Puella Magi Madoka ☆ Magica
May. 15th, 2011 10:01 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
pacificpikachuAhhhh just finished Puella Magi Madoka Magica! So good! ;~~~; I'm glad I watched it, it was a wonderful series.
I thought this series was very well-done and emotional. The ending was just fantastic! Bittersweet, and I'm embarrassed to say I probably didn't comprehend all of the detailsthat will come with inevitable future rewatches...maybe?, but it was beautiful nonetheless.
Part of me wished Madoka could have been on the new world, though, but just as an ordinary girl with no memory of anything... Actually, I was hoping in the new universe they would all just be ordinary girls and be together with no memory of anything aside from Homura, but, ah, this was great, too. It wouldn't have felt like she sacrificed much for everyone if it had been that way, I suppose, and make everything almost seem meaningless, in a way. But it's hard not to wish that Madoka and Homura could ultimately be together in a more traditional sense of the word. Homura's dedication to Madoka was so moving!
It was nice to see a second magical girl series that manages to weave a great story, be genuine and emotional, and artistic. (The first being Princess Tutu, of course.) Granted, I haven't seen many magical girl series, but the little bits I've seen of older ones...well. They were a bit vapid. XD Might be me misjudging, though, and then again I like dark and sad stories, and ones with complex morality.
I thought the way the witches and the space they create were made was beautiful and unique! It was like someone got carried away with Photoshop, but I don't mean that in a bad way, haha. It melded surprisingly well with the more traditionally animated characters. I liked the character animation as well, though--the lines in the eyes and way the characters were outlined was interesting, and pretty.
I think overall that this is one of the best 13-14 episode or under series I've seen with a continuous storyline (along with Haruhi's first series and Haibane Renmei and a few others). In the short time it had, it got you involved in the characters and told a full-circle story... A lot of thirteen-ish episode series seem to set up well and establish themselves, and then fizzle out or feel incomplete because I think it's hard to tell a full story in that short amount of time... The direction has to be tight and not allow for much "dead time," but at the same time not too overwhelming or skimp on connecting the viewers with the characters. I felt like the pacing on this series was extremely well-done because of this.
I think it's arguable that the plot doesn't make as much sense as it could, or perhaps that it's just a tad convoluted or contrived in some ways, but considering how well-executed the series is overall, I feel like that's a fairly minor complaint. I'm just the sort of person who can forgive some nonsense or contrived aspects for the sake of a good story that gets me emotionally, haha, others might not be the same way.
I wanted to throttle Kyuubei every time it was around, hahaha. I have never been so annoyed by a mascot! Granted, of course Kyuubei's role is not really that of a mascot although that's sort of the role it takes via character design. No way I want a plush or cosplay of this mascot!
Overall, I thought this series' strength was in weaving together a story that combined magical girl elements with something a lot darker and deeper, and still keep artistic integrity, and that the morality of the series was rather complex. I liked that we were constantly kept second guessing what the right thing is, who is making the right choices, and so on. There were so many shades of grey it almost made my head spin, but I like that.
Anyway, a very enjoyable watch, and a great way to spend this Sunday.
I have Summer Wars downloaded and plan to watch that, the first Macross Frontier movie because I still haven't seen it, I also have both Gunbuster and Diebuster downloaded because I love GAINAX and haven't seen them, and I may rewatch Durarara!! before Fanime because I don't remember it very well and I'm not even 100% sure I even finished it.
Are there any other anime series, currently airing, from the last few seasons, or otherwise, that I should definitely watch before Fanime, otherwise I'm TOTALLY MISSING OUT? Only things that are really worthwhile because Fanime is less than two busy weeks away and I'll have plenty of time for lower-priority series before Anime Expo, but I'd love maybe just a couple more series to watch that are great series or movies and will enhance my geekiness and anime appreciation even more. XD
I thought this series was very well-done and emotional. The ending was just fantastic! Bittersweet, and I'm embarrassed to say I probably didn't comprehend all of the details
Part of me wished Madoka could have been on the new world, though, but just as an ordinary girl with no memory of anything... Actually, I was hoping in the new universe they would all just be ordinary girls and be together with no memory of anything aside from Homura, but, ah, this was great, too. It wouldn't have felt like she sacrificed much for everyone if it had been that way, I suppose, and make everything almost seem meaningless, in a way. But it's hard not to wish that Madoka and Homura could ultimately be together in a more traditional sense of the word. Homura's dedication to Madoka was so moving!
It was nice to see a second magical girl series that manages to weave a great story, be genuine and emotional, and artistic. (The first being Princess Tutu, of course.) Granted, I haven't seen many magical girl series, but the little bits I've seen of older ones...well. They were a bit vapid. XD Might be me misjudging, though, and then again I like dark and sad stories, and ones with complex morality.
I thought the way the witches and the space they create were made was beautiful and unique! It was like someone got carried away with Photoshop, but I don't mean that in a bad way, haha. It melded surprisingly well with the more traditionally animated characters. I liked the character animation as well, though--the lines in the eyes and way the characters were outlined was interesting, and pretty.
I think overall that this is one of the best 13-14 episode or under series I've seen with a continuous storyline (along with Haruhi's first series and Haibane Renmei and a few others). In the short time it had, it got you involved in the characters and told a full-circle story... A lot of thirteen-ish episode series seem to set up well and establish themselves, and then fizzle out or feel incomplete because I think it's hard to tell a full story in that short amount of time... The direction has to be tight and not allow for much "dead time," but at the same time not too overwhelming or skimp on connecting the viewers with the characters. I felt like the pacing on this series was extremely well-done because of this.
I think it's arguable that the plot doesn't make as much sense as it could, or perhaps that it's just a tad convoluted or contrived in some ways, but considering how well-executed the series is overall, I feel like that's a fairly minor complaint. I'm just the sort of person who can forgive some nonsense or contrived aspects for the sake of a good story that gets me emotionally, haha, others might not be the same way.
I wanted to throttle Kyuubei every time it was around, hahaha. I have never been so annoyed by a mascot! Granted, of course Kyuubei's role is not really that of a mascot although that's sort of the role it takes via character design. No way I want a plush or cosplay of this mascot!
Overall, I thought this series' strength was in weaving together a story that combined magical girl elements with something a lot darker and deeper, and still keep artistic integrity, and that the morality of the series was rather complex. I liked that we were constantly kept second guessing what the right thing is, who is making the right choices, and so on. There were so many shades of grey it almost made my head spin, but I like that.
Anyway, a very enjoyable watch, and a great way to spend this Sunday.
I have Summer Wars downloaded and plan to watch that, the first Macross Frontier movie because I still haven't seen it, I also have both Gunbuster and Diebuster downloaded because I love GAINAX and haven't seen them, and I may rewatch Durarara!! before Fanime because I don't remember it very well and I'm not even 100% sure I even finished it.
Are there any other anime series, currently airing, from the last few seasons, or otherwise, that I should definitely watch before Fanime, otherwise I'm TOTALLY MISSING OUT? Only things that are really worthwhile because Fanime is less than two busy weeks away and I'll have plenty of time for lower-priority series before Anime Expo, but I'd love maybe just a couple more series to watch that are great series or movies and will enhance my geekiness and anime appreciation even more. XD
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no subject
Date: 2011-05-16 05:35 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-05-16 06:00 am (UTC)Also,, I just realized I had a dream last night about a series with two animals in the title last night like that, only it was really abstract and depressing. One of the animals was in love with the other and made all these sacrifices for them, but it was ultimately unrequired and one disappeared or something? But the animation was adorable. One of my friends and I were obsessed with it and then we went to visit the set (on an animated series, WTF?) and it was all dilapidated and disgusting and I could hardly stand being there as a result, even though it was so special that we were able to visit it.
Ummm, random dream share, there, ahaha. Just had to write it down!
no subject
Date: 2011-05-16 04:01 pm (UTC)Tiger & Bunny doesn't have any animals in it, actually... It just has a really misleading title. I had expected some super fluffy, moe-moe magical girl show when I first heard about it.
no subject
Date: 2011-05-16 05:22 pm (UTC)Haha, I'll check it out!
no subject
Date: 2011-05-16 06:17 am (UTC)Uhh anime from the past few seasons, I dunno if anything that great has aired, OreImo is pretty good? Also Anohana (it has a real MUCH LONGER name) Is SUPER good from this season, I think there are 4 eps? It's sad but just *3*
no subject
Date: 2011-05-16 06:44 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-05-16 09:36 am (UTC)Seconding Ano Hana! Try Hanasaku Iroha if you're not watching it already... it is so beautifully animated!
no subject
Date: 2011-05-16 05:35 pm (UTC)Great, I will check out both!
no subject
Date: 2011-05-16 11:19 am (UTC)Anyways I third Anohana. I just started watching it this weekend and I devoured the first 5 episodes they were that good. It sort of reminds me of Honey & Clover. I don't necessarily mean story wise but in the feeling it gives me.
no subject
Date: 2011-05-16 05:36 pm (UTC)I'm definitely checking out Anohana! And especially the second anyone compares to Honey & Clover...instant interest, even if it's just a feeling.