Mahou Shoujo Madoka Magica is one of the most popular anime to the released in the last ten years, and is by far the most popular mahou shoujo (magical girl) anime to be released this millennium. With a spin-off anime, Magia Record, currently airing (as of Winter 2020), I feel like a rewatch and review of the work that it is based on should be in order. Before I get started, I should state that the consensus of this anime by the anime community is that Madoka is either good or VERY good. It IS one of the most popular anime in the last decade for a reason. With that out of the way, let’s get into it.

If you could become a magical girl, would you? You get a wish granted for becoming one, so, what wish you want to be granted? A billion dollars? A cool and rich boyfriend? For your friend to overcome an illness? You can wish for anything in the world, all you have to do is become a magical girl in return. Now, being a magical girl is not easy. You have to fight witches that can kill you if you are not careful. You have to kill them too because the ‘grief seeds’ they drop purify your ‘soul gem’, a container that contains your powers as a magical girl. You have to collect these grief seeds, or you will die. You will not have time to hang out with your friends or date after school since you will be spending most of the time patrolling danger areas and fighting witches. If you could become a magical girl, would you?

In Mahou Shoujo Madoka Magica, Madoka Kaname has to answer that question. The first scene of the anime is a dream, where Madoka watches a mysterious black-haired girl fighting a monster that looks impossible to beat. A mysterious cat-like creature watches with Madoka from afar, telling her that the only way she can stop this is by becoming a magical girl. When Madoka goes to school that day, she is stunned that the girl in her dream, named Homura Akemi, turns out to be a new transfer student in her class. Even more stunning, after school, while hanging out with her friend, Sayaka Miki, Madoka hears a voice calling her for help. Madoka goes to an abandoned part of the shopping mall where she is, where she finds the cat-like creature from her dream, named Kyuubey, is wounded due to Homura trying to kill it. After Kyuubey is saved by a magical girl named Mami Tamoe, it is discovered that Homura is also a magical girl. With that in mind, Kyuubey asks Madoka, and Sayaka who is also there, if they want to become magical girls.

You have probably heard this a million times before, but Madoka is considered a deconstruction of the ‘magical girl’ anime. While I am not an expert in magical girl anime, I can see where this take comes from. In Madoka, being a magical girl is not glamorous or cool like in other magical girl anime. Instead, it is more like a combination of the worst aspects of the mafia and the gig economy: In exchange for a granted wish, you have to start fighting witches regularly. Once you become a magical girl, your life will never be the same.

Moving on to the characters--the main five girls in Madoka are perfect for their role. They are not all likable, but that does not matter. They all have simple, yet moving, personalities which will keep you engaged while watching. You will remember all of the five girls’ names years after you watch Madoka, due to how rememberable it is. In a medium with so many forgettable anime and characters, Madoka will have a lasting impact on you.

Madoka Kaname, the girl the anime is named after, is the main girl. She is a selfless girl that wants to be a magical girl, but does not know what her wish would be. She does not have any particular talents or skills and believes in everyone.

Sayaka Miki, Madoka’s best friend, is a passionate girl that sometimes says/does before she thinks. She is protective of who she cares about and has a hero complex.

Homura Akemi is mysterious. She also seems to know everything, being able to predict if and when Madoka will be in trouble. She wants to prevent Madoka from becoming a magical girl at all costs for reasons unknown.

Mami Tamoe is Madoka and Sayaka’s senior. She has all of the qualities of an upperclassman, taking both of them under her wing while she does her magical girl duties. She is the model magical girl.

Kyouko Sakura is a newcomer to town. Being a realist, she operates as a magical girl in a way that benefits her, rather than Mami’s idealist way of benefiting all of those around her. Often eating something.

Being a near-decade on ever since Madoka aired, the shock value that the anime had when it first aired has died down a bit, since most anime fans have seen it at this point. With that being said, Madoka is still an absolute must-watch. Anime that are truly excellent will still move you, even if you know what you are watching is not what it seems (or if you are spoiled). Rewatching Madoka , it still moved me like few anime (or movies and games for that matter) have. It perhaps moved me more than watching it the first time, since I have matured since then.

While Madoka is deep, it is not so deep that it comes around as pretentious. Debates about individualism, selflessness, and the emotions that every person carries plays a huge role in Madoka . While it is not difficult to follow, Madoka is still very thought-provoking and relatable.

Madoka is many things that I can not explain to you without spoiling it. What I can say is that it is one of the best anime that I have ever watched. With cute art to lure the suckers in, and a well-written story that will grip you emotionally. Stories with Madoka’s nature tend to suffer from narrative issues like plot-holes, among other things, but Madoka avoids having any glaring flaws. The only hole that may appear is the one in your soul after finishing Madoka (okay, sorry, that was a bit corny.) Thankfully, there are three theatrical movies (first two that are recaps, and a third one which is an original story), and a spin-off anime (Magia Record) to fill that gap. Madoka has had staying power in the anime fandom ever since it aired for a reason. You are missing out on one of the best anime in the last decade if you have not watched it yet.