Puella Magi Madoka Magica
Encyclopedia
is a Japanese anime
television series produced by Shaft
and Aniplex
. The series is directed by Akiyuki Shinbo
and written by Gen Urobuchi with original character designs by Ume Aoki
, character design adaptation by Takahiro Kishida and music by Yuki Kajiura
. The first ten episodes aired in Japan on TBS
and MBS
between January and March 2011, while the final two episodes were delayed until April 2011 due to the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami
. A manga
adaptation of the series and two spin-off manga series, Puella Magi Kazumi Magica: The Innocent Malice and Puella Magi Oriko Magica, are published by Houbunsha
. A novelisation by Nitroplus
was released in August 2011. A video game for the PlayStation Portable
will be released in March 2012. A three-part film project has been green-lit, with two films being a retelling of the original series and the third film being an entirely new story.
and use their powers to fight against witches, evil creatures born from darkness that are responsible for murders and suicides.
In the city of Mitakihara, a schoolgirl named Madoka Kaname and her friend Sayaka Miki are approached by a familiar named Kyubey, who offers to grant each of them one wish in return for making each of them a magical girl. Another magical girl named Homura Akemi tries to prevent Madoka from making such a deal, while Kyubey urges Madoka by telling her she will become the most powerful magical girl. However, contrary to the glamorous notions one would expect, a magical girl finds herself dealing with death, isolation, loss of humanity, agony over the value of her wish, and existential crisis. Madoka, following her friends, soon sees the darker side of being a magical girl, and because of knowing the truth about being a magical girl, she questions if she should become one as well.
The spin-off manga, Puella Magi Kazumi Magica: The Innocent Malice, takes place in Asunaru City and follows an amnesiac magical girl named Kazumi who, along with a band of other magical girls known as the Pleiades Saints, starts to discover the dark nature of magical girls as she regains her memories.
Puella Magi Oriko Magica takes place in an alternate timeline to the main series, in which Homura, Mami Tomoe and Kyōko Sakura, along with a young orphaned girl named Yuma Chitose, find themselves up against a magical girl pair, Oriko Mikuni and Kirika Kure, who are hunting other magical girls.
expressed his desire to work on a new magical girl series to producer Atsuhiro Iwakami while they were working on Hidamari Sketch and Bakemonogatari
. During early planning stage, Iwakami decided to not adapt an existing work in order to give Shinbo more freedom in his direction style. He then contacted Gen Urobuchi to work on the project as a scriptwriter and Ume Aoki
as a character designer. The series was announced in a commercial slot during the anime series Togainu no Chi
. Since then, more commercials have been shown in the same slot revealing the characters and cast. The first ten episodes aired on MBS
, TBS
and CBC
between January 7, 2011 and March 11, 2011; they aired one day later in the Kantō region
than in the Kansai region. Episodes were then made available for free streaming on Nico Nico Douga
and BIGLOBE
's Anime One service a week after broadcast. Due to the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami
, the broadcast of episode 10 in Kantō, as well as the remaining two episodes were halted. Usually on Japanese TV stations, anime episodes that cannot be finished on the designated air periods are usually not aired, but the remaining episodes were aired on April 22, 2011 in Kansai and Kantō.
The series was released on six Blu-ray Disc (BD) and DVD volumes between April 27 and September 21, 2011, having been delayed from the original release date of March 30, 2011 due to the earthquake. Each volume contains a bonus 4-koma
strip by Ume Aoki
and a bonus CD. Shinbo has expressed interest in doing a follow-up series that would focus more on a slice of life story. Drama CDs
were included with the first, third and fifth BD/DVD volumes. The sixth and final volume released on September 21, 2011 will contain a director's edit of episode 12. Aniplex of America will release the series in North America, including an English dub, in three BD and DVD volumes to be released between February 14 and June 12, 2012. Limited edition volumes will also be released containing both BD and DVD versions, plus the original soundtrack and special items.
The opening theme is by ClariS
while the ending theme is "Magia
" by Kalafina
, both of which were released on February 16, 2011. In the BD/DVD version, the ending theme for the first two episodes is by Aoi Yūki
, which is included with the first volume, while the ending theme for episode nine is "And I'm Home" by Eri Kitamura
and Ai Nonaka
, included with the fifth volume. Yuki Kajiura
is responsible for the soundtrack, released in three volumes alongside the second, fourth and sixth DVD/BD volumes.
have published three manga series based on the franchise. A direct adaptation of the anime series, illustrated by Hanokage, was published in three tankōbon
volumes, each containing four chapters, released on February 12, 2011, March 12, 2011 and May 30, 2011 respectively. The manga has been licensed in North America by Yen Press
. A side story
manga, , written by Masaki Hiramatsu and illustrated by Takashi Tensugi, began serialization in Manga Time Kirara Forward
magazine from January 24, 2011. A third manga, , written by Kuroe Mura, was released in two tankōbon volumes released on May 12, 2011 and June 12, 2011 respectively. The first volume of an official anthology comic featuring guest artists was released on September 12, 2011.
will be released by Namco Bandai Games
on March 15, 2012. Gen Urobuchi will return as the writer with Shaft doing the animation production on the title, while Yusuke Tomizawa and Yoshinao Doi will act as producers. The game will be released in two editions, a standard box including a bonus DVD, and a limited edition box containing a Madoka Figma
, a bonus Blu-ray Disc, a Kyubey pouch, a 'HomuHomu' handkerchief and a special clear card. A free smartphone
application
, was released on October 14, 2011.
Costumes from Madoka Magica, alongside content based on other anime and games, will be made available as downloadable content for the PSP game Gods Eater Burst in Japan.
on August 14, 2011. A pre-release was available at Comiket
80 on August 12, 2011. A book based on Gen Urobuchi's original draft treatment for the anime, titled Puella Magi Madoka Magica: The Beginning Story, will be released in November 2011.
. The second volume sold 54,000 copies, breaking its own record. Each subsequent volume has managed to sell over 50,000 copies in their first week. A live broadcast of the entire series streamed on Nico Nico Douga
on June 18, 2011 gathered around 1 million viewers, surpassing the previous record of 570,000 held by Lucky Star. The show won the Television Award at the 16th Animation Kobe
Awards, as well as 12 NewType
Anime Awards.
Anime
is the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of "animation". The definition sometimes changes depending on the context. In English-speaking countries, the term most commonly refers to Japanese animated cartoons....
television series produced by Shaft
Shaft (company)
is a Japanese animation studio founded on September 1, 1975 by Hiroshi Wakao. They are best known for their unique use of gags and references notably in Pani Poni Dash!, Maria Holic, Sayonara Zetsubō Sensei, Hidamari Sketch, Puella Magi Madoka Magica, and Bakemonogatari series.- History :Shaft was...
and Aniplex
Aniplex
, formerly known as Sony Pictures Entertainment Visual Works Inc. and Sony Music Entertainment Visual Works Inc., is a Japanese anime and music production and distribution enterprise owned by Sony Music Entertainment Japan and established in January 1997...
. The series is directed by Akiyuki Shinbo
Akiyuki Shinbo
, born September 27, 1961 in Fukushima, Japan, is a Japanese animation director. Shinbo started his career as an animator in 1981 at Studio One Pattern. He then made his directorial debut with Metal Fighter Miku in 1994. He is most notable for his involvement in a number of Shaft works since 2004...
and written by Gen Urobuchi with original character designs by Ume Aoki
Ume Aoki
is a female Japanese manga artist from Hyōgo Prefecture. She also illustrates under the pen-names Apply Fujimiya, for the visual novel Sanarara and Apricot+ for various doujinshi she makes. She also provides the voice for her 'metapod' persona in the anime version of Hidamari Sketch...
, character design adaptation by Takahiro Kishida and music by Yuki Kajiura
Yuki Kajiura
, born August 6, 1965 in Tokyo, Japan, is a Japanese composer and music producer. She has provided the music for several popular anime series, such as one of the Kimagure Orange Road movies, Noir, .hack//SIGN, Aquarian Age, Madlax, My-HiME, My-Otome, .hack//Roots, Pandora Hearts, Puella Magi...
. The first ten episodes aired in Japan on TBS
Tokyo Broadcasting System
, TBS Holdings, Inc. or TBSHD, is a stockholding company in Tokyo, Japan. It is a parent company of a television network named and radio network named ....
and MBS
Mainichi Broadcasting System
is a broadcasting station in Osaka, Japan, affiliated with Japan Radio Network , National Radio Network , Japan News Network and TBS Network, serving in the Kansai region. MBS is also one of the major stockholders of Tokyo Broadcasting System Holdings, Inc...
between January and March 2011, while the final two episodes were delayed until April 2011 due to the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami
2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami
The 2011 earthquake off the Pacific coast of Tohoku, also known as the 2011 Tohoku earthquake, or the Great East Japan Earthquake, was a magnitude 9.0 undersea megathrust earthquake off the coast of Japan that occurred at 14:46 JST on Friday, 11 March 2011, with the epicenter approximately east...
. A manga
Manga
Manga is the Japanese word for "comics" and consists of comics and print cartoons . In the West, the term "manga" has been appropriated to refer specifically to comics created in Japan, or by Japanese authors, in the Japanese language and conforming to the style developed in Japan in the late 19th...
adaptation of the series and two spin-off manga series, Puella Magi Kazumi Magica: The Innocent Malice and Puella Magi Oriko Magica, are published by Houbunsha
Houbunsha
is a Japanese publishing company founded on July 10, 1950.-Manga Time magazines:*Manga Time*Manga Time Jumbo*Manga Time Lovely*Manga Time Family*Manga Time Special*Manga Time Original*Manga Home-Manga Time Kirara magazines:...
. A novelisation by Nitroplus
Nitroplus
Nitroplus Co., Ltd., stylized as nitro+, is a Japanese visual novel computer software company that has developed a number of visual novels, including eroge. They have also have been collaborating with TYPE-MOON to create the light novel series Fate/zero. Their works usually have dark themes such...
was released in August 2011. A video game for the PlayStation Portable
PlayStation Portable
The is a handheld game console manufactured and marketed by Sony Corporation Development of the console was announced during E3 2003, and it was unveiled on , 2004, at a Sony press conference before E3 2004...
will be released in March 2012. A three-part film project has been green-lit, with two films being a retelling of the original series and the third film being an entirely new story.
Plot
In this world, there exist strange creatures who have the power to grant one wish to a chosen girl. However, in exchange, that girl must then become a magical girlMagical girl
belong to a sub-genre of Japanese fantasy anime and manga. Magical girl stories feature young girls with superhuman abilities, forced to fight evil and to protect the Earth. They often possess a secret identity, although the name can just refer to young girls who follow a plotline involving magic...
and use their powers to fight against witches, evil creatures born from darkness that are responsible for murders and suicides.
In the city of Mitakihara, a schoolgirl named Madoka Kaname and her friend Sayaka Miki are approached by a familiar named Kyubey, who offers to grant each of them one wish in return for making each of them a magical girl. Another magical girl named Homura Akemi tries to prevent Madoka from making such a deal, while Kyubey urges Madoka by telling her she will become the most powerful magical girl. However, contrary to the glamorous notions one would expect, a magical girl finds herself dealing with death, isolation, loss of humanity, agony over the value of her wish, and existential crisis. Madoka, following her friends, soon sees the darker side of being a magical girl, and because of knowing the truth about being a magical girl, she questions if she should become one as well.
The spin-off manga, Puella Magi Kazumi Magica: The Innocent Malice, takes place in Asunaru City and follows an amnesiac magical girl named Kazumi who, along with a band of other magical girls known as the Pleiades Saints, starts to discover the dark nature of magical girls as she regains her memories.
Puella Magi Oriko Magica takes place in an alternate timeline to the main series, in which Homura, Mami Tomoe and Kyōko Sakura, along with a young orphaned girl named Yuma Chitose, find themselves up against a magical girl pair, Oriko Mikuni and Kirika Kure, who are hunting other magical girls.
Terminology
- A magical girl, or "Puella Magi", is an adolescent girl gifted with powers granted by making a contract with an Incubator. The terms of the contract are that the Incubator will grant the girl one wish, and in exchange, she will use magic to fight against witches. The powers she receives are often related to her wish; for example, a wish to cure someone will grant enhanced regenerative abilities. There is a range of magic as its nature varies depending upon the girl and the contract made. A magical girl's power radiates from a special gem she carries called a Soul Gem, which is created when she makes the contract to become a magical girl. Magical girls are not invincible, and if she dies in a barrier fighting against a witch, her body will remain there and she will be forever considered missing.
- A Soul Gem is an egg-shaped gem that holds a magical girl's power. The size is relative to the amount of magical power residing in the girl. The gem is essential for hunting and fighting witches: it glows whenever a witch or one of its familiars is nearby, and it is also used to transform for battle. When not in gem form, it exists as a ring on the owner's finger. When a magical girl transforms into her battle uniform, her Soul Gem also transforms and is located somewhere on her body. The shape that it takes is unique to each girl. A Soul Gem is created when a girl enters a contract for a wish and her soul is taken from her body, it serves as a container for the soul so that the body will be able to survive even critical hits in battle. If the body is moved too far away from the gem, it will lose its pulse and become lifeless. Returning her Soul Gem to within 100 meters of her respective body will revive the magical girl. Accordingly, if the Soul Gem is destroyed, the owner will die.
- The brightness of the gem indicates a magical girl's magic ability. The brighter it is, the stronger the magical girl, and the higher her limit for magic. Inversely, the darker it is, the weaker the magical girl is and the less that magic could be used, up to the point when she can no longer use magic because she has exhausted her powers. The gem's light fades with each use of magic and must be purified by transferring the darkness into Grief Seeds. The cleansing of a Soul Gem also replenishes magical power. However, if the Soul Gem is unable to be purified, it will darken until it finally becomes a Grief Seed, at which point the magical girl transforms into a witch.
- Witches are evil entities born from magical girls that have fallen into despair and failed to purify their Soul Gem. Witches reside in special areas called barriers that contain labyrinths inside. Each labyrinth is a unique manifestation of the witch's subconscious. If left alone, witches affect humans in the real world by giving them marks known as , which cause accidents, diseases, or forces them into suicide. Witches often spawn lesser versions of themselves called familiars that can mature into witches with time. The most powerful witch is a being called . The worlds in which the witches reside are a stark departure from the everyday world. The production design for the witches and their barriers is done by the artist duo Gekidan Inu Curry.
- Grief Seeds are black egg-shaped thorns created at the birth of a witch. Once planted, they form barriers that hide the witch from the sight of regular humans. When a witch is defeated, the Grief Seed that is left behind can used to cleanse and restore magical power to a Soul Gem. Thus, they are highly valued by magical girls. Kyubey is shown to consume used Grief Seeds. Soul Gems may themselves become Grief Seeds if the magical girl reaches her limit--emotionally or simply by overexertion of her powers--and is unable to purify her Soul Gem. In Kazumi Magica, the evil magical girl Yūri uses imitation Grief Seeds known as which transform humans into pseudo-witches, carrying out their dark desires.
Anime
Puella Magi Madoka Magica began development after Akiyuki ShinboAkiyuki Shinbo
, born September 27, 1961 in Fukushima, Japan, is a Japanese animation director. Shinbo started his career as an animator in 1981 at Studio One Pattern. He then made his directorial debut with Metal Fighter Miku in 1994. He is most notable for his involvement in a number of Shaft works since 2004...
expressed his desire to work on a new magical girl series to producer Atsuhiro Iwakami while they were working on Hidamari Sketch and Bakemonogatari
Bakemonogatari
is a Japanese popular light novel series written by Japanese novelist Nisio Isin and illustrated by Taiwanese illustrator Vofan; the series is published by Kodansha under the Kodansha Box imprint...
. During early planning stage, Iwakami decided to not adapt an existing work in order to give Shinbo more freedom in his direction style. He then contacted Gen Urobuchi to work on the project as a scriptwriter and Ume Aoki
Ume Aoki
is a female Japanese manga artist from Hyōgo Prefecture. She also illustrates under the pen-names Apply Fujimiya, for the visual novel Sanarara and Apricot+ for various doujinshi she makes. She also provides the voice for her 'metapod' persona in the anime version of Hidamari Sketch...
as a character designer. The series was announced in a commercial slot during the anime series Togainu no Chi
Togainu no Chi
is a Japanese BL visual novel created by Nitro+CHiRAL. The plot centers on Akira, a young man who was made to participate in a deadly game called "Igura" in post-apocalyptical Japan in exchange for being freed from jail. His goal is to beat "Il Re" , the strongest person in Igura...
. Since then, more commercials have been shown in the same slot revealing the characters and cast. The first ten episodes aired on MBS
Mainichi Broadcasting System
is a broadcasting station in Osaka, Japan, affiliated with Japan Radio Network , National Radio Network , Japan News Network and TBS Network, serving in the Kansai region. MBS is also one of the major stockholders of Tokyo Broadcasting System Holdings, Inc...
, TBS
Tokyo Broadcasting System
, TBS Holdings, Inc. or TBSHD, is a stockholding company in Tokyo, Japan. It is a parent company of a television network named and radio network named ....
and CBC
Chubu-Nippon Broadcasting
is a regional radio and television service serving Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, Japan. Its radio service is affiliated with the Japan Radio Network and its television service affiliated with the Japan News Network and the TBS Network.-Radio:Frequency...
between January 7, 2011 and March 11, 2011; they aired one day later in the Kantō region
Kanto region
The is a geographical area of Honshu, the largest island of Japan. The region includes the Greater Tokyo Area and encompasses seven prefectures: Gunma, Tochigi, Ibaraki, Saitama, Tokyo, Chiba, and Kanagawa. Within its boundaries, slightly more than 40 percent of the land area is the Kantō Plain....
than in the Kansai region. Episodes were then made available for free streaming on Nico Nico Douga
Nico Nico Douga
is a popular video sharing website in Japan managed by Niwango, a subsidiary of Dwango. Its nickname is "Niconico" or "Nico-dō", where "nikoniko" is the Japanese ideophone for smiling. Nico Nico Douga is the thirteenth most visited website in Japan...
and BIGLOBE
BIGLOBE
is one of the leading internet service providers in Japan, operated by NEC BIGLOBE, Ltd., a 2006 spin-off from NEC.-References:...
's Anime One service a week after broadcast. Due to the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami
2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami
The 2011 earthquake off the Pacific coast of Tohoku, also known as the 2011 Tohoku earthquake, or the Great East Japan Earthquake, was a magnitude 9.0 undersea megathrust earthquake off the coast of Japan that occurred at 14:46 JST on Friday, 11 March 2011, with the epicenter approximately east...
, the broadcast of episode 10 in Kantō, as well as the remaining two episodes were halted. Usually on Japanese TV stations, anime episodes that cannot be finished on the designated air periods are usually not aired, but the remaining episodes were aired on April 22, 2011 in Kansai and Kantō.
The series was released on six Blu-ray Disc (BD) and DVD volumes between April 27 and September 21, 2011, having been delayed from the original release date of March 30, 2011 due to the earthquake. Each volume contains a bonus 4-koma
Yonkoma
thumb|right|150px|Traditional Yonkoma layout, a comic-strip format, generally consists of gag comic strips within four panels of equal size ordered from top to bottom...
strip by Ume Aoki
Ume Aoki
is a female Japanese manga artist from Hyōgo Prefecture. She also illustrates under the pen-names Apply Fujimiya, for the visual novel Sanarara and Apricot+ for various doujinshi she makes. She also provides the voice for her 'metapod' persona in the anime version of Hidamari Sketch...
and a bonus CD. Shinbo has expressed interest in doing a follow-up series that would focus more on a slice of life story. Drama CDs
Radio drama in Japan
Radio drama in Japan has a history as long as that of radio broadcasting in that country, which began in 1925. Some consider the first Japanese radio drama to have been "" which was a radio broadcast of a stage play. Others consider the Japanese translation of Richard Hughes's "Danger" or to be...
were included with the first, third and fifth BD/DVD volumes. The sixth and final volume released on September 21, 2011 will contain a director's edit of episode 12. Aniplex of America will release the series in North America, including an English dub, in three BD and DVD volumes to be released between February 14 and June 12, 2012. Limited edition volumes will also be released containing both BD and DVD versions, plus the original soundtrack and special items.
The opening theme is by ClariS
ClariS
ClariS is a Japanese pop music duo consisting of junior high school girls Clara and Alice. Originally known as "Alice Clara", ClariS began singing covers of mainly songs featured in anime and songs originally sung by Vocaloids, and submitting them to the Nico Nico Douga video sharing website...
while the ending theme is "Magia
Magia (Kalafina song)
is the 9th single of Japanese girl group Kalafina. The title track is the ending theme to the anime series Puella Magi Madoka Magica. As of 2011, Magia is the best-selling single of Kalafina .-Regular Edition:-Limited Edition:-Anime Edition:Notes:...
" by Kalafina
Kalafina
Kalafina is a Japanese band formed by composer Yuki Kajiura in 2007, mainly to perform theme songs for the anime Kara no Kyōkai. The band debuted in January 2008 with two original members from Yuki Kajiura's FictionJunction project, Wakana Ōtaki and Keiko Kubota...
, both of which were released on February 16, 2011. In the BD/DVD version, the ending theme for the first two episodes is by Aoi Yūki
Aoi Yuki
is a Japanese voice actress and actress. She is affiliated with the Pro-Fit agency. Her previous stage name was Yabusaki Aoi.When she was 16, she played the seven-year-old Murasaki Kuhōin in Kure-nai. She had two roles in 2008, eight in 2009, and twelve in 2010...
, which is included with the first volume, while the ending theme for episode nine is "And I'm Home" by Eri Kitamura
Eri Kitamura
is a Japanese voice actress and singer, who was born on August 16, 1987 in Tokyo, Japan. She is primarily known for her role in Blood+ as Saya Otonashi and singing the third ending for the anime series Konjiki No Gash Bell . She is also known to be an amateur manga artist in Japan in her spare time...
and Ai Nonaka
Ai Nonaka
is a Japanese voice actress. She currently works for Aoni Production and was formerly a member of the voice actor unit DROPS, which included fellow voice actor Akemi Kanda, Tomoko Kaneda, Mariko Kōda, and Ryōko Shiraishi...
, included with the fifth volume. Yuki Kajiura
Yuki Kajiura
, born August 6, 1965 in Tokyo, Japan, is a Japanese composer and music producer. She has provided the music for several popular anime series, such as one of the Kimagure Orange Road movies, Noir, .hack//SIGN, Aquarian Age, Madlax, My-HiME, My-Otome, .hack//Roots, Pandora Hearts, Puella Magi...
is responsible for the soundtrack, released in three volumes alongside the second, fourth and sixth DVD/BD volumes.
Films
A three-part film project is in production. The first two films will be a compilation of the anime series, and the third film will be an all-new story.Manga
HoubunshaHoubunsha
is a Japanese publishing company founded on July 10, 1950.-Manga Time magazines:*Manga Time*Manga Time Jumbo*Manga Time Lovely*Manga Time Family*Manga Time Special*Manga Time Original*Manga Home-Manga Time Kirara magazines:...
have published three manga series based on the franchise. A direct adaptation of the anime series, illustrated by Hanokage, was published in three tankōbon
Tankobon
, with a literal meaning close to "independently appearing book", is the Japanese term for a book that is complete in itself and is not part of a series , though the manga industry uses it for volumes which may be in a series...
volumes, each containing four chapters, released on February 12, 2011, March 12, 2011 and May 30, 2011 respectively. The manga has been licensed in North America by Yen Press
Yen Press
Yen Press is the manga and graphic novel imprint of Hachette Book Group. In addition to their regular book releases, Yen Press produces a monthly anthology called Yen Plus. The company's varied list demonstrates an interest in publishing a wide variety of Japanese manga, Korean manhwa, and other...
. A side story
Side story
A side story is a story that occurs alongside established stories set within a fictional universe. As opposed to a prequel, sequel, or interquel, a side story takes place within the same time frame as an existing work....
manga, , written by Masaki Hiramatsu and illustrated by Takashi Tensugi, began serialization in Manga Time Kirara Forward
Manga Time Kirara Forward
is a Japanese seinen manga magazine published by Houbunsha. The magazine is sold monthly on the twenty-fourth. Forward was the fourth magazine in the Manga Time Kirara line to be published, the first three being: Manga Time Kirara, Manga Time Kirara Carat, and Manga Time Kirara Max...
magazine from January 24, 2011. A third manga, , written by Kuroe Mura, was released in two tankōbon volumes released on May 12, 2011 and June 12, 2011 respectively. The first volume of an official anthology comic featuring guest artists was released on September 12, 2011.
Video games
A video game based on the series titled for the PlayStation PortablePlayStation Portable
The is a handheld game console manufactured and marketed by Sony Corporation Development of the console was announced during E3 2003, and it was unveiled on , 2004, at a Sony press conference before E3 2004...
will be released by Namco Bandai Games
Namco Bandai Games
is an arcade, mobile and home video game developer and publisher based in Japan which is the product of a merger between the video game development divisions of Bandai and Namco. Namco Bandai Games is a wholly owned subsidiary of Namco Bandai Holdings and specializes in production and sales of...
on March 15, 2012. Gen Urobuchi will return as the writer with Shaft doing the animation production on the title, while Yusuke Tomizawa and Yoshinao Doi will act as producers. The game will be released in two editions, a standard box including a bonus DVD, and a limited edition box containing a Madoka Figma
Figma
is a Japanese action figure line produced by Max Factory and distributed by Good Smile Company. A large number of the figures are based on bishōjo anime characters, and are available with various accessories, such as exchangeable faces...
, a bonus Blu-ray Disc, a Kyubey pouch, a 'HomuHomu' handkerchief and a special clear card. A free smartphone
Smartphone
A smartphone is a high-end mobile phone built on a mobile computing platform, with more advanced computing ability and connectivity than a contemporary feature phone. The first smartphones were devices that mainly combined the functions of a personal digital assistant and a mobile phone or camera...
application
Application software
Application software, also known as an application or an "app", is computer software designed to help the user to perform specific tasks. Examples include enterprise software, accounting software, office suites, graphics software and media players. Many application programs deal principally with...
, was released on October 14, 2011.
Costumes from Madoka Magica, alongside content based on other anime and games, will be made available as downloadable content for the PSP game Gods Eater Burst in Japan.
Other media
A novel adaptation of the series written by Hajime Ninomae and illustrated by Yūpon was published by NitroplusNitroplus
Nitroplus Co., Ltd., stylized as nitro+, is a Japanese visual novel computer software company that has developed a number of visual novels, including eroge. They have also have been collaborating with TYPE-MOON to create the light novel series Fate/zero. Their works usually have dark themes such...
on August 14, 2011. A pre-release was available at Comiket
Comiket
, otherwise known as the , is the world's largest self-published comic book fair, held twice a year in Tokyo, Japan. The first Comiket was held on December 21, 1975, with only about 32 participating circles and an estimated 600 attendees. Attendance has since swelled to over a half million people....
80 on August 12, 2011. A book based on Gen Urobuchi's original draft treatment for the anime, titled Puella Magi Madoka Magica: The Beginning Story, will be released in November 2011.
Reception
The first BD volume sold 53,000 copies in its first week, 22,000 of which were sold on its first day, breaking the record previously held by the sixth BD volume of BakemonogatariBakemonogatari
is a Japanese popular light novel series written by Japanese novelist Nisio Isin and illustrated by Taiwanese illustrator Vofan; the series is published by Kodansha under the Kodansha Box imprint...
. The second volume sold 54,000 copies, breaking its own record. Each subsequent volume has managed to sell over 50,000 copies in their first week. A live broadcast of the entire series streamed on Nico Nico Douga
Nico Nico Douga
is a popular video sharing website in Japan managed by Niwango, a subsidiary of Dwango. Its nickname is "Niconico" or "Nico-dō", where "nikoniko" is the Japanese ideophone for smiling. Nico Nico Douga is the thirteenth most visited website in Japan...
on June 18, 2011 gathered around 1 million viewers, surpassing the previous record of 570,000 held by Lucky Star. The show won the Television Award at the 16th Animation Kobe
Animation Kobe
The is an event created by Kobe city in 1996, to promote anime and other visual media. In the event, the are awarded annually by Kobe and the Organizing Committee of the event, to creators and creations.-Event:...
Awards, as well as 12 NewType
Newtype
A Newtype is theorized to be the next stage of human evolution in the fictional Gundam universe. This minor but groundbreaking metamorphosis is usually expressed as a heightened mental awareness, the result of an evolutionary adaptation to life in space....
Anime Awards.
External links
- Official website
- Puella Magi Madoka Magica at AniplexAniplex, formerly known as Sony Pictures Entertainment Visual Works Inc. and Sony Music Entertainment Visual Works Inc., is a Japanese anime and music production and distribution enterprise owned by Sony Music Entertainment Japan and established in January 1997...
- Official manga website
- Official game website
- Puella Magi Madoka Magica at Aniplex of AmericaAniplex, formerly known as Sony Pictures Entertainment Visual Works Inc. and Sony Music Entertainment Visual Works Inc., is a Japanese anime and music production and distribution enterprise owned by Sony Music Entertainment Japan and established in January 1997...