History PuellaMagiMadokaMagica / TropesNToS

* SynchronizedMorningRoutine: In [[Recap/PuellaMagiMadokaMagicaEpisode01AsIfIMetHerInMyDream "As If I Met Her In My Dream..."]], Madoka and her mother do this as a way to show their close relationship and their difference in maturity --Junko wears makeup while Madoka ties her hair in GirlishPigtails, Junko is a night owl because of her job (and stress) while Madoka is an early riser. This part becomes important later in the anime, as [[spoiler:the Incubators]] target teenage girls because they are more gullible and emotional and overall less experienced than adult women.

** [[TheMovie The third movie of the film trilogy]] is a continuation of the story. WordOfGod has stated that it began as a plot for the second season that simply wasn't long enough for a TwelveEpisodeAnime. He also confirmed that [[http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2012-10-13/madoka-magica-story-will-not-end-in-3rd-film the story will not end with the 3rd movie, but he cannot personally predict how the story will unfold]]. A trailer for the third film is TheStinger for the second movie.

* SpellMyNameWithAnS:
** Runes in the last episode spell the anime's title as ''Puella Magi Madoka Magi'''k'''a''. (However, the original Latin adjective is indeed "Magica", so this isn't debated.)
** Kyubey can be Kyubey, Kyuubey, Kyuubei, Kyubei, Kyuubee, or even Cubé. [[spoiler:The fact this comes from "incubator" does not help.]]
** Kyouko versus Kyoko.

* RelationshipValues: Crosses over with TheMasqueradeWillKillYourDatingLife. A very good premise of the plot is the questioning of ''why'' Madoka wants to become a MagicalGirl, or why anyone would want to do so. Homura brings this topic up so much, it's almost her CatchPhrase whenever you see them together. [[spoiler:Kyoko]] and [[spoiler:Mami]] learned this the hard way, and suffered because of their misunderstanding.

** Episode 11. [[spoiler:Homura's]] battle against Walpurgisnacht. She unleashes a barrage of MoreDakka and MacrossMissileMassacre with military hardware, performing a SerialEscalation of ThereIsNoKillLikeOverkill in an attempt to destroy the witch. Just when it seems Walpurgisnacht is defeated, [[spoiler:the witch reveals all the attacks were a NoSell and IAmNotLeftHanded as a FlunkyBoss with MindOverMatter]].

** [[spoiler:Defied in Episode 11 with regards to Sayaka. Kyoko makes sure to take her body out of the witch's barrier and place it in a hotel for it to be found by a {{muggle}}.]]

** Episode 10. [[spoiler:The very first timeline was comparatively mild: Madoka and Mami defeat Walpurgisnacht and die in the process, without becoming witches. Homura wishes to redo it to save Madoka and with each attempt the endgames becomes worse and worse, down to Madoka becoming a super powerful witch and destroying the world.]] Episode 11 drills it in: [[spoiler:Homura was giving Madoka more power with each reset by creating alternate universes. Greater MagicalGirl translates into greater Witch power.]] In Episode 12, [[spoiler: Madoka has enough power to bring the whole universe to an end. However, Madoka turns this around into an inversion. Homura's time loops gave Madoka enough power to break the system and achieve a better conclusion than the original timeline.]]

* NoSell: During Homura's fights with Walpurgisnacht in episode 11, she launches a massive attack against the witch, utilizing a variety of weapons such as rockets, mines, and missiles. [[spoiler:It doesn't affect the witch, and Homura's attempts to stop or slow her down fail.]]

** First time - [[spoiler: She fires a single arrow into the sky which instantly blows away the black storm clouds caused by Walpurgisnacht and reveals a brilliant blue sky. The arrow then bursts into [[RainOfArrows an infinite number of arrows]] that shoot off in all directions. These arrows transcend space and time to save ''every single magical girl, past, present and future'', from their FateWorseThanDeath.]]
** Second time - [[spoiler: A galaxy-sized Madoka in what can only be described as her [[PhysicalGod goddess form]] fires thousands of arrows at a planet-sized witch -- the [[TimeyWimeyBall witch form of herself]] from the timeline that made the wish to save everyone, everywhere -- that is threatening to end the universe. ''[[ApocalypseWow Everything is blown away.]]'']]

* StockSoundEffects: Though not of the usual sort. If you've watched both series you'll notice this anime shares a lot of sound effects with LightNovel/{{Bakemonogatari}}.

* RuleOfSymbolism: Everything references Myth/{{Faust}}; ''everything''. [[spoiler: Thanks to the Gretchen symbolism with Madoka and Homura's desire to protect her, Homura may represent Faust. Since different interpretations of Faust include both redemption and doom, one could argue both Homura and Sayaka are Faust.]]
** The dream in the beginning and Sayakas arc are also full of freemason symbolism. The checker boards symbolize the life of person who have not fully understand the truth and are therefore destroying themselves. (Because of this, Sayaka in nearly all important plot points to her as well as in her death, stands on a checkered floor.) While the stairs Madoka climbs up before seeing the battle against Walpurgisnacht in her dream represent initiation/learning.

* SurrealHorror: The witch's labyrinths tend to use a [[ArtShift very strangely animated collage-like style]] that can often drift into this.

* ShoutOut:
** By saying that it would be a Creator/JohnWoo styled work if the Magical Girls are replaced by Cantonese men, the producer implies that this show is inspired by his movies.
** Episode 12: [[spoiler: Homura's wings]] is one to ''Literature/GoodOmens'' Death.
** Episode 12: [[spoiler:Madoka gives Homura her hair ribbons.]] This has been used as symbolic bonding between magical girls in ''Anime/MagicalGirlLyricalNanoha''.
** Another one in 12: [[spoiler:Madoka's speech as she tells off Kyubey for trying to renege out of fulfilling her wish ends with three sentences that are almost word-for-word from [[ThousandOrigamiCranes Sadako Sasaki's Memorial Statue]].]]
--->'''Madoka:''' [[spoiler:That's the only thing I want. It's what I wish for. Now grant my wish, Incubator!]]
** Episode 9: [[spoiler: When Kyubey explains the purpose of magical girls and witches, along with his real role in it to Madoka]], several chairs similar to those on which characters from Manga/{{Bokurano}} sit while piloting Zearth can be seen in her room. Even more of these chairs are added in certain locations throughout the series in the DVD version.
** Kyoko's first name calls back to another redhead with family issues (who showed up about a third of the way through the series). [[Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion What was her mother's name again?]]
** Episode 9: [[spoiler: Aspects of Kyoko's fight with Oktavia are reminiscent of ''Anime/RevolutionaryGirlUtena'', mainly the red and blue silhouettes of Kyoko and Sayaka melting together. Kyoko kissing her soul gem in a prayer position before her suicide attack is a more subtle one.]]
** Mami's association with guns and Italian [[spoiler: plus the fact that she became a magical girl directly after becoming an orphan]] is reminiscent of the protagonists of ''Manga/GunslingerGirl''.
** Episode 12: [[spoiler: Ultimate Madoka, aka Godoka/Madokami has a rather interesting similarity to the [[Anime/HeartcatchPrettyCure Mugen silhouette]] albeit ''more'' powerful. The similarities between the two are made obvious in [[https://raikou2.donmai.us/93/5c/__kaname_madoka_mugen_silhouette_and_ultimate_madoka_mahou_shoujo_madoka_magica_and_etc_drawn_by_sirills__935c44445a205cc473982fe2dc309ea9.jpg this fanart]].]]
** Episode 12 also gives one to ''WesternAnimation/{{Fantasia}}'' with [[spoiler: Kyosuke's music piece being "Ave Maria" - which the "Walpurgisnacht" sequence in ''Fantasia'' segued into.]]
** Homura's usage of her powers is reminiscent of a certain character able to stop time but more specifically during her battle against Walpurgisnacht she [[Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventure rams an exploding tank lorry into it during the time stop]].
** In Episode 9, Kyouko jams a spear in some graffiti that says ''[[Music/TheBeatles Love Me Do]]".
** It isn't the first [[Anime/OkusamaWaMahouShoujo unconventional magical girl series]] with a [[TaremeEyes tareme-eyed]], pink-haired protagonist, a [[RavenHairIvorySkin black-haired]], Meganekko sort-of friend with confusing allegiances, and a blue, [[BoyishShortHair short-haired]], {{Tomboy}} ActionGirl called Sayaka.
** You know these famous shots of Kyuubey where all you see are his eyes and the white skin of his face? This type of scene was actually [[PopculturalOsmosis famous first]] as being used for Kero in Manga/CardCaptorSakura.
** The plot of the first episode up until, as one fansubbing group puts it, "Madoka is attacked by the [[Manga/SayonaraZetsubouSensei SZS opening]]", is extremely similar to the first episode of ''Anime/MagicalGirlLyricalNanoha''. But then again, it ''is'' the same director and Nanoha's [[Creator/CristinaValenzuela English voice actress]] voiced Homura.
** If one was to compare the characters of Series/KamenRiderRyuki, they might be convinced that the [[WholePlotReference entire show is one huge reference to it]]. [[WMG/PuellaMagiMadokaMagica3 See here for more details.]]
** Mami's MacrossMissileMassacre looks like [[VisualNovel/FateStayNight Gates of Babylon]]. Also {{Justified|Trope}}, since the scriptwriter worked on ''LightNovel/FateZero''.
** Mami Tomoe as well as Kyoko Sakura shares their names with [[Anime/CreamyMamiTheMagicAngel three]] [[Franchise/SailorMoon protagonists]] [[Manga/CardcaptorSakura from]] famous MagicalGirl series. Coincidence?
*** Also, Mami's surname is probably a reference to [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tomoe_Gozen Tomoe Gozen]], a famous female samurai from the late twelfth century who supposedly fought in the Gempei War. [[spoiler:Doubles as an IronicName, since Gozen is also supposed to have ''survived'' that war.]][[note]]Interestingly, Gozen herself seems to appear later in the series, briefly, as one of the historical magical girls in Kyubey's flashback.[[/note]]
** A wall in the abandoned building in Episode 2 has graffiti of text lifted verbatim from the original German edition of ''Myth/{{Faust}}''. [[WhatDoYouMeanItsNotSymbolic Creepy]].
** The [[GuestStrip Guest Artwork]] at the end of Episode 2 features Lord Humungus from ''Film/MadMax2TheRoadWarrior''. [[BreadEggsMilkSquick Just because.]]
** Mami's [[spoiler:final]] battle with the witch in Episode 3 may look familiar, and ''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=brkbyYPd_RE this]] [[Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion is why]]''. Somehow this just makes it worse.
** The incredibly ominous ending animation has the mask of Mephistopheles, from the 1981 movie ''Film/{{Mephisto}}'' (which while decidedly non-supernatural, is itself a Myth/{{Faust}}ian story).
** The [[http://www.mangareader.net/mahou-shoujo-madoka-magica/5/4 cover]] of volume two of the manga is a homage to ''VisualNovel/SayaNoUta''.
** The fight between Sayaka and Kyoko in Episode 5 is reminiscent of Saber and Lancer's first fight in ''LightNovel/FateZero'', another of Urobuchi's works. Though the sword-wielder puts up a valiant effort, they lose the fight's advantage due to the spear-wielder's craftiness with their weapon, and are ultimately saved by a BigDamnHeroes moment from another fighter.
** [[spoiler: Sayaka's witch form]] is a knight-[[Literature/TheLittleMermaid mermaid]]. [[Creator/HansChristianAndersen Can you think of another story involving a young girl who trades her original body for the guy she loves only to lose him to someone else?]] [[DownerEnding The original does not end well.]]
** Elsa Maria, the witch from Episode 7, has some similarities with [[Manga/FullmetalAlchemist Pride.]] Seeing that both are carnivorous shadow monsters with a thing for CombatTentacles, the comparison aren't that off.
** In the OP while Madoka is reflecting on her adventures as a magical girl, Madoka is seen striking [[http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2586/4150853006_131e37c4b1.jpg three]] [[http://webspace.webring.com/people/hu/um_8743/pose.gif famous]] [[http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3262/2610354501_24aa0c2686_o.jpg poses]].
** One of the images in the OP appears to be Madoka [[{{Franchise/Dune}} controlling a sandworm-like creature.]]
** In the final episode, when Madoka [[spoiler:goes around purifying all of the magical girls who are about to die or become witches]], the way that she [[spoiler:appears in front of them and makes them fade away, taking them with her]] is awfully similar to the [[spoiler:Instrumentality sequence in [[Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion End Of Evangelion]] (Everybody Hugs and Turns Into Tang)]]. Similarly, [[spoiler:Madoka's wings when she takes out her witch are somewhat like Reilith's wings.]]
** Madoka picks a red ribbon over a yellow one in the first episode. Taking this as a reference to the yellow-ribboned LightNovel/HaruhiSuzumiya might seem like a stretch, until [[spoiler:Madoka becomes a nearly-omnipotent RealityWarper and attempts to recreate the entire universe...just like Haruhi]]. The red ribbon also achieves [[IconicOutfit similar iconic status]] when [[spoiler:Homura wears it]].
** [[spoiler:Homura's Fallen angel form's outfit in the end of the the third movie]] resembles [[Anime/PrincessTutu Princess Kraehe's]].
** Sayaka Miki's name is a reference to the main character's love interests in Creator/GoNagai's two biggest works, Sayaka Yumi from ''Anime/MazingerZ'' and Miki Makimura from ''Manga/DevilMan''.
** On [[https://youtu.be/G1B0LWSw3QU?t=27 Madoka's shelf]] lies a [[Franchise/SylvanianFamilies Freya Chocolate]] doll.

* OffModel:
** It's popular so it's [[http://wiki.puella-magi.net/Meduka_meguca a meme]] anyway. '''(Spoilers for the entire series!)'''
** Kyubey's face tends to look very ''off'' at times, which can either be creepy or funny. It's prevalent in the numerous close-ups of his face.

** Averted with Madoka's mother who is implied to be a big whig at some company.

* ShipTease: Despite conflicting tropes throughout this very wiki, it's more or less accepted in the 2020's that Homura and Madoka are meant to have a ship teasing feel to them and are of course very shippable. Supplementary content such as games tend to elevate their ship tease on occasion. It could similarly be said for Sayaka and Kyoko, especially with their well-known end-card.

* ShipTease: Despite conflicting tropes throughout this very wiki, it's more or less accepted in the 2020's that Homura and Madoka are meant to have a ship teasing feel to them and are otherwise very shippable. Supplementary content such as games tend to elevate their ship tease on occasion. It could similarly be said for Sayaka and Kyoko, especially with their well-known end-card.

* ShipSinking: In an interview, Gen Urobuchi sank fan-favorite ship Madoka x Homura, saying that Homura's feelings for Madoka were ultimately platonic rather than romantic.

** Mami's MacrossMissileMassacre looks like [[VisualNovel/FateStayNight Gates of Babylon]]. Also {{Justified|Trope}}, since the scriptwriter worked on ''[[LightNovel/FateZero Fate/Zero]]''.
** Mami Tomoe as well as Kyoko Sakura shares their names with [[Anime/MagicalAngelCreamyMami three]] [[Franchise/SailorMoon protagonists]] [[Manga/CardcaptorSakura from]] famous MagicalGirl series. Coincidence?