Puella magi Madoka magica

[Fenril]

Ordinary schoolgirl Madoka meets an alien cat who introduces her to the world of "puella magi" --or, as they prefer to be called, "magical girls". She's given the chance to form a contract with the cat, Kyuubey, in exchange for magical powers and the opportunity to fight monsters for justice. It all seems too good to be true...
...and it is.
Because unlike in other anime like "Sailor moon" or the "Pretty cure" franchise, this time there are lots of awful secrets behind the existence of magical girls. Such as the fact that the monsters they must fight aren't lovable goofballs, but actual horrors that can and do regurarly kill humans and puella magi alike. Or the fact that the transformation trinket they are given is called a "Soul gem" on purpose. Or the horrible fate that every puella magi is doomed to...

Impressive dark take on the venerable "Mahou shoujo" genre, and certainly one of the most intriguing anime in recent years, very recomended both for fans of darker anime and for fans of "Mahou shoujo" looking for something unusual (this has been compared to "Mai Hime", another dark interpretation of the genre).

There are three manga spinoffs so far (Oriko magica, Kazumi magica, and The different story), all of which I recommend as well.

[Fenril]

- The rebellion story. After the harrowing events of "Puella Magi Madoka Magica", schoolgirl Homura Akemi attempts to lead a normal life --or as normal as the life of a magical girl who hunts abominations of nature can ever be. Then again, of late things have gotten significantly better --the monsters being easier to soothe, her everyday life and that of her friends becoming much more idyllic... too idyllic, perhaps. Then there are all those eerily silent people roaming about the school.... And the fact that try as she might she cannot seem to leave the city she lives in. Something is going on, but who or what is causing it? And does it have something to do with Nagisa, the new Puella Magi in town?

Impressive sequel to the landmark anime that also plays life a riff on the assorted spin-offs and fan works it spawned. The obvious weakness is that it makes no sense without the original series. But other than that, recommended.