*Read With Caution! This Review Contains Spoilers!*
Since It's back to school time I've decided to finally review this anime which has been on my list to review for about a while. Any who, this series takes place in the city of Mitakihara, where two school girls named Madoka Kaname and Sayaka Miki are approached by an adorable familiar named Kyubey,who offers to grant each of them one wish in exchanged to become magical girls. Later, a mysterious girl named Homura Akemi has already made this deal, and tries to prevent Madoka from accepting it. Kyubey encourages Madoka by telling her she will become the most powerful magical girl. Each time seeing all her friends suffer from having to use their supernatural powers to fight these "witches",creatures responsible for murders and suicides, she hesitates. But when the times comes to fight the most powerful witch called "Walpurgisnacht" Kyoko,another magical girl who is introduced following Mami's death, questions Homura of how she knows when and where this witch will strike. In response, Homura tells Madoka that she has been repeating the same timeline for a long time in order to save her from becoming a witch after the fight between "Walpurgisnacht". In the End Homura attempts to destroy it but becomes to weak to finish it and so Madoka makes a contract with Kyubey upon her wish: she contracts to prevent them from becoming witches when they are at their limits. And so the laws of the universe are rewritten such that at the moment that a soul gem becomes black with anguish, Madoka appears and purifies it before the magical girl passes on. As a result of this wish,she becomes the god of the magical girls that is the savior that exists all the time,leaving Homura with the memory of her human existence.
Terms used frequently in this series:
Magical Girl:
A magical girl is usually in her teenage years that makes a contract with an incubator. The contract is that the incubator will grant her one wish in exchange to become a magical girl that will use her powers to fight the witches. Most wishes will effect what the magical girl will be for example if it is a healing wish she will be able to heal twice as more than a normal human if harmed.
Soul Gem:
A soul gem is an egg-shaped gem that holds the magical girl's power. This gem is created after the contract is made with the incubator. It's size and brightness is related to how much power the magical girl has. The gem is used for hunting and fighting witches such as knowing if a witch is nearby and transforming for battles. When it isn't in gem form it is usually worn on the magical girl's finger. A soul gem is named as is because it is the container of the soul so that the body will survive from battle wounds. If the gem is destroyed the owner will die and if the body is away from the gem the body will have no pulse and be lifeless. When the magical girl uses her powers, her gem becomes darker and if it is constantly as is the girl will be weak. After the girl is weak the gem will become a grief seed (later to become a witch) but to prevent it the soul gem will have to be purified.
Grief Seed:
Grief seeds are black egg-shaped thorns created at birth of a witch. If planted, they form the barriers that hides the witch from humans. When a witch is defeated, the grief seed is left behind and is used to cleanse soul gems. Kyubey is also able to consume grief seeds this way.
Witches:
Witches are non-human and are supposedly created from curses. They are hidden in private worlds and are not normally invisible. If left alone, they affect humans by giving them marks called a "Witch's Kisses",which cause accidents,diseases,or suicides. Witches are sometimes looking the same through out the series which are referred to familiars or are known as magical girls who forget to purify their soul gems. Each witches barriers contains a labyrinth,that shows their subconscious.
A magical girl is usually in her teenage years that makes a contract with an incubator. The contract is that the incubator will grant her one wish in exchange to become a magical girl that will use her powers to fight the witches. Most wishes will effect what the magical girl will be for example if it is a healing wish she will be able to heal twice as more than a normal human if harmed.
Soul Gem:
A soul gem is an egg-shaped gem that holds the magical girl's power. This gem is created after the contract is made with the incubator. It's size and brightness is related to how much power the magical girl has. The gem is used for hunting and fighting witches such as knowing if a witch is nearby and transforming for battles. When it isn't in gem form it is usually worn on the magical girl's finger. A soul gem is named as is because it is the container of the soul so that the body will survive from battle wounds. If the gem is destroyed the owner will die and if the body is away from the gem the body will have no pulse and be lifeless. When the magical girl uses her powers, her gem becomes darker and if it is constantly as is the girl will be weak. After the girl is weak the gem will become a grief seed (later to become a witch) but to prevent it the soul gem will have to be purified.
Grief Seed:
Grief seeds are black egg-shaped thorns created at birth of a witch. If planted, they form the barriers that hides the witch from humans. When a witch is defeated, the grief seed is left behind and is used to cleanse soul gems. Kyubey is also able to consume grief seeds this way.
Witches:
Witches are non-human and are supposedly created from curses. They are hidden in private worlds and are not normally invisible. If left alone, they affect humans by giving them marks called a "Witch's Kisses",which cause accidents,diseases,or suicides. Witches are sometimes looking the same through out the series which are referred to familiars or are known as magical girls who forget to purify their soul gems. Each witches barriers contains a labyrinth,that shows their subconscious.
Characters:
Madoka Kaname:
Madoka is a 14 year old girl that thinks of her self as a person that has no talents or special qualities until her life changes when she encounters upon Kyubey. After seeing Mami fight the witches she becomes more interested to become a magical girl but after witnessing Mami's death she becomes more hesitant to become one. Prior to this timeline she is shown to be a magical girl that has average powers and ends up either killed or by being transformed into a witch. Back to the present timeline she is later shown to be the most powerful magical girl and becomes the god of the magical girls by leaving Homura with the memory of her existence.
Homura Akemi:
Homura was originally shy before she had a cold personality and was always the transfer student in previous timelines. Before she transferred she spent her time in the hospital due to her heart disease. When Madoka was killed in her battle between the powerful witch Homura makes a contract with Kyubey in order to become a person to protect her. She becomes a magical girl that can manipulate time from the time she met Madoka to change fate. Homura cares about her and never gives up trying to save her. Her weapon is a shield filled with sand that can allow her to freeze time. This is useless when she is restrained but she also use it to protect her from projectiles and to help her carry all her weapons. Since Homura has no magic that has offensive capability, she attacks with homemade,stolen firearms and explosives when time is frozen. None of the girls know what weapons she has, since she usually uses them while time has stopped. Another thing about her shield is once the sand on it is almost out she has the reset the timeline. As for the final timeline, Homura inherits Madoka's rose bow and arrows along with a set of white wings.
Sayaka Miki:
Madoka's best friend and classmate who is a tomboy. She makes a contract with Kyubey to heal the hand of a violinist who she is in love with. Sayaka's power is to produce multiple swords and can regenerate because of her wish. She eventually changes her thoughts on the world and becomes a witch. Madoka and Kyko try to help her but they know there is nothing to do.
Mami Tomoe:
Mami is a veteran magical girl and is a third-year student at Madoka's school. She lives alone in a penthouse after the death of her parents in a car accident and is the only one who survived it by contracting Kyubey. Her powers are revolved around her yellow ribbons which become riffles and have some healing powers. Deep inside she has no friends to talk to or have anyone to fight against witches with. Mami dies a witch killed her in previous timelines she knew the truth behind witches and the soul gem. She use to kill others around her including herself in the last timeline she is alive and fights alongside Kyko and Homura.
Kyko Sakura:
Kyko is a veteran magical girl who comes to the city following Mami's death. She was from a poor church family and wished if people could listen to her fathers preaching. Eventually her father learns of this wish and becomes insane and kills the family except her. She learns that she will use her powers for herself and not using it for others because it will cause despair. She is always seen with food and hates others for wasting it which she uses this logic when hunting full grown witches. She is an older magical girl than the others and can wield a spear that can extend or multiple sections and can change it's form to hit others at the same time. She can create barriers to let others out from interfering. She tries to save Sayaka but she ends up sacrificing herself so that Sayaka isn't lonely to die. In the previous time line she used to be partners with Mami and possessed illusion magic by making copies of herself which she also got from her wish. She no longer possesses it after her families death and decides to use her powers for herself ending her partnership with Mami. In the last timeline she is alive and fights with the others.
Overall Ranking:
I give this anime a 5 out of 5 stars because the plot was some what easy to follow because of the different timelines. The detail on the art is different but beautiful and the characters are very interesting to watch. The series is very fast because it has only 12 episodes and the series has dark fantasy, tragedy, and drama which I love. I recommend it to anyone who would like to watch a magical girl series that is dark.
Do you want to make a contract?:
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