Puella Magi Madoka Magica the Movie: Walpurgisnacht Rising
“And so, let the curtain rise on tonight’s dream.” - September 10th Trailer.
Puella Magi Madoka Magica: Walpurgisnacht Rising (劇場版 魔法少女まどか☆マギカ〈ワルプルギスの廻天〉 Gekijouban Mahou Shoujo Madoka Magica Walpurgis no Kaiten) is an upcoming movie and a sequel to Puella Magi Madoka Magica the Movie: Rebellion. The project was officially announced on April 25th, 2021 during the Madoka 10th Anniversary event. More information was revealed during the Aniplex Online Fest 2023 on September 10th, 2023, which included a new trailer and an approximated release date of Winter 2024.
Development
Walpurgisnacht Rising was first announced during the Anniversary Stage as part of the Madoka 10th Anniversary event. The first teaser shown the return of the main staff; Akiyuki Shinbo as Chief Director, Gen Urobuchi as a scriptwriter, Aoki Ume as an original character designer, Shaft as an animation production, Junichiro Taniguchi as a character designer, Gekidan Inu Curry as a designer of the parallel world, and music by Yuki Kajiura. After the announcement, Gen Urobuchi revealed that the script for the movie was finished sometime between 2014 and 2016.[1]
The second trailer was revealed as an ending to the Aniplex Online Fest 2023 and featured the first animation reveal along with a new key visual and the Winter 2024 release date. The trailer also revealed that Yukihiro Miyamoto will return as a director, resuming his position from Rebellion.
Videos
Trailer 1
Trailer 1 was revealed during Aniplex Online Fest 2023 on September 10th, 2023.
English version
Japanese version
Trailer 1.1
Trailer 1.1 was revealed during a 10th Anniversary Comeback Screening of Puella Magi Madoka Magica the Movie: Rebellion on October 29th, 2023 featuring an extra scene at the end of the PV.
Japanese version
Speculation
Please keep in mind that they are fanmade theories, and not official material.
- It is likely that the Concept movie became Walpurgisnacht: Rising.
- The recent trailer and its poster shows multiple Homura's in a single shot. It is possible that the movie deals with either a multiverse or doppelgangers.
- Alternatively, multiple timelines could be merging together.
- Alternatively, based on similar costume elements such as the design of one Homura's headband, the Clara Dolls are capable of assuming her form.
- Almost all of the returning girls have a new form/design. This may further promote this theory.
- The cast list mentions that Gekidan Inu Curry is designing the "parallel world", possibly relating to some sort of alternate dimension created by Devil Homura. This could explain why the Holy Quintet has different designs.
- The new magical girl incorporates design elements from most of the Holy Quintet:
- She may be related to them somehow.
- Her amalgamate outfit and her lack of a defined face in the trailer may suggest that she is intended to be a representation for the average Magical Girl in Homura's new universe.
- Madoka has a different outfit in the teaser poster and in the 1.1 visual. The poster could be Homura grasping for her old life, and the new Madoka design representing the coming future (which Homura has shackled, as shown by the padlock).
- The official site says that the movie is "the beginning of a new chapter". This probably means this will not be the finale to the series.
- It's possible that Homulilly transforms into Walpurgisnacht. Devil Homura is the opposite of Ultimate Madoka just as Walpurgisnacht is the opposite of Kriemhild Gretchen. Additionally, Homulully's head is cut off just like Walpurgisnacht's head.
Trivia
- Although Nagisa so far doesn't appear in promotional material, the website confirms she'll take part in the movie.
- The scene in the trailer of Homura holding an umbrella while standing on a stepped waterfall is reminiscent of the painting The Umbrella Girl by the artist Banksy, depicting a little girl holding an umbrella and extending her hand out to feel the rain, while the rain is instead pouring down on her from within the umbrella.
Gallery
Promotional Visuals
English logo.
Japanese logo.
1st teaser visual.
1st teaser visual, textless version.
2nd teaser visual.
2nd teaser visual, English version.
2nd teaser visual, textless version.
Trailer's YouTube thumbnail.
Screenshots
A new magical girl wielding a bow, similar to Homura's in Wraith Arc.
A better view of her.
The new girl jumping into a cloud which may have been created by a witch.
The cloud after enveloping the girl
The new magical girl being attacked
Kyoko's new form.
Mami's new form.
Sayaka's new form.
The tower in full, stitched together
A credits frame that seems to show a trapped magical girl
Madoka's new form. Notice the padlock crossing her stomach.
References
- ↑ @Butch_Gen's Tweet: The scenario for Walpurgisnacht Rising was done right after I finished Kamen Rider Gaim and before I started Thunderbolt Fantasy. Looking back, that was the last script when I could still write a line for cute girls. I'm glad for it to finally see the light of day! ワルプルギスの廻天、脚本は鎧武を終えた直後、東離劍遊紀にとりかかる直前に脱稿してたので、思えばまだ私が自力で可愛い女の子の台詞を書けていた頃の最後の本になります。ついに日の目を見る時が来て嬉しいです！