How to Watch Puella Magi Madoka Magica in Order Before Walpurgisnacht Rises

It’s been over 15 years since Puella Magi Madoka Magica changed the way anime fans view magical girls. The original series was lauded for its unique deconstruction of the fan-favorite genre and its psychological horror elements. Now, the story continues with the upcoming premiere of Puella Magi Madoka Magica -Walpurgisnacht Rising- , the long-awaited sequel to the Rebellion film that first premiered in 2013. With our favorite magical girls set to continue their journey in 2026, a refresher is likely in order. The Puella Magi series has been presented in many forms through continuations and spin-offs, after all. If you’re looking to get caught up once more amidst the eve of Walpurgisnacht, here’s our handy watch order guide to help you keep track of what to know for Madoka Magica . NOTE: Slight spoilers for Madoka Magica throughout. Madoka Magica Watch Order Puella Magi Madoka Magica Beginnings and Eternal films (re-tellings with added scenes) Rebellion (sequel film) Magia Record: Puella Magi Madoka Magica Side Story (non-canon spin-off; supplementary viewing) Puella Magi Madoka Magica In the series that started it all, middle-schoolers Madoka Kaname and Sayaka Miki are suddenly attacked by a witch on their way home from school. Luckily, magical girl Mami Tomoe and her companion critter Kyubey save them in the nick of time. The cute and disarming Kyubey immediately recognizes the potential in Madoka and Sayaka and asks them to enter a contract to become magical girls themselves, joining Mami in the fight to protect the world from witches. As part of their contract, Kyubey promises to grant the girls any wish. As Madoka ponders over the decision and what she could wish for, the mysterious and highly-skilled Homura Akemi uses her own powers to prevent Madoka from becoming part of this dangerous world. As they become increasingly entangled in the conflict, Madoka and Sayaka soon come to learn how horrifying the life of a magical girl can really be. Beginnings and Eternal films Image via Prime Video In case you’re short on time and can’t go through the original 12-episode anime series, two films are available for your viewing convenience. Puella Magi Madoka Magica the Movie Part 1: Beginnings is a recap of the first eight episodes of the series, while Part 2: Eternal wraps things up with the final four episodes. The films also feature re-recorded dialogue and some original scenes for an added viewing experience. Even longtime Madoka fans may get something out of these films if they’ve never seen them before. Puella Magi Madoka Magica the Movie -Rebellion- Also known as: Puella Magi Madoka Magica the Movie Part 3: The Rebellion Story Image via Prime Video As a direct sequel to the original story, Rebellion picks up where the series left off, albeit within a unique timeline. Magical girls Madoka, Sayaka, Mami, Kyoko, and Homura defend the city of Mitakihara from “Nightmares” that plague the city. By the time we meet them, they are well-versed in taking on these new threats, all while living peaceful lives as carefree middle school girls. However, some of them begin to realize that things are amiss within their plane of existence. Sayaka reveals that she remembers their original timeline (the events of the original anime). At the end of the series, Madoka became a god. She had sacrificed her humanity to protect magical girls from becoming witches and allowed her friends to lead fuller lives. She also broke Homura free of her self-imposed time loop, which Homura enacted ad infinitum in order to save Madoka from the grim fate that befalls all magical girls. As Homura inches closer to the truth behind their current circumstances, a fight to protect Madoka’s universe commences. Magia Record: Puella Magi Madoka Magica Side Story If you’re all caught up but still need some more Puella Magi in your life, you may want to give Magia Record: Puella Magi Madoka Magica Side Story a try. This spin-off isn’t necessarily canon to the original series, so you can squeeze Magia Record in without worrying about its place in the timeline. The series follows a new magical girl, Iroha Tamaki, who seeks to fill in a gap in her memory that she can’t seem to recall. Her search for answers leads her to Kamihama City, where she encounters other magical girls. The universe of Madoka Magica is dark and full of terrors, but if you’re gearing up to tackle Walpurgisnacht, this quick guide should steer you in the right direction.