How dark is madoka magica?

Sep 10, 2013 2:24 PM

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Jul 2013

I've heard countless recommendations of this show from this site and friends. They all say that it's a lot darker than it seems(I looked it up and it just looks like another 'magic girl' sailor moon clone or something).
I usually like darker animes such as higurashi, but this doesn't seem like it's for me.
But as so many people have recommended it over and over, should I watch the show? And how dark is it?(I don't really see a show like madoka magica getting dark at any point).
Thanks guys

'Bang....'- Spike Spiegel

Sep 10, 2013 2:30 PM

Aerostar

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May 2012

2921

Watch it. it's very dark. episode 3 ends with crying, and then the show just gets darker. the ending is not so happy either.

Sep 10, 2013 2:33 PM

rodac

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Jan 2011

4266

Will not spoil beyond saying that episode 3 is the turning point. It turns the magical girl genre on its head and goes into deep dark places. And bring a handkerchief for the final episodes.

The Madoka Rule is that you always watch at least three episodes of an anime before you judge it. Once you watch it you'll know why.

Please don't feed the trolls!

In my next life I want to collide at the corner with the cute transfer student
carrying a piece of toast in her mouth...rodac

Sep 10, 2013 2:34 PM

nnangle

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Aug 2012

1845

Not on the same scale as Higurashi, but it is quite dark.
Not as much as everyone makes it out to be though, since that's mostly them being surprised by the contrast between the first and second half, which by the way is ridiculous.

Sep 10, 2013 2:37 PM

rodac

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Jan 2011

4266

I think the darkness comes when you realize just what one character has gone through. The deepness comes when you think about what true heroism and love is.

Edit: and as I think about this, this thread should probably be moved to the Madoka discussions rather than recommendations so I'll ask a mod to do that

rodacSep 10, 2013 2:41 PM

Please don't feed the trolls!

In my next life I want to collide at the corner with the cute transfer student
carrying a piece of toast in her mouth...rodac

Sep 10, 2013 2:40 PM

Praland

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Jul 2011

8111

Darker than Black after episode 3

Sep 10, 2013 2:42 PM

johnyjohny

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Nov 2012

9750

Elfen lied is darkest i have seen. After that Berserk. Heck Madoka is not even in my top 5 of darkest anime.

Sep 10, 2013 3:11 PM

Theaha0

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Jul 2013

Pretty good answers so far. Thanks guys.

'Bang....'- Spike Spiegel

Sep 10, 2013 5:25 PM

opticaldelusion

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Sep 2012

rodac said:
I think the darkness comes when you realize just what one character has gone through. The deepness comes when you think about what true heroism and love is.

Totally second that.

Sep 10, 2013 5:34 PM

#10

nasliwnbl

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Jun 2012

1226

Maybe it's dark for people who have never seen a 'dark' show. I would say stay far, far away from that show.

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Sep 10, 2013 5:36 PM

#11

DrZudsi

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Aug 2012

I haven't seen it either. Is it worth the potential tears? ._. I barely held it in during Clannad.

Sep 10, 2013 5:58 PM

#12

opticaldelusion

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Sep 2012

samishime said:
Maybe it's dark for people who have never seen a 'dark' show. I would say stay far, far away from that show.

It all comes down to the criterias you use to classify anime shows as 'dark'. Even with having watched only a few 'dark' shows, I can say for sure that opinions differ on the exact definition.
But yeah, as you said, I should probably go ahead and watch some really dark stuff before trying to judge on anything here, right? :)

DrZudsi said:
I haven't seen it either. Is it worth the potential tears? ._. I barely held it in during Clannad.

Don't know if I understood you correctly. Shedding tears is not a bad thing per se. Judging from your list and scores, you should watch it. Don't get spoiled, just watch it.

Fairbear said:
Madoka Magica is ok for the first 2 episodes, then it gets dark. Its not really bloody, but it does have some intense fight scenes. Madoka Magica is an amazing anime series with an important message and meaning (also this is sort of like a slice of life anime but with magical girls) and I really, REALLY recommend watching it.

If you consinder Madoka to be SoL, you could easily say that almost every anime is sort of SoL.

opticaldelusionSep 10, 2013 6:02 PM

Sep 10, 2013 6:02 PM

#13

Maria_Sama

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Jun 2013

1298

Not dark at all, it's just about cute girls doing cute things, but sometimes they get in trouble and lose their heads.

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Sep 10, 2013 6:04 PM

#14

nasliwnbl

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Jun 2012

1226

opticaldelusion said:

samishime said:
Maybe it's dark for people who have never seen a 'dark' show. I would say stay far, far away from that show.

Its not really hard to see that its not much of a dark show even without watching a bunch of dark shows. I thought the show was absolutely atrocious, but that's just my opinion.

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Sep 10, 2013 6:05 PM

#15

Fujaku

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Sep 2012

343

It's not dark (or as good) as everyone says it is. It is far from being all happy-lucky, but if you're looking for a dark anime, then there's plenty of better picks out there.

Another page to the history of the Fujaku.

Sep 10, 2013 6:05 PM

#16

Hase0

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Jan 2013

494

It's ok, but the background story of how the "process" happens is quite dark. But it's really nothing serious. It's a little bit overrated though, not as good as I thought, but still good and enjoyable.

Sep 10, 2013 6:27 PM

#17

silversaint

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Jan 2011

9895

its dark for mahou shoujo anime standards... dont expect a single permanent death in that anime

Sep 10, 2013 6:41 PM

#18

kaitanuva

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Sep 2012

160

Hase0 said:
It's ok, but the background story of how the "process" happens is quite dark. But it's really nothing serious. It's a little bit overrated though, not as good as I thought, but still good and enjoyable.

I watched Steins;Gate before Madoka Magica. Madoka turned out to be VERY underwhelming..

Sep 10, 2013 7:06 PM

#19

englishfury

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Mar 2013

263

it is dark after ep 3 but not to higurashi standards still a great watch though

Rhaegar fought valiantly,
Rhaegar fought nobly,
Rheagar died.

Sep 10, 2013 7:55 PM

#20

Mayuka

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Jul 2012

48248

Go for Monster if you want something very dark. I also rec Psycho Pass and Shinsekai Yori. (those two are much more special in their own ways and easier to watch)

silversaint said:
its dark for mahou shoujo anime standards... dont expect a single permanent death in that anime

^ Yeah, Mahou Madoka is dark, but not extremely dark.

underneath the stars

Sep 10, 2013 8:02 PM

#21

Sexy_Lady

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Aug 2013

134

Averagely dark, it's not big deal.

YOKO ONO

Sep 10, 2013 8:40 PM

#22

Mogu-sama

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Aug 2013

3680

Maria_Sama said:
Not dark at all, it's just about cute girls doing cute things, but sometimes they get in trouble and lose their heads.

...Clever. Oh so clever.

OT: Hm. Not psychologically scarring dark, darker than the general stuff, but not the darkest. I'd just watch it for yourself, it's only 12 episodes.

I'd suggest you follow it up with Steins;Gate.

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Sep 11, 2013 12:36 AM

#23

Luna

★★★★★

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Sep 2008

19246

Thread moved.

Sep 18, 2015 6:18 PM

#24

Llama713

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Sep 2015

I havnt seen it but i hear it gets pretty dark but no were near the angelic howl arc of fruit of grisaria which i have seen and it messed me up for a while. Watch it its good dark and horrifing.

Sep 27, 2015 6:55 PM

#25

GreenAvoro

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Sep 2015

Not episode 3. Wait until 6. If you're still not into it then it might not be your thing.

Oct 2, 2015 2:10 PM

#26

McDucky

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Jun 2015

Old thread, but I'll just share my opinion and say it's not that dark.
It's not lighthearted either, but it's pretty deep. (Deep as in trying to bring up more complex feelings than disgust or sadness)

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How dark is madoka magica?

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