A Deeper Interpretation Of Anime Series : Puella Magi Madoka Magica Part 1

So this won’t be a review of the anime but more to a semantic analysis of Madoka magika. I think this has been the 10th times I watch PMMM and still be amazed with every little detail that can be found inside of this anime. In general perspective Madoka Magica is an anime that created in contrary to the way Aristotles define tragedy. He define that tragedy as beneficial and important because even in suffering there is nobility and this what help people to feel better about their suffering because they find reasons to justify their suffering in a more acceptable way. While that Greek tragedy are created on the basis of showing the nobility of each downfall (and somehow PMMM also adopt this element) This series overthrow that claims and emphasize that sometimes tragedy is just tragedy and has no value whatsoever (of course that this is highly subjective to how you view the series and how it correlates with greek tragedy). Each of the fall down of character in Madoka take a raw portrayal of a suffering and despair and choose to show it the way it is (This is completely break down by rebellion arc and somehow by the last episode but we’ll get to that later). There are good reasons why much of my comparative won’t just stop in japan culture and even much more to greek tragedy later on. It simply because the creator of Madoka consciously or subconsciously make a lot of references to greek culture rather than its origin country. Simple example of this was the whole Sayaka arc. Every little detail of Sayaka arc is the textbook example of how greek tragedy start and end. Character have noble reasons and die (not always literal) and failing to protect that nobility. This won’t describe the entire minute of the series ( because this is not a literature thesis and I have deadline to complete it ) I am going to construct this analysis into a bigger picture of the series. I will start with a more in depth interpretation of overall of the anime and continued by character analysis (this will be done in some section, time frame and personal attributes and characteristic) next I will do a little review on the existing majo but I guess this one will be continue on my next article. Disclaimer this analysis contain a lot of spoiler of the series and also the movie. Continue at your own risk!.

so let's start!

Overall Analysis:

Madoka present its message not by direct view. It takes at least 2 times to watch Madoka to completely absorb the series and its hidden message and perspective. Honestly, if you watch Madoka for the first time (and if you are not used to anime or even odd style anime, much like monogatari style) Madoka won’t make much sense and even feel kinda cringe (all the Homura antic toward Madoka and how she usually behave feels kinda odd). This is because Madoka was that kinda series that built by on repeat style. When you watch Madoka for the second time you will understand what Homura mean in the first episode or when she and Madoka walk home together (remember when Madoka says how she won’t forget about mami and Homura just kind of flip up on it?) and you will catch a lot of different interpretation the more you watch this series as well. Madoka consist of 5 very different character’s point of view with one singular similarity: their despair. It divided by a lot of different timeline that Homura created. If we talk about value I guess the most obvious value even for foolish person to notice on Madoka is that; there is no escaping suffering. Yes Madoka is not supposed to teach you that you can’t escape destiny because Homura did escape it so many times ( she can escape the ending where Madoka are not dead) but even If you can escape your destiny you will always find suffering at the very end of it. If I were religious I would love this side so much (even if I am not I still am love this arc. And yet Madoka break it) why? Because this moral message is an easy adaptation of popular religion (organize or not organize) like Hinduism, Shinto and even Christianity. For so long these belief have (directly or indirectly) inserted this in their preaching. In the bible (if I am allowed to interpret it) human fall down to earth because it is their punishment and they will be punish by living a life full of suffering as the temptation. less organize religion like buddhism even make it as their whole concept of religion, that life is just a way to get away from suffering and even that is something that is less likely you can do. Madoka execute this principle in a more dramatic manner that everything is affected by third law of newton, every action will resulted into reaction. Every love that is spread out hate will raised too, every brave heart have cowardice side. The perfect example is of course the entire Homura arc but I’d like to describe this more in relation with each pairing inside of the series. MadoHomu have similar story with different end and receiving point this also goes for KyoSaya. Mami is different she has different standing point that the other girls. Funny story mami has quite similarity with charlotte, yes remember the candy obsessed majo that eat her? We will get to that in majo analysis later. The other general value that you could pick from Madoka is scary truth of survival (Sure it was exaggerated a little but that is the whole point of the Drama genre). We got a glimpse of how darwin’s theory play out in Madoka, “Survival of the Fittest” it teaches in a weird way that food chain’s does exist. The weak human that has no will turn into majo by cursed and the then was beaten and somehow eaten (not literally, basically their souls are used to cleanse Mahou Shoujo soul to survive) by stronger creature which is Mahou Shoujo. If you think about it even among those human who turn into majo there is a race that happened. People who are rich have higher social status and higher state in capitalist ladder will be far away from getting the ‘curse’. The curse itself describe as something that will attach to someone with low self-esteem and lots of negative energy. Of course this is not neglecting that the high up can’t feel depression and negative thought but their life give them more advantage to get away from it. And in the same way that their ability to survive drain more people ability to survive which make them far more easy to be the victim of the curse. The women in early episode, the office worker when Sayaka become magical girl for the first time are most of the time exist in lower position in capitalist ladder. This is validated by the next revelation. That Mahou Shoujo will turn into curse and become a consumable energy for the universe. Think about it, why should Mahou Shoujo ? let’s put aside all the cutesy fetish people have on young girls in Japanese anime culture. I think this is smart that they choose to make this anime about Mahou Shoujo and not just a magic or fantasy type of anime. this is because the social standing that female has in general but more importantly in japan. Girls are treated highly as sexual commodity (Speaking directly to all hentai and ecchi and harem anime out there that highly rely on girls stereotype). You see this is not an assumption 75 % of women in japan have been groped ( this is minus the other type of sexual assault that female has to suffer there like cat calling) this goes on and on with double standard that female has to suffer in that country. It is only understandable that female have more stressed level compare to male in japan and this can be a good fuel of power. Female have more wishes because they have less normal than male. The ability to walk home safely, to be promoted without having to choose to stay single and so on. So what is the correlation with the series? It validated that Mahou Shoujo are typically the most depressive to the very least comparatively with their other part (males). If we follow what kyubey said we will get a little bit a more simpler explanation to why it should be young girls. These two value for me are the values that get most highlight. Of course there is other part of value that exist in Madoka. The idealism, handling PTSD, and so on. But I would like to describe them further in character analysis. This is because that the other part of the message are not universally felt by all character and I want to give a more personal highlight to them.

Character Analysis

1. Kaname Madoka

There are 5 transformation stages of each character in Madoka magica (minus Homura because she completed the last stage in rebellion) I named it : The repressed phase, The temptation phase, The euphoric phase, The Desperation phase and last The resolution (yes mami also have all of this phase on and off screen. Little bit going to quote information from magia record).

So we have Madoka the main heroine of this series, the white side of the love coin ( of course Homura is the darker side no matter how much I love Homura). She start of as a plain and quite annoying main character with no real persona and somehow weird obsession to become Mahou Shoujo. But does it really that surprising that Madoka has this side? The answer is no. Madoka from the very first episode is always wants to be Mahou Shoujo. It doesn’t matter what happened or might happened. It doesn’t matter who will be sacrifice. She was born to be one for one simple reasons: she is too ordinary. She kinda remind me of mangetsu from granbelm or rather mangetsu is the one that is inspired by Madoka (or maybe just a coincidence?) looking at how PMMM is the precedence to this series. Both of this character has very little ability to enjoy their life because they are no one. What?? But Madoka was always a happy child. Yes she is but here’s something you need to know about her.

First let’s talk about her repressed phase. First episode start of in Madoka’s house. We are presented with the daily lifestyle of kaname household. A simple and normal family. One of the most notable scene from this episode is when Madoka and her mom getting prepared. She was presented with two option of ribbon and ask her mother to pick that for her. This scene right there could easily be the first clue of Madoka indecisiveness. My very first thought with this is two. First, Madoka is the kind of character that rely highly on other people standard and opinions (this might explains her lack of motive in life and constantly adopting other people’s as her motive) second Madoka is raised to be a passive child. I like the second claims. Why? Because it was validated by her next statement when her mom has choose the ribbon “isn’t this too flashy?” this seems like a normal conversations but what interesting is the fact that she has a specific opinion about the ribbon being too flashy instead of asking if it is suitable for her fit with her look. Her verbal language can indicates that first Madoka do have her own perspective of what she wants to wear but choose to not express it or second Madoka has some level of anxiety in being exposed. The color red indicates a bold and a more brave personality (much like Kyoko) while yellow give a more subtle look but still express positive images something that Madoka always try to show in her early character phase. Both of this claims more or less can describe the early progress of Madoka. I assume that Madoka is the kind of person wants to explore and be special but choose not to as a way to refrain a complicated situations that may involve her love one. This can be seen in her conversation with Homura in many of their encounter whenever that Homura asked her if her family and friends important or not (this will be reveal in rebellion I guess but Madoka always have big conflicting priority between these two things. Her own ideal or other people’s) . if we take a look at freud theory of id and ego we can assume that the persona where Madoka act as a normal persona is her way to repressed her desire. The pleasure of saving other and being a superior being is something that Madoka idealize. She is selfish in different way than Homura of course. Now the temptation phase, for me this phase kinda overlap with the first phase in Madoka case (in the series universe) her temptation is Homura (not in a gay sense, although many interpretation can exist) but more in a way that Homura is something that she wants to be (she has similar ideal with mami too and I assume the reasons she become Mahou Shoujo in first universe also highly influence by mami existence as her idol) Madoka idealization is different than Sayaka’s idealization.The other side of temptation is fear. Which in here something that each character doesn’t have or afraid on losing. Madoka doesn’t have the ability to be as good as Homura, as wise as mami, as passionate as Kyoko and as loyal as Sayaka. She is just a common girl that has small circle of friend who seems special. This is an unhealthy envy that Madoka has especially if you know that she fully understand thet her friend special condition wasn’t created in a good basis. Sure that this could also be seen as her being heroic but the truly dominant emotion is her own insecurity of being ordinary. A lot of scene can support this claim. Many of the event where she wants to make wishes can have alternate solution. Remember that one time where she wants to be Mahou Shoujo for a cake? Or that one time where Sayaka and Kyoko fight, or that other time where Homura fight walpurgisnacth. Yes many will say that she was manipulated by kyubey but we all know that Madoka wasn’t that stupid. The fact that kyubey still persist on making her Mahou Shoujo wasn’t only because she is strong but because it is possible (remember kyubey operate with logic and it has calculate Madoka personality), the reasons why Homura keep failing isn’t only because Homura is weak but because Madoka act on her free will, on the basis of her desire to be a Mahou Shoujo and no amount of time cycle can change that. The third phase, the euphoric. There are reasons why I call this phase as euphoric and not as happy or any other hype emotion human can feel. Euphoric has consequences it was an emotion that is blinding and overwhelming. Euphoric generate false emotion of content where you believe that life could not go any higher or lower than that. In Madoka the third phase are ironic that I want to laugh while writing this. Madoka euphoric phase can be seen when she make a wish to save all Mahou Shoujo and becomes Godoka. She was in her higher when she make this wish and become the new law of cycle. But as what I have describe euphoria generate illusion and this illusion make Madoka fail to notice the most important part that kyubey has explained since episode 10. That majo are important to maintain the universe. What Madoka did was saving human and in our moral perspective it was the right thing to do. But on the other hand it wasn’t all good too because without majo the entrophy will have to seek another available energy if available. Sure that Madoka create maju in return but maju has very little energy as majo this is also something that’s describe by kyubey in last episode that the current existing energy wasn’t as effective as what Homura described. Madoka euphoric is something that not only Madoka face but the consequences also going to be felt by other human too. The fourth phase the desperation. Now this is not describe in the series universe because we didn’t get to see Madoka reaction when her wish consequences so instead we have to imagine it a little bit. Her consequences generate the fall down of universe simply because when there is no energy the universe have to eat its own part. That is the power of entrophy. How do I know that the world has end? First you can see it from the last part of episode 12 where Homura has to fight a lot of maju by herself in a place that is scattered. First that is clearly mitakihara city (Homura never leave mitakihara city, look in rebellion. But also it is similar with mitakihara real condition after Homura wake up from her despair state) this could only mean that mitakihara city has been wiped out. I like to believe that maju is not something that Madoka created but rather a little part of entrophy itself. Under Madoka wish evil creature that may harm human won’t likely exist but the only other thing that can outlaw Madoka is another existing principle that doesn’t bind by her law. This could perfectly fit the entrophy theory as an independent entity that exist outside of Madoka power. The possibility of the world end also get clearer because if maju really is a creature that entrophy create that means that maju is not a form of energy but a time ticking bomb for the universe to end. The next reasons why I believe the world is ending is because at the end of the series only Homura exist. What does it means? It means that the entire Mahou Shoujo or even human has die and only Homura survived. Homura is not binded by Madoka power because her time controlling power. She wasn’t part of the universe which is why she wasn’t really affected by it but of course this claim is very weak. Why? Because godoka power exceed time frame (you see when she saved joan of arc, Cleopatra and other historical female figure) the easiet answer that I could think of is that Homura power allow her to be part of all Madoka time frame. Which allow her to still remember Madoka because she can exist on Madoka dimension. Now this will make sense if you know that time is 4th dimensional. If you can control time that also means you can enter any time frame that you want including the one that is kept away (Madoka power is much stronger which is why Homura vision is also vague) because Homura doesn’t remember Madoka but she knows that Madoka exist. (yes I get carried away and talk about Homura.) so this conditions I describe as Madoka desperation phase (idk if she truly care or not.) since even her can’t do anything about it. but I guess that Madoka desperation phase was clearer in the other time frame Homura created, because for Madoka the most painful thing is to lost her ability to exist and feel useful. This was seen in many opportunity like when she fight against walpurgisnacht and turn into majo. Not the resolutioion phase, this is a little bit tricky because Madoka resolution phase was stoped by Homura’s. why is that? In rebellion where she will take Homura with her that is her resolution phase to finally be content with her condition and settle down her leftover issue. Homura as the bestfriend that Madoka left behind and the only Mahou Shoujo suffering from soul gen in the world will be the close book of Madoka arc but as you see Madoka can’t fully finish her resolution because Homura stand against her wish.

Now let’s describe Madoka character in a more descriptive manner. Madoka is a representation of a heroic figure. This was manifested into her Mahou Shoujo form. Madoka Mahou Shoujo form consist of a frilly type of dress with pink color and magic bow as her weapon. This wasn’t just imitation of the other classic Mahou Shoujo heroine but there are symbolic interpretation behind it. a frilly clothes define her personality as a reserved and feminine girl (if I want to read to much into it I guess we can also trace back her style of clothing as a representation of Madoka nobility to be a hero as how frill used to represent aristocrat in Victorian era). The pink color that identic with Madoka highlight its feminity. And her weapon describe a heroic figure it shows a powerful symbolism as a friend of the truth which what Madoka use to associate with. But in contrast actually bow and arrow can also represent consequences. In greek mythology arrows were used to describe an action that cannot be altered which could also perfectly describe Madoka wish in the series (exclude rebellion )

2. Akemi Homura

My favorite character on the series (I will try to not be biased in assessing Homura) there is only one reason why I love Homura (Which after I repeat the series and understand Sayaka she is my second favorite easily) the reason is that she is the tragedy itself. The thing about tragedy is that even though you know it’s sad you still root for it. because you know that it was for the best. Homura make me believe that there are nobility in suffering (Sayaka prove me otherwise). The more Homura repeat time and failed the more I root for her. Homura was a shy and timid girl but after repeating time for almost 20 years she turns into cold hearted person. But even then she still value Madoka (and don’t forget she actually do care to the character in the series universe just not as much as she adore and value Madoka). Some people don’t understand why Homura can be so obsessed with Madoka. But I do and I will tell you too why akemi Homura turn to be the way she is. Homura phase doesn’t start at the very start of the episode instead it start on episode 11 where we see the very first universe for the very first time. In this stages you can see Homura as a timid, shy even to the extent of socially anxious (she can’t introduce herself properly in front of the classroom, and some of her body languages like touching her hand constantly or looking on the floor when talking). Why this could exist? I am guessing there are 2 possible conditions. When Homura was hospitalize you could see she was all alone. My assumption first assumption is that she doesn’t have any family anymore and left all alone in the hospital (I guess this lack proof and therefore become a less likely options) or second of all this was a methaphorical condition of how no one really care to Homura and which also why she has such low self-esteem as well. Homura is a girl with no purpose in life which is why she can easily be the victim of majo. Her physical appearances also describe several stereotype that exist in anime world a black hair girl with thick glasses usually indicates a more introverted girl that lack social circle and more or less have public fear.

In temptation phase Homura and Madoka play out to be quite similar but end up with different process and have different background. Both of them are the polar opposite that work like a magnet. Homura temptation was Madoka herself. But unlike Madoka who wants to be like cool Homura, what Homura really wanted is to be with Madoka. Homura life was a mess and dark. She felt alone and useless which in her opinion eventually people will leave her, this is describe in Homura arc in episode 11 when she walks alone after school in the first universe. It doesn’t matter even if people show interest to her at school she still feel that they will not like her. This is probably derive from Homura long abandonment issue (if my theory of how her family are distant with her are true). This is why when she was saved by Madoka and mami her desire awaken. Homura temptation isn’t just about gratitude because if it was she should feel the same amount of emotion with mami which she doesn’t. the way I see it is that Homura want to have someone who are like her in a but also not like her. Madoka is similar with Homura in terms of personal struggle. Not being able to accept her own condition and struggling to be able to be someone better. Homura at some level also wish she wasn’t a weak useless kid who can’t do anything right. But the polar opposite of her behavior is Madoka has strong will. Which is something that Homura at first love, respect and appreciate(later on this trait of Madoka is the reason she can’t fulfill her promised.). being with Madoka make Homura feel needed because for someone like Madoka a side kick role is necessary. Somehone that can understand Madoka and will side with her when she was down but more importantly someone to protect. But Homura unlike the other character wasn’t really affected in temptation phase. Because, for Homura this phase run for a longer time. The temptation end in the death of Madoka. The loss of Madoka is the trigger of Homura to be Mahou Shoujo. And notice Homura wish. It wasn’t to save Madoka, it was so she could save Madoka. You see Homura can easily save Madoka if she truly wanted but her very first desire in the first time frame is to be with Madoka (This later change after desperation phase). Now the euphoric phase, I smile as a write this because Homura only feel euphoric phase for a very short amount of time in comparative with the other phase she will suffer with. Her euphoric phase start in the several time frame she created. The timeline in which, she start to be more ‘useful’ to Madoka. Homura selfishness rely on her obsession to be someone special to Madoka (Fun fact this could because Homura is an introvert and care more with her inner circle compare to an extrovert like Madoka who want to make bigger impact and contribution). Look how happy she is when she learn how to hit the barrel or when she was able to kill her first majo with mami and Madoka. This is Homura deepest wish.

In the phase of desperation. This is hard to describe because it’s so painful. For Homura desperation phase go on even until rebellion (well she and Madoka competing to complete their resolution phase) Because, she can’t have resolution if Madoka got her resolution and vice versa. For Homura desperation come step by step (similar with Sayaka but in a longer and with a more massive number of it). Her first gate to desperation when she start to learn the truth about Mahou Shoujo from each of her time frame. Each looping of time and each new information she know make her more and more frustrated. Well psychologically speaking frustration could be described as a form of disappointment or annoyance to a resistance in pursuing a goal. This happened when your access to that particular goal’s denied and blocked.

Homura wish to safe Madoka and be with her but she can’t do it. because, each time she repeat time one of them have to die or become a majo. And both scenario means she can’t be with Madoka. The second peak of her desperation added when Madoka make her promieses something (you know what it is). This is the turning point of how Homura dedicate all her life to make this come true. The thing about Homura arc is that it describe something that is particularly interesting for me. It describes a severe abandonment issue. In psychology this issues arise from a childhood trauma. And somehow Madoka made it worse. She grows more attach to Madoka that she become the only thing that matter. Eventually, over clouding her purposes. She is obsessed with fulfilling Madoka wish (Don’t get it wrong she still try to win and stay with Madoka, a simple example of this is when she try to recruit Kyoko to help her. But with each loop she become more and more hopeless and faithless. Homura become a colder version of her past self because she was numb by looking at the end of a tragedy her friend has to face in each time frame (Remember that Homura repeat it for almost 20 years in total). This desperation is something that Homura barely can hold. You can see her mental breakdown in some of the scene (remember when she finally show her feeling to Madoka. When Homura witness every single attempt of Madoka to become a Mahou Shoujo). The peak of the desperation is when Homura see Madoka yet again choose to become a Mahou Shoujo. Even after Homura decided to sacrifice herself to fulfill her promise with Madoka. You can see her screaming and lying on the ground. Her plead was so sad. It was ful of desperation. This is happened because before this scene Homura has realized that she isn’t strong enough carry the burden and yet again the ironic scene play out where Homura become someone that Madoka saved. So why hasn’t Homura end the desperation phase yet? Because she still hold on with one single hope that there is something important that she need to protect out there (She can’t exactly remember Madoka). Now, I know I have explain to you in Madoka part as to why Homura somehow has the capability to be freed from the law of cycle but I need to explain what might motivate this power to exist. Homura even till the end of the scene where she and Madoka talk about the universe never even once admitted and accepted with Madoka decision. To Homura Madoka’s decision is cruel. Too cruel for her to handle the burden and too cruel for Madoka. You see in any universe that existed Homura will always consider what might be good for Madoka rather than what Madoka really want. Being the law of cycle means that Madoka will never be able to contact or interact with anyone ever. So why does this is such a big deal. This can be explained in Homura’s resolution phase in rebellion. Okay so we are reset to see Homura in her first time frame personality. This is exit due to her own memory manipulation. In this world she can truly express her euphoria Where everyone were there and Madoka is her friend. All run well until Homura start to realize that there are something fishy with the situation.

First she find out that the world created doesn’t exist and only a majo façade she created (Honestly homulily is awesome), second she has confirmed that what Madoka truly wish for (or so she assume).understand that Homura deep dark desire it to be the one who protect Madoka, it only understandable that she doesn’t want anything nad to happened to her. The existence of Madoka in her labyrinth can be a dangerous flaw where incubator might utilize her someday by doing experiments on Madoka. In this scene actually a way to say goodbye to each other. Where Homura finally admitted to her weakness and accept Madoka as a whole. BUT! This was her plan all along. What she really want to do was to capture Madoka and trap her inside of her labyrinth for good. Remember the conversation in flower garden? This scene reconfirmed Homura assumption that Madoka is actually suffering by being the law of cycle. What she did was merely to grant Madoka a life that Madoka will never choose by herself by becoming a anti value to Madoka. Why this is a resolution, Homura resolution wasn’t to not feel suffering but to finally grant Madoka’s wish to not be a Mahou Shoujo and also to be able to be near her as her protector. Her final decision to take control was something predictable knowing Homura identity and personality.

Homura is rather a simple character there is no specific meaning of her way of dressing (unlike Kyoko and Sayaka that have more symbolism theory). Her Mahou Shoujo dressed are made with a dark gray (more like a black color) with a plain design. Much like Homura the color of her form represent her wish, emotion and somehow how people perceive her. Homura is one of the most grieving character in Madoka. The color black represent her sadness over Madoka death in the first timeframe. But, not only that black color also show Homura personality as a mysterious and highly misunderstood character especially Sayaka (these two does not have good relationship no matter in which universe).

I will continue Sayaka, Kyoko and Mami on part 2 of the analysis. i hope that this analysis could help you to understand Madoka Magica in a new perspective. #animereview #Anime #Otakulife