Have you heard of the Japanese ‘magical girl’ genre from anime and manga? Typically, magical girl series star heroines who are still young girls, but through the power of magic, she can power up to fight her enemies. These girls go through many struggles with the hope of eventually ushering in a happier future. However, the anime series ‘Puella Magi Madoka Magica’ which began in January 2011, turned this traditional magical girl story format on its head with its unforgettable setting and characters!
In the world of Madoka Magica, magical girls fight against beings known as ‘witches’. Kyubey, an alien creature, uses the promise of granting any single wish to entice young girls to become magical girls, with the hope that they can defeat witches. They became magical girls, who fight just like traditional magical girls side by side with their companions and defeated many powerful witches. However, there are dark secrets to this power that are revealed during this thrilling series!
The Release History of Madoka Magica
In addition to the memorable main story of Puella Magi Madoka Magica, there have been many side stories shown through comics and additional anime series helping hardcore fans gain a deeper understanding of the greater world of the series. If you are interested in Madoka Magica, we recommend that you finish watching the main anime series first, and then refer to the following info to continue with the most important main spinoffs!
| Main Anime Series | ・12 Episodes |
| Movie Series (Beginnings, Eternal, Rebellion) | ・The third film, Rebellion, is a brand-new story after the main series |
| New Movie (Walpurgisnacht: Rising) | ・This upcoming film continues the new story of Rebellion |
| Manga (The Different Story) | ・An alternate timeline story focusing on the character Mami |
| Manga (Puella Magi Oriko Magica) | ・A spinoff story by Kuroe Mura, following new character Oriko Mikuni |
| Manga (The Innocent Malice) | ・A new story focusing on amnesiac magical girl Kazumi and her battles together with her friends |
| Manga (The Legend of Jeanne d’Arc) | ・A spinoff story about the French heroine Joan of Arc |
The Magical Girls and Creatures of This Unique World
Madoka Kaname
The main heroine of the story, Madoka was originally an ordinary girl, but was stubbornly pestered by Kyubey to become a magical girl because of her good aptitude. At first, Madoka had an idolized perception of what a magical girl was, but after experiencing various tragedies and learning the truth about the soul gem, she had a different understanding of the magical girl’s contract, and she became timid and hesitant about whether to turn into a magical girl after all.
Homura Akemi
A magical girl who transferred to Madoka’s class in Episode 1. She repeated puzzling instructions and warnings against Madoka becoming a magical girl. The narrative gradually reveals her secrets and tragic past. Her true identity is that of Madoka’s friend from a different timeline. In order to save Madoka, who has repeatedly died to the strongest witch Walpurgis Night, she has traveled through time many times to try to change the result.
Mami Tomoe
A third grade student of Mitakihara middle school, Madoka’s senior, and a strong magical girl. Fighting based on the belief of protecting others, Mami has a great positive influence on Madoka. In episode 3 of the anime, she dies tragically in front of Madoka and her companions while fighting the witch Charlotte.
Sayaka Miki
Madoka’s classmate and friend, who becomes a magical girl. After accepting the contract, Sayaka felt that she was no longer a human being. She later accumulates a lot of negative emotions from a love triangle that she gets caught up in, which causes her Soul Gem to quickly turn into a Grief Seed, turning her into a witch.
Kyubey
A cat-like animal that claims to be a magical messenger. In reality, it is a member of an alien race.. By fulfilling any wish of girls at the price of extracting their souls to make gems, Kyubey’s task is to urge the girls to sign a contract to become a magical girl. After its true purpose of using the girls as a consumable resource for squeezing out energy in order to extend the life of the universe is revealed, Kyubey argued that it is a reasonable judgment to sacrifice magical girls for the survival of the universe.
Kyoko Sakura
After Mami’s death, Kyoko set off to meet the magical girls in Mitakihara. Sayaka, who became a magical girl by making a wish for others in a similar way to Kyoko, is someone who she both clashes with but finds common ground with at the same time. The two are similar in nature, so Kyoko tries to gradually guide Sayaka and give her useful advice.
The animation of the Magic Girl Madoka Magica may seem very kid-friendly at first, but is probably more suitable for adults to watch. If parents plan to let their children watch this series, we would say to please do so with some caution!
