Homura Akemi (Japanese: ?? ???, Hepburn: Akemi Homura) is a fictional character and one of the main heroines of the 2011 anime series Puella Magi Madoka Magica. She is a mysterious veteran magical girl that first appeared as a vision in one of Madoka's nightmares. Homura transfers into her school the day after the dream. She is impeccably great at everything she does, including academics and sports. As a magical girl, Homura has the ability to travel back in time, and uses this in an attempt to save the life of Madoka. Created by Akiyuki Shinbo and Gen Urobuchi, and designed by Ume Aoki, the character plays an important role in Madoka Magica media and merchandise.
Video Homura Akemi
Development
The pair of black wings Homura sprouts in the final episode of Madoka Magica was not originally written in the script by Urobuchi. The detail was added by production designers Gekidan Inu Curry, and Urobuchi was happy with the addition as it added more "mystery and depth" to the character. Urobuchi also described Homura's role at the end of the series as that of an "evangelist", the only person in the world that understands Madoka's existence and importance.
Cristina Vee, voice actress of Homura in the English dub of the anime, stated in 2012 that Homura is the most "complex" character she has voiced.
Maps Homura Akemi
Appearances
In Puella Magi Madoka Magica
Characterization and themes
Writing for Otaku USA, Ryotaro Aoki dubbed Homura "a stoic, justice-seeking righteous" character. Critic Richard Eisenbeis of Kotaku stated that upon a second watch, the plot twists and character motivations becomes "a new story--not about Madoka but about Homura." Concluding that "the story can be looked at as Homura being the only sane person in an insane world--and the only one who really has a clue about what's really going on. Moreover, many of her lines have double meanings that can only be appreciated upon a second viewing."
Regarding The Rebellion Story, Author Jed A.Blue at Goodreads stated that Homura had "extensive character development" and described her as a "complex" character who "embodies evil and love" and is the "embodiment of contradictions and opposites". Geoff Berkshire of Variety described Homura and Madoka's friendship as "deep" and "loving".
Media
The character of Homura has played a large role in all Madoka Magica media, including the original anime series, the subsequent feature-length films, and the main Madoka Magica manga series. In 2015, two spin-off manga series featuring Homura as the main character were announced: a four-panel fantasy slice-of-life comic titled Puella Magi Homura Tamura, and Puella Magi Madoka Magica: Homura's Revenge, an alternate universe story where Madoka joined Homura in her time traveling.
The focus of the third Madoka Magica film, Rebellion, is primarily on Homura and her relationship with Madoka. Homura is the player character of Puella Magi Madoka Magica TPS featuring Homura Akemi, a third-person shooter video game for Android released in 2011.
A large amount of Homura-related merchandise has been created, such as a Nendoroid figure produced by Good Smile Company, a figure produced by Kotobukiya based on an "itain" stamp, and a replica set of Homura's ear cuff that sold for 21,600 yen. In 2014, 2 PM Works created two sets of high heels, inspired by Madoka and Homura respectively.
Reception and legacy
Homura has garnered critical acclaim. Zac Bertschy of Anime News Network called Homura's episode 10 as "the strongest one in the series" and described her as the series "most crucial" character. Ryotaro Aoki wrote "One of the series' most compelling moments, Homura Akemi's origin, ends up seeming more like a digression than a revelation." THEM Anime reviewer Jacob Churosh praised both Homura and her voice actress, writing "But the absolute standout of the cast, Yuuki's Madoka notwithstanding, has to be frequent Shinbo collaborator Chiwa Saitou as Homura Akemi, whose mask of cool aloofness and brutal indifference crumbles in spectacular fashion over the second half of the series, as we probe the depths of her history and begin to discover what tragedies caused Homura to don such a mask in the first place." Tim Jones stated Homura has the most developed backstory in the series. In her article "The Hair Flips Of Madoka Magica's Homura", Cecilia D'Anastasio of Kotaku stated that "Homura Akemi is the best girl". She added, "Among her many virtues, including strength and compassion, is her incredible hair, which often is in her face and needs a good flip."
Although widely acclaimed, Homura has sparked controversy regarding her character's motivation, specifically her role at the end of The Rebellion Story. Anime News Network's Jacob Hope Chapman noted how more powerful became Homura and Madoka's relationship which he also considered one of the film's greatest strengths. However, he criticized her character at the last part of the film, stating "Homura is no longer the same girl fans once knew and loved by the time Madoka arrives to rescue her." Fellow critic Lynzee Loveridge stated she enjoyed having Homura's character focused on in the film but hated its ending. Chris Beveridge of The Fandom Post gave high praise to her development and on how she deals "with things once she gained her understanding". Beveridge also noted that "Homura has always been the key character for me and why I watched and she owns this movie well." David West of Neo praised the friendship between Homura and Madoka, writing: "Far more complicated than merely turning friends into enemies, Rebellion takes their relationship and stands it in front of a funhouse mirror." Reviewing The Rebellion Story, Richard Eisenbeis stated that Homura's wish is the complete opposite to Madoka's wish, in which he called it as a "selfish" wish and goes on to write, "She wants exactly what she has always wanted: Madoka in a perfect, happy, normal life. And so she remakes all of reality just to give it to her--blatantly disregarding Madoka's own wishes. Effectively she becomes the devil to Madoka's god." Dan Rhodes of UK Anime Network wrote "The road to hell is paved with good intentions. If you remember that as you watch [Rebellion], you may very well find yourself feeling a little sympathy for the Devil."
Homura won the 2011 Newtype Anime Award for best female character. Her rank began to go down, slipping to fourth place in Newtype's best female awards two consecutive times in 2013 and 2014. Homura was awarded the Animage Grand Prix Editors Choice award for best female character by the editors of Animage in 2011. In 2014, NTT customers ranked Homura as their 5th favorite black haired female anime character. Homura is considered to be among Shaft's most beloved heroines, where she took second place for "Top 10 Shaft Heroines" in 2016, three years after her debut in The Rebellion Story. A reader poll conducted by NHK also determined that Homura is one of the best heroines, having garnered 14% of votes. In September 2017, Homura ranked at No. 19 on "Most Splendid Heroines" list, making her one of Heisei Era's most marvellous anime heroine ever.
Homura has been featured in several critics list. Lynzee Loveridge of Anime News Network ranked Homura first in her article "8 Essential Time-Travelling Heroines", a list that recognized some of best heroines that "will find a way to travel through time and save the world" and heroines that do "right wrongs, prevent deaths, and try to carve out a perfect future." Lynzee wrote, "Homura relives tragedy after tragedy in hopes of saving her best friend, and ultimately the world, from destruction. If Homura can be faulted for inadvertently creating the situation she hopes to prevent, she can also be credited for destroying the system of despair magical girls were trapped in." She also included Homura second in her article "7 Cruel Gods" list. Comparing the character's selfishness personality and her rebellion against Madoka to that of Paradise Lost's Lucifer. Lynzee wrote, "She controls everyone within her selfish reality, stripping her captives of free will in the name of her "love"." Alex Crilly-McKean of WatchMojo.com ranked Homura at number one on list of "Top 10 Anime Characters That Are Better Than The Hero", with Alex writing, "it's the sacrifices of this fractured young lady that truly makes her the unsung hero of the show." Oscar Pearson Bang also ranked her fifth on "Top 10 Badass Anime Gunslinger", stating that Homura "gives "overprotective" a whole new meaning".
Chiwa Sait?'s portrayal of Homura won her the 2011 Newtype Anime Award for Best Supporting Actress, with Saito commenting: "I'm surprised. I never imagined I could have such a big prize. I could not ask for more, and I would like to send the words of gratitude." Her English VA, Cristina Vee was also nominated for Best Female Lead Vocal Performance in Television at the 1st BTVA Voice Acting Awards.
References
External links
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- Homura Akemi on IMDb
- Homura Akemi on Goodreads
Source of article : Wikipedia
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