Now and Then, Here and There - This is one of the most unrelentingly cruel narratives I've ever consumed in any format. For what it is, it's well done - I just hate what it is... And I don't need to see the shoujo version.

Yeah... I'm glad to find someone else who shares my feelings on this. It was masterfully done and I never want to see it again. And thanks for articulating why I have been resisting my friends' attempts to get me to watch Madoka.

How about Seirei no Moribito? It intersperses exciting action fight sequences with long, gorgeously illustrated slice-of-life and character development sequences. Good for treadmilling I would think.