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View Poll Results: Madoka Magica - Favourite Character(s) Poll | |||
Kaname Madoka | 131 | 41.85% | |
Akemi Homura | 211 | 67.41% | |
Miki Sayaka | 89 | 28.43% | |
Tomoe Mami | 102 | 32.59% | |
Sakura Kyoko | 132 | 42.17% | |
Kyubei | 80 | 25.56% | |
Shizuki Hitomi | 7 | 2.24% | |
Kamijou Kyousuke | 5 | 1.60% | |
Kaname Junko | 38 | 12.14% | |
Kaname Tomohisa | 6 | 1.92% | |
Kaname Tatsuya | 17 | 5.43% | |
Saotome Kazuko | 6 | 1.92% | |
Other | 7 | 2.24% | |
Multiple Choice Poll. Voters: 313. You may not vote on this poll |
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2011-05-12, 10:03 | Link #61 |
Anxious bookseller
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Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Shibuya Psychic Research
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Development of certain characters was an issue for me. Nothing (to me) really stood out about the girls, nothing (to me) made them really that likable and I want to have some emotional attachment to characters when I watch them. Homaru stood out the most since she was the only one who didn't buy into QB's talk and basically I wanted to know why, thats what kept me watching it. Yeah she's tsundere but all the girls were a cliche of something. But a bad love-triangle, the girl who goes from villain to friend, and Madoka's...issues, just didnt grab me. I'm about to go off an a tangent, will save further character analysis for the Overall Series thread.
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2011-05-12, 10:46 | Link #62 |
Senior Member
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Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Philippines
Age: 47
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^
If it weren't for that 12-episode choker, the characters would've been more memorable once they get enough development in personality over time. Me, being a fanfic writer, I have no choice except to delve deeper through writing.
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2011-05-13, 06:28 | Link #65 | |
Twilight lander
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2011-05-13, 07:27 | Link #66 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2009
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They should have just decreased the number of characters, no? Or skip Madoka's longwinded ramblings throughout the whole series or focus less on Sayaka jumping up and down 4 episodes long.
I personally like 12 episode shows; forces the producers to cut the chase, take out all the mundane stuff, to go on with the plot/character development. Of course things can also go horribly wrong when producers have a too long/complicated plot or too many characters in mind. *cough*Angel Beats!*cough*
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2011-05-13, 10:34 | Link #67 |
Twilight lander
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^Yeah, I heard Angel Beats WAS supposed to have more episodes initially. The director was NOT amused when the duration was cut in half.
But as to Madoka... I can't even think of who to dispose of for the sake of giving other characters more room... Rushed and cliche or not, all five girls did touch my heart's strings... |
2011-05-13, 11:44 | Link #68 | |
The Voice of Reason
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: The Netherlands
Age: 47
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In theory, the small number of characters in Madoka could have resulted in a lot of character development, but this isn't a character-driven anime, but a story-driven one, and given the number of episodes, either the story or the character development had to take a step back. Considering a lot of people would probably complain more if the story ended up being torn to pieces, I think they did well in doing it like this. If they want to flesh out the characters more, they can use the manga for it, or that slice of life sequel that Shinbou wants, or even both (should the latter get green-lit). For the most part, I think we can deduct our own conclusions for the characters, but there will always be something we can't figure out without outside help.
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2011-05-15, 14:31 | Link #70 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2009
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To say now that I wasn't really serious about cutting out characters isn't going to help me out of this one, is it?
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But on the other hand, I agree that Madoka Magica isn't necessarily about the characters and that it focuses on story progression instead; it's a tough world to explain after all. If you make the following division of the 12 episodes: Episode 1 to 3 - Mami - Show them how scary it is Episode 4 to 9 - Sayaka and Kyoko - Show them how a wish can backfire and the hidden information behind the Puella Magi thing Episode 10 to 11 - Homura - Show them who I am and what's actually happening Episode 12 - Madoka - I rule the world! It's clear that all the main characters have a role to play and they're thrown away just about when they've fulfilled their jobs. That said, this thread is about characters and favorites. Knowing that the series is story-driven doesn't make up for the dull, inconsistent and/or plain awkward characters. Can't agree with your here. I doubt you want to read a book just to be told at the last page 'the answer is in the sequel, go buy it!'.
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2011-05-15, 14:46 | Link #71 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2011
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Of course not; that's stupid. But you can finish a book and say, "Hey, I really like this story/these characters, so I want to hear more about them." And if a character wasn't fully explored in the first book, there's nothing wrong with picking up the second in the hopes of seeing more of that character; I've done exactly that a number of times.
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2011-05-15, 15:08 | Link #72 | |
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Join Date: Jul 2009
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In Madoka Magica's case, it seems that we agree that the characters are indeed underdeveloped. But can we can call it something that 'should have been there?
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Last edited by VentAileron; 2011-05-15 at 15:25. |
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2011-05-15, 15:41 | Link #74 | |
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Join Date: Apr 2011
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Fleshing out the characters would be nice, and Madoka Magica has enough going for it in its story to make a sequel something I'd pounce on eagerly; if said sequel fleshes out the characters more, then that's just a bonus. That's all I was arguing. |
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2011-05-15, 16:21 | Link #75 | |
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Join Date: Apr 2006
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The reason Homura wanted to save Madoka is properly developed in episode 10, but Madoka's reason for wanting to help people is just glossed over and never developed. And she's the freaking main character, so her motivations should be extremely clear so we can relate to her properly. As it is, it seems Madoka's strong desire to help others is just a trait given to her by default to make the story work, and while that's pretty common in other shows of the genre, I feel Madoka should have been above such plot conveniences.
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2011-05-15, 16:27 | Link #76 | |
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Join Date: Apr 2011
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2011-05-15, 16:49 | Link #77 | |
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Join Date: Apr 2006
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So, not only Madoka's inferiority complex doesn't fully explain her desire to help others, but it isn't even properly explained to begin with. With Homura you have both, a proper explanation for her insecurity as well as a properly developed reason for wanting to help Madoka. In Madoka's case, you have neither. So I disagree. To me, it seems pretty much "just 'cause," or worst: because it was needed for the plot to work.
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2011-05-15, 16:59 | Link #78 |
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Join Date: Apr 2011
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The lack of explanation for why she has an inferiority complex (though there are some things we can infer on, I guess) and its inability to fully explain her desire to help others is what I meant by it being unsatisfactory as an explanation.
But it's not really a "Just 'cause," explanation, since we at least have something that begins to explain her mindset. As I said it wasn't a perfect or even a good explanation, but it's still an explanation, and it didn't have me sitting back, trying to figure out what might have caused it (and with a character like Madoka, her inferiority complex could have stemmed from any number of things). So yes, it's unsatisfactory and annoying, but that doesn't change the fact that it wasn't damning enough for me to dwell on it. |
2011-05-15, 17:12 | Link #79 | |
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2011-05-15, 17:33 | Link #80 |
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Join Date: Apr 2011
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Err, I don't think we're really disagreeing on much here... Yes Madoka wasn't properly explained, yes she should have been, and yes that is no way to write a main character. I perfectly agree on all that. The only distinction I'm making is that it wasn't such a big deal to me that it was damning; I'm willing to forgive it, because we at least got something beyond the writers saying, "That's just how it is; suck it up and deal with it." But yes, I would have liked something better, and there should have been something better in a show like this. There's no denying that.
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