The characters of Madoka Magica are granted one wish of their choice, but in exchange they are burdened with the responsibilities of a magical girl. With the help of Kyubey's power, each girl has indeed been granted one wish that they could not have achieved on their own, but was it truly granted...? To find out the truth, we will examine the wishes that the characters of Madoka Magica have granted, and what they have lost by becoming magical girls.

Mami's wish to live is fulfilled, but her lifespan is shortened

After an accident that nearly killed her and her family, Mami was approached by Kyubey with a deal. In order to survive, she immediately decided to become a magical girl. However, if we focus on Mami as she repeatedly rewinds time with Homura's power, we can see that her lifespan is gradually shortening. Although she initially survived until Walpurgis Night, in the final loop, her soul gem was still pure and clear, and she was killed by the witch. No matter how much she yearned to live, she could not escape her fate of death.

Kyoko Saves Her Father and Loses Her Family

Kyoko, who lives a carefree life, made a contract to become a magical girl in order to fulfill her father's wishes. However, as soon as her father found out that her wish had been granted by magic, he treated Kyoko like an evil witch, and the family fell apart... Kyoko lost her family and became desperate, changing from a girl who cared about others more than anyone else into a selfish delinquent who stole things to survive.

Sayaka Saves Kyosuke, But Loses His Feelings

To save Kyosuke from despair, Sayaka completely heals his arm, which was said to be incurable, and becomes a magical girl. She has always had feelings for him, and dreamed of being united with him. However, upon learning that becoming a magical girl means losing her body, she gives up on Kyosuke, believing she has no right to be loved without it. Kyosuke then falls in love with his friend, Hitomi... Sayaka's love for Kyosuke led her soul gem to turn black.

Homura: Wishing to Save Madoka, But Losing Her

Homura, yearning for the power to save Madoka, would use magic to travel back in time to before she met Madoka whenever she failed. At first, Homura grew stronger with the sole desire to help Madoka, but each time she changed through the loops, her relationship with Madoka also changed. Homura became frustrated that she felt even more distant from Madoka than at the beginning. And when Madoka finally remembered the Homura she was before the loop, their true separation was already fast approaching.

Madoka loses herself in her quest for self-worth

Madoka, who had been questioning her own self-worth, believed that becoming a magical girl and fighting was her path in life. However, with Mami's death, she learned the cruel fate of magical girls. Since Mami's disappearance, Madoka stubbornly refused Kyubey's invitations. However, realizing that there is something only she can truly do, Madoka prays to save all magical girls, preventing them from becoming witches who attack people after death. By saving the magical girls, Madoka would no longer be able to exist in the world.

Summary

Madoka Magica teaches us that hope and despair are two sides of the same coin, and that even if you make one wish, it doesn't mean everything will go well. However, when there is something only they can do, like Madoka, how many people can make the courageous decision? Madoka Magica has continued with the TV version and the movie version, and it seems that there is still more to the story, so I am looking forward to seeing how it will unfold in the future.