Archive for the Puella Magi Magica Madoka Category


Puella Magi Madoka The Movie Anime – Parts 1 & 2 (English) Guest Review by Greg C.

February 12th, 2014

Modoka-Magica-DVD-V1Wahoo, it’s Guest Review Wednesday and today by a long-time commenter and friend of Okazu, but first-time Guest Reviewer, Greg  C.! Greg has graciously offered to review The first two Puella Magi Madoka Magica movies for us.  I would like you all to welcome Greg with your usual warm welcome. Take it away, Greg!

Puella Magi Madoka Magica The Movie – Part 1: Beginnings (also available on DVD or BD) / Part 2: Eternal (also available on DVD orBD) are the two disks in the Blu-Ray Collector’s Edition that I purchased.  Various vendors will give you different bonus materials with purchase, so shop around.  (Not bonus materials on the disks, but merchandise goodies with the movie.) Important safety tip:  the sub-titles default to “None” and the sound defaults to “Dolby Stereo” and you probably don’t want either of those choices.

“They’re dangerous at both ends and crafty in the middle.” – Sherlock Holmes.

Let’s start with picture quality.  I’m watching the Blu-Ray release on a big screen plasma TV. It gets the most amazing picture quality. If you’ve seen the series, then you know where I’m going with this. Supposedly they redid some of the animation for the movie releases. The backgrounds, especially the witch’s labyrinths, look amazing. The main character designs are STILL pencil quality moe-blobs.  *sigh*

Madoka-Magica-Vol2-Cover-DVDMadoka Magica is a Shaft production and it shows. It shows so very, very hard. The “Shaft neck-tilt” is ubiquitous throughout. It would make a great drinking game to take a shot every time a character looks over their shoulder. A great drinking game if you want to get totally blotto. The changing art style trick they love to do works because of the complexity of the story. It’s done at very appropriate times. My main gripe is that this show about magical girls is definitely a male gaze production. The over use of the “zettai ryouiki to face” pan when characters are speaking is incredibly annoying. (Not as egregious as in Rebellion, but that’s a story for another day.) Be sure to watch for the trademark “Easter eggs” as well, such as “SHAFT” written on the side of a crashing train. The movies are littered with them. At least that’s fun.

“Hush, now — spoilers!” – River Song.

Now, let me warn you THERE BE SPOILERS HERE. If you haven’t seen Madoka in any form: RUN AWAY! AVERT YOUR EYES! Abandon hope, all ye who enter here.

 

Okay, everyone still here doesn’t care about spoilers, right? Good. Here we go. My main nitpick with the movie release editing is right at the beginning: I gasped, “Wait… what happened to Madoka-chan’s opening dream sequence?” Gone. So immediately I’m upset because I know that all the foreshadowing that made re-watching the Madoka Magica TV series so awesome the second time is gone. Why is Madoka so upset in class when she sees Homura for the first time? WE DO NOT KNOW. It will have to be explained to us later, indirectly. The first episode is titled “I Met Her in a Dream… or Something” but that’s all out the window in the movie. Seriously, my favorite scene in the TV version is when Sayaka spoils the whole series in the first episode. However, after that, I’m okay with the choices they made to reduce 12 episodes into two movies. It’s mostly the school scenes that got cut. There is an overwrought Ryouko additional scene, but that is forgivable.

Plot-wise, I like to describe Puella Magi Madoka Magica as my favorite episode of Doctor Who. Homura is, of course, The Doctor. And Madoka… well… Madoka is River Song. Starting with “Silence in the Library” River and the Doctor were going different directions relative to each other. Homura and Madoka at the beginning of the movie are in different timelines. Of course, you don’t learn Homura’s secret until much later. How they ended up this way is unraveled beautifully over the two movies. And in the end Madoka has the will to do what The Doctor, and even Buffy, never did – give herself fully to the cause. And I do mean fully. Madoka went where only Lain has gone before. Gen Urobuchi, you magnificent writer!

Even with all the nit-picky things I mentioned, I still enjoyed these movies immensely. As many times as I’ve watched them, there are still tears. I’ve read the main manga, and some of the alternate story manga. I saw Rebellion twice. I haven’t bought any of the figures yet, but I’m sure I’ll crack when the Yukata Homura figure comes out. (So far I only have figures of my waifu, Saber.)

Be sure and watch until the very end after the credits. Nick Fury asks Homura to join the Avengers Initiative. I’m kidding, of course. But there is a tiny bit that is important to the next movie, Rebellion.

“That is enigmatic. That is textbook enigmatic.” – The Doctor.

Ratings:

Art – 3/9 The “moe-blob” characters are terrible but everything else is rendered beautifully.

Story – 10 It felt very well-crafted and it pushed all my buttons. I loved it.

Characters – 6 In the movies we get less depth because a lot of what is cut out are the little bits of character development that round out their personalities.

Yuri – 4 Homura loves Madoka but not that way. “Obsession” might be a better description than “love”. There is only the faintest whiff of Sayaka x Ryouko. Actually “4” is probably overstating it, but that can represent each couple getting a “2”.

Soundtrack – 10. Yuki Kajiura does her usual wonderful work. The Kalafina end themes, especially “Magia” are perfect. The ClariS opening “Luminous” is a typical bouncy anime title song.

Fanboy/otaku appeal – 1000. Seriously. At times enough to make me angry.

Erica here: Enigmatic indeed. Now I don’t know if I want to see these or not! Thanks Greg for compounding the question. And thanks for a great review!





Puella Magi Madoka☆Magica Homura Revenge! Manga, Volume 1 (魔法少女まどか☆マギカ ほむらリベンジ!)

January 19th, 2014

Just when you begin to think there’s really not much more to say about Madoka and Homura, you pick this manga up and find that you were wrong. Puella Magi Madoka☆ Magica Homura Revenge!, Volume 1　(魔法少女まどか☆マギカ ほむらリベンジ!) had some interesting elements.

The story begins with Homura (as we are first introduced to her in the TV series) full of dread and hope at starting another cycle of the story. Only this time, something is very, very different. After Homura has introduced herself to the class, Madoka stands up, shouts her name and comes running up to her. Homura has no idea what to make of it – this has never happened before.

Madoka explains that she remembers everything – like everything everything. And this time, she too is determined to save everyone before tragedy overtakes them. She suggests that what they need to do is pinpoint the moments when things went wrong for Mami and Sayaka and if they change those  moments just enough they can ward off the seemingly inevitable end.

What they don’t account for is Kyuubey’s interference. He’s always pretended non-involvement, but realistically, he needs the conflict to continue. He’s not getting himself involved in the fight between the magical girls and the witches, but he is willing to fight Homura and Madoka to retain the status quo.

The reworking of this story actually added  a new edge to the plot. Is it enough that both Madoka and Homura are fighting against the pre-set script? Frankly, I’m not sure. Not with Kyuubey forcing rule changes. But I’m going to read the next volume and hope that the committee that is churning out Madoka-franchise stories had a decent ending in mind for this one.

Ratings:

Art – Same as all the Madoka art. Blobby heads, stylized violence, more details to the backgrounds than the characters. 6
Story – 7 Pretty good opening, but sort of slips into old patterns as it goes on.
Characters – Mami, Sayaka and Kyouko are already caricatures of themselves before the book starts. I’m not sure we’ll ever get them back.
Yuri – 1 Homura’s feelings take a back seat to the plot, we just have to assume she feels the same way about Madoka.
Service – 2 Not too bad. Even the guro is toned down.

Overall – a strong 7, but my opinion could change if the next volume bites.

Typically, Madoka and Homura are playing by rules that Kyuubey doesn’t honor. The original story was a logic problem. I wonder what this one will be?





Yuri Artbook: Movie Version Magi Puella Madoka Magica Official Guidebook ‘with you’

September 2nd, 2013

The complete title of this book is Movie Version Magi Puella Madoka Magica [First Part] The Beginning Story/ [End Part] Eternal Story Official Guidebook ‘with you’. (劇場版 魔法少女まどか☆マギカ [前編]始まりの物語/[後編]永遠の物語 公式ガイドブック劇場版 魔法少女まどか☆マギカ [前編]始まりの物語/[後編]永遠の物語 公式ガイドブック with you) It was way too long to use as a title. ^_^

I haven’t seen any of the Madoka movies yet, but paging through this artbook sure makes me want to. Lots of Yuri pairing goodness in the art for Madoka x Homura and Sayaka x Kyouko fans and even some  Sayaka x Madoka and Mami x everyone love. So, whatever you’re looking to find, the team that brought you Madoka on every surface of every piece of clothing, tools, accessories, toiletries, health and beauty items and random toys of many kinds, has included it. It remains the supreme example of what I call a “saturation series.”

As with most movie art books, there is promotional art in the form of posters and postcard giveaways, backgrounds from various scenes, production sketches and and tons of  interviews with cast members and key staff.

I had seen this book last year in Japan, but didn’t get it, because I was a little burnt out on the series, I still haven’t rewatched it for a review of the Aniplex DVDs (and, presumably a zillion other people have covered those.) But when I saw the book again recently in Sanseido, I decided “why not.” I haven’t had a new artbook in a while and the cover appealed to me. (Really, Erica, we’re shocked.)  And once I got it home, I found there was a lot to like. So now, I want to watch the movie. Pretty good for an artbook. ^_^

Ratings:

Overall – 9

If you’re a fan of the series, this Official Guidebook  with you is a good get.





Puella Magi Magica Madoka Manga, Volume 3 (English)

December 24th, 2012

Whoa.

Remember when I reviewed Volume 1 and Volume 2 of the manga, and I said it was not great? Well for Puella Magi Magica Madoka Volume 3, they took the blinders and fetters off the artist and the speed and tension of the story works. I mean..it *works.*

I’m basically re-experiencing this story for the third time. To be honest, I’m getting pretty done with it and I wasn’t looking forward all that much to re-living Homura’s transformation again. But hot damn if this volume didn’t totally take the reins in hand and run away with me. I was caught up all over again in Homura’s story and in what I still consider to be one of the best resolutions I’ve ever seen in an anime/manga.

The artist, freed of the constraints of the first two volumes (as stated in the artist’s note) did a really good job. It was a pleasure to look at the art this volume.

Ratings:

Art – 8
Story – 8
Characters – 8
Yuri – 3
Service – 1

Overall – 8

And for good measure, at the very end, we get Homura and Madoka walking off together hand in hand. ^_^





Puella Magi Madoka Magica Novel, Volume 2 (魔法少女まどか☆マギカ)

November 26th, 2012

We left Volume 1 of the Puella Magi Madoka Magica  (魔法少女まどか☆マギカ) light novel series from Summer Comiket 2011, with Madoka suffering badly from the consequences of her inaction. Volume 2 begins with the fatal consequences of bad decision-making by another one of the cast. (Note: no spoilers, because if you have not yet watched this series, I hope you will and don’t want to ruin it for you.)

At its lowest point, the story switches perpsective, something that radically shifts the entire story from something we thought we knew where it was going, to a whole different path. We turn to Homura’s point of view and it turns out that her story is very unexpected. As I read this novel I had two thoughts, one of which is a huge spoilerish thing and, so, unsharable for the moment.

The other thought was in reference to something I have considered about on and off for years – about how, as a child I read fairy tales and wanted , like Utena, to save the princess. And how, in this series, one princess saves the other only to have her turn it around and save her in return. This was, as I pondered it, even more satisfying than it was at first viewing.

Quite interestingly, the end of this novel is slightly extended past the end of the anime. Just a few moments past, but the addition was lovely.

As a Light Novel version of the anime, I think this was very good. In Volume 2, we actually did gain some insight into Madoka’s actions (and inaction). Although Kyouko’s, Sayaka’s and Homura’s backstories were not apparently different from those of the anime, the additional epilogue – short as it was – added volumes to the narrative.

Ratings:

Overall – 9

All in all, a very satisfying read.

I will not be reading the Puella Magi Madoka Magica – A Different Story or Innocent Malice, so there is an opportunity for one of you to step in and write a review if you so desire. ^_^

Once more, my very sincere thanks to Zyl for sponsoring this review!