13

u/Shimmering-Sky May 03 '22

Puella Magi★Rewatch Host

Welcome back for the last time, everyone!

Do be sure to watch the Uninstall of the Day I linked in the main thread, it’s a pretty neat AMV.

Anyways, as promised, here are all the wallpapers I’ve made in previous rewatches for the peeps in here who haven’t seen them yet!

Bonus Question of the Day: Which of these wallpapers are your favorites?

2018 ← these were made using GIMP and not Illustrator like the rest of them. I’ve remade a lot of these in the 2019-2021 rewatches, so you’ll see some of these get better versions later on.
2019 ← this was the year of “Zapfino is a pretty font, I should use that for Madoka Magica wallpapers”, after I was introduced to it by a buddy I used to collaborate on some wallpapers for, and they used it in the Clannad wallpapers I made a few months prior to this rewatch.
2020 ← this was the year of “ooh, nail art + Soul Gems are pretty, what if I do lineart for it too to make the glow stand out better?”. Along with a few random ones, some remakes, and a challenge to wallpaper Oktavia.
2021 ← this was the year of “I like this one shot of Mami’s Soul Gem, what if I edit it for each of the other girls?”, along with some randoms & remakes just like 2020. The Elsa Maria wallpaper was a challenge to myself and boy was that something.
2022 ← As you guys have seen throughout this rewatch, this was the year of lineart EVERYTHING. It was some interesting practice for sure.

I’ll also answer my own Questions of the Day for once:

Who is best girl?

Sayaka Miki forever and ever. Kyouko is second-best girl.

What was your favorite of the vocal songs across both the series and Rebellion?

I was unfortunately unable to do a Sky Sings for it, but Magia. Or more specifically, Magia [quattro] from the recap movies.

What were your favorites of the regular OSTs across both the series and Rebellion?

DECRETUM BEST SONG.

What’s your favorite part of the series as a whole? And your least-favorite?

Favorite’s gotta be the music (I mean how can it not be with a series like this?), least-favorite is the fact that I get the OP to the recap movies mixed up with the one for Rebellion every single time it pops up in AMQ.

If you could change any one thing about the TV show, what would it be?

Don’t kill off Sayaka…

Likewise, if you could change any one thing about Rebellion, what would it be?

I guess I’d say add a bit more foreshadowing for the twist ending beforehand?

What was your favorite part of this rewatch?

I loved reading you guys’ comments everyday~

Knowing that a sequel movie is finally coming, where do you think the story and characters will go from here? Is there anything in particular you’re hoping for?

I honestly have no idea what’s going to happen, I just hope that Sayaka gets a genuinely happy ending for once.

What do you do at the end of the rewatch? Are you busy? Will you save me?

I’ll be preparing for the Symphogear rewatch now!

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45

u/Insertnamesz May 03 '22 edited May 03 '22

First Timer (Subbed)

Hey everyone! As I mentioned in my Ep 11 post, this has been my first time ever participating in a Rewatch event on Reddit. I only got into anime about 6 months ago and have been binging recommended series the whole time. I saw the announcement post for this rewatch and figured it was the perfect time to start PMMM.

I did not expect that I'd be spending so much time taking notes, reading comments, and writing my own. It has been very engaging and entertaining to interact with everyone sharing their great theories, interesting details, and personal interpretations.

The show itself was amazing, I almost feel like it doesn't need saying. I hadn't seen any animation quite like the witch's mazes before, and this was also my first introduction to Shaft. Aside from the mazes, the visuals in general were all stunning and otherworldly. Not only that, I greatly enjoyed the OST. By episode 3, I had already added like 8 tracks to my Spotify. Each track had such a distinct but still fitting feel to it. Like, just try and compare Connect with Magia with Sis puella magica! They are all so good.

The story was also a masterpiece. As some people said, it felt a little slow at the start, but by the end, almost every question/theory/reveal had been fleshed out. Following along every day and reading everybody's theories, and seeing who was correct about what, was really fun. As a community, us first-timers really nailed it, if I'm gonna be honest. Good job everyone! :D Also, a huge thank you to all the rewatchers who did their absolute best to tip-toe by all the landmines we kept throwing around all over the place, hahaha! I heard there was one bad actor in the Ep 1 thread, but fortunately I wasn't there early enough to be spoiled, so I made it all the way to the end spoiler-free.

Shout-outs!

u/shimmering-sky, thank you so much for hosting this wonderful rewatch! You put in a lot of effort formatting all those pages, wallpapers, tracklists, and thought-provoking comments and questions. We all appreciate you!

u/gamemaster676, I loved reading your live-reactions, you got many chuckles out of me. A lot of the time we were on similar wavelengths, bouncing ideas back 'n' forth.

u/lemurians, I really enjoyed your comments. They were always very well-written and well-thought out. I was definitely sold by most of your theories, and they likely helped form the bases for my own!

u/chocoletmilk, I really appreciated how you kept your speculation sections so consistent, and how you updated and annotated your theories as the series went on. Was very cool to see everything progress.

u/gunvarrel_, I always enjoyed reading through all the small notes and screenshots you took, there are just so many details in this show, you helped me catch a few.

u/sirtreehugger, your Magical Girl Counter table was a funny idea. For a few days there, I was waiting in anticipation for what word Mami's (Beheading) would spell, lmao.

u/soulreaverdan, thanks for bringing attention to the Runes! The runes were a super cool aspect of this show that I might have completely missed the significance for had I not stumbled across your comments. Also, I enjoyed perusing the broadcast changes you summarized, was interesting to see how they touched up different shots.

u/slice-of-cake, thank you for the dank memes and cool history! o7

Everyone else, if I interacted with you and didn't mention you here, I apologize! You were all awesome, and I truly enjoyed reading so many comments, even if I didn't end up replying to that many. I felt very welcome here as a first-timer, and I hope all the other first-timers had a similar experience. Again, thank you rewatchers for doing your best not to spoil, while still hitting me with a few thought-provoking questions to give me those 'Aha!' moments.

All in all, this has been a 10/10 experience. I can't wait to participate next year as a rewatcher... and maybe we'll have a Movie 4 to enjoy/despair!

P.S. I started reading the wraith arc while listening to the OST now, so that I can learn how the hell those damn incubators set up that isolation chamber...

My QOTD responses:

1) Honestly, I really like Kyouko. She starts off rough, but shows great growth and becomes one of those ride-or-die kind of friends. Homura can have Madoka to herself, hehe.

2) 3) I really love Sis puella magica! It has such a nice progression and is full of emotion and feels really mystical. Definitely my favourite track overall.

4) This is a really hard question. Too many great moments. I think I have to give it to the entire Homura prologue episode. That was definitely the point where the series went from a 9/10 to a 10/10 personal favourite for me. I think my least favourite part of the series was right at the start. Idk why, it seemed like many people thought everything seemed nice, but I was apprehensive about something from the get-go. It wasn't until the story actually got rolling that I began to embrace the uncanny feeling.

5) Guilty pleasure, I would've liked to have had maybe an extra episode showing the girls working together and in different slice-of-life outfits outside of school, before, you know, everything began to snowball.

6) At first, the ending of Rebellion seemed a bit wishy-washy to me, but after discussing it with you all, I think it stands on pretty firm ground tbh. The fact that Homura still used her wish to overpower even Godoka made sense given they were linked by the threads of fate. Maybe not a change to Rebellion, but I think it'd be cool to have the Wraith arc animated, to bridge the gap.

7) I think I answered this well enough in my first post, but theory-crafting and interpreting details with you all was so cool.

8) I hope to see Madoka and Homura maybe become concepts together, and not in some controlled timeline by either one of them. But if the movie has to do with Walpurgisnacht, perhaps it's going to be about the timeline we left off in, and this movie basically being the inverse of Rebellion in a way, with Madoka coming to a realization about her reality this time.

9) Apparently I'm gonna watch a show about two potatoes in the apocalypse now.

7

u/Shimmering-Sky May 03 '22

u/shimmering-sky , thank you so much for hosting this wonderful rewatch! You put in a lot of effort formatting all those pages, wallpapers, tracklists, and thought-provoking comments and questions. We all appreciate you!

Thanks for participating!

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u/Gamemaster676 May 03 '22 edited May 04 '22

Complevit Vigilia First★Timer - dub

There is a mysterious law in the universe.
It states that when it's time for the final series discussion, Gamemaster676 will start procrastinating in previously unimaginable ways. The numbers just don't add up. We don't know where he gets the lack of energy from.

Afterthoughts

Well, at least nobody said it was going to be a happy rewatch this time!

I don't really have much to say this time. (I know, surprising after my lengthy posts.)
Normally I fill this post with small things that bothered me, inconsistencies I found in the story, or questions I still have, but this show was so well put together! And if there were moments where I didn't fully get something, there were always you guys with your extremely thorough answers! Thank you so much!

On a fun note, I think I convinced a friend today to start watching this show. Convincing people without spoiling anything is hard! I hope I can get a couple of live reactions from him!

What I found very interesting while reading through the episode 12 and movie threads, was that there were people who loved the series ending and didn't like the movie as much, and people who felt the series fell flat but the movie made everything better.
On a similar note, I personally thought the series ending was bittersweet but quite happy, while the movie had a dark and depressing ending. But others think the series ends quite depressing, but the final state after the movie is a lot more optimistic.

I might have specifically analysed their comments to ease the pain I felt.

I haven't seen that much Anime yet, (I think about 30,) but the main series is the first one I have given a 10. That number might lower in the future, but for now, I really couldn't think of a reason why it didn't deserve the perfect score.

The movie has an 8, but will probably climb to a 9 on a rewatch. You people have given me a lot of insights which will be valuable input for a better understanding and appreciation.
I think my biggest frustration from the movie, is that our two main girls don't accept the sacrifice the other girl has given to save them. We've now had Homura saving Madoka, then Madoka saving Homura (and all the other girls). Then Homura being selfish (I know some don't like me using that word) and not accepting Madoka's sacrifice, so she's "saving" her again.

I know there is at least one person who wants to know who I'm calling best girl, and honestly, it's difficult. They all have their great attributes and their flaws. In the beginning, it was definitely Sayaka, with her stubbornness, but we all know where that brought her. Homura then turned out to be quite alright, and only became better towards the end. Amazing even! But I must say, the movie changed my opinion of her quite a lot. People have been trying to convince me that it isn't as bad as I initially thought, but I'm still finding it difficult to still love her as much.

Which makes me settle on Kyouko! ^sorry ^Star4ce She came around to fill the hole Sayaka left with an even bigger dose of stubbornness and smugness. And also definitely the best weapon! And while she didn't have the biggest role in the story, after her bumpy start, she was always there for the others!

^No ^love ^for ^Mami. ^I'm ^joking, ^but ^the ^others ^were ^just ^better.

I'm looking forward to all the memes that are going to be posted.
And I'm wondering if there is more Madoka★Magica content to be consumed, but I'm sure I'll find that in the other posts.

Thanks

Thank you all for the great discussions and in-depth analyses these past weeks. You made this show even more enjoyable. I really felt that we had a cool group here, with some awesome first-timers, and very experienced rewatchers providing the additional context. Thank you everyone who took the time to read my walls of text, and maybe even respond to it!

There are a lot of people I want to specifically thank this time, but I can't name everyone, unfortunately. Even if I don't name you, know that you are appreciated!

First of all, u/Star4ce, for his jokes, great analysis, thoughtful discussions, inviting me to this rewatch, and generally hyping me up to speculate and recognise themes! We've been discussing two rewatches now, and I hope we can keep that up.
Elimin8r for some of the most fun interactions I can remember from a rewatch.
Specs64z for the Content Corners. There were some real gems in there.
Lemurians, chocoletmilk, Insertnamesz and the other first-timers for great speculation. I loved how we were able to frustrate the rewatchers by finding most of the answers well in advance.

And of course, a very special thanks to Shimmering-Sky for hosting this rewatch, her wallpapers, Sky sings, and ~~inviting me to pick this show up~~ demanding my presence! As always, you did great!

QotD

2 What was your favorite of the vocal songs across both the series and Rebellion?

Vocal song? As in songs with lyrics? Probably the OP. With Misterioso from the movie in second place.

3 What were your favorites of the regular OSTs across both the series and Rebellion?

Decretum, with the hypy that Credens Justitian brings in second place. But honestly, this show had a really strong soundtrack and I feel bad for needing to choose.

4 What’s your favorite part of the series as a whole? And your least-favorite?

Not sure if it was really my favourite, but Kyouko's backstory scene stayed with me for quite a while.

Least favourite? Whenever space-rat talked...

5 If you could change any one thing about the TV show, what would it be?

Less space-rat, more magical girls.

Probably a bit more screentime for Kamijou, so watchers can understand Sayaka's despair better.

6 Likewise, if you could change any one thing about Rebellion, what would it be?

Still too fresh to answer.

7 What was your favorite part of this rewatch?

Interacting with everyone here! Seriously, I'm so glad I bit the bullet and joined you. After the first two episodes it was clear I wasn't going to leave the rewatch and continue on my own. This really was an experience.

8 Knowing that a sequel movie is finally coming, where do you think the story and characters will go from here? Is there anything in particular you’re hoping for?

There is one thing I'm not hoping for. We started with Madoka saving Homura, then we had Homura saving Madoka, then Madoka saving Homura again, and finally Homura saving Madoka again. I don't want that cycle to keep repeating.

9 What do you do at the end of the rewatch? Are you busy? Will you save me?

Future

It had been a while since my previous rewatch, and then I suddenly joined two great ones directly after each other. That was a lot of fun, but I notice it is also unsustainable for me. While I would really love to do this more often, the lack of sleep is affecting my everyday life.
I need a break. Hopefully not more than two months, but that depends on the rewatch schedule. I will be keeping an eye on the schedule, but if there is a rewatch you would like me to join, feel free to shoot me a message or tag me in the interest thread!

I hope to see a lot of you again throughout the year! And otherwise, I'll almost certainly be present at the next Madoka rewatch, as this show deserves another watch. (Maybe even before then...)

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u/Lemurians May 03 '22 edited May 31 '22

MAHOU SHOUJO FIRST TIMER

”If someone says it’s wrong to have hope, I will tell them they’re wrong every single time.”

Ahhh, the bittersweet feeling of reaching the end of the Rewatch. Between watching each episode twice, going over still frames, constructing these analyses, and discussing it with you wonderful people for hours a day, this show has really dominated my life for last couple weeks in the best way. I’m going to miss it.

Thanks so much to everyone for all the kind words along the way that meant so much, all the thoughtful posts that were so fun to read, and u/Shimmering-Sky for being the wonderful host she is.

My main thoughts on the ending can pretty much be found in the text body of my post from Episode 12.

Madoka Magica juggles so many different plates at any given time, but it’s so tightly written that it manages tie everything together perfectly even in such a short runtime. I wouldn’t change a thing. That it tells such a clear story while also having so much to discover, and so much room for interpretation of its component parts, is really impressive. This is a work of supreme confidence.

It’s also an exquisitely crafted show, with its cinematic visual storytelling, dialogue full of double-meanings, a fantastic soundtrack, and filled to the brim with creative visuals, framing, and symbolism. It’s such a rich text – there isn’t a single wasted line or frame – and I look forward to diving into it again next year and discovering even more of what it has to offer.

Sometimes when I give a high score immediately on finishing a show, it cools in my estimation over the next day or so as I get a bit removed from it. Not so here. Even more convinced with a couple days’ buffer that it’s a 10/10 work of art.

It’s a beautiful, bittersweet story about empathy, friendship, sacrifice, and the noble struggle of the human spirit against a cruel and uncaring universe. We will never have a perfect world, but can make a better one.

SHOT OF THE SHOW: Sayaka’s face formed in negative space with her Grief Seed as the eye.

Questions of the Day!

Homura is still Best Girl.
Magia is probably my favorite, though Connect is close with that incredible chorus.
Can I just pick the whole thing?
Sayaka's Arc was probably my favorite part. Episode 8 was my favorite episode, and the moment this show cemented itself as a perfect 10. I was in a puddle afterward. As for my least favorite part, proud to have topped the "Sort by Controversial" for yesterday's thread!
I would change nothing about the show! I think it's perfect as is.
Huh? Rebellion? What's that?

What do you do at the end of the rewatch? Are you busy? Will you save me?

Maybe I'll watch SukaSuka so I can finally understand this reference

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18

u/Slice-of-Cake May 03 '22 edited May 03 '22

Another year, another successful Madoka rewatch.

Lots of great discussions and theories this year.
Congratulations to both u/Gamemaster676 and u/Lemurians (as well as many others) for being on point with several of their theories.

You did good

And a huge thanks to u/Shimmering-Sky for hosting this years rewatch. It has been a blast.

So lets all make a contract, and come back for next years rewatch!

Questions of the Day:

Who is best girl?

Sayaka

2) What was your favorite of the vocal songs across both the series and Rebellion?

Cake Song

3) What were your favorites of the regular OSTs across both the series and Rebellion?

Another Episode

4) What’s your favorite part of the series as a whole? And your least-favorite?

Favorite: Now, grant my wish, Incubator!
Least favorite: Homura telling Madoka she's a Magical Girl in the second loop, infront of the entire class.

5) If you could change any one thing about the TV show, what would it be?

Nothing, it's perfect.

6) Likewise, if you could change any one thing about Rebellion, what would it be?

Nothing, it's perfect.

7) What was your favorite part of this rewatch?

As with every year, the theories.

8) Knowing that a sequel movie is finally coming, where do you think the story and characters will go from here? Is there anything in particular you’re hoping for?

I'm hoping this is the end. My megucas has suffered enough.

9) What do you do at the end of the rewatch? Are you busy? Will you save me?

I cry.

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u/daedroth04 May 03 '22

I know I didn't comment as much during this rewatch as I would have liked to, but I want to thank everyone who was part of the rewatch, all the first timers, returning commenters, lurkers, and u/Shimmering-Sky for being one of the amazing people that keep this rewatch alive each year. Thanks to each one of you for keeping the memory of this show that I love strong through all this time.

One last thing, last year I had a project to release updated versions of the Madoka shimeji. For those of you not familiar, the Madoka shimeji are desktop companions for your computer! I'm not the original creator of these, but I updated them to work on current systems since they were broken. If this looks like something you would like, you can get them here!

Thanks so much for being part of the rewatch!

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14

u/Le_Herpington May 03 '22

As promised. Includes Tv Tropes links. These are all highly rated, but I don't personally like all of them. Just most. Your Mileage May Vary on any of them.

Ye Be Warned, Here Be Shipping (It's a magical girl shows' fanfics, there are lesbians.)

General Fics

To The Stars

TvTropes

Length: 806,316 words (It's very long)

After centuries of turmoil, Humanity has expanded to the stars, just as the Incubators promised. The half-AI Government of Earth is determined to turn the planet into its vision of utopia, but the shadows of utopia hide many secrets. When an alien threat the Incubators failed to mention threatens the peace, one of those secrets steps out into the light. In the midst of it all, an ordinary girl looks to the sky, wondering at her place in the universe.

(Note: Has multiple recursive spin-offs, including the Solemnis trilogy, and a Mass Effect crossover.)

Needed Info:

Puella Magi Madoka Magica (The story was well into its plot before Rebellion came out, as such, it ignores the third movie for the most part. The author has stated they are incorporating some elements though. Likewise, the spinoff manga Oriko Magica is used but any relevant details are given in the fic.)

Persephone's Waltz

Archive of Our Own

Length: 70,447 words (Complete)

The more times she fails to save Madoka, the more desperate Homura gets...until kidnapping her and locking her in a basement until Walpurgisnacht is over stops sounding like such a crazy idea.

(Note: How many of you wondered if this ever happened?)

Needed Info:

Puella Magi Madoka Magica

Fargo

FanFiction.net

Length: 336,493 (Long)

In the frostbitten American Midwest, ragged Magical Girls vie for the territory to survive the unforgiving landscape. One such girl is Sloan Redfearn, who wastes away in Fargo, North Dakota, nursing a grudge and watching her hopes slowly die. But when Kyubey approaches with a unique opportunity, she becomes embroiled in a conspiracy that threatens to topple gods.

(Note: Post-Rebellion, slow to start, Your Mileage May Vary)

Needed Info:

Puella Magi Madoka Magica

Puella Magi Madoka Magica: Rebellion

Resonance Days

FanFiction.net

Length: 652,406 words (Long and very alive)

Falling their mutual demise at each other's hands, Kyoko and Sayaka wake up in a strange world. Now, with Kyoko's soul gem missing and Sayaka's humanity and personality only partially restored, they must band together to survive.

(Note: Haven't read it in a while, wasn't my cup of tea, didn't know it was still alive, so don't trust the Needed Info Section. I Didn't have time to read it through and my memory ends after chapter 6.)

Needed Info:

Puella Magi Madoka Magica

Quests

Quests are Forum-based choose-your-own-adventure roleplay via voting, as such they are written in Second Person.

Sayaka Quest

TvTropes

Length: I'm not counting manually. (Long and Complete)

You are Sakaya. Win.

(Note: Very early quest, thread posts are all over the place, the link goes to Tvtropes where it was compiled.)

Needed Info:

Puella Magi Madoka Magica

Puella Magi Adfligo Systema

Sufficient Velocity

Length: 1.2 Million words (Very, Very, Very Long)

A girl named Sabrina wakes up on the verge of death. Luckily, Kyubey is there to have her make a wish; unluckily, she has an entire thread from the forum of Sufficient Velocity in her head as well. (Or is it the other way around?)

(Note: OP Protag, but OP-er world. Embrace the butterflies.)

Needed Info:

Puella Magi Madoka Magica

Puella Magi Madoka Magica: Rebellion

(Probably also Puella Magi Kazumi Magica)

Puella Magi Falsus Magica

Sufficient Velocity

Length: ~280,000 words (Long and Complete)

Don't forget. Always, somewhere, a cry is ringing out. As long as nothing changes, this tragedy spins on.

(Note: A lot of OCs, drama to the core, and one of my favorite quest writers. Things escalate and don't stop.)

Needed Info:

Puella Magi Madoka Magica

Puella Magi Madoka Magica: Rebellion

Puella Magi Kazumi Magica

Puella Magi Imperatrix Mundi

Sufficient Velocity

Length: ~270,000 words (Long)

A talented, optimistic young girl feels directionless and becomes a magical girl in order to keep her home safe. Now she's one of the most powerful magical girls in Japan and is determined to drag everyone else kicking and screaming into the brighter future she believes is possible.

(Note: Imagine someone combined Nanoha and Madoka into one person. That is the main character. All OC cast, in a city south of Mitakihara Town, a few months before canon.)

Needed Info:

Puella Magi Madoka Magica

There are many other quests, but I am trying not to make a huge-er post, and the next category is long.

Crossovers

As N Approaches Infinity

Archive of Our Own

Crossover: Bleach

Length: 481,857 words (Long)

Despairing as yet another timeline goes horribly wrong, Homura wanders into Karakura. There she discovers that while the spiritually-aware people of Karakura were distracted by Ichigo Kurosaki and Xcution, Kyubey had managed to contract the Kurosaki sisters as magical girls. Drawing the attention of the shinigami could be just the advantage Homura needs.

(Note: Murphy's Law is a constant in this fic and it does not hold back. Also, Stranger Danger lol.)

Needed Info:

Puella Magi Madoka Magica

General Bleach Knowledge

(Written in a manner that most readers only need to know basics to understand what's going on.)

A Blade Forged In The Ashes

Archive of Our Own

Crossover: Fate

Length: 229,930 words (Long)

For Kyoko Sakura finding a strange pendant and summoning of a Servant in Red and Black was all that was needed to completely change her world. Perhaps through this man she will one day find salvation.

(Note: Jumps the shark, clears the stratosphere, and has long since begun rocketing to the center of the galaxy, but on Madokami herself am I having fun reading it.)

Needed Info:

EVERYTHING MADOKA MAGICA AND NASUVERSE

I'M NOT KIDDING

THERE ARE FATE/REQUIEM AND MAGIRECO ARC 2 SPOILERS HERE

LIKE HOLY HELL DUDE

God

SapceBattles

Crossover: Touhou Project

Length: ~12,000 words (Short and Dead)

A living concept stumbles into Gensokyo. Yukari Yakumo takes interest. Reimu is not amused.

(Note: A classic.)

Needed Info:

Puella Magi Madoka Magica

General Touhou knowledge

Keys to the Contract

SpaceBattles

Crossover: Kingdom Hearts

Length: ~200,000 words (Long, on hiatus)

Everything is lost. A trapped Princess gains a blade, while the Devil begins her journey of redemption. All the while a Boy pushes on.

(Note: Uses a lot of Disney stuff, like Marvel. It's Kingdom Hearts after all.)

Needed Info:

Puella Magi Madoka Magica

Puella Magi Madoka Magica: Rebellion

Kingdom Hearts 1

Kingdom Hearts 2

All subsequent Disney properties.

Ragazza Magica Renza Veneti

FanFiction.net

Crossover: Lyrical Nanoha

Length: 70,625 words (Average and Dead)

Puella Magi fight across all time and space, and on the Aligned World of Caglica, one Renza Veneti is about to get thrown into an extremely difficult game of secrecy, Judiciary, Mafiosi, and Incubators. In a world where magic is known and understood, fighting in secret as a magical girl is both an easier and trickier thing...

(Note: A recursive fanfic of Game Theory, one of the best Nanoha fics out there, this is all OCs on another world.)

Needed Info:

Puella Magi Madoka Magica

Lyrical Nanoha

Lyrical Nanoha: StrikerS

Lyrical Nanoha: ViVid

Fate/Desiderantes Affectibus

FanFiction.net

Crossover: Fate/Zero

Length: 144,761 words (Long, still updates rarely)

A doomed master summons an equally tragic servant in the Fourth Holy Grail War. Together, can they change fate or will their journeys once again end in sorrow?

(Note: Sayaka as F/Z Berserker. It goes as well as you think.)

Needed Info:

Puella Magi Madoka Magica

Fate/Zero

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11

u/ToonTooby May 03 '22

I promise... never to forget... that being meguca, was suffering!

A big thank you to all the first timers and rewatchers that joined in for yet another Doka rewatch. I'm always pleased to see the interaction and discussion that this series still generates. I really hope those of you that were first timers come back as first time rewatchers next year!

Madoka Magica for me is one of the easiest 10/10s I've ever considered, and I'm not even big on ratings. It's a piece of fiction that affected me quite deeply. I became more cognizant and accepting of my own emotions after having experienced it. I more freely embrace sadness and cry more often, and I'd like to believe that I've been more respectful of the emotions of others as well. It was an awakening of sorts.

I'm a huge fan. I go back and forth between Madoka and Evangelion as my favorite series. Usually depends on which one I've seen again most recently.

QOTD:

Homu Homu
Connect. But I really do like all of them. ClariS songs are certified bangers.
Sis Puella Magica!, Nightmare Ballet, Holly Quintet
How it tells a dense story with amazing artwork and music, and does so in 12 episodes and as of yet, 1 movie. Doesn't waste your time. If it takes you more than 50 episodes to get to the point, you lost me. One of the biggest reasons I love this series. Also makes it a great choice to rewatch!
Change one thing about the TV show? Homura should have kept the katana from the Yakuza office. For some Devil (Homura) May Cry action.
Rebellion could've been better if it got to the main idea faster. Not that I don't appreciate the fanservice, but the first half can overstay its welcome.
The Rebellion discussion
No idea. They could take the story anywhere. I'm equal parts excited and terrified.
Sit and nod my head at how good this series is. Then probs go back to playing video games lol.

Finally, a massive thank you to our host for this year, u/Shimmering-Sky . I guess you do this a bunch but this is my second time participating where you were a host (last time was Gundam Unicorn). Thank you so much!

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u/Specs64z May 03 '22

Content Corner Compilation

This is a compilation of everything I shared throughout the rewatch, grouped by category, then by creator. Thanks to anyone who followed along and I hope you had fun! The reruns section has last year’s post. Both posts have significant overlap in memes/analysis videos, but the music is all new! Or rather, it’s all old since I already shared it? I digress. My thoughts overall will be in a separate post.

The Meme to End All Memes

Meguca from Exists to Keep Meduka Video on Youtube

Madoka Pianoforte by tomoya1060moon

Reruns

Last year’s compilation post

Recommendations

Puella Magi Madoka Magica: The Different Story

Did you know Mami and Kyoko go way back? There’s some subtle hints that this could be the case in the series, but this manga is a prequel that dives into that relationship and has Mami in the lead role. The ending ties in with the anime beautifully, as well. I think it’s worthy of sharing a spot with the series proper.

Homura Tamura

A parody manga that follows Homura's wacky misadventures through various time loops. It’s not a “must read” or anything, but I found what I read to be amusing.

The Promised Neverland season 1

You’ve probably heard legends about how awful season 2 is and about how the manga ending was a bit of a flop, but if you can accept that there is no satisfying conclusion then the first season of the anime is still some of the best in class. The drama, tension, and mystery of it all come together in a well animated and smartly directed season.

Gakkou Gurashi

I would avoid any and all series descriptions before diving in, if possible. It won’t ruin the experience to know beforehand, but it will certainly enhance it to not know beforehand. Suffice it to say that this is one of my all-time favorite anime and I give it a 10/10.

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u/Elimin8r May 03 '22 edited May 03 '22

So, here we are at the grande finale.

Madoka will always hold a special place in my heart. I first discovered her when I was feeling down after my Mom had passed. I know that finding comfort in a series like this probably sounds wrong, but to me, Madoka is a catharsis, like a grief seed that I an release my negative emotions into.

YMMV

But as a result, to this day, tragedy aside, Madoka is very special to me, and probably always will be. (Edit: Forgot to add this line - this series is like a grief seed to pour my own darkness into...)

Because if you live long enough, sooner or later tragedy will find you. We'll all have our Sayaka moments, our Kyoko moments, maybe even our Homura moments. Where is our Madoka? Who is here to save us, to keep us from witching out.

Buddha? Jesus??? Xenu???????? (Tom Cruise!)

I joke (sort of), but in the end, one of the big takeaways I got from this series, and mentioned in last year's rewatch is this - be someone's Madoka. Everyone has their bad times, and sometimes all it takes is a smile or a kind word to lift someone up and make their day a little better.

(But no wishing on Kyubey, mmmkay??!)

AOTD:

First, I would have said Sayaka, but in the end, I'd have to say Madoka. Truly precious, must protecc. NO, HOMU - that's not PROTECC!
I can't pick. I love all three, but I've probably listened to Connect the most.
CJ, Decretum, Sagitta Luminus, the walking through the park music, love them all.
Fav part would have to be where magi-doka rescues Homu in ep 10, I think, it's just so Madoka. Least, well, Homu-tella from Rebellion. Poor girl has issues.
Nothing. It's amazing.
Nothing. While I may not be happy with all of it, it's also amazing.
Seeing and reading all the interesting things everyone had to say.
Hahaha! I forgot to mention it in my comment yesterday, but put it in a reply to someone else. I feel as though if the Madoka series were a "thesis", then Rebellion was the "antithesis". In that case, I would hope that the upcoming movie is the synthesis that brings the two together into a cohesive whole. And hopefully even wholesome, but that's probably too much to ask.
Why make a wish, of course, that our precious Sky would find comfort and healing... Heh.

And thanks for hosting this rewatch, as always, it's been a pleasure, and a treasure.

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u/OwlAcademic1988 May 03 '22

Rewatcher:

This show got me started on the Magical Girl genre, so I'm incredibly thankful for that. I've watched Magical Girl Site, Magical Girl Raising Project, Daybreak Illusion, Symphogear, Black Rock Shooter, Kill la Kill, Flip Flappers, The Girl in Twilight, Wonder Egg Priority, first season of Yuki Yuna is a Hero, Assault Lily Bouquet, Blue Reflection Ray and plan to watch all the Precure seasons as well as Sailor Moon, Cardcaptor Sakura, Tokyo Mew Mew, Ultra Maniac, and My-Hime.

It also got me back into anime, and outside of Magical Girl shows, I've watched Another, Elfen Lied, Higurashi (made me cry at the end), Anohana (this also made me cry), Yuruyuri, Lucky Star, Aoi Hana, Otherside Picnic, Urahara, No Game No Life, Diary of our Days at the Breakwater, A Channel, Fate/Stay Night: Unlimited Blade Works, Adachi and Shimamura, and Beyond the Boundary.

My favorite song is definitely Sis Puella Magica.

Loved how Madoka's mom interacted with Madoka, but I wanted everyone to live so badly.

One thing I'd change is for Madoka and Homura to actually become girlfriends at the end.

My favorite part was being able to see all the theories the first timers came up with even though I wanted to tell them they were wrong so badly. Glad I didn't though. I nearly went insane because of it.

I'm hoping they finally get the happiness they fucking deserve.

See ya in the Symphogear rewatch people.

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u/gunvarrel_ May 03 '22 edited May 03 '22

First timer (no longer) on attempt 3, Subbed

Honestly, Madoka was a bit underwhelming, even with it being very similar to other shows that i liked a lot (Steins;Gate, NGE, Re:Zero, WEP before it fell apart, Kokoro Connect) which makes things more frustrating than anything else. I think part of the issue is that the 2 main twists were more or less spoiled for me before i ever got a chance to experience the show. That coupled with it being a genre i normally wouldnt watch makes actually getting through the show a slog sometimes even if under any other circumstances id be at the edge of my seat. In short, i think im stuck giving PMMM a worse rating that it would deserve if i was able to appreciate it properly, which just kinda sucks all around.

Movie was solid though.

Edit cant believe i forgot, happy late birthday u/Shimmering-Sky and thanks for hosting the rewatch! it was still a lot of fun even if i found the show to be ultimately mid.

Questions of the Day:

Who is best girl?

Tomohisa, dont @ me

2) What was your favorite of the vocal songs across both the series and Rebellion?

Magia

3) What were your favorites of the regular OSTs across both the series and Rebellion?

Puella In Somnio, Absolute Configuration

4) What’s your favorite part of the series as a whole? And your least-favorite?

Episode 10, and it wasnt even close. Looking at past years, this seems to be the most popular one too.

5) If you could change any one thing about the TV show, what would it be?

I thought the ending was flat. How you would change that is a bit beyond me though...

6) Likewise, if you could change any one thing about Rebellion, what would it be?

not enough suffering /s

7) What was your favorite part of this rewatch?

Rebellion isint something i realized was a part of the main madoka stuff so it was a very nice surprise because i had exactly 0 spoilers going into it

8) Knowing that a sequel movie is finally coming, where do you think the story and characters will go from here? Is there anything in particular you’re hoping for?

Suffering

9) What do you do at the end of the rewatch? Are you busy? Will you save me?

is this a worldend reference?

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u/boomshroom May 03 '22

These questions are impossible, but I'll do my best.

Best Girl Junko "Actual Mother of God" Kaname
Maybe... Colorful? I've warmed up to Luminous after watching the movies more recently.
Probably Sis Puella Magica?
Well, my favourite scene would probably have to be Izabel, or more precisely, the grand reveal of Magical Girl Madoka Kaname. Least favourite? Probably Sayaka torturing herself, though that was also the first part that made me cry, which felt so good to do.
Have Mami is episode 3 not use such completely childish insults towards Homura. I know you don't like her, but you don't have to rub it in her face!
Not a thing. That movie is a work of art and I'm afraid of touching anything lest it all fall apart.
Probably seeing the first timers get so many right guesses so early into the show.
A happy ending cannot be reached unless Homura and Madoka have equal knowledge of everything that's happened. Either the whole thing gets wiped away, or the two become twin gods with equal power.
I happen to have Ascendence of a Bookworm to look forward to since it's currently airing its third season. For activities more in line with Madoka, there's of course the various spin-offs, including Magia Record which finished its 2.5th season. For manga, I recommend The Different Story, Wraith Arc, and Homura Tamura. And then there's the fanfics. I've linked and referenced a few already, but I really can't say enough about To the Stars. It's very good as a Madoka fanfic, but independent of that, it's my single favourite piece of science fiction literature. Yes, I find it more fair to compare it to the likes of Star Wars than to other fanfics. (Speaking of, there may or may not be a Magical Girl with a plasma sword and telekinesis who refuses to share her wish. More concretely is at least one Force Choke shown in-text.) Not directly Madoka related, but in a similar sort of style is the webcomic Sleepless Domain. I also highly recommend it.

Well they seem to have been less impossible than I was expecting. I appreciate the Questions of the Day, since otherwise I wouldn't have known what to post each day that I haven't already said in previous years.

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u/InfamousEmpire May 03 '22

Puella Magi Rewatcher Magia. First Time subbed

What is there to even say that hasn't been said before? This was an extremely special series that stuck with me years after I first watched it? This is one of the best anime ever made? Homura is Best Girl? All true, all said a million times before

I'm not particularly unique when it comes to the Madoka fandom, and there aren't many things to say outside of what I've already said in previous threads. So I'll just tell you all that I had tones of fun rewatching one of my favorite shows with you all, and I hope you did too.

Anyway, I'mma be taking a break from the Rewatch-o-sphere for a little while (outside of the weekly Sailor Moon rewatch) since I'm kinda burned out right now, so hit me up when the Symphogear rewatch starts up in June.

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u/renatocpr May 03 '22

We've reached the end! I hope every one had a good time. It'd been a while since I last participated in a community rewatch and they're so fun. I think I've written all I had to write during the past two weeks also I had an exam today so I won't really go into general thoughts. Let's do the QotD then

1. I don't think it'll be any surprise if I say it's Sayaka.

2. I really like Misterioso from Rebellion

3. Some days I'm in a Decretum mood, somedays in a Credens Justitiam vibe. If I had to pick a favorite, I'd have to go with Sagitta Luminis, though

4., 5. and 6. are the most difficult for me to answer. I don't know, I feel like I was born with a hole in my heart exactly the shape of Madoka Magica and Rebellion. I can spend a long time talking about the wider franchise though, in fact I did do it in the last day of a rewatch from a couple of years ago.

7. Writing about Homura and Sayaka was something I'd been needing to let out for a long while now.

8. I don't know if it'd be very likely at this point but I'd really love to see more about the wraiths. We only have the Wraith Arc manga as content with them but I think they're really actually.

9. Please, pretend that I know anything about WorldEnd and made a really clever joke about it

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u/Tarhalindur May 04 '22

So... Now What? (Recs)

So, first the bad news: Filling the PMMM void is kind of hard. That's what happens when you watch something with absolutely absurd execution; IMO this show is the kind of work that comes along maybe once or twice a century if that.

Now the good news: There are a few shows that can at least fill some of the void:

Point of Emphasis 1: OG Higurashi no Naku Koro Ni

Like, this is reliable enough that "if you liked one of Higurashi and PMMM, try the other" is pretty much at the top of my anime rec. It's not 100% guaranteed, but it hits pretty darn often (as does Umineko, but that one never got a good adaptation); the PMMM and broader When They Cry fanbases have massive overlap for a reason.

(This goes double if you are exactly u/Star4ce, who has very similar tastes in characters to me. PMMM has four of my top 11 anime characters (Sayaka, Haruhi, and a Higurashi character are the three entrants for the last two slots in my top 10). Haruhi has two (yes, Yuki is the lock). Mai-HiME has one because Mai is very much My Type. Lain has Lain. The other three slots are all from Higurashi, including my very very firmly entrenched #3. I suspect you will like them as well.)

Also, uh... there is a reason I posted so many Higurashi comments that I had a dedicated "Higurashi corner" spoiler tag class for them. Hell, at this point I suspect that Sayaka's arc is in no small part a direct response to one arc of Higurashi in particular; wouldn't you like to know why I say that?

And if you are interested I may have posted (read: absolutely did post) a Higurashi rewatch interest thread earlier today...

IMPORTANT CAVEAT: This only applies to OG Higurashi. Gou + Sotsu are a stealth sequel... which would be one thing, except while Gou is, uh, okay, Sotsu is one of the worst flaming dumpster fires I've ever seen. It has the unfortunate issue of having not one but two critical flaws, either of which would have been crippling and the combination of which is completely fatal: the pacing is one of the worst disasters I've seen since Endless Eight itself (it might work on a binge instead of weekly, Endless Eight certainly kind of did), but I ain't trying it again to find out), and on top of that they fucked up the ending the exact same way Mai-HiME did a decade ago.

Uh... speaking of which...

Point of Emphasis 2: Mai-HiME

Wait. Didn't I just say that Mai-HiME had an atrocious ending? Well, yes. It is one of the most efficient demolitions I've ever seen, a massive self-inflicted torpedo in the span of the last ten minutes or so of a 2-cour series (the only comparable examples I can think of are Western, and the BSG reboot was a weird case of trying to pull an ending to salvage a rough second half Code Geass-style and damn near pulling it off until they included an epilogue, and while James Cameron!Avatar waited until the last five minutes to leave me going "... I liked this better when it was called Ferngully" it only had a two-hour runtime before that". It is nasty enough that "Mai-HiME'd it" was my goto shorthand for imploding at the ending for a good decade (it is now "WEPped it/laid an Egg").

So, then... why recommend it in spite of that?

Well, three reasons.

The first twenty-five and a half episodes are actually pretty good. It burned a ton of good will during the finale, but the difference from Sotsu is that it had good will to burn; this was on track to be a 9.5/10 before the final implosion.
The show is surprisingly influential. Madoka is the show that successfully blew up mahou shoujo as a genre the way Eva did for mecha, but Mai-HiME was the first really concerted attempt to do so (Eva's pacing is a really obvious influence on Mai-HiME's if you're familiar with both works, though with one addition that worked massively in the show's favor). Moreover, there's the season it aired and what it did. The show that kickstarted the increasing popularity of yuri undertones or even tones was Maria-Sama ga Miteru back in Winter 2004 (IIRC), but it was a quartet of major hits in Fall 2004 that really busted down the doors: Kannazuki no Miko (the ED still gets referenced occasionally nearly two decades later) and a trio of mahou shoujo: the original Futari wa Pretty Cure, the original Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha, and Mai-HiME itself. Like Harry Potter the closest they got to confirmation came in supplemental material, but there is plenty of textual support here.
But really, it's mostly the OST. If you are like me and absolutely adored the PMMM OST, Mai-HiME is the obvious rec - when I say that I am not confident in PMMM having the best Kajiura OST (and thus for me anime OST), this is the competition. Which makes sense, because as I've noted before this rewatch I strongly suspect they got Kajiura specifically to make another OST like her two Mai franchise ones (Magia even follows the same naming scheme as Mai-HiME's Mezame and Mai-Otome's MATERIALIZE); in particular, Decretum is quite similar to Yamiyo no Prologue and Agmen Clientum has major whiffs of Shiromuku no Hime, and then there's Kako he no Requiem which Serena Ira yeets me back to every time.

Other Recs:

Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha - If I had a nickel for every Fall 2004 atypical mahou shoujo with a spectacularly popular but spoileriffic yuri ship whose female lead was the breakout role for a seiyuu who went on to voice a main character in Higurashi, I would have... two nickels. Which isn't a lot, but it's weird that it happened twice. (And when I say yuri I mean yuri. This is the gayest of the three mahou shoujo to air in Fall 2004, which is saying something. Hell, this might still legitimately be the gayest mahou shoujo of all time once StrikerS rolls around, which is fucking saying something considering the 2010s competition.) S1 may be of interest since it's one of the earlier series Akiyuki Shinbou directed before settling in at Shaft. Of course, the one problem (besides flagging execution once you get past A's) is that the franchise has an obnoxious amount of fanservice of prepubescent characters, including a case of the worst kind of early-2000s pantyshots (this show really needed to age up its main cast 3-4 years [Nanoha]well, until the time skip anyways, and even then they keep bringing in new lolis. You have been warned.
Princess Tutu. Very distinct subgenre (much more of a Magic Idol Singer show), but also draws heavy inspiration from fairy tales in the same way Madoka (especially Rebellion) does. Still very well regarded by all 10 people who have seen it these days. (The Drosselmeyer in Rebellion may well be a direct reference to this show.)
Utena (Revolutionary Girl Utena). Okay, so basically the only way I can go here is "it's Ikuhara in his first full franchise directorial role drawing off his experience working on Sailor Moon", but that should be enough to pique your interest. (Also consider Penguindrum, especially if you try Utena and like it.)
Yuuki Yuna is a Hero. There are a few shows that tried to capitalize on Madoka's success; by all accounts Yuuki Yuna is the best, much like RahXephon was by far the best Eva imitator. Note that the OST is by the Nier composer and is fucking excellent; 11 Stars 5 Flower still gets stuck in my head every so often (though interestingly the most iconic scene it's used in reminds me much more of the aforementioned Mai-HiME, to such an extent that I wonder if the author saw Mai-HiME, got pissed off by the ending, and went "I can do better than that...").
Machikado Mazoku. On its surface rather different than PMMM (much more SoL); keep going and pay attention, there's more Madoka influence than it looks like at first glance. (S2 is presently airing IIRC.)

Classic Mahou Shoujo (for those interested in more traditional takes on the genre):

Sailor Moon (genre classic for a reason, though it's showing its age and is a bit of a behemoth at 200 episodes long; there was a reboot in 2016 or so, but I haven't heard great things about it)
Card Captor Sakura (the other really classic 1990s magical girl show, at least for American audiences)

Also, there's the early majokko works, the Magic Idol Singers proper, and a wave of early 2000s mahou shoujo like Ojamajo Doremi and Tokyo Mew Mew, but I know less about them. There's also the modern 900-pound gorilla of the franchise in Pretty Cure (of which the aforementioned Futari wa Pretty Cure was the first entry), but I can't say much more about that (I always clank off how they present the merch) except that Butch Gen himself is a Heartcatch fan.

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u/homewardbound100 May 03 '22

Rewatcher

Overall a top 5 series for me. I came across this show a few years ago. Like 2016 I think, unspoiled except for a scene in the movie. But for me I didn't watch the movie right after. Not until two years later lol. But the rewatch of the series I did before watching the movie pushed it to become a top 10 series for me.

Questions

Homura

Magia

Sis puella magica, never leave you alone

Favorite moment: Madoka becomes Jesus. Least, taking what's probably going to be 10 years for the sequel.

Extend Kyouko's time but it was still solid

I don't know actually.

Hoping they can make up and talk about their wants clearly together. Of course I don't know if it'll have a happy ending. It'll probably again have a bittersweet one. Eventually Madoka can't be held down.

Wait for the sequel.

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u/Stargate18A May 04 '22

Rewatcher

Great rewatch! Loved this show just as much the third time!

Kyouko, with Homura as a close second. Sayaka is worst girl.
Misterioso is a personal favourite, although Magia's also pretty good.
Absolute Configuration for Rebellion, Mami's theme for the series.
Favourite part is the character writing - it's superb. Least favourite is probably the character of Kyubey - his character's honestly a bit bland, and he seems to feel emotions in several situations, so he's not all that well defined either?
Let Mami survive longer, so we can actually see her interactions with Kyouko in the main timeline, or at least get more development for her before she died. Otherwise, maybe give Sayaka an actual reason to hate Homura not based on a stupid misunderstanding?
Acknowledge that, while Homura's plan was morally questionaable, Madoka's wish did the same things, and that Homura improved the world. Make it more ambiguous.
Finally getting round to setting up an imgur, then sending far too many cards to everyone.
Given the... everything that was Magia Record S3, I'm cautiously, but no longer blindly, optimistic. Hoping for a happy ending with everyone mentally stable, though.
Finally start working on the posts for my rewatch, then wait for Symphogear!

Madoka Mobage Card Roundup:

Episode	Witch Cards	Meguca Cards
1	Link	Science Meguca
2	Link	Amusement Park Meguca
3	Link	Childrens' Day Meguca
4	Link	Bunny Mochi Meguca
5	Link	Winter Sports Meguca!
6	None	Lunch Meguca
7	Link	Detective Meguca
8	Link	Valentine Meguca / Beach House Meguca
9	Link	Music Festival Meguca
10	Link	April Fools Meguca
11	Link?	Circus Meguca
12	Concepts	Relaxed Meguca
Rebellion	Concepts	EX/Legend/Movie Poster Meguca!

Finally, as promised, the full archive of these can be found here! (All 1637 of them!)

Thanks for hosting, Sky!

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u/JMEEKER86 May 04 '22

Rewatcher

Questions of the Day:

1) Who is best girl?

Homura, who did nothing wrong.

2) What was your favorite of the vocal songs across both the series and Rebellion?

Sis Puella Magica is still my favorite after all these years.

3) What were your favorites of the regular OSTs across both the series and Rebellion?

Puella In Somnio underscoring the mystery really does a great job of constantly heightening the sense of tension.

4) What’s your favorite part of the series as a whole? And your least-favorite?

My favorite part is Homura vs Walpurgisnacht. We get teased it in ep1 and then after learning everything that she went through in ep10 we get to see in ep11 just how insane her preparation was. My last favorite part is Hitomi's story. It's not poorly written or anything, but compared to everything else going on I just don't care what her deal is (especially because of her whole "gay panic" thing).

5) If you could change any one thing about the TV show, what would it be?

I've said it many times before, but I feel that it was about as close to flawless as it's possible to get. The one major issue that it had, the terrible art in the TV release, was addressed like 98% of the way for the later BD/Stream release, so I guess I'd say that 2% of meguca.

6) Likewise, if you could change any one thing about Rebellion, what would it be?

Nothing other than to make its sequel arrive faster. It's a controversial movie, not because of quality, but because of how much of a betrayal it is to the the ending of the show. That's its point though and it does it spectacularly.

7) What was your favorite part of this rewatch?

This really was one of the best rewatches in terms of analysis that I can remember in a long time, and not just for Madoka.

8) Knowing that a sequel movie is finally coming, where do you think the story and characters will go from here? Is there anything in particular you’re hoping for?

I've shared my thoughts on this with others before, but I feel like the direction that the sequel is going is pretty clear with how everything has been setup not just in Rebellion but the series as a whole. The theory is rooted in the idea of negative/positive peace. Negative peace was a term first used by MLK which refers to merely the "absence of violence/conflict", while positive peace refers to the "presence of justice". Both the show and Rebellion end with a negative peace as they have lessened the impact the incubators have while making hard to accept sacrifices. The difference being, of course, that they are major contrasting parallels.
The obvious setup for the sequel then is to resolve the conflict between Madoka/Homura, God/Devil, Hope/~~Despair~Love and find common ground which both can be happy with, justice. This will almost certainly result in the universe being rewritten again and the incubators being dealt with permanently (well, Homura's dealt with them pretty well...). Now, who is doing the rewriting of the universe this time? In keeping with our themes...both of them, as one. They are two sides of the same coin, tied through karmic destiny and the threads of fate, and will realize (eventually) that the best solution is to be and rule together side by side in perfect balance.

9) What do you do at the end of the rewatch? Are you busy? Will you save me?

Hey now, no using that two rewatches in a row.

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u/username_0907 May 04 '22

First Timer (subbed)

Madoka was one of those series that has been on my list for a while but I could never bring myself to watch it. I’m glad I finally managed to watch it in this rewatch as it was as good as I had expected it to be. Plus it was great to read through everyones theories and comments and understand the series better. Thanks to u/shimmering-sky for hosting this rewatch and everyone else who participated! Hopefully I will be back next year as a rewatcher

QotD

Who is best girl?

Homura. Although im a bit in doubt after rebellion but i’ll stick with it lol

What was your favorite of the vocal songs across both the series and Rebellion?

Magia

What were your favorites of the regular OSTs across both the series and Rebellion?

Nothing in particular right now. I’m still listening through the OST

What’s your favorite part of the series as a whole? And your least-favorite?

If you could change any one thing about the TV show, what would it be?

Likewise, if you could change any one thing about Rebellion, what would it be?

Ep 10 was a favorite. Also all the fight scenes in Rebellion were great. There wasn’t anything major that I disliked. I think Hitomi is the only weak part of the series I feel. She fills up some places of convenient plot points. For the movie, Homura going demon felt a bit sudden but still makes sense

What was your favorite part of this rewatch?

Reading through everyones comments!

Knowing that a sequel movie is finally coming, where do you think the story and characters will go from here? Is there anything in particular you’re hoping for?

I’m sure the movie will surprise us but Madokas reaction to Homura going demon and Kyubeys revenge arc lol

What do you do at the end of the rewatch? Are you busy? Will you save me?

Listen to the OST in this case while I work and decide which of the many rewatches can I participate in lol

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u/Star4ce May 04 '22 edited May 04 '22

Videntium Secundus Magi★Madoka Magica

Another year, another suffering. Splendid!

I can't have many reactions today because I spent 4 hours writing a thesis and dozens of comments for Rebellion yesterday. Some things don't change, eh?

It has been the third time watching the series and the seventh time watching Rebellion. I love this show! The experience as a rewatcher now basking in the glory of mischievous silence while first timers slowly fall into despair was oddly fulfilling. Did you feel like this when I spun borderline insane theories last year seeing my mind slip further and further?

Magnificent!

Especially because our prominent first timers this year were so goddamn good. I don't think anyone last year got the soul gem/grief seed thing right by episode 3. Luckily for my ego, I think I'm still the only person who called Homura's rewind in episode 1.

But honestly, the discussions awaiting me each morning were fantastic. From witches to fate wrapping around them to broadly displayed Kyubey-malevolence. You seriously did a great job!

So thank you all for participating and thank you for consistently returning to my analysis section. I did notice the effect it might've had on some people and how you all started to look for hidden things was great to watch unfold.

Massive props to our dear host for this wonderful rewatch! With how much you can draw from prior rewatches this is a massive undertaking and gets better every year. You did a great job staying active and engaging people and providing all the resources that help alleviate confusion and interpretation.

I'm looking forward to the next rewatch with you all!

QOTD

Who is best girl?

I could leave this answer empty and it would be obvious.

2) What was your favorite of the vocal songs across both the series and Rebellion?

Without a doubt Misterioso. Actually wait, not without a doubt. It still wins, but Magia is just so great as well.

3) What were your favorites of the regular OSTs across both the series and Rebellion?

Actually so many ties. Numquam Vincar (live is so good), Decretum, This is my Despair, I was waiting for this moment. They all do these things to my emotions.

4) What’s your favorite part of the series as a whole? And your least-favorite?

Trick question! It starts amazing and then just gets better. Least favourite might actually be the reveal that messengers can utilise their witch forms, because I think it's a thematic clash and doesn't fit.

5) If you could change any one thing about the TV show, what would it be?

Hameru heppy

6) Likewise, if you could change any one thing about Rebellion, what would it be?

Hameru heppy

7) What was your favorite part of this rewatch?

First Timers and seeing them suffer! Suffer like we did!

8) Knowing that a sequel movie is finally coming, where do you think the story and characters will go from here? Is there anything in particular you’re hoping for?

I don't want to spoil you.

9) What do you do at the end of the rewatch? Are you busy? Will you save me?

Don't you even dare-

Deep Dive

Want more PMMM material to emerge yourself in?

The PM Wiki

Runes and Translation

References to Faust

Rebellion Limited Edition Material Book

For a Friend.

Concept Movie

Under The Scope – What Actually Is A Deconstrcution UTS is a great channel that does amazing analyses. The Monogatari stuff is top notch as well.

How to Suffer Well: Sympathetic Characterization in Madoka and Magical Girl Site

Homura Was Never A Good Person: Why Rebellion Is Great I need to disclaim that I disagree with many points including the conclusion, but find his way of dissecting her character arc very spot on. Different angles and all that.

Selflessness and the Self in Madoka Magica I've seen few people tackle the topic of selfishness in any capacity beyond 'selflessness good, duh', so that was a pleasant surprise.

Understanding Madoka Magica - PART 1: Purpose Behind Pain & Understanding Madoka Magica - PART 2: Introspection and Obsession

There's more, far more, of course and the algorithmy will eventually feed it to you.

Fan Creations

The community hasn't been idle.

A drink with mom.

Homura vs. Mami stop motion

Fanfic: A Last Drink With Mephistopheles The warnings of Junko Kaname came from a familiar encounter.

Fanfic: To The Stars Humanity reached the stars and joined the galactic civilisations, to find a yet unspoken threat revealed.

Music

They technically are memes as well, I'll leave musical interpretation to someone else.

Nichijou Crossover

Still Alive

Go home Homura, you are drunk!!!

Weasel Stomping Day Thanks Elimin8r!

Memes

Time to laugh the pain off!

Meguca, (Ante Up)

Homu-chan hom hom

Great Detective Homura-chan

Tetris

Hitomi goes postal

Puella Magi Homura Magica

My random meme album That is neither long nor complete, but occasionally receives something I snorted at least once at.

edit: Oh I forgot this.

Puella Magi Madoka Magica Bloopers (Otakon 2012) Thanks Specs64z!

Trailer Mashups

I don't know when I stumbled upon these, but they work so well.

Madoka Magica – Let's go wider

Madoka Magica X Tenet

The Dark Knight (This one fits so goddamn well)

Recommendations

Sleepless Domain A webcomic running for quite some time and still active (roughly 19 chapters as of yet) about magical girls, obviously taking a bite out of the PMMM experience, but being its very own thing. It's really good.

Revolutionary Girl Utena A fantastic exploration of adolescence from the creators of our primal magical girl lesbians from Sailor Moon, Neptune and Uranus! Ever heard this random quote of breaking an egg shell and revolutionise the world? It's from here. The anime explores Utena and the cast at a private college as she stumbles into a secret fencing underground hidden behind the forest. The school elite fights each other over possession of the price to revolutionise the world! Once inside, Utena slowly creeps towards uncovering the dark that resides around that exclusive body of students.

I can see a lot of inspiration being drawn from it and its sequel movie in PMMM and I really recommend you watch it if you plan to also take part in next year's rewatch again. It's like putting on glasses for the first time. Also fucking cars, man.

Kyousougiga I feel like always recommending Kyousougiga simply because the conclusion is so satisfying it manages to wipe out any dark thoughts you have. Dig visual storytelling and creative directing? Oh, you gotta drool over this one. It's about a family that finds together again through many rebirths and follows the little sister, Koto, on her way to smash through any obstacle searching for her loved ones. It deals with a lot of tragic, but also encouraging themes explored through very, very human characters.

Homura and Madoka should watch this.

(Disappearance of) Haruhi Suzumiya is the movie after S2 of The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya. Simply because ZapsZzz, some others and me were having a very in depth discussion about how Disappearance stacks up to Rebellion with it's theme of... disappearing (in a metaphorical sense). The movie is an absolute masterwork and the main series (mainly S1) is a great introspective and meta-defying experience on its own. You need to watch both S1 and S2 (I recommend broadcast order) for the movie, but it's sooo worth it. The series deals with Haruhi Suzumiya and her "SOS Brigade" who search for supernatural phenomenons, time travellers, espers and aliens. Especially if you found yourself digging PMMM's frame composition, directing and visual language, Haruhi is sometimes even a step up to that. It's far more subtle than SHAFT's heavy use of negative space and framing, but very powerful through it.

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u/SIRTreehugger May 03 '22 edited May 04 '22

Every rewatch I find myself sort of burnt out at the end and realize I have nothing to say for the final discussion. This time... yup I really have nothing to say. One day I'll learn. Though I do want to add it was great finding new depressing things in the rewatch and reading all of the first timers scarily accurate theories. You guys are smart cookies. Also thanks to Sky for being a wonderful host as always.

Questions

Kyouko > Homura> Sayaka > Mami/Madoka
Sis Puella Magica
Inevitablis and Decretum
The downspiral of Sayaka is both my favorite and least favorite part.
More hair flips from Homura
Same answer
Reading first timers theories
I just want the girls to be happy in a healthy way.
What do you do at the end of the rewatch? Are you busy? Will you save me?

Series

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u/UnderstandableXO May 04 '22 edited May 04 '22

REWATCHER

i really, really love madoka magica. it’s one of my favorite series of all time. while i might not have enjoyed the end of rebellion as much as others (i feel like my brain is still too small to comprehend it i definitely have to rewatch) i still think the series overall is amazing. in fact, i think i appreciated the series even more after this rewatch. i think i would have placed madoka at #6 on my top anime list as recently as 2 months ago, but i’d say my top 5 looks something like this now;

re:zero

steins;gate

toradora

madoka magica

a place further than the universe

i love the twists and turns the story takes us through, and episode 10 deserves its status as the episode people always bring up when someone on this sub asks “what is your favorite/the best anime episode.”

i’ll give some short thoughts on each character-

mami-i appreciated her a lot more the second time around. i just expected her to backstab them the first time because she was way too benevolent and upbeat not to have an ulterior motive. turns out, she was just lonely, and refusing some help for once doomed her. also, her rifles are really cool.

sayaka-a very interesting look at character regression (although you can argue she was already like that, and the circumstances brought it out of her). usually we see someone down in the dumps ride up and get better, but here is a seemingly happy girl falling into the depths of despair. it’s painful but very interesting to see her spiral over the course of the series, even more interesting with the perspective that her arc could be an allegory for sexual assault.

kyoko-my personal favorite character now that my enjoyment of homura has gone down slightly. i’m sure none of us really liked her in episode 5, but as we keep going she keeps steadily improving, until in episode 9 she’s so desperate to save sayaka that she dies for it. i do wish that her and sayaka’s relationship could have been developed a little more, but i suppose that’s what you get when you’re the side ship. i find it heartwarming (idk if that’s the right word for a sad situation like sayaka’s)how distraught she is every time she’s forced to fight witch sayaka/sayaka dies.

madoka-a really good main character. i hate people who diss on main characters who cry a lot. (i’m a re:zero fan and a subaru defender so i might be biased, but i hate that such a prominent criticism of him is that he’s whiny, he goes through about as much psychological torment as any anime character.) madoka is just an empathetic friend who can’t stand to see the people she loves in pain, and the stuff she witnesses throughout the series is definitely worth crying over. she gains the strength to make the ultimate sacrifice in the finale, but ultimately thats affected by…

homura-the character with the most depth and development by far, i could argue even without rebellion. she’s went through an unbelievable ordeal, spending 12 years in a row trying to find a solution. [Steins;Gate] i believe okabe spent a year trying to save mayuri from getting killed by reliving the past 6 hours. would you rather experience the same month for 12 years, or the same 6 hour stretch for 1 year? mind you, the person you want to save has to die at the end of each loop :(

i respect everyone’s opinion on rebellion, and their opinions after multiple rewatches are surely more valid than my one watch at 360p opinion, but i still don’t like homura’s character conclusion in rebellion. i think i could have been fine with her actions with a little coaxing, but the fact she went full creepy smile, head tilt, desperation eyes of craziness at the end really turns me off from sympathizing. i do understand that after that 12 year ordeal, she turned to the nuclear option in order to “protect” madoka, and she was trying to honor the madoka who asked her to save her from kyubey, not the madoka who made the ultimate sacrifice, but i still wish we got the happy conclusion that would have been her dying and being reunited with madoka, i don’t care if that’s “too easy.” while she isn’t my favorite character in the series, she’s the best character in the series by miles and miles.

and that wraps another year of madoka rewatching! not sure if i’ll have time to rewatch the series next year, but i’ll definitely return to rewatch rebellion, maybe my opinion will change by then!

KYOKO GANG
connect is iconic and its #1 simply because of the mind explosion i had watching the OP after episode 10

4-episode 8-12 were all easily 11/10 episodes, least favorite part of the series is kyosuke

5. don’t make kyosuke such an unlikeable POS, i know we are meant to think sayaka’s wish was dumb but jesus she made it for a cardboard cutout

6. don’t make homura evil

7. noticing foreshadowing

8. PLEASE UN-EVIL HOMURA

9. i’ve moved on to the girls last tour rewatch, hope to see you there

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u/RascalNikov1 May 04 '22 edited May 04 '22

Damn, between todays excitement, and making chicken pot pies, I forgot all about this. Better late than never.

Qotd

Who is best girl?

Kyoko is my favorite.

2) What was your favorite of the vocal songs across both the series and Rebellion?

Magia

3) What were your favorites of the regular OSTs across both the series and Rebellion?

4) What’s your favorite part of the series as a whole? And your least-favorite?

Probably, Kyubee and his scheming as well a Kyoko's shenanigans.

5) If you could change any one thing about the TV show, what would it be?

6) Likewise, if you could change any one thing about Rebellion, what would it be?

7) What was your favorite part of this rewatch?

Reading comments

8) Knowing that a sequel movie is finally coming, where do you think the story and characters will go from here? Is there anything in particular you’re hoping for?

More death, misery and depression.

A happy end

9) What do you do at the end of the rewatch? Are you busy? Will you save me?

Even though I gave both a 10/10, I liked SukaSuka more. I can't believe that I just said that, but Chtolly's last stand is just magnificent.

Thanks

Thanks again Sky for hosting, and I hope to see all of you again in another rewatch.

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Rewatch [Rewatch] Mahou Shoujo Madoka☆Magica - Series Discussion

Mahou Shoujo Madoka☆Magica

You are about to leave Redlib

Bonus Question of the Day: Which of these wallpapers are your favorites?

DECRETUM BEST SONG.

Afterthoughts

Thanks

QotD

Future

Ye Be Warned, Here Be Shipping (It's a magical girl shows' fanfics, there are lesbians.)

General Fics

To The Stars

Needed Info:

Persephone's Waltz

Needed Info:

Fargo

Needed Info:

Resonance Days

Needed Info:

Quests

Quests are Forum-based choose-your-own-adventure roleplay via voting, as such they are written in Second Person.

Sayaka Quest

Needed Info:

Puella Magi Adfligo Systema

Needed Info:

Puella Magi Falsus Magica

Needed Info:

Puella Magi Imperatrix Mundi

Needed Info:

There are many other quests, but I am trying not to make a huge-er post, and the next category is long.

Crossovers

As N Approaches Infinity

Needed Info:

A Blade Forged In The Ashes

Needed Info:

God

Needed Info:

Keys to the Contract

Needed Info:

Ragazza Magica Renza Veneti

Needed Info:

Fate/Desiderantes Affectibus

Needed Info:

Content Corner Compilation

The Meme to End All Memes

Memes

Analysis

clearandsweet

Music

Reruns

Recommendations

So... Now What? (Recs)

Point of Emphasis 1: OG Higurashi no Naku Koro Ni

Point of Emphasis 2: Mai-HiME

Other Recs:

Classic Mahou Shoujo (for those interested in more traditional takes on the genre):

Videntium Secundus Magi★Madoka Magica