Madoka Magica Episode 3: I'm Not Afraid of Anything Anymore
"I feel light."
"It's the first time I've been this happy while fighting."
"I'm not scared of anything anymore."
"I'm not alone anymore." ~ Mami Tomoe.
| I'm Not Afraid Of Anything Anymore もう何も怖くない | |
|---|---|
| First airing | 21 January 2011 |
| Script | Gen Urobuchi |
| Storyboard | Yoshiharu Ashino |
| Episode director | Yuki Yase |
| Animation Director | Tomohiro Kamitani Kazuya Shiotsuki |
Summary
Sayaka visits an ill boy named Kyousuke Kamijou, who was a violin player she admired when she was little, but then suffered a serious injury in his wrist, preventing him from playing. They listen to classical music together rather happily, but then Kamijou starts crying quietly.
After another witch hunt where she defeated a familiar, Ulla, Mami tells Madoka and Sayaka that she was involved in a deadly traffic accident and didn't have time to think about her wish. She also warns Sayaka to be aware of her true intentions while for other people's sakes, and recalls that the precedent she knows is not a happy one. Later that night, as Madoka helps her drunk mother to bed and talks with her father, Mami is approached by Homura, who warns her about making Madoka a magical girl.
The next day, whilst visiting the hospital, Madoka and Sayaka find a Grief Seed that is close to activating. Madoka goes in search of Mami, whilst Sayaka and Kyubey remain near the seed and are engulfed by the forming barrier. Madoka soon returns with Mami, but as they enter the barrier, Homura confronts them and tries to warn Mami about the witch she intends to face. Mami ignores her and places her in a bind to stop her from following them.
As they continue, Madoka mentions her wish is to simply be a magical girl and help others, as she felt her current self was useless. Mami first tries to warn her off such wish, and laments that her job as a magical girl has left her lonely and afraid, but feels relieved that Madoka wishes to fight alongside her.
The Grief Seed begins to activate, while a happy Mami fights off the minions of the witch. She later reaches the witch's lair, and appears to kill her. However, the witch suddenly transforms into a giant caterpillar, catching her off-guard and decapitating her with a huge bite. As Mami's headless body falls to the floor, the witch continues to chomp on her remains, as the horrified Madoka and Sayaka can only watch. Kyubey pleads them to make their wishes fast and contract with him, but before they can do so, Homura, her bonds dissolving with Mami's demise, steps in and defeats the witch, claiming the Grief Seed.
After some harsh words, she departs, leaving a deeply saddened Madoka and Sayaka alone, grieving for Mami.
Trivia
- The music piece that Sayaka Miki and Kamijou heard in the hospital is Sergei Rachmaninoff's Vocalise. The cover with the violinist Dawd Ostrakh is a reference to the soviet violinist David Oistrakh (or Oistrach).
- The CD player Kamijou was using is a conceptional 'Dual Music Player' designed by Yong-Seong Kim.
- The opening sequence got some visual upgrades compared to the first two episodes' original broadcast (see picture below)
- Mami mentioned in Episode 2 that witches also appear in hospitals.
- The sign 「手術中」 means "Operating." This could be a sign that the witch was originally diabetic or obese and had to undergo surgery.
- There are a number of drawing errors after the fight with Charlotte.
- Cyrus Hamlin, Professor Emeritus of German and Comparative Literature at Yale University, died peacefully in New Haven on January 19th, 2011 approximately two days before this episode aired. As part of his career he spent four decades studying and writing about Goethe's Faust and Goethe himself, authoring or editing much of the literature on the subject.
- Mami's gun kata -style fighting may be explained by Gen being a fan of the Equilibrium movie, where gun kata was extensively used.
- Chiwa Saito (Homura) was the only one who failed to see Mami's death flags. She was also surprised to learn that she was the only one who didnt see Mami's death coming.
- After Episode 3, 2chan/nicodou exploded with new phrases like "Mamiruzo" and "Mamirareta" (you'll be eaten).
- Aoi Yuuki (Madoka) is such a nerd that she uses "Mamirareta" in the Blu-ray Episode 3 audio commentary.
- While discussing wishes with Madoka and Sayaka, Mami mentions a magical girl who made a wish for the benefit of others but suffered a tragic fate. She is most likely referring to the events in Drama CD 3: "Farewell Story".
- It is possible that Homura has already fought against Charlotte in one of the previous timelines. This could explain her statement about how it was "different from the other witches" (i.e. hurting the main body would only produce a new one). Also, it was only after Homura landed on a seemingly lifeless doll that Charlotte was truly destroyed, implying that she (Homura) knew Charlotte's weak spot beforehand.
Runes
See also Runes of episode 3
Observations
Caution sign
When Sayaka first goes into Charlotte's world, there's a single frame that seems to foreshadow what's to come. Additional macabre hints are provided by the cereal box which is shown just before Charlotte appears. See Runes:Episode 3
Witches and desserts
The witch's name is Charlotte, which is also a dessert. It can be served hot or cold. Classically, stale bread dipped in butter was used as the lining. The filling may be covered with a thin layer of similarly flavored gelatin.
The relationship between the cake and the witch is emphasized in the Witch World (just like Gertrud and flowers in the previous episode)
Additionally, Charlotte's second form may have been inspired by The Very Hungry Caterpillar. An immensely popular children's tale.
Homura's Appearance
Near the end of the episode, neither Kyubey or Sayaka knew that Homura: a. was inside the labyrinth and b. had been restrained by Mami. Keeping this fact in mind may aid in understanding their reactions to the situation.
Production errors
In the original airing of this episode, after the fight with Charlotte, Homura jumps down and reverts back to her schoolgirl clothes. But then there is a single shot of her wearing her magical girl costume again, before she's back in her school uniform. In the Blu-ray/DVD version, this is corrected.
Outside the hospital after the Labyrinth disappears, the bike rack layer is underneath the garden bed's and there are few, if any, shadows.
Just a little glitch in the matrix.
Fanart Response to Production Error
- SHAFTing comic.png
SHAFT should remember that fans are always watching
Images
Screenshots
'in operation' as in surgery
Homura should be wearing her school uniform
Charlotte's name in roman letters.
Homura picked up a grief seed. It seems like a soul gem in the TV version, but was corrected in the BD/DVD.
Early Script and Sketches for Ep 3
Top Secret: Do Not Read.
Fanart Reaction to Mami Losing her Head
- Hidamari Magi.png
- Hidamari Magi shock.png
- Madoka South Park.jpg
Oh my God, they killed Mami!
Awesome cosplay.
- Mamisan daily life.png
- More mami jokes.jpg
- Mami i love cake.jpg
- Playing with mami.jpg
- Nanomado.jpg
It even scared the previous Magical Girl duo!
- The mami toaster fanart.jpg
- Mami charlotte bloody battle fanart.jpg
Mami's last stand.
- Madoka the cake wish was a lie fanart.jpg
why can't i hold all these tears...
Miscellaneous
Differences in the opening
OP comparison part 1
OP comparison part 2
2ch examines parallels between the ED and the OP
Runes deciphering
In-progress Barcode runes deciphering
More barcode runes deciphering
Other analyses
Theory stating the real Charlotte is just a doll sitting on the platform
2ch description of the same theory: that Charlotte can multiply herself until the doll is stepped on
Speculation chart of episode 3
"5391" is a goroawase for "gomi kui" (ゴミ食い) or "eating dirt".
A comparison of Charlotte's seed, Mami's gem, and Homura's object from the TV version
- Tetsunagi Kooni 06 03.jpg
This old manga page is from another of Ume Aoki's works, and it was done prior to Madoka. There is no evidence to indicate that Ume Aoki had anything to do with the way Mami was killed. Nor is there any evidence to indicate that Gen Urobuchi was inspired from this manga page. However, absence of evidence is not evidence of absence...
External links
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|---|---|---|
| Previous episode | Current episode | Next episode |
| Episode 2 That Sounds Wonderful | Madoka Magica Episode 3: I'm Not Afraid of Anything Anymore I'm Not Afraid Anymore | Episode 4 Both Miracles and Magic Exist |