Madoka Magica Walpurgisnacht Rising Opens August 28
Thirteen years after Rebellion divided and devastated its fandom, the story finally continues. Puella Magi Madoka Magica the Movie Walpurgisnacht Rising opens in Japanese theaters on August 28.
The sequel a generation waited for
Rebellion ended in 2013 with Homura’s infamous choice, a finale that fans have argued about for over a decade. Walpurgisnacht Rising picks up that thread at last, with the original staff at Shaft returning to a franchise that redefined what magical girl stories could carry: grief, sacrifice, entropy and love as cosmic forces.
The film’s title reaches back to the original series climax, promising a reckoning with the franchise’s most iconic threat. International release plans typically follow Japanese premieres within months, so western fans should keep August’s reception in view while waiting for dates.
Few franchises could survive a thirteen year gap. Madoka was built on the idea that hope and despair are the same coin spinning, which makes the long wait feel almost thematically appropriate.
Source: Yatta Tachi
My take: Rebellion’s ending was either a betrayal or a masterpiece, and I have changed my answer four times over the years. Whatever Walpurgisnacht Rising does, I just want it to be brave about it.
