In hindsight, how did we really not know what was going on here? Many will say now that they did, although the evidence points to otherwise. Most certainly did expect something, but like Blair Witch, the marketing and lead-up to Madoka Magica was a huge part of the experience. Unlike Blair Witch, the end product was satisfying and fulfilling entertainment.
I mean, Shinbo you could expect anything from. He helped turn an eroge into a magical girl franchise, so why wouldn’t he want to revisit the genre? Gen Urobuchi, well, it’s a lot tougher to imagine him doing something about girls magically saving the world with the power of friendship, but in the end, that’s kind of what he did, didn’t he? And it’s not like bad things and darkness never appear in magical girls’ worlds. So the idea of the pair doing straightforward mahou shoujo still doesn’t seem that bonkers.
But it doesn’t change the fact that we let out a collective gasp when they finally turned their cards over in episode three, at the climax of Mami’s fight with Charlotte.
indeed. the element of surprise is inu curry.
gekidan inu curry?
yep. they handled all the witch world stuff, which elevated the visual presence of the show from your budget-cutting shinbo-ism to a whole new level.
i think that is what gives it the truly massive creds as a piece of work, beyond just a very smart and well-played story.
I can get behind you on that. Although I think that those witch world scenes were creepy enough that if anything, they ruined the element of surprise.
The reason I haven’t done any moments of 2011 is that this moment completely overpowers everything else I saw this year (as in, I can’t remember anything else when I try to think back). I guess it’s my 1 moment of 2011 lol.
it really is pretty hard to top.
I’m definitely part of the group that expected something but was lulled into a false sense of security in the first couple of episodes.
Best picture ever just letting you know ;D
Mami getting killed was certainly shocking and was kind of funny afterwards with all the random parody stuff and fan art all over! The best probably celty from Durarara having tea with Mami…yes!
That scene when Madoka proclaimed that she wouldn’t let Mami be alone, and that she was her true friend, that’s when I knew. It was pineapple salad time.