Madoka Magica Trivia: Difference between revisions
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All Magical Girls have first-name-sounding last names. | All Magical Girls have first-name-sounding last names. | ||
===Witch's Labyrinth=== | ===Witch's Labyrinth=== | ||
The | The labyrinths consist both of elements from their locations in reality and of allusions to the witches that create them. | ||
Deeper within the labyrinth, more references to the witch will be seen and fewer elements from reality show up. | |||
For example, in episode one, the labyrinth is set in a floor waiting for refurbishing, and it was fulfilled with | For example, in episode one, the labyrinth is set in a floor waiting for refurbishing, and it was fulfilled with 'under construction' signs and barriers of a construction site. In episode two, the labyrinth is set in an abandoned concrete building, thus the rooms in the labyrinth are made of solid concrete, making its appearance differ from episode one even though the owner is the same. As the protagonists approach the the final room, elements of a rose garden start to dominate the construction elements. | ||
In episode three, the labyrinth is set in a hospital, therefore surgery signs, needles, gallipots and wards are presented first, but deeper in, those are replaced by various kinds of desserts. | |||
In episode three, the labyrinth is set in a hospital, therefore | |||
==Episode 1== | ==Episode 1== | ||
Revision as of 02:09, 25 January 2011
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 labyrinths consist both of elements from their locations in reality and of allusions to the witches that create them. Deeper within the labyrinth, more references to the witch will be seen and fewer elements from reality show up. For example, in episode one, the labyrinth is set in a floor waiting for refurbishing, and it was fulfilled with 'under construction' signs and barriers of a construction site. In episode two, the labyrinth is set in an abandoned concrete building, thus the rooms in the labyrinth are made of solid concrete, making its appearance differ from episode one even though the owner is the same. As the protagonists approach the the final room, elements of a rose garden start to dominate the construction elements. In episode three, the labyrinth is set in a hospital, therefore surgery signs, needles, gallipots and wards are presented first, but deeper in, those are replaced by various kinds of desserts.
Episode 1
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
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! |
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
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.
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.
