User:Sweet Beanie/Sandbox

Cosmology

This article explains the cosmology of the Madoka Magica multiverse, including the nature of universes, timelines, and interdimensional spaces that connect them together.

Madoka Magica contains many instances of alternate universes, branching timelines created through time travel, as well as universal rewrites which retroactively affect both of the former. To clarify these concepts, this article uses the following defined terms:

Universe: A reality defined by a core set of metaphysical rules, usually established by a universal rewrite, such as the creation of the Law of Cycles. A reality with a fundamentally different history and/or rules that did not originate from a rewrite in the primary sequence is considered an alternate universe, such as the Magia Record Universe, which even contains its own version of Homura.

Timeline: A linear sequence of events within a Universe. Multiple timelines can be created one after the other through wishes or time travel, forming a Time Axis, such as Homura's time loops. The distinction between a branch timeline and a true alternate universe is often unclear, particularly in cases involving time travel.

Multiverse

Parallel universes and the multiverse are at least in part formed by choices, where every time a choice is made, there is a world where that choice was made, and one where it wasn't. This follows the Many-Worlds Interpretation of quantum mechanics.

As seen in the Magia Record Anime, Oriko Magica, as well as Scene 0, the timelines Homura created continue to exist after she leaves them, simply proceeding without her presence or Mabayu's. However, it is unknown if all forms of time travel yield this effect.

Will of the Universe

In Null Magical Girl, the Universe is revealed to be a self-reproducing living organism. The Universe reproduces through black holes and eventually reaches heat death, at which point it is overtaken by a black hole and begins anew, creating an endless cycle. This concept is known as the Cosmological Natural Selection Theory, also famously called the Fecund Universes hypothesis.

Magical Girls oppose this process through their use of emotional energy, which reduces entropy by collapsing multiple possible futures into a single outcome. For this reason, the universe uses its immune system against Magical Girls, particularly to prevent information about them from reaching the general public, as this would lead to an overpopulation of Magical Girls. Such a scenario is seen in the Null Magical Girl timeline.

Its manifestations are referred to as the Universe's "antibodies." The phenomenon can interfere with attempts to expose magic, produce events that work against Magical Girls and even grant secret powers to significant forces that oppose Magical Girls.

For more information, see the Will of the Universe.

Universal Rewrites

A universal rewrite changes the rules and history of a reality or multiple realities rather than simply creating another branch of an existing timeline. These are usually accompanied with the birth of a new concept or rule of the universe, though that isn't always the case.

Madoka's wish is the clearest example, where she rewrites the rules of all realities within her reach, while residing outside them in the Law of Cycles. This creates the cluster known as the Law of Cycles Universe.

Homura later performs another rewrite when she overtakes the Law of Cycles and separates Madoka from her divine aspect. The resulting singular altered reality is known as the Devil Universe.

Paradoxes

XXX

Anomalies

Certain cases of time traveling, such as Homura's, not only create new timelines, but also retroactively change events or details of the timeline she enters in, even if they occurred before her arrival. Perhaps the most well-known case of this happening was the pebble which caused Iroha Tamaki's survival in the Magia Record Universe.

Traveling between dimensions is also shown to cause this, as seen when Nagisa entered the Magia Record Universe from the Law of Cycles by using the Endless Mirrors, which caused Yusa Yumeno, or Yu, to make a contract and become a Magical Girl.

This particular case caused Yu to become what Nagisa refers to as a Frayed End (Hotsure). A Frayed End is recognized as a factor which, if left unchecked, would be the catalyst for the worst possible future for the reality it resides in. In Yu's case, she was likely meant to have died, and when she was later killed, the danger she posed to the timeline was avoided.

Darklight Anomalies

XXX

Interdimensional Spaces

There are spaces from which multiple timelines and worlds are accessible. In these places, the different versions of Magical Girls (and presumably other beings or objects) seem to merge together. Oftentimes, they maintain some kind of fundamental concept in conventional universes, and also function as archives of magical beings.

Law of Cycles

XXX

Nazukasokotsune

XXX

Endless Mirrors

XXX

Magia Record

XXX

Lighthouse Theatre

XXX

Null Magical Girl

In Null Magical Girl, there are similar spaces outside conventional space-time that are given names.

Super-time is the dimensional space beyond linear, conventional time and Inner Universes are spaces where countless timelines are accessible from and converge. In contrast, Outer Universes are implied to be the physical cosmoses governed by the laws of thermodynamics and entropy.

It should be noted that these terms have only been used in Null Magical Girl, thus they're not used outside of articles dedicated to it.

Known Universes

xxx

Original Universe

xxx

Law of Cycles Universe

xxx

Devil Universe

xxx

Magia Record Universe

xxx

Magia Exedra Universe

xxx

Other Universes

xxx