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'''Elsa Maria''' ({{Runes|ELSAMARIA}}) is a [[witch]] who battles [[Sayaka]] at the end of [[Episode 7]]. Her [[barrier]] is full of dark shadows with a white background. Her symbolism includes Christian crosses, and the terrain forms a large arm holding either a torch or a monstrance. Elsa Maria appears to be praying before this object when Sayaka engages her. She fights with fanged snake-like minions and tree branches that extend from her body. | '''Elsa Maria''' ({{Runes|ELSAMARIA}}) is a [[witch]] who battles [[Sayaka]] at the end of [[Episode 7]]. Her [[barrier]] is full of dark shadows with a white background. Her symbolism includes Christian crosses, and the terrain forms a large arm holding either a torch or a monstrance. Elsa Maria appears to be praying before this object when Sayaka engages her. She fights with fanged snake-like minions and tree branches that extend from her body. | ||
==Witch Card== | |||
{{Card | {{Card | ||
|name = Elsa Maria | |name = Elsa Maria | ||
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}} | }} | ||
== | ==Observations== | ||
*Possibly a reference to the song Ave Maria which [[Kyousuke Kamijou]] is known to play. | *Possibly a reference to the song Ave Maria which [[Kyousuke Kamijou]] is known to play. | ||
*It could also be a reference to Jeanne d'Arc, another magical girl (as shown in episode 12.) Jeanne said she was hearing the voices of saints, angels and God, and prayed very often. | *It could also be a reference to Jeanne d'Arc, another magical girl (as shown in episode 12.) Jeanne said she was hearing the voices of saints, angels and God, and prayed very often. | ||
*Elsa Maria ''may'' be linked to [[wikipedia:Kakure_Kirishitan|Kakure Kirishitan]] (or "Hidden Christians") which were a group of practicing Christians that existed in hiding from the mid 1600's and on. Freedom of Religion was finally granted to Japanese citizens in 1871, which may have been the result of a wish. This would explain the heavily religious nature of the witch. | *Elsa Maria ''may'' be linked to [[wikipedia:Kakure_Kirishitan|Kakure Kirishitan]] (or "Hidden Christians") which were a group of practicing Christians that existed in hiding from the mid 1600's and on. Freedom of Religion was finally granted to Japanese citizens in 1871, which may have been the result of a wish. This would explain the heavily religious nature of the witch. | ||
**The counter-argument to this is since there's strong evidence that magical girls do not tend to live long, with mid-20s to 30s being considered a [[Puella_Magi_Production_Note#Roberta|long life]] for a magical girl, it is unlikely that Elsa Maria's wish was related to events that occurred hundreds of years in the past. | **The counter-argument to this is since there's strong evidence that magical girls do not tend to live long, with mid-20s to 30s being considered a [[Puella_Magi_Production_Note#Roberta|long life]] for a magical girl, it is unlikely that Elsa Maria's wish was related to events that occurred hundreds of years in the past. | ||
** On the other hand, Elsa Maria could be a modern Japanese Christian, possibly a descendant of the ''Kakure Kirishitan'' and/or just ''very'' influenced by their history and martyrdom (like real life writer [[wikipedia:Shusaku_Endo|Shusaku Endo]], who was Catholic). She might be from either [[wikipedia:Nagasaki|Nagasaki]] (the city with the biggest historical connection with Japanese Catholicism, and one of the places where the ''Kakure Kirishitan'' came from), [[wikipedia:Akita|Akita]] (the prefecture where the Marian apparitions known as [[wikipedia:Our_Lady_of_Akita|Our Lady of Akita]] took place) or the Madoka world's equivalent to Nagasaki and Akita. | ** On the other hand, Elsa Maria could be a modern Japanese Christian, possibly a descendant of the ''Kakure Kirishitan'' and/or just ''very'' influenced by their history and martyrdom (like real life writer [[wikipedia:Shusaku_Endo|Shusaku Endo]], who was Catholic). She might be from either [[wikipedia:Nagasaki|Nagasaki]] (the city with the biggest historical connection with Japanese Catholicism, and one of the places where the ''Kakure Kirishitan'' came from), [[wikipedia:Akita|Akita]] (the prefecture where the Marian apparitions known as [[wikipedia:Our_Lady_of_Akita|Our Lady of Akita]] took place) or the Madoka world's equivalent to Nagasaki and Akita. | ||
*The tree growing from Elsa Maria's back may be a reference to the Biblical tale of Adam & Eve. The familiars could be a reference to the animals in The Garden of Eden. | *The tree growing from Elsa Maria's back may be a reference to the Biblical tale of Adam & Eve. The familiars could be a reference to the animals in The Garden of Eden. | ||
*There is possibility that Elsa Maria is praying for America to end World War II, given the Statue of Liberty-like image in her labyrinth. The dead tree look of her attacks may reference the effect of the fallout radiation from the nuclear bomb that was dropped on Japan. Her minions also are representative of the twelve zodiac, which may imply the transition after World War II from Eastern thought to the Western thought that happened after World War II. | *There is possibility that Elsa Maria is praying for America to end World War II, given the Statue of Liberty-like image in her labyrinth. The dead tree look of her attacks may reference the effect of the fallout radiation from the nuclear bomb that was dropped on Japan. Her minions also are representative of the twelve zodiac, which may imply the transition after World War II from Eastern thought to the Western thought that happened after World War II. | ||
== | ==Trivia== | ||
*[[Puella_Magi_Madoka_Magica_Official_Guidebook_"You_Are_Not_Alone"#Labyrinth_design|The Guidebook]] indicates that Elsa Maria's labyrinth design is a Church, with the words ''"I wish you, although not seen from me, to be happy."'' (まだ見ないあなたが幸せであるように). It indicates when the Witch dies, the stained glass collapses and drops into the air. There's a 'baaaaaaahn' sound like from a pipe organ. | |||
==Gallery== | ==Gallery== | ||
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<gallery position="center" captionalign="left"> | <gallery position="center" captionalign="left"> | ||
File:ElsaMaria_manga_version.jpg|Elsa Maria in manga | File:ElsaMaria_manga_version.jpg|Elsa Maria in manga | ||
File:Production note elsa maria.jpg | |||
File:Guidebook 0051.jpg|Puella Magi Madoka Magica Official Guidebook "You Are Not Alone" | |||
File:GRIEF GS ICON ELSA.png|Elsa Maria's Grief Seed from [[Puella Magi Madoka Magica Portable]] | |||
</gallery> | |||
===Puella Magi Production Notes by Inu Curry === | |||
<gallery> | |||
File:Puella Magi Production Note by Inu Curry Elsa Maria.jpg|TL of Upper right corner: ''"A girl has become a mahou shoujo to save the world. However, Nothing has changed at all. Even a little. For sure, there is lack of salvation. I must help. I must help. Equally, All impartially."'' | |||
File:PN 17.jpg|Sketches from production notes. | File:PN 17.jpg|Sketches from production notes. | ||
File:PN 18.jpg | File:PN 18.jpg | ||
File:Guidebook 0062.jpg | File:Guidebook 0062.jpg | ||
File:Production Note 0011.jpg|Production notes. | File:Production Note 0011.jpg|Production notes. | ||
File:Production Note 0015.jpg | File:Production Note 0015.jpg | ||
</gallery> | </gallery> | ||
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File:Monstrace.png|A monstrance side by side with the witch's object. | File:Monstrace.png|A monstrance side by side with the witch's object. | ||
File:Statue of Liberty.png|The Statue of Liberty's torch side by side with the witch's object. | File:Statue of Liberty.png|The Statue of Liberty's torch side by side with the witch's object. | ||
</gallery> | </gallery> | ||
Revision as of 00:46, 23 April 2017
Elsa Maria (ELSAMARIA) is a witch who battles Sayaka at the end of Episode 7. Her barrier is full of dark shadows with a white background. Her symbolism includes Christian crosses, and the terrain forms a large arm holding either a torch or a monstrance. Elsa Maria appears to be praying before this object when Sayaka engages her. She fights with fanged snake-like minions and tree branches that extend from her body.
Witch Card
The witch of shadow with a self-righteous nature. She continually prays for all of creation and drags all life equally into her shadow without breaking her posture. One hoping to defeat her must know the blackest anguish. |
Minions
The shadow witch's minions, whose duty is to blindly believe. They are an aggregate of the lives who have found salvation thanks to the shadow witch. They continually seek out companions. |
Observations
- Possibly a reference to the song Ave Maria which Kyousuke Kamijou is known to play.
- It could also be a reference to Jeanne d'Arc, another magical girl (as shown in episode 12.) Jeanne said she was hearing the voices of saints, angels and God, and prayed very often.
- Elsa Maria may be linked to Kakure Kirishitan (or "Hidden Christians") which were a group of practicing Christians that existed in hiding from the mid 1600's and on. Freedom of Religion was finally granted to Japanese citizens in 1871, which may have been the result of a wish. This would explain the heavily religious nature of the witch.
- The counter-argument to this is since there's strong evidence that magical girls do not tend to live long, with mid-20s to 30s being considered a long life for a magical girl, it is unlikely that Elsa Maria's wish was related to events that occurred hundreds of years in the past.
- On the other hand, Elsa Maria could be a modern Japanese Christian, possibly a descendant of the Kakure Kirishitan and/or just very influenced by their history and martyrdom (like real life writer Shusaku Endo, who was Catholic). She might be from either Nagasaki (the city with the biggest historical connection with Japanese Catholicism, and one of the places where the Kakure Kirishitan came from), Akita (the prefecture where the Marian apparitions known as Our Lady of Akita took place) or the Madoka world's equivalent to Nagasaki and Akita.
- The tree growing from Elsa Maria's back may be a reference to the Biblical tale of Adam & Eve. The familiars could be a reference to the animals in The Garden of Eden.
- There is possibility that Elsa Maria is praying for America to end World War II, given the Statue of Liberty-like image in her labyrinth. The dead tree look of her attacks may reference the effect of the fallout radiation from the nuclear bomb that was dropped on Japan. Her minions also are representative of the twelve zodiac, which may imply the transition after World War II from Eastern thought to the Western thought that happened after World War II.
Trivia
- The Guidebook indicates that Elsa Maria's labyrinth design is a Church, with the words "I wish you, although not seen from me, to be happy." (まだ見ないあなたが幸せであるように). It indicates when the Witch dies, the stained glass collapses and drops into the air. There's a 'baaaaaaahn' sound like from a pipe organ.
Gallery
Official Art
- Production note elsa maria.jpg
Elsa Maria's Grief Seed from Puella Magi Madoka Magica Portable
Puella Magi Production Notes by Inu Curry
Screenshots
Miscellaneous comparisons
- Statue of Liberty.png
The Statue of Liberty's torch side by side with the witch's object.
External links
- Elsa Maria card at official website (Japanese)
- Sebastian's card at official website (Japanese)
- Elsa Maria pixiv fanart