Character Analysis: Kyubey

By Timmy Dao
November 1, 2023

Whether it be film or novel, characters are the key element. A character helps forward a story. Designing a character involves limitless possibilities — you create the wax mold and you also fill it. There are many ways to make a character stand out, a notable way is the author’s purpose for including them. In this article, we will be analyzing the fictional character, Kyubey.

The 2011 psychological thriller & horror anime series Puella Magi Madoka Magica follows a cast of five magical girls. With their powers they fight witches; the incarnation of negative emotions. Becoming a magical girl is a lifelong obligation and dedication. They must exchange their soul to forge this contract. To compensate, a single wish is granted per contract. The regulator of this contract is known as Kyubey. Kyubey is an alien hivemind whose purpose is to prevent the heat-death of the universe. They appear as small fox-like creatures. The heat-death of the universe is predicted to be an overflow of entropy. The contract is a medium to prevent this. The emotional energy provided by magical girls allows them to counter entropy. How Kyubey advances their goal portrays them as the primary antagonist. Simply put: they deceive and exploit humans. The behavior of Kyubey is comparable to that of a robot. They exist only to achieve a goal. What Kyubey does is morally wrong but it does not base its decisions on morals. They fixate on the bigger picture. The cost of a few humans is nothing at the expense of the universe.

Despite Kyubey being set up in the story as the antagonist, I personally believe them to be more of an anti-villain. If you wish to learn more about this adorable alien, I recommend watching the anime. We follow a particular cast of magical girls, each of their decisions having a deeper meaning. Puella Magi Madoka Magica is a dark horror and psychological thriller.