Timeline
This article focuses on the timeline of all Madoka Magica media to create a chronological understanding of events. Madoka Magica contains many instances of alternate universes, branching timelines created through time travel, as well as universal rewrites which retroactively affect both of the former. To clarify these concepts, this article uses the following defined terms:
Universe: A reality defined by a core set of metaphysical rules, usually established by a universal rewrite, such as the creation of the Law of Cycles. A reality with a fundamentally different history and/or rules that did not originate from a rewrite in the primary sequence is considered an alternate universe, such as the Magia Record Universe, which even contains its own version of Homura.
Timeline: A linear sequence of events within a Universe. Multiple timelines can be created one after the other through wishes or time travel, forming a time axis, such as Homura's time loops. The distinction between a branch timeline and a true alternate universe is often unclear, particularly in cases involving time travel.
It should be clarified that not all events or stories are described in the timeline where they would take place in. The articles focus on the main beats of the major media and the necessary backstories for them, as well as events like Magical Girl contracts, or Witch transformations.
Navigation
To navigate through the layout of this article and its derivative articles, below is an explanation of the organizational logic. Branching timelines are grouped under the Universe they were derived from and grouped into their confirmed Time Axis. Confirmed alternate universes are grouped in the Other Universes entries.
The Original Universe is the first to be depicted, where Kyubey created the system of Magical Girls becoming Witches. In the first timeline, Homura Akemi makes a contract to go back in time, creating many more timelines where she repeats the same month, creating the most well-known Time Axis in the franchise. It is ultimately unknown how many times she looped, but in the final timeline of this Universe, Madoka Kaname makes a contract to erase Witches across all time and space, executing a universal rewrite that changes every timeline and reality within her reach.
The Axis of the first fourteen timelines Homura creates are depicted in Scene 0; while it is believed the fourteenth is also the final one, this is unconfirmed. Given expanded media and interviews, the distinction between a branch timeline and a true alternate universe is often unclear; it is even possible that there are many realities where a distict "Law of Cycles" was created. Therefore, the first fourteen timelines, other possible timelines, and the final timeline are treated in separate articles for clarity.
After Madoka's wish, she rewrites the rules of all realities within her reach, while residing outside them in the Law of Cycles. The Law of Cycles Universe is the state after this rewrite, where Magical Girls fight Wraiths and are taken upon despairing to the Law of Cycles, a realm outside any specific timeline. The Law of Cycles manages countless different realities, or "Records," from which the girls are ultimately seemingly unified into.
Among the anomalous realities within the Law of Cycles' purview is the Magia Record Universe, which developed a Doppel System. Due to the amount of story content, it is split into events before Arc 1, events starting with Arc 1, and events starting with Arc 2. Other similar realities exist, such as the one in the Magia Record anime, which was assimilated after its Doppel System failed, and its details are listed in its own entry. Following the events of Magia Record is the Magia Exedra Universe.
Narratively, the events of the Magia Record Universe are surmized to be between the establishment of the Law of Cycles and the events of Rebellion, where Ultimate Madoka sent Nagisa Momoe as an emissary. It is unknown if these realities were originally timelines Homura left behind (later rewritten by Madoka's wish) or separate alternate universes from the start.
Following Madoka's rewrite, the version of Homura that witnessed her ascention remained the sole connection to the old world and the only one alive to remember it. Captured by Incubators to lure the Law of Cycles, Homura was saved by Madoka, Sayaka Miki, and Nagisa. In response, Homura overtook the Law of Cycles and rewrote the universe again, becoming Devil Homura and separating Madoka from her divine aspect.
This new reality, the Devil Universe, has only one timeline, where the world is ruled by Devil Homura. Here, Madoka lives a normal human life, Magical Girls still fight Wraiths, and the Law of Cycles herself is only able to retrieve girls about to become Witches, and not interfere in Homura's rule. It appears that other worlds (like the Magia Record Universe) continue unchanged under Homura's new regime.
Progress Report
Information about the following materials isn't readily available, whether completely or partially. For this reason, determining how it may, or may not affect the story isn't possible. You can help Puella Magi Wiki by helping find this information:
- Madoka Mobage
- Madoka Online
- The Battle Pentagram
- A Bridge Spanning a Single Step (Yohaku no Honne bonus drama)
- Two Girls (Promised Blood F4 FanFes 2019 live reading drama)
- Magia Day 2021 Special Story: Mikazuki Villa's Little Party - Full
- Kagome and Ui's Anxious Lucky Day (F4 FanFes live reading drama)
- Mana Degarashi 2022 Vtuber Stream - Full
- Magia Day 2022 live reading drama - Full
- Magia Day 2023 Iroha and Tsuruno live reading drama - Full
- Magia Day 2023 Scene 0 live reading drama - Full
- Magia Record TV Kamihama Special 2023 F4 FanFes
- Asahi, Ui, & Kagome (F4 FanFes live reading drama)
- Can I Become Something, Someday? (Iroha, Yachiyo, & Tsuruno Magia Day 2024 live reading drama) - Full
- Madoka, Sayaka, Mami, Kyoko, Kyubey (Magia Day 2024 live reading drama) - Full
- A Party For a Special Day (Holy Quintet & Nagisa Magia Day 2025 live reading drama) - Intro Full
- Magia Day 2026 live reading drama - Intro Full
- Walpurgisnacht: Rising