The anime Puella Magi Madoka Magica belongs to the magical girl genre, where girls become magically transformed into costumed super-heroines who fight against evil. This brief description is probably all you need to know about the plot of the show, because disclosing any more details may spoil some of your enjoyment of this entertaining series. And if the mention of this particular genre brings back memories of the Sailor Moon series from the 1990s, be assured that Puella Magi Madoka Magica is different, and better.
The complex story of Puella Magi Madoka Magica is told with a lot of skill. It is so well structured that most viewers will get hooked from an early part of the anime. The first two and a half episodes are actually pretty typical magical girl fare, but then it starts to become increasingly interesting. As the story unfolds, the many twists and turns make this anime an intriguing and thrilling one to watch. Every new revelation raises the stake, and tension keeps building to a nail-biting level before it all ends with its most satisfying conclusion.
The visuals are colorful, beautiful and detailed. Do not be misled by the cute character designs, however, as the anime is rather dark and filled with deep emotions. The soundtrack is good and complements the visuals nicely. On Blu-ray, the video and audio transfers are superb and the anime simply looks and sounds great.
Puella Magi Madoka Magica is an imaginative and intelligent anime that deserves repeated viewings. It is a clear stand-out in the magical girl anime genre. And rather amazingly, it manages to soar above expectations that come with its incredible reputation, which is a sure sign of a really good show.
Puella Magi Madoka Magica is available in Australia on DVD and Blu-ray from Madman Entertainment.