Mami Pmmm - Tumblr Posts
DERANGED RANT TIME. THE FLOOD GATE HAS BROKEN.
While the obvious witch comparison for Mami is Charlotte/Bebe because... Y'know... I feel like Gertrud is a good contender for Mami-parallel too.
During the fight between Mami and Gertrud, Mami is "showing off" for Madoka and Sayaka, trying to show them the coolness of being a magical girl (in hopes they'd contract). While that is it's own Mami character moment, I think it's significant that Mami specifically is fighting Gertrud specifically and showing off to Sayaka and Madoka specifically.
Mami, finally having friends and becoming happy from the possibility of fighting alongside other (potential) magical girls, kills the lonely, depressed, and trapped looking Gertrud: a symbolic "killing of the past self" for Mami.
ALSO! To expand on that "butterfly emerging from its chrysalis" type movement, it feels yet another change metaphor.
As for the "foreshadowy" moments of the fight... on the surface this is a standard introductory fight: show off what a magical girl is, show off what a witch is, show off how grief seeds and soul gems work. But crucially, this is the inciting incident of a tragedy. Aside from Kyuubey's invention to Madoka, Mami is the "salesman" and the fight against Gertrud is her "sales pitch".
Something I find really neat and subtle amoung Madoka Magica's (many) foreshadowing and narrative contrast-y moments is Mami's fight against Gertrud.
Gertrud has a strong flower and butterfly motif, and Mami's soul gem is shaped like a flower (and maybe a stretch but in one of Mami's transformations she does an action that resembles a butterfly emerging from its chrysalis).
I think there's some parallels between the two that make Gertrud a surprisingly clever and well designed first enemy. (But perhaps I'm stuck in Mami fan mode, and just see Mami in everything)
This is so lovely and exemplifies the feelings of loneliness Mami must feel.
Abandoned by Kyoko (who later forms an "eternal bond" with Sayaka), and abandoned by Madoka ("stolen away" by Homura).
Mami is the only character who truly doesn't have anyone. Of course, she somewhat has Bebe, but Bebe can't truly fill Mami's emotional needs.
you're fine alone
Nagisa living long enough to form bonds with other magical girls presents two wildly different AUs:
1. She meets Mami and the two help eachother through their mutual issues (fluff-fix-it-fic style)
2. She's mentored by Yuu and becomes an assassin who gets you with the bubble blower and puts a slice of cheese on your corpse (fix-it-fic but alot less fluff)
OH MY GOD THE PARALLELS!!!
Thank you so much for adding onto my Mami-Gertrud stuff and adding in the Sayaka-Elsa Maria stuff!
Elsa Maria's probably my favourite witch, so I feel like a fool for not recognising the parallels between her and Sayaka earlier!
I always thought there were probably some similarities between Sayaka and Elsa Maria: but you explained the "self-proclaimed hand of righteousness" very well!
Something I find really neat and subtle amoung Madoka Magica's (many) foreshadowing and narrative contrast-y moments is Mami's fight against Gertrud.
Gertrud has a strong flower and butterfly motif, and Mami's soul gem is shaped like a flower (and maybe a stretch but in one of Mami's transformations she does an action that resembles a butterfly emerging from its chrysalis).
I think there's some parallels between the two that make Gertrud a surprisingly clever and well designed first enemy. (But perhaps I'm stuck in Mami fan mode, and just see Mami in everything)
Shortly after Madoka Magica released (to great success), everyone started trying to make the next big "magical girl misery" anime. I think the reason those ones didn't really take off is because they missed the point of Madoka: the love of others and self-sacrifice is center stage, and we only really feel bad for the characters of Madoka Magica because we see them happy.
Madoka Magica isn't just a misery fest; Mami's death matters because we understand Mami's dreams and struggles, Sayaka becoming Oktavia is impactful because we see her downfall that isn't her fault (or anyone's for that matter). Madoka (and to a secondary extent, Homura) never give up hope or trying.
Madoka isn't constantly victimised and abused (unlike some over-the-top edgy magical girl animes I know) she's in tragic circumstances and still tries her best; still WANTS the best for the world around her.
Making something sad isn't about how much we see a character suffer and struggle; it's about making the struggles and suffering they go through impactful through their story. Wants, relationships, traits, and flaws... That's what makes a character's pain painful for an audience.
✧.*✿ Mami Tomoe Headcanons! ✿*.✧
(These are just for fun!)
✿ When Mami and Kyoko were magical girl partners, they went to the arcade every friday evening and then went to Mami's house for tea
✿ Mami loves comedy sitcoms
✿ Mami always gets lots of love letters and chocolates on Valentine's Day, but she's never properly dated anyone
✿ Rebellion-Mami would cook and bake many different things while trying to find Bebe's favorite food
✿ Mami's very fashionable, and especially loves long skirts
✿ Mami works part-time at a tea shop, and wants to open her own tea shop as an adult
✿ Mami used to be in her school's gardening club and still gardens for fun
✿ Ever since her accident, Mami has been afraid of any and all wheeled vehicles (cars, trains, bikes, ect) and so walks everywhere
✿ Mami's favorite flowers are daffodils and daisies since she think's they're "happy flowers"
✿ Mami loves to show off and impress people
✿ Mami wakes up at around 6:00 am every day (morning person), stretches and does yoga for a bit, and then has breakfast and tea
✿ Mami has a pet bird she got from her parents several years ago
Psspsspss I made this funky Mami Tomoe wallpaper come an get it