Overview
Puella Magi Madoka Magica is a 12-episode TV anime produced by SHAFT, aired in Japan from 7/1 to 22/4/2011. The last two episodes were delayed by the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami. It is an original project by the creative group Magica Quartet: director Akiyuki Shinbo, writer Gen Urobuchi, artist Ume Aoki and SHAFT. Yuki Kajiura composes the music and Yukihiro Miyamoto served as series director.
OtaHub's take
The story follows Madoka Kaname, a middle school student in the city of Mitakihara. She and her friend Sayaka Miki meet Kyubey, a cat-like creature who offers a wish in exchange for becoming a magical girl who fights witches. Mami Tomoe, an older student and magical girl, takes them on witch hunts, while Homura Akemi, a transfer student, tries to stop Madoka from making a contract. The series is about the cost of being a magical girl.
The TV series was followed by two recap films, Beginnings and Eternal (October 2012), and Rebellion (26/10/2013), an original story written by Urobuchi. The new film Walpurgisnacht: Rising, directed by Yukihiro Miyamoto at SHAFT, opened in Japan on 28/8/2026 and topped the opening-weekend box office with 535,000 tickets sold, about US$5.95 million in three days according to Anime News Network. Aniplex of America and Fathom Entertainment will screen it in North America on 16-19/1/2027 in Japanese with English subtitles and an English dub, with tickets on sale 11/12. The earlier trilogy arrives on Crunchyroll on 8/11/2026 and Netflix on 2/1/2027. A Vietnamese release date has not been announced.
Verdict
It suits fans of darker magical girl stories with dense writing. Watch the 12-episode TV series first, then Rebellion, since Walpurgisnacht: Rising directly continues Rebellion. The trilogy coming to Crunchyroll and Netflix is the easiest way in.
