Puella Magi Madoka Magica

[shinta|hikari]

But we don't know what exactly happens when Madoka saves them. Maybe saving means that they don't become witches, but still change, like how Sayaka and Bebe did. They do disappear after Madoka picks them up after all.

Homura became a witch because she was isolated with a barrier. It has nothing to do with her wanting to become one.

If you mean at the end when she grabbed Madoka, she was already a witch, and at that point surpassed Madoka in power, thus enabling Homura to steal part of Madoka.

[Alhuin]

But we don't know what exactly happens when Madoka saves them. Maybe saving means that they don't become witches, but still change, like how Sayaka and Bebe did. They do disappear after Madoka picks them up after all.

You just said yourself that they disappear. From the end of the series (or movie two, if you want to go that way), it shows that Madoka takes on all the "despair" and "curses" from every magical girl in existence from the past, present, and future. She essentially takes their very essence as a magical girl, which is what causes them to fade away. It is literally impossible at that point for anyone to turn into a witch. Even Madoka herself surpassed her own despair and became a God because of her wish.

Homura became a witch because she was isolated with a barrier. It has nothing to do with her wanting to become one.

While the first part of that sentence is true, I was ignoring it because she could have very easily overcome that situation had she wanted to betray Madoka. Instead, she chose to accelerate the process of becoming a witch in order to protect her. I guess it could be argued it wasn't exactly "free will", but she gave in all the same. The only reason I compare it to Sayaka is because Sayaka was the same way. While she wasn't forced to become a witch through isolation, she voluntarily gave in to her despair. She chose the path of becoming a witch.

If you mean at the end when she grabbed Madoka, she was already a witch, and at that point surpassed Madoka in power, thus enabling Homura to steal part of Madoka.

I don't think she was actually a witch at that point. It was made very clear that the emotion enveloping her soul gem wasn't despair. Even Homura herself said she was a being far greater than a witch. She dubbed herself a demon only because Madoka was a God. Either way though, in that particular instance, she chose to take that path.

On another note, I can't decide if I want them to make a 4th movie that reconciles everything for the greater good, or if I prefer the more tragic ending we have now.