December 11th, 2013
Sakura Kyouko's Sense of Justice
Anime Relations: Mahou Shoujo Madoka★Magica, Mahou Shoujo Madoka★Magica Movie 1: Hajimari no Monogatari, Mahou Shoujo Madoka★Magica Movie 2: Eien no Monogatari
This is an academic analysis-style essay on the character development of Sakura Kyouko in Mahou Shoujo Madoka Magica based on my observation of the original twelve episode series and the first two movies, and confirmed later by the third Drama CD. It was originally a prompt given to me my by English teacher meant to elicit a Pride and Prejudice essay, but I wrote this from the same prompt and it turned out better. Note: It contains extensive and detailed spoilers, and I want to request that anyone who has not yet finished Mahou Shoujo Madoka Magica episodes 1-9 does not read it until they have. Trust me, this anime is too good to be spoiled.
The evolution of Sakura Kyouko’s sense of justice becomes the defining aspect of her character development over the course of the show.
Kyouko’s sense of justice never included any element of reciprocity, as she spent her childhood watching her father being shunned and ridiculed for doing what he believed to be right. His reward for kindness was excommunication and poverty, and so Kyouko never got to see any sort of benefit in return for doing good, outside of the stories she loved, which she sites in episode nine as the reason she first wanted to become a magical girl. Kyouko was aware of justice only as a fairy tale concept, so when she got the chance to realize it through a contract with Kyubey, she bargained for even more than just the fulfillment of her wish. Unfortunately, the nature of her wish, and the outcomes from it only served to reinforce the messages about non-reciprocal justice that she had been receiving all her life, when her attempt to aid her father gained her nothing but insults, her family’s death, and a solitary life as a ruthless magical girl.
Kyouko enters the main story at this point, having come to grips with her past enough to harden into the comfortable lack of moral justice. She has lost all compassion for humanity, and all desire to help anyone but herself because she believes that it will only detriment her. This feeling serves to kindle her initial dislike of Miki Sayaka. Sayaka has not only taken over valuable territory that Kyouko could have used for her own devices, she has also effectively thrown away her perfect life to the service of a justice that Kyouko does not believe in.
The revelation of the truth about soul gems in episode six begins as yet another reiteration to Kyouko that the pursuit of justice is destructive. Sayaka as well is hit by this realization, and it is her reaction to it that causes Kyouko’s ultimate change of heart. As Sayaka and Kyouko find themselves united by the mistake of having contracted with Kyubey, and what’s more, having wished for the happiness of someone else, Kyouko begins to see a bit of herself reflected in Sayaka. Her compassion is reawakened, and despite all her previous displays of disdain for companionship and traditional moral values, she finds herself protecting Sayaka from Homura in episode eight, as Homura threatens to kill her.
From this point, Kyouko’s decency increases. Upon Sayaka’s eventual death, she finds herself fixated on returning her to life, perhaps from a recognition that she herself is likely to follow in the same path, and perhaps because she still wants to believe in the fairy tales that Sayaka reminded her of, and their promises of recompense. Through this belief, she is able to befriend Kaname Madoka and collaborate with her in her attempt to revive Sayaka. She realizes, however, halfway through the battle with Oktavia von Seckendorff (episode 9), the witch that sprang from Sayaka’s shattered soul gem, that it is unrealistic. After begging with the witch Sayaka, imploring her to carry out the justice she made her believe in, Kyouko returns, for a moment, to her father’s teachings, offering up a momentary prayer: “Please God, look at the life I’ve lived. Please, let me have a happy dream for once in my life”. She gives up the possibility for a happy reality, but will settle for the illusion of a dream. And with that, her own transformation is complete, a one hundred and eighty degree turn culminating in her own selfless death, so that Sayaka will not have to be alone.
Kyouko finally rejects her own hardened beliefs, allowing herself to be changed for the better, find friendship, hope, and arguably love, and, in a twist of painful irony, she dies for it. Her original conviction proved to be correct, and in a sense, she wrote into it her own ending. Death in search of a happy dream.
The evolution of Sakura Kyouko’s sense of justice becomes the defining aspect of her character development over the course of the show.
Kyouko’s sense of justice never included any element of reciprocity, as she spent her childhood watching her father being shunned and ridiculed for doing what he believed to be right. His reward for kindness was excommunication and poverty, and so Kyouko never got to see any sort of benefit in return for doing good, outside of the stories she loved, which she sites in episode nine as the reason she first wanted to become a magical girl. Kyouko was aware of justice only as a fairy tale concept, so when she got the chance to realize it through a contract with Kyubey, she bargained for even more than just the fulfillment of her wish. Unfortunately, the nature of her wish, and the outcomes from it only served to reinforce the messages about non-reciprocal justice that she had been receiving all her life, when her attempt to aid her father gained her nothing but insults, her family’s death, and a solitary life as a ruthless magical girl.
Kyouko enters the main story at this point, having come to grips with her past enough to harden into the comfortable lack of moral justice. She has lost all compassion for humanity, and all desire to help anyone but herself because she believes that it will only detriment her. This feeling serves to kindle her initial dislike of Miki Sayaka. Sayaka has not only taken over valuable territory that Kyouko could have used for her own devices, she has also effectively thrown away her perfect life to the service of a justice that Kyouko does not believe in.
The revelation of the truth about soul gems in episode six begins as yet another reiteration to Kyouko that the pursuit of justice is destructive. Sayaka as well is hit by this realization, and it is her reaction to it that causes Kyouko’s ultimate change of heart. As Sayaka and Kyouko find themselves united by the mistake of having contracted with Kyubey, and what’s more, having wished for the happiness of someone else, Kyouko begins to see a bit of herself reflected in Sayaka. Her compassion is reawakened, and despite all her previous displays of disdain for companionship and traditional moral values, she finds herself protecting Sayaka from Homura in episode eight, as Homura threatens to kill her.
From this point, Kyouko’s decency increases. Upon Sayaka’s eventual death, she finds herself fixated on returning her to life, perhaps from a recognition that she herself is likely to follow in the same path, and perhaps because she still wants to believe in the fairy tales that Sayaka reminded her of, and their promises of recompense. Through this belief, she is able to befriend Kaname Madoka and collaborate with her in her attempt to revive Sayaka. She realizes, however, halfway through the battle with Oktavia von Seckendorff (episode 9), the witch that sprang from Sayaka’s shattered soul gem, that it is unrealistic. After begging with the witch Sayaka, imploring her to carry out the justice she made her believe in, Kyouko returns, for a moment, to her father’s teachings, offering up a momentary prayer: “Please God, look at the life I’ve lived. Please, let me have a happy dream for once in my life”. She gives up the possibility for a happy reality, but will settle for the illusion of a dream. And with that, her own transformation is complete, a one hundred and eighty degree turn culminating in her own selfless death, so that Sayaka will not have to be alone.
Kyouko finally rejects her own hardened beliefs, allowing herself to be changed for the better, find friendship, hope, and arguably love, and, in a twist of painful irony, she dies for it. Her original conviction proved to be correct, and in a sense, she wrote into it her own ending. Death in search of a happy dream.
Posted by PuddleBoots | Dec 11, 2013 4:24 PM | 0 comments
October 18th, 2013
Sayaka Miki Image Poem
Anime Relations: Mahou Shoujo Madoka★Magica, Mahou Shoujo Madoka★Magica Movie 1: Hajimari no Monogatari, Mahou Shoujo Madoka★Magica Movie 2: Eien no Monogatari
Though without direct spoilers, this work will make more sense if you've seen the anime it's referring to. Also, Mahou Shoujo Madoka Magica is just really good and you should watch it.
Perhaps I shouldn't have been the hero—
I see my cape shining in the streetlights,
I hold this sword,
too heavy in my hands,
but who am I to say I've saved you?
I can't redeem some stuck-up claim to happiness,
I'll deceive my own deception if it means I won't regret,
and if I die—
all the better.
Can't you see my shadow?
Here in an artificial world,
aren't I the only one awake?
You called out my name,
and too late, I knew—
I was stupid...
so stupid.
Perhaps I shouldn't have been the hero—
I see my cape shining in the streetlights,
I hold this sword,
too heavy in my hands,
but who am I to say I've saved you?
I can't redeem some stuck-up claim to happiness,
I'll deceive my own deception if it means I won't regret,
and if I die—
all the better.
Can't you see my shadow?
Here in an artificial world,
aren't I the only one awake?
You called out my name,
and too late, I knew—
I was stupid...
so stupid.
Posted by PuddleBoots | Oct 18, 2013 8:00 AM | 0 comments
August 19th, 2013
Mahou Shoujo Character Image Triolets
Anime Relations: Mahou Shoujo Madoka★Magica
Puella Magi Madoka Magica character image poems, contains vague spoilers for the entire series.
A girl, no more, yet kind and sincere
Fated to suffer into forever
Protecting her friends and battling fear,
That ominous day draws ever more near,
Can you measure the sadness behind her tears?
But her undying hope is too strong to sever.
A girl, no more, yet kind and sincere
Fated to suffer into forever.
Strong and defiant, cursed in love and luck
Nothing and no one can stop her will
Still, in hopelessness she finds herself stuck.
Battling onward a blow is struck
All of humanity is a sitting duck,
Into madness she dives, heading downhill.
Strong and defiant, cursed in love and luck
Nothing and no one can stop her will
Tortured in solitude, waiting alone,
Even on her second chance at life.
Everyone’s dead, all she’s ever known.
At long last, a glimpse of friendship is shown
But companions and encouragement are only a loan.
Her precious soul shatters without a word of strife.
Tortured in solitude, waiting alone,
Even on her second chance at life.
Her love is eternal, yet reluctant to show,
She’s seen you die a thousand times.
At first she was weak, sunken in woe,
You nurtured her, at last, helped her to grow.
She saw you slip away, trying to stem your lifeblood’s flow.
With nothing left her soul’s gem chimes.
Her love is eternal, yet reluctant to show,
She’s seen you die a thousand times.
She was naive, an innocent child,
All those good hopes were a waste.
She was a fool, tempted and beguiled.
As she discovered the truth, her nature turned wild.
Dying to rejoin, never had she smiled
Once more, her wishes were misplaced.
She was naive, an innocent child,
All those good hopes were a waste.
A girl, no more, yet kind and sincere
Fated to suffer into forever
Protecting her friends and battling fear,
That ominous day draws ever more near,
Can you measure the sadness behind her tears?
But her undying hope is too strong to sever.
A girl, no more, yet kind and sincere
Fated to suffer into forever.
Strong and defiant, cursed in love and luck
Nothing and no one can stop her will
Still, in hopelessness she finds herself stuck.
Battling onward a blow is struck
All of humanity is a sitting duck,
Into madness she dives, heading downhill.
Strong and defiant, cursed in love and luck
Nothing and no one can stop her will
Tortured in solitude, waiting alone,
Even on her second chance at life.
Everyone’s dead, all she’s ever known.
At long last, a glimpse of friendship is shown
But companions and encouragement are only a loan.
Her precious soul shatters without a word of strife.
Tortured in solitude, waiting alone,
Even on her second chance at life.
Her love is eternal, yet reluctant to show,
She’s seen you die a thousand times.
At first she was weak, sunken in woe,
You nurtured her, at last, helped her to grow.
She saw you slip away, trying to stem your lifeblood’s flow.
With nothing left her soul’s gem chimes.
Her love is eternal, yet reluctant to show,
She’s seen you die a thousand times.
She was naive, an innocent child,
All those good hopes were a waste.
She was a fool, tempted and beguiled.
As she discovered the truth, her nature turned wild.
Dying to rejoin, never had she smiled
Once more, her wishes were misplaced.
She was naive, an innocent child,
All those good hopes were a waste.
Posted by PuddleBoots | Aug 19, 2013 7:15 AM | 0 comments
August 5th, 2012
Mami Tomoe Image Poem
Anime Relations: Mahou Shoujo Madoka★Magica
Tomoe Mami from Mahou Shoujo Madoka Magica. Contains Spoilers for episodes 1-3. Enjoy~!
All is ended in an instant.
He appears without a sound,
Feels my hopeless spirit fade
And grants my unspoken wish.
I continue past all odds,
But is a life like this worthwhile?
Can my unthanked fights go on?
I save so many, yet remain alone.
They come of a sudden,
Too innocent and fresh, naïve.
Hoping for the bright future I cannot give.
I wish I did not love their company.
I can either doom them or destroy myself,
Trading with lives can’t be right.
Once they change we may compete
Both for hope and life.
The offer of companionship
Might prove to be too sweet.
Minds and souls collide,
Leading me into the mouth of the beast.
All is ended in an instant.
He appears without a sound,
Feels my hopeless spirit fade
And grants my unspoken wish.
I continue past all odds,
But is a life like this worthwhile?
Can my unthanked fights go on?
I save so many, yet remain alone.
They come of a sudden,
Too innocent and fresh, naïve.
Hoping for the bright future I cannot give.
I wish I did not love their company.
I can either doom them or destroy myself,
Trading with lives can’t be right.
Once they change we may compete
Both for hope and life.
The offer of companionship
Might prove to be too sweet.
Minds and souls collide,
Leading me into the mouth of the beast.
Posted by PuddleBoots | Aug 5, 2012 7:23 AM | 1 comments
July 21st, 2012
Tomo Takino Image Poem
Anime Relations: Azumanga Daiou The Animation
Tomo is not my favorite character, my brother requested this Poem.
No matter where I go I’ll never stop.
I run with abandon to wherever will take me.
There’s no way I can lose this race.
No matter where I go I’ll never stop.
Anything for a laugh, I’ll never stop.
It doesn’t have to make sense if it’s funny.
I drive my classmates to distraction.
Anything for a laugh, I’ll never stop.
Victory is mine! I’ll never stop.
I’ll never admit I’m less than the best.
I’ll win for noise if not for speed.
Victory is mine! I’ll never stop.
Flying through school, I’ll never stop.
Homework is too slow to keep up.
I defy even the teachers with my logic.
Flying through school, I’ll never stop.
Even for friends, I’ll never stop.
They can only keep me if they catch me.
I’m everyone’s idol, I’m the star of this show.
Even for friends I’ll never stop.
No matter where I go I’ll never stop.
I run with abandon to wherever will take me.
There’s no way I can lose this race.
No matter where I go I’ll never stop.
Anything for a laugh, I’ll never stop.
It doesn’t have to make sense if it’s funny.
I drive my classmates to distraction.
Anything for a laugh, I’ll never stop.
Victory is mine! I’ll never stop.
I’ll never admit I’m less than the best.
I’ll win for noise if not for speed.
Victory is mine! I’ll never stop.
Flying through school, I’ll never stop.
Homework is too slow to keep up.
I defy even the teachers with my logic.
Flying through school, I’ll never stop.
Even for friends, I’ll never stop.
They can only keep me if they catch me.
I’m everyone’s idol, I’m the star of this show.
Even for friends I’ll never stop.
Posted by PuddleBoots | Jul 21, 2012 4:11 PM | 0 comments
July 14th, 2012
Sakaki-san Image Poem
Anime Relations: Azumanga Daiou The Animation
Here is my Image Poem for Sakaki from Azumanga Daioh. I enjoyed writing it this afternoon.
I am adored.
I am tall and beautiful.
I can sing like a lark in summer.
I run faster than music on the breeze.
I am a woman of few words.
I am the gentle giant
They surround me,
Almost taunting in their appeal.
Timid and cautious,
So like me.
Always unattainable.
Always irresistible.
My attempts at friendship
Always end in pain.
A moment’s hope as he approaches,
Then attacks.
A fresh bandage on my finger,
A fresh scratch across my heart.
Am I too large and persistent?
Have I overstepped my bounds?
If only one being on this planet
Must feel hatred,
Why him?
And why for me?
I am adored.
Everyone loves the silent beauty.
Everyone loves the girl they see.
But I’m not what they imagine.
For in my heart lives a princess
Who wears ribbons in her hair.
I am adored.
I am tall and beautiful.
I can sing like a lark in summer.
I run faster than music on the breeze.
I am a woman of few words.
I am the gentle giant
They surround me,
Almost taunting in their appeal.
Timid and cautious,
So like me.
Always unattainable.
Always irresistible.
My attempts at friendship
Always end in pain.
A moment’s hope as he approaches,
Then attacks.
A fresh bandage on my finger,
A fresh scratch across my heart.
Am I too large and persistent?
Have I overstepped my bounds?
If only one being on this planet
Must feel hatred,
Why him?
And why for me?
I am adored.
Everyone loves the silent beauty.
Everyone loves the girl they see.
But I’m not what they imagine.
For in my heart lives a princess
Who wears ribbons in her hair.
Posted by PuddleBoots | Jul 14, 2012 7:18 PM | 1 comments