A contract demanding souls for miracles can never end well, and the dark multiverse of magical girls is set for its next tragic chapter. This Thursday, Aniplex unleashed the third official trailer for the highly anticipated movie Madoka Magica (Puella Magi Madoka Magica The Movie: Walpurgisnacht Rising). After suffering production delays since its initial 2024 window, the magical suffering masterpiece finally set its imminent Japanese theatrical release for August 28.

The new trailer showcased the franchise’s signature disturbing aesthetic and unexpectedly introduced two entirely new magical girls joining the known cast led by Aoi Yuki (Madoka) and Chiwa Saito (Homura). To voice these mysterious figures who could alter Walpurgisnacht’s delicate balance, the following talented seiyuus were added:

• Shion Wakayama as Shichoka.
  Known for voicing Takina Inoue in Lycoris Recoil and Ai Mie in The Girl I Like Forgot Her Glasses, bringing a sweet yet deadly tone to her characters.
• Tomoyo Kurosawa as Selma Therese.
  Famous for portraying Kumiko Oumae in Sound! Euphonium and Phosphophyllite in Land of the Lustrous, ensuring a performance rich in emotional depth.

The return of the masterminds

This saga’s visual magic wouldn’t be the same without its original powerhouse team, and acclaimed studio SHAFT returns with a flawless lineup. With Akiyuki Simbo as chief director and Yukihiro Miyamoto taking general direction, the film promises to maintain the oppressive, surreal, and artistic atmosphere that broke the internet in 2011. Additionally, relentless screenwriter Gen Urobuchi and masterful composer Yuki Kajiura resume their roles, ensuring this Rebellion direct sequel is both narratively and sonically rewarding.

The technical team is bolstered by Junichiro Taniguchi and Hiroki Yamamura as chief animation directors, while the distinctive design of alternate spaces and labyrinths will once again be handled by Gekidan Inu Curry. With this veteran squad at the helm, it’s almost certain that the massive wait of over a decade will be worth every second of existential anguish on screen.

What dark secret do these two new magical girls hide, and how will they affect Homura’s tragic fate?