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* The storytelling itself is amazing. There's so much [[{{Foreshadowing}} foreshadowed]] and hinted at in the first episode alone that it makes re-watching after finishing the entire series almost a necessity. There are no plot holes, no cop outs, no loopholes, no convenient moments, no PlotArmor, no pointless fanservice, and no filler moments. The story is always on the move and it works entirely on things that are established early on or are revealed later. The character development for all the characters is fantastic and often heartbreaking. All of this culminates together to make ''every single episode'' get darker and more emotional as it goes on. By the end, you're in awe at just how big the stakes are and left wondering how they're going to solve this. [[spoiler: Cue one of the most [[MomentOfAwesome noble]], [[CrowningMomentOfHeartwarming heartwarming]], and [[{{Tearjerker}} tragic]] anime endings of all time.]]

to:

* The storytelling itself is amazing. There's so much [[{{Foreshadowing}} foreshadowed]] and hinted at in the first episode alone that it makes re-watching after finishing the entire series almost a necessity. There are no plot holes, no cop outs, no loopholes, no convenient moments, no PlotArmor, no pointless fanservice, and no filler moments. The story is always on the move and it works entirely on things that are established early on or are revealed later. The character development for all the characters is fantastic and often heartbreaking. All of this culminates together to make ''every single episode'' get darker and more emotional as it goes on. By the end, you're in awe at just how big the stakes are and left wondering how they're going to solve this. [[spoiler: Cue one of the most [[MomentOfAwesome [[SugarWiki/MomentOfAwesome noble]], [[CrowningMomentOfHeartwarming heartwarming]], SugarWiki/{{heartwarming|Moments}}, and [[{{Tearjerker}} tragic]] anime endings of all time.]]

Removed: 1560

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This Troper. There's first person-insert almost every sentence.


* The storytelling itself is amazing. There's so much [[{{Foreshadowing}} foreshadowed]] and hinted at in the first episode alone that it makes re-watching after finishing the entire series almost a necessity. There are no plot holes, no cop outs, no loopholes, no convenient moments, no PlotArmor, no pointless fanservice, and no filler moments. The story is always on the move and it works entirely on things that are established early on or are revealed later. The character development for all the characters is fantastic and often heartbreaking. All of this culminates together to make ''every single episode'' get darker and more emotional as it goes on. By the end, you're in awe at just how big the stakes are and left wondering how they're going to solve this. [[spoiler: Cue one of the most [[MomentOfAwesome noble]], [[CrowningMomentOfHeartwarming heartwarming]], and [[{{Tearjerker}} tragic]] anime endings of all time.]]
* As a whole, I find it enjoyable although the {{Deconstruction}}s that this series is so known for are rather generic and apply to mots fictional works. However, I will admit that the few moments it dares, it does very good work. Mami's death, I personally found, very insulting to give someone hope and then kill them but it did a good job at making me feel sad. Kyoko's death with Sayaka was very touching and warmed me to my heart. The criticism's behind wishes was rarely touched upon in any other show which helps this series really stand out in my eyes, along with the consequences of these wishes following the basic law of the universe: Every action has an equal and opposing reaction. My biggest problem with the show was that it felt the need to say that the world we live is a dark, unfair and cruel place when [[CaptainObvious that's a well-known fact.]] However, I am glad to see Madoka addressed this when she became a goddess, willing to become abstract and untouchable just so p[eople can be happy. It says to me that even if the world is cruel and heartless, that we should still fight against that because, tough it will heap upon us unbelievable suffering and pain, we may just change things for the better. All in all, while some people say this show is like ''NeonGenesisEvangelion''' , which I find is the ultimate insult since I despise that anime more than any other show in existence, I believe its closer to ''TengenToppaGurrenLagann'' and ''[[Anime/FLCL]] FLCL]]'' in that, while acknowledging the darkness, it fights for the light.

to:

* The storytelling itself is amazing. There's so much [[{{Foreshadowing}} foreshadowed]] and hinted at in the first episode alone that it makes re-watching after finishing the entire series almost a necessity. There are no plot holes, no cop outs, no loopholes, no convenient moments, no PlotArmor, no pointless fanservice, and no filler moments. The story is always on the move and it works entirely on things that are established early on or are revealed later. The character development for all the characters is fantastic and often heartbreaking. All of this culminates together to make ''every single episode'' get darker and more emotional as it goes on. By the end, you're in awe at just how big the stakes are and left wondering how they're going to solve this. [[spoiler: Cue one of the most [[MomentOfAwesome noble]], [[CrowningMomentOfHeartwarming heartwarming]], and [[{{Tearjerker}} tragic]] anime endings of all time.]]
* As a whole, I find it enjoyable although the {{Deconstruction}}s that this series is so known for are rather generic and apply to mots fictional works. However, I will admit that the few moments it dares, it does very good work. Mami's death, I personally found, very insulting to give someone hope and then kill them but it did a good job at making me feel sad. Kyoko's death with Sayaka was very touching and warmed me to my heart. The criticism's behind wishes was rarely touched upon in any other show which helps this series really stand out in my eyes, along with the consequences of these wishes following the basic law of the universe: Every action has an equal and opposing reaction. My biggest problem with the show was that it felt the need to say that the world we live is a dark, unfair and cruel place when [[CaptainObvious that's a well-known fact.]] However, I am glad to see Madoka addressed this when she became a goddess, willing to become abstract and untouchable just so p[eople can be happy. It says to me that even if the world is cruel and heartless, that we should still fight against that because, tough it will heap upon us unbelievable suffering and pain, we may just change things for the better. All in all, while some people say this show is like ''NeonGenesisEvangelion''' , which I find is the ultimate insult since I despise that anime more than any other show in existence, I believe its closer to ''TengenToppaGurrenLagann'' and ''[[Anime/FLCL]] FLCL]]'' in that, while acknowledging the darkness, it fights for the light.
]]
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* As a whole, I find it enjoyable although the {{Deconstruction}}s that this series is so known for are rather generic and apply to mots fictional works. However, I will admit that the few moments it dares, it does very good work. Mami's death, I personally found, very insulting to give someone hope and then kill them but it did a good job at making me feel sad. Kyoko's death with Sayaka was very touching and warmed me to my heart. The criticism's behind wishes was rarely touched upon in any other show which helps this series really stand out in my eyes, along with the consequences of these wishes following the basic law of the universe: Every action has an equal and opposing reaction. My biggest problem with the show was that it felt the need to say that the world we live is a dark, unfair and cruel place when [[CaptainObvious that's a well-known fact.]] However, I am glad to see Madoka addressed this when she became a goddess, willing to become abstract and untouchable just so p[eople can be happy. It says to me that even if the world is cruel and heartless, that we should still fight against that because, tough it will heap upon us unbelievable suffering and pain, we may just change things for the better. All in all, while some people say this show is like ''NeonGenesisEvangelion''' , which I find is the ultimate insult since I despise that anime more than any other show in existence, I believe its closer to ''TengenTopaGurren Lagann'' and [[AnimeFLCL]] FLCL]]'' in that, while acknowledging the darkness, it fights for the light.

to:

* As a whole, I find it enjoyable although the {{Deconstruction}}s that this series is so known for are rather generic and apply to mots fictional works. However, I will admit that the few moments it dares, it does very good work. Mami's death, I personally found, very insulting to give someone hope and then kill them but it did a good job at making me feel sad. Kyoko's death with Sayaka was very touching and warmed me to my heart. The criticism's behind wishes was rarely touched upon in any other show which helps this series really stand out in my eyes, along with the consequences of these wishes following the basic law of the universe: Every action has an equal and opposing reaction. My biggest problem with the show was that it felt the need to say that the world we live is a dark, unfair and cruel place when [[CaptainObvious that's a well-known fact.]] However, I am glad to see Madoka addressed this when she became a goddess, willing to become abstract and untouchable just so p[eople can be happy. It says to me that even if the world is cruel and heartless, that we should still fight against that because, tough it will heap upon us unbelievable suffering and pain, we may just change things for the better. All in all, while some people say this show is like ''NeonGenesisEvangelion''' , which I find is the ultimate insult since I despise that anime more than any other show in existence, I believe its closer to ''TengenTopaGurren Lagann'' ''TengenToppaGurrenLagann'' and [[AnimeFLCL]] ''[[Anime/FLCL]] FLCL]]'' in that, while acknowledging the darkness, it fights for the light.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


* The storytelling itself is amazing. There's so much [[{{Foreshadowing}} foreshadowed]] and hinted at in the first episode alone that it makes re-watching after finishing the entire series almost a necessity. There are no plot holes, no cop outs, no loopholes, no convenient moments, no PlotArmor, no pointless fanservice, and no filler moments. The story is always on the move and it works entirely on things that are established early on or are revealed later. The character development for all the characters is fantastic and often heartbreaking. All of this culminates together to make ''every single episode'' get darker and more emotional as it goes on. By the end, you're in awe at just how big the stakes are and left wondering how they're going to solve this. [[spoiler: Cue one of the most [[MomentOfAwesome noble]], [[CrowningMomentOfHeartwarming heartwarming]], and [[{{Tearjerker}} tragic]] anime endings of all time.]]

to:

* The storytelling itself is amazing. There's so much [[{{Foreshadowing}} foreshadowed]] and hinted at in the first episode alone that it makes re-watching after finishing the entire series almost a necessity. There are no plot holes, no cop outs, no loopholes, no convenient moments, no PlotArmor, no pointless fanservice, and no filler moments. The story is always on the move and it works entirely on things that are established early on or are revealed later. The character development for all the characters is fantastic and often heartbreaking. All of this culminates together to make ''every single episode'' get darker and more emotional as it goes on. By the end, you're in awe at just how big the stakes are and left wondering how they're going to solve this. [[spoiler: Cue one of the most [[MomentOfAwesome noble]], [[CrowningMomentOfHeartwarming heartwarming]], and [[{{Tearjerker}} tragic]] anime endings of all time.]]]]
* As a whole, I find it enjoyable although the {{Deconstruction}}s that this series is so known for are rather generic and apply to mots fictional works. However, I will admit that the few moments it dares, it does very good work. Mami's death, I personally found, very insulting to give someone hope and then kill them but it did a good job at making me feel sad. Kyoko's death with Sayaka was very touching and warmed me to my heart. The criticism's behind wishes was rarely touched upon in any other show which helps this series really stand out in my eyes, along with the consequences of these wishes following the basic law of the universe: Every action has an equal and opposing reaction. My biggest problem with the show was that it felt the need to say that the world we live is a dark, unfair and cruel place when [[CaptainObvious that's a well-known fact.]] However, I am glad to see Madoka addressed this when she became a goddess, willing to become abstract and untouchable just so p[eople can be happy. It says to me that even if the world is cruel and heartless, that we should still fight against that because, tough it will heap upon us unbelievable suffering and pain, we may just change things for the better. All in all, while some people say this show is like ''NeonGenesisEvangelion''' , which I find is the ultimate insult since I despise that anime more than any other show in existence, I believe its closer to ''TengenTopaGurren Lagann'' and [[AnimeFLCL]] FLCL]]'' in that, while acknowledging the darkness, it fights for the light.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


* This show's cute, horrific, terrifying, action-packed, funny (but only very sparingly), dramatic, tragic, unusual and artistic. The characters all take different MagicalGirl character archetypes and deconstruct them, among other things. The action scenes are amazingly fantastic, and the animation is beautiful, with gorgeously-designed characters and mass amounts of SceneryPorn. The series has beautifully moving and unique music (what else do you expect from YukiKajiura?) that is utilized to its greatest effect in every single scene. Gen Urobuchi and Creator/AkiyukiShinbo have created a magnificent tale blending MagicalGirl, Horror, Drama, Fantasy and SpeculativeFiction in the most poetic and moving way possible. Each episode gets progressively better and better than the last, and it won't let up for even a split-second. Each single plot twist is unique and unexpected, including, but not limited to [[spoiler: Mami's death, the revelation of Puella Magi being first-form Witches, Sayaka's transformation into a Witch, Kyouko sacrificing herself to save Sayaka from a FateWorseThanDeath, and the entirety of episode 10]]. It is one of the greatest ever created, and Shaft's grandest work of all time.

to:

* This show's cute, horrific, terrifying, action-packed, funny (but only very sparingly), dramatic, tragic, unusual and artistic. The characters all take different MagicalGirl character archetypes and deconstruct them, among other things. The action scenes are amazingly fantastic, and the animation is beautiful, with gorgeously-designed characters and mass amounts of SceneryPorn. The series has beautifully moving and unique music (what else do you expect from YukiKajiura?) Music/YukiKajiura?) that is utilized to its greatest effect in every single scene. Gen Urobuchi and Creator/AkiyukiShinbo have created a magnificent tale blending MagicalGirl, Horror, Drama, Fantasy and SpeculativeFiction in the most poetic and moving way possible. Each episode gets progressively better and better than the last, and it won't let up for even a split-second. Each single plot twist is unique and unexpected, including, but not limited to [[spoiler: Mami's death, the revelation of Puella Magi being first-form Witches, Sayaka's transformation into a Witch, Kyouko sacrificing herself to save Sayaka from a FateWorseThanDeath, and the entirety of episode 10]]. It is one of the greatest ever created, and Shaft's grandest work of all time.
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None


* All the characters feel like real people. Very few anime existing that achieve that.

to:

* All the characters feel like real people. Very few anime existing that achieve that.that.
* The storytelling itself is amazing. There's so much [[{{Foreshadowing}} foreshadowed]] and hinted at in the first episode alone that it makes re-watching after finishing the entire series almost a necessity. There are no plot holes, no cop outs, no loopholes, no convenient moments, no PlotArmor, no pointless fanservice, and no filler moments. The story is always on the move and it works entirely on things that are established early on or are revealed later. The character development for all the characters is fantastic and often heartbreaking. All of this culminates together to make ''every single episode'' get darker and more emotional as it goes on. By the end, you're in awe at just how big the stakes are and left wondering how they're going to solve this. [[spoiler: Cue one of the most [[MomentOfAwesome noble]], [[CrowningMomentOfHeartwarming heartwarming]], and [[{{Tearjerker}} tragic]] anime endings of all time.]]
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...the most pointless spoiler ever.


* This show's cute, horrific, terrifying, action-packed, funny (but only very sparingly), dramatic, tragic, unusual and artistic. The characters all take different MagicalGirl character archetypes and deconstruct them, among other things. The action scenes are amazingly fantastic, and the animation is beautiful, with gorgeously-designed characters and mass amounts of SceneryPorn. The series has beautifully moving and unique music (what else do you expect from YukiKajiura?) that is utilized to its greatest effect in every single scene. Gen Urobuchi and Creator/AkiyukiShinbo have created a magnificent tale blending MagicalGirl, Horror, Drama, Fantasy and [[spoiler: SpeculativeFiction]] in the most poetic and moving way possible. Each episode gets progressively better and better than the last, and it won't let up for even a split-second. Each single plot twist is unique and unexpected, including, but not limited to [[spoiler: Mami's death, the revelation of Puella Magi being first-form Witches, Sayaka's transformation into a Witch, Kyouko sacrificing herself to save Sayaka from a FateWorseThanDeath, and the entirety of episode 10]]. It is one of the greatest ever created, and Shaft's grandest work of all time.

to:

* This show's cute, horrific, terrifying, action-packed, funny (but only very sparingly), dramatic, tragic, unusual and artistic. The characters all take different MagicalGirl character archetypes and deconstruct them, among other things. The action scenes are amazingly fantastic, and the animation is beautiful, with gorgeously-designed characters and mass amounts of SceneryPorn. The series has beautifully moving and unique music (what else do you expect from YukiKajiura?) that is utilized to its greatest effect in every single scene. Gen Urobuchi and Creator/AkiyukiShinbo have created a magnificent tale blending MagicalGirl, Horror, Drama, Fantasy and [[spoiler: SpeculativeFiction]] SpeculativeFiction in the most poetic and moving way possible. Each episode gets progressively better and better than the last, and it won't let up for even a split-second. Each single plot twist is unique and unexpected, including, but not limited to [[spoiler: Mami's death, the revelation of Puella Magi being first-form Witches, Sayaka's transformation into a Witch, Kyouko sacrificing herself to save Sayaka from a FateWorseThanDeath, and the entirety of episode 10]]. It is one of the greatest ever created, and Shaft's grandest work of all time.

Changed: 1918

Removed: 4144

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Kill This Troper and Natter that follow them. One is more of Tropers Tale discussing editor's life.


* This Troper (CCharmanderK) could go on about a number of different anime series and franchises for hours and hours upon end. But if there's one single anime that's captivated me the '''first episode in''' and refused to let me go for even a second, it's the 2011 surprise-hit ''Anime/PuellaMagiMadokaMagica''. This show has nearly everything I love about anime in it in spades: it's cute, horrific, terrifying, action-packed, funny (but only very sparingly), dramatic, tragic, unusual and artistic. The characters all take different MagicalGirl character archetypes and deconstruct them, among other things. The action scenes are amazingly fantastic, and the animation is beautiful, with gorgeously-designed characters and mass amounts of SceneryPorn. The series has beautifully moving and unique music (what else do you expect from YukiKajiura?) that is utilized to its greatest effect in every single scene. And don't get me started on plot; Gen Urobuchi and Creator/AkiyukiShinbo have created a magnificent tale blending MagicalGirl, Horror, Drama, Fantasy and [[spoiler: SpeculativeFiction]] in the most poetic and moving way possible. Each episode gets progressively better and better than the last, and it won't let up for even a split-second. Each single plot twist is unique and unexpected, including, but not limited to [[spoiler: Mami's death, the revelation of Puella Magi being first-form Witches, Sayaka's transformation into a Witch, Kyouko sacrificing herself to save Sayaka from a FateWorseThanDeath, and the entirety of episode 10]]. It is the one anime series that I universally reccomend. It is one of the greatest ever created, and Shaft's grandest work of all time.
** Seconded so hard. I only bothered to check it out because YukiKajiura was doing the music, but the minute I tuned in and saw... well, just saw it all, I was entranced. This was a MagicalGirl anime? Even with the initially cliche characters, they all develop amazingly - from seeing [[spoiler: an [[PluckyGirl energetic tomboy]] grow into a [[DespairEventHorizon broken down]] {{yandere}}, a JerkAss DarkActionGirl showing her HiddenHeartOfGold, and the one you don't see until late in the series and definitely don't expect: A ridiculously {{Moe}}, {{Adorkable}} IllGirl growing into the [[BadAss strongest]], [[TheStoic stoic]]-[[BuffySpeak est]] magical girl in the entire series]]. While people tend to hate Madoka, I find her to be the most realistic character to ever grace the genre: You're fourteen years old, fighting things your brain can barely comprehend, and you're seeing [[spoiler: your friends get killed brutally]], so what are you logically going to do? Cry and panic. The interactions between everyone is just perfect, from fighting to just playful conversation. And then there's [[SarcasmMode everyone's favourite]], [[WeaselMascot Kyubey]]. He's so much fun to hate. I never watched Anime/SailorMoon as a kid but I did watch Mew Mew Power, and seeing those tropes I loved as an eleven-year-old get mutilated like this is kind of exciting. But my favourite thing has to be showing others the series, especially the {{Wham Episode}}s. I absolutely can't wait for it to be licensed.
** (CCharmanderK) Agreed so damn hard. This is one of the few anime series that would connect excellently with a North American audience. Everyone knows of the MagicalGirl genre over here due to shows such as Anime/CardCaptorSakura, Manga/TokyoMewMew and Anime/SailorMoon, and people are also very familiar with psychological suspense stories such as Franchise/GhostInTheShell, Film/{{Inception}} and ''Series/{{Lost}}''. Putting these two genres together may seem like an unusual approach, but the right use of advertisement and word-of-mouth could prove to make this series a huge success here in the US of A. Are you listening, Creator/AdultSwim?!!
** Fourthed, this is one of the greatest shows and most emotionally involved shows I've seen for a long while. When I first started watching this, I just expected a magical girl show with the trippy animation that shaft is renowned for. Despite my Shaft-fangirlness, I was not expecting much from Madoka Magica. Then episode three rolled around, despite the fact that I kind of called something was going to happen to [[spoiler:Mami]] I was never expecting THAT to happen. Afterwards every plot twist from that show was like a punch to the gut, a beautiful but soul wrenching punch to the gut. When watching that season I would always watch Madoka the instant it came out, then watch Wandering Boy afterwards to preserve my sanity. Something this show loved to screw with. Coupled with the fantastic art-design, and animation (Which shaft deserves a metal for making every witch design unique and intriguing), there's the fact that I didn't hate a single character in this show. Which is odd because my usual nitpicky self always finds somebody to hate. Admittedly, Madoka was a bit boring, but it was made up for 1000x over in the ending. This needs to get dubbed soon, because I need to show this to all my friends.
** Fifthed. I first heard of this show from a friend, and was like, what the hell, might as well check it out, I got time anyways. By that time, I wasn't too much into the magical girl genre, but boy did Madoka captivate me about, what, 5 minutes into the first episode? Yeah. And it hasn't let go of me since. This is hands down one of the best animes I have ever seen, and I expect new animes I watch to hit me just as hard as this one did. So far I have not found a match. Kudos, Madoka, for painting a very dark, very bleak, very sad and very real world, then showing the light at the end. From great characters to a compelling plot to superb music, the show has it all.
* [[@/FringeBenefits This Troper]] has clinical depression. Very often in my life, I've sunken so deep into despair that I've thought about suicide. ''Madoka Magica'' came along during a time of great changes in my life, when it seemed like everything I knew was falling apart. During that time, I watched this series, fell in love with it after a day and a half, and prayed that when the final episode aired, it wouldn't blow it in the home stretch with a GainaxEnding. Far from it, ''Madoka'' had one of the most perfect endings I've ever seen in fiction, and it pulled me out of the depressive fit I had been having for the last few months. I cried like a baby, and it was a ''good'' cry. To me, ''Madoka'' is perhaps the ultimate expression of hope triumphing over despair; if these characters, after so much tragedy and pain and heartbreak, can manage to have a happy ending, even if it's bittersweet, then I can too. I've never been so moved by the message of YouAreNotAlone in my life. I could go on and on about how much I love the characters, the art style, the music (God, the music!), the plot twists, etc., but what makes ''Madoka'' truly special is how it inspired hope in me in one of my darkest hours.
** Can [[@/{{Doodler}} this troper]] hug you for putting it so perfectly? Everything I was about to say, said perfectly.
** "It inspired hope in me in one of my darkest hours." This Troper (ryanson209) would like to applaud you and hug you and agree with every word you've written
* All the characters feel like real people. For me there's very, very few anime existing that achieve that.

to:

* This Troper (CCharmanderK) could go on about a number of different anime series and franchises for hours and hours upon end. But if there's one single anime that's captivated me the '''first episode in''' and refused to let me go for even a second, it's the 2011 surprise-hit ''Anime/PuellaMagiMadokaMagica''. This show has nearly everything I love about anime in it in spades: it's show's cute, horrific, terrifying, action-packed, funny (but only very sparingly), dramatic, tragic, unusual and artistic. The characters all take different MagicalGirl character archetypes and deconstruct them, among other things. The action scenes are amazingly fantastic, and the animation is beautiful, with gorgeously-designed characters and mass amounts of SceneryPorn. The series has beautifully moving and unique music (what else do you expect from YukiKajiura?) that is utilized to its greatest effect in every single scene. And don't get me started on plot; Gen Urobuchi and Creator/AkiyukiShinbo have created a magnificent tale blending MagicalGirl, Horror, Drama, Fantasy and [[spoiler: SpeculativeFiction]] in the most poetic and moving way possible. Each episode gets progressively better and better than the last, and it won't let up for even a split-second. Each single plot twist is unique and unexpected, including, but not limited to [[spoiler: Mami's death, the revelation of Puella Magi being first-form Witches, Sayaka's transformation into a Witch, Kyouko sacrificing herself to save Sayaka from a FateWorseThanDeath, and the entirety of episode 10]]. It is the one anime series that I universally reccomend. It is one of the greatest ever created, and Shaft's grandest work of all time.
** Seconded so hard. I only bothered to check it out because YukiKajiura was doing the music, but the minute I tuned in and saw... well, just saw it all, I was entranced. This was a MagicalGirl anime? Even with the initially cliche characters, they all develop amazingly - from seeing [[spoiler: an [[PluckyGirl energetic tomboy]] grow into a [[DespairEventHorizon broken down]] {{yandere}}, a JerkAss DarkActionGirl showing her HiddenHeartOfGold, and the one you don't see until late in the series and definitely don't expect: A ridiculously {{Moe}}, {{Adorkable}} IllGirl growing into the [[BadAss strongest]], [[TheStoic stoic]]-[[BuffySpeak est]] magical girl in the entire series]]. While people tend to hate Madoka, I find her to be the most realistic character to ever grace the genre: You're fourteen years old, fighting things your brain can barely comprehend, and you're seeing [[spoiler: your friends get killed brutally]], so what are you logically going to do? Cry and panic. The interactions between everyone is just perfect, from fighting to just playful conversation. And then there's [[SarcasmMode everyone's favourite]], [[WeaselMascot Kyubey]]. He's so much fun to hate. I never watched Anime/SailorMoon as a kid but I did watch Mew Mew Power, and seeing those tropes I loved as an eleven-year-old get mutilated like this is kind of exciting. But my favourite thing has to be showing others the series, especially the {{Wham Episode}}s. I absolutely can't wait for it to be licensed.
** (CCharmanderK) Agreed so damn hard. This is one of the few anime series that would connect excellently with a North American audience. Everyone knows of the MagicalGirl genre over here due to shows such as Anime/CardCaptorSakura, Manga/TokyoMewMew and Anime/SailorMoon, and people are also very familiar with psychological suspense stories such as Franchise/GhostInTheShell, Film/{{Inception}} and ''Series/{{Lost}}''. Putting these two genres together may seem like an unusual approach, but the right use of advertisement and word-of-mouth could prove to make this series a huge success here in the US of A. Are you listening, Creator/AdultSwim?!!
** Fourthed, this is one of the greatest shows and most emotionally involved shows I've seen for a long while. When I first started watching this, I just expected a magical girl show with the trippy animation that shaft is renowned for. Despite my Shaft-fangirlness, I was not expecting much from Madoka Magica. Then episode three rolled around, despite the fact that I kind of called something was going to happen to [[spoiler:Mami]] I was never expecting THAT to happen. Afterwards every plot twist from that show was like a punch to the gut, a beautiful but soul wrenching punch to the gut. When watching that season I would always watch Madoka the instant it came out, then watch Wandering Boy afterwards to preserve my sanity. Something this show loved to screw with. Coupled with the fantastic art-design, and animation (Which shaft deserves a metal for making every witch design unique and intriguing), there's the fact that I didn't hate a single character in this show. Which is odd because my usual nitpicky self always finds somebody to hate. Admittedly, Madoka was a bit boring, but it was made up for 1000x over in the ending. This needs to get dubbed soon, because I need to show this to all my friends.
** Fifthed. I first heard of this show from a friend, and was like, what the hell, might as well check it out, I got time anyways. By that time, I wasn't too much into the magical girl genre, but boy did Madoka captivate me about, what, 5 minutes into the first episode? Yeah. And it hasn't let go of me since. This is hands down one of the best animes I have ever seen, and I expect new animes I watch to hit me just as hard as this one did. So far I have not found a match. Kudos, Madoka, for painting a very dark, very bleak, very sad and very real world, then showing the light at the end. From great characters to a compelling plot to superb music, the show has it all.
* [[@/FringeBenefits This Troper]] has clinical depression. Very often in my life, I've sunken so deep into despair that I've thought about suicide. ''Madoka Magica'' came along during a time of great changes in my life, when it seemed like everything I knew was falling apart. During that time, I watched this series, fell in love with it after a day and a half, and prayed that when the final episode aired, it wouldn't blow it in the home stretch with a GainaxEnding. Far from it, ''Madoka'' had one of the most perfect endings I've ever seen in fiction, and it pulled me out of the depressive fit I had been having for the last few months. I cried like a baby, and it was a ''good'' cry. To me, ''Madoka'' is perhaps the ultimate expression of hope triumphing over despair; if these characters, after so much tragedy and pain and heartbreak, can manage to have a happy ending, even if it's bittersweet, then I can too. I've never been so moved by the message of YouAreNotAlone in my life. I could go on and on about how much I love the characters, the art style, the music (God, the music!), the plot twists, etc., but what makes ''Madoka'' truly special is how it inspired hope in me in one of my darkest hours.
** Can [[@/{{Doodler}} this troper]] hug you for putting it so perfectly? Everything I was about to say, said perfectly.
** "It inspired hope in me in one of my darkest hours." This Troper (ryanson209) would like to applaud you and hug you and agree with every word you've written
* All the characters feel like real people. For me there's very, very Very few anime existing that achieve that.
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** "It inspired hope in me in one of my darkest hours." This Troper (ryanson209) would like to applaud you and hug you and agree with every word you've written

to:

** "It inspired hope in me in one of my darkest hours." This Troper (ryanson209) would like to applaud you and hug you and agree with every word you've writtenwritten
* All the characters feel like real people. For me there's very, very few anime existing that achieve that.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None

Added DiffLines:

** Fifthed. I first heard of this show from a friend, and was like, what the hell, might as well check it out, I got time anyways. By that time, I wasn't too much into the magical girl genre, but boy did Madoka captivate me about, what, 5 minutes into the first episode? Yeah. And it hasn't let go of me since. This is hands down one of the best animes I have ever seen, and I expect new animes I watch to hit me just as hard as this one did. So far I have not found a match. Kudos, Madoka, for painting a very dark, very bleak, very sad and very real world, then showing the light at the end. From great characters to a compelling plot to superb music, the show has it all.
Willbyr MOD

Changed: 23

Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
fixing redirect, namespacing


** Seconded so hard. I only bothered to check it out because YukiKajiura was doing the music, but the minute I tuned in and saw... well, just saw it all, I was entranced. This was a MagicalGirl anime? Even with the initially cliche characters, they all develop amazingly - from seeing [[spoiler: an [[PluckyGirl energetic tomboy]] grow into a [[DespairEventHorizon broken down]] {{yandere}}, a JerkAss DarkActionGirl showing her HiddenHeartOfGold, and the one you don't see until late in the series and definitely don't expect: A ridiculously {{Moe}}, {{Adorkable}} IllGirl growing into the [[BadAss strongest]], [[TheStoic stoic]]-[[BuffySpeak est]] magical girl in the entire series]]. While people tend to hate Madoka, I find her to be the most realistic character to ever grace the genre: You're fourteen years old, fighting things your brain can barely comprehend, and you're seeing [[spoiler: your friends get killed brutally]], so what are you logically going to do? Cry and panic. The interactions between everyone is just perfect, from fighting to just playful conversation. And then there's [[SarcasmMode everyone's favourite]], [[WeaselMascot Kyubey]]. He's so much fun to hate. I never watched Anime/SailorMoon as a kid but I did watch MewMewPower, and seeing those tropes I loved as an eleven-year-old get mutilated like this is kind of exciting. But my favourite thing has to be showing others the series, especially the {{Wham Episode}}s. I absolutely can't wait for it to be licensed.
** (CCharmanderK) Agreed so damn hard. This is one of the few anime series that would connect excellently with a North American audience. Everyone knows of the MagicalGirl genre over here due to shows such as Anime/CardCaptorSakura, TokyoMewMew and Anime/SailorMoon, and people are also very familiar with psychological suspense stories such as GhostInTheShell, {{Inception}} and ''Series/{{Lost}}''. Putting these two genres together may seem like an unusual approach, but the right use of advertisement and word-of-mouth could prove to make this series a huge success here in the US of A. Are you listening, Creator/AdultSwim?!!

to:

** Seconded so hard. I only bothered to check it out because YukiKajiura was doing the music, but the minute I tuned in and saw... well, just saw it all, I was entranced. This was a MagicalGirl anime? Even with the initially cliche characters, they all develop amazingly - from seeing [[spoiler: an [[PluckyGirl energetic tomboy]] grow into a [[DespairEventHorizon broken down]] {{yandere}}, a JerkAss DarkActionGirl showing her HiddenHeartOfGold, and the one you don't see until late in the series and definitely don't expect: A ridiculously {{Moe}}, {{Adorkable}} IllGirl growing into the [[BadAss strongest]], [[TheStoic stoic]]-[[BuffySpeak est]] magical girl in the entire series]]. While people tend to hate Madoka, I find her to be the most realistic character to ever grace the genre: You're fourteen years old, fighting things your brain can barely comprehend, and you're seeing [[spoiler: your friends get killed brutally]], so what are you logically going to do? Cry and panic. The interactions between everyone is just perfect, from fighting to just playful conversation. And then there's [[SarcasmMode everyone's favourite]], [[WeaselMascot Kyubey]]. He's so much fun to hate. I never watched Anime/SailorMoon as a kid but I did watch MewMewPower, Mew Mew Power, and seeing those tropes I loved as an eleven-year-old get mutilated like this is kind of exciting. But my favourite thing has to be showing others the series, especially the {{Wham Episode}}s. I absolutely can't wait for it to be licensed.
** (CCharmanderK) Agreed so damn hard. This is one of the few anime series that would connect excellently with a North American audience. Everyone knows of the MagicalGirl genre over here due to shows such as Anime/CardCaptorSakura, TokyoMewMew Manga/TokyoMewMew and Anime/SailorMoon, and people are also very familiar with psychological suspense stories such as GhostInTheShell, {{Inception}} Franchise/GhostInTheShell, Film/{{Inception}} and ''Series/{{Lost}}''. Putting these two genres together may seem like an unusual approach, but the right use of advertisement and word-of-mouth could prove to make this series a huge success here in the US of A. Are you listening, Creator/AdultSwim?!!
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


** (CCharmanderK) Agreed so damn hard. This is one of the few anime series that would connect excellently with a North American audience. Everyone knows of the MagicalGirl genre over here due to shows such as Anime/CardCaptorSakura, TokyoMewMew and Anime/SailorMoon, and people are also very familiar with psychological suspense stories such as GhostInTheShell, {{Inception}} and {{Lost}}. Putting these two genres together may seem like an unusual approach, but the right use of advertisement and word-of-mouth could prove to make this series a huge success here in the US of A. Are you listening, Creator/AdultSwim?!!

to:

** (CCharmanderK) Agreed so damn hard. This is one of the few anime series that would connect excellently with a North American audience. Everyone knows of the MagicalGirl genre over here due to shows such as Anime/CardCaptorSakura, TokyoMewMew and Anime/SailorMoon, and people are also very familiar with psychological suspense stories such as GhostInTheShell, {{Inception}} and {{Lost}}.''Series/{{Lost}}''. Putting these two genres together may seem like an unusual approach, but the right use of advertisement and word-of-mouth could prove to make this series a huge success here in the US of A. Are you listening, Creator/AdultSwim?!!
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


** Seconded so hard. I only bothered to check it out because YukiKajiura was doing the music, but the minute I tuned in and saw... well, just saw it all, I was entranced. This was a MagicalGirl anime? Even with the initially cliche characters, they all develop amazingly - from seeing [[spoiler: an [[PluckyGirl energetic tomboy]] grow into a [[DespairEventHorizon broken down]] {{yandere}}, a JerkAss DarkActionGirl showing her HiddenHeartOfGold, and the one you don't see until late in the series and definitely don't expect: A ridiculously {{Moe}}, {{Adorkable}} IllGirl growing into the [[BadAss strongest]], [[TheStoic stoic]]-[[BuffySpeak est]] magical girl in the entire series]]. While people tend to hate Madoka, I find her to be the most realistic character to ever grace the genre: You're fourteen years old, fighting things your brain can barely comprehend, and you're seeing [[spoiler: your friends get killed brutally]], so what are you logically going to do? Cry and panic. The interactions between everyone is just perfect, from fighting to just playful conversation. And then there's [[SarcasmMode everyone's favourite]], [[WeaselMascot Kyubey]]. He's so much fun to hate. I never watched SailorMoon as a kid but I did watch MewMewPower, and seeing those tropes I loved as an eleven-year-old get mutilated like this is kind of exciting. But my favourite thing has to be showing others the series, especially the {{Wham Episode}}s. I absolutely can't wait for it to be licensed.
** (CCharmanderK) Agreed so damn hard. This is one of the few anime series that would connect excellently with a North American audience. Everyone knows of the MagicalGirl genre over here due to shows such as Manga/CardCaptorSakura, TokyoMewMew and SailorMoon, and people are also very familiar with psychological suspense stories such as GhostInTheShell, {{Inception}} and {{Lost}}. Putting these two genres together may seem like an unusual approach, but the right use of advertisement and word-of-mouth could prove to make this series a huge success here in the US of A. Are you listening, Creator/AdultSwim?!!

to:

** Seconded so hard. I only bothered to check it out because YukiKajiura was doing the music, but the minute I tuned in and saw... well, just saw it all, I was entranced. This was a MagicalGirl anime? Even with the initially cliche characters, they all develop amazingly - from seeing [[spoiler: an [[PluckyGirl energetic tomboy]] grow into a [[DespairEventHorizon broken down]] {{yandere}}, a JerkAss DarkActionGirl showing her HiddenHeartOfGold, and the one you don't see until late in the series and definitely don't expect: A ridiculously {{Moe}}, {{Adorkable}} IllGirl growing into the [[BadAss strongest]], [[TheStoic stoic]]-[[BuffySpeak est]] magical girl in the entire series]]. While people tend to hate Madoka, I find her to be the most realistic character to ever grace the genre: You're fourteen years old, fighting things your brain can barely comprehend, and you're seeing [[spoiler: your friends get killed brutally]], so what are you logically going to do? Cry and panic. The interactions between everyone is just perfect, from fighting to just playful conversation. And then there's [[SarcasmMode everyone's favourite]], [[WeaselMascot Kyubey]]. He's so much fun to hate. I never watched SailorMoon Anime/SailorMoon as a kid but I did watch MewMewPower, and seeing those tropes I loved as an eleven-year-old get mutilated like this is kind of exciting. But my favourite thing has to be showing others the series, especially the {{Wham Episode}}s. I absolutely can't wait for it to be licensed.
** (CCharmanderK) Agreed so damn hard. This is one of the few anime series that would connect excellently with a North American audience. Everyone knows of the MagicalGirl genre over here due to shows such as Manga/CardCaptorSakura, Anime/CardCaptorSakura, TokyoMewMew and SailorMoon, Anime/SailorMoon, and people are also very familiar with psychological suspense stories such as GhostInTheShell, {{Inception}} and {{Lost}}. Putting these two genres together may seem like an unusual approach, but the right use of advertisement and word-of-mouth could prove to make this series a huge success here in the US of A. Are you listening, Creator/AdultSwim?!!
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


** Can [[@/{{Doodler}} this troper]] hug you for putting it so perfectly? Everything I was about to say, said perfectly.

to:

** Can [[@/{{Doodler}} this troper]] hug you for putting it so perfectly? Everything I was about to say, said perfectly.perfectly.
** "It inspired hope in me in one of my darkest hours." This Troper (ryanson209) would like to applaud you and hug you and agree with every word you've written
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
namespace


* This Troper (CCharmanderK) could go on about a number of different anime series and franchises for hours and hours upon end. But if there's one single anime that's captivated me the '''first episode in''' and refused to let me go for even a second, it's the 2011 surprise-hit ''Anime/PuellaMagiMadokaMagica''. This show has nearly everything I love about anime in it in spades: it's cute, horrific, terrifying, action-packed, funny (but only very sparingly), dramatic, tragic, unusual and artistic. The characters all take different MagicalGirl character archetypes and deconstruct them, among other things. The action scenes are amazingly fantastic, and the animation is beautiful, with gorgeously-designed characters and mass amounts of SceneryPorn. The series has beautifully moving and unique music (what else do you expect from YukiKajiura?) that is utilized to its greatest effect in every single scene. And don't get me started on plot; Gen Urobuchi and AkiyukiShinbo have created a magnificent tale blending MagicalGirl, Horror, Drama, Fantasy and [[spoiler: SpeculativeFiction]] in the most poetic and moving way possible. Each episode gets progressively better and better than the last, and it won't let up for even a split-second. Each single plot twist is unique and unexpected, including, but not limited to [[spoiler: Mami's death, the revelation of Puella Magi being first-form Witches, Sayaka's transformation into a Witch, Kyouko sacrificing herself to save Sayaka from a FateWorseThanDeath, and the entirety of episode 10]]. It is the one anime series that I universally reccomend. It is one of the greatest ever created, and Shaft's grandest work of all time.

to:

* This Troper (CCharmanderK) could go on about a number of different anime series and franchises for hours and hours upon end. But if there's one single anime that's captivated me the '''first episode in''' and refused to let me go for even a second, it's the 2011 surprise-hit ''Anime/PuellaMagiMadokaMagica''. This show has nearly everything I love about anime in it in spades: it's cute, horrific, terrifying, action-packed, funny (but only very sparingly), dramatic, tragic, unusual and artistic. The characters all take different MagicalGirl character archetypes and deconstruct them, among other things. The action scenes are amazingly fantastic, and the animation is beautiful, with gorgeously-designed characters and mass amounts of SceneryPorn. The series has beautifully moving and unique music (what else do you expect from YukiKajiura?) that is utilized to its greatest effect in every single scene. And don't get me started on plot; Gen Urobuchi and AkiyukiShinbo Creator/AkiyukiShinbo have created a magnificent tale blending MagicalGirl, Horror, Drama, Fantasy and [[spoiler: SpeculativeFiction]] in the most poetic and moving way possible. Each episode gets progressively better and better than the last, and it won't let up for even a split-second. Each single plot twist is unique and unexpected, including, but not limited to [[spoiler: Mami's death, the revelation of Puella Magi being first-form Witches, Sayaka's transformation into a Witch, Kyouko sacrificing herself to save Sayaka from a FateWorseThanDeath, and the entirety of episode 10]]. It is the one anime series that I universally reccomend. It is one of the greatest ever created, and Shaft's grandest work of all time.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


** Can [[@/{{Doodler}} this troper]] hug you for putting it so perfectly?

to:

** Can [[@/{{Doodler}} this troper]] hug you for putting it so perfectly?perfectly? Everything I was about to say, said perfectly.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


* [[@/FringeBenefits This Troper]] has clinical depression. Very often in my life, I've sunken so deep into despair that I've thought about suicide. ''Madoka Magica'' came along during a time of great changes in my life, when it seemed like everything I knew was falling apart. During that time, I watched this series, fell in love with it after a day and a half, and prayed that when the final episode aired, it wouldn't blow it in the home stretch with a GainaxEnding. Far from it, ''Madoka'' had one of the most perfect endings I've ever seen in fiction, and it pulled me out of the depressive fit I had been having for the last few months. I cried like a baby, and it was a ''good'' cry. To me, ''Madoka'' is perhaps the ultimate expression of hope triumphing over despair; if these characters, after so much tragedy and pain and heartbreak, can manage to have a happy ending, even if it's bittersweet, then I can too. I've never been so moved by the message of YouAreNotAlone in my life. I could go on and on about how much I love the characters, the art style, the music (God, the music!), the plot twists, etc., but what makes ''Madoka'' truly special is how it inspired hope in me in one of my darkest hours.

to:

* [[@/FringeBenefits This Troper]] has clinical depression. Very often in my life, I've sunken so deep into despair that I've thought about suicide. ''Madoka Magica'' came along during a time of great changes in my life, when it seemed like everything I knew was falling apart. During that time, I watched this series, fell in love with it after a day and a half, and prayed that when the final episode aired, it wouldn't blow it in the home stretch with a GainaxEnding. Far from it, ''Madoka'' had one of the most perfect endings I've ever seen in fiction, and it pulled me out of the depressive fit I had been having for the last few months. I cried like a baby, and it was a ''good'' cry. To me, ''Madoka'' is perhaps the ultimate expression of hope triumphing over despair; if these characters, after so much tragedy and pain and heartbreak, can manage to have a happy ending, even if it's bittersweet, then I can too. I've never been so moved by the message of YouAreNotAlone in my life. I could go on and on about how much I love the characters, the art style, the music (God, the music!), the plot twists, etc., but what makes ''Madoka'' truly special is how it inspired hope in me in one of my darkest hours.hours.
** Can [[@/{{Doodler}} this troper]] hug you for putting it so perfectly?
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
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** (CCharmanderK) Agreed so damn hard. This is one of the few anime series that would connect excellently with a North American audience. Everyone knows of the MagicalGirl genre over here due to shows such as Manga/CardCaptorSakura, TokyoMewMew and SailorMoon, and people are also very familiar with psychological suspense stories such as GhostInTheShell, {{Inception}} and {{Lost}}. Putting these two genres together may seem like an unusual approach, but the right use of advertisement and word-of-mouth could prove to make this series a huge success here in the US of A. Are you listening, AdultSwim?!!

to:

** (CCharmanderK) Agreed so damn hard. This is one of the few anime series that would connect excellently with a North American audience. Everyone knows of the MagicalGirl genre over here due to shows such as Manga/CardCaptorSakura, TokyoMewMew and SailorMoon, and people are also very familiar with psychological suspense stories such as GhostInTheShell, {{Inception}} and {{Lost}}. Putting these two genres together may seem like an unusual approach, but the right use of advertisement and word-of-mouth could prove to make this series a huge success here in the US of A. Are you listening, AdultSwim?!!Creator/AdultSwim?!!
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


* [[@/FringeBenefits This Troper]] has clinical depression. Very often in my life, I've sunken so deep into despair that I've thought about suicide. ''Madoka Magica'' came along during a time of great changes in my life, when it seemed like everything I knew was falling apart. During that time, I watched this series, fell in love with it after a day and a half, and prayed that when the final episode aired, it wouldn't blow it in the home stretch with a GainaxEnding. Far from it, ''Madoka'' had one of the most perfect endings I've ever seen in fiction, and it pulled me out of the depressive fit I had been having for the last few months. I cried like a baby, and it was a ''good'' cry. To me, ''Madoka'' is perhaps the ultimate expression of hope triumphing over despair; if these characters, after so much tragedy and pain and heartbreak, can manage to have a happy ending, even if it's bittersweet, then I can too. I've never been so moved by the message of YouAreNotAlone in my life. I could go on and on about how much I love the characters, the art style, the music (God, the music!), the plot twists, etc., but what makes ''Madoka'' special is how it inspired hope in me in one of my darkest hours.

to:

* [[@/FringeBenefits This Troper]] has clinical depression. Very often in my life, I've sunken so deep into despair that I've thought about suicide. ''Madoka Magica'' came along during a time of great changes in my life, when it seemed like everything I knew was falling apart. During that time, I watched this series, fell in love with it after a day and a half, and prayed that when the final episode aired, it wouldn't blow it in the home stretch with a GainaxEnding. Far from it, ''Madoka'' had one of the most perfect endings I've ever seen in fiction, and it pulled me out of the depressive fit I had been having for the last few months. I cried like a baby, and it was a ''good'' cry. To me, ''Madoka'' is perhaps the ultimate expression of hope triumphing over despair; if these characters, after so much tragedy and pain and heartbreak, can manage to have a happy ending, even if it's bittersweet, then I can too. I've never been so moved by the message of YouAreNotAlone in my life. I could go on and on about how much I love the characters, the art style, the music (God, the music!), the plot twists, etc., but what makes ''Madoka'' truly special is how it inspired hope in me in one of my darkest hours.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


** Fourthed, this is one of the greatest shows and most emotionally involved shows I've seen for a long while. When I first started watching this, I just expected a magical girl show with the trippy animation that shaft is renowned for. Despite my Shaft-fangirlness, I was not expecting much from Madoka Magica. Then episode three rolled around, despite the fact that I kind of called something was going to happen to [[spoiler:Mami]] I was never expecting THAT to happen. Afterwards every plot twist from that show was like a punch to the gut, a beautiful but soul wrenching punch to the gut. When watching that season I would always watch Madoka the instant it came out, then watch Wandering Boy afterwards to preserve my sanity. Something this show loved to screw with. Coupled with the fantastic art-design, and animation (Which shaft deserves a metal for making every witch design unique and intriguing), there's the fact that I didn't hate a single character in this show. Which is odd because my usual nitpicky self always finds somebody to hate. Admittedly, Madoka was a bit boring, but it was made up for 1000x over in the ending. This needs to get dubbed soon, because I need to show this to all my friends.

to:

** Fourthed, this is one of the greatest shows and most emotionally involved shows I've seen for a long while. When I first started watching this, I just expected a magical girl show with the trippy animation that shaft is renowned for. Despite my Shaft-fangirlness, I was not expecting much from Madoka Magica. Then episode three rolled around, despite the fact that I kind of called something was going to happen to [[spoiler:Mami]] I was never expecting THAT to happen. Afterwards every plot twist from that show was like a punch to the gut, a beautiful but soul wrenching punch to the gut. When watching that season I would always watch Madoka the instant it came out, then watch Wandering Boy afterwards to preserve my sanity. Something this show loved to screw with. Coupled with the fantastic art-design, and animation (Which shaft deserves a metal for making every witch design unique and intriguing), there's the fact that I didn't hate a single character in this show. Which is odd because my usual nitpicky self always finds somebody to hate. Admittedly, Madoka was a bit boring, but it was made up for 1000x over in the ending. This needs to get dubbed soon, because I need to show this to all my friends.friends.
* [[@/FringeBenefits This Troper]] has clinical depression. Very often in my life, I've sunken so deep into despair that I've thought about suicide. ''Madoka Magica'' came along during a time of great changes in my life, when it seemed like everything I knew was falling apart. During that time, I watched this series, fell in love with it after a day and a half, and prayed that when the final episode aired, it wouldn't blow it in the home stretch with a GainaxEnding. Far from it, ''Madoka'' had one of the most perfect endings I've ever seen in fiction, and it pulled me out of the depressive fit I had been having for the last few months. I cried like a baby, and it was a ''good'' cry. To me, ''Madoka'' is perhaps the ultimate expression of hope triumphing over despair; if these characters, after so much tragedy and pain and heartbreak, can manage to have a happy ending, even if it's bittersweet, then I can too. I've never been so moved by the message of YouAreNotAlone in my life. I could go on and on about how much I love the characters, the art style, the music (God, the music!), the plot twists, etc., but what makes ''Madoka'' special is how it inspired hope in me in one of my darkest hours.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None

Added DiffLines:

* This Troper (CCharmanderK) could go on about a number of different anime series and franchises for hours and hours upon end. But if there's one single anime that's captivated me the '''first episode in''' and refused to let me go for even a second, it's the 2011 surprise-hit ''Anime/PuellaMagiMadokaMagica''. This show has nearly everything I love about anime in it in spades: it's cute, horrific, terrifying, action-packed, funny (but only very sparingly), dramatic, tragic, unusual and artistic. The characters all take different MagicalGirl character archetypes and deconstruct them, among other things. The action scenes are amazingly fantastic, and the animation is beautiful, with gorgeously-designed characters and mass amounts of SceneryPorn. The series has beautifully moving and unique music (what else do you expect from YukiKajiura?) that is utilized to its greatest effect in every single scene. And don't get me started on plot; Gen Urobuchi and AkiyukiShinbo have created a magnificent tale blending MagicalGirl, Horror, Drama, Fantasy and [[spoiler: SpeculativeFiction]] in the most poetic and moving way possible. Each episode gets progressively better and better than the last, and it won't let up for even a split-second. Each single plot twist is unique and unexpected, including, but not limited to [[spoiler: Mami's death, the revelation of Puella Magi being first-form Witches, Sayaka's transformation into a Witch, Kyouko sacrificing herself to save Sayaka from a FateWorseThanDeath, and the entirety of episode 10]]. It is the one anime series that I universally reccomend. It is one of the greatest ever created, and Shaft's grandest work of all time.
** Seconded so hard. I only bothered to check it out because YukiKajiura was doing the music, but the minute I tuned in and saw... well, just saw it all, I was entranced. This was a MagicalGirl anime? Even with the initially cliche characters, they all develop amazingly - from seeing [[spoiler: an [[PluckyGirl energetic tomboy]] grow into a [[DespairEventHorizon broken down]] {{yandere}}, a JerkAss DarkActionGirl showing her HiddenHeartOfGold, and the one you don't see until late in the series and definitely don't expect: A ridiculously {{Moe}}, {{Adorkable}} IllGirl growing into the [[BadAss strongest]], [[TheStoic stoic]]-[[BuffySpeak est]] magical girl in the entire series]]. While people tend to hate Madoka, I find her to be the most realistic character to ever grace the genre: You're fourteen years old, fighting things your brain can barely comprehend, and you're seeing [[spoiler: your friends get killed brutally]], so what are you logically going to do? Cry and panic. The interactions between everyone is just perfect, from fighting to just playful conversation. And then there's [[SarcasmMode everyone's favourite]], [[WeaselMascot Kyubey]]. He's so much fun to hate. I never watched SailorMoon as a kid but I did watch MewMewPower, and seeing those tropes I loved as an eleven-year-old get mutilated like this is kind of exciting. But my favourite thing has to be showing others the series, especially the {{Wham Episode}}s. I absolutely can't wait for it to be licensed.
** (CCharmanderK) Agreed so damn hard. This is one of the few anime series that would connect excellently with a North American audience. Everyone knows of the MagicalGirl genre over here due to shows such as Manga/CardCaptorSakura, TokyoMewMew and SailorMoon, and people are also very familiar with psychological suspense stories such as GhostInTheShell, {{Inception}} and {{Lost}}. Putting these two genres together may seem like an unusual approach, but the right use of advertisement and word-of-mouth could prove to make this series a huge success here in the US of A. Are you listening, AdultSwim?!!
** Fourthed, this is one of the greatest shows and most emotionally involved shows I've seen for a long while. When I first started watching this, I just expected a magical girl show with the trippy animation that shaft is renowned for. Despite my Shaft-fangirlness, I was not expecting much from Madoka Magica. Then episode three rolled around, despite the fact that I kind of called something was going to happen to [[spoiler:Mami]] I was never expecting THAT to happen. Afterwards every plot twist from that show was like a punch to the gut, a beautiful but soul wrenching punch to the gut. When watching that season I would always watch Madoka the instant it came out, then watch Wandering Boy afterwards to preserve my sanity. Something this show loved to screw with. Coupled with the fantastic art-design, and animation (Which shaft deserves a metal for making every witch design unique and intriguing), there's the fact that I didn't hate a single character in this show. Which is odd because my usual nitpicky self always finds somebody to hate. Admittedly, Madoka was a bit boring, but it was made up for 1000x over in the ending. This needs to get dubbed soon, because I need to show this to all my friends.

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