Madoka Magica Trivia

This page is about facts and various trivia spotted through the episodes.

General

Puella Magi Madoka Magica

"Puella Magi" is Latin for Magical Girl. However, the phrase is wrong as it should be "Puella Maga."

Last name

All Magical Girls have first-name-sounding last names.

Witch's Labyrinth

The labyrinth is consisted of both elements from its location in reality and allusions of the witch. The deeper it is, more allusions from the witch will be presented than the elements from reality. For example, in episode one, the labyrinth is set in a floor waiting for refurbishing, and it was fulfilled with underconstruction signs and barriers of a construction site. In episode two, the labyrinth is set in an abandoned concret building, thus the rooms in the labyrinth are made of solid concrete, making its apperence differs from episode one eventhough the owner is the same. As the protagonists approching the the final room, elements of a rose garden start to dominate. In episode three, the labyrinth is set in a hospital, therefore sugery signs, needles, gallipots and wards are presented first; later on those are gradually replaced by various kinds of desserts.

Episode 1

These runes are an excerpt from "The Hexeneinmaleins" in Goethe's Faust.

References to Faust

The very first shot of the series after the curtains rise is a title card that reads (in runes) "Prolog im Himmel". This is the title of the Prologue of Goethe's Faust, where Mephistopheles and God make a wager over the soul of Faust. The runes underneath the title are assumed to say "2011".

After Madoka and Sayaka run away from Homura, four Anthonies are seen to be "speaking" or singing moving streams of runes which are a quote from "The Hexeneinmaleins" in Goethe's Faust. This quote is a basic magic spell demonstrated to Faust on his first visit to a witch. It describes a 3x3 numerical grid where each row and column adds up to 15. Here is a translation of the passage.

Original text	Translation
Die Hexe Du mußt verstehn! Aus Eins mach' Zehn, Und Zwey laß gehn, Und Drey mach' gleich, So bist du reich. Verlier' die Vier! Aus Fünf und Sechs, So sagt die Hex', Mach' Sieben und Acht, So ist's vollbracht: Und Neun ist Eins, Und Zehn ist keins. Das ist das Hexen-Einmal-Eins!	The Witch This you must ken (understand) From one make ten, And two let be, make even three, Then rich you'll be. Skip o'er the four! From five and six, The Witch's tricks, Make seven and eight, 'Tis finished straight; And nine is one, And ten is none, That is the witch's one-time-one!

While inside the witch's barrier cut-out rings containing German text appear which can be assumed to be quotes from Faust, although only a few are identifiable. See episode two.

Please also refer to This page for speculation on references to Faust found throughout the series.

Checkerboards and Chains

Although it may be coincidental, "dark scenes" within Episode 1 include many chains and checkerboard patterns, symbols usually associated with Black★Rock Shooter.

Architecture

See Architecture in the Anime versus Real-Life Architecture.

Episode 2

Goethe's Faust quote in episode two.

The second half of this quote.

References to Faust

The texts on the abandoned building's entrance wall in episode two are quotes from Goethe's Faust. Here is a translation of the portion that is quoted.

Original text

Translation

Weh! Weh! Du hast sie zerstört, Die schöne Welt, Mit mächtiger Faust; Sie stürzt, sie zerfällt! Ein Halbgott hat sie zerschlagen! Wir tragen Die Trümmern ins Nichts hinüber, Und klagen Über die verlorne Schöne. Mächtiger Der Erdensöhne, Prächtiger Baue sie wieder, In deinem Busen baue sie auf! Neuen Lebenslauf Beginne, Mit hellem Sinne, Und neue Lieder Tönen darauf!

Woe! woe! Thou hast it destroyed, The beautiful world, With powerful fist: In ruin ’tis hurled, By the blow of a demigod shattered! The scattered Fragments into the Void we carry, Deploring The beauty perished beyond restoring. Mightier For the children of men, Brightlier Build it again, In thine own bosom build it anew! Bid the new career Commence, With clearer sense, And the new songs of cheer Be sung thereto!

The text in this screen references a passage from Faust.

As in episode one, cut out rings containing Faust quotes in German can be seen within Gertrud's barrier. One of these is legible, referencing a passage where several things are cursed. Here is the full passage and translation:

Original text	Translation
Verflucht voraus die hohe Meinung, Womit der Geist sich selbst umfängt! Verflucht das Blenden der Erscheinung, Die sich an unsre Sinne drängt! Verflucht was uns in Träumen heuchelt, Des Ruhms, der Namensdauer Trug! Verflucht was als Besitz uns schmeichelt, Als Weib und Kind, als Knecht und Pflug!<br	Cursed be, at once, the high ambition Wherewith the mind itself deludes! Cursed be the glare of apparition That on the finer sense intrudes! Cursed be the lying dream's impression of name, and fame, and laureled brow! Cursed, all that flatters as possession, As wife and child, as knave and plow!

Madoka's Sketches

Madoka's sketches of her magical outfit were done by Aoi Yuuki, her voice actor. She is properly credited in the ending.

Episode 3

There are headless figures along the top of the screen.

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

A real-life strawberry Charlotte (Charlotte aux fraises) -- pic from Wikipedia

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)

The Very Hungry Caterpillar teaches basic concepts such as counting to five which may be referenced by the numbers scattered around Charlotte's Labyrinth.

Additionally, Charlotte's second form may have been inspired by The Very Hungry Caterpillar. An immensely popular children's tale.

Mami, Madoka and Homura soon after entering Charlotte's labyrinth.

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.

Outside the hospital after the Labyrinth disappears, the bike rack layer is underneath the garden bed's and there are few, if any, shadows.

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  Just a little glitch in the matrix.

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