The Very Soil: An Unauthorized Critical Study of Puella Magi Madoka Magica

"Don't forget.
Always, somewhere, someone is fighting for you.
As long as you remember her, you are not alone."

The 2011 anime series Puella Magi Madoka Magica rapidly became one of the smash hits of the genre, and a mere four years later is well on its way to becoming a classic. In a mere twelve episodes, this series explored themes of hope, despair, cosmic destiny, and individual fate, all against the backdrop of a magical-girl retelling of Faust.

Now this new book studies precisely what the series did, how, and even why, from Buddhist belief and paper theater to Walpurgisnacht and the commedia dell'arte. Covering the original television series, three of its manga spinoffs, and the sequel film Rebellion, this is a must-read for fans and scholars alike!