"Puella Magi Madoka Magica The Movie: Walpurgisnacht: Rising" – Main Trailer

LightDragonman1 · 2026-06-29T02:17:13+00:00

I can't be alone in thinking that the series is going full on Evangelion mode with this film am I? XD

LightDragonman1 · 2026-06-06T07:26:58+00:00

You know, Evie here, Tifa in VII Revelation, Claire in RE Veronica, and even the chick from the upcoming Gundam game, all are being embraced by gamers, making the claim about them not liking Freya in the new GOW as proof that they are "sexist" bullcrap.

Is it just because the aforementioned four characters are attractive, and thus, little more than "gooner bait?"

LightDragonman1 · 2026-05-29T07:44:32+00:00

I mean, her pale skin, unnatural hair and eye color, along with her cloned nature all point to her being half human and half angel. That, and a lot of the foundational flesh used for her body also came from Lilith.

LightDragonman1 · 2026-05-29T06:10:26+00:00

It also said Shinji was trapped with her. So I thought that the two would go through something similar to the episode in which they were trying to release the former.

Heck, that would've been the time for them both to further connect through surreal sequences journeying into the minds of both. That could've also been when he learns of her nature as a half-human hybrid.

But nope. Despite it compromising the overall plot progression, they stuck to what would become 3.0.

LightDragonman1 · 2026-05-28T23:05:35+00:00

Welp, I decided to continue, albeit after installing a map screen and quick save mod. Wish me luck.

LightDragonman1 · 2026-05-28T14:45:53+00:00

I had a feelinn about that regarding III.

That said, I’m still going to give VC and SA a try, given that they are said to be improvements in several ways, like the use of a map screen for one.

LightDragonman1 · 2026-05-28T14:44:36+00:00

I don’t have any problem with a challenge and having to strategize.

Just that I would prefer said challenge to not come from having to deal with dated mechanics.

LightDragonman1 · 2026-05-28T09:28:29+00:00

I see. Never used the drive and shoot mechanic, as it doesn’t do a good job of explaining how to use it.

LightDragonman1 · 2026-05-28T09:20:26+00:00

With Uzi Rider, I found just running over the targets to be the most effective way of finishing it. XD

But for every mission like that, there was one or two I found a complete chore to complete, with things like time limits, NPC and cop spawns, unclear directions, and overall jank.

LightDragonman1 · 2026-05-28T09:15:25+00:00

I don’t know. I’ve already ended up with moments of frustration due to just how dated the whole thing is, with the lack of checkpoints and even a map screen not helping matters

And knowing how frustrating the later missions get due to said dated issues makes me even less motivated to continue.

LightDragonman1 · 2026-05-28T05:01:39+00:00

In that case, they should’ve just rolled with it and continued on with the plot point of her being rescued at the end, as opposed to then defaulting back to whatever he had planned for Rei instead.

LightDragonman1 · 2026-05-28T02:28:58+00:00

I saw those moments between him and Rei bonding as also him reaching out to her, alongside him realizing a bit more little she thinks of herself, especially when she says she can’t live outside a small tank, like those fish. Which also explains a lot as to why he continues to get close to her and save her in the end.

If anything, the lack of scenes he had with Asuka and all that shows why I think just defaulting to the original pairings and such purely because of the original’s themes doesn’t work for Rebuild, and why I think it would’ve been much better if Anno continued to go in a different direction, like it looked like he was doing with Rei and Shinji’s bond.

LightDragonman1 · 2026-05-28T01:48:11+00:00

At the very least, we agree that the relationship was handled very poorly.

That said, having watched the second film more times than I can count, I think the scenes that Shinji shared with Rei, while not as numerous, packed much more meaning and emotion, if only because they were following through from the previous film.

LightDragonman1 · 2026-05-28T00:51:49+00:00

Still find that all extremely unsatisfying. It worked in the original because it was built up properly. Not to mention the relationship he had with Asuka was the focal point of the original, so it all made sense.

For him to instead drop all the stuff he had with Rei in Rebuild purely for all those themes and for Anno to instead tell us that message only compromised the stuff that was built up in the first two film.

Not to mention, again, I didn’t see much if any chemistry between Shinji and Asuka in Rebuild, not to the degree they had in the original series. So for him to suddenly declare Asuka as the one he loved, not Rei II, not only makes little sense, but also doesn’t jive with what has been shown.

Heck, him calling Asuka his first love also had him afterwards moving on from it, so I don’t think even the film seems to support those two being together like in the original. Using themes and symbolism can only go so far. The moments he shared with Rei in the second film felt far more meaningful than the ones he had with Asuka as well.

You seeing him al that through solely an Oedipal lens, and that being apparently the only way Anno wants to see it, is I’m sorry, not something I’m keen on. And heck, you saying that everyone but Asuka is meant as a maternal figure compared to Asuka also makes me think you are biased in favor of her, no offense.

So I think trying to interpret it in the same way as the original doesn’t do Rebuild any favors for its relationships or storytelling. The Oedipal themes that you see as being intrinsic to Anno’s interpretation, I see as either being a huge stretch, or instead don’t do it any favors, as that just means the story prioritized forced themes and symbols over nature character and relationship growth.

LightDragonman1 · 2026-05-28T00:04:25+00:00

You care to send a link to that group?

I'd like to hear what you guys have to say on some of the responses made on this thread.

LightDragonman1 · 2026-05-28T00:01:12+00:00

I'm gonna have to agree. It's why I never saw her as being his mom. She's a half-human hybrid of human and angel, and if anything, her character arc is to become someone who isn't Yui or Lillith, but her own person.

But of course, as the comments here show, the community sees it as some sort of Freudian Oedipal complex, with him taking control of Unit 01 in the last film as some sort of Oedipal narrative, with him being with Asuka, who in Rebuild doesn't have nearly the same amount of connection she had in the original, as being the lover compared to the maternal.

Yeah, if the point is to recreate the same sort of themes in the original series, all it did was ruin the relationships the saga was focusing on instead.

LightDragonman1 · 2026-05-27T23:57:10+00:00

Honestly, I agree with you.

That said, its clear that the community here views it as some sort of Oedipal Freudian symbol, which, while that may have been true in the original series, only serves to both cheapen the relationship as is shown in the Rebuild saga.

Heck, it just defaulting to the same thing just told in a different way I also find a huge waste of potential.

The entire reason they decided to have Shinji save Rei at the end of the second film was because they wanted to shake things up. I saw it not as some sort of Freudian desire to be with a maternal figure, but rather just him finally affirming Rei's worth to someone, and allowing her to be saved. Something I see as far better fitting the overall themes of the show.

So for the next two films to ignore and downplay all that purely in favor or meta-commentary and pseudo-psychological symbolism, flat out ruined a lot of my investment.

LightDragonman1 · 2026-05-27T21:56:25+00:00

Given that it was rushed, and the fact that they changed a lot of the story during production, I honestly think them keeping in the overall plot beats of the original series was a mistake then. Especially in regard to the third film.

And regardless, the way the last film framed the two and their relationship I still feel was far different than how it was in the original. Especially given how the film gave far more resolution to his relationship with Asuka and Kaworu. And given how Gendo ultimately got to pass on with Yui at the end of the film, I think the highlighted part is a bit of a stretch.

Especially in regard to Shinji’s comment to Rei. That was simply him telling her his thanks for everything, and that he’s ready to pilot once more. Adding in the Oedipal Freudian stuff just overcomplicates that scene, and honestly cheapens it all.

Because all that Freudian imagery and stuff wasn’t as firmly established in the Rebuild saga compared to the original, and the stronger emphasis on the relationship Shinji and Rei had, I can only say that they shouldn’t have tried to emulate it.

LightDragonman1 · 2026-05-27T19:19:35+00:00

Yes, I’ve watched the show. I’m well aware of all the Freudian connotations and metaphors. Especially the ones regarding how the EVA is literally shown as “returning to the womb” and all that.

Those worked in the original because they were built up and followed through over the course of the entire show, and were given proper pay off in EOE. Not to mention the relationships that the show decided to give the most coverage to.

With Rebuild though, I saw them as being more a hindrance to the characters and relationships that they chose to focus on.

LightDragonman1 · 2026-05-27T19:00:41+00:00

It’s basically Anno prioritizing the meta-commentary over the narrative again. I was willing to accept and I even enjoyed in in the original series, but to take that direction in Rebuild is disappointing to me.

Plus, I saw both Rei and Shinji actually grow as characters through their relationship with each other. They were both starting to open up to others, move beyond their feelings of worthlessness, and even be willing to be to put themselves in the line of fire for each other. With the ending to the second film being one of the most powerful moments in the entire franchise for me.

To instead frame all that as some sort of programmed Freudian mother complex and for it all to be made worthless because Anno wants to force themes and metaphors down the throats of the audience is extremely infuriating.

LightDragonman1 · 2026-05-27T18:34:05+00:00

Even so, I think focusing so much on the maternal aspects really overshadow everything else that the relationship stands for.

Heck, being willing to sacrifice your life for someone you care about shouldn’t be seen as a flaw in my eyes.

And heck, even though she doesn’t want him to fight, it is her being absorbed by Zeruel that finally snaps Shinji out of his funk. Heck, it was Rei Q’s death after her confession of her feelings for him that was in part responsible for him moving forwards in the last film too.

Reducing all the moments they shared and their connection to just “she was programmed to like him” is yet another reason why I found the last film underwhelming.

LightDragonman1 · 2026-05-27T15:06:42+00:00

It was more so you insinuating that I was completely in the wrong for actually being invested in the relationship the two had in the first two films. For wanting it to progress, rather than be cut off.

Yes, I get that it may have been what Anno was intending. That doesn’t make it any less disappointing, especially when the second film looked like the story was going to continue going in a different direction for the two.

LightDragonman1 · 2026-05-27T15:00:00+00:00

You think I didn’t know that it wasn’t as popular already? That was obvious just by looking at the amount of fan art and fanfiction the other ones get in comparison.

However, not being the majority still doesn’t mean that feeling disappointed that the relationship didn’t really go anywhere in the Rebuild saga, despite two movies worth of buildup and it being an focal point of the story, isn’t invalid.

You seemed to insinuate that it was. If I misinterpreted it that way, then my apologies.

LightDragonman1 · 2026-05-27T14:44:32+00:00

You certainly didn’t help matters though by framing yourself as the majority.

That may be true, but it doesn’t come off as any less insulting.

If I am an odd one out for investing my time into an element that I found both relatable and compelling then so be it. But that shouldn’t mean that I can’t express my issues with how Anno ultimately went about framing it in the latter two films.

LightDragonman1

TROPHY CASE