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Puella Magi Madoka Magica [review]
"If you feel like dying for this universe, just call us. We'll be waiting!"
I don't think it's any exaggeration to say that this series has not only become my favourite anime series for this season, it will probably go on my top twenty list of anime series of all time. It's just that good, and that much of a head trip.
The overall premise is shockingly misleading, for one thing, and the happy magical girls OP is a total lie. But the premise is this: a cute magical cat-like creature contracts with young girls, granting them one wish in exchange for recruiting them to become magical girls, who will spend the rest of their life battling witches in their free time. You know, as one does.
I'm loving this because the animation is utterly gorgeous, the story is shocking and amazing, and the music (by Yuki Kajiura) is top notch. Just listen to the haunting ending song: Magia. Easily as good if not better than any of her previous work, including that for my precious .hack//SIGN.
Animation is by SHAFT, who also did Bakemonogatari, another recent favorite series of mine. What's great about it that the characters are shaded so simply, and are cute but normal seeming for anime, but their motions are so fluid, and the background locations and battles in the witch worlds go into amazingly innovative territory. See Sayaka's witch battle:
It's like something out of a fairy tale! I think of this show as the spiritual successor to Revolutionary Girl Utena, in a way that the (relatively lighthearted and straightforward) Star Driver isn't: it's about girls making hard choices, and paying a terrible price. This is not a show about how good triumphs over evil, or how beautiful it is to see one's wishes come true, but rather about entrophy in the universe, and how all good things are balanced with bad, and how hope can still survive in the face of suffering.
I always pay attention to how color and composition are used in anime:
And the colors in Madoka Magica are especially vivid and fresh.
Everything I'm showing you are actual frames from the show, not concept art for the series.
But of course, no matter how beautiful something is, if it can't capture your heart it might as well be worthless. Madoka, the protagonist, is a little bit bland as a protagonist, but her sheer normalness serves well in this kind of story, since I feel that there are two major ways to tell a great story: follow extraordinary, vivid characters through ordinary events (see: Oofuri, Genshiken), OR you can have ordinary (but interesting) people undergo extraordinary events (see: Mushishi, Spirited Away). Occasionally someone truly brilliant can pull off a series where you've got extraordinary people doing extraordinary things (eg, Princess Tutu, Baccano), but successful stories of that sort are rarer than one might think. And sometimes a slice-of-life series of ordinary people doing ordinary things can succeed, but more often than not such stories end up as tedious and boring.
Madoka's journey through this show is interesting; from the first episode, she is offered the chance to become a madical girl, but so far in this 12-episode series, she has yet to succumb to temptation. And in the last few episodes we've really seen what a devil's bargain this is, as the true nature of the magical girl contract becomes clear: magical girls INEVITABLY become the witches that new magical girls fight, and spend their last days alone and in torment until they are mercifully destroyed by someone who will eventually end up just like them. It's a cycle of misery, and the purpose behind it turns out to be to serve the dispassionate goals of an alien species who wish to preserve the energy of the universe at the expense of human souls.
The major point of this show seems to be one that cannot be heard enough: sure, there's value in living a life of adventure and danger, but a peaceful life under the sun, spending time with your friends and family?
That's good too.
I love this series. I am fascinated by it. You all should give it a try.
Re: tl;dr - I am a dweeb. Also a pervert.
I loved the cards in CCS, too - their abilities were really creative, and the way they were strong and weak against one another. I think they even released an official deck of them a while back, with a fancy book-like case and everything, but I never got my paws on it. This also reminds me that one of the best cosplays I ever saw ever was a guy as Clow, and he had his two tiny babies (like, 2 year olds, probably) dressed as Syaoran and Sakura. It was the cutest thing in the universe. I think I saw it at AX2004, but I dont' even remember. I just remember loving it.
ALSO THAT DESCRIPTION MAKES ME WANT TO WATCH KORE WA ZOMBIE DESU KA. It reminds me of a tabletop RPG campaign I was in (LOL) that was Big Eyes Small Mouth D20. We were running a sentai/mahoushoujo campaign. They were looking for the moon princess. My character was a dude with no past-life memories named Himeda Yo. Y-yeah, I made that joke. xD Anyway, I rolled die to determine whether or not he would 1.) remember that he was the moon princess (no), 2.) transform into the moon princess' clothes or get a new outfit (dress!), and 3.) have to say ridiculously girly catch-phrases in order to make his magic work (yes), and 4.) in order to transform, what he would have to use (I rolled what I assigned 'put on make-up'. So his transformation sequence was him having to put on lip gloss, eyeshadow, and mascara. IT WAS RIDICULOUS). xD I will probably enjoy this.
ALSO NOW I AM IMAGINING MAGICAL GIRL HARUNA AND IT IS AMAZING. He would totally sing the Pixy Misa song. "I'm an awesome mahou-shoujo, I can do anything 'cause I'm a mahou-shoujo!" LOLZ FOREVER. Mihashi could be the shy one ("Strike!"), Akimaru is the smart one (his catchphrase would be silently making his glasses reflect the light, LOL), Takaya could be the hot-headed angry one ("Follow my lead, dammit!" while Haruna runs of to start fighting before the rest of them are finished transforming).... I might have to draw this. xD;;; ROKA IS TOTALLY THE EVIL MAGICIAN THEY ARE FIGHTING AGAINST. JUST SAYIN'.
Another one that I remember enjoying, but didn't watch much of was Super Doll Licca-Chan. It was one of the only ones with a magical boy at the time, though. One of the super-dolls is a green-haired dude. xD And the opening themesong animation is awesome - if you can just find the OP, you should watch it and be amazed.
If you don't have time to watch the anime, the manga is *excellent*. My favorite character gets intro'd in the next ep of the anime (he is a bully, LOL - but so is my second favorite character, Chiba, who I ship with Takatsuki [the transman]). It's a really wonderful show, though. The voice acting, too, is really good. :D Watch iiit so I have someone to squee about it with.
... yeah, I'm totally drawing Mahoukiku Furikabutte. It's on my list of projects!
*butts in without any shame*
lol butts
Re: lol butts
Re: lol butts
Re: lol butts
Re: tl;dr - I am a dweeb. Also a pervert.
AND I TOTALLY WANT TO SEE YOUR MAHOUKIKU FURIKABUTTE ARTS! THAT SOUNDS SO
HILARIOUSAMAZINGLY SEXY!!!!!