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Puella Magi Madoka Magica (view source)

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Too bad things [[Deal with the Devil|simply are not]] [[Cosmic Horror Story|as they seem to be.]]
 
Bringing together an all-star staff, ''Puella Magi Madoka Magica'' has [[Studio Shaft]] animating, Shaft's primary director [[Sayonara, Zetsubou-sensei|Aki]][[Bakemonogatari|yuki]] [[Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha|Shinbo]] directing, [[Yuki Kajiura]] producing the music, [[Nitroplus|Nitro+]]'s [[Gen Urobuchi]] writing and [[Ume Aoki]] designing the characters for Shaft's first [[Anime First|original series]]. The show started airing in January as part of the Winter 2011 season, though it was put on a temporary hiatus [[Too Soon|due to the Sendai earthquakes in Japan]]. [http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2011-04-10/madoka-magica-anime-to-resume-on-april-21 The final two episodes were broadcast back-to-back on April 21st;] [[And the Fandom Rejoiced|the initial announcement was met with much rejoicing]]. [http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2011-06-21/1-million-stream-free-madoka-magica-in-japan-taiwan When it was aired on Nico Nico Douga], over one million people watched. Compare this to [[Lucky Star]]'s similar stream, which had over ''half'' a million.
 
Initially, there were three manga series related to this anime. The first is a direct adaptation of the television series, under the same title. The others are [[Spin-Off|Spin Offs]]. ''[[Puella Magi Kazumi Magica]]: The Innocent Malice'' focuses on a different cast of [[Magical Girl|Magical Girls]]s while ''[[Puella Magi Oriko Magica]]'' features characters from the anime as well as several new characters. For both of these series, it is strongly recommended to watch ''Puella Magi Madoka Magica'' first since they reveal critical plot elements from the anime. Some time after the anime ended, an official but noncanon manga anthology series was released.
 
This series has a [http://wiki.puella-magi.net wiki] [[Troper Critical Mass|which is maintained and updated very efficiently]]. Therefore, proceed with caution as spoilers abound.
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A dub of the series [http://www.animenewsnetwork.co.uk/news/2011-07-29/aniplex-usa-to-dub-madoka-magica-into-english has been confirmed]. Aniplex USA's teaser page for the series can be found [http://madokamagicausa.com here], now updated with more information about the characters and the series itself. Yen Press has [http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2011-10-14/yen-press-adds-madoka-magica-soul-eater-not-yuki-chan confirmed] that they will be publishing the manga adaptation of the series in English. Finally, [http://www.crunchyroll.com/puella-magi-madoka-magica Crunchyroll] and [http://www.hulu.com/madoka-magica Hulu] have begun streaming the series for free.
 
[[Namco Bandai]] [http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2011-08-09/madoka-magica-gets-psp-game-with-gen-urobuchi is developing a video game] for the [[PSP]], ''[[Puella Magi Madoka Magica Portable]]''. It is slated to be released in March of 2012, and its gameplay is described as a [[Roguelike]] RPG. Odds are good that it will avert [[The Problem with Licensed Games]] because of heavy involvement of the anime staff -- Genstaff—Gen Urobuchi writing the scenario, and visual design by SHAFT and Gekidan InuCurry. [http://wiki.puella-magi.net/Mobage_Madoka_Magica_Mobile_Game An official iPhone game by Mobage] featuring four new magical girl characters has also been released.
 
Plans to make a [http://www.crunchyroll.com/anime-news/2011/11/07-1/madoka-magica-film-trilogy-confirmed-by-newtype theatrical film trilogy] have been announced. The first two movies will premiere on October 6 and 13. It has been revealed that another [[Spin-Off]] manga will be released simultaneously with the two films.
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<big> '''''[[Late Arrival Spoiler]] Warning:''''' ''Puella Magi Madoka Magica'' is one of the most popular anime franchises in the anime fandom as of the Winter 2011 season. It also has a [[Wham! Line]] [[Wham! Episode|roughly every episode]]. In other words, there are a great deal of '''''SPOILERS''''' below -- mostbelow—most marked, some unmarked, but ''all'' of which will ruin your enjoyment of the story. ''{{red|Avoiding these pages is highly suggested for those who have not seen the show.}}'' </big>
 
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** The third drama CD reveals Kyoko and Mami have a shared past, something that is only hinted at in the anime proper. However, this has somewhat taken form when ''[[Oriko Magica]]'' came around.
** The concept art booklet in the sixth Blu-Ray volume reveals a character's name. {{spoiler|Madoka's goddess form is called "Ultimate Madoka"}}. The name is never spoken or written in the show. However, since fans have been using [[Fan Nickname]] ( {{spoiler|1=Godoka/Madokami/etc.}}) for it, it isn't such a problem.
** The ''You Are Not Alone'' guidebook includes or alludes to other [[Magical Girl|Magical Girls]]s' wishes.
* [[All There Is to Know About "The Crying Game"]]: Let's keep this ''as clear as possible'': the majority<ref>which would be anywhere between 50%-80%</ref> of these spoilers have circulated the internet five times over, and it would be impossible to not know about most of them. Even though the anime didt not have a proper English release until March 2012, a newcomer to the series will have to wonder about the [[Troper Critical Mass|size of this page]] and the [[Late Arrival Spoiler|rather large amount of spoiler tags]]. In other words, this page is [[Tempting Fate]] for anyone who reads it. You, on the other hand, have been warned.
* [[Alternate Character Reading]]: [[Invoked]]. The kanji used for "Mahou Shoujo" can be rewritten to reveal multiple key plot points. Similarly, "Puella Magi" has multiple meanings, which are also key plot points. All of these are explained in the anime proper and [[Altum Videtur|their]] [[Meaningful Name|respective]] tropes.
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** Episode 11 reveals the reason why Madoka has so much power. {{spoiler|Time loops centered on her added to the power of each timelines' Madoka.}}
* [[Ax Crazy]]: A character becomes more and more [[Ax Crazy]] to show her descent into madness and despair. {{spoiler|Sayaka begins showing signs of this at the end of Episode 7.}}
* [[Bait and Switch Credits]]: The opening is something that would fit perfectly on any typical [[Magical Girl]] show, with [[Shout-Out|Shout Outs]] to [[Cardcaptor Sakura]], [[Sailor Moon]], and [[Pretty Cure]]. The ending ... has distorted music, is nearly completely devoid of color, has creepy lyrics,<ref> The song is Magia by the band Kalafina</ref>, and ends with Madoka floating in the fetal position in the eye socket of a giant skull. Prior to Episode 3, the anime avoids showing the ending, instead running the credits along the conclusion of the episode and using the song for fight scenes.
** [[Subverted]] later, when it becomes clear just whose perspective the opening song is from.
** The Blu-rays for the first two episodes have an ending theme which plays this trope straight as well.
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** In a meta-example overlapping with [[Misaimed Marketing]], we have [http://twitpic.com/5xd3fe this promotional wishboard]. Either the ones behind this idea were oblivious to [[Fate Worse Than Death|what making a wish with Kyubey entails]], or they really ''do'' have a warped sense of humor.
* [[Black Speech]]: Shown when the art shifts and the witches come out.
* [[Bland-Name Product]]: Kyoko offers Homura some [[Pocky|Rocky]].<ref>which is also an actual product... [http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/f/f7/Rocky_sticks.jpg in Malaysia]</ref>. The [[Dance Dance Revolution|Dog Drug Reinforcement]] dancing game she's playing in the same scene is another one.
* [[Blatant Lies]]: [[Manipulative Bastard|Kyubey]] does not, since he considers himself ''above'' lying, but [[Troll|Gen Urobuchi]] does. ''[[Lying Creator|A lot]]''.
* [[Blessed Are the Cheesemakers]]: Well, according to Charlotte the dessert witch. She can create any dessert in the world, but she can't create her favorite food, cheese. {{spoiler|No wonder Mami got eaten by her; she wears all yellow.}}
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** {{spoiler|[[Cursed with Awesome]]: This is the final fate of magical girls in Madoka's reconstructed universe. A wish is granted to the girls at the cost of fighting the demons until the girls exhaust their soul gems and die. It's kind of like the whole [[Dragon Age|Grey Wardens schtick.]] However, as long as they keep fighting the demons, their soul gems keep replenishing -- so it's very much a willpower thing.}}
* [[Blonde, Brunette, Redhead]]: Mami, Homura, and Kyoko {{spoiler|are the only main magical girls still existing in the rewritten universe.}}
* [[Bloodier and Gorier]]: Where the anime avoids depicting gore, the manga revels in it. [[Gory Discretion Shot|Gory Discretion Shots]]s are frequently averted. Blood is added to scenes that didn't originally have it, and characters are drawn with [[Nightmare Face]] expressions that give [[Higurashi no Naku Koro ni]] a run for its money.
** Strangely, the mangas reads like a bastard child of ''[[Elfen Lied]]'': extremely cute characters with a [[Fan Service]] [[Covers Always Lie|cover]], but [[Gorn]] all over the place. All we need now is an [[R-Rated Opening]]...[[Les Yay|oh wait]], that already happened in the original anime and ''[[Oriko Magica]]''.
** [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uc_q5WNQ8uA Here's] a comparison of Sayaka's fight with Elsa Maria in the TV and BD version. (spoiler warning) The BD version adds more blood to the scene.
** The BD release keeps better consistency with Kyoko's injuries {{spoiler|during her fight with Oktavia}}.
* [[Blue and Orange Morality]]: Kyubey, who is apparently {{spoiler|a supposed [[Starfish Alien]]}} gathering energy to stave off entropy. It just so happens that having teenage girls {{spoiler|turning into [[Eldritch Abomination|Eldritch Abominations]]s}} is a very efficient way to do so, and he doesn't understand how anyone who knows the whole story could object to the plan.
** His consistent reply to the girls' protests is "I don't understand what you mean," which has become a [[Memetic Mutation]] associated with him in Japan.
** In the epilogue {{spoiler|he's still this, but his race's best chances to work on things in the new paradigm is to work very closely and openly with the magical girls. He even warns them up front that they ''will'' fade away when they run out of magic.}}
* [[Bright Is Not Good]]: A [[Talking Animal]], colored [[Puella Magi Madoka Magica]] white and pink? How dangerous could it be?
* [[Body Horror]]: Episode 4 features a witch that kills its victims by stretching them until they tear apart. The effect is exaggerated by the art style used for it.
* [[Bolivian Army Ending]]: {{spoiler|Homura's final fate is uncertain in the anime; it could be one of two things: either she's gained new superpowers, or she's going to Heaven as soon as the series is over. [[Mind Screw|Or it could be both.]] Averted in the manga, when Madoka does indeed take her to Heaven, where they'll be together forever, along with Sayaka.}}
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** This is visible even in the artwork. Check out most of the environments: Everything in the foreground is bright, clean, sterile and lifeless. Everything in the background is dark, and largely consists of black skeletons of buildings under construction.
* [[Creator Breakdown]]: Gen Urobuchi's self-confessed "tragedy syndrome" from his afterword to ''[[Fate/Zero]]'' (see the [[Puella Magi Madoka Magica/Quotes|Quotes page]]) is in full play here.
** {{spoiler|...but eventually subverted! Everyone gets a happy ending in the last episode, with the exception of Madoka and Sayaka, who get [[Bittersweet Ending|Bittersweet Endings]]s.}}
* [[Credits Running Sequence]]
* [[Cry Cute]]:
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* [[Death by Origin Story]]: Mami's and Kyoko's parents.
* [[Department of Redundancy Department]]: The Latin title [[Covers Always Lie|reads as this]], but it's subverted in that there's an alternate, more accurate translation (based off of [[Altum Videtur]]): {{spoiler|''Girl of the Sorcerer: Magician Madoka''. Furthermore, "Puella" literally means "a young girl" but it's derived from "Puerulus", which means "a young slave". "Magi", depending on the context, can be used in two ways: "Magician" or "Deceiver", the latter of which is the closest derivation. The series' title can thus also be translated to "Slave to the Deceiver, Magician Madoka"}}
* [[Deranged Animation]]: For example, [[media:sweet-dreams_3701dreams 3701.jpg|the Anthonies']] ''[[South Park]]-ish'' appearance (read: reminiscent of that series' cutout style), as well as how it ''doesn't'' match the art style of the other characters, is already bad enough for them to deserve to be the page image for [[Puella Magi Madoka Magica/Nightmare Fuel|the HONF tab]], but [[Uncanny Valley|their laggy animation]] really drives the point home.
* [[Design Student's Orgasm]]: The witches' mazes. The first witch, Gertrud, is a gardener, so the maze is covered in roses and thorns, with floating scissors and butterfly- and puffball-themed familiars. The second, Charlotte, has a maze [[Level Ate|made of cake and sweets]] with syringes and bottled body parts everywhere. Charlotte herself looks like a children's cartoon from the 80s.
** A certain aspect of Charlotte takes heavy inspiration, too, from Takeshi Murakami's Superflat artwork.
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* [[Fairy Tale Motifs]]: Sayaka's storyline has paralells to the non-[[Disneyfication|Disneyfied]] ''[[The Little Mermaid]]''.
* [[Fan Nickname]]:
** "[[Moe|Moemura]]mura" for pre-[[Adrenaline Makeover]] Homura.
** {{spoiler|"Madokami" or "Godoka" for Ultimate Madoka before her name was revealed in the booklet of the sixth DVD/Blu-Ray release.}}
* [[Fan Service]]: The nude transformation scene with two Madokas in the OP.
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* [[Gainax Ending]]: Episode 12 is really weird.
** Doesn't hurt that a lot of it has shots that are [[Diebuster|visually]] [[Neon Genesis Evangelion|reminiscent]] [[Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann|of Gainax endings]].
* [[German Expressionism]]: Borrows a lot from it, especially the witches' barrier. Even during real world sequence, the atmosphere feels dark and surreal. Have we mentioned that [[Faust|Faustian]]ian motifs and [[Gratuitous German]] are abundant?
* [[Ghost in the Machine]]: {{spoiler|A magical girl's body is essentially a ''magical meat-puppet'' controlled and powered by her soul, now in the form of a jewel.}}
* [[The Glasses Come Off]]: Just before {{spoiler|the last "iteration" of past}}, Homura takes off her glasses and uses her powers to restore her eyesight.
* [[Gory Discretion Shot]]: {{spoiler|When Charlotte eats Mami in episode 3.}} Subverted, as afterward we see it {{spoiler|dive down and start tearing the corpse apart like a wild animal.}} It pans away again, to the {{spoiler|[[Heroic BSOD|disbelieving and horrified Sayaka and Madoka]] watching on}}, but ''[[Hell Is That Noise|the sounds continue]]''--this—this just makes it ''worse''.
** ''[http://www.mangareader.net/mahou-shoujo-madoka-magica/3/29 Completely averted in the manga.]''
* [[Gotta Catch Them All]]: The grief seeds, the source for the strangeness in the town. {{spoiler|[[It Got Worse|If]] [[Awful Truth|it]] [[Soul Jar|only]] [[The Corruption|was]] [[Fallen Hero|that]] [[Cosmic Horror Story|simple]].}}
* [[Gratuitous French]]: The themed cafe that will appear in Matsudo, Chiba is called Cafe du Madoka Magica (Cafe of the Madoka Magica). "Du" (de + le) is masculine; it should be Cafe ''de la'' Madoka Magica.
* [[Gratuitous German]]: The language of choice for the bizarre creatures at the end of the first episode. They speak in a highly disturbing, screechy and somewhat childlike voice, which is arguably even scarier if you can understand bits of what they're saying. Let's just say those flying scissors aren't just for show... <ref> They're surrounding Madoka and Sayaka, saying that they've never seen flowers like them before. This would be creepy enough as it is, but then they start saying things like "Let's just cut them off." and "We present the roses to our queen."</ref>
** In Episode 2, there is some German scribbled on the wall. It is a quote from ''[[Faust]]''. Specifically about a destroyed world being rebuilt...
** [http://wiki.puella-magi.net/Deciphering_the_runes Translating the runes scattered around] also yields up a few more ''Faust'' quotes.
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* [[If We Get Through This]]: "...we're all going out for cake!" {{spoiler|[[Portal (series)|The cake is]] unfulfillable.}}
* [["I Know You're in There Somewhere" Fight]]: {{spoiler|Deconstructed. Kyoko and [[Talking the Monster to Death|Madoka]] try it on Sayaka, and it fails.}}
* [[Immortality]]: Magical girls have Types III{{spoiler|, V,}} and VII. {{spoiler|Kyubey}} has Type IV. Of all things, despite being [[Wrong Genre Savvy]], [[Arc Number|Type V]] is [[Lampshade|Lampshaded]]d {{spoiler|in [[The Reveal|Episode 6]]. The immortality and effect of the magical girl transformation. Most girls turn into witches long before it becomes noticeable. Homura might be proving in [[The Stinger]] that you can theoretically live forever as a magical girl as long as you don't exhaust your magic and never give up hope.}}
** That last spoiler is played with in the manga. {{spoiler|The manga goes a bit further in the timeline, showing that eventually Homura does stop fighting and joins Madoka beyond existence. It is not shown when or how this happens.}}
** At the end of the anime, {{spoiler|Madoka}} gets Type I.
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** {{spoiler|Or answers with multiple true statements that can be easily misread by those not adept at picking out logical fallacies. When asked if there is any way to turn a witch back into a magical girl he says, essentially, "That's impossible" followed by "Magical girls do impossible things all the time". An emotionally distraught fourteen year old isn't likely to realize that these two statements are unrelated (just because you can do some impossible things does not mean you can do ''all'' impossible things) until it is far too late.}}
* [[Jerk Justifications]]: Homura is mostly Type 3 ("That's the way I am, I can't fix it") while Kyoko is type 1 ("Kindness is weakness").
** [[Jerkass Has a Point]]: Both Homura and Kyoko tried to snap Sayaka out of her [[Sanity Slippage]]--Homura—Homura violently so--inso—in Episode 8. {{spoiler|They failed}}.
* {{spoiler|[[Killed Off for Real]]}}: {{spoiler|Mami Tomoe (Episode 3, which got bumped into [[Memetic Mutation|some really meme-tastic territory]]), then Kyoko Sakura and Sayaka Miki in Episode 9 (the former sacrificed herself to [[Fate Worse Than Death|"save"]] the latter).}}
** {{spoiler|Due to a massive [[Cosmic Retcon]] at the end of the anime, Madoka [[Ascended to A Higher Plane of Existence]] and [[Ret-Gone|technically no longer exists]]. Mami and Kyoko [[Back From the Dead|come back to life]] , thanks to never having died in the first place. However, Sayaka dies in the new timeline "using up her power" fighting demons, though she may have also [[Ascended to A Higher Plane of Existence]] with Madoka.}}
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* [[Magic Skirt]]: Madoka's magical girl skirt is basically justified since there are a lot of frills underneath. The other skirts are rather short and the show has a tendency to show a lot of leg, but never more. Especially apparent when {{spoiler|Kyoko}} is carrying {{spoiler|Sayaka}} in her arms in episode 9. There is a side shot with {{spoiler|Sayaka's}} leg conveniently in the way.
* [[Magical Underpinnings of Reality]]
* [[Magitek]]: {{spoiler|Kyubey's race. That's because they're [[Sufficiently Advanced Aliens|Sufficiently Advanced]] [[Starfish Alien|Starfish Aliens]]s.}}
* [[Manipulative Bastard]]: {{spoiler|Kyubey, specially towards the end of Episode 9. He allows Kyoko to try ([[Senseless Sacrifice|and fail]]) to save Sayaka as it would force Homura's hand since she would not be able to stop Walpurgisnacht by herself, thus requiring Madoka to become a magical girl.}}
** {{spoiler|Episode 12 suggests that this was later averted due to the major [[Retcon]] done by Madoka.}}
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** {{spoiler|At the end of the anime, Madoka performs a [[Cosmic Retcon]] that basically does this to every magical girl that is about to become a witch (including ones that existed in the past). Though they may actually [[Ascend to a Higher Plane of Existence|go someplace else.]]}}
* {{spoiler|[[Meta Twist]]: Bacause of Gen Urobuchi's [[Saya no Uta|previous]] [[Fate/Zero|works]], many expected a [[Kill'Em All]] [[Downer Ending]]. It didn't happen.}}
* [[Million-to-One Chance]]: What Kyubey says about {{spoiler|Kyoko's desperation move}} -- it—it's never been tried, it's completely illogical, and even ''he'' doesn't think it'll work -- raiseswork—raises all the flags for this trope. {{spoiler|The show promptly goes on to subvert the trope: it's completely illogical, so ''of course'' it doesn't work.}}
* '''[[Mind Rape]]''': This happens to Madoka, when she {{spoiler|got caught in the witch Kirsten's barrier. The witch then uses her powers to torture Madoka by re-playing Mami's death over and over while subjecting her to [[Body Horror]].}}
** {{spoiler|Kyubey}} is not above doing this. {{spoiler|He shows Madoka how the world has been affected by his [[Deal with the Devil|contracts]], and how if it wasn't for the Incubators humanity would probably still be in caves.}} [[Captain Obvious|She did not enjoy it.]]
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* [[The Obi-Wan]]: {{spoiler|Mami}} quickly becomes this.
** {{spoiler|Kyoko becomes one as well in the final episode where she and Mami return in a dream-like sequence to discuss things with Madoka.}}
* [[Official Cosplay Gear]]: There are official soul gem necklaces. However, they aren't cosplay gear as such -- theysuch—they're smaller than the canon Soul Gems -- andGems—and are more intended as, well, jewelry. Still really nice, though.
* [[Official Couple]]: {{spoiler|Hitomi and Kyousuke.}}
* [[Off-Model]]: Really doesn't have that much of a problem with it (and the instances tend to be from distance shots), but it's absurdly popular so it's [http://wiki.puella-magi.net/Meduka_meguca a meme] anyway. '''(Spoilers for the entire series!)'''
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* [[Our Liches Are Different]]: {{spoiler|You see, in this series, they're called "magical girls."}}
* [[Our Souls Are Different]]
* [[Our Monsters Are Different|Our Witches Are Different]]: They are reality-warping [[Eldritch Abomination|Eldritch Abominations]]s with more specific powers that seem to be based on a combination of the location they were born at and whatever they were feeling at the time. {{spoiler|They are actually "matured" magical girls who allowed their [[Soul Jar|soul gems]] to become too corrupt}}.
* [[Out-of-Clothes Experience]]: {{spoiler|Madoka and Homura in Episode 12}}
* [[Out of the Inferno]]: {{spoiler|A villainous version with Walpurgisnacht, who emerges from huge flames of Homura's making unharmed.}}
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* [[Pieta Plagiarism]]: {{spoiler|Episode 9. Kyoko as Mary, Sayaka as Jesus.}}
* [[Pimped-Out Dress]]: The magical girl outfits, of course. Also, {{spoiler|look at Walpurgisnacht upside-down}}.
* [[Pin-Pulling Teeth]]: When Kyoko grabs Homura to keep her from [[Flash Step|Flash Stepping]]ping, Homura pulls a flashbang grenade out of her [[Bag of Holding]] and pulls out the pin with her teeth, forcing Kyoko back.
* [[Pink Girl, Blue Boy|Pink]] [[Tomboy and Girly Girl|Girly Girl]] And [[Pink Girl, Blue Boy|Blue]] [[Tomboy and Girly Girl|Tomboy]]: [[The Chick|Madoka Kaname]] and [[Plucky Girl|Sayaka Miki]].
* [[Plot-Based Voice Cancellation]]: Homura yells some things to Madoka in the prologue scene in episode 1, but we don't hear it -- andit—and neither, apparently, does Madoka. We learn in episode 10 that {{spoiler|she was begging her not to make the contract again}}.
* [[Post Modernism]]: The witch barriers include many references to both [[Faust]] with the runes and writing, and classical artwork. Meanwhile the plot bears many similarities and even several [[Shout-Out|Shout Outs]] to other anime such as "[[Evangelion]]", "[[Utena]]", and "[[Bokurano]]".
* [[Power Crystal]]: Soul gems.
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** The majority of Episode 10 {{spoiler|After the Walpurgisnacht wrecks Mitakihara in each timeline}}. [[Harsher in Hindsight|Makes it hard to watch later,]] because later on the very same day that episode aired, [[wikipedia:2011 Sendai earthquake and tsunami|a catastrophic tsunami hit Japan following a severe earthquake]], leaving many coastal areas resembling the destroyed city.
* [[Scenery Porn]]: ''Everywhere''. Including the above.
* [[Schedule Slip]]: After the 2011 Sendai earthquake, SHAFT announced first that episodes 11 and 12 would be delayed a week, then upped that to "will air some time before April is over." Episodes 11 and 12 were eventually scheduled to air together on April 21st21. The last volume of the manga adaptation, and the manga spin-off ''Oriko Magica'', have also been delayed.
** The cut segments of the anime were later revealed, which explains the delay -- {{spoiler|Showing refugees hiding in a school gym, and a collapsed building crushing someone's leg was just a little too close to home after the Sendai disaster in 2011.}}
* [[Schoolgirl Lesbians]]: Invoked by Hitomi who is convinced that Madoka and Sayaka have the hots for each other. In her defense, Sayaka spent the first episode giving her that impression. {{spoiler|It turns out that Hitomi may have been aiming for the same boy Sayaka was aiming for, which gave her a reason to hope that Sayaka was a lesbian or at least lesbian-leaning bi. Or that she just preferred Madoka over Kyousuke, so they wouldn't have to "fight" for him.}}
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* [[The Movie]]: An upcoming trilogy. The first two will be a retelling of the original series, and the third will be a continuation.
* [[Theme Naming]]: Each of the main protagonists has a surname (Kaname, Miki, Akemi, Tomoe, Sakura) that can [[Two First Names|also be used as a given name]].
** Doubly so in Homura's case--hercase—her last name is usually a first name, and vice versa.
* [[Theme Tune Cameo]]: Madoka listens to "Connect", the opening theme, at the record store in the mall in episode 1. Episode 6 also features Kyoko dancing to a techno version of the song on a DDR stand-in.
* [[There Are No Therapists]]: Well, there ''are'', but when witches are involved...
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* [[Two First Names]]: See [[Theme Naming]] above.
* [[Two-Teacher School]]: A second teacher aside of Kazuko didn't even show up until episode 9.
* [[Undead Children]]: {{spoiler|[[Magical Girl|Magical Girls]]s are zombies, the Witches are ghosts.}}
* [[Unflinching Walk]]: Due to a combination of her [[Throw Down the Bomblet|weapon]] [[Weapon of Choice|of choice]] and her [[Time Stands Still|ability]], Homura is a master of this and [[Badass|demonstrates]] exactly how it's done in episode 10.
* [[Unreliable Narrator]]: {{spoiler|Kyubey}} may be one.
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* [[Weird Moon]]: The moon phases consist of either dramatic crescent or completely full moons.
* [[Wham! Episode]]: Episode 3. '''You will NOT be ready.'''
** To recap -- therecap—the first few episodes were ominous, but mostly standard [[Magical Girl]] show fare, leading to ''lots'' of fan theories. They had no ending credits montage nor ending theme, relying on the credits showing as the story continued. After the events of Episode 3, we have a fairly good idea where the [[Reality Ensues|deconstruction]] [[Not So Harmless|elements]] [[Anyone Can Die|lay]], and the show now officially has an closing-credits sequence. ''It's creepy as hell.''
** Another one happens in Episode 6. {{spoiler|Not only Sayaka is getting more and more hyped up in her rivalry with Kyoko, but when Madoka tries to stop her from fighting via throwing her soul gem away and hoping to strip her off her powers ... it's shown that if a [[Magical Girl]] loses said soul gem, she will become an [[Empty Shell]]. So no, there's literally ''no'' way to get the fuck out of the contract, until she dies.}} Ouch.
** '''[[Serial Escalation|Another]]''' one happens in Episode 8. {{spoiler|Homura is confirmed to be from an alternate timeline. Sayaka's soul gem goes fully dark, turning into a grief seed, which then explodes and turns her into a witch. This is how all "true witches" are created. Kyubey knew this from the beginning, ending the episode with the [[Wham! Line]] below.}}
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* [[With Great Power Comes Great Perks]]: This is Kyoko's attitude after becoming a [[Magical Girl]]. {{spoiler|While she initially was an idealist like Madoka and Sayaka, after her life was ruined, she decided to only use her powers for her own benefit.}} Yet another reference to [[Faust]]...
** Also, insofar as Kyubey is concerned, the "become a magical girl" process involves a lot of this. {{spoiler|He's very quick to point out later on that the "detached soul" thing makes their human bodies virtually painless and nigh-''invincible'' (Mami only dies in Timeline 5 because she gets eaten ''in one bite'', basically, and the ''only'' other time we see non-witch magical girls die are when their soul gems are violently destroyed) and essentially gives them superpowers. He really doesn't understand why they freak out about the soul separation so much, because as far as he's concerned, even with the whole "fight witches" thing, this "painless immortal superbeing" thing is a pretty sweet deal.}}
* [[With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility]]: [[Deconstructed]]. Is getting your wish granted (which can be as small as ''[ wishing for a cake'') worth having to fight [[Eldritch Abomination|Eldritch Abominations]]s for the rest of your life?
* [[Worf Effect]]: Two examples in Episode 3:
** {{spoiler|Mami, who had been played up as being rather powerful if not experienced, goes up against the witch at Homura's express warnings against doing so, and gets her ass kicked in the most horrific manner possible.}}
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