Shopping Guide
Do you know why we are able to live in peace now? It's all because of Madoka, who believed in hope and fought witches in the past and future for the sake of the smiling faces of the magical girls, and who suffered on our behalves and became a goddess.
To see such a portrayal of Madoka through original art and animation, a large number of fans made a pilgrimage to Meiji University's Yoshihiro Yonezawa Memorial Library of Manga and Subculture to visit the “Meiji University Life-Sized Presentation of Key Animation Drawings from Puella Magi Madoka Magica” exhibition which ran from March 2-6, 2013.
The exhibit included essays written by Mr. Nakamura, the artistic director for the opening animation, and Mr. Kojima, the artistic director for the film version of the anime, that summarized the important concepts realized during production and how the images were materialized. Also on display were a compilation of images based on their production philosophies.
Of course, as the name of the exhibit implies, there were also life-sized original artworks featuring Kaname Madoka, Akemi Homura, and the other magical girls. The awe-inspiring presence of the life-sized girls attracted a large crowd of about 700 visitors a day to the exhibit, making it a resounding success.
The producer of this special collaboration was Kaichiro Morikawa, an associate professor at Meiji University and an expert on otaku culture and Akihabara. We recently sat down with Morikawa for an interview.
TOM: Why did you choose Puella Magi Madoka Magica as the theme for this exhibition?
Morikawa: I felt that the franchise was suitable for the "life-sized key animation" exhibition format in many respects. Also, my choice was influenced by the popularity of the series amongst students who participated in the production of the exhibit.
TOM: What do you think of the influence Puella Magi Madoka Magica has on the world?
Morikawa: I think an influence "on the world" is something you can only begin to understand looking back on the series after more than ten years.
TOM: Which character do you like best in the series and why?
Morikawa: Kyubey. I think he is a groundbreaking villain.
TOM: In your opinion, moving forward, what kind of place in society will there be for anime such as this both in Japan and worldwide?
Morikawa: Since the second half of the 20th century and into the 21st, it has become a part of the Japanese culture.
The third film for the anime, titled Puella Magi Madoka Magica: Story of Betrayal, will be released this fall. We are looking forward to the miracle the girls will bring us again this year!
