What the Synopsis Reveals
Puella Magi Madoka Magica follows middle-school girls who gain magical powers after making a wish, only to discover the devastating cost of that contract. The original 2011 TV series, produced by SHAFT, upended the magical-girl genre with its dark storytelling and visual invention. Its 2013 sequel film Rebellion Story became the first late-night anime film to gross over ¥2 billion (approx. $20 million) at the Japanese box office.
Walpurgisnacht Rising picks up after Rebellion's finale. Homura Akemi rewrote reality itself to keep Madoka Kaname by her side, declaring herself a "devil." In this distorted world, Homura reigns. But the newly released synopsis signals that her control is fracturing.
A new urban legend has surfaced among the girls of Mitakihara: a "Lizard Phone" that grants wishes in exchange for fighting the world's curses. At the same time, a girl without a Soul Gem has been spotted hunting Wraiths, an anomaly that should not exist. Two forces then converge on Homura's order. The first is Nazuka Sokotsune (名塚底根), described as the origin of all witches and the place from which the composite witch Walpurgisnacht emerged. The second is a pair of magical girls seeking the Law of Cycles, the godlike force Madoka once became. Their declaration: "We will never forgive Homura Akemi."
Those two magical girls, Shichōka (紫丁香) and Selma Therese, were previously announced as voiced by Shion Wakayama (Momo Ayase in DAN DA DAN) and Tomoyo Kurosawa (Kumiko Oumae in Sound! Euphonium).
Kajiura and FictionJunction Return with "Kanata"
The full trailer features the first audio from "Kanata" (彼方), the theme song performed by FictionJunction, composer Yuki Kajiura's (Sword Art Online, Fate/Zero) solo vocal project. Kajiura also composed the film's full score, returning after composing the music for the original TV series and both previous films.
In a comment released alongside the trailer, Kajiura described the opportunity to write both the score and the theme song as an unparalleled honor. She said the score came together in an intense, hands-on process with the script, storyboards, and what she called staggering footage. For "Kanata," she deliberately avoided writing a song that simply "answered" everything. Instead, speaking as a longtime fan of the series, she crafted each note with the goal of giving the characters a "gorgeous send-off into whatever comes next."
Looking Ahead
Puella Magi Madoka Magica the Movie: Walpurgisnacht Rising opens in Japanese theaters on August 28, 2026. The date caps a bumpy production road: the film was originally slated for winter 2024, then pushed to winter 2025, then February 2026, before settling on its current August slot.
The original creative team has reunited for the project. Akiyuki Shinbo serves as general director, with Yukihiro Miyamoto directing and Gen Urobuchi (Nitroplus) writing the screenplay. Ume Aoki returns on original character design, Junichirō Taniguchi handles anime character design, and SHAFT produces the animation.
International release details have not been formally announced, but Aniplex of America has launched an official English-language website for the film, a strong signal that a North American theatrical run is in the works. Previous Madoka Magica films received theatrical screenings in North America through Aniplex. Streaming platform details remain unconfirmed.