Madoka Magica Articles

Note: For actual, consistent facts about the show, please refer to Facts and Observations

This page serves as an archive for fan-created articles documenting analysis and theories on Madoka Magica. The content below has been roughly ordered by topic. Theories that were proven right have been marked with a green ✔, those that were proven wrong bear a red ✖. All the other theories are unconfirmed, and hence should be considered as nothing more than theories.

We welcome you to submit new articles as you deem necessary.

Articles and Analyses

Plot and Setting

Walpurgis Night

Explanations on what is Walpurgis Night (in real-life and in canon), references to it, etc.

Ending Analysis

An in-depth analysis of the Ending Animation.

Natural Sciences

Mathematics of Madoka Magica

a page dedicated to solving the 'middle school level' Math questions that appears throughout the series.

Madoka Magica and Science‎

Dedicated to Scientific references of Madoka Magica.

Architecture

Comparison between Architecture within the anime and real life landmarks.

Last question by Isaac Asimov

Intertextuality and Literature

Faust

An analysis of the link between the anime series and the famous tragedy by Goethe.

Der Steppenwolf

a short comparison between madoka and Harry Haller, the protagonist of "Der Steppenwolf", a novel by Hermann Hesse.

John Gabriel Borkman

An unlikely but interresting analysis of the links between Madoka Magica and Henrik Ibsen's "John Gabriel Borkman".

Theories & Speculations

Plot

Plot theories attempt to explain or anticipate underlying structures or parts of the plot.

✔ The Global Reset Theory

Theory stating that the world has been re-created at some point to avoid a fatal outcome.

✔ The Time Travel Theory

Theory according to which one of the characters may be a time traveller going back in time to stop Madoka from becoming a Magical Girl. (Yeah, seriously!)

☐ The War Between Good Guys Theory

Theory suggesting that the witches believe themselves to be the good guys.

☐ The Pillar System Theory

Theory positing that witches serve as the 'goddesses' of multiple realities. Possibly an elaboration of the 'War Between Good Guys Theory' and the 'Witches as Fallen Magical Girls Theory.'

Character

The articles listed below attempt to provide analysis or speculate on the roles and natures of the characters.

✖ Name

Speculations about the meaning, implication, and secret of each character's name

☐ Make a Wish

Speculations in regard to each character's wish

☐ Kyuubey is Evil Theory

Theory foreshadowing Kyuubey as having an evil agenda

☐ Mami as a Magical Girl Generator

Theory positing that Mami was created by Kyuubey as a mechanism to create more magic girls.

☐ The Questing Beast Theory

Theory positing that Kyuubey's design and naming may be related to the Questing Beast of Arthurian Legend.

✖ Archer Theory

Theory positing the Homura is a future version of Madoka.

☐ Count Kyouko Theory

Theory positing that Kyouko's ability is vampiric in nature and allows her to "suck" magical energy out of other Puella Magi.

☐ Kyuubey Familiar Theory

Theory positing that Kyuubey is already Madoka's familiar.

✖ Homura Identity Swap Theory

A non-time-travel/non-reset theory positing that Homura may be Puella Magi who swapped bodies.

☐ Puella Magi Don't Age

Theory positing that Puella Magi don't age based on several evidence provided by Kyouko Sakura.

Animation & Art

The articles below provide analysis or speculation on the visual media of the series

☐ Of Butterflies and Spiders

Speculations pertaining to the visual symbolism of butterflies and spiderwebs.

☐ Lord Humungus

Speculations regarding the presence of Lord Humungus (Mad Max 2) in a guest art following the Ending Animation.

Witches & Puella Magi

The following theories concern the natures of magical girls, witches, and magic, or posit links between them.

✔ Witches as Fallen Magical Girls Theory (Proven right in episode 8)

Theory suggesting that witches are former mahou shoujo who have lost their way.

☐ Human Soul and Magic

Theory regarding the nature of the magic employed by mahou shoujo and witches.

✖ Witches as Byproducts of Magical Girls (Proven wrong in episode 8)

Theory suggesting witches to be a byproduct of a mahou shoujo's magic.

☐ Magical Girls as Devil Pacters

Theory suggesting that the design of mahou shoujo is based on legends and mythology regarding pacts with devils.

☐ Magical Powers

Theory regarding magical powers girls get by forming a contract.

External articles

• "Mahou Shoujo Madoka Magica 2 – When did Mahou Shoujos Become So Dark" on Thatanimeblog.com

• Animations by the art director of the Witch's Labyrinth sequences (Chinese Language)

• A few speculations as of episode 8 (LiveJournal)