Anime · in order
Madoka Magica Watch Order
Madoka Magica spans 9 entries: the 12-episode 2011 series, two 2012 recap films, the true sequel Rebellion (2013), the new sequel Walpurgisnacht: Rising (August 28, 2026 in Japan), the three-part Magia Record side story and a 2015 concept teaser. Watch the series (or the two recap films), then Rebellion.
Madoka Magica Watch Order: complete list
Check off what you've finished, it saves automatically · See all your lists → ·
Why this order?
The 2011 series is the whole foundation: 12 episodes, one of the most influential anime of its century, and the only right place to start. The two 2012 films, Beginnings and Eternal, are compilation recaps of that same series (Beginnings covers roughly episodes 1 to 8, Eternal the final four) with re-recorded dialogue and some new animation. They are a legitimate alternative door if you prefer two movie nights over twelve episodes, but they are the SAME story: watch the series or the recap pair, never both back to back expecting something new.
Rebellion (2013) is where the films stop recapping and start mattering: an all-new story that picks up directly after the finale, and for over a decade the franchise's only true sequel. Go in with the series fresh, because it spends its first act deliberately disorienting you. Its long-awaited follow-up, Walpurgisnacht: Rising, finally has a confirmed Japanese opening of August 28, 2026 after years of delays (the original target was winter 2024, then winter 2025, then February 2026). No international date has been announced yet, so treat any older date you see in search results as dead.
Magia Record is the optional wing: a side story adapting the mobile game, set in Kamihama City with a different lead, Iroha. It ran 13 episodes in 2020, 8 more in 2021, and closed with a 4-episode final season broadcast as a single TV-special block on April 3, 2022. It never continues Madoka's own arc, so skip it freely if you only want the core story. The 2015 Concept Movie is not a movie at all, just a short mood-piece teaser first shown at the Madogatari exhibition; watch it last as a curiosity.
Timeline 2011-2026
Every entry by release year: rows that share a year are a cluster, and the long droughts are called out on the rail.
- 2011 Puella Magi Madoka Magica
- 2012 The Movie Part 1: BeginningsThe Movie Part 2: Eternal
- 2013 The Movie Part 3: Rebellion
- 2015 Concept Movie
- 5-year gap
- 2020 Magia Record: Side Story
- 2021 Magia Record Season 2: The Eve of Awakening
- 2022 Magia Record Final Season: Dawn of a Shallow Drโฆ
- 4-year gap
- 2026 Walpurgisnacht: Rising
Where to play it today
- The 2011 series streams on Crunchyroll, and on Netflix in the US; Rebellion is on Netflix in the US
- Magia Record streams on Crunchyroll; the 2012 recap films rotate between digital purchase and disc, check JustWatch
Availability changes often and varies by region - links search each platform for Madoka Magica.
Frequently asked questions
How many Madoka Magica series and movies are there?
Nine entries: the 12-episode 2011 series, two 2012 recap films (Beginnings and Eternal), the sequel film Rebellion (2013), the upcoming Walpurgisnacht: Rising (2026), the Magia Record side story (13 + 8 + 4 episodes across 2020-2022) and a short 2015 concept teaser.
What order should I watch Madoka Magica in?
The 2011 series first (or the two 2012 recap films as a substitute), then Rebellion, then Walpurgisnacht: Rising when it arrives. Magia Record is an optional side story you can watch any time after the main series, and the Concept Movie is a completist curiosity.
Are the first two Madoka Magica movies just recaps?
Yes. Beginnings covers roughly episodes 1-8 and Eternal the final four, with re-recorded dialogue and some new animation. Watch either the series or these two films as your entry, not both, because they tell the same story.
When does Walpurgisnacht: Rising come out?
August 28, 2026 in Japanese theaters, confirmed after multiple delays (the film was originally targeted for winter 2024, then winter 2025, then February 2026). No international release date has been announced yet, so older dates floating around search results are dead.
Do I need to watch Magia Record?
No. It is a side story adapting the mobile game, with a different protagonist (Iroha) in a different city, and it never advances Madoka's own arc. Watch it if you want more of the universe; skip it freely if you only want the core story.
Do I need to rewatch Rebellion before Walpurgisnacht: Rising?
Rising is billed as a direct sequel to Rebellion, so at minimum you want Rebellion fresh in your memory. A refresher of the series ending helps too, since Rebellion builds directly on it.
Where should a complete newcomer start?
Episode 1 of the 2011 series, knowing as little as possible. The series is famous precisely because of where it goes from its cute opening premise, and every spoiler you avoid pays off.
Last verified · Sources: en.wikipedia.org, animenewsnetwork.com, crunchyroll.com, Wikidata
← Browse all anime orders