Fans of the Puella Magi Madoka Magica from Aniplex USA began seeing the series in a new place recently as Funimation brought the show on. This comes as both companies are now cousin-companies and that means some good sharing and synergy moving through them. With it being as popular as it is, Funimation is taking advantage of raising awareness for it by doing a seven-minute explanation piece. It’s well done and helps to explore the basic concepts and showing just how dark it gets. It’s definitely interesting to see how far Funimation is going in promoting the Aniplex USA shows now that they’re cousin-companies.
The series was directed by Yukihiro Miyamoto and Akiyuki Shinbo based on the series composition by Gen Urobuchi. Takahiro Kishida handled the character designs and Junichiro Taniguchi and Mika Takahashi served as the chief animation directors with it animated at SHAFT.
The Japanese cast includes Aoi Yūki as Madoka Kaname, Chiwa Saito as Homura Akemi, Emiri Katō as Kyubey, Ai Nonaka as Kyōko Sakura, Eri Kitamura as Sayaka Miki and Junko Iwao as Kazuko Saotome.
The English cast includes Cassandra Lee as Kyubey, Christine Marie Cabanos as Madoka Kaname, Cristina Vee as Homura Akemi, Carrie Keranen as Mami Tomoe, Carrie Savage as Junko Kaname and Karen Strassman as Kazuko Saotome.
Plot concept: After experiencing a bizarre dream, Madoka Kaname, a kind 14-year-old girl, encounters a magical creature named Kyube. Madoka and her friend Sayaka Miki are offered the opportunity of gaining magical powers if they agree to make a contract with the strange little being. He will also grant them one wish, but in exchange they shall risk their lives by accepting the responsibility of fighting witches. Invisible to human eyes, witches are catalysts of despair in the areas they inhabit. An ally of Kyube, a magical girl named Mami Tomoe, befriends and encourages the two girls to accept the contract. For an unknown reason, another magical girl named Homura Akemi is determined to prevent Madoka from accepting the deal.
