Puella Magi Madoka Magica Discussion Thread

[hissatsu]

Yeah, it's fine now.

[Ashyukun]

What the hell? So Mami's apartment is less sad and lonely. That feels wrong. Mami being so open and friendly but having a spartan apartment one one ever sees fits the character better.
I agree. The virtually empty apartment was the first real hint that things weren't quite as peachy for Mami as it might have been possible to assume at first- that she really WAS alone, and how much gaining a true friend in Madoka really meant to her.

Watching the final episode and seeing how different her apartment looked there vs. how I remembered it from the episode seemed symbolic- the apartment in the 'in-between space' before the reset being much happier and warm to me was symbolic of Mami's changed attitude after having met and befriended Madoka. This kind of negates that, unfortunately...

[something]

Note, potential spoilers in this post since the show is over.

Oh, I have some, actually.
Ah good, thanks.

[1] (http://fencedude.com/Madoka/MadokaBDTV1.jpg)
- Ah, they updated the Walpurgis witch to match her eventual appearance.
- Changes in the girls walking to school aren't too telling, but that scene needed a lot of work so it'll be nice to see it cleaned up.

[2] (http://fencedude.com/Madoka/MadokaBDTV2.jpg), [3] (http://fencedude.com/Madoka/MadokaBDTV3.jpg)
- Oh thank goodness they fixed the huuuuge Mami soul gem thing.
- Actually that whole sequence needed massive work.
- Holy shit the apartment. Now (http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t299/anon09876/ReinWeissPuellaMagiMadokaMagica-12gg-altered23-38-42.png) it actually (http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t299/anon09876/ReinWeissPuellaMagiMadokaMagica-12gg-altered23-40-16.png) looks like (http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t299/anon09876/ReinWeissPuellaMagiMadokaMagica-12gg-altered23-40-35.png) what we see (http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t299/anon09876/ReinWeissPuellaMagiMadokaMagica-12gg-altered23-41-13.png) in episode 12, more or less. That carpet, the red couch, that thing hanging on the wall, etc.

[4] (http://fencedude.com/Madoka/MadokaBDTV4.jpg), [5] (http://fencedude.com/Madoka/MadokaBDTV5.jpg)
- School roof gates got a serious level-up, which matches later shots of them if I remember correctly.
- Jeeze, the walk along the bridge got a large dose of Shaft visual style tweak from its more normal original style.

But man, did they really turn the soul gems into 3dcg? Small screenshots, but it sure as hell looks like it. That's going to be annoying. I'd prefer inconsistent 2d animation over that.

[TheGreenMan]

Alright, I don't have the full details, but here's some important points. And it involves that goddamn cat.

In the first timeline, Madoka used her wish to save a cat, who was dying after being hit by a car. She never told Mami what her wish was, because she felt that Mami would scold her for using her wish for such a thing.

The cat's name is Amy.

Amy led Homura to where Madoka was, right before Madoka went to fight Walpurgisnacht.

So there. Thats where the damn cat comes from.

Ah...okay.

[Vegard Aune]

No comparisons from inside the episodes yet, unfortunately.

Oh, I have some, actually.

[1] (http://fencedude.com/Madoka/MadokaBDTV1.jpg), [2] (http://fencedude.com/Madoka/MadokaBDTV2.jpg), [3] (http://fencedude.com/Madoka/MadokaBDTV3.jpg), [4] (http://fencedude.com/Madoka/MadokaBDTV4.jpg), [5] (http://fencedude.com/Madoka/MadokaBDTV5.jpg)

Most notable change is Mami's apartment, which is like, ZOMG.
...So judging from that second image, they actually made a new ending-sequence for these episodes? That's kinda cool.

Apart from that, seems like they've added even more flair to the transformation in the OP, and yeah, Mami's apartment is ZOMG indeed.

...I can't believe I never noticed how the design of stuff like Mami's Soul Gem or the fence on the school rooftop changed completely in between episodes...

[Vegard Aune]

So I just checked a few scenes in the BluRay-version...
- Changes in the girls walking to school aren't too telling, but that scene needed a lot of work so it'll be nice to see it cleaned up.
...Aaand this scene appears to be completely unchanged. What the hell.

But man, did they really turn the soul gems into 3dcg? Small screenshots, but it sure as hell looks like it. That's going to be annoying. I'd prefer inconsistent 2d animation over that.
Nope, it still appears to be in 2D, thank goodness.

Apart from that, it seems they've changed the tempo of some of the background music... Or rather, the tracks that were slowed down in the original TV-airing (Magia in the prologue, Mami's battle theme etc.) play at normal speed here. Oh, and I noticed that one of the comparison-shots posted (specifically, the first comparison on the second picture) got the TV- and BluRay-versions mixed up.

[MelancholicMariya]

So I just checked a few scenes in the BluRay-version...


I have my BD, and I haven't got a way to check it right now, but could you or anyone confirm if the Magia ending animation/sequence is on the disc?

I have a feeling it's not and it has been replaced with the new endings but, I'd just like to know.

[TheGreenMan]

I wonder how much input Ame Aoki had with this show.

[Vegard Aune]

So I just checked a few scenes in the BluRay-version...


I have my BD, and I haven't got a way to check it right now, but could you or anyone confirm if the Magia ending animation/sequence is on the disc?

I have a feeling it's not and it has been replaced with the new endings but, I'd just like to know.
Well, I don't actually have the BluRay myself and only checked the first episode through, y'know, that other source, but this disc only has episodes 1 and 2, right? And seeing how the Magia-ED didn't appear before episode 3, I'd say it's fairly obvious that Magia is not on there except as an insert song.

[MelancholicMariya]

So I just checked a few scenes in the BluRay-version...


I have my BD, and I haven't got a way to check it right now, but could you or anyone confirm if the Magia ending animation/sequence is on the disc?

I have a feeling it's not and it has been replaced with the new endings but, I'd just like to know.
Well, I don't actually have the BluRay myself and only checked the first episode through, y'know, that other source, but this disc only has episodes 1 and 2, right? And seeing how the Magia-ED didn't appear before episode 3, I'd say it's fairly obvious that Magia is not on there except as an insert song.

Oh really? I have no idea how I forgotten that. For some reason I recall seeing it earlier. Nevermind, thank you though.


I wonder how much input Ame Aoki had with this show.

Ume Aoki did the character designs, she seems to of done a picture for the BD version the ending of episode 1 or 2. She drawn the last "Thank you for watching!" image in episode 12 too.

I think that's it?

[hissatsu]

The omake segment at the end of Maria Holic Alive episode 4 looks vaguely familiar:

http://acacallis.com/mahou_shoujo_maria_magica_01.png
http://acacallis.com/mahou_shoujo_maria_magica_02.png
http://acacallis.com/mahou_shoujo_maria_magica_03.png
http://acacallis.com/mahou_shoujo_maria_magica_04.png
http://acacallis.com/mahou_shoujo_maria_magica_05.png

:)

[TnAdct1]

No surprise here, as SHAFT is well known for referencing its shows in their other titles.

[MelancholicMariya]

No surprise here, as SHAFT is well known for referencing its shows in their other titles.

They had to get it out some way now that they're not doing any more Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei. That used to be their main show for referencing themselves.

[EmperorBrandon]

And regarding its success on danbooru...

186420 touhou
*33716 vocaloid
*15662 suzumiya_haruhi_no_yuuutsu
*14224 mahou_shoujo_lyrical_nanoha
*13491 k-on!
*10526 idolmaster
*10465 final_fantasy
**9008 pokemon
**8827 gundam
**8657 lucky_star
**8367 fate/stay_night
**8106 mahou_shoujo_madoka_magica

Everything above it is part of a large franchise with multiple entries, acting as umbrella tags. Except Lucky Star, which it'll pass before the end. Pretty crazy.

Well, currently:

189909 touhou
*34450 vocaloid
*15748 suzumiya_haruhi_no_yuuutsu
*14301 mahou_shoujo_lyrical_nanoha
*13722 k-on!
*11000 mahou_shoujo_madoka_magica

Passing Idolmaster and Final Fantasy sure seems kind of surreal. It did that about around the time when the final episodes aired, I think. Not likely to pass K-ON! anytime soon (which still has its movie coming up), but it got pretty high up there...

[Fencedude]

So Ume-sensei's released some Madoka doujins under her Apricot+ circle, and apparently she ships MadoHomu (http://fencedude.com/Madoka/Ume-MadoHomu.jpg), KyoSaya (http://fencedude.com/Madoka/Ume-KyoSaya.jpg) and...Mamilotte (http://fencedude.com/Madoka/Ume-Mamilotte.jpg)

I <3 Ume-sensei so much

[ilmaestro]

Mamilotte (http://fencedude.com/Madoka/Ume-Mamilotte.jpg)
That's... too cute for words.

[Ashyukun]

I <3 Ume-sensei so much
Agreed- those are great (especially the MamiLotte).

It would appear that she at least likes the characters, which is good- I'd still be quite interested to see if she's been interviewed after the end of the show on its content and what she thought of it...

[Isuzu Inugami]

she ships MadoHomu (http://fencedude.com/Madoka/Ume-MadoHomu.jpg),

Madoka's contract is... for Homura to have Mami-class boobs?!

...Mamilotte (http://fencedude.com/Madoka/Ume-Mamilotte.jpg)

I <3 Ume-sensei so much

LOL, yes indeed!

[DiGiKerot]

It would appear that she at least likes the characters, which is good- I'd still be quite interested to see if she's been interviewed after the end of the show on its content and what she thought of it...

It's been brought up in one of the other Madoka threads on the forums somewhere, but I do believe that she appears in the audio commentary for one of the episodes on the homes releases for the show. Maybe if we are lucky someone will translate that...

[Ashyukun]

It's been brought up in one of the other Madoka threads on the forums somewhere, but I do believe that she appears in the audio commentary for one of the episodes on the homes releases for the show. Maybe if we are lucky someone will translate that...

Cool. I'll keep my fingers crossed that the show does end up getting licensed and that the commentaries make it through with subs...

[MelancholicMariya]

It's been brought up in one of the other Madoka threads on the forums somewhere, but I do believe that she appears in the audio commentary for one of the episodes on the homes releases for the show. Maybe if we are lucky someone will translate that...

Cool. I'll keep my fingers crossed that the show does end up getting licensed and that the commentaries make it through with subs...

Only company I remember translating the original commentary tracks is Bandai with Code Geass.

And I highly doubt Bandai will get this.

[EmperorBrandon]

So Ume-sensei's released some Madoka doujins under her Apricot+ circle, and apparently she ships MadoHomu (http://fencedude.com/Madoka/Ume-MadoHomu.jpg), KyoSaya (http://fencedude.com/Madoka/Ume-KyoSaya.jpg) and...Mamilotte (http://fencedude.com/Madoka/Ume-Mamilotte.jpg)

Between this and the ending image for episode 12, it's nice to finally see some drawings from her of Kyouko. They're so very cute.

[something]

and...Mamilotte (http://fencedude.com/Madoka/Ume-Mamilotte.jpg)
I <3 Ume-sensei so much
Proof that Ume-sensei knows what the best pairing is.

[Ashyukun]

she ships MadoHomu (http://fencedude.com/Madoka/Ume-MadoHomu.jpg),

Madoka's contract is... for Homura to have Mami-class boobs?!
Well, that would perhaps not be without precedent... (http://danbooru.donmai.us/post/show/906167/blush-breasts-comic-drill_hair-flat_chest-hair_rib)

[something]

Heartwarming and heartbreaking (http://danbooru.donmai.us/post/show/910821). (sfw image nsfw site blahblah)

This image choked me up just as quickly as my brain processed it. God damn. Just... damnit. Amazing image. Hit me even more viscerally than when I first saw this one (http://danbooru.donmai.us/post/show/867607) linked earlier in the thread after episode 9.

[Mafty Allegro]

After so many great, memorable episodes, from stellar ones like Ep. 3 to the previous episode 10, and with the escalating quality of each passing ep., I had continuously wondered how it could be possible to top something as phenomal as Ep. 10. And yet, episodes 11 and 12 somehow accomplished that, putting an incredible capstone on an incredible show in Madoka Magica.

I don't know if any synopsis could properly convey what occurs across the two episodes or capture the nuances and emotional weight that permeated them, but suffice to say, there were many powerful moments, such as Homura's mask finally cracking away, Madoka's heartaching final talk with her mother, Homura's near plunge into despair, and the bizarreness (and boldness) that was Ep. 12. Even away from what was shown physically, what was conveyed through message and feeling had far greater impact. The crescendoing futility of Homura's actions and the impeding sorrow of it all as she valiently fought Walpurgisnacht--likely to reach the same roadblock, but now with full knowledge of her time-traveling consequences, that uneasy but understanding acceptance that came with Madoka's unavoidable (but not totally unmalleable) fate (making her embrace of it and her conversation with her mother all the more rendering), the epic unknown that lied with the End of Evangelion/Gurren Lagann-esque (but wholly original) climax (much more in the style of the former than the latter, though, with the multiple Madokas visiting and sort-of ending the lives of the other pre-witch Magical Girls and the trippy universe rebooting with Homura all alone as the observer (a la Shinji, though Madoka was doing the rebuilding)) and a conclusion concurrently ambigious and conclusive, which still managed to be completely satisfying and affectionate.

Like the show itself, the final two episodes were virtually flawless on all fronts. Everything clicked perfectly and made sense within its given confines no matter how "out there" events went. Gen Urobuchi meticulously planned everything to perfection, achieving for something so ambitious an appropriate ending that very few high-aiming stories ever accomplish. Along with Akiyuki Shinbo's directional style (surprisingly restrained compared to other projects, especially for an original production with no set boundary for restraint), the exemplary acting, and Yuki Kajiura's not-so-mahou-shoujo music (OP & ED included), not to mention Ume Aoki's superb original character designs (and Takahiro Kishida's great sketch-style animation renderings), Puella Magi Madoka Magica is one of the even fewer all-star efforts that actual lived up to its lofty billing. And as Shinbo suggested, it definitely is worth a second viewing, if not to catch all of the connections and foreshadowing, then just to witness what a fully fleshed-out and realized animation (and story) looks like on a grand scale. Not only is it an instant modern classic, it is one of the best anime ever made.


P.S.: Aniplex would be fools to let anyone besides their U.S. subsidiary distribute the show in North America…

[Fencedude]

Was finally able to listen/watch this in full.

Really good. Would love to have seen it animated, but at 29 minutes, that obviously wasn't going to happen.

Madoka and Homura are just adorable together.

[bear]

Heartwarming and heartbreaking (http://danbooru.donmai.us/post/show/910821). (sfw image nsfw site blahblah)

This image choked me up just as quickly as my brain processed it. God damn. Just... damnit. .
That was like a punch right to my heart.

[pianocello]

I dived into this show to check out what all the hype was about. And while initially I liked this, several things bothered me - Sayaka's angsting and whining about her fate (and the stupidly bland Kyousuke) , Madoka crying every episode and doing nothing useful and the bleak Bokurano tone.
Things started to change in the 2nd half and by ep 9, I was cheering for Kyouko and strongly shipping Kyouko x Sayaka. Then came the last 3 episodes. It made me feel like the last episode of Kannazuki no Miko and it really had me crying for a long time. This has to be one of the most wonderful examples of yuri love.

I wonder whether they are going to make a 2nd season? Sales are good and the director did say he wanted to make a slice-of-life season. I hope they just make this a yuri romantic comedy.

[something]

http://download4.getuploader.com/g/anime2010/46/Episode3_TV_and_BD.jpg - May need to copy/paste

Primarily a whole lot of color correction/changes and more consistent shadows, as well as Charlotte's barrier getting spiced up a bit.

I have seen some complaint that they changed Mami's "standing on a syringe" pose. :sd:

Also, damn this is creepy: http://noshi.nomaki.jp/charlotte01.html Click on Charlotte a lot and then...

[MelancholicMariya]

I have seen some complaint that they changed Mami's "standing on a syringe" pose. :sd:


I don't get why it matters. The original pose gave her more of a masculine figure, a weird triumphant pose when she's nothing like that at all. She's always calm and collected.

The new pose kind of shows her personality more than the other is what I'm trying to say.

[something]

http://yaraon.blog109.fc2.com/blog-entry-2092.html

Someone who reads Japanese will need to clarify the details, but from what I can make out, the director, Shinbou Akiyuki, mentions here that they wanted episode 10 to be 45 minutes, or had 45 minutes of content, and had to cut it back. Naturally this is leading to speculation of revised versions on the BDs, an OVA, even a movie. Of course nothing like that has been announced, but now that Shinbou has mentioned that, everyone is going to want it. :sd: One person said that if they included a double-length episode 10 on the BDs, vol. 5 would probably top 100k, heh.

Man, can you imagine if episode 10 - already one of the most perfect episodes of anime ever made - had twice the time to tell its story of Homura's descent into darkness? Kinda blows my mind... here's hoping something does eventually come of it, even if it's a long shot.

[regz91]

Someone who reads Japanese will need to clarify the details, but from what I can make out, the director, Shinbou Akiyuki, mentions here that they wanted episode 10 to be 45 minutes, or had 45 minutes of content, and had to cut it back. Naturally this is leading to speculation of revised versions on the BDs, an OVA, even a movie. Of course nothing like that has been announced, but now that Shinbou has mentioned that, everyone is going to want it. :sd: One person said that if they included a double-length episode 10 on the BDs, vol. 5 would probably top 100k, heh.

That is essentially what he says, although he doesn't sound like he's seriously considering doing any such thing, so I wouldn't hold my breath.

I also translated the rest of the summary, although I'd be much happier reading the actual interview rather than an outline of it.


Urobuchi:
- He intended to show this kind of fate for Magical Girls since the planning stages of the project.
- While recording the actors, Shinbo got really attached to Sayaka and started asking if there was any way to keep her alive. Obviously there wasn't.
- Kyoko's power was to create illusions (derived from her wish for people to listen to her father). However, after her family's death, she subconsciously suppressed that power. She now gets by completely on magic that she learned after that. It also mentions something about Mami's power but I don't understand what it's getting at so I'm not touching it.
- Kamijou doesn't think of Sayaka as a woman but merely a close friend.
- "Negotiation" is a major theme of this story. Even if people can't come to a mutual understanding, they still have to coexist together. He didn't want an ending where the good guys simply defeat Kyubey.

Shinbo:
- It seems like Iwakami (the Aniplex producer who assembled this staff) was right on the money. It's like the feeling of having succesfully pulled off a huge event.

Others:
- Ai Nonaka read episode 9's script at a family restaurant and was shocked at what happens to Sayaka.
- Kaori Mizuhashi says that at the audition, the sound director kept bugging her saying "This girl dies in the third episode. Are you OK with that?"


Somebody also posted a snippet from the actual interview regarding Kamijou and Sayaka, and since Sayaka's my favorite, I translated that as well:


Q: What's the deal with Kamijou ignoring Sayaka at school?
A: To be blunt, Kamijou doesn't think of Sayaka as a woman at all. She's just a close friend. Of course, he's grateful that she went out of her way to celebrate his arm healing, but he's never even considered having romantic feelings for her. The reason he didn't tell her about being discharged from the hospital is that it simply happened too fast. Also, the reason he didn't talk to her in school is that he got swamped with well-wishers and couldn't break away. Sayaka should have simply gone up to him there, but she couldn't bring herself to.


Ironically, then, it seems the reason Kamijou seemed to blow Sayaka off at the hospital was that Sayaka's wish cured him so quickly that there was no time to tell her about being discharged. And even at school, it seems he had every intention of talking to her at the first opportunity. But by that point Sayaka had essentially already decided that she was going to die, so she started to avoid him.

Somebody also posted another snippet from the interview, confirming that Kyoko stole all the food she's seen eating. She uses her powers to break into stores, or possibly even smashing up ATMs and taking the money inside (!!). Sayaka is not wrong about her at all.

[ilmaestro]

Pretty much, yeah. He wanted to make the episode "properly" according to the original scenario that was written before it was cut down, but that would have made the ep about 45 minutes long so it was impossible.

I also like the comment from Mizuhashi Kaori that the sound director was nagging her repeatedly during her audition for Mami "She dies in episode 3 you know? Are you sure [you want to play her]?"

[something]

I also translated the rest of the summary, although I'd be much happier reading the actual interview rather than an outline of it.
Awesome, thanks. Oh Shinbou, you should have known there was no way to save her... And I love the comment about Mizuhashi Kaori, haha.

[ilmaestro]

It also mentions something about Mami's power but I don't understand what it's getting at so I'm not touching it.
It says that the power she specializes in is モノを結び合わせる which is anything from "to tie things together" or "relate things to each other", with other nuances too. So she both literally can tie things together with her Ribbon (which is says is the embodiment of her power, but that almost feels like an incomplete sentence, so I would also like to see the full interview), but I wonder if he also wants the implication that she can bring the other girls together.

[strangefour]

Man, can you imagine if episode 10 - already one of the most perfect episodes of anime ever made - had twice the time to tell its story of Homura's descent into darkness? Kinda blows my mind... here's hoping something does eventually come of it, even if it's a long shot.

I can imagine. It would be bloated and over done. There is no reason to mess with 22 minutes of the most perfect animated storytelling. Episode 10 is exactingly executed beginning, middle, end that manages to add a level of understanding to previous episodes. Doubling it's lengths would end up detracting from the whole. Much like how Mami's apartment is no longer spartan in decor in the blu-rays.

[something]

I can imagine. It would be bloated and over done.
Given how well written everything else was, I really, sincerely doubt that. You can only say that and feel so certain because you know we'll never know now. But the idea that their writing skills would suddenly fail them if they had 20 additional minutes seems utterly baseless to me.

They had to shave down a ~45 minute scenario not because that was the right thing to do artistically or narratively, but because of the artificial limitations imposed by television broadcast schedules. I'm sure most directors would kill to have more leeway in how they tell their stories.

[Fencedude]

Hell, you could probably make a movie out of timeline 3. I really want to know more about that one.

[something]

Note, the commentary posts will probably end up containing spoilers. The commentaries themselves aren't something you'd want to watch before finishing the show. They start the barely concealed hints at QB right off the bat, obviously. I mean how can you talk about this show after seeing it without reacting to QB in a very obvious way? :sd:

Episode 1 seiyuu/staff commentary:

This one was Yuuki Aoi (Kaname Madoka), Saitou Chiwa (Akemi Homura) and special guest, Kitamura Eri (Miki Sayaka)! Saitou and Yuuki are sort of the "hosts" for the commentaries,

- Kitamura initially auditioned for Madoka's mom, Madoka's dad and Hitomi. But Ume-sensei asked her what role she really wanted to do, and in the end she was asked to try Sayaka out. Obviously it worked.
- As expected, a lot of talk about how their initial expectations were so drastically changed by the end. And how weird it is to rewatch the early episodes, especially the first ("Sayaka sparkles!") after knowing how dark it gets.
- Sayaka Magica!

- Ao-chan says "Uh oh I feel like I'm going to cry seeing her here." when Homura is introduced. Awwww.
- Saitou's early impression of Homura? That she would be a traitor!
- There's amusing chatter about the school's architecture ("There's glass everywhere, where do they get changed?") and the way Madoka walks.
- And then Saitou complaining that "Kaname Madoka" is a hard name to say. Heh.

- Saitou about Sayaka, Hitomi and Madoka's friendship: "I really like the relationship between these three. ...Well, really liked their relationship." :sd:
- Lots of good stuff about this scene. Kitamura remarks on how it's almost surprising to see how Sayaka can laugh and smile so freely early on, given how that changes so drastically. Saitou says "I wonder what Hitomi is thinking right now." and the girls all just go, "SCARY!" Haha, Hitomi, you have such a bad reputation.

- Madoka picks up QB for the first time: Kitamura - "No, it's fine, just throw him away!" Yuuki - "Run away! Run! Madoka, RUN AWAY!" XD
- "MAMIMAMI-TAAAAN!" <3

Saitou and Yuuki are really good at keeping things going. They're going to be a lot of fun. This is actually the second time I've watched the ep 1 commentary, the first time was about two weeks ago before work.

[something]

Episode 2 seiyuu/staff commentary:

The second special guest had me very excited... Aoki Ume! She was commenting episode two with Yuuki and Saitou.

- When deciding on character colors, who was hardest? Homura.
- What about designs? Everyone was pretty easy except Sayaka. She also had some trouble with QB... heh. She had to make him as cute as possible. Didn't have any particular anime in mind, it was just "make a mahou shoujo mascot!"
- Saitou asks what Ume-sensei what it was like to work with the anime staff - of course there's just the expected answer that they were all nice, etc. they point out that it's not the first time she's worked with Shinbou or Shaft, given Hidamari.

- Saitou talks about how they saw the character designs first ("Oh so cute!") and then read the script ("...arere?"). :sd:. I can imagine that would be a bit of whiplash. They had an idea already of the setting but the lines they needed to audition with caught them off guard.
- Haha, Saitou remarks that it's weird to include a drama CD covering material relevant to episode 10 in Volume 1 and warns fans not to listen to it yet if they haven't seen the show. :sd:
- "A mahou shoujo show where the protagonist is constantly thinking 'What's a magical girl?' is kinda rare." lol, yes, Ume-tentei. Madoka is rare in so many ways.

- Heh! So, most people know that Madoka's magical girl outfit sketch in the show was done by Yuuki herself. But apparently it was Ume-sensei who had her do it. Yuuki said she was kind of scared of her right then, since Ume-sensei was so intense about it. :sd: Originally Ume-sensei was going to draw it, but wanted t to feel more like something a girl contemplating acquiring magical powers would really draw, thus they had Ao-chan do it.
- Haha Ume-sensei verbally winced after a sudden cut to QB's face.
- Saitou talking again about how surreal it feels to watch episodes 1-2 after seeing episode 10. That's gotta be double when you're the one playing Homura.

- Back to talking about QB's design. Yuuki asks again what animals she might have drawn on for his design. She says the basis is sort of cat-like, but as the real inspiration, she can't say at this stage. The implication, made by the TL note and some things she says, including hinting at his name, is that it's, well, a uterus.
- Ah. Saitou points out that Ume-sensei did have some say in what seiyuu got the roles. There were some requirements she was looking for. Saitou then asks what Ume-sensei thought when hearing their voices. She just says that everyone was so cute and smiling... which they want to reply to, but they're trying hard not to spoil things. Heh.

- Yuuki and Saitou totally fangirl over how cool Mami is.
- "It's forbidden to put [a talking QB plush] in a child's room!" XD
- Haha oh shit, now I seriously need a Homura character single where she's expressing her bitterness and resentment toward QB. Saitou Chiwa, you're a genius.

Side note: I fucking love Ume's voice. It's so... amusingly adorable. She should totally be a seiyuu (let's ignore that she likely has no acting experience)! I mean other than playing her own avatar in Hidamari.

I really can't wait for more of these to get translated.

[something]

Commentary reminded me I never did listen to (well, watch) this.

Drama CD 1:

- So it's the very first timeline. Hmmm! Really interesting to have the first timeline expanded to a fully episode-long (slightly longer actually) story.
- People being mean to Homuhomu. ;_; But Sayaka being nice. Feels so strange to hear Sayaka and Homura getting along.
- Heh! Oh Madoka... you shouldn't use magic to cheat in PE. Especially for your friend who has no idea what you're doing.
- Ooh we hear the witch that attached Homura in the first timeline, it sounds like.

- Huh, Homura overhears Madoka and Mami talking about magic. I kind of want to rewatch the first timeline in ep 10 and see if there are any inconsistencies.
- Ah no, should be fine, she didn't understand the magic talk and right after this is where she's saved by Madoka and Mami.
- "I promise you that I will never become a magical girl based on a whim." Ain't that the truth. But you couldn't have imagined just how dire the circumstances would be...
- So Madoka contracted, the first time, to save a cat. Well, that's... that's fitting for her.

Man, would love for one of these to be about Mami's wish. And I think this one did a very good job fleshing out why Homura is so strongly emotionally attached to Madoka.

[something]

Episode 3 seiyuu/staff commentary:

Your usual hosts Yuuki Aoi and Saitou Chiwa are joined by - of course - Mizuhashi Kaori (Tomoe Mami!). It had to be her for this episode.

- Saitou and Yuuki are calling her Mami-sama already. Mami-samaaaa!
- "For those of you who were going to watch this commentary before the original dialogue of this episode: Stop. Right now." Hahah. But then, who the hell listens to a commentary track before seeing the normal episode?
- ::watching the opening:: "This makes it look like such a fun show..." XD

- "Mamirareta!" Yuuki Aoi and her internet memes.
- So Mizuhashi knew from the start, before she got Mami, what happened to her. She was also basically allowed to pick Mami's role for herself, and it's the one she went for right off the bat. She wanted it because she hasn't done many other onee-san type roles, and because Mami sounded like a very mahou shoujo kinda name to her.
- Hah, apparently she also auditioned for QB. So did Yuuki. And Saitou. And they remark how it was way too hard, heh. Yuuki was too naive and cute, Saitou said she wasn't smart enough. :sd:

- Heh, they bring up the episode's title, and Mizuhashi says it, and Yuuki sadly says "Ahhh, why was she mamirareta'd?"
- They're talking about how much easier it is to have an obvious villain in a show you can blame everything on, and how everyone in this show is so likable... well, except one little rat, bt even then they acknowledge that he's not a much more ambiguous kind of evil than your typical villain.
- Huh, Saitou goes into a reasonably lengthy dissection of why men and women would both be able to understand these characters and their feelings quite well. She specifically talks about how she as a woman understands their struggles a little differently than male viewers would, but that the overall gist is pretty similar.
- And I really like Mizuhashi's analysis of Mami. Nothing that we haven't heard before, but she sums the character up very well. I particularly like her point about Mami's internal conflict over befriending Madoka. Mami is alone because she has nobody on her "wavelength", nobody she can really be honest to. Madoka walks in on that world and becomes on such potential friend, but Mami's struggle is that letting someone get close to her is to expose them to this dangerous world she lives in. And so she lays it all out, is completely honest about how dangerous it is, and yet at the same time she's silently, but so clearly, yearning for Madoka to say yes. Mami's story is so heartbreaking.

- Heh, right at that scene, Saitou tries to ask a totally unrelated question about what wish Mizuhashi would make if she were to become a magical girl, and Yuuki is all "We're watching this scene and you're talking about that?" :sd:

Great stuff, very fun way to experience a show again, given that I have a hard time convincing myself to rewatch shows for lack of time. This I can count as new material, so it's easier to convince myself to watch it.

No idea how long the next commentary TL will be (might be another month at current pace) but damn 4 will be a good one. The guest is none other than that enemy of all magical girls: Urobuchi Gen!

[something]

Drama CD 2: Sunny Day Life

- Becoming a magical girl makes you stupid! Madoka and Sayaka both fail their tests miserably. I can see how fighting unholy abominations intent on killing you and devouring everything you love could make test prep difficult.
- Huh... Hitomi referring to Sayaka as her rival? When exactly is this happening? Must be another timeline, there wasn't a whole lot of "sunny day life" going on in the final timeline between Sayaka finding out about Hitomi's feelings for Kyousuke and Sayaka going into full self-destruct mode.
- So Sayaka rejects Hitomi's help and instead they go to the ever reliable MAMI-SAN!

- Okay this is DEFINITELY a different timeline. Kyouko and Homura were involved. Mami was dead before we ever met Kyouko in the final timeline.
- Homura and Sayaka are openly talking about parallel worlds and timelines. o_O What's going on...
- Sunny Day Life? More like Hidamari Life, am I right? This has completely become an episode of Hidamari Sketch. Except this time, Mizuhashi Kaori is doing the cooking, not just the eating. I bet we end with Madoka taking a bath and thinking back on her fun day.
- Madoka failed English. This results in Kyouko saying phrases in English and it's fucking hilarious.
- Hahaha! Sayaka accuses Homura of stopping time to cheat on the test. In their responses you can practically see them giving her a "Are you retarded?" look.
- "Hey Kyubey, don't sit on the sofa!"

- Oh no... Hitomi is in danger!! Everyone runs out to find out what's wrong.
- ...HAHAHA, a witch's familiar... is stealing Hitomi's panties.
- They all transform and follow it!

- Heh... in some ways, Kyouko is so adorably innocent. "What would you do with stolen underwear? It's been used!"
- TIRO FINALE!
- They finally catch the... cat. A black cat. Oh god it's the same cat, isn't it?
- Sayaka is very interested in Hitomi's panties.

- "And you fired Tiro Finale at a cat! Tiro~ Finale~!" Kyouko is awesome.
- Miyako is hungry again, so Hiro and Yuno go back to make some pasta--- wait, wrong show?
- Awww... Mami is so happy to be cooking for five instead of one. <3
- Apparently Kyubey eats cat food. Well, he also eats other QBees so I shouldn't be surprised.
- Kyubey likes cat food. He admires the utilitarian blend of nutrition and efficiency.
- Madoka eats pasta like a kid! And gets teased for it.
- Kyouko says FUCK UTENSILS, give her chopsticks!

- Damn, I was hoping everyone would sleep over, but it looks like just Sayaka and Kyouko will. Madoka nd Homura head home.
- Heh, on the walk back Homura tells Madoka to scrap the Ultimate Attack names she was thinking up as she stayed up all night. ...How exactly do you know that, Homura? :sd:

- Madoka gets home. Mom sounds drunk again.
- Holy shit, IT DOES end with Madoka in the bath, pulling a Yuno! Yes!
- ::Kyubey walks in on Madoka, Madoka freaks:: "Pervert? Madoka why are you treating me as if I'm a pervert? Even if I see you naked, I can't feel anything!" XD

Whelp, I think we know exactly what that "slice of life spin-off" Shinbou said he wanted to do would be like. And I heartily approve.

[strangefour]

Minimini gundan~ I guess they are all short and adorable in the recording booth. I'd forgotten how cute the doodles in madoka's sketchbook were. Knowing her seiyuu drew them makes it all the cuter.

I really hate Mami's furnished apartment. The barely decorated unlived in look of her apartment showed off how lonely she was. Now it just looks like she's rich and spends all her time buying fancy pillows and installing shelving.

Side note: I fucking love Ume's voice. It's so... amusingly adorable. She should totally be a seiyuu (let's ignore that she likely has no acting experience)! I mean other than playing her own avatar in Hidamari.

Soooo adorable. She sounds as small as she's supposed to be. They should get her to act more in Hidamari Infinity, or whatever you'd call it. Didn't expect Homuhomu's seiyuu to be such a chatter box.

[something]

I really hate Mami's furnished apartment. The barely decorated unlived in look of her apartment showed off how lonely she was. Now it just looks like she's rich and spends all her time buying fancy pillows and installing shelving.
And I still think that if it were the other way around - if they had the time to add all the stuff they intended to from the start but then changed their minds and made it bare on the BDs - that people would be complaining they were beating us over the head with her loneliness and the full apartment was better because it illustrated her need to fill her life up with things to replace the human contact she couldn't obtain.

She probably is rather financially well off. She's wealthy ojousama-like in demeanor (and hairstyle), and presumably received an inheritance when her parents died.

Didn't expect Homuhomu's seiyuu to be such a chatter box.
Three of my favorite Saitou Chiwa roles are Aika (Aria), Hazuki (Tsukuyomi) and Francesca (Strike Witches) so I'm kind of used to it, but it would seem weird when viewing her just as Homura, yeah.

[MelancholicMariya]

Three of my favorite Saitou Chiwa roles are Aika (Aria), Hazuki (Tsukuyomi) and Francesca (Strike Witches) so I'm kind of used to it, but it would seem weird when viewing her just as Homura, yeah.

Oh man I had no idea. That's such a different character entirely. It's so different I'm at the point where I refuse to believe it's the same actor.

[strangefour]

I really hate Mami's furnished apartment. The barely decorated unlived in look of her apartment showed off how lonely she was. Now it just looks like she's rich and spends all her time buying fancy pillows and installing shelving.
And I still think that if it were the other way around - if they had the time to add all the stuff they intended to from the start but then changed their minds and made it bare on the BDs - that people would be complaining they were beating us over the head with her loneliness and the full apartment was better because it illustrated her need to fill her life up with things to replace the human contact she couldn't obtain.

She probably is rather financially well off. She's wealthy ojousama-like in demeanor (and hairstyle), and presumably received an inheritance when her parents died.

I guess. I just prefer the unlived in apartment in contrast to her bubbly personality. Soft on the outside, a void of longing inside. Maybe if the insanely over decorated apartment had had a more obsessive collection mentality. Like a china cabinet filled with different teapots with sets of cups to entertain guests she never had. A huge dining room table with chairs for dozen guests but only ever one plate for her.

Didn't expect Homuhomu's seiyuu to be such a chatter box.
Three of my favorite Saitou Chiwa roles are Aika (Aria), Hazuki (Tsukuyomi) and Francesca (Strike Witches) so I'm kind of used to it, but it would seem weird when viewing her just as Homura, yeah.

Never seen those shows. The character I think I've heard her as with more than a few lines is as Homuhomu. So her doing two thirds of the talking is just strange.

[something]

Like a china cabinet filled with different teapots with sets of cups to entertain guests she never had. A huge dining room table with chairs for dozen guests but only ever one plate for her.
Already linked this to you yesterday but since it's so fitting... Mami bakes cakes every day (http://images.puella-magi.net/2/2e/Madoka_bd1_4koma.jpg) just on the off chance that if she makes a friend, she'll be able to serve them cake and eat with them. So cute, but pretty fucking heartbreaking at the same time. ;_; (Official Aoki Ume 4komas included with the BDs, for those not aware.)

Never seen those shows. The character I think I've heard her as with more than a few lines is as Homuhomu. So her doing two thirds of the talking is just strange.
She's Hitagi in Bakemonogatari too. Shaft/Shinbou are quite fond of her. I bet they manage to get her a bit role in Hidamari season four somehow. You'd know her best as Louise in Gundam 00, Subaru in StrikerS and Becky in Pani Poni.

[strangefour]

Never seen those shows. The character I think I've heard her as with more than a few lines is as Homuhomu. So her doing two thirds of the talking is just strange.
She's Hitagi in Bakemonogatari too. Shaft/Shinbou are quite fond of her. I bet they manage to get her a bit role in Hidamari season four somehow. You'd know her best as Louise in Gundam 00, Subaru in StrikerS and Becky in Pani Poni.[/QUOTE]

SuGarRu is Homuhomu!? That's freaking insane. Also I don't remember Louise and Becky sounding anything alike.

[something]

SuGarRu is Homuhomu!? That's freaking insane. Also I don't remember Louise and Becky sounding anything alike.
They don't, really. Saitou has good range. But she does have a distinctive quality to her voice that I find pretty easy to pick out from role to role. Tends to be my favorite type... seiyuu who can pull off a large variety of roles but who I can still pick out almost immediately.

[William K]

Shaft/Shinbou are quite fond of her.

Yup, other Shaft shows she's appeared in include Dance in the Vampire Bund, Negima!? and Zetsubou Sensei, though the last one is kind of a cameo.

She first started off playing either spunky girls (Last Exile, ROD:TV) or cute kids (Hazuki, Becky), but since playing Hitagi, she's gotten more serious characters like DiTVB's Yuki and Homura.

[Fencedude]

I could have sworn I mentioned it in this thread but can't find it, whatever.

Anyway, its title is and I'm Home, a duet with Nonaka Ai and Kitamura Eri, and its beautiful. Just absolutely amazing.

Also, the lyrics! Oh god the lyrics.


(Kyouko) Two hearts rusting together, a world without sound, what do you see?
(Kyouko) Searching for the face that will say "See you again", I only want to do this all over again.
(Sayaka) Then it was noticed, an alone crying figure from behind.
(Kyouko) It's heart-breaking, (Sayaka) and it's lonely, (Duet) but in this place, we connected our hands.

(Duet) No matter how many feelings there are, there is warmth here,

even if it's a mistake it won't change, the fact that I'll stay by your side.
The sound of tears and the look of a sigh, we've ascertained that this is our location now.
A jestful everyday, I want to see it, I want to see it, that future.

(Sayaka) Showing a false bluff of courage with a cracking voice, the dream comes to an end

Holding my knees, my gaze falls and I quickly crumble.
(Kyouko) At this rate, at this rate, just the two of us will rush into a distant exit at the last moment.
(Sayaka) I still have hope. (Duet) Now, let's unite with a smiling gaze.

(Duet) With a simple innocent face, our crumpled(disheveled) emotions are embraced

Even if we've lost our way in this place, there is warmth.
Whatever you call this by, even if there's an uncertain future,
The only thing I won't let go of is these thoughts, my heart is in pain.

(Duet) I'm right here.

I'm right here.
Is this our place to return to?
It won't ever change, these feelings were left behind.

[Fencedude]

...are we sure that wasn't a Hidamari Sketch Drama CD?

Anyway, really cute, I'd love to see a timeline like this animated.

[Vegard Aune]

I could have sworn I mentioned it in this thread but can't find it, whatever.

Anyway, its title is and I'm Home, a duet with Nonaka Ai and Kitamura Eri, and its beautiful. Just absolutely amazing.

*Gives the song a listen*
...Yes. Amazing it is indeed. Actually, I hadn't really thought about the possibility of them doing another special ending for this episode, but now that I know they did, I'm suddenly really excited about it... Even if the footage is most likely just gonna be another single still frame. (But hey, as long as it's a good single still frame, I'm totally cool with that too.)

[something]

Anyway, its title is and I'm Home, a duet with Nonaka Ai and Kitamura Eri, and its beautiful. Just absolutely amazing.

Also, the lyrics! Oh god the lyrics.
Oh yeah, this is the one composed by Wowaka. The lyrics are completely and utterly perfect, I almost started tearing up at work just reading them. Can't wait to listen to it. My disc should arrive tomorrow.

[Fencedude]

Even if the footage is most likely just gonna be another single still frame. (But hey, as long as it's a good single still frame, I'm totally cool with that too.)

Oh its a single frame, but what an image it is! (http://images.puella-magi.net/f/f0/Madoka_BD_5_Menu_Art_2.jpg)

[TheGreenMan]

Even if the footage is most likely just gonna be another single still frame. (But hey, as long as it's a good single still frame, I'm totally cool with that too.)

Oh its a single frame, but what an image it is! (http://images.puella-magi.net/f/f0/Madoka_BD_5_Menu_Art_2.jpg)

And the Kyouko/Sayaka shipping explodes anew. Awesome image. Ame Aoki, you're the best!

[William K]

Even if the footage is most likely just gonna be another single still frame. (But hey, as long as it's a good single still frame, I'm totally cool with that too.)

Oh its a single frame, but what an image it is! (http://images.puella-magi.net/f/f0/Madoka_BD_5_Menu_Art_2.jpg)

Perfect... Kyouko 'rescuing' Sayaka from drowning.

I love how both Nonaka Ai and Kitamura Eri used the more subdued, lower ranges of their voice for the song. Don't get me wrong, I'm a big fan of Fuu-chan but that voice wouldn't have fit the mood of the song. Kitamura's voice can get pretty high-pitched too as per the Mayo Chiki OP for example.

[something]

Anyway, its title is and I'm Home, a duet with Nonaka Ai and Kitamura Eri, and its beautiful. Just absolutely amazing.
Also, the lyrics! Oh god the lyrics.
So I went ahead and listened to the full version while following along with the lyrics, and thus time I did tear up. Fuuuuck, so good. I got chills when they traded lines back and forth before coming together. Nonaka Ai's voice was seriously impressive, so different from what I'm used to from her.

Gaaah. Sayaka was my least favorite of the five (though I like her), but I absolutely absolutely adore Kyouko so goddamn much, which just made this song even
better.

And it's weird hearing something so subdued and pretty from Wowaka. But I think he did quite well.

[something]

http://yaraon.blog109.fc2.com/blog-entry-4077.html

It'll be quite a while before the group subbing the commentaries gets to the last episode, but this is being reported now:
虚淵「スタッフに感謝を込めて必死こいて次のを頑張ってるんで(笑)」
キャスト『２期！？２期！？』
虚淵「いつかアナウンスできると思うんですけど、今必死こいて脳みそしぼってます。」
...
虚淵「ここでは終わりません。」　

Something like Urobuchi thanking the staff and asking them to keep it up in the future[??], then the seiyuu say "2nd season!? 2nd season!?" Urobuchi replies that he thinks something may be announced someday but right now... I dunno, something about them just being too busy dealing with the stress of getting the first season done. Then later he ends with "This is not the end."

Which doesn't mean a second season of TV anime necessarily, and Shinbou has already expressed his desire to do more from this franchise, but it's a nice little tease anyway.

[pianocello]

Even if the footage is most likely just gonna be another single still frame. (But hey, as long as it's a good single still frame, I'm totally cool with that too.)

Oh its a single frame, but what an image it is! (http://images.puella-magi.net/f/f0/Madoka_BD_5_Menu_Art_2.jpg)

And the Kyouko/Sayaka shipping explodes anew. Awesome image. Ame Aoki, you're the best!

Yuri really makes this show better.

[MelancholicMariya]

http://yaraon.blog109.fc2.com/blog-entry-4077.html

It'll be quite a while before the group subbing the commentaries gets to the last episode, but this is being reported now:
虚淵「スタッフに感謝を込めて必死こいて次のを頑張ってるんで(笑)」
キャスト『２期！？２期！？』
虚淵「いつかアナウンスできると思うんですけど、今必死こいて脳みそしぼってます。」
...
虚淵「ここでは終わりません。」　

Something like Urobuchi thanking the staff and asking them to keep it up in the future[??], then the seiyuu say "2nd season!? 2nd season!?" Urobuchi replies that he thinks something may be announced someday but right now... I dunno, something about them just being too busy dealing with the stress of getting the first season done. Then later he ends with "This is not the end."

Which doesn't mean a second season of TV anime necessarily, and Shinbou has already expressed his desire to do more from this franchise, but it's a nice little tease anyway.

I'm pretty sure they'll leave the main series alone, but with Urobuchi being surprised that a good amount of people think that Homura is the only Maho Shoujo left after the ending makes me think that a new series could potentially be about Homura and a different set of girls. Or it could just be a slice of life like Shinbo wants, I would like that, too.

I spoiler tagged the best I could so I don't ruin the ending for anyone even though this is the discussion thread.

[something]

MAL has a better translation up that includes some extra lines: http://myanimelist.net/forum/?topicid=329083

Urobuchi: It's been quite short since I began to work in the anime industry, but I was fortunate that the producers of Madoka let me do in my own way. In order to show my gratitude to the staff, I'm struggling to work out ideas of the next "thing". I think I can announce it someday.
Yuki Aoi: Second season? Second season?
Urobuchi: I'm twisting my brain now.
Yuki Aoi: There could be a parallel world or a different ending?
Urobuchi: Possible. We won't let Madoka go.

[Fencedude]

I'm pretty sure they'll leave the main series alone, but with Urobuchi being surprised that a good amount of people think that Homura is the only Maho Shoujo left after the ending makes me think that a new series could potentially be about Homura and a different set of girls. Or it could just be a slice of life like Shinbo wants, I would like that, too.

I spoiler tagged the best I could so I don't ruin the ending for anyone even though this is the discussion thread.

Well, its understandable that Urobuchi would be surprised that people would be fucking stupid enough to think that.

The misinterpretation of that final scene (which is in part, admittedly, caused by SHAFT being just a tad too SHAFTy for their own good) is really ridiculous.

[MelancholicMariya]

The misinterpretation of that final scene is really ridiculous.
It certainly is, but it wouldn't be a highly successful anime if it didn't have a million people misinterpreting the ending!

But, yeah it is kind of ridiculous.


caused by SHAFT being just a tad too SHAFTy for their own good

There is no such thing as SHAFT being too SHAFT.

[something]

Urobuchi has already said that the ending wasn't something he's written, just something Shaft threw in. Might as well interpret it however you want. I doubt it has any bearing on further development of the franchise however; but then I doubt we'd ever actually see a straight sequel anyway.

There is no such thing as SHAFT being too SHAFT.
Except in the first half of ef - a tale of melodies, urgh that was so overdone. Second half saved it though.

[regz91]

In a more humorous vein, Urobuchi tweeted this last weekend:


So, today the staff of Fate/Zero are headed to a shrine to pray for a hit series. I worried about whether or not to go with them . . . in my entire life, I've never been to a Buddhist temple or received any kind of holy blessing. I skipped out on the trip for Madoka, and looking back I never even went to Shichi-Go-San [a Japanese tradition].

I mean, look . . . if I get cleansed, it's not totally out of the question that I might just vanish entirely, right? After it's over, it might be like I got hit by that death ray from War of the Worlds, with only my clothes left behind. Or I might puke something up and start thrashing around. Either way it seems like it would cause a lot of problems for the other participants.

Really, it's a question of how much of me is composed of "impurities". If I get cleansed, not only will it not hurt me, it will actually make me a lot healthier. But in exchange, if I lose my ability to bully fictional middle school girls, I won't be able to write any more Madoka! Nooooooo!


Not REALLY related (except possibly in the sense that he doesn't seem to be considering a slice-of-life followup), but good God it made me laugh.

[MelancholicMariya]

In a more humorous vein, Urobuchi tweeted this last weekend:


So, today the staff of Fate/Zero are headed to a shrine to pray for a hit series. I worried about whether or not to go with them . . . in my entire life, I've never been to a Buddhist temple or received any kind of holy blessing. I skipped out on the trip for Madoka, and looking back I never even went to Shichi-Go-San [a Japanese tradition].

I mean, look . . . if I get cleansed, it's not totally out of the question that I might just vanish entirely, right? After it's over, it might be like I got hit by that death ray from War of the Worlds, with only my clothes left behind. Or I might puke something up and start thrashing around. Either way it seems like it would cause a lot of problems for the other participants.

Really, it's a question of how much of me is composed of "impurities". If I get cleansed, not only will it not hurt me, it will actually make me a lot healthier. But in exchange, if I lose my ability to bully fictional middle school girls, I won't be able to write any more Madoka! Nooooooo!


Not REALLY related (except possibly in the sense that he doesn't seem to be considering a slice-of-life followup), but good God it made me laugh.

That kind of reminds me of the time during the March 11th Earthquake where he jokingly tweeted about caring more about losing all of his porn to the disaster than himself, or that was the implication.

He's a funny guy even though he makes all of these depressing stories.

[something]

Putting this under last ep subthread to be safe.

http://0taku.livedoor.biz/archives/3943826.html

We have an official name for the form of Madoka we've taken to calling MadoKami or Goddess Madoka: ULTIMATE MADOKA.

That's kinda... hilarious really.

[strangefour]

Putting this under last ep subthread to be safe.

http://0taku.livedoor.biz/archives/3943826.html

We have an official name for the form of Madoka we've taken to calling MadoKami or Goddess Madoka: ULTIMATE MADOKA.

That's kinda... hilarious really.

What? That's a bullshit name. The stupid name I thought of is better. And I just called her Tengen Toppa Kaname Madoka.

[MelancholicMariya]

Putting this under last ep subthread to be safe.

http://0taku.livedoor.biz/archives/3943826.html

We have an official name for the form of Madoka we've taken to calling MadoKami or Goddess Madoka: ULTIMATE MADOKA.

That's kinda... hilarious really.

What? That's a bullshit name. The stupid name I thought of is better. And I just called her Tengen Toppa Kaname Madoka.

It's silly but it's true. That is the ultimate form of Madoka. You can interpret the term ultimate in any way you want if it makes you feel better. Ultimate means the best and if you're religious or something God is the ultimate entity of this universe so that kind of makes it the same as MadoKami.

Or whatever. I think it makes her sound cool. It has strength behind it.

[something]

So, last night since the site was down and I had too much new anime to watch and my brain locked up when I tried to decide where to start... I decided to go back to these commentaries! I watched each episode normally, then rewatched with commentary, alternating back and forth from ep 4 to the end.

Episode 4 Commentary:

- Yuuki Aoi to Urobuchi Gen: "What were you thinking when you wrote this story?" Haha, oh where to start.
- Urobuchi on early ideas for Madoka Magica: It was initially a battle royale concept, where a magical girl would die basically every episode.
- Urobuchi is the one who pushed Saitou to audition for Homura.
- Saitou talks aout hwo they decided that Madoka Magica does a good job getting into how girls would think about these situations. They wonder how Urobuchi was able to write that way... and ask if he's secretly a girl. =D

- Saitou points quite rightly how Homura is, if not necessarily open, still very different around Madoka than when others are around, and how she kept that in midn while acting.
- Urobuchi confirms here that QB has no official gender, as he's confirmed in interviews before as well.
- Very interesting question from Saitou to Urobuchi: Were there any seiyuu whose performances really changed your impression of their characters when you were writing the story initially? He singles out Mizuhashi Kaori's Mami. He was very surprised by how much presence and impact Mizuhashi gave her in only three episodes, which both made her death in episode three far more impacting than he expected, and also really improved her later scenes as well. Go go Mizuhashi Kaori!

- We get to the witch barrier where mahou shoujo Sayaka makes her first appearance and Urobuchi notes than Inu Curry has a lot of creative freedom over how these scenes played out, almost like it's not from the script at all. There were no descriptions of the witches or lines for the acting, so they just took it from there and did what they wanted.
- Kyouko arrives! The girls love Kyouko =D
- At the time the commentary for this episode eas released, recording hadn't started on episode 12, and as Saitou mentioned earlier, they only get the script right before the episode airs.

[something]

Episode 5 Commentary:

- "I want to marry Kyouko." Haha I love you, Yuuki Aoi. You know who the best girl is! And this time the guest is Aipon (Nonaka Ai), Kyouko's seiyuu.
- Audition chat: Most of the seiyuu were given the chance to choose two characters to audition for, though in Ao-chan's case, Madoka was already pre-decided as one of her two.
- And Saitou has QB as one of hers, heh. If Saitou had gotten QB and someone else were Homura... hm. Hard to imagine.
- Aipon auditioned for Kyouko and Mami. Hmm, an Aipon Mami... I can't think of anyone else but Mizuhashi for Mami anymore.

- Hahah, poor Hitomi. All the seiyuu consider her a wicked girl. :sd:
- "She's really a witch." Haha, Ao-chan, so harsh. Everyone hates Hitomi!
- Ao-chan is still fangirling over Kyouko. It's so cute.
- "Kyouko-tan ::heavy breathing::" XD
- Watching Kyouko makes seiyuu hungry.
- Ao-chan says she thinks Madoka is the cutest in the end, but wouldn't want her as a girlfriend. She still thinks "Marrying Kyouko would be nice." Hahah, man, there's nothing more fun than one of my favorite seiyuu fangirling over the best girl in the show. =D

- Now for discussions of QB's ears in his ears.
- Aipon's favorite character other than Kyouko is... Mami-san!
- The secret to Kyouko's glutonous eating haits yet slim figure - her highly actiev fighting style! Burn those calories, magical girls.

- HAH, thought so, Ao-chan voiced the familiar in this episode. It's so silly sounding.
- ::Ao-chan continues to moan her love for Kyouko at every opportunity::
- "Taiyaki da~!"

Wow. There's no way Ao-chan was faking her fangasm for Kyouko, she's just all over her. Saitou and Aipon will be talking about something else, and Ao-chan is just in the background enumerating all Kyouko's "kyun!" points for her. :sd: That was so fun to listen to. And god Aipon's voice is too cute...

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Episode 6 Commentary:

- Ahahaha, ok so, the guest this time is series director, Miyamoto Yukihiro. But Shinbou is the director, right? Well, yeah. There are two directors, Shinbou being the "main" director but Miyamoto is the "series director". And it seems this confusion is normal, because... even Ao-chan and Saitou have absolutely no clue what he does XD
- He explains that his job is basically "series composition", i.e. making decisions about what cuts to use, and where to put them, and such.
- He has a funny laugh. :sd:
- And now Ao-chan and Saitou are like "Whelp, I have no idea what questions to ask of the series composition guy!" ...we're on the OP. Where is this commentary going? :sd:

- At the point they're recording this commentary, they've finished recording the final episode. If it wasn't obvious already, watching these commentaries before seeing the whole show is a bad idea, because they will spoil things.

- Miyamoto talks about the timing of Madoka. Initially, Denpa Onna was going to follow Arakawa Under the Bridge. Madoka was decided on at the last moment - what, SHAFT doing things at the last second? NO WAY! :sd:
- Bwahahaha, Saitou and Ao-chan are poking fun at how bad the art could be at the time of recording, since of course Shaft is constantly correcting things until the end. Saitou, of course, is totally used to this, since she works with Shaft so often.
- :sd: Miyamoto is talking about how normally a lot more is done by recording time, but with "Shaft-san", a lot of is just, well, blank. Saitou had to act a lot of Homura scenes that were just literally nothing when she was recording. And because of that, the animators actually changed quite a lot of scenes based on the acting.
- Who is Miyamoto's favorite character? QB. Ahahaha, yeah figures, his job would be so much easier if everyone were as coldly rational and methodical as QB, heh.

- ::Saitou is trying to talk about some Grief Seed stuff:: Ao-chan: "Kyouko! Moe! Kyouko!!" XD
- Heh. Animators like QB because his mouth doesn't move. :sd:
- Miyamoto notes that initially, QB did have some facial features/reactions, including opening his mouth, but Shinbou took them all out.
- Ahaha, the best anecdote of the episode: Miyamoto often had animators telling him they didn't want to work on cuts from later episodes because they hadn't see the most recent episode on TV yet. :sd:

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Episode 7 Commentary:

- This time it's Shintani Ryouko, the voice is WICKED HITOMI herself! Which is appropriate, with this being the episode where Hitomi unknowingly drives Sayaka over the edge.
- The seiyuu have been joking about this too, talking about how Hitomi is the scariest character. But they also acknowledge that that's just from the perspective of someone who knows far more than Hitomi does. Still funny to listen to her own seiyuu trash talking her though. :sd:

- Hah. Now Kyouko is just proactively known as Ao-chan's beloved in the recording booth.
- Just a reminder again to watch the show first... Ao-chan lets slip about becoming witches. She tries to catch herself and switch the sentence but it's clear enough where she's going, heh.
- "Kyouko... kawaii, Kyouko... daisuki..." <3 Ao-chan. But man, you have to love her. This is the scene where she gives Sayaka her whole backstory, bares herself emotionally, puts her neck out... and is totally rejected by Sayaka. "How did you get those apples?" ;_; Heartbreaking.
- Shintani's favorite character is Kyouko too. Madoka is the most mysterious for her, because she hasn't actually found out what happens in the final episode yet by this recording.

- Heh. After this ep, any time Sgintani saw Sayaka's seiyuu Kitamura Eri, she felt like apologizing. :sd:
- Ao-chan calls Kyouko by her fandom nickname "Anko", awwwwwww
- ::Sayaka is snapping on screen, brutally ripping the witch apart:: Shintani: "...Gomen."

These commentaries are so fun. The seiyuu really do think a lot about these characters, Saitou most of all - she's constantly analyzing them and trying to get at their motivations and such. Good stuff.

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Episode 8 Commentary:

- Goddamn this episode was so good... now to watch again with commentary, and Taniguchi Jun'ichirou, the Chief Animation Director. As Chief Animation Director his main job is the overall consistency and unity of the visuals as a whole.
- He says there are 10 animators who do the original pictures and movement, plus another 1-2 who do corrections.
- Heh, Ao-chan points out how wide the faces are, courtesy of Ume-tentei.

- Interesting, when asked about what character was the hardest to keep uniform, he says, of all people, Hitomi. I kinda get what he means but, huh. Maybe the limited range of emotions she shows is what made drawing boundaries harder.
- ::More Ao-chan Kyouko fangirling::
- Huh, Taniguchi says that it's very common for the animators to work from home. I guess that makes sense with most everything being digital and all, but I still have an image stuck in my head of a bunch of animators in a messy studio all drawing away in a rush.

- Ahahaha, an angry Ao-chan growling out QB's name. XD

Lots and lots of talk about facial expressions and little details here and there. Interesting commentary.

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Episode 9 Commentary:

- Kyoukoooo! ;_______; Sigh... okay, guest this time is Katou Emiri... QB!
- Heh. Emiri auditioned for and got the part of Kyubey without having any idea where the character was headed.
- Ahahaha, as they're chatting about QB's cuteness, Ao-chan talks about how when she's sending or getting texts with friends, they'll say things like "Make a contract with me and let's go shopping!" XD
- Oh god, it's also on the recruitment bulletin board for her club at her uni.
- XD Emiri is talking about how popular QB has gotten in Akihabara, and Ao-chan is kinda giggling in the background before admitting she went no a QB tour of Akihabara. And she says she saw this (http://tri4.net/madomagi/realqb/) XD

- Heh, poor Emiri. In early art for recording, QB had lip flaps. So she tried hard to match them (difficult with how much he talks), but then when she saw the final broadcast version, he doesn't open his mouth at all. :sd:
- And who is Emiri's favorite character that isn't hers? KYOUKO! Seriously, I think she's just about sweeping this among the seiyuu. Kyouko, I know you love Sayaka, but you could totally have a huge harem of cute Japanese seiyuu girls!

- Cute anecdote: When Ao-chan had to act the long entropy discussion with QB, she talked to Tsuruoka (sound director) and how to handle it. He said she shouldn't address QB quite as an enemy, but more like she's having her own internal battle. And so she did... but QB's indifference to everything made her angry anyway. Haha.
- Kyouko/Madoka conversation: Ao-chan: "I get to talk with Kyouko-tan!"
- ::Ao-chan talks about how cute Kyouko's eating noises are::
- Emiri talks about how when she was working on other shows while Madoka was airing, everyone would talk to her about it and how awesome it is - the impact it had within the industry itself was very wide.

- Kyouko's battle scene! Ao-chan is getting a little emotional. Sniffling too. She and Saitou talk about how they cried watching this scene at home, awww.
- Ao-chan and Emiri are both crying now, and none of them can really say much, it's just sounds of sadness, awwwwwwwww~
- Eventually the commentary translator just has to give up because all your hear is three girls blubbering simultaneously. Kyouko, you're so very loved. <3

Awww, guess "And I'm Home" wasn't ready for the commentary recording session. They mention there's a special ED, but I really wanted to hear what they thought of it.

Great commentary though. It felt so good to see how much they all cared about and loved Kyouko, because I feel the same way. She was my overall #1 favorite character of 2011 for a reason. <3 Kyouko <3

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Episode 10 Commentary:

- This episode... and I've been waiting for this commentary. Ao-chan and Saitou only, no guest.
- Ao-chan's nickname for Saitou is Chii-sama, hah oh wow.
- They talk about the first time they saw meganekko Homura art - it was when they were recording episode 9. They almost thought it was anew character at first, heh.
- Bwhahaha, Madoka's "Naisho da yo!" line when she saves Homura from the first witch actually had a star next to it in the script, and became a popular line with the seiyuu.

- The heavier stuff starts, and Chii-sama has very high praise for how Ao-chan handled the reversed roles in this episode.
- Ao-chan returns the praise of course. Well earned for both of them.
- Saitou is talking about how this is the first major show where she's really felt like instead of being one of the younger ones, here he wanted to try really hard to be the senpai, particularly with Ao-chan in the lead role.

- Ahh... I was kinda hoping they'd talk about the episode, but they're just talking a lot about acting in general and all that. Not that it's not interesting, but I want to hear their reactions to this amazing episode. They're going on as if it's not even playing. Kinda disappointing, when all the commentaries so far have been so fun.
- Okay they kinda start talking about the episode during the climactic scene where Homura has to shoot Madoka's soul gem.
- Saitou is talking about the scream she lets out when Homura pulls the trigger - she notes how there was originally the sound of the gun going off, but they pulled it and let her scream stand on its own. She was really grateful for that, and it was damn well the right choice.
- Saitou talks about how in the latter half of the show, the acting started to get really natural - not a lot of editing, very few retakes.

- Haha, Saitou is going on about how happy she is to be part of such a great show and etc etc etc... then a QB blows up and Ao-chan snorts out a laugh. Love the timing.
- !!!! When Saitou saw that Connect was used as the ED for ep 10, she really wanted to sing it with Ao-chan. (Ao-chan goes, "ClariS desu!" XD) Oh that would have been awesome.

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Episode 11 Commentary:

- The guest this time is... Mizuhashi Kaori! Oh and Kitamura Eri. How about Nonaka Ai too? And don't forget Katou Emiri. Oh god this must have been hell to translate./
- Heh. Mizuhashi is talking about how after Mami was cut short at episode three (until her ep 10 return), Mizuhashi did Takkun (Madoka's little brother) and... Walpurgis! "From the little brother to the last boss" as she puts it, heh.
- Kitamura talks about reactions the funeral scene got among her coworkers. She also says Sayaka's fate is really the second big shock.
- ...So Nonaka Ai starts out with "I'm the Third Impact!" Heh. Aipon and Mizuhashi say they wish Mami and Kyouko had more chance to talk.
- Katou talks again about being happy to get the cute mascot character, then coming to know its true nature.

- Mizuhashi says that even though she knew Mami died in episode three, it didn't turn her off from the role. She also didn't know Mami was back in episoe 10 until she had the script in her hands.
- Kitamura wants Sayaka to have a special attack like Tiro Finale. =D
- Saitou reveals that her favorite scene of all is ii this episode: Homura tearfully hugging Madoka and revealing everything about herself. Good pick, it is an incredibly moving scene.

- After this they actually start talking about the ending a lot, which almost made em think there was no ep 12 commentary, but there is.
- Mizuhashi reacts to the ending first, She wonders when Madoka decided on her wish. The others... don't really talk about the ending, heh, but Aipon apologizes to Homura for dying and leaving her to fight Walpurgis alone. :sd:

One more left!

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Episode 12 Commentary:

- This time, it's Urobuchi, Ume and Miyamoto again for the staff. Huh, no Shinbou.
- Ume-sensei is cute from the first word. <3
- When asked about whether the ending was planned ahead of time, Gen describes how the idea was, but the implementation was left to the content team, which sets Miyamoto into fits of hysterical laughter most likely driven by massive deadline-induced PTSD :sd:
- Ume-sensei was really really happy when Madoka tels Homura that she sees and knows everything Homura has ever done. Such a beautiful moment for Homura. <3

- Everyone realllllllly likes Ultimate Madoka. =D
- Or as the script said, HYPER ULTIMATE MADOKA.
- Heh, awww, when they're recording the commentary, the "uncensored" Madoka/Homura space scene wasn't done yet, so Urobuchi is the one who reveals they'll be naked. Too bad, I wanted to see what they said about that. :sd:
- Heh. They're talking about how the parting scene might have been different if it were between a boy and a girl, or between two boys. Urobuchi says the latter would be more like Gurren Lagann.

- Everyone is talking about how cute Kyouko is in her ep 12 scene. Ao-chan is just quiet for a moment then goes, "Gah, so cute." like she's taken physical damage from Kyouko's cuteness.
- Regarding QB and Homura teaming up in this new world, Ume-sensei wonders if QB still recruits magical girls without telling them their soul gems corrupting will make them disappear. But Urobuchi actually doesn't think so - he believes QB would explain properly in this new setting. Interesting.

- Saitou asks for final words. Miyamoto immediately says he wants to do a season two (this is where the news from a ways back came from) even though everyone just got done almost killing themselves to get it done.
- Urobuchi also says he's trying to come up with new ideas. As we now know, that's the upcoming movie trilogy. Well, one third of it should be new anyway.
- "I want to see a world where I can Madoka love-love! I want to be happy!" lol Saitou.
- Oooh, Urobuchi already showed Ume-sensei some of his ideas...
- I love the coordinated "thank you!" at the end.

What a marathon. Every episode of Madoka from 4-12, twice, once normal, once commentary. Absolutely fantastic, and being able to see the commentary just deepens my appreciation for this series more and more. Probably enough to put it in my top 10 all time, honestly. But I'll wait for the third movie before I decide on that. Bring on the movies! Even if 1-2 are likely to be total copy/paste...