Yuri undertones

Aside from its story and characters, the show gained popularity among some fans, for its yuri subtext. Many yuri-loving fans tend to see pairings between the girls, usually Homura x Madoka and Kyouko x Sayaka. This page will try to explain what lead them to this conclusion (and what "evidence" there is in canon).

About yuri

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Homura and Madoka

Episode 11: Love Confession or Pledge of Friendship?

Fans are divided with the significance of this scene. Fans of yuri see it as Homura's love confession to Madoka and a promise to protect her life. Those who believe in the power of friendship see it as Homura's pledge to protect her most precious friend, Madoka. Is this scene depicting a powerful moment of friendship against all odds? Or is this Homura's attempt at a love confession where she promises to protect Madoka's life with her own life? Some believe this is a powerful love confession scene.

Homura: There's no way I can tell you how I really feel.

Madoka: Homura-chan...

Homura: I mean... I mean... I'm living in a different time than you!

I've come from the future, you know?

I've met you over and over again, and each time, I've seen you die. How can I save you? How can I change your fate? I've been looking for that answer and that answer only. I've gone back and started from the beginning over and over again.

Madoka: That means... Huh?

Homura: I'm sorry. I'm sure you don't get any of this. I'm sure you're put off (disgusted) by all of this. To you, I haven't even known you for a month - I'm just some transfer student. But to me, you...

Each time I repeat all of this, the time you and I lived grows further apart--our feelings grow further apart, and my words stop reaching you. I think I lost myself a long time ago.

Madoka: Homura-chan...

Homura: My desire to save you: the first emotion I had that started this all. And now that I've come this far, the only star left that will help guide my way... You don't have to understand. My words don't have to resonate within you. But still, I beg you. Let me protect you.

Episode 11 Images

A tender and emotional hug.
Holographic projections reacting to Homura's strong emotions
There is a great emotional build up with momentum at this scene. Perhaps a kiss scene?
Homura promises to protect Madoka, even thought to Madoka she is just a stranger.
Homura kisses Madoka fanart.jpg

A missing scene that SHAFT will never animate.
Cruel Ending.png

But this is Urobuchi's world, where the power of love means nothing...
Homura game over.png

Urobuchi hates yuri...

Sayaka and Kyouko

It is common to find yuri subtext on the Mahou Shoujo genre, sometimes it develops into shippings or pairings created by fans, even if it was not part of the creators original intention. The creators of the show may have been aware of this phenomenon so they decided to exploit the same yuri subtext phenomenon when it came to the relationship between Kyouko and Sayaka. However, the yuri subtext mostly comes from Kyouko making it one-sided; while it is officially recognized that Kyouko has feelings for Sayaka, it is uncertain what types of feelings they are. Fans would argue that Sayaka just never had the chance to return these feelings, and Kyouko was never really good in articulating them.

Many fans point out that the reason these two are paired up together is because of their opposing personalities. Sayaka and Kyouko differ not only philosophically but their personalities are bound to cause clashes; yet they are not that dissimilar once you study these characters. Sayaka is an idealist who pursues the path of a hero of justice, she wants to emulate Mami as an example of an ideal Puella Magi. To Sayaka the gift of being a Puella Magi was something sacred to be used for good only and not for selfish acts. Kyouko on the other hand is more of a rogue who would only use her powers to satiate her base desires. Kyouko scoffs at the idea of using her powers to help others, instead she believes a Puella Magi should only help herself (even at the expense of others). To Kyouko there are no rules except her own.

This unlikely pair started out as enemies and Kyouko was close on killing Sayaka, but as the story progressed it was Kyouko who took the first step to close their gap of distrust. Kyouko even went so far as to explain to Sayaka her painful past and to why she believes Sayaka is making a mistake with her life. But Sayaka refuses Kyouko's advice and subtly proclaims she will be a better Puella Magi than her, that she will still follow a righteous path. Sayaka's arrogance at first seems to anger Kyouko (it is not known if she is angry at Sayaka, at herself, or both) but this doesnt stop her from continually pursuing Sayaka to stop her from furthering her mistakes. (Some fans like to suggest that this moment would have alienated any other character from trying to pursue a friendship with Sayaka, yet it seems to have an opposite effect with Kyouko).

Soon the roles are reversed in Episode 8 and 9. Sayaka finally admits that deep down she was no different from others, that she had selfish desires that were never fulfilled and that she regrets her decision on becoming a Puella Magi (like the love of a boy that went unfulfilled, or the jealous regret of saving a friend's life). She starts to see society as a selfish group who would only exploit others with no remorse for those who suffer. Sayaka finally understands that her decision brought nothing but unhappiness and regrets on her part. Betrayed by the world and by her ideals she soon falls into despair and darkness. It is because of this event that Kyouko soon starts to reveal a different side of her.

With the loss of Sayaka, Kyouko starts to reclaim back her older self. She admits to Madoka that there was a time she used to idealize stories of love, friendship, and courage but she abandoned those ideals when she lost her family. After seeing Sayaka's despair, Kyouko decides that she wants to save her and get the old Sayaka back. Kyouko was putting her faith on romantic ideals, a move that many would like to point out as being irrational and dangerous (even Kyubey agrees such notion is illogical). Once Kyouko realises that there is no way to save Sayaka, she decides to sacrifice her life so they could both be together. That way Sayaka wont be alone anymore. There is a division among fans regarding Kyouko's decision to die with Sayaka. There are those who say Kyouko did it as an act of love (the tragic yuri pair or maybe and act of frienship), others say Kyouko knew that even if she did survive it would only be a matter of time before she became a witch so she wanted to end her life her way (a self sacrifice with practical motives).

To fans that support the yuri relationship, the reason that they find this pair strong and attractive is because they want Sayaka to be with someone who can love her and protect her. Kyouko was the only character who understood Sayaka's true nature (and her pain) since Kyouko admitted to her that she saw a fragment of herself in Sayaka. Kyouko was also the only one who chased after her to the bitter end, no matter the obstacles or how obstinate was Sayaka, Kyouko was still there for her. Kyouko fits the perfect role as Sayaka's protector and savior.

The relationship between Kyouko and Sayaka may have not been accidental or a tease but created to heighten emotional investments by the viewers. It is possible that this was part of the creator's intention to emotionally move groups of hardcore fans who support a SayakaxKyouko pairing, thus making their demise in Episode 9 more tragic (or as fans put it a "Yuri Tragedy" ending).

The Melusine Legend and Kyouko's Soul Gem: There is a Melusine legend that indicates that "a Melusina surfaces briefly every seven years as a beautiful woman or as a serpent, holding a small golden key in her mouth. Whoever takes the key from her will set her free and may claim her as his bride." In Episode 9, Kyouko undoes her hair and then uses her hairpin to pray, it is uncertain but it seems that her Soul Gem and her hairpin were fused together to create a new hairpin with a shape that resembles that of her father's religious symbol. After Sayaka's prayer she kisses the newly formed hairpin and tosses it into the air (before she destroys it with her spear), maybe as an offering to Sayaka to free her from her Witch form by sacrificing Kyouko's soul. The shape of the normal hairpin and of the Soul Gem fused hairpin looks like of a golden key.

The double-suicide is considered typical in romantic endings for two tragic lovers in Japanese storytelling. Many fans would point this fact as evidence for making this couple canon.

After the airing of Episode 9, yuri artwork of this pair exploded on Pixiv.

KyoSaya Gallery

From Nitroplus's Staff Blog: If they were to try to settle things peacefully, things would have gone more like this.
Sayaka kyouko spinoff.jpg

Episode synopses: Kyouko comes to town, falls in love with Sayaka at first sight, unable to be honest with her, can do nothing but clash with her constantly. Some sources say these were produced by a staffer.
Kyouko pretending to be a boy and a new transfer student, tries to get closer to Sayaka as a new classmate. Also produced by the same staffer.
Kyosaya ume aoki doujin art fan colored.png

Ume Aoki supports a KyoSaya pairing.
The image on the left is from Revolutionary Girl Utena, the image on the right is from Episode 9 with Sayaka and Kyouko
Kyouko's last words to Homura. Kyouko later admits she failed to do that, maybe an admission that she failed to protect Sayaka.
There seems to be a connection between the Melusine legend and Kyouko's hairpin/soul gem and her father's religious symbol (see above)
This official art seems to subtlety pair each girl with their respective partners (notice how Mami is alone)
Kyousaya doujin soul gem sexing.png

A Yuri Doujin depicting the KyoukoxSayaka pair with some steamy Soul Gem sexing
Yuri fan art pixiv growing.png

Yuri fans of KyoSaya seem to be pleased with these results
Ume shipping Kyouko and Sayaka in her doujin
Fan translation of Kyouko x Sayaka page 1
Fan translation of Kyouko x Sayaka page 2