Mitakihara night panorama stitch
Mitakihara Town (見滝原町, Mitakihara-chō) is a provincial city where the story takes place. It was not until recently that development began in the town. Much modern architecture has been constructed since.
Also Mitakihara City (見滝原市, Mitakihara-shi) is mentioned in the story. The evacuation notice in Episode 11 refers to Mitakihara City. Mitakihara Town is most likely another name used for Mitakihara City. It is possible the town is a subdivision of the city, though if this were the case, it'd be more likely referred to as a ward.
Pictures of the Town
Ground-level view of the city at sunset.
Buildings seen from rooftop at Madoka's school.
Mitakihara seems to have a port like to Port of Yokohama.
Comparison between the factory district skyline in Mitakihara and the factory district shown in Bakemonogatari, a previous work by Akiyuki Shinbo.
Aerial photography of the city.
The hospital that Kamijou is treated at.
The city skyline at night.
Mitakihara from a distance.
Architecture in the Anime versus Real-Life Architecture
Episode 1
Visual comparison
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Real building
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Real address
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Explanation
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First appearance
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Burj Khalifa
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Dubai, United Arab Emirates
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A similar-looking building appears in the OP for most episodes.
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Opening sequence
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The skyline
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Dubai
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A shot of Mitakihara's skyline, when the school bell rings.
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9:08
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Shanghai World Financial Center (100th floor)
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Shanghai, China
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The hallway in Madoka's school is very similar to the observation deck on the 100th floor of this building.
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13:07
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Weltstadthaus
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Cologne, Germany.
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The shopping mall Madoka and Sayaka go to after school
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14:51
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Helix Bridge
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Singapore
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The bridge in/nearby the shopping mall
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14:53
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Eiffel Tower
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Paris, France
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This is a part of Gertrud's Labyrinth apparition sequence. Note that several other buildings have a similar design, such as the Tokyo Tower
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19:30
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Episode 2
Visual comparison
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Real building
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Real address
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Explanation
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First appearance
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Russia Tower
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Moscow, Russia.
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The building that can be seen from the rooftop of Mitakihara school.
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12:30
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Pentominium
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Dubai
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Another building that can be seen from the rooftop of the school.
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12:55
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UOB Plaza
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Singapore
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One of the buildings featured in a background of episode 2.
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16:03
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Yokohama port area seen from Yokohama Landmark Tower
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Naka-ku, Yokohama
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Appears as Mitakihara in Episode 2 (upper) and 9 (lower).
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16:32
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Episode 4
Visual comparison
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Real building
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Real address
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Explanation
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First appearance
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The downside of Tachikawa-Kita Station of Tama Monorail and Tachikawa Takashimaya
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Tachikawa, Tokyo
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Just before Madoka runs into Hitomi during the night, there are several shots of places, including this one.
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15:11
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Episode 5
Visual comparison
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Real building
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Real address
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Explanation
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First appearance
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Iwabuchi Sluice Gate
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Arakawa‐Sumida Rivers junction in Kita, Tokyo
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Empire State Building
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Manhattan, New York
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Several shots of what is thought to be the Empire States Building without its spire. Appears when Kyouko is spying on Sayaka with her magically-enhanced goggles.
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9:53
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Taipei 101
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Taipei, Taiwan
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This is a zoom of a part of the background just before Sayaka goes to her first witch hunt.
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16:18
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Episode 6
Visual comparison
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Real building
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Real address
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Explanation
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First appearance
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Commerzbank Tower
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Frankfurt, Germany
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A shot of the city, just before we see Kyouko playing DDR, probably implying that the arcade hall is supposed to be nearby that area.
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6:18
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Episode 7
Visual comparison
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Real building
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Real address
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Explanation
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First appearance
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The Gunma Prefectual Government Building (tallest), Gunma Prefectual Police HQ (left) and Maebashikoen Park (nearside)
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Maebashi, Japan
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The screenshot is from the sequence when Kyouko brings Sayaka to her dad's church, probably implying that this area is on the way there.
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7:01
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The full photo for better comparison. Courtesy of 2ch anon, who went outside to take that perfect picture.
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The full screenshot for comparison.
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Episode 8
Episode 10
Visual comparison
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Real building
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Real address
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Explanation
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First appearance
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Arc de Triomphe
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Paris, France
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Izabel's barrier has various references to Paris monuments, amongst which is possibly a distorted version of the Arc de Triomphe.
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4:14
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Episode 12
Visual comparison
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Real building
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Real address
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Explanation
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First appearance
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Sogakudo Concert Hall
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Taito, Tokyo.
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Kamijou played his violin in it.
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13:30
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1 Dubai Tower
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Jumeirah Garden City, Dubai.
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A proposed complex of three skyscrapers. In March 2009, the project was cancelled. It appears during the scene with Homura having a conversation with Junko while watching over the city across the river.
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18:17
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Movies
The Beginning Story
Visual comparison
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Real building
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Real address
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Explanation
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First appearance
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The National Art Center, Tokyo
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Minato, Tokyo
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The National Art Center, Tokyo (国立新美術館 Kokuritsu Shinbijutsukan?) is a museum in Roppongi, Minato, Tokyo, Japan. A joint project of the Agency for Cultural Affairs and the National Museums Independent Administrative Institution, it stands on a site formerly occupied by a research facility of the University of Tokyo.
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0:23:57
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The Milan Cathedral
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Milan, Italy
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Milan Cathedral (Italian: Duomo di Milano; Lombard: Domm de Milan) is the cathedral church of Milan, Italy. Dedicated to Santa Maria Nascente (Saint Mary Nascent), it is the seat of the Archbishop of Milan, currently Cardinal Angelo Scola. The Gothic cathedral took nearly six centuries to complete. It is the fifth largest cathedral in the world and the largest in the Italian state territory.
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0:24:00
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The Rebellion Story
Visual comparison
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Real building
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Real address
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Explanation
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First appearance
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Berlin Central Station
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Berlin, Germany
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Work started on a new Berlin Central Station after the fall of the Berlin Wall, as a symbol of a reunified Germany. The station itself vaguely resembles a mushroom.
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Movie 3
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Kejonuma Leisure Land Ferris Wheel
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Miyagi Prefecture, Japan
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Kejonuma Leisure Land was an amusement park originally opened in 1979. It closed down in 2000 and now remains abandoned.
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Movie 3 Opening
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An aerial view of Mitakihara City as seen in the Madoka Magica Portable game. It may or may not be an approximation of what the city looks like in the anime.
Trivia
- Originally the town was called Misakihara but was changed on the final script.
City Mascot: Mi-ta kun
Mi-ta kun is the mascot of Mitakihara city.[1]
It makes its first appearance in Puella Magi Madoka Magica the Movie: The Rebellion Story.
- The name is Mi-ta kun.
- A mascot of Mitakihara-city.
- Its actual motif is not an octopus thing but a kind of plant.
- The city paid 30,000,000 yen to the super famous designer for this design order, while almost all of citizens totally be indifferent to it.
- You can find him every bus stop in Mitakihara
- Veni Vidi Mitakihara
External links