User:Momoism/Madoka
| Madoka Kaname | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Japanese Name | 鹿目 まどか (Kaname Madoka) |
| Seiyū | Aoi Yuuki |
| Age | 14 |
| Weapon | Rose Branch Bow |
Madoka Kaname (鹿目 まどか Kaname Madoka) is the main character of the anime series, described as "an average eighth-grader -- the kind you could find anywhere." She lives a comfortable life with her mother, father, and little brother, and attends Mitakihara Middle School with her friends Sayaka Miki and Hitomi Shizuki.
The series revolves around Madoka's decision to become a magical girl, and the wish she shall make.
Personality
Madoka is overall a kind, well-behaved, and outgoing girl who deeply wants to help others; as her official description on the series' website states, "even her bow-wielding magical girl form projects an air of kind friendliness." Perhaps because of this desire, she is also plagued by self-doubt: she feels that she doesn't excel at anything in particular, and thus won't achieve anything of worth in her life. Madoka noticeably can't stand anything "scary," including things like ghosts and roller coasters, but will still rise to the occasion and defend anyone in danger if she can, suggesting that she's more capable than she thinks.
Madoka values her friends and family very much, and has a particularly close (even informal) relationship with her mother Junko, whom she admires and wants to emulate. Interestingly, she's very responsible in caring not only for her four-year-old brother, but for her mother as well: she makes sure that Junko wakes up in time for work, and helps her father Tomohisa put Junko to bed whenever she comes home drunk.
In school, Madoka's interests appear to veer toward the arts: she enjoys sketching, and is a member of both the Gardening and Crafts clubs. She doesn't perform as well in the natural sciences and Phys. Ed. (she can barely swim and is quite clumsy), but tries to be a good student nonetheless; she never "borrows" her friends' notes without permission, and always arrives at school on time.
History
Browsing a music store with Sayaka one day, Madoka hears a strange voice in her head calling for help, and seeks it out. The voice turns out to belong to Kyubey, an alien seeking to grant the wishes of young girls and transform them into Puella Magi, "magical girls" who combat beings known as Witches. After meeting Mami Tomoe, an upperclassman at Mitakihara Middle School and a veteran Puella Magi, Madoka begins to consider contracting herself, but is stopped by the mysterious Homura Akemi, a transfer student to her class. Homura appears to be dedicated to preventing Madoka from becoming a Puella Magi, while Kyubey is equally dedicated to contracting with her: for reasons unknown, she has the potential to become the most powerful magical girl that has ever lived.
Powers, Weapons & Abilities
Madoka's main weapon is a bow shaped like a rose branch; the rose at its tip "blooms" whenever she fires an arrow. She can fire multiple arrows at once, and the arrows are capable of homing in on enemies, making her a powerful and versatile Puella Magi.
While she initially does not seem to be any more powerful than Mami or Sayaka, Madoka's power seems to increase exponentially within each timeline. In the first timeline she was merely an ordinary magical girl; in the last timeline, she already had enough power to defeat Walpurgis with one shot, then in her witch form was capable of destroying the entire Earth. She also satisfied all of Kyubey's energy quotas for the entire planet. In the current timeline Kyubey claims that Madoka's power could be called godlike. She is said to be capable of even changing the laws of the universe if she wished for it.
- Confirmed as of Episode 11, due to a Puella Magi's power being linked to the level of causality they would effect on their world (e.g. a queen whose actions could decide the fate of a nation would make a more powerful Puella Magi than a common schoolgirl whose area of effect is considerably smaller). Homura's resets link multiple parallel universes together with Madoka's fate as their center, augmenting the amount of effect she would have on them. Also, with every reset, Homura would force yet another parallel universe to be centered around Madoka, thus further adding to her potential power.
- Confirmed as of Episode 12, Madoka's magic is powerful enough to create a parallel universe; this is destroyed by her witch transformation at the end of time.
Trivia
- Ume Aoki's design notes for Madoka are as follows:
- I drew her keeping in mind that as the main character she needs to be average, but also an exceptionally good girl. Hence her puffy, high-placed twin tails. The design and color of her ribbons took a lot of work, but in the end calmed down to something simple.
- On her magical girl outfit: Madoka was drawn to be the very image of a magical girl. I added an almost fairytale-ish hints, so hopefully female viewers will be charmed by her as well.
- On her school uniform: Designed to convey the classy image of a private girls’ school, while not being -too- normal. Its distinguishing point is the small hole at the nape of the neck.
- The first character of her last name (鹿) means "deer". The last character (目) means "eye."
- Her last name can also be used as a first name.
- Her last name sounds the same as (要), which means "keystone" or "hub". In the eleventh episode of the anime, Kyubey reveals that Madoka's great magic power has developed due to her becoming the "hub" of multiple universes, all of which were created due to Homura's wish to save her.
- Her first name is written in hiragana, which has no particular meaning. However, when written in kanji, it can mean "round" or "tranquil" (円).
- Madoka has many stuffed animals similar in appearance to Kyubey in her room.
Speculation
This section may contain major spoilers!
Please refrain from reading if you are not yet familiar with all the latest media released.- Madoka and Mami are the only Puellae Magi known who are never seen having a mark on any of their fingernails (see a picture below). Homura, Kyouko and Sayaka all have marks on their left middle fingers, matching the shape of the emblem of their respective Soul Gem. The meaning of that is unknown, speculations range from a production error to a connection to their wishes.
- Madoka is also never seen with her Soul Gem in a ring form.
Gallery
Official Art
Original character design by Ume Aoki
Madoka having a sleepover with friends
Translated Ume 4koma from Madoka BD volume 1
Autographed illustration by Ume Aoki
Ume Aoki's Dojinshi "RKGKMDK"
Screencaps
Closeup of sleepy-eyed Madoka in the OP
Madoka Kaname
Madoka daydreaming about getting a love letter
Madoka with a ponytail
A self-portrait. Drawing is one of Madoka's hobbies.
Rendition of Madoka's bow; it looks like a branch with a rose on its end
Madoka's bow in action
You're gonna get befriended!
A close-up of Madoka's arrow
Madoka using Multi-Shot
Madoka x Madoka in the opening animation
Madoka's soul gem
Madoka dodging wheels
Madoka Kaname, Total Badass
Closeup of Madoka's hands in Episode 10 (TBS version), Timeline 1, when she is walking Homura to the nurse's office. She is known to be contracted by then. Note no Soul Gem ring or fingernail mark.
Madoka is purifying Homura's Soul Gem in Episode 10's Timeline 3. Again, note no fingernail mark.
