Mabayu Aki
| Mabayu Aki | |
|---|---|
| |
| Japanese Name | 愛生まばゆ (Aki Mabayu) |
| Character Designer Primary Artist |
Ume Aoki Sasagi Koushi Punyan |
| Voiced by | Japanese: Saori Hayami |
| ID No: | 2009 |
| Release Date (JP): | October 3, 2023 |
Mabayu Aki (愛生まばゆ Aki Mabayu) was a playable character in the 2017 mobile game Puella Magi Madoka Magica Side Story: Magia Record and is the main character of Puella Magi Madoka Magica: Scene 0.
General Info
| Physical Features | |
|---|---|
| Age | 15 ([1]) |
| Eye colour | Purple |
| Hair colour | Green |
| Magic | |
| Soul Gem | Purple circle on left hip/side of pelvis (similar to a camera lens) |
| Weapon | Golden scissors |
| Witch Form | Unknown |
| Powers and Abilities | Optical camouflage and memory erasure |
| Wish | "I want to erase the memory of my mother reading the future." |
| Other | |
| Japanese pronoun | watashi (私) |
| Known relatives | Sakie Aki (aunt), unnamed mother (deceased) |
| Origins | Mitakihara City |
| School | Mitakihara Middle School (9th Grade) |
Game Info
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Summary
A magical girl caught up in a mysterious phenomenon where time repeats itself. She's a third-year student at Mitakihara Middle School, and she lives with her aunt Sakie Aki at the cake shop Récompense. She prefers to watch movies alone and often goes to video rental stores and movie theaters.
Side Story
Costume Stories
The fourth wall is non-existent as Mabayu greets the viewer, and welcomes them to “Scene 0 Magical Girl Story Special Edition”, or more simply referred to as “The Backstage Butterfly Effect”. In this collection of clips from the Holy Quintet’s side stories, Mabayu hopes to find any key moments that silently act as a turning point in the various timelines shown throughout, which she compares to hidden footage on a DVD. Mabayu also says that she handpicked her lab coat for the occasion, whilst arguing against the idea of a detective suit being more fitting. The first story discussed is Madoka’s, in which, she is shown being told by a saleswoman that the coffee beans she wanted were out of stock, but luckily was informed that she could come the following day when they got more. This prompts Madoka to call her mother, asking her to pick up the coffee beans when they were ready, saving her from working overtime again. The perspective changes to Homura and her story, where about two weeks after Madoka’s event, she overhears Ms. Saotome on the phone with Junko, implying that they were able to meet and become friends thanks to Madoka’s errand request. Looking back, Mabayu determines that the coffee beans incident is set to happen on ‘Day 2’ of any film, before switching the focus to Kyoko’s story. On ‘Day 3’, Ms. Saotome is shown buying three CDs, but one of them is actually rare and out of print. It was a violin CD, one that included the track “Ave Maria”. A little later, Kyoko partially overhears another phone call between Saotome and Junko, where the former says that she bought the rare CD with Kyosuke in mind, before saying that she was glad to have met Junko the previous day, and hanging up. Mabayu considers that if Saotome didn’t meet Junko, she wouldn’t have bought that CD. Mabayu begins to become uneasy, and pretends to cut to a commercial break. After a breather, she is ready to move onto Sayaka’s story. Also on ‘Day 3’, Sayaka meets Madoka at a crosswalk, and complains about accidentally leaving her phone at the store when she tried to buy the rare violin CD, only for it to have already been sold. Luckily, she managed to get her phone back, but she had missed several phone calls from Kyosuke. The last film shown was Mami’s, where it revealed why Kyosuke was trying to call Sayaka. He got permission to leave the hospital thanks to a violin concert happening that day, but since Sayaka was unable to receive the invitation, she missed out on a possible date with him. Back to Mabayu, she gets upset and recaps about the string of events that ultimately just winds up to Sayaka not being able catch a break. Mabayu digs through the past timelines, hoping to find an alternate scenario where the odds are in her friend’s favor, but it was all in vain. Saddened, Mabayu begins to wish that she never knew the truth, and could do more than just helplessly watch from behind a screen.
So, with “The Backstage Butterfly Effect” coming to an end, Mabayu decides to change the project’s name to something more fitting, “Backstage Agony”.Appearances
Powers and Abilities
Her innate ability is known as "optical camouflage" a light based magic, where she manipulates the light around her to hide herself or objects she desires hidden allowing her to basically be invisible. She is also capable of enhancing her eyesight, allowing her zoom in on far away locations. In addition to this, Mabayu can move while time is frozen and is also able to remember previous time loops. Due to her wish, Mabayu has the power to see the future of whoever she sees into their eyes (which is, curiously, an ability shared by her mother previously). However, her other main ability is to erase memories which is a more direct result of her wish - by imagining the memory as a film being cut, she can remove memories of an event from someone, like erasing Nagisa Momoe's memory of her witch eating Mami Tomoe and later killing Kyoko Sakura.
She also has the power to summon past Magical Girls (as shown in the opening to Magia Exedra), but how she does this is unknown.
Mabayu does share some Coordinator capabilities, being a Void type, having poor fighting skills and being able to see other magical girls memories similar to a coordinator could when going through a tune up.
Etymology
- Her given name (まばゆ) is contained in the phrase 'mabayui' (まばゆい), meaning "dazzling", "glaring", or "beautiful".
- Her surname is comprised of the kanji (愛), meaning "love", and (生), meaning "raw", "unrefined", "pure", or "undefiled", as well as "life" or "living".
Trivia
- The art on her "Next☆Actor" memoria, illustrated by PAPA, is a direct reference to the oil painting series Napoleon Crossing the Alps by Jacques-Louis David.
- Her design bears similarities to the design and motifs of Walpurgisnacht, leading some to believe she may be the Magical Girl whose Witch ultimately became the catalyst for Walpurgisnacht’s existence.
- Her green hair, film strip motif used in her teaser trailer, and apparent ability to recall information across Homura Akemi's rewindings of time have also given rise to speculation that she may instead be Itzli, originally implied to be the Witch of an alien Magical Girl not from Earth, or that Itzli's Magical Girl backstory has been repurposed for Mabayu and/or Walpurgisnacht.
- The theory of her being Itzli was further theorized due to Itzlis barrier being a grand theatre, and her appearing in film reels.
- In Magia Exedra she is shown to be able to summon magical girls from the past, paralleling Itzli's ability to summon witches Homura has fought before.
- Mabayu also shares elements with the Witch Kirsten H.N Elly, due to the concept of boxing memories (With Mabayu's ability to cut memories), Screens (referencing mabayu's love for movies), and both their "wishes" relating to removing a Memory.
- Her green hair, film strip motif used in her teaser trailer, and apparent ability to recall information across Homura Akemi's rewindings of time have also given rise to speculation that she may instead be Itzli, originally implied to be the Witch of an alien Magical Girl not from Earth, or that Itzli's Magical Girl backstory has been repurposed for Mabayu and/or Walpurgisnacht.
- She wears a golden hairpin that resembles the blades of scissors, like her weapon, or, appropriately, the hands of a clock.
- Mabayu's artwork often contains inconsistencies in her hat, which is sometimes depicted as a crown revealing her head, or as an actual cap. The correct depiction remains a topic of debate.
- She shares her voice actress with Oriko Mikuni.
- She works in a café named Récompense (lit. 'repay' or 'reward' in French), owned by her aunt and legal guardian Sakie Aki. Her aunt is trying to pet a black stray cat named Amy.[1]
- She is a cinephile (someone who is obsessed with movies). Perhaps in a fourth-wall breaking element of this, her transformation video features various clips of the original anime, like:
- Madoka and Sayaka walking to school
- Mami explaining the life of magical girls in her apartment
- Sayaka in Kyosuke's hospital room
- Kyoko observing Mitakihara
- Homura walking to Walpurgisnacht
- Kyuubey in Ultimate Madoka's transformation
- This video is simultaneous with/continued in Madoka Kaname (Scene 0 ver.)'s video, and appears twice in Madoka's:
- The window Mabayu is looking through connects to the room Madoka is swinging in. Mabayu is first seen briefly in Madoka's video through this window.
- She is seen in the Holy Quintet group shot of them floating. While Madoka's background features colorful circles, Mabayu's is completely black.
- In Mabayu's transformation sequence, Homura can be seen stopping and starting time, coherently affecting time in Mabayu's transformation
- A glimpse of Homura's shadow running during these time stops
- In Kyoko's transformation sequence, we can catch a glimpse of Mabayu running down an alley as if spying on Kyoko.
- She is absent from the floating scene with the other girls.
- Mabayu appears to be absent in Sayaka's transformation.
- However, Sayaka appears in a theatre very similar to that of Itzli's barrier.
- She also appears in café Récompense, where Mabayu works.
- Mabayu appears to be absent in Sayaka's transformation.
- Mabayu, Sayaka, and Madoka all appear in Mami's transformation, walking to school.
- Mabayu also appears in a film in Mami's transformation.
- Mabayu, Sayaka, and Madoka all appear in Mami's transformation, walking to school.
Gallery
Game Gallery
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Magia Record Three Star Card -
Magia Record Four Star Card -
Magia Record Five Star Card -
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In-Battle Sprite -
In-battle Sprite (Five Star) -
2nd Magia Sprite -
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Mabayu using her magic -
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Without her sweater or stockings -
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Maid cafe uniform -
Magical Girl Seal 2024 -
Mabayu's Aunt, Sakie Aki -
Sakie Aki in Maid cafe uniform -
Mabayu's Mother
Official Art
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Mabayu present in Madoka's transformation -
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Mabayu present in Homura's transformation -
Mabayu present in Kyoko’s transformation -
Mabayu present in Mami’s transformation -
Mabayu's weapon -
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A hippopotamus -
A snake -
A penguin -
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Memoria Cards
To edit a memoria's details, click on the specific memoria
| Card | Effect | Cooldown | EN Text | Original Text |
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After six passes, we are now on to the unprecedented seventh.
A newcomer carried on their backs. We're ready to crank it in! We have no idea what kind of records will be made in the future, so let's get ready for reshoots! (MagiRepo S2 #300 Commemoration) | 6つを数えた峠を越えて、前人未踏の7つ目へ☆
背中に担いだニューカマー。クランクインの準備はオッケー! どんな記録がされるのか、未来はさっぱりわからないから 撮り直す用意はしておこう(マギレポ2・300回記念) |
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**Unique to Mabayu Aki** You can try as many times as you like in your spare time, so you'll definitely get better at your unique latte art someday! ...But my stomach is at its limit after too many failed drinks, so I'll leave it at that for now... | 持て余した時間の中なら、何度だって挑戦できるから
独特なラテアートもいつかは上達するはず！ …でも、失敗作を飲み過ぎてお腹は限界 ひとまず今日はこんなところにしておこう… |
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Many layers of regrets and wistful feelings that are engraved by redoing the encounter.
The film that increases with every new take has an editorial point that no one knows. When I passed the light through the cut off film, I certainly saw her. (Scene0 Character Visual) | 出会いをやり直して刻まれていく、幾重の悔恨と切なる想い
新たなテイクの度に増えるフィルムには、誰も知らない編集点がある 切り落とされたフィルムに光を通すと、確かに彼女の姿はあった （scene0 キャラクタービジュアル） |
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Homework? Tests? You can't be an otaku if you worry about that!
In a heated kotatsu, accompanied by energy drinks, cake, and sweets, and when you're ready hit play on the video player! Let's get closer to the charm of film classics tonight. | 宿題？テスト？そんな心配をしていてはオタクなんてできません！
温めたコタツに入り、お供はエナドリ、ケーキにお菓子 準備ができたらビデオプレイヤーを再生！ 今宵も名画の魅力に迫るとしましょう |
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She fights,
Knowing she cannot save this world... Knowing it is a future she cannot win... and yet, cruelly, her fate repeats itself. | 彼女は戦う
この世界を救えないと知りながら… 勝利できない未来と知りながら… 残酷なまでに、その運命は繰り返される |
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Even if I don't remember it, even if I don't remember seeing it in my dreams,
the warm scene is wrapped in dazzling light and is etched with nostalgia. If we were to meet again, I'm sure we'll laugh together then, too. | 記憶にはなくても、夢に見た覚えがなくても
あたたかなシーンはまばゆい光に包まれて 懐かしく刻まれている また巡り会えたなら、その時もきっと、笑い合いたい |
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And now that the film has been cut off,
let's watch the story of the magical girls repeated over and over again. Those memories of the past and the hope that will one day come... (Scene 0 Key Visual) | そして、フィルムは切り落とされた
ここから再生されるのは、繰り返される魔法少女たちの物語 共に見届けよう。かつての記憶と、いつか訪れる希望を… (scene0 キービジュアル) |
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"I'll be the first to hunt down the witch wearing the red-colored jersey!"
"I can't lose to Madoka-senpai when it comes to bearing the title of the main character! I'm here!" "Ah...the witch is running away along the rope...!" "Then we'll have to snip it! I'm first...and it's bigger than I was expecting!?" | 「あの、芋ジャージ着てる魔女はわたしが一番に狩る！」
「主人公の名にかけてまどか先輩には負けられません！ここは私が！」 「あっ…魔女がロープを伝って逃げていく…！」 「ならロープをチョキン！で一番は私…って、思ってたよりデカ！？」 |
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References
External links
Gameplay Videos
- Recording of Mabayu's Transformation Video on Youtube (JP)
- Recording of Mabayu's Magia Video on Youtube (JP)
- Recording of Mabayu's 2nd Magia Video on Youtube (JP)