Puella Magi Madoka Magica: The Movie

Puella Magi Madoka Magica
Promotional poster for the third movie, Rebellion, featuring main character Homura Akemi.
劇場版 魔法少女まどか☆マギカ
(Gekijōban Mahō Shōjo Madoka Magika)
Anime film
Beginnings
Directed by Akiyuki Shinbo
Yukihiro Miyamoto
Produced by Atsuhiro Iwakami
Written by Gen Urobuchi
Music by Yuki Kajiura
Studio Shaft
Licensed by
Released October 6, 2012
Runtime 130 minutes
Anime film
Eternal
Directed by Akiyuki Shinbo
Yukihiro Miyamoto
Produced by Atsuhiro Iwakami
Written by Gen Urobuchi
Music by Yuki Kajiura
Studio Shaft
Licensed by
Released October 13, 2012
Runtime 110 minutes
Anime film
Rebellion
Directed by Akiyuki Shinbo
Yukihiro Miyamoto
Produced by Atsuhiro Iwakami
Written by Gen Urobuchi
Music by Yuki Kajiura
Studio Shaft
Licensed by
Released October 26, 2013
Runtime 116 minutes[1]
Manga
Puella Magi Madoka Magica the Movie: Rebellion
Written by Gen Urobuchi
Illustrated by Hanokage
Published by Houbunsha
English publisher
Demographic Seinen
Imprint Manga Time KR Comics
Original run November 12, 2013 – January 10, 2014
Volumes 3

Puella Magi Madoka Magica: The Movie (劇場版 魔法少女まどか☆マギカ, Gekijōban Mahō Shōjo Madoka Magika) is a series of Japanese animated films produced by Aniplex and Shaft based on the 2011 anime television series of the same name. The first two films, Beginnings (始まりの物語, Hajimari no Monogatari) and Eternal (永遠の物語, Eien no Monogatari), were released in October 2012 and serve as a recap of the television series with redone voice acting and some newly animated footage. The third film, Rebellion (叛逆の物語, Hangyaku no Monogatari), is an all-new original work released on October 26, 2013, with a manga adaptation by Hanokage released by Houbunsha between November 2013 and January 2014. The films are distributed in North America by Aniplex of America. Rebellion was nominated for the Japan Academy Prize for Animation of the Year and won the Best Theatrical Film Award at the 19th Animation Kobe Awards.

Plot

In Puella Magi Madoka Magica, there are certain creatures that can grant a chosen girl any wish they may desire. In exchange for that wish, however, that girl must become a magical girl who must fight against witches, creatures born from despair that are responsible for accidents, disease, and suicide. In the city of Mitakihara, a girl named Madoka Kaname is approached by a creature named Kyubey with the offer of becoming a magical girl. Meanwhile, another magical girl named Homura Akemi seeks to do everything in her power to stop Madoka from becoming one. Madoka soon learns that the life of a magical girl is not the dreamlike fantasy she imagined and is instead filled with tragedy and despair.

Beginnings

In Mitakihara city, a girl named Madoka Kaname meets het new transfer student Homura Akemi who warns her to remain as she is lest risking to lose everything. Later that day, Madoka and her friend Sayaka Miki are shopping before they find themselves protecting a strange cat-like creature named Kyubey from Homura and then being rescued by Mami Tomoe when they got caught in a mystical barrier and approached by strange monsters. Madoka and Sayaka learn Mami is a magical girl who fights monstrous being called witches with Kyubey offering the two girls the opportunity along at the exchange of granting a wish. Homura is strongly against Madoka becoming one, Madoka almost making the pact after being inspired by Mami to become a magical girl to help people. But Madoka does not go through it after watching Mami brutally killed by the witch Charlotte, while Sayaka becomes a magical girl to heal the hand of her childhood friend, Kyosuke Kamijo. But Sayaka soon comes into conflict with another magical girl named Kyoko Sakura, whom Homura talked into an alliance to deal with a witch named Walpurgisnacht arriving to Mitakihara in two weeks.

When Madoka learns that Sayaka and Kyoko are to fight on a highway bridge, she intervenes by throwing Sayaka's Soul Gem, the source of her power, into a speeding truck. This results in everyone but Homura and Kyubey learning the shocking truth that the Soul Gems are the Magical Girls' souls, Sayaka horrified that she is essentially no longer a person. As Madoka questions Homura why Kyubey keep everyone in the dark, Kyoko tries to help Sayaka cope by telling the girl of her own experience which destroyed her family. But Sayaka isolates herself from others while falling deeper into despair after learning that her classmate, Hitomi Shizuki, plans to confess her own love to Kyosuke. Madoka is nearly tricked into making a wish to help Sayaka when Homura kills Kyubey, telling Madoka to be so selfless before seeing her run off to find Sayaka. At that moment, another Kyubey appears and devours the dead one as Homura identifies them by their true name: Incubator. Meanwhile, Kyoko finds Sayaka as she admits of being such an idiot before her Soul Gem completely darkens and explodes into a Grief Seed. As a witch begins forming, Kyubey muses how a "magical girl" is only a "witch" yet to fully mature.

Eternal

Homura saves Kyoko and Sayaka's lifeless body from the witch Oktavia von Seckendorff, revealing it to be Sayaka herself as the result of her Soul Gem turning into a Grief Seed from being complete tainted in despair. Madoka learns from Kyubey that he and his fellow Incubators have chosen to turn teenage girls into magical girls to use the energy that spawns from their inevitable transformations into witches to counteract entropy in the universe. Kyoko, hoping for a chance to restore Sayaka's humanity, takes Madoka with her to try and reach Oktavia. But the attempt ultimately fails with Kyoko sacrificing herself to end Sayaka's suffering. Kyubey, having knew the futility but not telling Kyoko the truth, taunts Homura that she has no chance of stoping Walpurgisnacht without Madoka becoming a magical girl. It is then revealed that Homura comes from another timeline, having relived the same month several times in the hopes of saving Madoka from Walpurgisnacht, Kyubey revealing that Homura's actions made Madoka possess the potential to become a witch whose power dwarfs Walpurgisnacht. Following Sayaka's funeral and being subjected to the tragic deaths of magical girls across history, Madoka tries to convince Homura to let her help her before Walpurgisnacht appears in the storm falling upon the city.

Homura attempts to face Walpurgisnacht, but is ultimately defeated and pushed to the brink of despair. But Madoka arrives and becomes a magical girl by using the karma within her to wish for the negation of all witches across the timeline while removing their original selves from reality at the moment their Soul Gems turn into Grief Seeds. The wish resulted in Madoka transcending into a godlike psychopomp while removing herself completely from reality with only Homura remembering her as she finds herself on a world where Mami and Kyoko are still alive as the three of them now hunt monsters called wraiths whole Madoka established the "Law of Cycles" in which magical girls disappear into a higher plane instead of becoming witches.

Rebellion

In the seemingly carefree city of Mitakihara, Homura transfers into school and joins Madoka, Sayaka, Mami, and Kyoko, along with a familiar named Bebe, as they become magical girls and fight against creatures known as "Nightmares" (ナイトメア, Naitomea). Following them defeating a Nightmare embodiment of Hitomi's frustrations over not being able to see Kyosuke, Homura realizes something is amiss in their memories as she and Kyoko learn they are trapped in a fake Mitakihara inside a witch's labyrinth. Homura proceeds to interrogate Bebe, remembering her as the witch Charlotte, only to end up fighting Mami who remembered they fought something different from nightmares. Homura is spirited away by Sayaka while Mami is kept from pursing them by a mysterious Magical Girl, Sayaka revealing she possesses her memories along manifesting her Oktavia incarnation while warning Homura to reconsider uncovering the truth. Meeting with Madoka helps Homura clear her head and reach the conclusion that she is the witch who created the barrier, Kyubey confirming himself and his fellow Incubators to masterminded it. Kyubey explains that hearing Homura speaking of a reality predating the Law of Cycles timeline inspired they to isolated her Soul Gem from the rest of the universe for observation with a labyrinth created within which Homura subconsciously brought specific people into like Madoka. While Kyubey admits that the memory loss in Madoka is unexpected, he decided to observe her until they devise the means to contain her and restore the previous timeline so they can better amass energy from magical girls transforming into witches again.

Kyubey's intentions provoke Homura into completing her transformation into the witch Homulilly to have her familiars kill every Incubator within the labyrinth while resolute to destroy herself rather then be saved. But Sayaka and Charlotte's original self Nagisa Momoe, both reborn as Madoka's guardians of the Law of Cycles, update the others on what is happening as they fight their way through Homulilly's familiars to save Homura from herself before she and Madoka destroy the barrier separating Homura's real body from the rest of the universe. Madoka recovers her memories and power as she proceeds to cleanse Homura of her curse and bring her into the Law of Cycles, only to be grabbed by a prepared Homura who reveals the curse consuming her is love rather than despair. Homura separates Madoka from her divinity while her curse enables her to transcend into "demon" as she rewrites reality to have Madoka and their friends return to a normal life, forcing the Incubators take Madoka's place in bearing the collective misery of magical girls across time. Homura revels in her new world while accepting that she may become Madoka's enemy should she regain her godly powers and oppose her. A post-credits scene shows Homura seated in a chair while watching over Mitakihara with a badly-beaten and mentally scarred Kyubey nearby before she leans over a cliff and falls.

Production

The original anime television series of Puella Magi Madoka Magica was a collaboration between Aniplex, Shaft and MBS. The series was written by Gen Urobuchi and directed by Akiyuki Shinbo with original character designs by Ume Aoki and music by Yuki Kajiura.

In November 2011, it was announced in the December issue of Kadokawa Shoten's Newtype magazine that a three-part theatrical film project was in development by Shaft.[2] The first film, Puella Magi Madoka Magica Part 1: Beginnings (劇場版 魔法少女まどか☆マギカ[前編] 始まりの物語, Gekijōban Mahō Shōjo Madoka Magika (Zenpen): Hajimari no Monogatari), covers the first eight episodes of the anime series.[3] The film was released in Japanese theaters on October 6, 2012.[4] The second film, Puella Magi Madoka Magica Part 2: Eternal (劇場版 魔法少女まどか☆マギカ[後編] 永遠の物語, Gekijōban Mahō Shōjo Madoka Magika (Kōhen): Eien no Monogatari), covers the final four episodes of the anime series. The film was released in Japanese theaters on October 13, 2012.[4] The first two films feature redone voices and some scenes with new animation. They were screened in selected locations in the United States and seven other countries between October 2012 and February 2013,[5][6] as well as screened at Anime Festival Asia between November 10–11, 2012 in Singapore.[7] The first two films were released on Blu-ray Disc and DVD on July 30, 2013 in standard and collector's edition sets and is available for import by Aniplex of America.[8] The films were re-released by Aniplex USA with an English dub on Blu-ray Disc and DVD on July 15, 2014.[9]

The third film, Puella Magi Madoka Magica New Feature: Rebellion (劇場版 魔法少女まどか☆マギカ[新編] 叛逆の物語, Gekijōban Mahō Shōjo Madoka Magika (Shinpen): Hangyaku no Monogatari), is an original story which takes place following the events of the previous films. The film was released in Japanese theaters by Warner Bros. Pictures on October 26, 2013.[10][11] Special skits featuring characters from the Monogatari series aired prior to the film, with a different skit shown during each week of its screening.[12] The film was screened in North America by Aniplex of America in December 2013.[13][14] The film was released on Blu-ray Disc and DVD with English subtitles on April 2, 2014 in Japan and was released by Aniplex of America as an import title in North America on April 8, 2014.[15][16][17] A re-release with an English dub was released in North America on April 7, 2015.[18]

The opening theme for the first two films is "Luminous" (ルミナス, Ruminasu) by ClariS, which was released on October 10, 2012.[19] The ending theme for the first film is "Magia (quattro)" by Kalafina, and the second film's ending theme is "Hikari Furu" (ひかりふる, "Light Falling") by Kalafina, which was released on October 24, 2012.[20] For the third film, the opening theme is "Colorful" (カラフル, Karafuru) by ClariS, which was released on October 30, 2013,[21] and the ending theme is "Kimi no Gin no Niwa" (君の銀の庭, "Your Silver Garden") by Kalafina, which was released on November 6, 2013.[22]

Other media

A film comic adaptation of the first two films, titled Puella Magi Madoka Magica: Film Memories, went on sale on May 26, 2012.[23] A manga adaptation of Rebellion illustrated by Hanokage, who previously did the television series' manga adaptation and The Different Story spin-off manga, was published by Houbunsha in three tankōbon volumes between November 12, 2013 and January 10, 2014.[24] Yen Press began releasing the series in English starting December 15, 2015.[25]

An action-adventure video game based on the films, Puella Magi Madoka Magica: The Battle Pentagram, was released in Japan on December 12, 2013 for the PlayStation Vita. The game follows an alternate plotline to the first two films, in which Madoka makes a wish that all the magical girls could work together and defeat Walpurgisnacht.[26]

Reception

Beginnings grossed more than ¥500 million at the Japanese box office.[27] The Blu-ray Disc edition of the first two films sold over 80,000 in its first week.[28] Rebellion was one of 19 animated films submitted for Best Animated Feature for the 86th Academy Awards, but was not nominated.[29] The film has earned 2.08 billion yen in the Japanese box office, breaking the previous record of 1.93 billion yen, held by K-On! the Movie for a film based on a late-night anime television series.[30] The first week sales of the Rebellion limited and regular edition Blu-rays placed first and second in the weekly Oricon chart, having reached 127,501 and 9,872 units.[31] Rebellion was nominated for the Japan Academy Prize for Animation of the Year at the 37th Japan Academy Prize[32] and won the Best Theatrical Film Award at the 19th Animation Kobe Awards,[33] and a Notable Entry Award at the 2014 Tokyo Anime Award Festival.[34]

Jacob Hope Chapman of Anime News Network gave Rebellion a B rating, praising its gorgeous visuals and creativity, but citing the film's last-minute twist as "mean-spirited and ludicrously out-of-character."[35] Richard Eisenbeis and Toshi Nakamura at Kotaku reviewed the film positively. Toshi's final thoughts being, "Aside from my aforementioned problems with the pace of the initial mystery, I loved everything else about the movie. It plays with your emotions like crazy, but at the same time, it’s emotionally fluid. While you might not agree with characters' choices and actions, they all make sense and are never forced." Richard's final thoughts were, "Personally, I loved it. It's a great character piece and a worthy addition to the franchise, but it is far from an uplifting cap to the series."[36]

Geoff Berkshire of Variety gave a mixed review, stating "Rebellion delivers a convoluted conclusion sure to prove beyond baffling to any franchise newcomers." Berkshire praised other aspects such as the visuals of Gekidan Inu Curry.[37]

Accolades

Year Name of Competition Category Result Recipient
2014 37th Japan Academy Prize Animation of the Year Nominated Rebellion
13th Tokyo Anime Award Anime of the Year (Film Category) Notable Entry Rebellion
19th Animation Kobe Theatrical Film Award Won Rebellion
2015 2015 UK Anime Network Awards Best action anime[38] Nominated Rebellion

References

  1. ↑ "Gekijoban: Maho Shojo Madoka Magica — Shinpen — Hangyaku no Monogatari". The Japan Times. Retrieved August 12, 2017.
  2. ↑ "Madoka Magica Film Project Launches". Anime News Network. November 7, 2011. Retrieved January 2, 2012.
  3. ↑ "Madoka Magica: Beginnings May Be Better Than the Series". Kotaku. October 9, 2012. Retrieved October 9, 2012.
  4. 1 2 "Madoka Magica Films Slated for October 6 & 13". Anime News Network. June 6, 2012. Retrieved June 7, 2012.
  5. ↑ "2 Madoka Magica Films to Play in 8 Global Territories in 2012". Anime News Network. September 13, 2012. Retrieved September 13, 2012.
  6. ↑ "Theater Listing New Showtimes Added!". Aniplex. Archived from the original on December 16, 2012. Retrieved December 16, 2012.
  7. ↑ "Puella Magi Madoka Magica Movie". Anime Festival Asia. Retrieved November 11, 2012.
  8. ↑ "Aniplex USA to Release 1st 2 Madoka Magica Films in July". Anime News Network. April 10, 2013. Retrieved April 10, 2013.
  9. ↑ "Aniplex USA Offers 1st, 2nd Madoka Magica Films Dubbed, AnoHana Film Blu-ray/DVD". Anime News Network. May 24, 2014. Retrieved May 25, 2014.
  10. ↑ "3rd Madoka Magica Film's Footage Premieres on Japanese TV". Anime News Network. July 4, 2013. Retrieved July 4, 2013.
  11. ↑ "VIDEO: An Early Glimpse At "Puella Magi Madoka Magica the Movie Part III: Rebellion"". Crunchyroll. July 4, 2013. Retrieved July 5, 2013.
  12. ↑ "Madoka Magica, Monogatari Casts Teach Manners in Crossover Shorts". Anime News Network. October 7, 2013. Retrieved October 8, 2013.
  13. ↑ "3rd Madoka Magica Film to Screen in U.S. This Winter". Anime News Network. July 17, 2013. Retrieved July 17, 2013.
  14. ↑ "Madoka Magica USA Official Website, Theater Listing". Aniplex. Retrieved November 15, 2013.
  15. ↑ "Blu-ray & DVD" (in Japanese). Aniplex. Retrieved January 12, 2014.
  16. ↑ "3rd Madoka Magica Film's Blu-ray to Have English Subtitles". Anime News Network. January 12, 2014. Retrieved January 13, 2014.
  17. ↑ "Aniplex USA Offers Madoka Magica -Rebellion- Blu-ray in April". Anime News Network. February 4, 2014. Retrieved February 4, 2014.
  18. ↑ "Aniplex Outlines Madoka Magica: Rebellion Blu-ray Plans". Anime News Network. January 16, 2015. Retrieved January 16, 2015.
  19. ↑ ルミナス [Luminous] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved October 25, 2012.
  20. ↑ ひかりふるス [Hikari Furu] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved November 10, 2012.
  21. ↑ "カラフル" [Colorful] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved August 28, 2013.
  22. ↑ "君の銀の庭" [Kimi no Gin no Niwa] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved August 28, 2013.
  23. ↑ "Madoka Magica Anime Gets Its Own Dedicated Magazine". Anime News Network. April 23, 2012. Retrieved April 23, 2012.
  24. ↑ "Hanokage to Draw Madoka Magica: Rebellion Film's Manga". Anime News Network. August 8, 2013. Retrieved August 8, 2013.
  25. ↑ "Yen Press Slates Madoka Magica Rebellion Film's Manga Version for December". Anime News Network. May 7, 2015. Retrieved May 7, 2015.
  26. ↑ "Puella Magi Madoka Magica: The Battle Pentagram Set For Vita On December 12". Siliconera. September 18, 2013. Retrieved December 22, 2013.
  27. ↑ "Idolm@ster Movie Debuts at #5 With 150 Million Yen". Anime News Network. January 27, 2014. Retrieved January 30, 2014.
  28. ↑ "Japan's Animation Blu-ray Disc Ranking, July 22–28". Anime News Network. July 30, 2013. Retrieved July 30, 2013.
  29. ↑ "Wind Rises, Madoka Magica, Momo Submitted for Oscar Nominations". Anime News Network. November 5, 2013. Retrieved November 5, 2013.
  30. ↑ "3rd Madoka Magica Film Tops K-ON! Film's Box Office". Anime News Network. December 22, 2013. Retrieved December 22, 2013.
  31. ↑ "Japan's Animation Blu-ray Disc Ranking, March 31-April 6". Anime News Network. April 8, 2014. Retrieved September 27, 2016.
  32. ↑ "Wind Rises, Madoka, Lupin vs. Conan, Harlock, Kaguya Earn Japan Academy Prize Nods". Anime News Network. January 16, 2014. Retrieved January 16, 2014.
  33. ↑ "Seiji Kishi, 3rd Madoka Magica Film, Love Live! Win Anime Kobe Awards". Anime News Network. October 23, 2014. Retrieved September 19, 2016.
  34. ↑ "Announcement of The Tokyo Anime Award Festival 2014 Anime Of The Year Winning Programs And Winners". Tokyo Anime Award. Retrieved October 16, 2016.
  35. ↑ Chapman, Jacob Hope (December 12, 2013). "Puella Magi Madoka Magica the Movie Part 3: Rebellion". Anime News Network. Retrieved February 27, 2016.
  36. ↑ "The New Madoka Magica Movie is the Sequel You Never Knew Was Needed". Kotaku. October 29, 2013. Retrieved December 31, 2013.
  37. ↑ "Film Review: 'Puella Magi Madoka Magica the Movie — Rebellion'". Variety. December 5, 2013. Retrieved May 24, 2014.
  38. ↑ "The 2015 UK Anime Network Awards". UK Anime Network. Retrieved June 22, 2017.
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