- Story: 9/10
Madoka Magica is a deconstruction of the magical girl genre, where a magical creature turns a young teenage girl into a magical girl in order to fight off the evil in the world. This is what happens in Madoka Magica, just not the way we're all used to.
The story progression is a bit slow at first but picks up after the first few episodes. Throughout the story, Madoka learns what it is to be a magical girl and all the things that come with it, good and bad. She must make a choice and decide whether or not she wants to accept Kyubey's offer, as tempting and promising as it is. The show is well-executed and the pacing is just right, and left me wanting to watch the next episode every time. No point in trying to hide it, this anime isn't always cute and happy. It gets quite dark and deep at times, and has its fair share of twists and turns. The characters and their choices have a large impact on what happens in the show, and they must deal with the consequences of those choices in their own ways. This is where Madoka Magica does a great job of showing that your decisions are important and there will always be repercussions for them.
The ending was conclusive and gave closure to the story, and I was personally satisfied with it. And then Rebellion was made. But that's another review in itself. By the way, you don't need to watch Rebellion, but I recommend you do so if you really enjoyed Madoka Magica (which I believe is likely to happen). Just know, you'll either like it or hate it.
I would go more in depth, but doing so would spoil some of the plot, so I won't. I'll just say that the story is great and conveys a good message, and it definitely is one of this anime's many strong points.
- Art: 9/10
Madoka Magica's art style is very fitting for the show, with its bright colors and moe-style characters. The witch labyrinth scenes are artistic and a treat to watch, and the fight scenes are also well executed. The show also has its own alphabet used for magical girl and witch items, which I find cool. Animation is fluid and consistent for the most part, but there are a few derp shots, as I like to call them. Also, some scenes (backgrounds, especially) are not as detailed as others are since the production was done on a week-to-week basis, making the animation look somewhat rushed. However, this is resolved with the blu-ray release and the movies, which are consistently beautiful.
- Sound: 9/10
The OST is exceptionally great, although I am a bit biased because I like Yuki Kajiura's work in general. The BGM helps set the tone in every scene and I don't find the use of tracks repetitive. The opening, Connect, is catchy, upbeat, and lighthearted. Just from watching it and listening to it, you'd think of the show as a typical middle school slice-of-life shoujo anime (it's not). The ending, Magia, however, contrasts the opening's happy tone and is instead epic and dark-sounding. It's my favorite song from the anime, and one of my favorite ending songs to date.
The seiyuus portray the characters well with their classic high-pitched moe voices, and do a good job of conveying their emotions. I actually enjoyed the dub, and I think Cristina Vee did an excellent job on Homura, specifically. The dub is worth watching if you're too lazy to read subtitles (like me).
- Characters: 9/10
The characters of Madoka Magica don't exactly get much development, but we get to see them react to situations and problems in their own ways. They have different opinions and different values, much like people in real life, which causes them to clash at times despite being friends. For the most part, however, they try to help each other despite their problems. The friendship between the girls is heart-warming and you get to see them in their ups and downs together. Now, some people say that this anime has shoujo-ai themes, but I think that depends on viewer interpretation. If you want to ship the characters, go ahead. Personally, I'm not a fan of shoujo-ai type anime, so I see it as close friendship between girls who are battling similar problems. To each their own.
Madoka, the titular character, is actually the only character I find to be genuinely honest in the sense that she acts the way she truly feels. The other magical girls, however, at times act one way but don't actually feel that way on the inside. A lot of people act this way; I know I do it. It's not necessarily a bad thing all the time. I think this is mainly because they're pubescent girls and of course feel strong emotions at their age, especially when placed in the situations they're in. This makes them seem more realistic since there are times when you may even dislike them. My personal favorite is Mami since she's relatable, but character-wise I like Homura the most. Despite seeming like an emotionless person (bitch) at times, later on you get to see the more human side of her and learn about her motives.
- Enjoyment: 10/10
I thoroughly enjoyed this anime and loved watching every second of it. It's right up my alley with the psychological elements, great characters, and enjoyable story. Madoka Magica is one of my favorite anime and one I would recommend watching even to friends who aren't avid anime watchers. I highly recommend this anime to anyone interested in watching it. Chances are, you won't be disappointed.
"She fought to protect the hope in this world, despite all its despair. That's why... I keep fighting."
