My thoughts on Puella Magi Madoka Magica
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
I finally found time to watch Puella Magi: Madoka Magica at around April 2011, and I was so glued to the series that I finished it in one sitting. The art style is unique, the plot is very intricate and compared to other animes with a magical girl theme, this one actually has an incredibly dark feel that would keep you on the edge of your seat.
Imagine yourself in a situation wherein you'll have your greatest wish granted whilst having to risk your life in exchange. Unlike many magical girl series, the characters of Puella Magi: Madoka Magica have greater burdens laid on their shoulders. They'll have to remove these burdens by battling witches and competing with other magical girls for power. That's what I absolutely love about this anime. It's so easy to tell apart from the others. It's not too cutesy and best of all, it has a set of memorable characters.
The main character, Madoka, isn't your typical magical girl. She doesn't seem to be a willful character, but she does look like she's living a fulfilling life. What I love about her is that she doesn't make tough decisions on her own. She's also friendly, albeit not equivocal.
Madoka aside, there's the incredibly authoritative and intimidating Homura. She seems to be Kyubey's rival despite being a magical girl under his jurisdiction. She has her own reasons for being "rebellious", but you'll have to find out what those reasons are by yourself. I really love her since she's really witty and she fights for what she thinks is right. I won't explain further since I don't want to spoil the series for you [if you haven't watched it yet.].
Finally, there's Tomoe Mami, who happens to be my favorite character. She seems strong and outgoing. She also delivers quite a performance when fighting.
What captures the viewers is the curiosity that's subconsciously formulating while they're watching each episode. Every single one is like a jack-in-the-box. Every turn means there's a surprise ahead. You'll never know what to expect. More facts are revealed as the story progresses. That's probably how I finished the series in one go too.
If you're looking for something familiar yet somewhat different, I heavily recommend this anime to you.
