Puella Magi Madoka Magica: Walpurgisnacht: Rising (2026)
[劇場版 魔法少女まどか☆マギカ ワルプルギスの廻天]
Director: Akiyuki Shinbo, Yukihiro Miyamoto
Starring: Aoi Yuki, Chiwa Saito, Eri Kitamura
Synopsis:
Impressions:
When I saw this, I had seen the original series but I hadn't watched the third movie yet. In retrospect, I'm surprised how little the third movie is needed for this. You understand who Nagisa is and have a little more context for "Devil" Homura, but that's about it. I haven't looked that much at fandom commentary, but this may be disappointing for people wanting a more well-rooted continuations of Rebellion's story, especially after the 13-year wait. The exploration of Walpurgisnacht's true nature may be of interest to you, but I can't say how the truth will land with you. Even more so than with Rebellion, I feel this undermines the ending of the original series. Now, whether you find the character motivations behind that intriguing enough to justify it is something I can't answer for you. As always, Shaft isn't going to disappoint on the visual front, but the greater use of CG may not come as welcome. All told, this film is a bit of a mixed bag, a little more obtuse and convoluted than it needed to be in the plot department and perhaps not the strongest thematically either. I'd say it's worth a watch, but for fans who have been waiting all this time, it might be underwhelming, to the point where you might question if it's worth it. Maybe don't pay full ticket price.
50/50