Puella Magi Madoka Magica the Movie 2: Eternal

"You have become hope, itself."

Continuing on from the previous installment, “Puella Magi Madoka Magica the Movie 2: Eternal” is the middle child in the highly-acclaimed trio of films that were released across the years 2012-2013. This specific film, however, continues the story of Madoka Kaname, a girl forced to decide whether or not she needs to become a ‘magical girl-‘ a being whose job is to fight evil creatures named ‘witches.’

And that’s all without spoiling anything, since there is (needless to say) a lot of development that spans across these first two films.

To get the obvious out of the way: “Madoka Magica the Movie: Part 2” (which is what I’ll be shortening it to from now on) very clearly continues using the stellar animation and soundtrack choices that its prior installment utilized. Between intricate fight scenes, fantastically detailed character movements, and stunning background art, this entry in the “Madoka Magica” franchise is as beautiful as ever.

But onto what puts this at a different standpoint than its predecessor: while the first film in the trilogy opted to cut a large portion of the original TV series’ excess scenes out, this film, instead, adapts not the last half, but the last third of the original, meaning that little-to-no cuts have been made across the nearly two-hour runtime.

This is both a positive and a negative: sometimes, the constant pacing is successful every time it jumps from scene to scene (the scene transitions are particularly interesting), but, at other times, unlike the TV series, the film gives the viewer no time to process what just truly happened. That isn’t to say that this leaves the viewer not caring about the characters, no, but rather, it shows that the average viewer just wouldn’t have enough time to let the heavier scenes sink in well enough.

But, while I can’t say for certain that the previously-mentioned ‘flaw’ is truly a bad thing, there is one little 1.5 minute segment in the film that I am completely, utterly perplexed by: a music video.

Yes, you read that right: in the middle of the film, right after a shocking flashback-style reveal, there lies a 1.5 minute music video, featuring a song right out of the TV series. Why is this here? I honestly don’t know- you’d think it could be to show the passage of time that happens after the flashback ends, but there aren’t that many traces of purpose in it in the first place. Now, note that it is, in fact, only 1-and-a-half minutes long (and it’s quite good as well), but it, in the end, really just has no place being there.

But, despite spending a good portion of this review focusing on negatives, “Madoka Magica the Movie: Part 2” still remains as nearly as good as the first film in the famous trilogy. It’s hefty and gorgeous all at the same time, while still being able to give a glimmer of hope in the most unbearable of dark spells; “Madoka Magica” truly is one of a kind.

8/10- Though featuring some questionable pacing choices and a completely out-of-the-blue music video halfway through, “Puella Magi Madoka Magica the Movie 2: Eternal” still remains as one of my personal favorites of all time; beautiful, haunting, and gorgeous, this radiant film packs a tightly-knot story into an oh-so-beautiful world.