The Wait is Over: Walpurgisnacht is Rising!
Hello, my lovely readers, the moment we have been anticipating for over a decade is finally within our reach! After a series of heart-wrenching delays that tested our patience to the limit, we finally have a concrete date to mark on our calendars for the return of a masterpiece.
The Big News: Release Date Confirmed!
The highly anticipated sequel, Puella Magi Madoka Magica The Movie: Walpurgisnacht: Rising, is officially slated to hit Japanese theaters on August 28, 2026.
This journey hasn’t been easy for the fandom. The film was originally announced during the series’ 10th anniversary in 2021 with a target for winter 2024. It then faced multiple “production circumstance” delays—first to winter 2025, then to February 2026—before finally settling on its late-August premiere. While the wait has been long, the production committee has assured us they are working tirelessly to “deliver a better work”.
What is Madoka Magica All About?
For the uninitiated (or those needing a refresher), Puella Magi Madoka Magica is not your typical “magical girl” story. Released in 2011, it became a global phenomenon for deconstructing the genre.
The story follows middle school student Madoka Kaname, who meets a mysterious creature named Kyubey. He offers to grant any one wish in exchange for the girl becoming a magical girl tasked with fighting “witches”. However, the series famously pivots into a dark, psychological thriller that explores the heavy price of these wishes, touching on themes of utilitarianism, despair, and the “heat death of the universe”. Combined with Studio SHAFT’s avant-garde visuals, it is widely considered one of the greatest anime of all time.
The Journey So Far: A Recap
To understand Walpurgisnacht: Rising, you need to know the timeline:
- The Original TV Series (2011): The 12-episode foundation that changed everything.
- Beginnings & Eternal: Two compilation films that summarized the TV series with updated animation and voice acting.
- Rebellion (2013): The third film and a direct sequel to the original series. It featured a shocking, controversial conclusion that left fans reeling for over 12 years.
- Trailer released 2 years ago which left the fan waiting till now.
- Walpurgisnacht: Rising (2026): This new film is the direct sequel to Rebellion announced with release date.
What Does This Sequel Bring?
Expect nothing less than perfection from the returning “Dream Team” at Studio SHAFT:
- The Creative Powerhouse: The “Magica Quartet” returns, featuring Gen Urobuchi (the “Uro-butcher”) on script, Akiyuki Shimbo as chief director, and Yukihiro Miyamoto as director.
- Aesthetic & Sound: Ume Aoki handles the original character designs, while Gekidan Inu Curry returns to bring their hauntingly beautiful, paper-collage style to the Witches’ Spaces. The legendary Yuki Kajiura is back to compose the score.
- The Original Cast: All our favorites are reprising their roles, including Aoi Yuki (Madoka) and Chiwa Saito (Homura).
Promotional materials, including a “Creation of Adam”-inspired illustration by Kazuki Kawada, suggest the film will be as visually ambitious and thematically “hard” as its predecessors.
Extra News & Important Updates
While we wait for the movie, the Madoka universe has been busy:
- Magia Exedra: A new game, Madoka Magica: Magia Exedra, launched on mobile in March 2025 and Steam in July 2025, featuring new story chapters like “Nightmare” and “Nutcracker Witch”.
- Streaming News: As of early 2026, the original Madoka Magica and its spin-off Magia Record are available on Netflix in the United States.
- TV Edition: A special TV Edition of the Beginnings and Eternal movies recently finished airing in late 2025, keeping the hype alive.
Quick Bites: Some More Madoka Facts
- Official Release Date: August 28, 2026 (Japan).
- Director: Yukihiro Miyamoto.
- Writer: Gen Urobuchi.
- Studio: SHAFT.
- Box Office Legacy: The previous film, Rebellion, was the first late-night anime film to surpass 2 billion yen at the Japanese box office.
- Current Status: Trailers are out now, featuring the “SIDE Homura” footage.
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