A reversal in the plot naturally could not cause an explosive sensation from the very beginning, nor could it make the popularity of 'Puella Magi Madoka Magica' skyrocket in an extremely short time. This was a new turning point; while the earlier buildup served to push things along, it finally presented the work's true content to the audience. The shocking plot reversal also brought increased discussion, stirring up its previously stagnant popularity. Many viewers who had not originally cared about the anime began to notice its existence. This was a slow process of accumulation, like a snowball rolling down a mountain that would only grow larger and larger.
"As expected, it wasn't that simple."
At 'Sunrise Company,' veteran animation director Kitagawa Shūichi put down the bowl and chopsticks in his hands. Ever since he had started watching the recording of last night's 'Puella Magi Madoka Magica,' he had not touched his chopsticks at all, focusing entirely on the plot unfolding on the television.
Unlike ordinary viewers, he had held a completely different evaluation of 'Puella Magi Madoka Magica' from the very beginning. When he watched Episode 3, he confirmed this thought. By Episode 5, he had already predicted that a major plot turning point would inevitably follow.
It was even more brilliant than he had imagined. All the buildup from the first five episodes connected into one line and exploded in a single breath. Scattered clues and various mysteries began revealing their answers. The anime's new OP and ED styles abruptly changed. While revealing the truth of the plot, the anime also seemed to begin planting even more clues. The healing art style, combined with all kinds of eerie settings completely unsuited to the genre, created an indescribable sense of oppression. 'Puella Magi Madoka Magica' had broken free from the limits of its genre and was developing toward an unknown abyss.
"No wonder they declared an audience age restriction from the beginning. The anime's overall style is heading toward the grotesque, yet this change doesn't feel particularly abrupt."
Kitagawa Shūichi frowned and pondered as he watched the bloody scene on the screen. Its level of bloodiness was not as high as works like 'Warlords of the Sengoku Era,' which aired in the same month and depicted large-scale realistic warfare, but the oppressive atmosphere gave viewers a visual impact and discomfort.
After finishing Episode 6 in one breath, Kitagawa Shūichi hurried back to the company without finishing the rest of his breakfast. Along the way, he kept comparing his own 'Mobile Suit 007' with 'Puella Magi Madoka Magica.' If he were an audience member, which anime would he prefer?
Setting aside sentimental factors, Kitagawa Shūichi was certain he would choose the latter. The buildup and plot reversal of 'Puella Magi Madoka Magica' had given even him, as a viewer, no small impact, and he had become even more interested in the later story.
No—what would the result be if he looked at it from the perspective of an animation director?
Recalling all the details he had seen in 'Puella Magi Madoka Magica,' Kitagawa Shūichi could not help smiling bitterly and shaking his head. For the first time, he felt that his ability as an animation director was inferior to someone else's.
The details in the visuals, the handling of plot clues, the understanding embedded in every line of dialogue—the fact that the reversal plot did not feel abrupt was the result of this entire chain of buildup. Yet these were merely the tip of the iceberg shown by the anime. Kamiyā Yuu had created a work-world that drew people in so deeply they could not extricate themselves. It seemed relaxed, but was actually rigorous. Not a single scene or line of dialogue felt dull.
When ordinary viewers watched 'Puella Magi Madoka Magica,' they would only feel absorbed and reluctant to drag the progress bar to skim through it. But this kind of continuity was the best proof that a work was "interesting," and also the part that most tested an animation director's skill.
As he continued thinking, Kitagawa Shūichi felt conflicted. What Kamiyā Yuu had poured into 'Puella Magi Madoka Magica' overturned his understanding of the role of an animation director.
"Is making anime really this complicated?"
······
Online discussion about 'Puella Magi Madoka Magica' increased. The impact brought by the reversal in the plot sparked heated debate among viewers. Some analyzed the story in depth, some shouted that it was a masterpiece and strongly recommended it to others, and some declared that they would mail blades to Kamiyā Yuu, resenting him for creating such a distinctive character as Mami Tomoe only to set her ending as death.
In this world's animation industry, which was filled with a mentality of pandering to the audience, ordinary animation companies would not dare play things this way. As a result, many audience-pleasing anime had cultivated a large number of fragile-hearted viewers. Mami Tomoe's death dealt tons of mental damage to this portion of the audience.
Selected online comments:
[I originally expected a relaxed and loving story development, like 'RWBY,' where justice ultimately defeats evil, or a heartwarming plot like 'Magical Girl Nanoha.' But what exactly happened in Episode 6? Mami-senpai died? Why would such a gentle character have such a tragic ending! I hope Director Kamiyā Yuu can give us viewers an explanation. 凸(艹皿艹) —General Commander Mr. Kondō]
[(⊙?⊙) The plot twist is shocking, but it didn't feel abrupt to me. The twisted monsters called witches have felt unpleasant from the very beginning, so I subconsciously thought this was a dark work. But this kind of godly development really is surprising. I'm becoming more and more curious about what the so-called magical girls are in this world's setting! Especially Kyubey's name, Incubator, is the most shocking. Incubator? Incubating magical girls? Then, if magical girls are compared to eggs, what hatches from them? Based on the previous information, my personal understanding is that it's very likely witches! This also matches what Homura Akemi said: the price of producing hope is a spiral of despair. —Yamashita Noka]
[Such a dark development. When I saw passersby on the street being killed, I knew this show might be a little different from traditional magical girl works. Since even passersby were killed, Mami-senpai probably can't be revived either. Regretful. —Asō Tarō]
[Looking forward to Episode 7! Looking forward to what comes next! (??_?)? —Do Your Best, Kameda-kun!]
['Complete Analysis of Clues in Puella Magi Madoka Magica' ← An interesting post compiling various analyses from across the internet. —Yamanan Keisuke]
Whether praise or criticism, it was inevitable that discussion around 'Puella Magi Madoka Magica' would increase. This brought a considerable rise in popularity. Bystanders who had been indifferent to 'Puella Magi Madoka Magica' became curious about what kind of development could make these viewers post such intense comments. Meanwhile, viewers who had no interest in the magical girl genre and considered it children's work also became interested after seeing discussions of the story and a development completely different from the so-called "justice defeats evil" formula.
Across every online animation discussion platform, the name 'Puella Magi Madoka Magica' spread virally and was noticed by more and more anime fans. Before Episode 7 aired, its online heat index rose tenfold, and its follow rate on online platforms increased by three-tenths. This instantly allowed 'Puella Magi Madoka Magica''s NICENICE popularity statistics to surpass the eighth-ranked traditional popular genre anime 'Youth Soccer.'
This was merely the result of Episode 6's warm-up.
What followed was Episode 7, which truly unveiled the cruel truth of 'Puella Magi Madoka Magica' and completely overturned the audience's original expectations of the work, as well as their impression of magical girls.