Shortly After Madoka Magica Released (to Great Success), Everyone Started Trying To Make The Next Big

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.

INTRO TIME!

✿*⁠. Hello my name is WyFy-Meltdown aka Chiffon! I go by he/they pronouns (demi-boy). ✿*⁠.

My interests include Madoka Magica, Danganronpa, and other miscellaneous stuff (I mainly post about Madoka Magica though).

I primarily post analysises and occasionally reblog things that are cool. I do art sometimes, but I don't normally post art. This is a strictly SFW blog (aside from the occasional potential mention of violence and gore content) I am under the age of 18 (minor).

I'm always open to asks (anonymous and non anonymous), submissions, and interactions!

"WyFy's Meltdowns" is the text post tag

"WyFy's Mailbox" is the asks tag

"WyFy's Braindump" is the personal thoughts tag

"WyFy's Picturebook" is the art tag

@strawberry-seal77 IS THE ONE WHO DREW MY PROFILE PICTURE, SEND HIM/HER LOVE

I'll likely update this post with more relevant information later, but for now it'll remain pretty simple.

MUTUALIFICATION!

MADOKA MAGICA BRAINROTTERS, ASSEMBLE!

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)

Prompts list for Magical Girl May!

It dons the air of a noble swordsman to mask its envious nature.