Tropes/Shout-Out

* *Madoka Magica*:
	+ Creating a Mini-Self is painful, much like how painful it is for a Soul Gem to be created. However, here's the subversion: *Kyubey* is the one feeling the pain, not the Magi whose Mini-Self will be created.
	+ Michelle's transformation sequence resembles Yachiyo's in the *Magica Record* anime - her clothes transform into a long dress of light (instead of the typical body glow), and her outfit appears under the dress as she walks.
	+ In the final chapter, after the Divinity releases a magic blast that fires miniature Divinities in all directions, the following are shown in place of the first three magical girls Madoka saves (except that they do not fade/die and are instead relieved afterwards: first She saves Syren who is about to witch out any second (similar to the green-haired girl who glances at her soul gem and sees it cracking, knowing her inevitable doom), next She saves Princess Luna who is transformed, bitter and angry from jealousy, and fighting against her sister, especially since her Harmony Gem is on a band on her foreleg (similar to the girl lying under the tree on the savannah), next She saves Melody (who is shown in the reflection in her Harmony Gem, similarly to the bear-costumed girl), and then after saving several other Magis onscreen (though only briefly shown unlike the first three), She saves Victoria, Arcturus, Brandon, and Aurora.
	+ The Darkest Hour at the end of the chapter before "Freeing the Most Powerful Puella Magi." Elizabeth is sitting down in defeat, exhausted, with her foot stuck under rubble, her Elemaximum about to run out, and her Harmony Gem near total corruption. She can choose to do nothing and detransform, sange, and then become a witch and leave Katrina trapped as a villain as a result, but if she uses any more magic to free herself, it will only make her inevitable sange worse. Things get better, luckily.
	+ Rogal witching out after Melody rejects the pink castle he built for her as a gift is based on this scene of Sayaka witching out at the end of episode 8 of PMMM, although his expression is emotionless as he sheds the tear.
	+ Transformations of characters from the *Madoka Magica* franchise are longer and slightly changed compared to their original version. Most of their striking poses, however, remain unaltered.
	+ When Dragonet starts to give birth to Sugar, when her Trainer comforts her and assures her she can get through this, the camera shows closeups of both nodding with a nervous smile, which greatly resembles the scene in episode 10 of PMMM where Homura assures Madoka they can defeat Walpurgisnacht together.
	+ In general, the series can be considered to be about halfway between traditional, lighthearted magical girl series such as *Sailor Moon* and *Pretty Cure*, and darker magical girl series such as PMMM and *YuYuYu* (though unlike GoH, which has more emphasis on PMMM, MAeH has more emphasis on YuYuYu).
* *YuYuYu*: The Shinkon in Arc 20. However, Cynthia, not Cherry (Yuuna), is the "wife" being "wed."
* *Winx Club*:
	+ Princess Ellis's movements (specifically her arm movements) during her transformation sequence resemble Musa's 3D Sirenix transformation.
	+ The Magis' wings sprouting from their backs during their transformation sequences resemble the Winx's wings appearing on their backs during their transformation sequences. However, this is only the case for ones with fairy wings.
	+ Mandible's transformation sequence takes elements from the Cosmix transformation sequence.
* Anabelle Moonpath's transformed appearance is partly based on Abby Cadabby from *Sesame Street*.
* *Donut Monster.* It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out where the name of Autumn Baker's witch form came from. However, the fact that the sentient donuts she summons have rows of sharp teeth and bark like dogs was also based on the Chain Chomps from the *Mario* franchise.
* *Sailor Moon*:
	+ The "saving Katrina" arc chapters (and the one before it, "Melody's Concert: Queen Vera's Attack," which is partially based on "Princess Kakyuu Burns Out: Galaxia On Earth") are adapted from the last few episodes of the original *Sailor Moon* anime (with some references to ToTTNMCS), which are "Destruction Around the Corner (based on "Countdown to Destruction: The Sailor Guardians' Last Battle"), "Ruler of the Multiverse: The Menace of Queen Vera" (based on "Ruler of the Galaxy: The Menace of Galaxia"), "Dying Stars: The Taisha's Last Stand" (based on "Dying Stars: Uranus and Neptune's Last Stand"), "The Light of Hope: When Light and Darkness Clash" (partially based on episode 46 of Season 1 of SM), and "Freeing the Most Powerful Puella Magi" (based on "Usagi's Love: The Moonlight that Illuminates the Galaxy").
	+ Nova's magical girl form resembles Sailor Cosmos from the manga, though with a few changes such as her pink theme color (with purple and indigo accents) and the addition of fairy wings. Her first weapon also resembles Sailor Cosmos's staff.
	+ In the equivalent chapter to "The Big Mac Question," Dragonet imagines threatening Mrs. Cake with her shuriken, putting it up to her forehead, and demanding that she give her a cupcake before her Trainer stops her, even saying "If you're Mrs. Cup Cake, *then give me a cupcake! Hoof it over.*" This is based on Chibiusa's debut scene where she demands that Usagi hand over the Silver Crystal, though this is only in a fantasy and she nicely asks for a cupcake.
	+ The *May Magica* chapter "Learn How to Be Skinny From May and Omnom" where May and Omnom (her Munchlax) think they've gotten fat from eating too much despite being young and perfectly healthy is based on the SM Season 1 episode "Learn How to Be Skinny From Usagi."
	+ The Magis' deaths (other than Elizabeth and Nova) in "Destruction Around the Corner" resemble this clip of the Inner Senshi's death in episode 196.
	+ One of the weapons that Elizabeth gets fairly late from another one of her Dream Pixies resembles Eternal Sailor Moon's Eternal Tiare, giving her the attack *Golden Sun Crystal Power*. With another Elemaximum, however, the new Dream Pixie makes an item resembling the Holy Moon Chalice that can attach to said weapon, allowing the stronger attack *Golden Sun Crystal Power Kiss.*
* If things made by the *fandom* counts...
	+ Dolores punching a witched-out Avvy resembles Fluttershy punching Pinkie Pie in "Smile HD."
	+ The first portion of the *Dusk Till Dawn* instrumental plays as Nina (Starscout) laments about her stupidty and faults...just before getting possessed and *right after* writing her diary entry.
	+ Valerie's wings in magical girl form resemble Arcanix wings, which is a fanmade *Winx Club* transformation.
	+ Elizabeth was adapted from the same character from her creator's since-canceled, wacky slice-of-life fanfiction that was created when they weren't a very experienced writer, and Ninja Dragonets were one of the very few things ferried over to the magical hero series. However, unlike said canceled series, she does not own a Rotom at all.
	+ A cover of "Little Sunshine," called "Little Blossom," plays in "The End of the Princess."
* When they appear, Nova often addresses Junko and Tomohisa Kaname as "Mrs. Mom" and "Mr. Dad," which is a reference to how Darwin addresses his (adoptive) parents in *The Amazing World of Gumball*.
* *Pretty Cure*:
	+ The Magis' hair usually changes color, style, and length when they transform, even for males (though for them, it tends to grow only slightly longer).
	+ Magis who wear glasses in civilian form lose them when they transform and have their vision temporarily corrected.
	+ Only individuals within a certain age range are usually eligible to be Chosen Ones. This age range usually excludes individuals over 17 or younger than 9, although there are a few exceptions below and above both "cutoffs," and unlike *Pretty Cure*, the Magis continue to transform into adulthood.
	+ Most female Magis wear high heels.
	+ In the series finale, the confirmation that Nova has split from the Light of Hope to become her own person is a reference to Kujou Hikari in *Futari wa Pretty Cure Max Heart*, who at the end splits from the Queen of Light to be her own person.
	+ Tart's braid growing back when she transforms was inspired by Homare from *Hugtto! Pretty Cure*, whose hair grows back as Cure Etoile even though she cut it after giving up on her dream.
	+ After magic is restored and she becomes an Alicorn, Sunny has a flashback of what her father once told her as a foal: "When our feelings are connected, we can make miracles." This references *Mahou Tsukai Pretty Cure*.
	+ Nina first gaining her Crystal Star Brooch in "Lighting Up" is based on the scene in the first episode of *Suite Pretty Cure*, where Hibiki's and Kanade's chests glow as they're lifted into the air while shocked and a Cure Module emerges from their heart and lands in their hands.
	+ Everycreature sharing their Light of Hope in the equivalent of "Securing the Future" resembles a combination of the canon Pokémon anime and the final battle of *Happiness Charge Pretty Cure* - while the scene mostly resembles the canon anime and has the same background music, the actual sharing their light part and sending it out resembles everyone in *Happiness Charge Pretty Cure* sending out their love to Megumi (as in, the light resembles a glowing spark, not a stream, though for the Pokémon and non-Chosen Ones, the glowing spark/whatever is still gold.)
	+ One of Holly's weapons is clearly based on the Heart Juicy Mixer from *Delicious Party Pretty Cure*, and the colors are the same (to avoid making it red and green), though the three colored symbols above the dial are replaced with one more appropriate for Holly, and the attack it is used to perform is called "**Delicious** Cocoa Blessing."
	+ Melissa has a weapon resembling the Healing Good Arrow from *Healin' Good Pretty Cure*.
* *My Little Pony*:
	+ In the first movie (which takes place a week after MelM), Melody points at the fleeing Frank and says "That... Big... Dumb... ***MEANIE!!!!***" before going after him in rage.
* In the equivalent chapter to "The Sweet Taste of Battle!", Dragonet, Creampuff, Mist and Kyubey somehow getting drunk on cake is a reference to a scene in *Cardcaptor Sakura* where Suppie gets drunk on cake.
* Avvy once says that when she was little, to keep her behaving, her mother read her a fairy tale of an island where misbehaving kids got to go to and could do whatever they wanted, but the catch is that they eventually turn into Mudbray and get sold to salt mines.
* Melody entering the afterlife at the end of "The End of the Princess" and reuniting with her mother, father, and brothers, as well as the other Magis who all smile and watch their reunion, is based on the ending scene of Rose reuniting with Jack in the afterlife in the 1997 movie *Titanic*, except modified a bit to have *familial* love vibes rather than romantic vibes.
	+ As a bonus, before this, the camera also pans over various photographs of her throughout her life with her friends which are shown around her coffin, resembling the scene in said movie where it shows Rose in various photographs throughout her life around her in her bed.
* In the equivalent of "A Festival Trade! A Festival Farewell?", Trixie's (Braixen's) costume for the occasion (since some Pokémon are also wearing costumes) - specifically the blue dress and the crown - resembles the Ice King from *Adventure Time*. This is also slightly odd since Braixen are Fire-types.
* The idea of Harmony Gems being able to store items when transformed and being able to pull out weapons and the exact desired item was based on Homura's shield in *Madoka Magica*, bags in the *Pokémon* games, Ladybug's yoyo in *Miraculous Ladybug*, and Belly Bag from one *Cartoon Network* show.
* When Victoria first witches out, Aurora remarks "Mother's sake, I had no idea. The depth of her despair is awe-inspiring," which is a reference to a quote from the *SpongeBob SquarePants* episode "Little Yellow Book."
* The self-refilling goblet that Michelle acquires from her wish is a reference to the Refilling Charm spell in *Harry Potter* and also the Refilling Goblet toy from said franchise.
* The Primarch Porters were based on the Primarchs from *Warhammer*. In particular, Magnus is based on the Primarch Magnus the Red from said franchise.
* Gelato Viziato clearly takes inspiration from *Pac-Man*, as she has a yellow spherical body and her arms appear to be made up of shapes resembling Inky, Pinky, Blinky, and Clyde. She is also able to effortlessly eat anything or anycreature regardless of their size, and her barrier is a maze.
* Holly's witch form craves chocolate so much that she chases the other Magis around screaming "***CHOCOLATE!!!!***"
* At one point in the movie "Melody and the Darkest Day Crisis" (which was inspired by a *Pokémon Quest* arc), Melody heard the voices of many important people that have passed away. In this case...
	+ *Melody: I'm sorry... Mom... Dad... We failed...*
	+ *(As Melody looks at the sky, she suddenly hears voices.)*
	+ *Victoria: **You must finish this, Mel! Rise, and beat him.***
	+ *Arcturus: **Mel.***
	+ *Adaman: **Melody?***
	+ *Irida: **Melody!***
	+ *Cherry F.: **Save the Multiverse, just like your parents did.***
	+ *Cherry Y.: **Protect all Creatures, Melody.***
	+ *Nina S.: **You're not alone, Melody.***
	+ *Cherry L.: **You have never been alone, Princess.***
	+ *Rei: **Everycreature who passed away lives in you.***
	+ *Michelle: **You are the Chosen of the One. The girl that will save the whole Multiverse...***
	+ *Ella: **...along with your friends!***
	+ *Akari: **And your Pokémon too!***
	+ *Adaman: **You must defeat Frank, once and for all!***
	+ *Irida: **You can do it, Melody!***
	+ *Nina S.: **Rise, Princess Melody!***
	+ *(Melody tries to get up. As she does, she begins to glow bright pink.)*
	+ *Cherry L.: **We stand behind you, Melody.***
	+ *Jasper: **Yeah!***
	+ *Eric: **Rise with your Pokémon and the Magic of Friendship.***
	+ *Bryce: **In the heart between Creatures and each other lies their strength. It leads to unity, as one.***
	+ *Adaman: **Rise, our Hero!***
	+ *Irida: **Rise!***
	+ *Nina: **Never give up... until it's over!***
	+ *(As Melody got up, she finally manages to temporarily Ascend into her Perserver form, Soulheart Serenity.)*

* Victoria and Arcturus, as well as Brandon and Aurora, are most likely a reference to the story of Adam and Eve from Abrahamic beliefs, as they were created directly by a deity and established their family bloodlines. For obvious reasons, however, their backstory is majorly modified and made to fit into a fantasy setting, such as being made as babies instead of adults and being left on the doorstep of an orphanage.