals. Now that the full weight of Kyubey’s system is reveled Kyouko tries to find a way out and in bittersweet way she does, choosing to expend her Soul Gem in a heroic sacrifice rather than fall into despair and become a Witch.

That said now there’s only one person standing in the way of Kyubey’s plans, though to a certain extent that’s how it’s always been.

[mistbornthefinal]

Madoka Magica Aniversary Analysis: Part 8

Song of Sayaka

We begin the episode where the last one ended with Sayaka hacking away at the Witch. As the labyrinth fades we se glimpses of Sayaka’s injuries but her magic quickly erases them. With the witch defeated Sayaka gives Kyouko a very unnerving dose of the Shaft Head Tilt.

The she throws Kyouko Else Maria’s Grief Seed telling Kyouko that she doesn’t want to owe her anything. As she releases her transformation though she nearly collapses and has to leave the scene heavily supported by Madoka. (cue connect)

Rain falls on Mitakihara, Madoka and Sayaka have taken shelter in a bus stop. Madoka asks Sayaka not to keep fighting the way she did against Else Maria, recognizing it as being more self-harm than battle-strategy. Sayaka says that she couldn’t have won otherwise. Madoka says that even if she wins that way it won’t help her in the end (which is true a battle strategy built around dehumanizing yourself and taking punishment is going to hold out over the long term. Not when you’re a meguca and thus have a very fragile critical hit location and a fatal allergy to despair)

Sayaka brandishes her soul gem. “Now that I’ve been turned into this thing how can anything help me?” She continues this line saying that she’s just a rock that pretends to be alive by puppeting a corpse. Madoka says she just wants Sayaka to be happy again, and Sayaka attempts to guilt Madoka into making a contract. Madoka says she can’t but is unable to articulate why. Sayaka indicts Madoka for remaining on the sidelines when she could be all powerful and storms off into the rain telling Madoka not to follow her. As she runs she calls herself an idiot and says that she can not be save now.

As the scene transitions we get a shot of Sayaka’s Soul Gem and the curse growing inside it.

We then get our first glimpse of the Homu-home which is Magia Record anime levels of cursed architecture. Kyouko and Homura are having a meeting and as always Kyouko is chowing down. Homura indicates a location on a map and says that Walpurgisnact will appear in this area. Kyouko asks how she knows that Homura replies “statistics.” Kyouko is knowledgeable enough to realize that is a non-answer but before she can inquire further they are interrupted by an unwelcome guest. 

(seriously why is this place like this Homura was in the hospital less than a month ago)

Kyubey has stopped by to inform them that “there is a curse growing within Miki Sayaka”. When Kyouko asks for clarification Kyubey passes the buck onto Homura saying that she already knows the answer. When Homura does not dispute it Kyubey wonders where she got that particular piece of info. Homura dismisses him, he leaves, and Kyouko wonders why she just let him go. Homura replies that killing him would be pointless. 

At school the next day Sayaka is once again absent with Madoka regretting not following her the previous night. We then cut to Hitomi walking alongside Kyousuke as the sun sets, Kyousuke being neutronium dense only just realizes that Hitomi house isn’t this direction. Back with Madoka we find out that Sayaka didn’t come home the pervious night. We see that Sayaka is behind a pillar looking on while Hitomi and Kyousuke talk, though we don’t get to hear the conversation.

Regardless we see Sakaya drift through a dark blue background before we cut to her venting her emotions on a gaggle of Familiars. Homura steps from the shadows to confront her saying that she can’t afford to waste any more magic. She tosses Sayaka a Grief Seed saying that she must purify her Gem but Sayaka kicks it away. Sayaka makes it clear that what she’s doing, recklessly rushing into battle and refusing Grief Seeds is a suicide attempt. She intends to burn up all her magic fighting and expects to die when it is exhausted. 

Homura ask why Sayaka won’t accept her help Saying all she wants it to save her. Why won’t can’t she believe her? Sayaka says that she can’t trust Homura because her words fell empty to her and it’s clear from her eyes that she’s given up on everything. Homura showing her yandere side claims that she only cares about Sayaka in so far as her suffering causes Madoka to suffer. And then says the if she keeps causing Madoka pain she intends to

Given how long she takes to make her move and how little she resists when Kyouko grabs her from behind I’m not sure how committed to that course of action she was. Kyouko notes that Homura’s “weird technique” can’t be used if she’s being grappled. Homura responds by pulling a flashbang grenade which dissuades Kyouko enough for her to make an escape. 

We find Sayaka listlessly riding a train and sharing a car with a pair of assholes boasting about how they abuse their girlfriends. Needless to say this is exactly what she didn’t need right now. She feels like she’s tried to do the right thing only to be used and abused and now she has to hear these shitheels gloat about how they treat the women in their life. She confronts them and doesn’t so much talk too them as at them. She openly wonders if the world is even worth fighting for and then a labyrinth-like texture over takes her body and scenes cuts implying but not showing some serious violence.

Meanwhile Madoka is wandering the city trying to find her friend when Kyubey steps from the shadows. He asks if Madoka hates him as well. “If I said yes would you turn Sayaka back?” Madoka asks in turn. Kyubey claims that such a thing is beyond his abilities. Madoka then asks that if she accepted Kyubeys offer would Sayaka still have become a magical girl. Kyubey says that was Sayaka’s own decision. That said Kyubey reiterates that Madoka has enormous potential something that confuses her as much as him, if she wished for it even the laws of the universe could bend she could be an all-powerful god. Madoka asks if she could do what Kyubey couldn’t and return Sayaka to normal. Kyubey says that this would be childs play for her and as Madoka is about to accept the contract... 

It’s interrupted by Homura filling the bunnycat with lead. Initially Madoka is shocked by Kyubey’s death but as distress becomes evident that come to occupy her focus. Homura’s façade finally breaks and she grabs Madoka by the shoulders with tears in her eyes. 

“Why are you always sacrificing yourself? Don’t demean yourself by saying that you can’t help anyone of that you’re useless. Think about all the people who care about you! Just cut it out! Why don’t you understand that there are people who would grieve if you died?! Why don’t you consider the people who try so hard to protect you?!”

Homura’s tearful plea seems to trigger some kind of timeless recollection in Madoka but ultimately she rushes off to look for Sayaka, despite Homura’s pleas.

“You knew that was pointless but you did it anyway”

Another of Kyubey’s bodies is perched on a nearby fence. It hops down to the bench and eats his corpse. He notes that this is the second time Homura has killed him, but he’s starting to understand how Homura fights. Homura’s power is time manipulation and she is not from this timeline. Homura fires back that she knows what he is and his true plan. The Incubator asks if she is that determined to change Madoka’s fate

We find Sayaka experiencing that post murder depression when Kyouko finally catches up to her. Kyouko asks how long Sayaka is going to sulk and Sayaka simply apologizes for wasting her time. Sayaka has given up she can’t even remeber what was so important to her what she was protecting. She reveals her Gem.

It’s almost completely dark. Sayaka repeats Kyouko’s line that the balance of hope and despair always zeros out.

“Sure I managed to save a few people but in exchange hatred and jealousy filled my heart. I even hurt my best friend. Whenever we prey for someone else’s happiness someone else must be cursed in exchange. Turns out that’s how we magical girls work.”

As her teardrop hit’s the Soul Gem it releases a wave of force that throws Kyouko back and then it shatters becoming a Grief Seed. Just like that the last secret if revealed and a sketchy Oktavia rises from the dark blue depths.

In the last scene Kyubey seems to address the audience. In the world women who are not yet fully grown are called “girls”(”shoujo”). Thus should those who will become Witches (”Majou”) not be called Magical Girls (”Mahou Shoujo”)

This episode is one of the big episodes of Madoka Magic we get the two revelations that we’ve been building up too for most of the show, and the culmination of one of it’s longer character arcs of Sayaka’s fall. Though we get to see Homura’s backstory in full in EP 10 the core details are pretty much laid out in this one. Homura has gone back in time to try to save Madoka from contracting. We also learn the dark truth of magical girls and witches, just as a Soul Gem is born from a girls wish and hopes a Grief Seed and it’s Witch are born when that Gem is overtaken by her curses and despair. It’s clear now the “protecting humanity” is not the goal of Kyubey’s system though we’ll have to wait for the next episode to find out what it actually is.

[mistbornthefinal]

Madoka Magica Aniversery Analysis: Part1

 Prologue In Heaven

(just in case this is a retrospective of a 10 years old anime, there gonna be spoilers. If you’re for some reason interested in this post and haven’t see Madoka watch it first than come back)

Puella Magi Madoka Magica begins with our titular character running through a surrealist checkerboard hallway until she finds an exit. That exit opens onto a balcony which overlooks a destroyed Mitakihara.

Cue Magia as we are shown half-glimpses of Walpurgisnact. Against this devastated backdrop stands a single girl who we will later in the episode will learn is Akemi Homura. Unfortunately she is clearly outmatched by the forces arrayed against her.

Needless to say Madoka is distressed by the carnage. A strangely calm voice cut’s in which is quickly revealed to be everyone’s least favorite bunnycat Kyubey. Kyubey states that not only is this situation too much for Homura but that she knew that before coming here. After being slammed into the giant eldritch tree by one of Walpurgisnact’s attacks Homura notices Madoka and attempts to call out to her but whatever she has to say is lost in the distance.

Kubey then tells Madoka that she has the power to change all this, the power to change fate, to banish all this unavoidable carnage and sorrow. All she needs to do is make a contract with him... 

Madoka finds it hard to believe that such power exists within her but she seems to be earnestly considering his offer. Before we get a solid answer we cut to Madoka awakening in her bed, turns out it was all a dream. (Or was it? cue Connect!)

The common narrative about Madoka is that the first two episodes are basically bait. That they present a happy façade meant to lure in the unsuspecting only for them to be slapped upside the head by Episode 3′s big twist. If I have any big thesis for this particular essay it’s that this is not the case at all, and this opening sequence is exhibit A.

This whole sequence is basically is basically the core of PMMM boiled to it’s bare essentials. Madoka beholds the horror’s of Kyubey’s system. Kyubey’s tempts her to become part of that system with the possibility of changing things while Homura struggles to avert Madoka’s contract and thus her tragic fate by solving things without her. Right here in EP1 scene 1 Madoka lays it’s cards on the table and tells us what it’s all about. Indeed in EP12 Kyubey’s offer here will prove to be far more valid than he likely intended. 

The rest of the show is about brining us back to the point where the “dream” left off and explaining how exactly we got there. (which makes sense since we will later find out the dream is the end of Timeline 4, and our series opens at the start of Timeline 5) Given that our secondary protagonist is a time looper it shouldn’t be that much of a surprise that our narrative is a little circular. 

In our next scene we meet Madoka’s family. Madoka checks in with her dad(Kaname Tomohisa) and then helps her adorable baby brother(Kaname Tatsuya) wake up her rad as heck mom (Kaname Junko).  As Madoka and her mom get ready for the day together Ms. Kaname press her daughter for the latest gossip. 

(the only acceptable Madoka Magica waifu, seriously everyone else is like 14)

We get two other characters namedropped here both Hitomi and Kazuko, Madoka’s teacher who viewers familar with Japanese social conventions will instantly assume Junko knows since she refers to her by first name. We learn that Hitomi got another love letter and that Kazuko and her boyfriend are nearing what Junko believes is a critical point in their relationship.

Madoka is then faced with a choice between 2 types of hair ribbons. Junko urges her to go with the red ones telling her that her secret admirers will love them. Madoka protests that she doesn’t have secret admirers (Homura would disagree) to which Junko replies that they secret to being attractive is believing so regardless We then get a brief scene at the breakfast table but Madoka realizes she’s late and bursts out the door with her obligatory anime toast.

(obligatory)

On the way to school she meets up with her friends the aforementioned Shizuki Hitomi and Miki Sayaka. They discuss Hitomi’s love letter situation and Sayaka notices the new ribbons and then teases Madoka about getting dating  advice from her mom.

At homeroom we learn that Junko was eerily prescient re:Sensei love life. Madoka’s teacher (Saotome Kazuko) just broke up with her boyfriend due to a dispute over breakfast preparation, and she decided share her feels about the matter with the class to hilarious effect. After exhorting the Girls not associate with Men who demand the  Kazuko announces they have a new transfer student.

Before we tackle Homura’s introduction let’s quickly go over what’s being done in this last sequence, because this isn’t just mindless fluff. First and most obvious we’re getting introduced to almost all our secondary characters, but we’re also introduced in a subtle way to some of the themes we’re going to be dealing with. Take note in the first scene we get with Sayaka the conversation revolves around unrequited love, and then the very next scene is about a relationship that failed because the parties involved didn’t communicate their expectations of each other.  This sequence also flows very well because the first conversation between Madoka and her mom sets up both her later conversation with her friends and Kazuko’s rant.

Now that we’re done with that, enter Akemi Homura. To Madoka’s shock and our lack of shock it’s the girl from Madoka’s dream. While to whole class is fascinated by the cool and beautiful transfer student Homura only has eyes for Madoka, asking her show her to the nurses office. On the way Madoka attempts to make conversation but is thrown off by how Homura seems to already know the route. When Madoka calls Homura by her family name she visibly reacts and then tells Madoka to just use her first name.

(Madoka’s school is all glass all the time, the architecture in this show is cursed)

Homura then spins around and gives her out of nowhere cryptic ultimatum. “Don’t change who you are or else you will lose everything and everyone dear to you.” While a first time viewer is likely to be as baffled by this as Madoka it still sort of works to establish stakes. It sort of works because we just got those fluffy slice of life which establish how blissful Madoka’s daily life is and thus how much she has to lose. 

Then we get a montage of Homura being the best at everything before we cut to afterschool as Madoka is sharing her strange conversation with Homura with Sayaka and Hitomi. Neither are sure what to make of her words or Madoka’s claim to have met her in a dream. After Hitomi begs off due prior engagements Madoka and Sayaka head over to the CD store, with Madoka namedropping Kamijou as the person Sayaka is shopping with. 

We then get a intercut of Kyubey running from Homura who is shooting purple bolts of magic at him. At the CD store Madoka hear voice begging for help she follows it into an area that’s under construction. A heavily damaged Kyube than fall out of the ceiling in front of Madoka. Suddenly Homura is there demanding she get away from “that thing” but unfortunately it’s not in Madoka’s nature to abandon injured fluffy things. The two of them are at an impasse before Sayaka interrupts things with a fire extinguisher. 

The two of them book it with Kyubey in tow while Homura is distracted but she quickly dispels the cloud of fire extinguisher gas. She moves to give chase but before she can things get weird. The world is overwritten by a surrealist mosaic something that upsets but does not seem to surprise Homura.

What we will later learn is a witches barrier engulfs Sayaka and Madoka as well. Which means this as now a good time as any to discuss the aesthetic of witches and their labyrinths in a bit more detail. While the strange mixed media collage used to represent witches and their workings was and is a trip for a lot of new viewers of the series, this wasn’t a new thing for Studio Shaft who produced the series. 

(If you we’re familiar with the studio when this show was airing this sort of thing would be par for the course)

Even in 2011 Studio Shaft had built a reputation on having a weird house style that the brought to their productions. Indeed the blending of photographs of real objects into the animation is something they did before in Hidamari Sketch. Sill it cannot be denied that Inu Curry took Shaft’s house style to a new height of weird. 

Back at the plot Madoka and Sayaka are being menaced with scissors by cotton balls with butterfly wings. We also get a more prominent appearance of the witch runes (they were in the opening title card as well) these are a cypher that was surprisingly quickly decoded by the fandom. In this case the Anthonies (that’s what the cotton ball monsters are called) are talking about how Madoka and Sayaka are “unknown flowers” and thus shall go to the guillotine.

Before Gertrude’s familiars can make good on that, a new character appears. She wears the same uniform as Madoka so it’s quickly established that she a senpai at their school but before introducing herself she transforms into her magical girl form and blows away the Anthonies. All while her theme Credens Justitiam plays of course. 

The destruction of the familiars causes the labyrinth to recede and Homura quickly catches up to everyone. Homura and Mami have a tense exchange where Mami offers to let her hunt the witch and then no-so-subtly threatens her. Homura elects to back down for now.

With Homura gone Mami heals Kyubey’s injuries and the bunnycat get’s right back to his business. “Hey kids wanna become meguca?” Cue Mata Ashita (if you’re watching the blueray version).

Now that we’ve gone over the first episode in detail let’s talk a bit more in terms of how it fits into the overall structure. Like I said before the first two episodes are not just a false front to lure people into watching the “real” show. Were that true the show would have sucked and I wouldn’t be talking about it 10 years later. 

Not only is the visual tone of the series present from the word go, but the first two episodes set a baseline without which the twists and revelations of the later episodes wouldn’t be meaningful.  This episode in particular gives us a surface level introduction to all but two of our named characters. It also leaves us with a lot of questions, some of which prime us for the big exposition dump in the next episode while others will run for most of the series. 

[mistbornthefinal]

Madoka Magica Aniversary Analysis: Part 7

Facing Your Pain

We find Sayaka returning to her home presumably just after the events of the last episode. She tosses down her Soul Gem onto the desk surprisingly carelessly given that she just learned that it’s literally her soul. As she addresses Kyubey he’s just there despite not being in any of the establishing shots.

“You tricked us, didn’t you?”

Kyubey’s response is complete bullshit because, yes he did. Kyubey reveals or conceals information according to his own interests in order to manufacture consent. Even if he never outright lies in the process it’s still blatant trickery and deception. 

(pictured bunnycat being a dick)

Of course if anyone still didn’t get the memo he then places his paw on Sayaka’s Gem and makes her experience the unfiltered pain of being stabbed. In light of this scene it’s hard to believe that Kyubey is some kind of dispassionate utility maximizer. Regardless of what he might later claim about not having emotions it’s clear there’s some degree of sadism at work here and later on when he shows up to Homura’s house to gloat after getting Kyouko killed. 

In particular his deployment of violence as an “educative” tool when his logic is questioned by those it exploits is all to human despite Kyubey’s claims of being beyond humanity. 

He then tells Sayaka that it’s possible to completely shut out pain though he dose not recommend doing so. Which is clearly just him trying to push Sayaka into a worse place in order to put more pressure on Madoka to contract. What a dick.

(cue connect)

At school we see Sayaka’s desk has been folded into the floor of the school indicating her absence. We get a brief cut to Sayaka at home staring into her Soul Gem. Then we’re back on the #aesthetic rooftop with Madoka and Homura. Madoka askes if Homura knew about the lich thing and why she didn’t say anything before if she did. Homura says that no one she has told in the past believed her. Madoka then wonders how Kyubey can be so cruel.

Homura outlines Kyubey’s philosophy as she understands it. Kyubey does not share human values and as horrible as his price is it’s still small one for miracle. Even if Sayaka had dedicated every waking hour of her life to caring for Kyousuke he wouldn’t have gotten better. Yet still the cost of curing him was only Sayaka’s life. 

Homrua tell Madoka again to give up on Sayaka. Madoka reminds us that Sayaka saved Madoka and Hitomi’s life back in episode 4, it’s not in Madoka to abandon a friend especially one who put her own life on the line to protect her. Homura tells her not to confuse gratitude for responsibility (you’re one to talk Homura-chan) and again asserts that Sayaka is beyond saving.

Madoka asks how Homura can be so cold to which she muses 

(don’t cut yourself on that edge)

Meanwhile Sayaka is still lying in bed when Kyouko calls out to her telepathically. As they walk together Kyouko says she’s mostly gotten over the existential panic of “everything that makes you you is in this fragile Gem”. Having magic powers and being able to live as she likes is enough to satisfy her even considering the price (though she is still unaware of the true price of course). She restates her philosophy of living only for herself. 

The two of them arrive at their destination the ruins of the Sakura family church, the ideal setting for Kyouko to relate her backstory. But first she offers Sayaka an apple, because symbolism. Sayaka tosses the apple away and an enraged Kyouko lifts her up by the collar and threatens to kill her. Kyouko doesn’t like it when people waste food for reasons that will soon be obvious.

Kyouko sets Sayaka down, picks the apple up, dusts it off, and returns it to the bag. Then she starts her story which is show to us through a filter of non-diagetic puppets. He father was a preacher, a kind soul who only wanted the best for people. However his desire to do the right thing let to him preaching an unorthodox dogma. He was excommunicated and his family fell onto hard times. A young Kyouko couldn’t stand how know no one would listen to him (though current Kyouko admits that from the outside it must have seemed like he was trying to start a cult.)

(this is what scientologists actually believe)

So Kyouko made her contract and the next morning their church was filled with believers, and the world gained another Puella Magi. For a time Kyouko considered her and her father as two sides of the same coin, each working to save the world in their own ways. Of course then her father found out.

Learning that his new followers were there not by his words but his daughters magic broke his spirt and caused him to turn against his daughter calling her a witch. He turned to drink and ultimately killed both himself and Kyouko’s mother and younger sister. Her wish destroyed her family, because she made that wish without knowing what the person she made it on behalf of truly wanted. So from that day onward Kyouko resolved to only user magic for herself. 

Kyouko the asserts that hope and despair have to ultimately have to balance out. Something other characters will repeat even though it’s kind of dubious. Sayaka points out a hole in Kyouko’s logic if Kyouko is preaching pure selfishness then why worry over her. It’s clear that Kyouko sees her younger self in Sayaka and thus want’s to both save her and have her to validate how she has spent her life since she lost her family. 

(insert Always Sunny style title card reading: “Sayaka regrets her actions”)

Sayaka isn’t interested in validating Kyouko. Instead while she admits that she had the wrong idea about Kyouko she reiterates her decision to never regret her actions. Sayaka then asks how Kyouko got those apples, when Kyouko is unable to answer Sayaka says that if she can’t say than there’s no way that she can partake. She turns to leave, she’ll continue to fight in her own way if that inconveniences Kyouko she’s welcome to try to kill her again. Sayaka no longer bares the other Puella Magi any ill will but neither is she willing to lose to her.

As Sayaka leaves Kyouko goes back to her old habit, attempting to fill the void of lost social connection with food. It doesn’t seem very effective.

The next day Sayaka returns to school and tries to play off her absence, but when she spots Kyousuke she is still unable to approach him. After school Hitomi calls Sayaka for a one on one meeting at the cafe. There she lays down her ultimatum. Hitomi also has romantic feelings for Kyousuke but in honor of their friendship and Sayaka’s longer relationship she will allow her to make the first move. However Sayaka only get’s 24 hours after which Hitomi will confess her feelings.

That night once again Madoka is waiting for Sayaka as she heads out on patrol. Sayaka asks why Madoka is so kind to her as her own opinion of her self has recently plummeted. She “almost” regretted something today, when Hitomi gave her that ultimatum she considered what would have happened if she hadn’t saved her. She’s already given up on being with Kyousuke as since she is a “zombie” having a romantic relationship is impossible. 

This isn’t rational so to speak, rather Sayaka’s depression about not being able to live up to her ideals is effecting how she processes the revelation about what has been done to her body. To a certain extent she would rather call herself a monster than admit that she doesn’t have the courage to confess to her crush or that the idealized standard she set for herself is unachievable. Despite her low spirits she resolves to go kill a witch.

We then cut to the outside of a labyrinth presumably the one Sayaka is fighting in as Kyouko looks on. Homura joins her shortly and Kyouko says she isn’t going to interfere with his hunt, this is a Witch and fighting it is not a waste by her measure. She then notes that Sayaka is having trouble.

Then we cut to inside the barrier, and some of the most beautiful animation that Madoka Magica has to offer. Elsa Maria’s barrier is a world of monochrome with both the humans and the witch rendered as black silhouettes. This witch extends the religious imagery we had earlier with the only color (beyond touches of the girls image color on their outline) is the orange monstrance before which the witch prays.  

Sayaka cuts her way through the witches familiars, animal heads on ribbons of shadow but when she reaches the witch proper an entire tree erupts from it’s body to engulf her. Kyouko comes to her aid cutting her free and offering to take over the fight. 

Sayaka refuses and charges at witch again. This time she is heedless of her own injuries hacking away at the witch with savage abandon. 

It’s true.

If I just detach myself...

it doesn’t hurt at all.

Madoka begs her to stop (cue magia)

Welp that was EP 7. Extrapolating backwards a bit we can sort of see how for the past few three episodes how Sayaka and Kyouko have arcs that are sort of inverse of each other. In EP 5 both of them them aspire to fill the narrative and physical space that was left when Mami died. Kyouko at first sells herself as the veteran magical showing the newbies the ropes while Sayaka swears herself to upholding the image that Mami projected to cover her loneliness. The two move to clash in ep 6 but the revelation of a part of Kyubeys system that neither of them (or Mami) was aware of shocked both to their core. 

With their foundations shaken Kyouko attempts to reach to the girl she tried to kill who reminds her so much of her old self, opening up and sharing her trauma in the hopes that Sayaka can validate her philosophy. To hope the two of them can find some mutual solace in their failure of their old dreams. It’s not to be however as though Sayaka gives up her anger at Kyouko she rejects the possibility of connection. Instead she chooses to accelerate her downward spiral by doubling down on her desire to live up to her idealized image. Now Sayaka is in freefall and next episode we find out what happens when a Puella Magi hits rock bottom.

[mistbornthefinal]

Madoka Magica Aniversary Analysis: Part2

Hunting for Witches

(here there be spoilers, proceed at your own risk)

We get a quick recap of Mami introducing herself and blowing away Gertrude’s familiars, before cutting to Madoka waking up in bed much like last ep. Only this time Kubey is being a creepy bunnycat like always and is looming over her bed. Cue Connect.

As the two of them are brushing their teeth in their weird giant bathroom Junko chastises Madoka for being late and not checking in with the family. We then cut back to yesterday as Mami leads Madoka and Sayaka back to her house. Honestly I prefer the original broadcast version of Mami’s house it’s emptiness laid the seeds for the reveal of the desperately lonely girl Mami actually was. 

(Shaft there was a point where this need to stop and we’ve clearly passed it)

Mami gives them some cake and then gets down to business about this whole magic thing. She starts with the soul gem, the source of a magical girls powers which is created when she forms a contract with Kyubey. Kyubey then lays out the terms in exchange for becoming a magical girl he will grant the subject one wish, according to him anything is on the table. But becoming Meguca has a price, a magical girl must fight Witches. 

Back in the present Madoka asks her mom what she would wish for. Junko says she’d oust a couple of board members at her company, maybe the president as well the man is by her account too long in tooth and yet still refuses name a successor. Madoka suggest the she might be the next president and you can almost immediately see the wheels starting to turn in Junko’s head. Madoka watches slightly nonplussed as Junko begins playing her next moves in Game of Thrones: Mitakihara office politics edition.

(Madoka has no idea the cataclysm her off the cuff statement precipitated) 

Hours in the past Sayaka asks what a Witch is and how they are different from magical girls. Kyubey replies (in retrospect very weaselly) that if magical girls are born from wishes than witches are born from curses. In addition Witches can not be seen by normal humans, but none the less prey on them sowing anger and despair. Mami chimes in that many seemly inexplicable murders and suicides are due to witch curses. Sayaka asks why this isn’t common knowlage. The answer Witches hid from humanity in unreal pocket dimensions, the labyrinths.

What happened to the girls earlier is they had wandered into a labyrinth, something that’s usually fatal to ordinary humans. Mami stresses that within the labyrinth even her life is in danger so the two of them ought to weigh their options carefully before making a contract. As tempting as wish might be the price could very well be death. Despite the danger Mami offers them a chance to accompany them on a witch hunt to see what it’s like before they sign up.

As Madoka meets up with her friends on the way to school Sayaka is quick to react to the bunnycat perched on her shoulder. In addition to being invisible to muggles Kuybey also acts as telepathic relay. Though the twos silent conversation give Hitomi the wrong idea

(this scene became a meme for good reason) 

In the classroom Sayaka questions the wisdom of Kyubey coming to school, given the girl who tired to ice him yesterday is in their class. Kyubey says Mami is in telepathic range (prompting her to chime in) and he doesn’t peg Homura as the sort to cause a public disturbance. Homura’s arrival in class triggers another flashback to last evening.

Specifically the part of the conversation were they discuss the transfer student. Mami confirms that she is another magical girl. This confused Sayaka, why would a magical girl attack Madoka, shouldn’t they be allies of justice. Kyubey corrects her Homura was after him, likely to prevent him from making new contracts. Mami explains that conflict among magical girls is a common occurrence. Witch hunting has it’s rewards and sometimes megucas will fight each other to secure them. Sayaka rather astutely connects her interest in Madoka with the presumed desire to keep competitors out of the picture. 

This whole cutting between past and present thing might be a little hard to follow in text recap form, but it does us a service by cutting our big exposition dump and giving us time to breath in between segments. This scene tells us everything we need to know about magical girls and witches (or so we think) and even gives us some insight into what Homura is about. After EP 1 left us with nothing but questions EP 2 has given us faith that this show isn’t going to leave us in the dark. 

At lunch which Madoka and Sayaka have decided to eat on their schools aesthetic as fvck roof, the two discuss the possibilities of a wish.

(this school is cursed and I love it)

Sayaka says that as tempting as a wish is she balks at the cost, then laments that most people should have a wish that they would risk their lives for and that neither of them do shows how privileged they are. There is a brief cut who we will later learn is Kyosuke before laments that there are plenty of people in the world who would risk their lives on a wish, so why them.

Before we can get an answer Homura enters the scene. The girls are startled but Mami’s voice chimes in revealing that she’s providing overwatch from a nearby tower. Homura says she’s not here to fight and going after Kyubey again is pointless now that he’s made contact with Madoka. She just want’s to know where the stand re:becoming meguca. She then reminds Madoka of her earlier warning, a warning that hopefully has not fallen on deaf ears. Madoka asks what Homura wished for but only receives a cryptic look. 

They ditch Hitomi to go Witch hunting and fail to correct her... assumptions along the way. When the meet up with Mami at the cafe we learn that Sayaka brought a bat, while Madoka brought sketches of magical girl costumes. 

(sketches drawn by her awesome voice actress Yuuki Aoi)

They go back to where Mami fought the familiars so she can pick up the Witches magic trail and track it to her labyrinths new location. As the girls are following the trail we cut to a woman stumbling into an abandoned building, a building that someone wrote a Faust quote on one of the walls in the original German (more on that when do a post on Madok’s Faust references). 

Bach with Mami and hangers on we learn she has been systemizing her method of witch hunting, checking the places already prone to violence and accidents that witches tend to frequent. According to her the worst place for a witch to be is a hospital where they can leach the life from those already weakened by illness.

The arrive at the abandoned building just in time for Mami to catch the woman from earlier when she jumps off the roof. Though uninjured the woman is cationic and marked with a strange glyph that Mami identifies as a witches kiss. She lead the two of them into the labyrinth through a portal but not before enchanting Sayaka’s bat. Homura is not far behind. 

Mami makes easy work of the familiars and after a series a surreal doors open we reach to core of the labyrinth and meet it’s creator.

(I’m not sure what people were expecting back in 2011 but I don’t think it was a butterfly rosebush monster)

Gertrude gets her name plastered on the screen in witch runes, setting us up for a boss fight, cue magia. Mami curtsies to the witch causing two of her signature muskets to fall from her skirt. Gerturde throws her sofa at her and the flies through the air to dodge return fair from Mami’s guns. While Mami is focused on the witch herself several small familiars on the ground merge into a giant tendril that takes her off guard and slams her into the wall. 

Mami is able to turn the table by conjuring threads from the bullets embedded in the ground to ensnare the witch. She then uses the ribbon of her uniform to cut herself free and then conjures a giant gun with it that blows the witch away.

(No one else in this show names their attacks, Mami is such a dork)

Mami celebrates with a cup of tea as the barrier dissipates, then picks up a strange black object from the ground. This she tells Madoka, Sayaka, and the audience is a Grief Seed. The Grief Seed is a witches egg and it can be used to cleanse the darkness of a girls soul gem, replenishing her magic. She then tosses it into the darkness only for a previously unseen Homura to catch it. It has one more use which Mami offers to Homura. Homura rebuffs this offer which Mami takes poorly and Sayaka even more poorly. Madoka on the other hand just wants everyone to get along. 

With the influence of the witch gone the woman from earlier awakens, and is distraught at what she almost did. Mami comforts the woman telling her it was all a bad dream. The episode ends with Madoka musing that while she has no idea what wish she would stake her life on she admires Mami’s heroism. (cue Mata Ashita)

That’s Episode 2 which I would say is the most fundamental episode for understanding Madoka’s plot. We got a whole lot of exposition dumped, far more than you notice because it’s intercut with slice of life movements and character building. The it was capped off with a cool fight scene.  Everything from here on essentially either confirms or subverts what episode establishes.  

[mistbornthefinal]

Madoka Magica Anniversary Analysis: Part 3

The part where the fanbase lost their heads.

(spoilers for the show if for some reason you haven’t watched it in the 10 years since it came out.) 

We open in Kyousuke’s hospital room with Sayaka hiding just outside the door for a moment while she gathers her courage. Kyouske is happy to see her and her gift of CDs, offering to share the earbuds. It’s clear from her reaction to that Sayaka has a crush. It’s clear from Kyouske’s reaction that he is completely oblivious.

We get a flash of a much younger Kuouske performing before a concert hall while a young Sayaka watches. We cut back and Kyouske is looking away from the camera (and Sayaka) it doesn’t hid his tears. A shot of his bandaged hand tells us all we need to know. (Cue Connect)

After the opening ends we launch immediately into Mami conjuring her giant cannon, winking at the camera, and blowing away a hapless familiar. Sayaka complements Mami on her showmanship but she reminds her that what they are doing is dangerous. Madoka comments on the lack of Grief Seed.

Kyubey explains that since what Mami just destroyed was not a witch but rather a familiar that got separated from its’ master. Thus destroying it yielded no profit. Sayaka comments that it seem they’ve been fighting a lot of duds lately. (presumably off-screen) Mami asserts they can’t simply let lone familiars be as they can eventualy become witches themselves. (Quite neatly this gives us an origin for witches to throw us off from the origin of witches)

Mami asks the girls if they’ve settled on what they want to wish for, prompting Madoka to as what it was she wished for. Mami stops cold prompting Madoka to withdraw her question. But Mami is ready to share her orgin story regardless. Kuybey appeared before her in the aftermath of the car accident that killed her parents.

She didn’t have time to think and made a contract to save herself. (I have to point out how creepy Kyubey if framed in the scene with his shadow falling across Mami’s face) Mami says that she doesn’t regret it as the alternative was dying, but Madoka and Sayaka have a choice and time to mull things over so they ought to think carefully.

Sayaka asks if the wish has to be for themselves. Madoka immediately cottons to this being about Kyousuke despite Sayaka’s denial. Kyubey says of course someone else can be the target of your wish. Mami say she doesn’t like the prospect asking if Sayaka want that persons wish to come true of if she wants that person to be indebted to her. Sayaka is chastened (for the moment).

Mami reiterates that this an important decision that they shouldn’t rush into though as far as Kyubey is concerned the sooner the better. 

Back at her home Madoka is mulling over her options, stumped by what to wish for with Kyubey saying it’s against his rules to offer suggestions. Madoka floats the possibility of simply wishing to be a magical girl. Kyubey asks if what Madoka wants is power. Madoka initially waves the notion of but then reconsiders. In her view she’s weak and lacking in talent, the possibility of becoming someone like Mami would be enough for her happiness.

Kyubey reveals that in his estimate Madoka could be vastly stronger than Mami. While power varies depending on the wish Madoka has higher potential than anyone Kyubey has encountered before. Madoka demures and their conversation is interrupted by a knock on the door. 

Junko has come off badly from Japans terrible workplace culture and it’s mandatory after-work binge drinking. So Madoka is called upon by her dad to help her too bed. This prompts Madoka to ask her dad why Junko loves her job when working at that particular company was never her dream.

 Tomohisa says that it’s not so much the job itself that Junko loves, rather the chance to test her drive and find satisfaction in her accomplishments. It’s that drive that keeps her power through even when there are parts of her job she doesn’t like. Madoka is intrigued by the idea of a dream not being an single even but a way of living. 

Meanwhile Mami meets Homura in a deserted plaza. Homura opens on an aggressive note by chastising Mami for putting civilians in danger. Mami counters that those “innocent civilians” have been chosen by Kyubey. Homra cuts to the chase Mami is leading Madoka and Sayaka towards being Magical Girls, and that she objects to Madoka specifically becoming one. Mami draws the wrong if understandable conclusion that Homura is threatened by Madoka’s potential. Mami makes it clear that the next time the two of them meet it will be as enemies. 

The next day the hospital elevator opens on a disappointed Sayaka. She rejoins Madoka in the hospital waiting room. Kyousuke isn’t seeing visitors today it seems. On the way out of the hospital Madoka notices something, a Grief Seed. According to Kyubey it’s about to hatch. Unfortunately they don’t have Mami’s cell number so the decide to have Sayaka watch the Seed with Kyubey while Madoka goes to fetch Mami.

After Madoka leaves the Grief Seed pules one last time and the barrier goes up. The new labyrinth is a mix between a hospital and candyland but it’s denizens don’t seem to be hostile yet. Kyubey reminds Sayaka that were she to come up with a wish he could make her a Magical Girl right now. Sayaka defers for the time being. 

Madoka returns to the scene with Mami in tow and opens the door into the labyrinth. They gets a status update from Kyubey and Sayaka immediately, the witch remains dormant for the time being. Kyubey suggest to keep the magic to a minimum and walk to the center of the maze without provoking it’s occupant. 

After they enter it’s soon apparent that once again Homura was following, much to Mami’s displeasure. Homura say’s she will handle things this time. Mami says that Sayaka is in danger and that she is unwilling to trust Homura, then she cuts negotiations short by uses her ribbons to bind Homura. Homura protests that this Witch is particularly strong, but Mami doesn’t seem interested in hearing about it.

As the sneak through the labyrinth Madoka tells Mami that she has been thinking about her wish, what she desires more than anything else is to help people. To simply become a hero like Mami will be enough to satisfy her. Mami tells her once again that the life of a Magical girl is hard. She gets her often and has little time for love or friendship. Madoka says that she still wants to be like her, prompted Mami to finally lower her mask. 

“Nobody should become someone like me. I’m just acting cool, but I have no one to talk too when I’m scared or sad... I’m force to cry alone. Being a magical girl really isn’t that great.”

Tragically Madoka tells Mami the one thing she wanted to hear. She’s not alone anymore, she will fight alongside her. Mami tearfully takes her hands, but then on a lighter note says Madoka should still find something to wish for, putting to her a faux ultimatum. If she can’t think of something else by the time Mami has defeated the witch she’ll wish for an extravagant cake to celebrate them becoming a magical girl team.

Then the witch begins to awaken and it’s showtime. Buoyed by the prospect of someone by her side Mami makes quick work of the familiars. The Witch herself well..

She doesn’t cut the most imposing of figures. Mami smacks it’s doll-like form around a bit before calling forth the largest Tiro Finale yet. It’s not very effective as some kind of giant clown worm erupts from the dolls mouth and then

The ribbons binding Homura dissolve. In the process seeming to turn to blood. Homura is horrified, she know what just happened. Mami is gone. 

As Madoka and Sayaka look on in horror Charlotte devours the body. Kyubey seemingly frantic calls on them to make a contact to save themselves. 

“That wont be necessary” says Homura. While a Charlotte makes a valiant effort to chomp another magical girl all she gets is a mouth full of bomb. The explosions rip the Witch apart leaving behind her Grief Seed and a broken teacup full of blood. Homura tells Madoka (and Sayaka) to burn this moment into their mind, this is that fate of Magical Girls.

As Houmra picks up the Grief Seed Sayaka tells her it belongs to Mami, futile as such a statement is. Homura says that such things are only for magical girls. Madoka is in her grief unable to speak. Then Magia makes its’ debut as the series true ending theme.

Needless to say this episode blew everyone away and spawned a ton of memes when if first came out. Indeed Mami’s death still dominates the discourse around her character and the series to a lesser extent even 10 years later. 

But much like another prominent beheading victim it’s not like it was totally out of left field. While the marketing paints Mami as one protagonist out of a group of four in the show itself this isn’t really the case. Like papa Stark Mami takes the roles of a mentor to the other girls, and the mentor types have a tendency to bite it before their time. 

[beneaththetangles]

10 Year Retrospective, Month #2: Throwback to February 2011

As we celebrate our tenth anniversary on Beneath the Tangles, we want to take some time each month to look into the past, not only to commemorate our ten years, but also to see where we were and how far we’ve come as a site and collectively as anime fans. For most months this year, we’ll do that by looking back at a particular year and at the month corresponding to that year. For instance, last month we started this off by looking at January 2010. Today we throw back to February 2011.

TOP OF THE CHARTS: FEBRUARY 27, 2011

We’ll dive into anime a bit, but I want to us to look at what else was happening at this time in 2011. Here are the most popular songs, movies, and series on this very day nine years ago:

Top Selling Album: NOW 37, Various artists [Amazon]

Number One Song: “Born this Way,” Lady Gaga [Amazon]

Top Movie: Hall Pass ($13.5 mil) [Amazon]

Most Watched TV Show: 83rd Academy Awards

CURRENT EVENTS: JANUARY 2011

Here’s what was happening in the world nine years ago this month…

There is significant unrest in countries around the world, continuing massive governmental shifts in the Middle East and North Africa, as Bahrain begins to experience instability and Libya moves closer to Civil War.

President Obama determined that the Defense of Marriage Act, which prevents federal recognition of same-sex marriage, is unconstitutional.

The most powerful solar flare in four years erupted, disrupting communications in China.

In the most-watched television show in history, the Green Bay Packers defeat the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl XLV, 31-25.

Inception, The Social Network, and The King’s Speech are the big winners at the 83rd Academy Awards, with the latter winning best motion picture. Colin Firth takes home best actor for the same film and Natalie Portman wins best actress for Perfect Blue Black Swan.

POPULAR ANIME in 2011

It’s hard to believe that Steins;gate is now nine years old. It burst onto the scene in April of 2011, gathering steam (and admirers) each week and eventually hurtling toward a celebrated conclusion. But it wasn’t the only would-be classic released in 2011. We also saw Puella Magi Madoka Magica come out that year, along with Nichijou and Fate/zero. It truly was the year of Gen Urobuchi, as he slayed our emotions as the writer of two of those works: PMMM and Fate/zero. Those franchises, of course, remain strongly integrated in the anime fandom, with Fate/Grand Order series coming out each season recently and Madoka getting a side story anime this year.

art by 白祈QSR (reprinted w/permission)

Other critical darlings of 2011 included Usagi Drop, Level E, Mawaru Penguindrum, and Hourou Musuko. We also joke about how long it took this show to get a third season (and unexpected delight for sure), but to give you a frame of reference, it was in 2011 that Chihayafuru originally premiered. A number of series that have retained popularity since then also made their debuts: Anohana, Blue Exorcist, Deadman Wonderland, No. 6, and the reboot of Hunter x Hunter.

Dozens of anime movies were released in Japanese theaters, including Shinkai’s most obviously Ghibli-influenced work, Children Who Chase Lost Voices, and Fullmetal Alchemist: The Sacred Star of Milos. And tons and tons of other anime series were released—see any favorites of yours among this smattering of shows?

Hanasaku Iroha

Infinite Stratos

Kamisama Dolls

Last Exile: Fam, the Silver Sing

SKET DANCE

Tiger & Bunny

WHAT WE WERE BLOGGING

2011 was probably singularly most important year for Beneath the Tangles. Up until around that time, I had always characterized myself as a “quitter.” When things got tough, I got going. I always just assumed it would be the same with blogging—that I even made it from the site’s launch in summer 2010 into the near year was a surprise, but that we were still going through 2011, the first full year of the blog, was astounding to me. It was truly the grace of God, him wanting to use this blog for something and to change me for his purposes. And as he accomplished his work, four key things fell into place in 2011:

I was joined by our first staff writers. R86, who is still blogging away, was the first to join. His initial article as a staff writer wasn’t about his favorite baseball anime, Oofuri, but about another classic one: Major. He was joined later that year on staff by Goldy and then Lynna. It was a wonderful team, and one that expanded our reach and put out terrific content, helping me grow so much as a writer as they challenged me with their excellent thoughts on a variety of shows, as well as by their friendship.

A number of foundational posts went up, those that consistently drew readers into our blog and continued to do so for years. Article like my review of Endo’s Silence, the Finding the Invisible God series, and my elementary (and now, I’ve concluded, wrong) analysis of Gilles de Rais boosted our readership, bringing in devoted subscribers and providing a source of encouragement.

If my first few months of blogging was primarily about building relationships with other anibloggers, 2011 was about cultivating those new ties. I did this through conventional means, but also through the Aniblogger Testimony series, where I invited other anibloggers to talk about their own spiritual journeys. It was a vital component to our blog and a building block of our mission to create bridges in the otaku community. It all started with a survey I sent out to every aniblogger I could find, one that was helped along by Lauren Orsini, who was kind enough to create graphical representations for me. A lot of bloggers stood up and took notice of what we were doing as something unique and maybe helpful; a couple went the opposite direction and angrily denounced me (publicly). It was a wild time.

We started doing what we do best for the first time. In 2011, I started covering currently airing series, particularly shows like Hourou Musuko, Puella Magi Madoka Magica, Usagi Drop, and Mawaru Penguindrum. Now, most of our anime coverage is about what’s airing right now. We also started featuring article types that are now consistently part of our coverage: interviews (here’s one with singer Cait Plage and another with academic Jolyon Thomas), reviews, first impression posts, and our first Rez Week posts, where we focus on one topic all week long (the first was one Nicholas D. Wolfwood). I also started developing relationships with anime and manga production companies, and actually got in over my head, such as when I told one company I would do episodic posts for Angel Beats: I soon found my fervor for the series was completely gone and I couldn’t deliver as promised.

I was working it so hard, and so excited about the relationships I was building (most of which have, unfortunately, withered away) that I spent way too many of my work hours doing my hobby. My bosses noticed. But God works even (and especially) through our weaknesses, and I found better balance in future years and, strangely enough, work with some of those same managers today in different capacities, with some now serving under me!

I hope enjoyed this look into the recent past, both on a bigger, societal level and at Beneath the Tangles. We’ll keep up this throughout 2020. Come join us again next month, as we tackle March 2012.

=====

Featured art by つーはん (reprinted w/permission)