Kyoko Sakura

Kyoko Sakura (Japanese: 佐倉 杏子, Hepburn: Sakura Kyōko) is a fictional character from the 2011 anime series Puella Magi Madoka Magica. The daughter of a Protestant pastor, Kyoko is a magical girl from a poor family. Initially introduced as an aggressive and self-centered magical girl, Kyoko clashes with Sayaka Miki over their ideals of justice. As the story progresses, however, her views change and she sympathizes with Sayaka and tries to save her from despair. In Puella Magi Madoka Magica the Movie: Rebellion, Kyoko has a friendlier personality, and fights with her fellow magical girls against surreal monsters called Nightmares. Kyoko's past and her relationship with Mami Tomoe have been explored in the manga spin-off, Puella Magi Madoka Magica: The Different Story. She has appeared in several Puella Magi Madoka Magica-related media, including manga, novel adaptation and video games. Series writer Gen Urobuchi originally created Kyoko as a rival to Sayaka; although both characters make similar wishes and experience similar situations, they develop different personalities. Kyoko was designed by Ume Aoki, who wanted to distinguish her from the characters. Takahiro Kishida adapted Aoki's original design and added a number of features to the character. She is voiced by Ai Nonaka in Japanese, and by Lauren Landa in English. Critical response to Kyoko Sakura has been favorable, with critics calling her character interesting and praising her backstory. Her similarity and relationship with Sayaka have also earned positive response, and the character has also been the subject of analysis. Kyoko has been popular, having placed highly in several popularity polls, and many different pieces of merchandise related to her, such as figures, plush dolls and keychains have been released.