So I've been hearing about this show all over the Internet and people kept repeating this one phrase to describe it:
"It's not what it looks like"
What do they mean? Since I was curious,I wanted to check it out myself... Hell,were they right!
THE STORY
This show first appears to be your everyday magical girl anime,you know,like Sailor Moon or Cardcaptor Sakura. I myself,and bunch of other people were tricked by that,not aware of what we're actually getting into.
This is a story about Madoka,a totaly normal highschool student that lives a perfect life with her family. And that is all that she is. Normal.
Until of course,something happens...to put it shortly,she meets this animal thing Kyubey,that is everything else than normal. However,Kyubey asks Madoka to sing a contract with her. In that concrat,Madoka must become a magical girl whose job is to fight against evil witches before they destroy the world. In return,Kyubey will grant her any wish. Kyubey also suggests the same idea to Madoka's best friend,Sayaka. She also gets them to meet another magical girl,named Mami. Mami is meant to show them and teach them what it means to be a magical girl.
So,now that you heared the base of the story,it still seemes very straight forward,right?Yeah. So what is it that makes Mahou Shoujo Madoka★ Magica different?In my opinion,it's the way the story is represented. In Madoka Magica,things like "the power of friendship" or any similar excuse whose only purpose to save a charechter from losing in a battle or dying do not exist. The show also asks a lot of questions taht other shows don't consider important,like "Who is Kyubey?What is his goal?Is he really what he claims that he is?"and so on.
As you bust trough the episodes,you'll start noticing that this show just keeps getting darker and darker.It shows the more cruel side of the magical girl genre.It shows you what those girls have to give up to be magical girls and how big the prize they have to pay really is.
THE CHARACTERS
At first,I hated the Madoka,the main charachter.To me,she was just a crybaby.But now,when I done with the show I have to say that she is everything else but a crybaby.It turns out she can bring good choises and she is willng to do whatever she must to protect the ones she cares about.
As for the other magical girls,well they all have their way of thinking and solving problems.Sayaka is the one that will allways try to hide her fear and saddnes so she doesn't cause others to worry about her,which ends up... not so good.Mami is the one that looks cold and heartless but showes a softer side later on,which also doesn't end up all that good.
Then we have the magical girls I haven't mentioned before,Homura and Kyouko(my personal favourite)
Homura is very cold and mysterious.She stayes that way all the way to the end of the show where we actually find out...everything...
Moving on we have Kyouko,that appears later on in the show,so I won't be covering her charachter just so I don't spoil anything.
THE SOUND
The soundtrack is just epic.Nothing more to say about it.
As if for the English dub...ah...well it's not the worst thing ever but,if you want to enjoy the show the way it's meant to be enjoyed,go watch it in Japanse.
THE ANIMATION
The animation is...well it's nice all the way to the moments where it shines which are the scenes where the girls are fighting against witches becouse then the animation goes from light and fluffy to dark and depressing.
OVERALL
Madoka Magica is a show that has made it's way to the classics.It is definitly a masterpiece that is,let me put it this way-
"Not what it looks like"
If you want to find out more aboutit,just go watch it yourself.It is only 12 episodes long,but man...one hell of a ride.
