Akemi Homura

Akemi Homura is a character from the 2011 magical girl anime Puella Magi Madoka Magica and its subsequent multimedia franchise. Initially presented as a possible antagonist for aspiring magical girl Kaname Madoka, she gradually reveals hidden depths over time as it becomes clear their fates are linked. 
==Canon==
Akemi Homura is initially presented as an aloof transfer student with a hidden but sinister agenda, who warns Madoka away from the life of a magical girl. It is eventually revealed that Homura is originally from a different timeline, who made a wish to go back and re-do her first meeting with Madoka after the latter's death in order to save her. 
 
==Fan Reactions==
Homura is a fan favorite, with many considering her to be the "true" protagonist of the show in lieu of Madoka. She is frequently the main character and/or POV character in fanworks. 
==Common Tropes and Fanon==
*Time travel, specifically Groundhog Day-type loops spanning multiple timelines
*Post-canon fics
*Canon Divergence AU, especially those ignoring the events of the Rebellion movie
*"Akemi Homura Is Doing Her Best" - popular tag on Ao3. 
*"Being Homura Is Suffering" - popular Ao3 tag based on the "Being Meguca is Suffering" meme. 
*PTSD and other mental health issues resulting from Homura's trauma
*Yandere Homura obsessed or unwilling to let go of Madoka
In fanart, Homura is often shown bound to Madoka with ribbons, reminiscent of the Red String of Fate. Following the release of the Rebellion Story movie, red spider lilies and other attributes of her witch Homulily became important motifs. 
Homura has also acquired a wide variety of fan nicknames. Glasses!Homura is frequently referred to as Moemura, a play on the Japanese slang term moe, meaning cute. Later incarnations are known as Ribbonmura, Crazymura, Coolmura, and (following the events of Rebellion) Homucifer or Akuma.
Japanese-language doujinshi often depict Homura using the catchphrase "Homu homu" in addition to or in lieu of regular speech. Ecchi fanworks frequently depict Homura as a pervert who uses her time-stop powers to stalk or molest Madoka for humorous effect. 
 
===Shipping===
MadoHomu is the most popular ship, both for the character and the franchise as a whole, and is borderline canonical. Minor ships include HomuMami, HomuSaya, Homura/Kyouko and poly ships with all five members of the "Holy Quintet". 
==Selected Fanworks==
===Fanfics===
*The Devil's Story by Castella - "Madoka and Homura were bound to become enemies at some point. For a god and her devil, that conflict was their inevitable and fated end." - femslash, Homura/Madoka, angst, fix-it, complete, posted 2014
*Impossible Colors by ErinPtah. "Homura is red/green colorblind. Snapshots of how she sees the world." - oneshot, posted 2015
*First Strike Capabilities by Gramarye. "The first time Homura set foot on the grounds of JGSDF Camp Mitakihara, she had no idea what she was doing. The second time, she came with a list." - oneshot, posted 2020
*The Witching Hour by Umbriex - "When faced with an uncaring and cruel system that exploits the suffering of the innocent, Homura knows exactly what to do… Start a podcast? An offhand suggestion from Madoka’s father leads Homura to a creative outlet that might just save everyone. Armed with the knowledge of far too many timelines she sets out to create something that will warn those in need. And maybe talk a bit too much about her personal issues, but she’s working on that." - AU, fix-it fic, posted 2021
===Fanart===
File:Homura.jpg|alt=A pencil sketch of Homura in magical girl from from the shoulders up|Akemi Homura by yacchan (2010)
File:Homu by mary ko d6v8krz-fullview.jpg|alt=a digital illustration of Homura in the process of turning into a Witch. She is dressed in the black dress from the Rebellion movie while holding her Soul Gem loosely and crying red, spiderweb-like tears.|homu by Mary-ko (2013)
File:Akemi Homura - Finally Found.jpeg|alt=an illustration of Homura in her magical girl uniform with Madoka's ribbon in her hair and her bow in hand.|Akemi Homura - Finally Found by SketchMeNot (2021)
File:103825913 p0 master1200.jpg|alt=	digital art of Homura in her magical girl outfit, kneeling beside a pile of unspooled cassette tapes leaking red ribbon and attempting to free her hands from that ribbon.|Rewinding by 華野- (2022)
File:Marking the calendar.jpeg|alt=	a digital illustration of Homura in glasses and twin braids. She is wearing pajamas and sitting up in a bed while writing something on a calendar.|marking the calendar for your first day at school by ra-ma-ma (2023)
===Fanvids===
*Madoka Magica × Rolling Girl PV (HandDrawn) by rai - audio from "Rolling Girl" by wowaka feat. Hatsune Miku, posted 2011
*[IS] Hollow Gardens by xPorcellain - audio from "Blinding" by Florence and the Machine, posted 2014
*Madoka Magica AMV - Immortals by Dustjacket Duck - audio from "Immortals" by Fall Out Boy, posted 2016
*Homura Akemi Edit by VK PMMM AMV - audio from "Le Bien qui fait mal" by the cast of the Mozart Rock Opera, posted 2023
*St. Bernard - Homura Akemi AMV {Ophelia} by AMV CLAMP - audio from "St. Bernard" by Lincoln, posted 2023
=== Meta ===
* “Gott ist tot!” - Homura’s Mental Turnaround in The Rebellion Story by infall-of-music, posted 2014
* [Spoilers] Character Analysis: Homura Akemi by leafbladie, posted 2018
* Reply to "if you don’t mind, can I hear your thoughts on the possibility of Homura having internalized homophobia?" by clacing, posted 2022
=== Cosplay ===
File:Akemi homura 0kasane0.jpg|alt=A cosplayer dressed as Homura's early magical girl form, including glasses and braids, pretends to trip over a traintrack.|Akemi Homura by 0kasane0 (2011)
File:Homura akemi by himecchin d6kswv8-fullview.jpg|alt=A cosplayer dressed as Homura in her magical girl form, holding a prop grenade launcher.|Homura Akemi by himecchin (2013)
File:How about we become monsters together.jpg|alt=A cosplayer dressed as Homura in her devil form, lying on a pile of black feathers.|How about we become monsters together? by yomecos (2022)
==External Links==
*Wikipedia entry
*Puella Magi Wiki entry
==References==
Category:Puella Magi Madoka Magica Characters