Review of Magia Record: Puella Magi Madoka Magica Side Story

Honestly? Magia Record was just... "fine." I guess that’s the best way to put it. It feels pretty forgettable in the grand scheme of things, to the point where I don't even remember most of what actually happened. From what I recall, we follow Iroha, who honestly feels like a "Walmart-branded" version of Madoka, on this sort of aimless journey through a city to find her sister, accompanied by a tiny baby-incubator creature. Idk... it didn't really pull me in. I was not the biggest fan of the pacing at all. It feels incredibly slow, almost like a slice-of-life anime sometimes, which is a massive contrast tothe breakneck, psychological, and tightly focused pace of the original series. It meanders a lot, investigating "rumors" rather than building up to that dread-inducing tension of the original Madoka.
However, I did actually like some of the new characters. Kaede Akino in particular peaked my interest as a character. She’s honestly "literally me irl" with her anxiety, and loyalty towards her friend, even when things looked bleak between them. I haven't played the mobile game (so I’m anime-only), but I can tell there is a LOT of potential in this cast. The characters feel unique, but the show doesn't give them enough room to breathe.
Overall, this was honestly pretty damn stupid at times, especially when you compare it to the original show's genius. It’s a decent watch if you are desperate for more content in that universe, but it definitely feels like a lesser spinoff.