Puella Magi Madoka Magica, or simply Madoka Magica, has been a standout anime since its debut in 2011. What began as a 12-episode series has grown into a full-fledged franchise with movies, manga, and video games. While the cute, magical girl exterior might seem light-hearted, the series dives deep into serious themes with complex characters and a rich story.

At its core, Madoka Magica is a magical girl story that follows middle schooler Madoka Kaname. Her ordinary life changes when she meets a small, white, cat-like creature named Kyubey. Kyubey offers Madoka and her friends the chance to have any wish granted if they agree to become magical girls and battle witches—powerful evil beings. This sets Madoka and her friends on a perilous journey where they discover that things are far more complicated and dark than they initially seemed.

 

Madoka Magica: Watching in Release Order

For those who want to follow the series as it was released, here’s the order you should watch:

  1. Puella Magi Madoka Magica – Episodes 1 to 12
  2. Puella Magi Madoka Magica the Movie: Beginnings
  3. Puella Magi Madoka Magica the Movie: Eternal
  4. Puella Magi Madoka Magica the Movie: Rebellion
  5. Magia Record: Puella Magi Madoka Magica Side Story Season 1
  6. Magia Record: Puella Magi Madoka Magica Side Story Season 2
  7. Magia Record: Puella Magi Madoka Magica Side Story: Dawn of a Shallow Dream

The original series is available for streaming on Crunchyroll and Hulu. The movies are not always included in streaming subscriptions but can be purchased from various services like Apple TV.

 

Madoka Magica About the Movies

The Madoka Magica movie trilogy consists of:

  • Beginnings and Eternal: These two films recap the events of the original series with updated animation and voice work. You might choose to skip these if you’ve already seen the series, but if you prefer, they can be a good refresher.
  • Rebellion: This third film is crucial as it introduces new content and continues the story from the series and the first two films. It’s essential viewing.

A sequel to Rebellion, titled Puella Magi Madoka Magica The Movie -Walpurgisnacht: Rising-, is scheduled for winter 2024 in Japan, with hopes for an international release soon after.

 

Madoka Magica: Watching in Chronological Order

If you prefer watching in chronological order, follow this sequence:

  1. Puella Magi Madoka Magica or the movies Beginnings and Eternal
  2. Puella Magi Madoka Magica the Movie: Rebellion
  3. Magia Record: Puella Magi Madoka Magica Side Story Season 1
  4. Magia Record: Puella Magi Madoka Magica Side Story Season 2
  5. Magia Record: Puella Magi Madoka Magica Side Story: Dawn of a Shallow Dream

Although Magia Record references events from Rebellion, it’s considered an alternative continuity. For the best experience, watch it after finishing the original series and movies.

If magical girls are your thing, be sure to check out our curated list of top transformations from the genre, including Madoka Magica.

TOPICS: Madoka Magica