Unlike Other Magical Girls, Nagisa's Magical Girl Outfit Is Super Casual And Cute (to The Point It's

Unlike other magical girls, Nagisa's magical girl outfit is super casual and cute (to the point it's hardly even a magical girl costume). It feels like such a perfect representation of her; like she's wearing fun clothes she normally can't.

Shortly after Madoka Magica released (to great success), everyone started trying to make the next big "magical girl misery" anime. I think the reason those ones didn't really take off is because they missed the point of Madoka: the love of others and self-sacrifice is center stage, and we only really feel bad for the characters of Madoka Magica because we see them happy.

Madoka Magica isn't just a misery fest; Mami's death matters because we understand Mami's dreams and struggles, Sayaka becoming Oktavia is impactful because we see her downfall that isn't her fault (or anyone's for that matter). Madoka (and to a secondary extent, Homura) never give up hope or trying.

Madoka isn't constantly victimised and abused (unlike some over-the-top edgy magical girl animes I know) she's in tragic circumstances and still tries her best; still WANTS the best for the world around her.

Making something sad isn't about how much we see a character suffer and struggle; it's about making the struggles and suffering they go through impactful through their story. Wants, relationships, traits, and flaws... That's what makes a character's pain painful for an audience.

OH MY GOD THE PARALLELS!!!

Thank you so much for adding onto my Mami-Gertrud stuff and adding in the Sayaka-Elsa Maria stuff!

Elsa Maria's probably my favourite witch, so I feel like a fool for not recognising the parallels between her and Sayaka earlier!

I always thought there were probably some similarities between Sayaka and Elsa Maria: but you explained the "self-proclaimed hand of righteousness" very well!

Something I find really neat and subtle amoung Madoka Magica's (many) foreshadowing and narrative contrast-y moments is Mami's fight against Gertrud.

Gertrud has a strong flower and butterfly motif, and Mami's soul gem is shaped like a flower (and maybe a stretch but in one of Mami's transformations she does an action that resembles a butterfly emerging from its chrysalis).

I think there's some parallels between the two that make Gertrud a surprisingly clever and well designed first enemy. (But perhaps I'm stuck in Mami fan mode, and just see Mami in everything)

When it comes to Homura's obsession with Madoka it's obviously romantic, but I feel like there's some jealousy there too.

At the end of Rebellion, Homura is the class president and Madoka is the transfer student; the inverse of their original "roles".

Homura idolises and worships Madoka (even pre-Madokami); everything Homura does is motivated by Madoka. All because Madoka was the first one to connect with Homura when she needed it. The only way I can really describe how I interpret it is like the way a child wants to be a superhero after watching a movie.

Seeing Madoka as a magical girl fighting witches, defending Homura, and most of all being kind to Homura; Homura wants to defend herself and Madoka too. She wants to be the "Madoka" to a "Pre-Wish Homura" Madoka.

This is so lovely and exemplifies the feelings of loneliness Mami must feel.

Abandoned by Kyoko (who later forms an "eternal bond" with Sayaka), and abandoned by Madoka ("stolen away" by Homura).

Mami is the only character who truly doesn't have anyone. Of course, she somewhat has Bebe, but Bebe can't truly fill Mami's emotional needs.

you're fine alone

Nagisa living long enough to form bonds with other magical girls presents two wildly different AUs:

1. She meets Mami and the two help eachother through their mutual issues (fluff-fix-it-fic style)

2. She's mentored by Yuu and becomes an assassin who gets you with the bubble blower and puts a slice of cheese on your corpse (fix-it-fic but alot less fluff)