Madoka Magica: Walpurgisnacht Rising Taiwan Release 9/4

After waiting for over five years, the full scope of the latest film in the Madoka Magica series, “Puella Magi Madoka Magica the Movie -Walpurgisnacht: Rising-,” has finally been revealed. Today (April 30), the official third trailer was released, alongside the announcement of voice actors Shion Wakayama and Tomoyo Kurosawa for the two new characters, “Lilac” and “Selma Therese,” sending long-awaiting fans into a frenzy. The film is scheduled for an early release in Japan on August 28, while the distributor Muse Communication has confirmed that it will hit Taiwan theaters on September 4, marking a 13-year gap since 2013’s “Rebellion.”

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Madoka Magica Walpurgisnacht Rising 3rd Visual
Latest promotional visual for “Puella Magi Madoka Magica the Movie -Walpurgisnacht: Rising-” (Source: Bahamut GNN, ©Magica Quartet/Aniplex,WR)

13 Years Since Rebellion: Where Does the Story Continue?

To understand the significance of “Walpurgisnacht: Rising,” one must look back at the 2013 film “Puella Magi Madoka Magica the Movie: Rebellion.” In that work, Homura Akemi defied the “Law of Cycles” to protect Madoka Kaname, seizing Madoka’s divinity with a power bordering on demonic to forcibly construct a world where “Madoka exists by her side forever.” The story concluded with Homura staring into the distance, her eyes filled with contradiction and resolve, leaving behind countless mysteries and debates.

“Walpurgisnacht: Rising” is the official sequel to this story, picking up in the new world created by Homura to explore the fate between the “imprisoned god” and the “demon guardian”—and where that unspoken “love” will ultimately lead.

Madoka Magica Walpurgisnacht Rising 1st Visual
Official visual for “Walpurgisnacht: Rising” (Source: Bahamut GNN, ©Magica Quartet/Aniplex,WR)

Latest News: 3rd Trailer Released, Two New Magical Girls Debut

On April 30, the official third promotional video for “Walpurgisnacht: Rising” was released. This approximately 30-second teaser brings a wealth of new footage—mysterious spaces, glimpses of multiple magical girls, and breathtaking visual direction. Most importantly, the voice cast for the two new characters was announced, completing the film’s character lineup.

Madoka Magica Walpurgisnacht Rising PV3 Thumbnail
Thumbnail for the 3rd official trailer of “Walpurgisnacht: Rising” (Source: Aniplex YouTube)

New Character Analysis: Lilac × Selma Therese

The biggest highlight of the third trailer is the official debut of two new magical girls:

Lilac (CV: Shion Wakayama)

Voiced by the renowned Shion Wakayama, widely known for her role as Suletta Mercury in “The Witch from Mercury” and Mitsuri Kanroji in “Demon Slayer.” Lilac appears in the trailer with a mysterious aura, and her design incorporates elements from the original five protagonists, sparking intense fan discussion about her true identity and purpose.

Selma Therese (CV: Tomoyo Kurosawa)

Voiced by Tomoyo Kurosawa, who played Shinobu Kocho in “Demon Slayer” and Dorothea in “Fire Emblem,” and is one of the most watched voice actors in the industry today. Selma Therese appears to have an orange-themed color palette and is seen interacting with Kyubey in several shots, showcasing a mysterious charm distinct from the main cast.

Madoka Magica Walpurgisnacht Rising Character Visual
Character promotional visual for “Walpurgisnacht: Rising” (Source: Bahamut GNN, ©Magica Quartet/Aniplex,WR)

Main Characters & Full Voice Cast

The most reassuring news for this film is the return of the entire original voice cast. Below is the full character and voice actor list:

Character (Japanese)Character (English)Voice Actor
鹿目まどかMadoka KanameAoi Yuki
暁美ほむらHomura AkemiChiwa Saito
巴マミMami TomoeKaori Mizuhashi
美樹さやかSayaka MikiEri Kitamura
佐倉杏子Kyoko SakuraAi Nonaka
百江なぎさNagisa MomoeKana Asumi
キュゥべえKyubeyEmiri Kato
紫丁香LilacShion Wakayama ★New
セルマ・テレーゼSelma ThereseTomoyo Kurosawa ★New
Madoka Magica Walpurgisnacht Rising New Characters
Screenshot from the teaser trailer showing the first appearance of the new characters (Source: Bahamut GNN, ©Magica Quartet/Aniplex,WR)

Dream Production Team: Original Staff Returns

One of the most exciting aspects of “Walpurgisnacht: Rising” is the complete return of the original core production team, a rarity in the animation industry. From the director to the music, every key position is held by the original staff:

RoleStaff
Chief DirectorAkiyuki Shinbo
ScreenplayGen Urobuchi (Nitroplus)
Original Character DesignUme Aoki
DirectorYukihiro Miyamoto
Character Design / Chief Animation DirectorJunichiro Taniguchi
Alternate Space DesignGekidan Inu Curry (Doroinu)
MusicYuki Kajiura
Animation ProductionSHAFT

Notably, screenwriter Gen Urobuchi revealed that the script for “Walpurgisnacht: Rising” was completed between 2014 and 2016—just after he finished work on “Kamen Rider Gaim.” He described it as “the last script where I could still write lines for cute girls by myself.” This long-completed script is finally reaching the big screen a decade later, adding a layer of historical significance.

Madoka Magica Walpurgisnacht Rising Staff Visual
Production staff promotional visual for “Walpurgisnacht: Rising” (Source: Bahamut GNN, ©Magica Quartet/Aniplex,WR)

Five-Year Wait: A Look Back at the Delays

The birth of “Walpurgisnacht: Rising” has been a journey of patient waiting. Since its first announcement in 2021, the film has faced multiple delays, with each update keeping fans on the edge of their seats:

DateEvent
April 25, 2021Production officially announced at the 10th Anniversary event with the first teaser.
Sept 10, 20231st trailer released at Aniplex Online Fest 2023, announcing a “Winter 2024” release.
Aug 16, 2024First delay announced: postponed to “Winter 2025.”
July 15, 2025Second delay: postponed to “February 2026,” with a new visual and 2nd trailer.
Jan 23, 2026Third delay: postponed again for production quality, date TBD.
Feb 27, 2026Final release date confirmed: August 28, 2026 (Japan).
March 20, 2026Muse announces Taiwan release date: September 4, 2026.
April 30, 20263rd trailer released, new voice cast announced.
Madoka Magica Walpurgisnacht Rising Taiwan Release Visual
Taiwan release confirmation visual for “Walpurgisnacht: Rising” (Source: Bahamut GNN, ©Magica Quartet/Aniplex,WR)

Release Information: Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong

RegionRelease DateDistributor
🇯🇵 JapanAugust 28, 2026 (Thursday)ANIMEC
🇹🇼 TaiwanSeptember 4, 2026 (Friday)Muse Communication
🇭🇰 Hong KongOctober 8, 2026Muse HK

Detailed theater information for the Taiwan release is pending further announcements from Muse Communication. Interested fans can follow the official Muse Facebook or IG account (@museacg) for the latest updates.

Madoka Magica Walpurgisnacht Rising Muse PV2 Thumbnail
Thumbnail for the 2nd Taiwan trailer of “Walpurgisnacht: Rising” (Source: Muse YouTube)

Editor’s View: Why is This Movie So Highly Anticipated?

The “Madoka Magica” series holds a special place for anime fans. In 2011, what appeared to be a typical magical girl anime subverted the entire genre with Gen Urobuchi’s tragic storytelling, sparking a global phenomenon. “Rebellion” further shocked everyone in 2013 with its controversial ending—an ending that wasn’t “bad,” but “complex,” so much so that people are still debating Homura’s motives of love versus selfishness 13 years later.

“Walpurgisnacht: Rising” is set to provide the answer.

Judging from today’s third trailer, the visual quality remains at SHAFT’s absolute peak—the alternate space design is still handled by Gekidan Inu Curry, and those unique geometric shapes, paper collages, and surreal spatial senses will certainly not disappoint. Coupled with the return of Yuki Kajiura’s music, just imagining the oppressive melody of “Nux Walpurgis” playing on the big screen is enough to take one’s breath away.

If you are a long-time fan of “Madoka Magica,” be sure to mark September 4 on your calendar. If you haven’t seen the original series yet, there’s still time—watch the 12-episode TV anime, then “Rebellion,” and head to the theater this September with all your questions.

Madoka Magica Walpurgisnacht Rising Muse Taiwan Promo
Muse Taiwan promotion for “Walpurgisnacht: Rising” (Source: Muse YouTube)

Further Reading

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