Animage 2011-01

Hi-resolution official Scan.

Translation:

Would you like to become a magical girl?

A new original project begins with the words of a peculiar creature: "Why don't you become a magical girl?" . What kind of drama does the staff prepare for these magical girls?

A quartet of magical girls finally makes their move! In addition to the director Akiyuki Shinbo and Shaft, a miraculous quartet has been formed, including Ume Aoki, the original author of "Hidamari Sketch", and Gen Urobuchi (Nitroplus), a PC game scenario writer and novelist. They're taking on the challenge of creating an original story about magical girls! How will the four cute and soft magical girls drawn by Ume Aoki move and be expressed with the direction of Shinbo and Shaft? But with Gen Urobuchi (Nitroplus), who has a reputation for hard-hitting storytelling, writing all the episodes, it's hard to predict where the story will go. Will it be a gentle fantasy or action packed...? And what are Madoka's dreams about? The illustrations show the girls in their magical girl outfits, but how they will receive magic powers remains a mystery. We'll have to wait and see what kind of "dream" these magical girls will show us in the hands of the impressive staff.

Story

Madoka Kaname, an ordinary second-year junior high school student, has a mysterious dream one night involving a mysterious girl. Wondering why she had such a dream Madoka goes to school with Sayaka, but the girl who appeared in her dream, Homura Akemi, transferred to their school! A story full of mysteries begins with this encounter ...

Character Descriptions

Madoka Kaname The main character of this show. She has a friendly personality. She looks like a normal second year middle school student, doesn't she? Kyuubey, a mysterious creature, sits on her shoulder.

Homura Akemi A transfer student who transferred to Madoka's class. She has excellent grades, good looks and is good at sports. She appears in Madoka's dream, but it's unclear what their relationship is.

Sayaka Miki Madoka's classmate, a bright, lively and energetic girl. She is good friends with Madoka, and they always go to school together.

Mami Tomoe A third grader who attends the same junior high school as Madoka and Sayaka. She is an older sister type who is kind and caring. She seems to be a senior, and her breasts are bigger than the other three.

Interview with Director Akiyuki Shinbo

Q: There are a lot of different genres out there, why did you choose to do an original magical girl series? A: I had a vague idea that I'd like to do a 'magical girl' series, so I talked to the producer of Aniplex, Iwakami... That's how it all started.

Q: Gen Urobuchi wrote the script and Ume Aoki is the original character designer. Why did you decide to work with these two people? A: Producer Iwakami gave me a chance to read a portion of Urobuchi's work. He said, "It would be amazing to see Ms. Ume Aoki's lovely pictures moving with Mr. Urobuchi's script." I agreed with him.

Q: The four magical girls are a bit more mature than the girls from the Hidamari series, aren't they? A: We didn't make any specific orders for the character design. We left it up to Ms. Aoki. All the characters are attractive girls with a strong core. Please support them so that their wishes will come true.

Q: Do you have a message for us? A: Please look forward to the chemical reaction between Mr. Urobuchi, Ms. Aoki and Shaft!

Gallery

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  Illustration by Mika Takahashi (高橋美香)

See Also

• More translated magazines
• Other translated sources