Story: 10/10
The storyline of Madoka is absolutely great. The way it rolls along just keeps you wanting more, guessing more and eagerly awaiting the next episode more. There are times where it's pleasant and nice, where you're smiling watching it. Then, there are times where you feel a deep pity and sadness for some characters or blatant hatred for others. Gen Urobuchi wove this tale intricately but not intricate enough where you're confused. The fact that it's intricate keeps you on your toes and guessing. Plot twists, when inserted in the right place, can make a story much better than it already is. Madoka is chock-full of the well-placed plot twist. The storyline also flows very well. Some may feel like it builds up slow, but the pace is what creates all of the tension. There will be dissenting opinions on the ending of the story, but in my opinion, it was written and executed in an amazing way.
Art: 10/10
This is a SHAFT anime, so you should expect ridiculous art. Cotton ball monsters? Yup. Paper layering animation? Yup. Director Akiyuki Shinbou is notorious for this style of art and it's in full effect. It isn't used all the time, but when it is used, boy, it is freakin' used. I personally love it (the art in Bakemonogatari was AMAZING, in my opinion) but others may feel like it's a bit too much at times. The characters were drawn by Ume Aoki (Hidamari Sketch) and I thought that they were drawn beautifully (in a non-attracted-to-2D type of way). A lot of people aren't a big fan of the character designs from Hidamari Sketch, but I love those eyes. Just something about them. Seriously, look for a Madoka pic online and just stare in her eyes. Beautiful.
Sound: 10/10
Yuki Kajiura did an excellent job with the soundtrack of Madoka; some of the music sounds archaic, but bad-ass archaic. It's the type of stuff you want to hear when you're talking about fighting witches. The opening song, "Connect" by ClariS, is one of the most played songs on my iTunes. The ending song, "Magia" by Kalafina, has grown on me big time. Madoka is a great musical experience.
Characters: 10/10
The characters and the storyline are the two most important facets to any story, and Madoka pulls through with its cast of characters. You really sympathize for the characters and the pain they go through. The seiyuu (voice actresses/actors) are well-chosen for the characters; it's a pretty renowned cast and they all pull off their roles extremely well. You'll find yourself wanting to scream at Madoka, pull your hair out at Sayaka, cry for Mami, smile at Kyoko and hug Homura. Most of all though, you'll want to kill Kyuubey. See what I mean? You really get the feeling of knowing the characters through their actions and through their progression in the storyline.
Enjoyment: 10/10
You'll find yourself at the edge of your seat watching Madoka. It's a ride. A crazy, crazy ride. If you're not coming in with negative expectations, you should have a great time watching it. All the elements of the show come together to really hit you. Whether it's the action, the emotion, the art, the music, the characters or the story that gets you, you'll be enticed by Madoka. I wouldn't mind watching it over and over, just to pick up things I had missed before. I think that this is one of the best anime to come out in a while; hell, I'd say that it has the possibility to be the best show of 2011. It managed to pack an entire warehouse full of epicness in 12 episodes. I recommend Madoka to anyone who is trying to see a "revolutionary anime" done right.
Overall: 10/10
