List of Puella Magi Madoka Magica episodes

In a space-themed background, a giant golden-eyed magical girl in a white dress with minor decorative gems, leggings, gloves, and bow ties attached to pink hair (Madoka Kaname) covers a galaxy and is positioned behind Earth as if she is about to hold it with her hands. In the foreground, four other magical girls (Kyōko Sakura carrying a staff, Sayaka Miki holding a sword, Homura Akemi equipped with a bow, and Mami Tomoe with a gun) are accompanied by a cat (Kyubey). The Puella Magi Madoka Magica logo, the name of volume six, gray dots, white particles, brief staff credits, text reading "She will not know yet if this encounter is a mere conincidence or a necessity. Which would be, an encounter that would change her destiny —", and the Aniplex logo are layered over the image.
The cover of the sixth Puella Magi Madoka Magica home media release volume, featuring the main characters

Puella Magi Madoka Magica is a 2011 Japanese anime television series created by Magica Quartet (consisting of Akiyuki Shinbo, Atsuhiro Iwakami, Gen Urobuchi, and Ume Aoki), produced by Shaft, and distributed by Aniplex. It follows the story of 14-year-old middle school student Madoka Kaname, who is offered the chance to have any wish granted on the condition that she become a magical girl and fight against evil witches.[1][2][3]

Puella Magi Madoka Magica began development after Akiyuki Shinbo expressed his desire to work on a new magical girl series to producer Atsuhiro Iwakami while they were working on Hidamari Sketch and Bakemonogatari.[4] During the early planning stage, Iwakami decided not to adapt an existing work in order to give Shinbo more freedom in his direction style.[4] Gen Urobuchi and Ume Aoki then joined the project as scriptwriter and character designer respectively.[4] The series was announced in a commercial slot during the anime series Togainu no Chi.[1] Subsequently, more commercials were shown in the same slot revealing the characters and cast.[4]

The first ten episodes aired on Japanese television channels MBS, TBS and CBC between January 7, and March 11, 2011.[2] Due to the Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami, the broadcasts of episodes 11 and 12 were delayed and were later aired as a double feature on April 22, 2011.[5][6][7] The series was released on Blu-ray Disc and DVDs between April 27, and September 21, 2011, having been delayed from the original release date of March 30, 2011 due to the earthquake.[6][8][9] Aniplex USA licensed the series in North America and released the series in three volumes between February 14, and June 12, 2012.[10][11] Manga Entertainment licensed the series in the United Kingdom and released it on BD/DVD in a complete collection on October 22, 2012.[12][13]

The opening theme is "Connect" (コネクト, Konekuto) by ClariS and the ending theme is "Magia" by Kalafina.[14] On the DVD/Blu-ray release, the ending theme for episodes one and two is "See you Tomorrow" (また あした, Mata Ashita) by Aoi Yūki;[9] and the ending theme for episode nine is "And I'm Home" by Eri Kitamura and Ai Nonaka.[15] Drama CDs are included with the first;[9] third;[16] and fifth DVD/Blu-ray volumes;[15] and the original soundtrack by Kajiura Yuki was included in three parts with the second;[17] fourth;[18] and sixth volumes.[19] The soundtrack is also included with the limited-edition North American releases.[10][20][21]

The series was retold in two animated films released in October 2012, and a third film containing an "all-new" story set after the series was released in October 2013.[22][23]

  1. ^ a b Egan Loo (October 21, 2010). "Bakemonogatari's Shinbo, Phantom's Urobuchi Launch New Anime". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on January 13, 2011. Retrieved October 30, 2010.
  2. ^ a b 魔法少女まどか☆マギカ 番組公式 [Puella Magi Madoka Magica Official Program]. Mainichi Broadcasting System (MBS). Archived from the original on February 20, 2011. Retrieved May 8, 2020.
  3. ^ Hanley, Andy (October 22, 2012). "Anime Review: Puella Magi Madoka Magica - Complete Series Collection". UK Anime Network. Archived from the original on January 12, 2018. Retrieved April 25, 2014.
  4. ^ a b c d 新房昭之×虚淵玄×蒼樹うめ×シャフト 1大プロジェクト始動 [Akiyuki Shinbo × Gen Urobuchi × Ume Aoki × Shaft: The Start of One Large Project]. Megami Magazine (in Japanese) (127). Gakken: 115. October 25, 2010.
  5. ^ Egan Loo (March 16, 2011). "This Week's Madoka Magica Not Aired in 'Self-Restraint'". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on April 12, 2014. Retrieved March 16, 2011.
  6. ^ a b Egan Loo (March 23, 2011). "Madoka Magica's Airing, Streaming Delayed 'For Now' (Updated)". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on January 25, 2021. Retrieved June 12, 2018.
  7. ^ Egan Loo (April 10, 2011). "Madoka Magica Anime to Resume on April 21". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on May 18, 2014. Retrieved June 12, 2018.
  8. ^ Egan Loo (March 15, 2011). "Anime/Manga Releases Delayed, Cancelled After Quake". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on June 15, 2011. Retrieved June 11, 2018.
  9. ^ a b c "BD/DVD". madoka-magica.com. Archived from the original on May 27, 2011. Retrieved June 1, 2011.
  10. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference pmmmusa1 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  11. ^ "Madoka Magica USA Official Website, News and Trailer". madokamagicausa.com. Archived from the original on April 27, 2021. Retrieved March 5, 2020.
  12. ^ Andrew Osmond (March 31, 2012). "Puella Magi Madoka Magica and Panty and Stocking Announced by Manga (Updated)". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on June 19, 2018. Retrieved June 12, 2018.
  13. ^ Andrew Osmond (May 30, 2012). "Manga Releasing Puella Magi Madoka Magica on BD/DVD October 22". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on June 19, 2018. Retrieved June 12, 2018.
  14. ^ Egan Loo (December 8, 2010). "News: Noragaki, Puella Magi Madoka Magica Promos Streamed". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on May 27, 2011. Retrieved December 24, 2010.
  15. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference pmmmfs was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  16. ^ Cite error: The named reference pmmmsdl was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  17. ^ Cite error: The named reference pmmmost1 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  18. ^ Cite error: The named reference pmmmost2 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  19. ^ Cite error: The named reference pmmmjp6 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  20. ^ Cite error: The named reference pmmmusa2 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  21. ^ Cite error: The named reference pmmmusa3 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  22. ^ Egan Loo (November 7, 2011). "Madoka Magica Film Project Launches". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on January 1, 2012. Retrieved June 12, 2018.
  23. ^ Egan Loo (November 11, 2011). "Madoka Magica Film Project to Be Trilogy". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on November 10, 2011. Retrieved June 12, 2018.