
Credits: SHAFT Animation Studio
Contents
- What Even Is Madoka Magica?
- Why Chronological Order Matters (But Will Still Hurt You)
- The Chronological Madoka Magica Watch Order
- Bonus Content for the Brave
- Final Thoughts from a Magical Fangirl
So you wanna watch Madoka Magica and you thought, “Hmm, maybe I’ll watch it in order so it makes sense.”
Hah. Cute.
Welcome to suffering.
Let me be real with you, this show isn’t your average magical girl fluff fest. No sparkly friendship power-ups. No beach episodes with conveniently timed nosebleeds. Just trauma, cosmic horror, and betrayal wrapped in a pastel nightmare with one of the best plot twists in anime history.
But hey, that’s why we love it, right?
Still, if you want to watch Madoka Magica in chronological order and actually understand what the hell just happened after Kyubey smiles for the first time, I’ve got you covered. Grab your soul gem, it’s time for pain.
What Even Is Madoka Magica?

Credits: SHAFT Animation Studio
If you thought Sailor Moon with trauma, you’re halfway there. Puella Magi Madoka Magica is the anime that took the magical girl genre, set it on fire, and said, “Now feel bad about it.”
At first glance, you’re like, “Oh cute girls with ribbons and magic.” But five minutes later you’re googling “how do soul gems work” while sobbing and questioning the meaning of hope.
There’s the OG TV series, a bunch of recap movies, the chaos bomb that is Rebellion, and a side story spinoff that tries to distract you with even more magical girls and maybe a little yuri bait. It’s all connected and emotionally devastating.
Why Chronological Order Matters (But Will Still Hurt You)
Here’s the thing. Release order is fine for first-timers. You get the full shock value, the slow unraveling of the truth, and the jaw drop when the real plot kicks in. But if you’ve already been spiritually broken once and want to go full time-loop mode like Homura herself, chronological order hits differently.
It adds context. It reveals the tragedy earlier. And it makes Rebellion go from “what the hell just happened” to “oh no she really did that.”
The Chronological Madoka Magica Watch Order
Alright. Here’s Liz’s unofficial official Madoka Magica watch order, if you want to go full timeline-core:
- Puella Magi Madoka Magica the Movie: Beginnings (2012) – This is a retelling of episodes 1–8 of the series with better animation. Trust me, go movie route.
- Puella Magi Madoka Magica the Movie: Eternal (2012) – Covers episodes 9–12. So yeah, now you’re broken.
- Puella Magi Madoka Magica the Movie: Rebellion (2013) – Homura said “nah” and the universe said “okay??” and now you’re more broken.
- Magia Record: Puella Magi Madoka Magica Side Story (2020–2022) – Timeline-adjacent spinoff with different girls and lots of crossover teases. Still dark. Still confusing. Still worth it if you like seeing magical girls spiral emotionally in high-res.
Technically, you could squeeze the original 2011 series in place of the first two movies, but honestly, if you’re already here for the Madoka Magica experience, you might as well enjoy the movie polish.
Also, yes, Rebellion is technically a sequel but also a giant "what if" that slaps your heart with a cosmic heel turn. And yes, we are still waiting on Walpurgisnacht Rising and pretending we’re emotionally ready for it.
Bonus Content for the Brave
There’s manga. There’s drama CDs. There’s merch that costs more than your rent. But honestly, this chronological Madoka Magica watch order is all you need to understand the core timeline and emotionally self-destruct in the correct order.
Also, don’t pretend you’re not here for the waifus. We all have a favorite. RIP Mami’s neck. Homura did nothing wrong. Sayaka deserved better. And if your favorite is Kyubey… you’re the villain now.
Final Thoughts from a Magical Fangirl

Credits: SHAFT Animation Studio
Watching Madoka Magica is a rite of passage. It looks soft but cuts deep. It messes with your head, flips the genre, and makes you wonder if hope is just another scam.
But it’s iconic. It’s bold. And it’s unforgettable.
If you’re gonna spiral, at least do it in the right order.
And hey, speaking of emotionally damaging surprises, if you subscribe to The Otaku Box, you’ll get free anime figures, spicy loot drops, and an exclusive edition of Waifu Monthly. Yeah, we know Reddit says we’re a scam. But let’s be honest. You’re still gonna open the box for the free waifu. You know it. I know it. Kyubey knows it.