The ongoing theatrical phenomenon Puella Magi Madoka Magica The Movie: Walpurgisnacht: Rising (Gekijōban Mahō Shōjo Madoka Magica: Walpurgis no Kaiten) has introduced a major new voice to its cast. Official announcements confirm that renowned voice actress Maaya Sakamoto has joined the production as the mysterious upperclassman known as Wasu. Bearing an uncanny physical resemblance to Homura Akemi, this enigmatic figure's true identity and motives remain shrouded in complete secrecy, sparking wild speculation throughout the global fandom.
Serving as the direct narrative sequel to the 2013 psychological milestone Puella Magi Madoka Magica The Movie Part 3: Rebellion, the feature has dominated Japanese box office charts since its August 28 opening. Alongside special IMAX engagements, the film pulled off a stunning commercial debut, claiming the number one spot by selling 535,000 tickets and hauling an impressive 939,647,100 yen (roughly $5.95 million USD) during its initial three-day weekend run.
A Legendary Creative Assembly at Studio SHAFT
Animation studio SHAFT has reunited the visionary creative collective behind the original television masterpiece. Helmed by director Yukihiro Miyamoto under chief director Akiyuki Simbo, the production features razor-sharp storytelling by Gen Urobuchi of Nitroplus, iconic character drafts by Ume Aoki, and surreal nightmare design work by Gekidan Inu Curry. Composer Yuki Kajiura returns to orchestrate the soundscape, featuring theme song contributions from her solo project FictionJunction.
Sakamoto’s mysterious upperclassman joins a stellar roster of newcomers, including Shion Wakayama as the magical girl Shichōka and Tomoyo Kurosawa as Selma Therese. Meanwhile, the core veteran cast anchors the emotional weight of the narrative:
- Aoi Yūki as Madoka Kaname
- Chiwa Saitō as Homura Akemi
- Kaori Mizuhashi as Mami Tomoe
- Eri Kitamura as Sayaka Miki
- Ai Nonaka as Kyōko Sakura
- Kana Asumi as Nagisa Momoe
- Emiri Katō as Kyubey
