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File:Madoka BD 1 and 2 Purchases.jpg
My personal investment in Madoka and Japan.

Tracking interesting random things here for my personal thoughts. People are welcome to ask questions, comment or copy stuff elsewhere if they like. However, I will likely keep things on my personal talk page as these are justmyopinions and things that interest me, and aren't part of the official wiki.

Note: All BD/DVD sales info has been moved to its own page on the wiki: [1]

Latest Items of Interest with Madoka

Last updated: --randomanon 05:05, 2 August 2011 (UTC)

  • Ongoing write-up of Aniplex Madoka premiere. Aniplex USA website was updated..."magical witch girls" in intro. Really Aniplex, really? Ah good, I see they fixed it. Although the character descriptions are still meh and this, "Character Cocepts: aokiume". The spelling and....what's wrong with Original Character Design? [2]
  • BD 4 is out. Episodes 7 & 8, OST 2 FLAC MP3. Booklet and Ume Aoki's 4koma is here. Screencap differences from TV to BD on this page.
  • Producer Atsuhiro Iwakami will host the American premiere of Madoka at on Friday, July 29 at the Otakon in Baltimore, Maryland. [3]. The first three episodes will be showed subbed, there will be a panel afterwards with executive producer Atsuhiro Iwakami and a fan signing. Personal note added: I'm going to this. No, not asking questions, just observing. Notes and maybe photos too from it.

Another Madoka game:

  • QB inspired hacker leaves runic message on Philippines Customs government website [6]. Rune translation here - [7]. UPDATED: Another hijack. On July 3, 2011, going to http://www.citem.gov.ph/main/ directs you to [8] with this image [9] and QB's theme song playing. Another hijack reported on June 29, 2011. [10] This time it was WWF Philippine chapter and a youtube video of Homura and Madoka, with the message, "This country is run by mahou shoujo... Powered by: Contract; Puella Magi Madoka Magica Squad." Two more recent hacks: MWSS 7/18/2011 and the Vice President's site on 7/22/2011.
  • 2ch Saimoe competition. [11] So far Madoka doing well in preliminaries with Homura, Kyouko, Mami and Sayaka all winning their preliminary groups. Charlotte will be joining them in the main tournament. Junko and Walpurgis witch will be going to second round preliminaries.
  • Translated voice commentary for ep. 2 [12]
  • Madoka Official Guidebook "You Are Not Alone" scheduled for August 27, 2011 (128 pages). [13] The guidebook will include illustration, back stories to anime plot and characters, and behind-the-scene staff interviews.
  • Madoka game preview with Oriko and BMG in it. http://www.nicovideo.jp/watch/sm14981280. Go to [14] if you don't have a Nico account.
  • Madoka going international? Looks like Aniplex USA is starting that process by registering a website. Info here. [15]. Updated announcement on July 1, 2011: [16]. Website: [17]. Twitter: [18] First twitter: "We've made a contract, and it's coming soon." Official facebook: [19]
  • A 224 page book analyzing Madoka. [20]. Translation courtesy of /u/

[Part 1] Despair - Sayaka and Kyouko case study - Theme of MSMM: hope vs despair and their balance - The circumstance that lead to Sayaka's, Kyouko's, and Madoka's wish. - The horror and morality of MG - Cosmic conflict & mutual benefit - Survival conditions of MG - The tragedy of MG (Sayaka's, Kyouko's backstory & demise) - Reference study: zombie/non-human/undead magical embodiment in different literature. - The lost future, time looping and repeat.

[Part 2] Hope - Madoka and Homura case study - The QBs, their contracts and future - The embodiment of Hope - Homura and Madoka - Knowledge of the future - Humanity and death - The "Evangelion" element - Skepticism about heroism - A hero's freedom of mind - Negotiation

  • Madoka OP and ED ranked #2 and #9 in first half of 2011 for anime songs. [21]
  • BD 3 and Related Information [22]. Note: Chapter 12 of the Madoka Magica manga is also posted at the site listed in the thread.
  • Madoka marathon of season episode broadcast on Nico on June 18, 2011 setting a new record in views for the type of broadcast. It beat the record once set by Lucky Star Viewers: 570,754, Comments: 1,489,931. Madoka's numbers Viewers: 949,391, Comments: 1,884,714. In English, ANN. [23] Source: [24]. Recording of last three episodes by a viewer: [25]. It appears to have had a positive impact on sales, with improved rankings on Amazon. [26]

Old News

  • Volume 2 DVDs [27] is 9,574 vs. Volume 1 9,097. BDs is 53,715 which beats Vol 1 sales of 53K, which sets a new record for the most BD sales by a volume in the first week. [28] In English - [29]. Total Volume 2 first week is 63,289 compared to Volume 1 first week total of 62,041, a difference of 1,248 or a 2% increase in sales.

Old News

  • If you like doujins, huge (but slow) archive is here - [30]. Mostly yuri but some are not.
  • Updated BD2 OST. FLAC here: [31], mediafire: [32]. All 13 songs in 320cbr mp3 and hi res scan of the fanbook here: [33], mediafire: [34] Also, AAC @ ~400kbps version q1.0 VBR (highest) [35].
  • Episodes 3 and 4 voice commentaries: [36] with alternatives of [37] for 3 and [38] for episode 4. They're watchable with or without voice commentary, just switch audio tracks. The English subtitles (yesy)[39]
  • Old news but still remains popular. Nico video of Madoka seiyuu singing [40]. Can be viewed using [41] if you don't have an account.
  • Previews of a potential new Madoka game [42]
  • PMMM Vol 3 ranked #5 on Oricon in the first week. [43] 159,234.

Measures of Madoka's Popularity

Oricon ranks Oriko and Kazumi at #4 and #5 [44] in first week of sales. Update on sales (05/30) - first is this week's Oricon rank, second is weekly sales, third is total sales thus far.

  • Oriko - 25, 23211, 86080
  • Kazumi - 36, 18203, 77931
  • PMMM out of stock [45],[46]

Madoka BD+DVD Summary Totals Reference table at top. Source - http://jbbs.livedoor.jp/bbs/read.cgi/music/3914/1293278942.

Madoka initial sales are 53k for BD and 9K for DVD. BD sales set a new record. http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2011-05-03/madoka-magica-1-sells-53000-as-no.1-tv-anime-bd-in-1st-week Evidence of difficulty in having stock ready for volume 1 sales. [47] http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2011-04-28/madoka-magica-1-sells-22000-as-no.1-selling-january-anime-bd "The first Blu-ray Disc volume of the Puella Magi Madoka Magica television anime series sold about 22,000 copies on its first day on Oricon's daily Blu-ray Disc ranking chart on April 27."

>>>/a/48905047

Naruto movie > Madoka > Kuroshitsuji Last Naruto movie sold around 22k in total. Last Kuroshitsuji volume sold around 7k. Assuming the trend subsist, the actual number should be somewhere between those two. 2chan speculated around 10-12k this week.

And here are Madoka's final BD sales estimation

下限       中央      上限

78053 79747 81372 82930 84472

So according to this, the lowest it can hit is 78,053...damn. Although, the one who posted this noted that UC3 was 10% lower than its "lowest limit". http://www.mania.com/aodvb/showthread.php?p=1936364#post1936364

Somebody posted first day sales for other series on 2ch so now we have a reference.

  • 初日 195000 初動 357000 1.8倍 ヱヴァンゲリオン:破 BD
  • 初日 **6900 初動 *16000 2.3倍 デュラララ! 7巻 DVD
  • 初日 **6000 初動 *12500 2.0倍 WORKING!! 5巻 DVD
  • 初日 *15000 初動 *34500 2.3倍 Angel Beats! 1巻 BD+DVD
  • 初日 *10000 初動 *22000 2.2倍 インフィニット・ストラトス 1巻 BD  ※品切れ
  • 初日 *22000 初動 ****** *.*倍 魔法少女まどか☆マギカ 1巻 BD

http://www.mania.com/aodvb/showthread.php?p=1937173#post1937173

EVA comparison >>>/a/48904969, 48905054, 48905198:

エヴァ

  • 01巻 12,479 VHS
  • 01巻 18,040 LD
  • 合計 30,519(初巻初動)
  • 14巻 36,617 VHS
  • 14巻 44,013 LD
  • 合計 80,630(最高初動)

Google-translation: Eva

  • Volume 01 12,479 VHS
  • Volume 01 18,040 LD
  • 30,519 total (first volume first week sales)
  • Volume 14 36,617 VHS
  • Volume 14 44,013 LD
  • 80,630 total (highest first week sales)

Note those are first week data only. Numbers for the last volume are more important, since apparently the show wasn't at its peak popularity yet when the first volume came out.


Other items of interest:

2. “The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya”(the 1st season) 464 threads
3. “K-on!!” 359 threads
4. “K-on!” 354 threads
5. “ANGEL BEATS!” 342 threads
6. “The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya”(the 2nd season) 283 threads
7. “Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion R2? 277 threads
8. “Minamike -Okawari-” 254 threads
9. “Strike Witches” 253 threads
10. “Strike Witches 2” 233 threads

2ch Main Thread Count - Mid-Year 2011

Madoka quickly approaching to surpass Haruhi, and faster in pace than K-ON.

K-ON: May 1 - 2288, June 1 - 2451 (+163), July 1 - 2540 (+89)

Haruhi: May 1 - 1718, June 1 - 1723 (+5), July 1 - 1729 (+6)

Madoka: May 1 - 1157, June 1 - 1342 (+185), July 1 - 1496 (+154)

Pixiv Popularity Analysis

A look at pixiv tag popularity for July 24, 2011, shows Madoka in the top 10 for franchise popularity. All those listed ahead of it are much older properties, suggesting Madoka could pull ahead of some over time. If only looking at those that gained popularity through anime, Madoka would be in the top six.

1) Touhou (1996, game, 東方) 1,056,197
6) Hetalia (2006, webcomic/manga/anime, ヘタリア) 342,778 
8) Pokemon (1996, game/anime, ポケモン) 228,983 
9) VOCALOID (2004, music) 226,094  
15) Inazuma Eleven (2008, game, イナズマイレブン) 152,437 
20) BASARA (1990, manga/anime, 戦国) 98,584
22) Gintama (2003, manga/anime, 銀魂) 85,590
23) Durarara!! (2004, LN/manga/anime, デュラララ!!) 84,615 
24) IdolMaster (2005, game/anime, アイドルマスタ) ー 82,636 
26) Madoka Magica (2011, anime/manga, 魔法少女まどか☆マギカ) 81,082

General or repetitive tags left out:

2) original (オリジナル) 935,836
3) adult rated (R-18) 553,200
4) sketch (落書き) 392,187
5) girl (女の子) 370,881 
7) cartoon (漫画) 341,032
10)graffiti (らくがき) 210,560
11)yaoi (腐向け) 197,327
12)Hatsune Miku of Vocaloid (初音ミク) (191,366)
13)creation/fiction (創作) 162,937
14)analog (アナログ) 159,122
16)copyright (版権) 142,600
17)something that is cute (なにこれかわいい) 126,838 
18)personification (擬人化) 108,328
19)APH or Axis Hetalia Powers 104,835
21)breasts (おっぱい) 96,481
25)kemono/furry (ケモノ) 81,135
27)APH (本田菊) 78257 
28)original character (オリキャラ) 70459 

Doujin Sales Popularity

Checking mid-July Top Ten doujin sales rankings (NSF, Japanese) shows the following:

  • Madoka is still very popular and is the subject of many top-selling doujins
  • Madoka's popularity is not in adult or hentai titles relative to other anime. Its popularity is primarily in general or non-hentai titles
  • Further check of the adult and general titles in the rankings show all but a few have yuri content

Madoka has ranked high in the past in doujin sales in the past. However, its popularity seems to be increasing as well as trending towards non-hentai titles with yuri content. This reflects the content commonly seen for Madoka on pixiv which is also disproportionally high in non-hentai and yuri.


Another measure of doujin popularity is the number of titles in an upcoming major convention, Comic 80. This one shows Madoka as the only up-and-coming franchise listed among the top number of doujin titles.

1) Touhou (1996, game, 東方) – 2,808
2) Hetalia (2006, webcomic/manga/anime, ヘタリア) – 1,302
3) Basara (1990, manga/anime, 戦国)– 870
4) Reborn (2004, manga/anime, リボーン) – 572
5) VOCALOID (2004, music) – 558
6) Gintama (2003, manga/anime, 銀魂) – 486
7) Prince of Tennis (1999, manga/anime, テニスの王子様) – 468
8) IdolMaster (2005, game, アイドルマスター)– 418
9) Inazuma Eleven (2008, game, イナズマイレブン) – 408
10) Durarara (2004, LN/manga/anime, デュラララ) - 380
11) Lyrical Nanoha (2004, anime/manga, リリカルなのは) - 370
12) Nintama Rantaro (1993, manga/anime, 忍たま乱太郎)– 308
13) One Piece (1997, manga/anime, ワンピース) – 288
14) NARUTO (1997, manga/anime)– 286
15) K-ON! (2007, manga/anime, けいおん) – 246
16) Madoka (2011, anime/manga, まどかマギカ) – 236
17) FMA (2001 manga/LN/anime, 鋼の錬金術師) – 202
18) Big Windup! (2003, manga/anime, おおきく振りかぶって)– 200
19) BLEACH – (2001, manga/anime) - 181
20) Gundam 00 (2007, anime, ガンダム) - 178
21) Code Geass (2006 anime/manga, コードギアス) – 150

Yuri Discussion

As the person who made this jpg or rather this updated one here (http://i56.tinypic.com/rh3hmv.jpg), I'll try to explain it as best as I can to people who aren't familiar with yuri. I originally made the jpg for people on /u/ for a yuri audience who already know the significance behind the symbols and so there was no need for explanations. First, let me explain how important context is with an example like the ribbons Madoka gives to Homura. To someone who doesn't know yuri, this wouldn't mean anything. However, if you're a yuri fan, you recognize that as a reference to the scene that started yuri shipping for one of the most iconic mahou shoujo yuri couples, Nanoha and Fate. You also know this was done intentionally because Shinbo directed both Nanoha and Madoka anime. Watch http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZmKTGB_QmKc where (while it's nice to watch it all and see the similarity in long embraces and talk of friendship, just skip to 4:40) and you see 1) giving of ribbons, 2) stating the ribbons will be a way to remember the other person, 3) a promise they'll meet again. This parallels what Madoka tells Homura as Madoka gives her the ribbons.

The importance of context is also true with the nearly identical pose for Madoka and Homura's naked embrace in space to one of the most iconic scenes known in yuri (as an example of how well-known this pose is, on /u/ there is a thread dedicated to nothing but this scene redone for dozens of yuri shipped couples...of which 95% are pure fanart because to see this actual pose in an anime or manga is actually quite rare). This original embrace was in Kannazuki no Miko (KnM), one of the most well-known couples in yuri that share many parallels to Homura and Madoka. In KnM, Chikane is very similar to Homura in being tall, dark-haired, competent, totally willing to sacrifice herself for another girl etc. whose ways are mysterious to the sweet, naive Himeko (who Madoka resembles). As it turns out, Chikane is the one who remembers her shared fate with Himeko of repeating the same cycle of lives together over and over again, with Himeko only discovering the full truth of their connection just before they are parted because they need to sacrifice themselves to save the world. And when this happens, Himeko gets to choose how she want the next world to be remade..e.g. whether they forget about each other or remember and meet one another again (she chooses the second option). So with that context of the similarity of these two couples, the embrace is basically hitting home the point of yes, yuri fans, we're comparing these two to KnM if you haven't already noticed. And again, this is done intentionally--much like the episode 9 similarity to the well-known yuri Utena symbolism--from a studio (SHAFT), director (Shinbo), character designer (Ume) among others on the production staff, who are well-known for being very genre-savvy about yuri and putting in intentional yuri subtext in their anime on a regular basis. Now whether someone sees something different in expression is a subjective view (and like with me, I happen to disagree and see it differently from my subjective view) and doesn't change the symbolic meaning behind that pose (to yuri-fans at least) nor the similarities of Homura and Madoka's situation to that in KnM.

I'm going to add Madoka's naked embrace in space also references one other famous yuri scene in anime (plus Diebuster and Lain for that matter--EoE too--but I rather not cover these scenes that have more ambigious interpretations). The third clear yuri reference is from the classic, Yami to Boshi. Hazuki is the Homura-like character (tall, long dark hair, fighter, obsessive etc.) who obsessively travels across different worlds to track down her pure-hearted, sweet Hatsumi (Madoka-like character). They finally meet in this otherworldly place outside the rest of the universe, and Hazuki confesses her feelings to Hatsumi, only to find out Hatsumi is a god and so they cannot stay together. Hatsumi users her god-like powers to reset Hazuki's world so she's suppose to forget her, but Hatzuki seems to have a vague recollection anyways, and yes, there's also a vague promise of meeting again one day.

Adding evidence of subtext:

File:SubtextEpisode10TL2.jpg

Madoka notorious "hump hug" in episode 10, timeline 2, also shows her shedding a few tears--an indication of the depth of her feelings for Homura. Homura notices and reacts.

Mahou Shoujo Discussion

How Madoka plays the mahou shoujo tropes straight and when they do a brilliant job of subverting them.

Example: Take exact heartwarming lines, "You finally called me by first name. I'm so glad," showing two magical girls overcoming animosity in Pretty Cure Splash Star (note to self, provide details, episode reference and clip if possible) to become close, and turn them into Madoka's final heart-breaking words to Homura prior to being mercy-killed in ep. 10, TL3. There really is an amazing amount of meta-references in Madoka where you can see exactly how twisted Urobuchi's mind works.

Notes to self:

  • Cover the genesis of Madoka's key production staff for prior work on mahou shoujo and yuri.
  • QB as mahou shoujo mascot. Make an extensive list or pick key ones? Show played straight examples and also how this is one of the biggest mahou shoujo subversions in Madoka.
  • Possible topics: Love friendship and courage themes, Working hard versus innate talent, Henshe (nudity, stock footage), Fightstyle, Enemies as Evil vs. Befriending them, Saving the world/universe, Death and Resets, Power-ups, Magical artifacts (soulgem!), Telepathy, Alien mascot/people/technology etc., Pseudo-science explanations, Color coding of girls, Dark magical girls (first impression as wrong, e.g. Homura and Kyouko) and how they change, self-sacrifice, when do they stop being magical girls (if ever), yuri subtext, use of boy interests, how family is portrayed, relationships between magical girls, gore (or lack thereof), psychological breakdown, knowing intrinsically how to fight vs. learning the job - note to self, add more.
  • Consider what is default/stereotypical "played straight" and what are subversions, as there will be examples of both. Consider when Madoka is the same or different.
  • Discuss how popular mahou shoujo of all flavors is in Japan (go find TV ratings and product sales). Discuss difference between seinen and shoujo mahou shoujo anime but also how the genre attracts fringe demographics from the other intended audience (hunt down Nanoha and PreCure numbers)
  • Decide which CCS and Sailor Moon series episodes to reference, preferably with English subs/dubs.
  • Find manga examples or only stick to anime? Reference Sailor Nothing in comparison or in its own section?

Discussion

Hi Randomanon, sorry I don't know how to contact with you so I'll leave a line here, please delete this at your will. I saw your post on /u/ an hour ago or so before you deleted it, and your enthusiasm for MadoMagi interested me. The part about HomuMado's naked embrace didn't use the word "miko embrace" while mentioning Kannazuki no Miko so I thought maybe you're not very familiar with yuri? If there is any aspect you'd like to discuss, especially yuri related things, I can provide some info to assist your writing (since I found this page interesting). Greetings. Saluki.N 00:01, 7 June 2011 (UTC)

  • I'm flattered you found this page interesting. It's for personal use only, so there's no need to edit it. If you'd like to contribute to the wiki, there's a yuri page some other people have started to put together, here that could use some input [48]. I've been busy with other things so regrettably not involved in that. In my personal background, I'm a magical girl fan who became a general anime and manga fan which also includes yuri. I've seen many yuri anime and manga, and also seen how it works in Japan from the fanbase to the production staff with magical girl anime, so that's my perspective. I don't spend much time discussing yuri outside my visits to /u/ so I'm lacking what do they call it, the theorycraft and knowledge of lingo I guess? But if you mention anything that isn't completely obscure in yuri anime and manga, I think you'll find I've seen it. --randomanon 02:00, 7 June 2011 (UTC)
    • Okay, glad to know you're familiar with yuri, guess I can't help much. I mostly operate on Pixiv and talking to fanartists, not paying much attention to production staffs of anime in general so I found the infomations on this page fascinating - Madoka did so well. I will try to contribute with some pages on this wiki as your suggestion. Saluki.N 11:07, 7 June 2011 (UTC)
      • Well the wiki relies on the different strengths and contributions of everyone so I'm sure you can do things that I can't for the wiki. I'm not an expert in all things yuri, that's for sure. Just wouldn't bother doing anything with my personal talk page as it's a private page, so there's no point in editing it where there's public wiki pages that are open to the public. Question: As a pixiv person, I'm curious what your thoughts were on my post here: [49]. It was some numbers I started tabulating out of curiosity and was surprised to discover that I think the Madoka couple pairings might be the most drawn yuri couples on pixiv for an anime. Of course Touhou is #1 overall but their popularity is not due to anime. So of anime couples, I think Madoka might be #1 and this happened at some point in a matter of a few months versus anime that has been drawn by pixiv for years. But I would like that verified by someone else who knows the site better than I do. I only search by tags, pretty much. It's part of an analysis I'm doing on Madoka where it's pretty clear it's not the flavor-of-the-month but I'm wondering if it's not one of those rare times where it can make a fundamental change to things like magical girl and yuri anime (and possibly beyond that). So my interest here is tracking the evidence and seeing what happens. --randomanon 17:24, 7 June 2011 (UTC)
  • Might want to add this: Google Translate calls it "You are not alone Official Guidebook ☆ Magika Maho Shojo Madoka". --Universalperson 00:43, 12 July 2011 (UTC)
    • Thanks, I knew about it but was waiting until it came out to mention it. But since I'm starting to mention things before they're released, I should include that too. --randomanon 01:10, 12 July 2011 (UTC)
    • Also, someone else pointed this out. The first in a series of "anthology" books? Interesting. - Lord of the Kakapos 02:18, 12 July 2011 (UTC)
Yes, thanks. I already have it listed. It's a comic anthology that other popular anime often get, like K-ON. We knew Madoka would get one, it was just a question of when. --randomanon 03:42, 12 July 2011 (UTC)
      • A description was added to the official guidebook page. Also, I think your link to the anthology is broken. --Universalperson 01:00, 21 July 2011 (UTC)
Thanks for the heads up. I fixed the link and added a brief description to the talk page. --randomanon 01:25, 21 July 2011 (UTC)
Heads up. Aniplex is selling a two-volume, 496-page, limited run, "advance" production compilation this Comiket between 12-14 August. - Lord of the Kakapos 03:06, 3 August 2011 (UTC)

IRC

Hey. I hope you don't mind me polluting your talk page, but is there any particular reason why you aren't on the IRC? I'm pretty sure you could finally bring #madoka a bit more on-topic than it is right now. Calibre 07:41, 18 July 2011 (UTC)

Not a problem, anyone is welcome to post their thoughts on this page. I'm not someone who uses IRC or IM. I don't use anything faster than email or posting out of personal preference because it's a much better fit for how I prefer to communicate. I'm also always behind on things I want to do, so I try not to add to the number of distractions. --randomanon 14:13, 18 July 2011 (UTC)