Puella Magi Madoka Magica Part 1: Beginnings

source: Pixiv

When we’re presented the same story in different contexts, we’re made privy to different things. Our perception of stories is at the mercy of the medium, the storyteller, the point of view, or the order in which it’s seen. Many variables affect presentation, which in effect alter the outcome of what we receive. Puella Magi Madoka Magica the television series was ostensibly about magical girls engaging the forces of evil through the use of powers acquired in a magical contract. The first Puella Magi Madoka Magica movie, while containing the same characters and housing the same plot as the first eight episodes of the television series, is more specifically a classic Greek Tragedy borrowing freely from Hans Christian Andersen’s The Little Mermaid.

It is the story of the inevitable downfall of Sayaka Miki.

The Ani(ca)me(ra) and Lensing a Critical Lens

It’s more than likely that, in the recent past, you’ve seen a film. It’s equally likely that you’ve watched an episode of anime. It likely wouldn’t surprise you if I were to state that both have much in common. This, we assume, is a given; both are distinctly visual media. After all, in spite of their numerous differences (voice-acting, acting, audience), what strikes us first and foremost is that the objects of fascination in both are images. We don’t read, we don’t listen, and we don’t even partake in; we saw, we’ve seen, we’ll see^[1].

Diēs Caniculārēs – The Dog Days of Summer

The Pink-Haired Princess of Dog Days

Airing in 2012’s summer season for thirteen episodes, Dog Days’ (pronounced [dɒɡ deɪz dɑːʃ]) is the sequel to 2011’s fantasy action/adventure series, Dog Days. It follows the adventures of a young boy in a fantasy world, later accompanied by his cousin and childhood friend.

Both series are relatively mediocre, with uneven plots, one dimensional characters, and concerts that make for a poor man’s idolm@ster. Yet that the original was popular enough to warrant a sequel, suggests it very much a guilty pleasure.

Everyone’s Kamijou: Sayaka’s noble effort in Puella Magi Madoka Magica

“I love you.”

These are very hard words to say to someone for the first time. There’s always the chance that you could be rejected. If you choose to stay in the dark, you may not get the guy/girl, but at least there will still be a chance that you could have your feelings reciprocated. It remains a possibility albeit if only in your own mind. Choose to speak these words and you will be faced with the finality of an answer. The person in question will return your feelings, or they won’t. If they won’t, you will eventually have to accept that fact. In the dark, you face the fear of being rejected every day until you express your feelings; however, you also live with the hope that your love will be returned.