History YMMV / PuellaMagiMadokaMagica

* HilariousInHindsight:
** Before the last two episodes were aired in Japan, one fan decided to make a trailer for a ''Madoka Magica'' movie in the style of an actual film trailer (watch it [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WvoDcG-7sWA here]]). Months later...
** One episode features Kyoko playing a ''VideoGame/DanceDanceRevolution''-like game, to the tune of an arrangement of "Connect", the opening theme. Several months later, ''VideoGame/DanceDanceRevolution X3'' was released, and it [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fGDlVuc6ETw features a cover of "Connect"]].
** There is a doujin involving Mami [[spoiler:saved from her gruesome death]] by [[Manga/{{Berserk}} Guts]] (it's in the Fan Fic Recommendations page). Cue the English dub cast, it's announced that Mami will be voiced by Creator/CarrieKeranen, [[{{Manga/Berserk}} Casca's]] voice actress.
** April 21, 2011: Episode 11 airs. [[spoiler:Homura, having previously stolen a few truckloads of Type 88 antiship missiles from the JGSDF, fires them off at Walpurgisnacht.]] April 21, 2011: [[spoiler: In RealLife, the JGSDF's 6th Surface-to-Ship Missile Regiment, which uses Type 88 missiles, is disbanded.]]
** This series has been compared to ''Series/KamenRiderRyuki''. Over a year later, ''Series/KamenRiderWizard'' was released, which was noted to have similarities to ''Madoka Magica''. The series after that, ''Series/KamenRiderGaim'', has Urobuchi himself as the main writer.
** There was a fan video featuring Homura in the protagonist's place during the first opening of ''Manga/TheWorldGodOnlyKnows.'' Cute on its own, but ''then'' the final arc of ''TWGOK'' comes along and it's all about [[spoiler:using MentalTimeTravel to create a StableTimeLoop and SetRightWhatOnceWentWrong]].
** One of the fantasies Madoka has about being a magical girl in the opening features her in a skimpy outfit, much to her horror. [[Anime/KillLaKill Another anime]] took this idea and ran like hell with it, and arguably serves as ''PMMM'''s SpiritualAntithesis.
*** Never mind the fact that the witch Patricia wears a {{red and black|AndEvilAllOver}} SailorFuku, which is the exact same outfit the protagonist of said anime wears.
** In the same vein, ''Magia Record'', the ''Madoka Magica'' spinoff game, features many magical girls with {{Stripperiffic}} outfits. Looks like Madoka got lucky with her outfit...
** It's hard to read the analogy between ''Madoka Magica'' and female sexuality in the [[Analysis/PuellaMagiMadokaMagica analysis page]] with a straight face if you've read a {{Rule34}} AlternateUniverse {{Doujinshi}} where instead of magical girls, the girls become literal prostitutes.
** Kyubey only uses girls for his magical girl contracts because he reasons boys just wouldn't be able to have the same emotional range necessary [[spoiler:for energy harvesting.]] Fast forward four years, and [[Anime/CuteHighEarthDefenseClubLove a series all about magical boys]] with just as much emotion as the girls proves him wrong.
** Homura and Kaworu from ''Anime/RebuildOfEvangelion'' are often compared together. The newly released ''[[GrandFinale 3.0 + 1.0]]'' gives us one more point of comparison: [[spoiler: Kaworu was in a GroundhogDayLoop trying to find Shinji happiness, just like Homura was for Madoka.]]

** [[spoiler:Goddess Madoka]].

* AcceptableTargets:
** As mentioned in [[http://homu-hameru.tumblr.com/post/74410036916/why-you-should-like-hitomi-shizuki this post]], Hitomi's anti-yuri attitude and possible homophobia is PlayedForLaughs.
** Justified for [[TheScrappy Kyousuke Kamijou]], as [[WordOfGod Urobuchi said]] that he's not a suitable boyfriend for either Sayaka or Hitomi.

** Part of the reason behind Kyosuke's hatedom in the West is because since the West is less inclined to view people with disabilities as burdens, Western viewers are more likely to think that he should get over himself and stop wallowing in self-pity over being unable to play the violin.

** Whether or not ''Puella Magi Madoka Magica'' can be considered a feminist series. Supporters of this idea argue that the series portrays the female characters in higher positions of power and autonomy [[note]]Such as Junko being the main supporter of her family, and Kyousuke, the only male character with any noticeable impact on the plot, pushed into the role of the LoveInterest that is typically reserved for girls.[[/note]] Those who don't believe this will bring up ValuesDissonance regarding Japanese vs. Western feminism, where "girl power" that MagicalGirl tropes tend to favor actually enforce gender roles, and point out that ''Madoka'''s intended demographic was an older male audience.

** A number of critical viewers have pointed out, in regards to the explanation that Kyubey contracts teenage girls because they are overly emotional--and thus have the most energy to harvest and exploit--that the show's crux(and the Magical Girl system in general) relies on the woefully tiring HystericalWoman stereotype. The inevitability of the witch process makes this even worse, as all it does is propel the notion that girls and women [[UnstablePoweredWoman are too weak-willed and capricious to handle power, and would only snap like twigs and succumb to their innate hysteria once it ultimately proves to be too much of a responsibility for them, wreaking havoc and suffering upon themselves and others.]] This is especially harrowing once you realize that MagicalGirl is supposed to [[FeministFantasy celebrate women with power]], not condemn it. And yet, despite the fact that Kyousuke is hospitalized, bedridden, and crippled, not to mention so consumed by grief and despair that (in the PSP games, at least) he attempts suicide, Kyubey never once approaches him with the prospect of becoming a Magical ''Boy''. Because apparently [[SarcasmMode only girls are susceptible enough to break and manipulate.]] Elaborated upon [[https://the-sun-is-up.dreamwidth.org/95051.html here]], [[https://ladyloveandjustice.tumblr.com/post/158563157552/i-cant-remember-if-youve-posted-about-this here]], and [[https://against.moe/madoka-the-profitability-of-lesbianism/ here]].

** Most anime fans tend to think that this was the one responsible for the whole "grimdark magical girl" trend, with other similar series such as ''LightNovel/MagicalGirlRaisingProject'' and ''Manga/MagicalGirlSite''. But before that, there have been other dark and serious magical girl series, such as the mentioned ''Cyber Team in Akihabara'', ''Anime/RevolutionaryGirlUtena'', ''Anime/ShamanicPrincess'', ''Anime/MajokkoMegChan'', ''Anime/PrincessTutu'', and ''Franchise/LyricalNanoha''.

*** [[spoiler:Is Oktavia von Seckendorf really as powerful as she seems, or is that just because Kyoko was reluctant to fight her at full strength, not wanting to kill her but revert her back to her normal self?]]

* AudienceAlienatingPremise: The series exploited this trope by starting off disguised as a mostly normal-looking cutesy MagicalGirl show, causing many people to stop watching it in disgust before the real, much darker premise took shape. But, of course, once everyone learned what the show was actually about, the trope got played straight, since some of the people who actually ''like'' cutesy magical-girl shows didn't have any interest in watching a brutally deconstructed version.

* ValuesDissonance: Kyosuke's depression over his inability to use his left hand is not just because he can no longer play the violin, but also because Japan is less supportive of the disabled than the West is, thereby causing him to see himself as a burden on society. Western fans, however, are more inclined to believe that he should [[QuitYourWhining quit his whining]] and find something he can do for a living within his limitations, and [[UnintentionallyUnsympathetic don't sympathize with him lashing out at Sayaka at the start of Episode 4]].

** As noted under FriendlyFandoms above, Homura and Kaworu from ''Anime/RebuildOfEvangelion'' are often compared together. The newly released ''[[GrandFinale 3.0 + 1.0]]'' gives us one more point of comparison: [[spoiler: Kaworu was in a GroundhogDayLoop trying to find Shinji happiness, just like Homura was for Madoka.]]

** Kyosuke, noted under TheScrappy, even people that don't hate usually don't think he comes off as sympathetic since a decent chunk of his screen time consists of him being a {{Jerkass}} toward Sayaka out of frustration over his injury. Realistic, yes, but people usually don't sympathize with somebody they don't see being remotely likable. Another common criticism is he could have at least told Sayaka he was leaving the hospital.

* ValuesDissonance: As mentioned under AlternativeCharacterInterpretation, Kyosuke's depression over his inability to use his left hand is not just because he can no longer play the violin, but also because Japan is less supportive of the disabled than the West is, thereby causing him to see himself as a burden on society. Western fans, however, are more inclined to believe that he should [[QuitYourWhining quit his whining]] and find something he can do for a living within his limitations, and [[UnintentionallyUnsympathetic don't sympathize with him lashing out at Sayaka at the start of Episode 4]].

* WhatDoYouMeanItsNotForLittleGirls: Hey, look at this show where the cast are all cute little girls who wear cute dresses and can do magic -- [[spoiler:did that girl's head just get ''eaten'' by that clown-caterpillar creature]]?! It gets worse from there.

* IdiotPlot: So much [[IncrediblyLamePun grief]] could have been avoided if the girls were more willing to talk things out with each other, and above all, ask questions. This is justified somewhat as the characters are mainly young teenage girls who are [[spoiler:selected and manipulated by Kyubey for the wide range between hope and despair, and actively manipulated against each other by him]].

** People pair Yuuna and Nagisa (aka [[spoiler: the magical girl Charlotte once was]]) as a ToyShip because both are the youngest magical girls associated with members of the main cast; they were adopted respectively by Kyoko and Mami. They are prevalent in fan works that ship Kyoko with Mami.* TheyChangedItNowItSucks:

* TheyChangedItNowItSucks:

* FauxSymbolism: [[SuspiciouslySpecificDenial There is no way that]] Homura could be [[spoiler:Myth/{{Faust}}]], Madoka couldn't possibly be [[spoiler:Gretchen]], and Kyubey representing [[spoiler:Mephistopheles/Satan]]? Patently absurd. There are outright quotes, and symbols referencing [[spoiler:Faust]].

** The movie version of [[spoiler:Mami's death scene]] will probably be narmy if you speak German, because the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-j38ZeqBJzA background music]] is [[OminousLatinChanting Ominous German Chanting]] that translates to [[TrademarkFavoriteFood "Cheese! Cheese! Where is the cheese?"]] (Bonus points for it being ''literally'' cheesy).

** Sayaka Miki was supposed to deconstruct or at very least criticize tropes like LoveMartyr, UnrequitedTragicMaiden, and PatientChildhoodLoveInterest, as well as the unrealistic concepts of love and romance they rely on. ''Even at the start of the series'', when she implies that she wants to be a Magical Girl and use her wish to heal her crush, [[IllBoy Kyosuke]], [[ArmorPiercingQuestion Mami immediately points out the self-interest behind such an intention]]. Fandom, however, embraced Sayaka as a straight-up example of the tropes she was created to "attack", and still believe Sayaka is {{entitled to have|you}} his affection [[spoiler:and that he and Hitomi is the ONLY reason for her FaceHeelTurn]].

*** All soul gems have been changed from hand-drawn to [[TwoDVisualsThreeDEffects CGI]]. While this fixes [[NotDrawnToScale the scaling problems]] the soul gems had all over the place in the first few episodes, it's... [[ExactlyWhatItSaysontheTin conspicuous]].

** Likewise, Sayaka is also drawn with slightly enlarged chest, but not in Mami's levels.
%%* SlidingScaleOfSocialSatisfaction: Categorized as "Knowledge is forbidden".%%Does not explain how it is an example. As explained on Administrivia/TypeLabelsAreNotExamples: One should never have to visit page B to understand a trope example on page A

* SelfFanservice: Mami is a frequent one because of her...well, assets.

* SlidingScaleOfSocialSatisfaction: Categorized as "Knowledge is forbidden".

** ''VisualNovel/HigurashiWhenTheyCry'', likely for several reasons, such as [[{{Moe}} adorable]] [[TastesLikeDiabetes character design]] combined with MoodWhiplash and NightmareFuel in many places. The parallel between [[spoiler:Rika/Frederica Bernkastel/Bernkastel]] and [[spoiler:Homura/Homulily/Devil Homura]] does not help.

** The promo materials made it look like the "adorable {{magical girl}}s have [[TastesLikeDiabetes cutesy, sugary, light-hearted adventures together]]" type of {{moe}}, but it turned out to be the "adorable {{magical girl}}s have [[BreakTheCutie terrible things happen to them]], cry a lot, and desperately need a hug" type of {{moe}}.

* DiagnosedByTheAudience: Alongside Homura's former heart condition, she shows a couple signs of being on the autism spectrum, such as her mostly unemotional face, monotone speech, and clumsiness before she made her contract.

* FridgeBrilliance / "Fridge Sadness": In the end, Homura didn't change Madoka's fate at all. Simply the circumstances. In the "original timeline" we saw that Madoka was already strong enough to take out Walpurgisnacht in a mutual kill effort. At least after Mami had softened the witch up a little, anyway. And in the end, both Madoka and Walpurgisnacht, as they are, still "die" together. It's just instead of a Witch being harvested and a Magical girl falling in battle, both are retconned into a large group of magical girls who at different points were taken away by the Magical Girl Goddess and said Goddess respectively. But in either case, Homura still has to face living in a future without Madoka the human in her life.

** Justified for [[TheScrappy Kyousuke Kamijou]], as [[WordOfGod Urobuchi said that he's not a suitable boyfriend for (either) Sayaka (or Hitomi).]]
* AlternateAesopInterpretation: Quite a lot arises from the conflicting themes of the show, from "hope triumphing over despair" to "think before you act" to "the road to hell is paved by good intentions" to other, more unfriendly ones. However, the whole series seems to at least go by the aesops of "hope and despair always balance out to zero" and "selfless intentions always have a degree of selfishness to them".

** The fandom and even ''Portable'' tend to exaggerate [[TheScrappy Hitomi and Kyousuke's]] flaws, making them out to be a BitchInSheepsClothing and BastardBoyfriend. In reality they're more [[UnwittingInstigatorOfDoom Unwitting Instigators Of Doom]]; while the surface-level social conflicts in their LoveTriangle are painful on their own, Hitomi and Kyousuke are completely unaware of the additional stress Sayaka feels due to magic's role in her corner of the triangle. But many people tend to ignore that in favor of their more soap opera-ish version.

*** [[spoiler:Was Kyoko's SuicideAttack the only way to take Oktavia out because she had gotten that powerful, or did Kyoko not want to live anymore after learning the AwfulTruth about magical girls?]]