Madoka Magic

As a third year senpai, Mami depicted as a kind, gentle, older figure who guides and helps Madoka and Sayaka as they are given the choice of being a Puella Magi from Kyubei. Having already been a Puella Magi for quite some time, she is a veteran and shows what it means to be a magical girl before they can make their choice.



Mami quickly came to be one of my favorite characters. However, it was very short lived. Only 2 episodes in fact.


THAT is brutal...

In a very sudden and gruesome death, this was the turning point of the series, explicitly showing that this show isn't your typical Mahou Shojo anime. However, that aside, Mami honestly didn't get enough limelight to have any deep profound characterization. She seems like an independent strong and kind person. However, we quickly find how needy Mami truly is.





Of course Madoka agrees to do so and Mami is ecstatic about how she isn't alone anymore. Flying on Cloud Nine, she joyfully battles the final witch before succumbing to death by decapitation. I loved her character design, but aesthetics aside, she really didn't have much character development. She does, however, have lasting impacts on Madoka and Sayaka, showing just how serious it is to become a Puella Magi.

Sayaka Miki is a classmate and close friend of Madoka. She is rash, bold, stubborn, but good natured at heart. We have our first character with multiple struggles and problems. As shown in episode 2, her first struggle is with her childhood friend and secret crush, Kyousuke Kamijou. A genius Violinist, he was, however, injured and became forever unable to play the violin again. She visists him frequently, with CDs of violin music, spends time and tries to help Kyousuke as much as she can. Immediately when she is offered Kyubei's proposal, she thinks of helping Kyousuke.



At first she was just struggling with whether or not she should accept Kyubei's offer to heal Kyousuke. However, she soon realized that her motivation behind the wish is what determines the worth. Was she truly altruistic and wants to heal him, or is there an alternative motive for her own desires? If she heals him, what kind of reaction would she be looking from him? Would she regret her wish if things doesn't turn out the way she wants? While thinking through her feelings, she seems unable to come up with a clear answer.

But after Mami's death, both Sayaka and Madoka realize this isn't something to be trifled with and decide not to accept Kyubei's offers. However, one fateful evening, Sayaka decides to heal Kyousuke as she couldn't bear watching him suffer anymore. She accepts the contract and becomes a magical girl.



Whether or not she figured out what her motives were, she still became one with a bright and determined goal. She will fight witches in her own righteous way just as Mami has done. This quickly becomes something that seems impossible with her own powers. As soon as Mami is gone, a new 5th character arrives: Sakura Kyouko. And with her, she battles Sayaka for control over the city. Her ideals differ vastly and they fight, fighting seriously to the death. Fortunately Homura comes and rescues Sayaka, but the conflict doesn't stop there.

Sayaka cannot and will not absolutely accept Kyouko's ideals. She is only looking out for her own self. Allowing familiars to grow to become full fledged witches before she hunts them for soul gems.



However, their eventual clash is inevitable as they reside in the same city searching for witches. And so they meet again and prepare for another duel. And in this fateful encouter, the girls discover another important secret to Kyubei. When a Soul Gem is created, your soul is transfered to the pendant, and your body no longer has a soul. Upon realizing this, Sayaka goes into despair. She realizes that she can no longer pursue a future relationship with Kyousuke. How could she, being who she is right now, approach him? This becomes further escalted when Hitomi, her other friend from school confesses to Kyousuke.



Struggling with her own feelings and desires, and how they seem to contradict with each other, she can't seem to grasp meaning to her life anymore. Especially now that she became who she is right now. She sadly watches in silhouette as Hitomi confesses and they seem to get together. She can't control her emotions and even blows up at Madoka.



She tells her that she should become a Puella Magi too, to help her in her battles. But Madoka says she can't and Sayaka mocks her and runs off.



Of course, she doesn't truly mean what she says. She realizes that of course, Madoka can't help her and even knows her good intentions, but yet, she can't control herself nor her emotions. Finally, unable to handle her own struggles and griefs, she gathers too much darkness within her soul and becomes a Witch, the final secret of Kyubei that was conveniently left out.


One of the most heart wrenching scenes...

Sayaka is an interesting character, and one that I first didn't really like. I honestly didn't like her as a character until she accepted her contract with Kyubei. She became, essentially the first example of what becoming a Puella Magi would have on a person's life. Seeing her life radically change from ante and post contract, it is tragic yet so humanistic. She enters this world bright, cheerful and hopeful, that what she has made is right choice. Passionate and willing to change and do good, she takes on this role of Magical Girl to do what Mami has previously done. Unfortunately, reality is not so gentle. She realizes her own faults and shortcomings and cannot handle them. It is so tragic when she ends of becoming a Witch, becoming the very being that she tries her best to eliminate; Becoming what she destroys to protect humankind. She really set the tone for the rest of the episodes, hinging on hope and despair.

The fifth and final character introduced to the series, I can almost guarantee everyone hated her when she was introduced. Seemingly almost an antagonist at first, she and Sayaka obviously didn't hit off very well. She seemed to be this self preserving arrogant girl who only cares about herself. Having heard Mami died, she comes to the city to claim it as her territory. Of course, since Sayaka became a new Puella Magi, she was the first one to be targeted. She shows Sayaka the realities of the life of a Magical Girl, and the vast skill difference between them.



She thinks Sayaka is foolish and naive for wishing to be a hero. She seems to live a carefree lifestyle, just taking care of herself without thoughts about others, shamelessly stealing food and constantly eating without a care in the world. However, she soon reveals her past and the struggle she went through. Her father was a pastor, who tried to preach the truth. However, nobody would listen and his church soon became empty. Here Sakura used her wish for lots of people to follow his Father's teachings. But when his father found out, he called his own daughter a witch and became insane. He eventually burned himself and everything and Sakura was the only one left.



She realized that this happened because she used magic for others without considering others. From then onward she vowed to never used magic again for the sake of others.



But in the end she changes and she isn't as cold as she appears to be. She tries to help Sayaka as much as possible, but was unable to do so. When Sayaka transforms into a witch, she was there to try to help her. Even after her transformation, she tries to find out more information from Kyubei, to help bring her back to normal. In the end, she couldn't, and she sacrifices herself to defeat Sayaka.



Her view and ideals changed after meeting Sayaka. Although she thought she would only look after herself, she realized that, she couldn't help but care for others.

Note: this is Kyouko speaking


Her character development is an interesting one. She put up a front to protect herself, but deep inside, she truly does care about others and is willing to sacrifice herself. Sayaka helped her realize this, but the reason for it is not directly stated. I would have to assume, seeing the struggles that Sayaka is going through and looking at her ideals, perhaps she was changed. Other then that, she is also another character that didn't receive too much screen time, only about 4 episodes. She kind of falls in the Mami category in that sense, but definitely was a solid character.

You might be thinking, wait, why isn't she discussed last? And yes, it's because I don't think she was the most important character; Nor was she the most developed. Don't get me wrong, I love Madoka, but if I were to put an analogy with League of Legends, she is like the ADC. Yes, she is important, but the support needs to be there for her to succeed.

Madoka is very kind-hearted. Almost to a fault as she constantly tries to help everyone. Almost crying at every given moment, she is visibly emotional, unable to hide her feelings. She is constantly depreciating herself, unconfident of her own abilities.



But this kind nature leads Madoka to follow along all the events that occur in each episodes, even though she doesn't make the contract with Kyubei. This let's her in the midst of all the girl struggles. She especially tries to help Sayaka as much as she possibly can. After Sayaka became a Magical Girl, she couldn't help but be worried and fearful for her best friend.



She constantly seeks help from Homura, asking her to protect Sayaka, as she can't do anything herself. Asking for help in multiple episodes.

She also experiences suffering, changing her hope to despair. Compare these scenes: One from episode 2 and the other two from episode 8:








Quite the polar change no? This is the most prevalent theme throughout the anime and one that is actually explicitly stated.



This change from hope to despair is in all the girls and is the baseline for all their sufferings. It is, however, the very essence of energy that Kyubei is harvesting. She is unconfident in her abilities and fearful for her future. However, the burden on Madoka doesn't just exist on her fears alone. She holds an even greater fate.







Just imagine the pain she is going through. Not only is she fearful of death, but now she has the burden of being the strongest and ultimately the worst Witch to be ever created. Filled with despair, perhaps she is even tempted by what Kyubei is saying to be correct. Maybe there is nothing wrong with harvesting energy. Although she denies it, it still shakes her foundations and her beliefs.

Before the Walpurgis Night, she leaves and tries to go help Homura fight. But she is stopped by her mom on the way.













Wait, how did she change so much? What was the reason for her transformation? Wasn't she just depressed to the point of giving up? And that is where our final character gives the answers.

Oh man... This character... She received a similar treatment to Kyouko in that she doesn't seem to be "good" in the beginning. Veiled in mystery, and seemingly an antagonist yet never actually harming the heroines, she was an unknown character in the beginning. She seems very cold and emotionless, hardly phased by any results, shocking or otherwise. However, there is a lot more than what she appears to be. In terms of character development, no other girls compare to what she went through. And yes she is the support form the LoL analogy.

Homura seems to be cold and distant, only fixated upon one thing; protecting Madoka. Of course, this wasn't apparent at first, but over time, it becomes clear what her objective was. While the other characters, (mainly Mami and Sayaka) did not understand her true intentions, Madoka seemed to sense something different.



Homura is from another timeline and have traveled back in time to rescue Madoka from her terrible fate. The past Homura is so radically different from the current one. Having traveled multiple times, she is now hardened by reality and realized her original naive ways will not accomplish anything. This change becomes more apparent as she is compared to Madoka. The parallel from the orignal Homura and the the current Madoka is so similar, it is uncanny. Both believe they are unskilled and unable to accomplish anything. Both do not accept contract with Kyubei until the very end. Both experience what it is like to lose loved ones, without the power to help, (as they are not Puella Magi). In some ways, Homura seemed even weaker than Madoka.

However, the main difference between the two was that Homura had no one to help her. No one would believe her that Kyubei was actually the enemy. Telling the truth only made it worse as it only created internal conflicts and distrust. She had no choice but to work alone. I highly recommend watching Episode 10, as it really highlights her transformation, but here is a clip that is really powerful



She repeated this timeline watching Madoka die, not once, not twice, but three times. The heart wrenching pain that she must have went through, each time she died. She works so hard each time, trying to change her fate, yet each time, always meeting the same inevitable fate.

However, she doesn't let her past defeats stop her. She relentlessly pursuits the ending that she desire to save her only friend.







However, even Homura's iron will shows chinks in her armor. When Kyubei reveals the secret to Madoka's hidden power, she is immediately shaken. The very girl she was trying to save, was being doomed by her own actions.



Realizing that she herself is responsible for putting such a tremendous burden upon Madoka, her will begins to waver. But she forges onward, determined to end Walpurgis Night on her own, so that Madoka can escape her fate. And here is the scene, that changes Madoka forever.













One of the very few times she expresses her emotions, she grows desperate and can't help but to release her emotions as the final hour was arriving. Madoka realizing all the effort and sacrifice Homura put in, she regains her hope and realizes what she needs to do.

But Walpulgis Night didn't go as Homura wants

If you want to skip the fight, watch from 3m14s


She finally loses hope and falls into despair. The last Puella Magi standing, fighting with a strong determined will, finally succumbs to the inevitable fate.Knowing how hard she tried and how much she sacrificed, this scene was so emotional.

However, Madoka shows up and saves her at the last minute















And so it ends with her transforming into as fans like to say "Godoka" and ridding the entire universe of the existence of Witches. The only reason Madoka is able to do is, was because of Homura. Her multiple attempts to save her, actually gave her enough power to do so. Not only enough power, but also enough hope to accomplish her goal.

What makes Homura such a great character is that she gave up. She too fell into despair. As strong-willed and determined as she was, she could not avoid fate itself. Her flaws are what makes her such a great character and a believable one. Not to mention her entire development from being a weak, ill girl, to this strong, independent, determined Puella Magi. She gained such fantastic character development and design. I do admit, her hair flipping thing whenever she arrives was kind of annoying, but from her character model, to just her characterization, to the pain and suffering that forced her to change, made for an incredible character.