Waiting thirteen years for a sequel only to end up wearing a mask in the cinema wasn’t part of anyone’s plans. The anticipated film Puella Magi Madoka Magica the Movie: Walpurgisnacht Rising finally premiered in Japanese theaters after several delays, dominating the weekend box office. However, the real topic of conversation among attendees wasn’t just the plot’s impact, but a wave of complaints on social media due to the unbearable atmosphere in several packed screenings.

Through posts by attendees during the first weekend of screenings, testimonies began to accumulate of people who had to cover their mouths with tissues or wear masks to tolerate the atmosphere inside the night showings. The stifling heat of late August combined with full theaters created a mix of smells described by several viewers as accumulated sweat and damp clothes, reaching the point where some people decided to leave before the credits.

The community quickly took the situation with bitter humor using the franchise’s own concepts. On social media, many joked that the smell of some attendees was nothing more than a “Contaminated Soul Gem” due to desperation, comparing the lack of hygiene with the magical corruption in the series. Although neither the production team nor the cinema chains have issued an official statement about this issue, the recommendation among attendees was quite clear: take a good shower before leaving home and carry mints just in case.

Despite the unfortunate ventilation and hygiene incidents, the film easily topped the Japanese box office, earning between 9.3 and 9.4 billion yen in its first three days, selling over 535,000 tickets and selling out screenings since Friday midnight.

Produced by the renowned studio Shaft, the franchise revolutionized the magical girl genre upon its original release with a dark and psychological approach. This new installment features executive direction by Akiyuki Shinbo, direction by Yukihiro Miyamoto, a script by Gen Urobuchi, and the original character design by Ume Aoki. The film serves as a direct continuation of the 2013 movie, picks up the story after years of anticipation, and aims to continue the tragic fate of its protagonists.

Have you ever had to endure a cinema screening ruined by the bad smell of other attendees?