History PuellaMagiMadokaMagica / TropesNToS

** Episode 12 also gives one to ''Disney/{{Fantasia}}'' with [[spoiler: Kyosuke's music piece being "Ave Maria" - which the "Walpurgisnacht" sequence in ''Fantasia'' segued into.]]

** 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 [[http://www.gaycork.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=279&pictureid=2596 this fanart]].]]

* SerialEscalation: While the whole anime decides to do this from the get-go, a specific mention should go to the first Drama CD: [[http://wiki.puella-magi.net/Drama_CD_1 The wiki's page on it]] ([[CaptainObvious has spoilers]]) decides to explain that '''Episode 10 was ''light''''' when comparing the versions of Homura's DarkAndTroubledPast. This is extremely appalling after you have watched said episode and LighterAndSofter would be the ''last'' thing you would ever want to describe it, since it was ''[[DarkerAndEdgier one of the darkest ones in the entire series]].''

* PostModernism: The witch barriers include many references to both ''{{Faust}}'' with the runes and writing, and classical artwork. Meanwhile the plot bears many similarities and several {{Shout Out}}s to other anime such as ''Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion'', ''Anime/RevolutionaryGirlUtena'', and ''Manga/{{Bokurano}}''.

* RuleOfSymbolism: Everything references {{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.]]

** A wall in the abandoned building in Episode 2 has graffiti of text lifted verbatim from the original German edition of ''{{Faust}}''. [[WhatDoYouMeanItsNotSymbolic Creepy]].

** The incredibly ominous ending animation has the mask of Mephistopheles, from the 1981 movie ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mephisto_%281981_film%29 Mephisto]]'' (which while decidedly non-supernatural, is itself a {{Faust}}ian story).

** Sayaka [[KirkSummation disagrees]] and declares that [[KnightInShiningArmour she will continue to fight in her own way,]] set to [[CrowningMusicOfAwesome the series' main theme, "You Should Become A Magical Girl"]].

* RainOfArrows: In the final episode, [[spoiler:Madoka]] uses this twice, and [[CrowningMomentOfAwesome both were awesome rains of arrows indeed]]!

** [[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.* SerialEscalation: While the whole anime decides to do this from the get-go, a specific mention should go to the first Drama CD: [[http://wiki.puella-magi.net/Drama_CD_1 The wiki's page on it]] ([[CaptainObvious has spoilers]]) decides to explain that '''Episode 10 was ''light''''' when comparing the versions of Homura's DarkAndTroubledPast. This is extremely appalling after you have watched said episode and LighterAndSofter would be the ''last'' thing you would ever want to describe it, since it was ''[[DarkerAndEdgier one of the darkest ones in the entire series]].''

%%* SpiritualAntithesis: To ''KillLaKill''.

* RecurringExtra: Nakazawa-kun

* RegularCaller: In the form of Kyubey, who tries to get Sayaka and Madoka to make wishes every episode and in the [[ManipulativeBastard most pushy and manipulative manner possible]]. [[spoiler: He succeeds with Sayaka after waiting until the exact moment that her friend hit the DespairEventHorizon, to say nothing about what he did to get Mami to sign up.]] He finally succeeds in the latter [[spoiler: in Episode 12, but he was too clever by half. By explaining to Madoka the true story of the history of magical girls, he inspires her to perform a CosmicRetcon ... and she's powerful enough to ''force'' him to grant the wish, much to his [[OhCrap surprise]] -- this is the only time in the entire series that Kyubey expresses ''any'' emotion on more than a superficial level.]]

* PoorCommunicationKills: The ''series''. So, so much of the grief would've been averted if the girls had been willing to communicate thoroughly and objectively with one another. This is somewhat justified by some of the characters' past experiences, but not completely.

** Played with in regards to [[spoiler: Kyubey's countless clients over the ages, which include Joan of Arc and Cleopatra. Kyubey claims that without his Miracle Contracts, humankind would still 'be naked in caves' which implies the wishes were helpful for these woman. However, Kyubey's gender is ambigious if the Incubators have genders at all. Second, considering how helpful Kyubey is after the contract is made, his clients still did everything themselves. Third, if Kyubey is right that humans would still be cavemen if he hadn't made contracts with certain girls and women, it implies that the male half of humanity did absolutely nothing.]]

** [[spoiler:Kyubey grants Homura's wish to redo her meeting with Madoka and protect her instead of being the protectee. This means granting her time travel magic that can be used to learn his secrets and warn other magical girls.]]

** [[TheMovie The third movie of the film trilogy]] will be 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.* SerialEscalation: While the whole anime decides to do this from the get-go, a specific mention should go to the first Drama CD: [[http://wiki.puella-magi.net/Drama_CD_1 The wiki's page on it]] ([[CaptainObvious has spoilers]]) decides to explain that '''Episode 10 was ''light''''' when comparing the versions of Homura's DarkAndTroubledPast. This is extremely appalling after you have watched said episode and LighterAndSofter would be the ''last'' thing you would ever want to describe it, since it was ''[[DarkerAndEdgier one of the darkest ones in the entire series]].''

* NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast: [[spoiler: Walpurgisnacht (night of the witch), Kriemhild Gretchen, Incubator, i.e. one who incubates young witches.]]

* PsychologicalHorror: The city is cold and sterile. An unspeakable atmosphere of alienation and helplessness permeates it. The witches are [[YouCannotGraspTheTrueForm completely incomprehensible]]. Something about the supposedly-helpful mascot is very, ''very'' off. MagicalGirl [[XMeetsY meets]] ''TabletopGame/TheWorldOfDarkness''[[spoiler: namely, ''TabletopGame/ChangelingTheLost'']]; indeed.

** [[Anime/MagicalAngelCreamyMami Mami]] [[Franchise/SailorMoon Tomoe]] and Kyoko [[Manga/CardcaptorSakura Sakura]] have some very familiar names.

** [[spoiler: Madoka's appearance to the magical girls in the past is more than a little reminiscent of the [[Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion "Everyone gets turned into Tang"]] sequence.]]

* ShownTheirWork: In regards to [[spoiler:Homura's weapons]], which are not only real-life weapons but also are drawn properly to detail. [[spoiler:They even made sure to give Homura's Beretta [=M9=] exactly 15 shots, which is its capacity in real life.]]

** [[TheMovie The third movie of the film trilogy]] will be 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.
* SetRightWhatOnceWentWrong: [[spoiler: The nature of Homura's powers and goal, as of Episode 8. (Later expanded on, in Episode 10.) Over and over again, Homura repeats the month of the series to save Madoka from Kyubey and death.]]
* SerialEscalation: While the whole anime decides to do this from the get-go, a specific mention should go to the first Drama CD: [[http://wiki.puella-magi.net/Drama_CD_1 The wiki's page on it]] ([[CaptainObvious has spoilers]]) decides to explain that '''Episode 10 was ''light''''' when comparing the versions of Homura's DarkAndTroubledPast. This is extremely appalling after you have watched said episode and LighterAndSofter would be the ''last'' thing you would ever want to describe it, since it was ''[[DarkerAndEdgier one of the darkest ones in the entire series]].''

* NoOntologicalInertia: [[spoiler:Mami's bindings on Homura dissolve as soon as the former dies.]]

* SanitySlippage: [[spoiler:Poor, poor Sayaka...She losses sanity points by the episode until she finally becomes a witch.]]

** In regards to characters themselves: The cold ruthless TotalitarianUtilitarian Enlightened scientific [[spoiler:Incubators]] who will do [[PoweredByAForsakenChild anything]] to harvest energy and reverse entropy, versus Homura's equally ruthless Romanticist AntiHero-ism who will do anything for the sake of [[spoiler:protecting her beloved Madoka. Madoka provides a decision buffer between the two conflicting philosophies; she is disgusted upon both of them for their antiheroism, but also at the same time appreciates their intentions, knowing that Incubators try to prevent [[ApocalypseHow Heat Death]] and [[AncientAstronauts liberated mankind from the Stone Age]], while [[AlwaysSaveTheGirl Homura is doing her best to protect Madoka]].]]

%% Please put tropes for Rebellion on it's own page.

** [[spoiler: Homura's Fallen angel form's outfit in the end of the the third movie]] resembles [[Anime/PrincessTutu Princess Kraehe's]].

* SlidingScaleOfIdealismVersusCynicism: Pretty far on the cynical side; Kyoko gives a speech about how magical girls are best off when they live only for themselves and Sayaka, who takes the opposite viewpoint [[spoiler: is broken by her false(?) selflessness and becomes a witch]]. The finale moves things a bit closer to the idealistic side. [[spoiler:Madoka becomes a goddess and prevents any witches from ever existing or having existed... but now demons exist, and the magical girls still have to fight them. Things are now less horrible and magical girls are more inclined to work together but most characters are dealing with roughly the same problems as they were before.]]