Magical Girl Madoka Magica / 魔法少女まどか★マギカ

What? I watch magical girl? Gasp! Yes for one good reason. Look at the staff list below:

Director: Akiyuki Shinbo
Series Composition: Gen Urobuchi
Character Draft: Ume Aoki
Character Design: Kishida Takahiro
Music: Kajiura Yuki
Animation Production: SHAFT

One can marvel at the amount of firepower assembled here for this series. No wonder a lot of fans went berserk in anticipation. I am intrigued by the fact Shinbo was given a carte blanche/ blank cheque to direct a fresh anime instead of adaptation work. Reportedly he expressed desire to direct a magical girl anime genre while he is still working on Bakemonogatari.

Slated for air on 6 January 2011. I wonder which one will be better; this or Fractale? Only time will tell. This is also first SHAFT original anime since 2001. If anyone doubts Shinbo doing magical girl, just check Nanoha S1. Yes, that is done by him.

Yuki Kaijura joined the project due to "amusing script".

Home Site

UPDATE:
My final impressions here.

anime

Fractale / フラクタル

Yutaka Yamamoto, director of Kannagi, Black Rock Shooter and The Melancholy of Suzumiya Haruhi Season 1 is coming up with new anime which soon to be aired on 14th January 2011. The series was called Fractale. I have no idea what is the story about so I will quote this synopsis here:

"In the future, the world is managed by a network called the Fractale System. A boy named Crane is living an aimless life with his parents, who are actually computer-generated "Doppels". One day, he runs into a pretty girl named Furyune, who is being pursued by someone. When he rescues her and helps to keep her hidden from her pursuers, he is pulled into her troubles as well. After meeting her, his life will never be the same."

Yamamoto staked a lot on this series, wrote that he will retire if Fractale fails. Pretty bold. Some people called him a drama queen, some people are impressed by his commitment to make good anime. One thing that struck me is one of the staff is an anime scholar whose task is to develop the story. Now I am really curious when I learn about this. Looking at the trailer, it reminds me shades of Last EXILE for some reason.

The only reason I want to watch this is because of Yamamoto.

Cast:
Clain : KOBAYASHI Yuu (小林ゆう)
Phryne : TSUDA Minami (津田美波)
Nessa : HANAZAWA Kana (花澤香菜)
Enri : IGUCHI Yuka (井口裕香)
Sunda : ASANUMA Shintaro (浅沼晋太郎)

Staff

Director : Yamamoto Yutaka (山本寛)
Original Work : Mandelbrot Engine (マンデルブロ・エンジン)
Series: Composition : Okada Mari (岡田麿里)
Original Story Concept : Azuma Hiroki (東浩紀)
Original Character Concept : Hidari (左)
Animation Production : A-1 Pictures
Production Assistance : Ordet

Home Site

Airing on 14th January 2011.

anime