Kyoko Sakura

2.1. Background and Family

Kyoko grew up as the daughter of a Protestant pastor. Her family's life took a devastating turn when her father was excommunicated from his church for preaching doctrines not aligned with the main teachings. This excommunication plunged her family into extreme poverty, leading them to the brink of starvation and forcing Kyoko to steal food for their survival. In a desperate attempt to help her father, Kyoko made a contract with Kyubey, wishing for her father to gain more followers. Although his congregation initially grew, her father discovered that this was due to magic. Overwhelmed by this realization, he descended into madness, denouncing Kyoko as a "witch" before committing a murder-suicide that claimed the lives of Kyoko's mother and her younger sister, Momo (モモ_Momo^Japanese). Kyoko was the only one left alive, haunted by the "mental torment" of her past. This profound trauma led her to adopt a rigid philosophy: magic should only be used for personal gain, as using it for others inevitably leads to severe danger and suffering.

2.2. Appearance and Magical Abilities

Kyoko has long, raspberry-colored hair, often tied into a ponytail, and striking blood-red eyes. She also has distinctive fangs and a notably voracious appetite, frequently seen with food. Her height is between 61 in ^{(156 cm)} and 62 in ^{(158 cm)}. Upon transformation into a magical girl, she wears a battle suit reminiscent of a cheongsam, with a sleeveless top and a skirt that is open at the front, allowing for greater freedom of movement. Her Soul Gem is located on her collarbone, featuring a design similar to her father's church emblem. While she normally does not attend school and wears casual clothes, she is shown in a Mitakihara Middle School uniform in Rebellion and Majuu-hen.

Kyoko's primary magical weapon is a spear. This spear is highly versatile; it can extend, bend, and split into multiple sections, allowing her to use it like a nunchaku or a multi-section staff. It can also produce a ball at the end of a chain, which she can use to constrict and strike targets. Beyond her weapon, Kyoko possesses the ability to erect durable barriers, which she uses for both defensive purposes and to prevent others from interfering in her battles or can unravel to trap targets. Notably, her original magical ability, which manifested from her initial wish, was illusion magic called "Rosso Fantasma" (Rosso Fantasma_{Rosso Fantasma}^Italian), a name given to it by Mami Tomoe. However, after the tragic death of her family, she subconsciously denied her original wish, causing this illusion magic to gradually disappear, and she could no longer use it.

2.3. Personality and Ideals

Kyoko's personality undergoes a significant transformation throughout the series. Initially, she is portrayed as aggressive, self-centered, and cynical, advocating for strict self-preservation. She held a strong competitive drive, which some critics noted could appear "psychopathic," drawing comparisons to Takeshi Asakura from *Kamen Rider Ryuki*. Her constant consumption of sweets and junk food is a direct result of her family's past starvation, making her particularly sensitive to food waste. She views other people's deaths lightly and prioritizes collecting Grief Seeds over saving civilians, a stark contrast to Mami Tomoe's protective ideals. She is also known to obtain funds for junk food through magical means like ATM destruction and robbery.

However, this seemingly ruthless exterior is largely a "social mask" (社会的仮面_{shakaiteki kamen}^Japanese) that conceals deep psychological trauma and an underlying kindness. Psychologists have noted that her initial selfish behavior was a coping mechanism for the immense pain and despair stemming from her family's collapse and the belief that she was responsible for their deaths. Beneath her hardened facade, Kyoko is intrinsically fond of humans and is deeply loyal and caring towards her friends.

Her crucial relationship with Sayaka Miki serves as a catalyst for her development. Kyoko sees her past self reflected in Sayaka, who also wished for someone else's well-being only to face despair. This mirror dynamic compels Kyoko to reach out, initially attempting to convince Sayaka to live selfishly to avoid her own mistakes. Her internal struggle culminates in a profound act of self-sacrifice for Sayaka, demonstrating a renunciation of her self-preservation ideals and an embrace of empathy. She transitions from a lone fighter to someone capable of forming strong bonds, ultimately seeking self-redemption through her efforts to save Sayaka and find peace in death. This shift from "cruel Darwinism" to compassionate action defines her complex character arc.

3.1. In Puella Magi Madoka Magica (Main Series)

Kyoko makes her first appearance in Mitakihara City following the death of Mami Tomoe, aiming to claim the newly available territory. An experienced magical girl, she initially clashes intensely with Sayaka Miki due to their opposing ideals of justice. Kyoko, having been a magical girl longer, possesses superior skill in combat. During their conflict, Kyoko reveals to Sayaka the grim truth that a magical girl's soul no longer resides in their body but in their Soul Gem. As Sayaka's Soul Gem becomes tainted by negative emotions and despair, Kyoko begins to sympathize with her, seeing her own past reflected in Sayaka's plight. She attempts to guide Sayaka away from despair, urging her to abandon her ideals and live selfishly, a lesson Kyoko learned the hard way. Despite Sayaka's refusal to abandon her beliefs, the two put aside their differences, fostering a complex bond.

When Sayaka fully succumbs to despair and transforms into the witch Oktavia von Seckendorff, Kyoko is determined to save her. She tirelessly seeks a way to restore Sayaka, ultimately facing Oktavia. In a final, desperate act, Kyoko chooses to overload her Soul Gem, creating a massive explosion that kills both herself and Oktavia. This self-sacrificial act, an abandonment of her previous self-preservation, ensures Sayaka does not die alone and leaves Homura Akemi and Madoka Kaname to confront Walpurgisnacht. In one of Homura's previous timelines, Kyoko was killed by Mami, who had gone mad after discovering the truth about magical girls turning into witches. However, in the final timeline, Madoka rewrites the universe, allowing Kyoko to survive. In this new reality, Kyoko mourns Sayaka's death in battle, lamenting that they had "finally become friends."

3.2. In Puella Magi Madoka Magica the Movie: Rebellion

In Puella Magi Madoka Magica the Movie: Rebellion, Kyoko appears as a student attending Mitakihara Middle School. In this manipulated reality, she enjoys a notably friendlier relationship with Sayaka, cohabiting in her house, and they form an effective combat duo against surreal monsters known as Nightmares. She is led to believe that she transferred to Mitakihara Middle School from Kazamino City after successfully eliminating Nightmares in her hometown.

When Homura begins to question the nature of their reality, she consults Kyoko, who also finds her memories vague. Their attempts to return to Kazamino City are futile, confirming their suspicions that their environment and memories are fabricated. Ultimately, they discover that they are trapped within Homura's witch barrier, a false Mitakihara, and that Sayaka, having been guided by the Law of Cycles, is technically no longer of this world. Despite realizing that Sayaka's witchification and subsequent death were true events, Kyoko is deeply moved by Sayaka's confession that she wished to see Kyoko again. They fight together against Homura's familiars. After Homura steals Ultimate Madoka's powers and reshapes the universe, proclaiming herself the Devil, Kyoko, like the others, finds herself in a world where Homura has granted them happy lives. She is shown smiling and maintaining her friendship with Sayaka at the film's conclusion.

3.3. In Other Media

Kyoko Sakura's character is further explored and developed across a wide range of Madoka Magica spin-off media, enriching her backstory and showcasing her interactions in different contexts.

4.1. Character Conception

Kyoko was created by writer Gen Urobuchi, director Akiyuki Shinbo, and character designer Ume Aoki. Urobuchi specifically envisioned Kyoko as a foil to Sayaka Miki. Both characters make wishes for others and initially strive for justice, but their experiences with the magical girl system lead them down divergent paths. While Kyoko abandons her ideals of justice and becomes selfish in her fighting, Sayaka clings to her ideals, ultimately leading to her despair. Urobuchi initially imagined a villain-like voice for Kyoko.

For Kyoko's role in Rebellion, director Shinbo described her as akin to a character from an Osamu Dezaki anime, where such a character guides the heroes. Shinbo stated his desire for Kyoko to resemble figures like Toru Rikiishi from Ashita no Joe and Long John Silver from Treasure Island, indicating her role as a guiding, experienced presence.

4.2. Physical Design

Kyoko was the final character designed by Aoki for the series. Initially, Urobuchi suggested a yellow color motif for her, but Aoki changed it to red, using yellow instead for Mami Tomoe. Her face was quickly sketched by Aoki upon reading the series' screenplay. Unlike other magical girls whose costumes were inspired by their weapons, Kyoko's design was consciously created to be distinguishable from the other characters.

Aoki initially designed Kyoko with loose hair, but Takahiro Kishida, who adapted Aoki's original designs, changed her hairstyle to a ponytail. Kishida also added her characteristic sharp teeth, inspired by her constant eating habits. Her magical girl outfit features a sleeveless top and a skirt, with the long top designed to avoid hindering her leg movements. Her Soul Gem is notably placed on her chest, an area that is exposed, a detail that was also modified during the design process. Urobuchi expressed surprise at the length of her skirt, given her dynamic movements, but acknowledged that it suited her character.

4.3. Voice Acting

In the Japanese version of Puella Magi Madoka Magica, Kyoko Sakura is voiced by Ai Nonaka. Nonaka adopted a unique approach to her role, deliberately avoiding excessive background information on the story to prevent preconceived notions, which led to her surprise at the work's heavy tone, contrasting with the character's initial visual impression. However, rather than a villainous voice as initially imagined by Urobuchi, the production opted for a voice quality that conveyed a good-hearted person trying to act like a villain, making her seem less hateful and more nuanced. Nonaka describes Kyoko as a character who seems cool but is secretly passionate.

For the English dub, Kyoko is voiced by Lauren Landa. Landa described Kyoko as a "veteran" magical girl and the "badass" of the group, highlighting her "expert" knowledge of fighting witches and her battle style. She noted that portraying Kyoko's multifaceted personality-including her "emotional side," "mischievous side," and "dark side"-was a significant challenge. Landa also found it difficult to replicate Kyoko's signature "chomping noises" when eating, though she enjoyed adding a "viciousness" to them. Despite these challenges, Landa "absolutely fell in love with Kyoko" and enjoyed her "badass" persona, describing her time working with the cast as a "blast."

5.1. Popularity and Merchandise

Kyoko has received a largely favorable response from fans, establishing herself as one of Shaft's most popular heroines, ranking fourth on their 2016 Top 10 Shaft Heroines list. She placed 11th in a Charapedia poll for the 20 best anime magical girls and topped Akihabara fans' "Top 7 Red-Haired Anime Heroines." Her distinctive hairstyle earned her third place on Charapedia's "Anime's Greatest Ponytails" list. In 2011, she was the runner-up in the 2chan Anime Saimoe Tournament, receiving 3,380 votes. BIGLOBE users voted her their favorite "sakura"-related anime character. Lynzee Loveridge of Anime News Network ranked her second on ANN's "Feistiest Female Redheads" list, noting her confidence and willingness to confront threats. In a 2020 Ani Trending News poll, Kyoko was voted the seventh best female anime character of Winter 2011.

Her popularity has led to a diverse range of merchandise. Numerous items, including keychains, figurines (like figma and nendoroid lines), and plush dolls, have been released. In 2012, her figma ranked 7th and her nendoroid 11th in Good Smile Company's annual sales. On Amazon Japan, her nendoroid was the 8th best-selling hobby item in 2012. Additionally, Kyoko has inspired clothing such as lingerie and shoes, and appeared in promotional campaigns, including a poster for a Japanese guide dog-training organization. She has also been featured on taxis in Sapporo and as collectible dolls in vending machines.

5.2. Critical Response

Critical reception for Kyoko's character has been overwhelmingly positive. Kory Cerjak of The Fandom Post lauded Kyoko as the series' "most interesting character," praising her tragic story arc, strong personality, and "wonderful" character development, particularly her sacrifice for Sayaka. He also commended Lauren Landa's "fantastic" voice acting. Tim Jones of THEM Anime Reviews stated that Kyoko's "backstory is not only arguably the most developed after Homura, but explains her personality the best as well."

Critics highlighted her role as a foil to Sayaka Miki. Zac Bertschy of Anime News Network described Kyoko as the "sneering, confident redheaded magical girl" who embodies "hardened cynicism and ruthless self-preservation," contrasting sharply with Sayaka's dedication to protecting others, making their clash "crucial" to the narrative. Rebecca Silverman, also from Anime News Network, noted that while Kyoko's backstory might have been better suited for the 1692 Salem witch trials, it effectively explains her attitude. Silverman further pointed out that Kyoko and Sayaka serve as "mirror characters," both making similar wishes that lead to similar tragic outcomes.

Kyoko's voice actresses also received high praise. Ai Nonaka's portrayal was called the "biggest surprise" by Jones, who noted her ability to convey a wide range of emotions and deliver "some of the best performances" in the series. Jacob Churosh echoed this, commending Nonaka's "wide range of emotions." Dan Barnett of UK Anime Network particularly enjoyed Kyoko's interactions with Sayaka in Rebellion, citing their more carefree relationship as "one of the truly joyous moments in the film."

Her portrayal in spin-off media was also well-received. Rebecca Silverman praised The Different Story, finding Kyoko's narrative "much more compelling" than Mami's. She described Kyoko's story, which explained her character's development in the main anime, as "pretty heartbreaking" and noted that her original wish was, in fact, selfless. James Beckett of Anime News Network appreciated Kyoko's appearances in the Magia Record anime, particularly her interaction with Felicia Mitsuki, noting that her role became more substantial as the series progressed.

5.3. Thematic Analysis

Kyoko Sakura's character has been subject to extensive psychological and thematic analysis, revealing layers of complexity beneath her tough exterior. Bryan J. McAfee, in his book Revelations: An In-Depth Look at the Themes and Symbols of Puella Magi Madoka Magica, described Kyoko as "profoundly lonely" and "scarred by the belief that she was responsible for the death of her own family." He argued that her decision to die with Sayaka, despite having an opportunity to escape, was driven by her past haunting her and her regret for her family's demise. Writer Gen Urobuchi explained that Kyoko saw herself in Sayaka; saving Sayaka represented an opportunity to save herself, while abandoning her would lead to true despair.

Japanese psychologist Takashi Tomita analyzed Kyoko as an intuitive individual whose emotions easily influence her actions. He interpreted her initial selfish behavior as a "social mask" she reluctantly wore due to her past experiences, asserting that Kyoko inherently likes humans and is a kind and friendly person to those she considers friends. Urobuchi further clarified that her villainous facade was a coping mechanism to manage her despair and maintain emotional stability, even though she disliked that part of herself.

Kory Cerjak highlighted the tragic similarity between Kyoko and Sayaka, both making wishes for others that ultimately led to pain. He noted that despite being hurt by her wish, Kyoko retained a glimmer of hope, evident in her continued fighting and collection of Grief Seeds to survive. Her seeing a reflection of her former, more idealistic self in Sayaka further fueled her desire to intervene. Michael Pementel of Bloody Disgusting contrasted Kyoko, who fights for personal needs, with Mami, who embodies protecting others. Bertschy characterized Kyoko's philosophy as a "cruel Darwinism."

Jed A. Blue, in The Very Soil: An Unauthorized Critical Study of Puella Magi Madoka Magica, asserts that Kyoko blames herself for her family's death, a common guilt experienced by those undergoing grief, loss, and psychological trauma, suggesting she exhibits symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder. Blue also observed that while Kyoko initially shows few outward signs of depression, she has "totally cut herself off from humanity, burying herself in self-indulgence of her hedonistic impulses in order to escape the pain of her past." He noted symptoms akin to an eating disorder and described her as the "Sayaka who expresses her depression outwardly." Furthermore, series director Miyamoto commented that while Kyoko excels in close combat with high attack power and speed due to her experience, her defensive capabilities are notably weak.