“Puella Magi Madoka Magica” or “Madoka Magica,” as it is often referred to, is generally regarded as the harbinger of the popularity of the dark magical girl genre. With the recent release of “Puella Magi Madoka Magica: Magia Exedra,” a mobile game based on the anime, and the upcoming release of “Puella Magi Madoka Magica the Movie – Walpurgisnacht: Rising,” I think it is appropriate to give my review of the popular series.
“Madoka Magica” follows middle school student Madoka Kaname as Kyubey, a sentient life form resembling a cat, attempts to make a contract with her so that she can become a magical girl. At first glance, “Madoka Magica” seems like a stereotypical magical girl anime among the likes of “Sailor Moon” or “Pretty Cure.” It quickly becomes evident that this is, in fact, not the case by the end of the series’s third episode, “I’m Not Afraid of Anything Anymore,” in which one of the main characters meets a gruesome end. I think that death is handled appropriately in “Madoka Magica.”
The thing that sticks out to me most about this anime is its characters. The characters of “Madoka Magica” are all deeply complex. Sayaka Miki is, hands down, one of the most relatable anime characters I have ever seen. Sarah Anne Williams does a great job voicing the character. Throughout the series, her voice steadily becomes more and more monotone as she is worn down from the events that occur around her. Her descent into depression is a wonderful portrayal of how the mood disorder impacts people in real life. I particularly enjoy the relationship between Sayaka and her foil, Kyoko.
One website states the themes of “Madoka Magica” as including the loss of innocence, the price of wishes and the ethically grey areas of good vs. evil. I think that this is an accurate summary.
“Madoka Magica” will always be known as the anime that forever revolutionized the magical girl genre. Especially now, with new content on the horizon, I would highly recommend this anime, particularly to high school students searching for something thought-provoking.
