Wow, I always draw eyes too small when I’m doing realistic style. I think it’s some sort of overcorrection since I mostly draw huge-eyed anime girls.

Let me first say that I adored the animation, the direction, and the cinematography in Madoka Magica 3 -The Rebellion Story-. Like the original series, or the first two movies, it paints a picture of a world that can’t help but enthrall, a dualism of crystalline urban perfection against terrifying pop-art dreamscapes. The movie also goes further and adds in welcome details of daily life in this world, backfilling elements that were passed over by the original series’ brisk pacing. Every detail, right down to the icon for requesting a bus stop, evinces attention and love. The extraordinary effort put into worldbuilding, as well as paeans to the fanbase (engagement with the fandom’s pet theories and ships, Aniplex's fanart contest to promote the movie, interviews with Akiyuki Shinbou and Gen Urobuchi), sends a clear message: Come, play in this world we’ve created, share in our flight of fancy.

This is no accident, because the clear intent of the movie is to open the way for a sequel. The events of the movie do much to temper the finality of the original ending. By design, the movie opens more plot threads than it closes, and as a result the writing lacks the purpose, the mounting urgency of the original series. For the first time in the continuity, there are scenes that feel wasted. Compared to the original series, Madoka Magica 3 does more to suck the viewer into its world, but offers less to keep them there.

But hey, we’re going to get a sequel, so it’s fun to speculate. Here’s mine.