Puella Magi Madoka Magica: Walpurgisnacht Rising Unveils Third Trailer, New Magical Girls and Expanded Cast
The long-awaited return of Puella Magi Madoka Magica continues to intensify as Puella Magi Madoka Magica: Walpurgisnacht Rising has officially released its third major trailer, offering fans the clearest and most dramatic look yet at the upcoming sequel film.
Alongside the visually cryptic and emotionally charged new preview, the film also introduced two brand-new magical girl characters, significantly expanding the mysterious cast ahead of its scheduled August 28, 2026 theatrical premiere in Japan. This marks one of the franchise’s biggest updates since the project’s announcement and years of production delays.
Two New Magical Girls Join the Madoka Universe
The third trailer confirmed the addition of:
- Shichoka, voiced by Shion Wakayama
- Selma Therese, voiced by Tomoyo Kurosawa
These new characters appear poised to play significant roles in the increasingly surreal and high-stakes narrative surrounding Homura Akemi’s fractured reality. Their designs and brief appearances in the trailer further emphasize the franchise’s signature combination of beauty, psychological tension and unsettling mystery.
SHAFT’s Iconic Creative Team Returns
The film continues under SHAFT, with returning franchise veterans including:
- Akiyuki Shinbo as chief director
- Yukihiro Miyamoto as director
- Gen Urobuchi as scriptwriter
- Ume Aoki as original character designer
- Yuki Kajiura as composer
This creative reunion is especially significant for fans, as it preserves the original vision behind one of anime’s most influential dark magical girl stories. The trailer showcases the visually experimental style, symbolic imagery and emotional intensity that made both the original series and Rebellion so iconic.
The Sequel to Rebellion Finally Nears Release
Walpurgisnacht Rising serves as the direct sequel to 2013’s Puella Magi Madoka Magica the Movie: Rebellion, continuing Homura’s controversial story after the reality-shattering events of that film.
For over a decade, fans have awaited answers regarding Homura’s rewritten universe, Madoka’s fate and the larger consequences of her rebellion. This new installment promises to finally address those unresolved mysteries while potentially redefining the franchise once again.
2人の新たな魔法少女
— 魔法少女まどか☆マギカ (@madoka_magica) April 30, 2026
◆紫丁香（し ちょうか）
CV：若山詩音
◆セルマ・テレーゼ
CV：黒沢ともよ#まどかマギカ pic.twitter.com/ymFHhsRo8I
One of Anime’s Biggest Cinematic Events of 2026
With its new trailer, expanded cast and August 2026 release date, Puella Magi Madoka Magica: Walpurgisnacht Rising has firmly established itself as one of the most anticipated anime films of the year.
For longtime fans, this is more than just a sequel. It represents the continuation of one of anime’s most psychologically complex and visually revolutionary franchises.
After years of waiting, the magical girls are finally returning—and the world of Madoka may never be the same again.
