When I first started writing this review, I had an entirely different structure in mind. I was going to write an entire text dissecting this franchise as a whole, explaining it's roots and describing my favorite aspects about it. Whoever, it didn't feel write. It was as if I was unintentionally turning a blind eye into a greater aspect of this work; it's very essence. It's "soul", you can say. What that soul is, is entirely up to each person's interpretations. As the movie kept replaying on the back of my mind, I ended up reaching an agreement with myself on what that said "soul" was.
Ever since it's release, Madoka Magica has been known for being the deconstruction of the magical-girl genre. While other entires that came before were whimsical, adorable adventures, Madoka masked itself as such and took an incredibly dark turn. Playing with the visuals and the character's psyche in a very gruesome manner, it left it's mark as something very unique and disturbing. That was what I thought too after finishing the original series. A despairing reality, filled with nightmares and tragedies. But that wasn't everything.
What really caught my attention was how this dire situation was used to explore the character's minds in ways that couldn't conventionally be done. Your surroundings change you, and this show was the best example of that. How your actions, the places you frequent and the people you share bonds with change you, or how they ultimately make you who you are. It isn't so much the deconstruction of a genre, more the deconstruction of everything inside of it. This movie was exactly the same: creepy backgrounds, eerie soundtrack, tragic characters, grief, betrayal; As it went on, however, I realized there was something else: greed.
People are very greedy, be it in the thirst for money, pleasure, or a search for meaning. It's an endless hunger we possess. The search for love is a very common type of hunger. That hunger might exist without the person even knowing. It's in all of us, we can't function alone. When that hunger is too great, whoever, and the person finds someone to love, problems may arise.
This is exactly what this movie is about, and it made me realize this entire series has the same "soul". The more I thought about it, the more I realized just how many aspects and actions exist solely because of love, the hunger it derives from and it's exploitation. The wish Kyuubey provides to help the girls achieve something they love. Mami finally founding reason to fight by the love the others gave her. Sayaka turning into a magical girl so she can protect the ones she loves. Kyoko using her wish to help her father. Madoka considering literally selling her soul so that she can help others (which she does in a way). Homura's entire arc. It's all because of their desire to keep the things they love. But nothing ever lasts forever.
Bringing forth the next topic is exactly that: time. This entire story wouldn't even have happened if not for the Incubators wanting to prolong the universe's time. Letting go of things is something extremely hard to do, specially when whatever the thing that is departing is dear to you. However, it's a fate everyone must face in order to mature. Nothing lasts, and you can't prolong their stay. The fear of saying goodbye can "corrupt" love, as the person becomes obsessed with finding a way to saving the thing they love no matter what must be done. An obsession is formed when you can't control your mind's desire, and subsequently, your body. It's a feeling of alienation. It makes you despise your actions and who you are. Homura goes through a path similar to that. She tortures herself (and others in a way) so she can save Madoka. Yet every time, at the end, she realizes everything has to be the way it's meant to be, even if she doesn't want to.
Just like love, the obsession that derives from it might be unnoticed for a long time. So much that sometimes, it must take others to point them out. They will manifest as self-hate, depression and sometimes, violence. Homura doesn't understand that Madoka needs to always be next to herself so that she can love her. It's only when Homura finally tells Madoka about her fear of losing her, that she finally realizes her actions. In her fake dimension, Homura created barely a shell of Madoka, the idea of her, in which she was obsessed by. But when Madoka's warm words reached her, she remembered not the idea she was obsessed with, but with the person she loved. Homura's own fear of departing from that which was dear to her ended up distorting herself and everything around her. It doesn't matter if she suffers, as long as what she wishes for to be safe is indeed safe, it's fine. That is a line that is incredibly hurtful to pass, and incredibly difficult to leave.
"Being able to talk to you like this and feel your kindness one more time makes me so happy."
Rebellion is the manifestation of this story's core. The hardships of the path to maturity, the blindness of love and how ultimately flawed humans are. It's never afraid to hold back on it's messages, and it always hits you at full force. It's disturbing, it's special effects create an atmosphere of creepiness, it's soundtrack make a feeling of witchery, uncertainty and imagination. Even so, underneath it's disturbing exterior, inside is a warm message and warning. Nothing is infinite. Nothing we desperately try to do will ever change that. Saying goodbye to things might be hurtful, but understanding that is the very first step towards maturing an towards becoming someone new. I hope that if you have not yet watched this, when you do, that this show resonates with you as much as it has with me.
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