Following this, an extremely powerful witch known as Walpurgisnacht approaches the city. Madoka and Kyoko attempt to reverse Sayaka's transformation, but the plan fails and Kyoko is forced to sacrifice herself to allow Madoka to escape, leaving Homura as the only remaining magical girl. Madoka also learns that Homura is a magical girl from a different timeline who has repeated the same month countless times to try to save Madoka from a grisly fate. Kyubey reveals to Madoka that he is of an alien race that has been harvesting the emotions of magical girls for centuries to use as energy to counteract the spread of entropy, and thus stave off the heat death of the universe. However, her classmate Hitomi Shizuki confesses to him first, causing Sayaka to become disillusioned and fall into an inescapable despair that turns her into a witch. Sayaka decides to become a magical girl after learning that doing so would allow her to heal a young musician who she admires. Madoka also discovers magical girls give up their souls to form Soul Gems, the source of their magic, and that when Soul Gems become too tainted with despair, magical girls transform into witches. This is further enforced by the appearance of Kyoko Sakura, a veteran magical girl whose wish indirectly caused the death of her family. However, after witnessing Mami's death at the hands of a witch, Madoka realizes the life of a magical girl is filled with suffering and pain. Noticing their indecisiveness on whether to become a magical girl, Mami offers to take Madoka and Sayaka along on her witch hunts so they may learn of the responsibilities that come with being a magical girl. Madoka and Sayaka then meet Mami Tomoe, an upperclassman at the same school who is also a magical girl. Meanwhile, a transfer student and mysterious magical girl named Homura Akemi tries to stop Madoka from making the contract with Kyubey. It offers a contract in which a girl may have any wish granted in exchange for obtaining magical powers and being tasked with fighting witches. In the fictional city of Mitakihara, Japan, a middle school student named Madoka Kaname and her best friend, Sayaka Miki encounter a small, cat-like creature named Kyubey. See also: List of Puella Magi Madoka Magica characters
The series garnered a variety of awards, such as the Television Award at the 16th Animation Kobe Awards, as well as 12 Newtype Anime Awards and the Grand Prize for animation in the 2011 Japan Media Arts awards. It became a commercial success each Blu-ray Disc volume sold more than 50,000 copies in Japan.
Puella Magi Madoka Magica has received widespread critical acclaim, with praise for its complex narrative, visuals, themes, and soundtrack as well as its unconventional approach to the magical girl subgenre. In April 2021, it was announced that a sequel to Rebellion was in production. A smartphone game, Magia Record, launched in August 2017, and an anime adaptation produced by Shaft aired from January to March 2020, with a second season airing in August 2021. A third film featuring an original story, Rebellion, was released in October 2013, and a concept film acting as a trailer for a new project was screened in December 2015. An anime film series, beginning with two films recapping the television series, was released in October 2012.
A video game for the PlayStation Portable was released in March 2012 and another for PlayStation Vita was released in December 2013. A novelization by Nitroplus was released in August 2011, and a dedicated magazine, Manga Time Kirara Magica, was launched by Houbunsha in June 2012. A manga adaptation of the anime and various spin-off manga have been published by Houbunsha and licensed in North America by Yen Press. The first ten episodes of the series 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. In battling surreal enemies known as "witches", they learn of the anguish and peril associated with their new roles. The story follows a group of middle school girls, led by protagonist Madoka Kaname, who make supernatural contracts to become magical girls ( mahō shōjo). Puella Magi Madoka Magica ( Japanese: 魔法少女まどか☆マギカ, Hepburn: Mahō Shōjo Madoka Magika), also known simply as Madoka Magica, is a 2011 Japanese anime television series created by Magica Quartet and animated by Shaft. Puella Magi Madoka Magica (film series).Puella Magi Madoka Magica: The Battle Pentagram Puella Magi Oriko Magica: Sadness Prayer.Puella Magi Tart Magica: The Legend of Jeanne d'Arc.Puella Magi Madoka Magica the Movie: Rebellion.Puella Magi Madoka Magica: Homura's Revenge!.Puella Magi Madoka Magica: The Different Story.Puella Magi Kazumi Magica: The Innocent Malice.