Thoughts from the Madoka Concept Movie

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-3cND0WKXDc The new Madoka Concept Movie Trailer has been out for a while but I just saw it recently^ In this this short 4min trailer, the opening conversation between Madoka and Homura caught my attention most. (Here I made a translation since I couldn’t find a subbed version to link. Sorry if there’s any mistake.) まどか&ほむら「幸せって、何かしら。」 まどか「それは、5月の麗らかな日差し。」 ほむら「それは、温かな家族。」 まどか「それは、朝ごはんの目玉焼き。」 まどか&ほむら「けれど、そのどれもが天国にはないものです。」 Madoka&Homura "Do you know what happiness is?" Madoka "It is the bright sunshine of May." Homura "It is a warm family." Madoka "It is the fried egg of breakfast." Madoka&Homura “However, none of those things can be found in the heaven.” まどか&ほむら「幸せって、何かしら。」 ほむら「それは、誰かに名前を呼ばれること。」 まどか「それは、誰かの名前を呼ぶこと。」 ほむら「それは、誰かが自分を想ってくれること。」 まどか&ほむら「それはなにひとつ、神様にはないものでした。」 Madoka&Homura "Do you know what happiness is?" Homura "It is having your name being called out by someone." Madoka "It is calling out someone by their name." Homura "It is having someone thinking of you." Madoka&Homura "But none of these things can be experienced by the God." ほむら「トカゲの女の子は、神様のことがとてもかわいそうに思えてきました。」 まどか「こうしてトカゲの女の子は神様をまっぷたつに引き裂いて、その片方を天国から地上へと連れ去ってしまったのです。」 ほむら「その残酷なまでに優しい輝き、闇の中で出逢うには……まぶしすぎる。」 Homura "The lizard girl pitied the God.” Madoka “And therefore the lizard girl broke God into two parts, and brought one part from the heaven to earth." Homura “This brightness that’s gentle to the extent of being cruel, is too blinding in the darkness.” From the conversation, we can see that Madoka and Homura actually agree on the meaning of happiness. However, they made opposite choices. Madoka chose to sacrifice herself for the world, and became a 'God'; Homula chose to sacrifice the world for Madoka, and became a 'demon'. There’s no right or wrong on these choices, but what would you choose if you had to? Which one would you value more, the people you love, or the world/humanity?

Personally, I made a silly choice of going for the latter. When I was little, I wishes for the power to rewrite the world. It pained me to hear about the environmental destruction and the war going on, and I wishes for the power to bring about a miracle that can put an end to all those sad things. The possible way my childish eyes saw this happening is through a revolutionary breakthrough in science. On my way of pursuing this wish, I gave up many things I love, and it’s not without regret. Not to mention during the time of despairing failure, even at the 1% of time when I succeeded and had my accomplishment honored under the spotlight, I knew I would have been happier with those simpler things that I gave up: time with family and fiends, good health, time to travel and see the world…I also came to realize that what I wished for is in fact naive and meaningless. But, a choice is a choice, and there’s no looking back.

What I love about the Madoka series is the love story between Madoka and Homura and the sacrifice and struggle they went through to save each other. Madoka wants to save everyone but Homura wants to save Madoka. Love is beautiful but love is also selfish at times. It is the strongest human emotion; the epitome of what makes us human. The perfect drug (NIN reference) that once tasted, we crave till we die. Conflict between humans arise from negative emotions that accumulate because of our unwillingness and inability to openly share our emotions and knowledge with each other in a perfect way. Only if we had a hive like shared mind could that happen, which would allow complete access between everyone's thoughts. Conflict can only be resolved through communication or death. Madoka represents our ideal for saving everyone and ending conflict, she is our hopes and dreams. Hopes and dreams like that are not wrong, struggling to that ultimate ideal is not wrong but in our world it probably can't happen. You can't save everyone but maybe you can save the ones you love. The struggle is the important part, it is better to try and fail than never try at all. I need to re-watch the movies. I had mixed feeling with Rebellion and I forget parts. The past is the past but you have plenty of time in your future to the things you want and the things that make you happy.

The story between Madoka and Homura is indeed very touching. However I wouldn't call it a 'love story' as I think it's friendship in its most gentle form. That's true, but even now knowing what makes me happier, I'd still make the same choice again. In that sense, I personally found Madoka more relatable, even though Homura's choice is so moving.

I consider it a "love" story because of the intensity of emotions. Regardless of there not being a sexual or traditionally romantic element. Love in it's purest form, whether you call it friendship or something else. Why can't you do both the things you want to do and some things that also make you happy? It doesn't have to be one-sided. What are your future plans? Also, you have so much time to do many things. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fmPhX9QEks8

I don't know how to answer that. I basically want both things and that's mainly why I can't decide and I'm stuck. I keep trying to go for homura's choice in real life. But when I get a GF I feel like I need to do so much work for her and the rest of the world. The stress is more then I can bare some times but it's also bearable when I would come home to see my GF. But when I see someone else in danger I feel as though I need to help. Conflicting choices makes me want to commit suicide. Death sounds so peaceful a lot of times for me. But I guess you could say I'm like 51% Homura and 49% Madoka. The stupid thing keeps flipping back and forth though with my interaction with human beings which I can't stand and makes me want to commit suicide even more. It's why I don't like to leave the house to often or talk to anyone even if I do work. I feel every persons emotions when they talk and it's overwhelming!

Loli_Vampire, you're right it doesn't. But it's a real time commitment so you'd have to make choices from time to time. As to future plans, pursue academia after PhD studies, if you mean plans in terms of career. Illuminous, sad to see you left. Still, I'd say neither Homura nor Madoka chose suicide despite their struggle, so I really hope you don't either.