Introduction
The art of deceiving has been done countless times throughout stories. Season 2 of Attack On Titan with its reveal, or Vinland Saga being more than a story of revenge. With Attack on Titan, Isayama planned out a story with an amazing and massive strike through S3P2, making the result of almost 50 episodes worth it, or with Vinland Saga with its 24 episodes, expanding each and every character in some way. Even then, the anime for both is still continuing, meaning that it's only the start. Both Isayama and Yukimura planned out a start to amazement and I love their work because of it. Yet, that's the case with a lot of series. The author starts off with only a fraction of what they want the expands it over several chapters or episodes. It's not a bad thing, as we've seen countless amazing moments because of it. However, there is a show that does all of that in just 12 episodes that blew me away.
Synopsis
Madoka Magica shows us the "story of our main character", Madoka. A middle schooler who one day finds this talking, injured cat where a girl known as Homura Akemi is trying to kill it. Protecting the cat from her, Akemi flees and the cat introduces themselves as Kyuubey, explaining that Akemi is a magical girl, and that people like her hunt down witches. But, just like the examples I stated at the start, this is more than just some story.
As the show goes on, you learn more and more about everything. How do these witches work, how do our magical girls work, what's a Grief Seed, yet those are all secondary question. Who is Homura Akemi and what exactly is Kyuubey?
Visuals
With a much more deeper meaning, Shaft takes a simple artstyle and expands it to the max. Every enemy the magical girls fight is horrific, using disgusting and monsterous designs in a colorful atmosphere, with the atmosphere always being different depending on the witch they're fighting. It's unsettling and I love it.
Music
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From one moment, the music can go from a typical and generic highschool ost to making you scared for your girls every time it plays. As I said in the visuals section, combining the music with it, it gives some weaker scenes the extra oomph it needs to make you realize what's going on, which can be heard through the opening and ending.
The opening is sung by ClariS, and by looking at the visuals in it and lyrics, it honestly makes it seem like a school romcom, making it seem like Madoka's theme of how she's so pure and innocent. The ending, however, contrasts this a lot. Sung by Magia, this song sounds like a ritual is going on, as you here it every single episode, mostly being after something major has happened in the show. Unlike a lot of rock eds, there is no sad turn happy moment, so by episode 1, you start to realize that maybe this isn't just some magical girl show. Which leads me to my final point and my favorite thing about this show.
Characters,
They're so good.
Like a lot of other shows, their initial drive to be a main character (in this case, a magical girl) is basic, and comes from some tragic backstory, Sayaka with wanting to be able to help the boy she has a crush on, or Kyouko wanting to show the world their wrong. Madoka Magica takes these simple drives and turns it against itself through the interactions and story. Everything that happens around our characters, whether is Madoka not knowing what to do to help Sayaka out of a dangerous route, or her being confused of what to do after Mami's demise. Being rare to see in just 12 episodes, each episode expands on every character with every action, big or small. But,
More specifically, Homura Akemi.
She is, without a doubt, one of the best characters in all of anime.
Initially coming off as some sort of devil-ish monster who wants to kill Kyubey, as episodes go on and on, you see that she isn't as she comes off as through a variety of points, with the biggest being how she always appears when Madoka is in danger. At first glance, this would seem like plot armor, but for a show in 2011, it is not.
As I said earlier when taking about all the characters in general, every episode impacts every character, with Homura always being the main or secondary piece of it all. This show doesn't particularly have a "main character", as all these girls stand out, but if there had to be one, it has to be her.
With her magical power being to control time, Homura is from a different timeline. Initially being a shy medical-needs student, she was constantly embarrassed by herself because of it, having the whole transfer student thing only add an extra load onto her. However, Madoka, was the one who helped her be more confident, telling her to be proud of who she is, and even saved her life as she turns out to be a magical girl in that timeline, with the antagonist Kyubey being by her side. It makes Homura go from a shy girl to a happy girl, as she finally has her first friend. But..
When Madoka is on her final breath after failing to defeat the strongest witch, Homura makes a contract with Kyubey to become a magical girl, with the goal of going back in time to save Madoka. This begins the cycle.
Every timeline Homura goes to changes her drastically. She fails each and every time to save her, ending in a more horrific way, to the point where the happy Homura slowly breaks down into a more and more stoic, yet anxious person, pushing people away and doing everything by herself. And it fucking hurts. We see a weak girl who became proud of who she was become someone she never was for the sake of someone else, only becoming worse and worse of an individual, all because of Kyubey and his contract of not thinking humans as animals, making you realize that the OP isn't a generic and cheesy-song, but the clueless of Madoka, where as the ED makes you realize the suffering of all of Homura's failed attempts. Every Homura scene after episode 10 constantly gave me goosebumps, telling me that it's no longer a cute show, but a show that makes you reflect.
Simple Deception, Masterfully Done.
Conclusion
Madoka Magica is one of the shows I knew was going to surprise me from what I've heard, but I never expected it to do so on such a height. With the exception of my Miru Tights review, I usually write down stuff and plan out more, but this show was so short yet so amazing, that I wanted to wing this review without planning. I'll redo this review before the movie comes out, but for now, I'll keep it here because I fucking love this show.
