Most anime fans are familiar with the hit animePuella Magi Madoka Magica, one of the most popular shows of all time. This dark take on the magical girl genre has fascinated viewers ever since its release back in 2011. Despite its cute presentation, it is one of thefew anime that will surely scar viewers forever.
What many might not know isthe existence of a sequel to the story of the titular Madoka, one that a large portion of the fandom would prefer to forget.Magia Recordis a show that aimed to expand the lore of the franchise, but ultimately became a major letdown due to its mediocre plot and plain characters.
Magica Record’s Story Is Quite Interesting
From a Popular Mobile Game to a Disappointing Anime
In 2017, several years after theinfamous ending ofMadoka Magica, a game was released to continue the story of the series. This mobile-exclusive adventure, namedMagia Record, followed the story of Iroha, another girl tricked by Kyubey into becoming a magical girl.What differentiates her from the rest is the fact that she does not remember what she desired.
The game’s popularity among fans led the team behind the franchise to begin producing an anime adaptation, which would retell the events of the game. The anime’s overall plot revolves around Iroha encountering a smaller version of themanipulative and iconic anime villain Kyubey, who helps her remember her sister Ui, her main motivation throughout the series.
The protagonist had wished for her sibling to be cured, only for her to suddenly disappear from existence. Knowing that something is not quite right, Iroha travels to Kamihama City, where she meets the local magical girls and gets involved in a war between them and an organization known as Magius, who claim to want the salvation of all magical girls.
What Went Wrong with Magia Records Anime Adaptation?
Magia Record Strayed Too Far From the Original
Magia Recordis not a terrible anime per se, as the team behind the original game created a compelling story. Still, there are several factors that explain why it failed. One of the biggest was thefailure to adapt the plot into an anime format. The series has too many characters to properly develop, unlike the original Madoka, which had a reduced main cast.
The overall story was also significantly different from the original, taking a step back from the twists that revolutionized the magical girl genre.
Since the girls were taken directly from the game, their personalities were not as prioritized, so they became somewhat bland and uninteresting to audiences. The overall story was also significantly different from the original, taking a step back from thetwists that revolutionized the magical girl genreto focus on a typical mystery story.
Even thoughMagia Recordis often considered an unworthy continuation ofMadoka Magica, the series can still be enjoyable by hardcore fans of the franchise. Nevertheless, those who decide to give the show an opportunity must do so knowing that only the original can be included inthe list of magical girl anime they must not miss.
