Shaft/Akiyuki Shinbo

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Formed in 1975, Shaft didn’t really start making a name for themselves as original anime creators until they came out with the popular 12-episode anime series Puella Magi Madoka Magica in early 2011. In spite of its looks, Madoka Magica is definitely not for kids, but is a uniquely compelling series for mature audiences.

Akiyuki Shinbo

Puella Magi Madoka Magica the Movie Part I: Beginnings  (2012)
Gekijōban Mahō Shōjo Madoka Magika Hajimari no Monogatari
(劇場版 魔法少女まどか☆マギカ 始まりの物語)
(lit. “Puella Magi Madoka Magica The Beginning Story”)

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Clocking in at 130 minutes long, the first Madoka Magica movie is certainly on the lengthy side, but with the series’ first 8 episodes to summarize the plot advances at a good clip.  Having not seen the series, I went into the movie’s limited North American theatrical release not knowing what to expect aside from a darker twist on the Sailor Moon-like magical girl genre. Little could have prepared me for what Madoka Magica had in store. A unique anime in many ways, Madoka Magica Beginnings starts off predictably saccharine, but very quickly starts unrelentingly throwing out shocking plot twists and dramatic animation style changes. There were no less than four times during the movie when I had to just stare in disbelief and say “wtf” at the shocking turn of events. The increasingly complex narrative essentially follows a girl named Madoka Kaname as she and her friend are approached by a mysterious cat-like creature named Kyubey who promises to grant them any wish they desire in exchange for becoming magical girls who fight witches that are invisible to the average person. The cost of making a contract with Kyubey is far greater than either of them could ever have imagined, and they learn this both through their own experiences and those of other magical girls in the city. Being very true to its source material, there will be nothing astounding in Madoka Magica Beginnings for those who have already seen the series aside from some nicely improved visuals. Whether you’re already a Madoka Magica fan or not, though, the first movie is an excellent and intriguing production that comes highly recommended.

Puella Magi Madoka Magica the Movie Part II: Eternal  (2012)
Gekijōban Mahō Shōjo Madoka Magika Eien no Monogatari
(劇場版 魔法少女まどか☆マギカ 永遠の物語)
(lit. “Puella Magi Madoka Magica The Everlasting Stor

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Madoka Magica Part II falls short of the greatness of its predecessor even though it is required viewing for anyone who has seen Part I. With only four episodes left to summarize, content is spread a bit thin and is oddly padded on a couple occasions like when the movie unceremoniously breaks from the narrative to run a seemingly meaningless anime opening-like interlude. Part II more or less wraps everything up nicely, just as the anime series did, which is rare for anime of this level of gravitas and certainly appreciated, but at almost a full half-hour shorter than Part I it makes you wonder if they couldn’t have split the series’ content more evenly between the first two movies. Madoka Magica Part II, in a manner that takes a good deal longer than it should to grasp, fully explains Homura Akemi’s mysterious origins and leads into just how the magical girls manage to take on the powerful witch Walpurgisnacht. Certainly a lot more “out there” than the superb Part I, Madoka Magica Part II does its job of tying the series’ original story neatly up while setting the stage for the much anticipated original Part III that opened in Japanese theatres at the end of 2013. You should definitely watch this once you’ve seen Part I but taken as a movie on its own, its merits are unfortunately fewer than its outstanding predecessor’s.

NOTE: Puella Magi Madoka Magica the Movie Part III: Rebellion is a divisive movie. It is considered by many to be a giant middle finger from Shinbo to fans of the series and is purposely excluded from this guide. Enjoy the first two for what they are and watch the third at your own peril.