Puella Magi Madoka Magica 1 & 2 - Beginnings/Eternal
Released By: Manga Entertainment
Rating: 12
Running Time: 300 Mins
Audio: English & Japanese DD 2.0
Release Date: Out Now!
Reviewed By: Sandra Scholes
Madoka Kaname is everyone's favourite high school girl who has best friends and family, but when Homura Akemi ends up in her class, she tells her something that will change her life forever.
Kyubey (no, not the Nine Tails) is a peculiar creature who only Madoka can see who wants her to make a contract with her and become a magical girl. When she agrees to it, she doesn't know the impact it will have on her life, or the cost of being one.
Many say this was one of the original magical girl anime series and fans lapped it up. Now here it is with new and improved animation and new scenes to set fans wanting more. The point of these movies is to recapture the series in all its delights as they retell the story of how Madoka came to be a magical girl and what happened to almost make her world a dark one.
Puella Magi Madoka Magica is the typical shojo anime right from the menu screen with bows, lace and satin. Madoka's life starts out as normal, almost routine with her mum and dad and toddler sibling. They are introduced in the anime straight away to emphasise that Madoka is super normal, she helps her family in almost every way, makes sure everyone's okay, and has some cooky yet caring friends around her. Like Shinji Hirako from Bleach, Homura Akemi introduces herself in class and becomes the main interest of the entire class. while Homura is confident, beautiful and has the class enthralled in her, Madoka acts the opposite, she is cute, with less confidence and seems bungling around her even though she thinks there is a reason she has come to the exact same school as her.
The nub of the story is that once a girl has made a contract with Kyubei they can become magical girls and they get a soldier to fight for them and any wish they want granted (within reason) as long as they fight witches, for as magical girls are born of wishes, witches are born of curses. The main problem with witches is that humans can't see them, so it's easy for them to spread sadness, hatred, malice, doubt, jealousy and fear wherever they go.
In Puella Magi Madoka Magica Part 2: Eternal, Madoka and Saika are in the midst of a problem. Madoka has still fallen out with Saika, but Saika confesses that she is confused and hurt by the whole idea of being a magical girl who wants happiness for herself and others. This wishing, she mentions has an adverse affect on everyone else who as a result get bad luck from it. All her hatred and dark emotions have clouded her soul gem and her soul gem shattering sends her and Madoka into a dark, twisted world where she has to help Saika, but she needs help from her friends.
What Kyubei never told Madoka was that there would be a price to pay for being a magical girl, that if their soul gems darkened in any way, they would lose themselves, but also there is an altogether darker truth for those who have felt hatred, jealousy or anger.
Parts 1 and 2 are the start of an exciting trilogy of movies with the third being the final, heart-rending part many will be wanting to see. Strange battles in parallel worlds, the heartache during these battles when friends get hurt and the sense of impending doom when the truth about what it is like to be a magical girl all adds to the feel of this anime. This is far from the story being about cute girls doing good for the world, there is a dark side to it all, a side even they don't know of. Madoka being the girl she is keeps her good side intact even in the brink of despair.
There is the usual conflict between characters, but also the love between the many magical girls out there - and the reveals are some of the most interesting aspects of watching the movies.
Bonus Material:
Puella Magi Madoka Magica The Movie: Part 1 - Beginnings / Part 2 - Eternal Blu-ray Only.
Textless Ending
Trailers
TV CM Collections
Textless Opening
Rebellion- Teaser Trailer
Verdict: Exciting and original - it's the ultimate magical girl combo to watch and keep!
Released By: Manga Entertainment
Rating: 12
Running Time: 300 Mins
Audio: English & Japanese DD 2.0
Release Date: Out Now!
Reviewed By: Sandra Scholes
Madoka Kaname is everyone's favourite high school girl who has best friends and family, but when Homura Akemi ends up in her class, she tells her something that will change her life forever.
Kyubey (no, not the Nine Tails) is a peculiar creature who only Madoka can see who wants her to make a contract with her and become a magical girl. When she agrees to it, she doesn't know the impact it will have on her life, or the cost of being one.
Many say this was one of the original magical girl anime series and fans lapped it up. Now here it is with new and improved animation and new scenes to set fans wanting more. The point of these movies is to recapture the series in all its delights as they retell the story of how Madoka came to be a magical girl and what happened to almost make her world a dark one.
Puella Magi Madoka Magica is the typical shojo anime right from the menu screen with bows, lace and satin. Madoka's life starts out as normal, almost routine with her mum and dad and toddler sibling. They are introduced in the anime straight away to emphasise that Madoka is super normal, she helps her family in almost every way, makes sure everyone's okay, and has some cooky yet caring friends around her. Like Shinji Hirako from Bleach, Homura Akemi introduces herself in class and becomes the main interest of the entire class. while Homura is confident, beautiful and has the class enthralled in her, Madoka acts the opposite, she is cute, with less confidence and seems bungling around her even though she thinks there is a reason she has come to the exact same school as her.
The nub of the story is that once a girl has made a contract with Kyubei they can become magical girls and they get a soldier to fight for them and any wish they want granted (within reason) as long as they fight witches, for as magical girls are born of wishes, witches are born of curses. The main problem with witches is that humans can't see them, so it's easy for them to spread sadness, hatred, malice, doubt, jealousy and fear wherever they go.
In Puella Magi Madoka Magica Part 2: Eternal, Madoka and Saika are in the midst of a problem. Madoka has still fallen out with Saika, but Saika confesses that she is confused and hurt by the whole idea of being a magical girl who wants happiness for herself and others. This wishing, she mentions has an adverse affect on everyone else who as a result get bad luck from it. All her hatred and dark emotions have clouded her soul gem and her soul gem shattering sends her and Madoka into a dark, twisted world where she has to help Saika, but she needs help from her friends.
What Kyubei never told Madoka was that there would be a price to pay for being a magical girl, that if their soul gems darkened in any way, they would lose themselves, but also there is an altogether darker truth for those who have felt hatred, jealousy or anger.
Parts 1 and 2 are the start of an exciting trilogy of movies with the third being the final, heart-rending part many will be wanting to see. Strange battles in parallel worlds, the heartache during these battles when friends get hurt and the sense of impending doom when the truth about what it is like to be a magical girl all adds to the feel of this anime. This is far from the story being about cute girls doing good for the world, there is a dark side to it all, a side even they don't know of. Madoka being the girl she is keeps her good side intact even in the brink of despair.
There is the usual conflict between characters, but also the love between the many magical girls out there - and the reveals are some of the most interesting aspects of watching the movies.
Bonus Material:
Puella Magi Madoka Magica The Movie: Part 1 - Beginnings / Part 2 - Eternal Blu-ray Only.
Textless Ending
Trailers
TV CM Collections
Textless Opening
Rebellion- Teaser Trailer
Verdict: Exciting and original - it's the ultimate magical girl combo to watch and keep!
