When I first picked this anime up - again, being the last one in the hype-train - I was... well, how to put it... nervous? Not because I wasn't ensured time and time again, that I would really like this anime - which I did - but because the cover, to me, wasn't really... eh, promising? I mean it was nice, and all, but of my sweet sugary Santa Christ, was it ever so girly, and colourful, and so... so peppy, and cheery, and... argh! But when I put it on to play, sat down, and watched the whole thing through - whit one sitting, mind you, 'couse of the 12 episodes lenght - I was genuinely without any thought, or emotion, when this was over... and it was a good thing, because soon after that, I cryed, I cheered, and I put it back on, and watched it again, humming the most beautiful musictracks and opening/ending themes, that I've heard in a long time!
This anime, is like if a disney, and studio Chibli had a love child, with multiple personalities and slight depression - it starts out innocently, with nice colours and sweet characters, but when it's let on loose, you get straight in-your-face- moments of sorrow, disbelieve-filled horror, and bittersweet happines, that to me, it was really hard to keep on going, without taking any breaks to breath in time to time! And since the story isn't really anything that deep, or hard to undertand, the characters, their stories nad the themes of the story, are where the strenght of this little anime lies. All the characters had their flaws, their own personalities, and their realistic-yet-tragisch strong points, that kept them memorable, enjoyable, and most of all... relatable. All of them had their own reasons to do, what they were doing, following their very on personalities, their experienses on which they lay their decisions and values upon, and their goals, wheter or not those goals led them to disaster, or not. These characters felt real, realistic people to me, with past, present, and dreams and hopes, that may, or may not come true at all... all because a simple twist of fate, or because 'it wasn't ment to be.' Even the very root of all this misery, that through manipulation and false sence of support and comfort, shatters any inocent and pure dream and soul that it came to contact with, seems somewhat understantable, yet never really someone, that you'd like to understand, or support - like any great villain should be. The characters, good or bad, all do and work, together or their own, depending who they are, and what's their purpose in the story - either sacrifice everything, to save something you hold dear, and be sooner or later punished because of it, or selfishly get all what you can, and accept your place, your purpose and your fate. This doesn't make them look, or feel like a puppets - at least to me - but more like a martyrs or victims in a circumstances, that they'd themselves had little to no way of knowing, or say to really say 'no'.
All in all, the situations for these girls, to me, where they had to make a wish to become magical girls, and literally sell their souls away, were like a horribly put-together- weaved plot, to make these girls do things, that they themselves would never do, or want to do, off of their own free will, unless push far enough, and I really felt sorry for them, because of that - wanting to help your father, or save your friend, shouldn't be something, that just bites you in the ass, because of the reasons! But, if some random creature would come to me, when I am my at most vulnerable and unstable state, and said to me, that if I ask any wish ,and it'll come true, to make me better - without any mentionin about the price, or consequenses - I honestly wouldn't know, what to say, or do, to that matter. Sure, we all have one wish, that we would like to come true, just like that and for free, but that's simply not realism - no disney-logic here! Everything has a price, and if you wish something - be it for yourself, or to someone else - you'll always have to pay for it... and these girls payed maybe a little more, than what it was worth!
Now I know, that I'm at my very best, when reviewing something that I hate, but with a anime, that I just fell in love with... Screw that, I must find something bad to say too! Some of the characters - especially the Madoka herself, wich is a big problem - if often times very weak, and to me, simply annoying most of the times, and even some of the supporting girls, although very interesting and personal, felt somewhat distant to me. The story isn't really that strong, nor complicated, that you should stretch it deedlesly over 20 or so- episodes long show, witch they didn't, thank goodness - 12 episodes is more than enough, for a story like this... no more needed! The art may turn some people away, and the drama between the leading girls may be a big turn-off some some too, but if you really like magical girls, with a surprisingly dark story, heavy yet passable themes, and the conclusion, that'll leave you both crying and cheering at the same time, give this a shot! Don't let the cover, or five first episodes to fool you - just keep going, and let youself get sink into this world, with these characters, and you'll see, why I liked this anime so much.
Story: 10
Art: 9
Sound: 10
Characters: 9
Enjoyment: 10
Overall: 10
