A Certain Magical Index (Index for short) is a popular Japanese light novel series written by Kazuma Kamachi. It has been adapted into various forms of media, including manga, anime, and video games. The series is set in a world where supernatural abilities exist and centers around the conflict between science and magic. The story follows the adventures of a young student named Toma Kamijo, who possesses a unique power called Imagine Breaker. This ability allows him to nullify any supernatural power or magic with his right hand. Toma's encounter with a young nun named Index leads him into a world of conflict between science and magic, as well as various supernatural factions.
Alongside the main novels, Kamachi wrote various short stories and side novels, including the bonus novels that were released in segments as part of the limited editions Blu-Rays and DVDs of the various Toaru series anime. Beginning on June 2020, the various bonus novels were given a wider release as part of the Apocrypha Archive ( 外典書庫 , Gaiten Shoko ? ) omnibus series, with each volume featuring multiple stories. [4] A light novel for Toaru Kagaku no Railgun was released in July 2022 to celebrate the manga's 15th anniversary, [5] and in late December 2022, another side-story was announced, focusing on Item, Toaru Anbu no Item ( とある暗部の 少女共棲 （ アイテム ） , Toaru Anbu no Shōjo Kyōsei (Aitemu) ? ) , for release in March 2023. [6]
There are currently three season, with the first season airing between October 2008 and March 2009, the second season between October 2010 and April 2011, and the third season between October 2018 and April 2019. 8 Spanish subtitled 4 Portuguese subtitled 4 German subtitled 1 Korean subtitled 1 czech subtitled 1 Arabic subtitled 1 Russian subtitled 1 French subtitled.
Toma's encounter with a young nun named Index leads him into a world of conflict between science and magic, as well as various supernatural factions. In the new arc of A Certain Magical Index, titled New Testament, the story continues from where the previous arc left off. Toma finds himself embroiled in a new conflict involving various factions, including the Church of England, Academy City, and the Roman Catholic Church.
Novel vs Anime – A Certain Magical Index
Note: This is a repost of a series of an article I originally wrote for Crunchyroll. Check my writer profile to see my latest articles.
A Certain Magical Index is based off one of the most popular light novel series in Japan ever. If you count the side story volumes and the New Testament sequel currently being published in Japan, the Index series has over 40 volumes in print—and this isn’t even counting the A Certain Scientific Railgun manga spinoff which has its own sprawling continuity. If you’re even vaguely familiar with anime and light novels, you’ve probably heard of the Index franchise.
I’m gonna have to be honest with you straight up—Index isn’t this light novel fan’s cup of tea. I find the constant exposition tedious, and the prose childish and repetitive. This might be a consequence of the author’s insane schedule. Kazuma Kamachi has written one full-length book a month for the past two years, juggling Index with his other series: Intellectual Village no Zashiki Warashi, Heavy Object, and Saikyō o Kojiraseta Level Counter Stop Kenseijo Beatrice no Jakuten Sono Na wa “Buu Buu”. He also writes crossover volumes and short stories, as well as keeping up a web novel series on his personal website. You can imagine that he doesn’t exactly have time to polish everything he writes.
Having said all that, I can appreciate why Index is so popular. Index is set in a world where science clashes with magic, and it’s almost impossible to tell where sci-fi ends and fantasy begins. If you’re the type of fan who gets immersed in detailed fantasy settings, you’ll get a kick out of the Index light novel, because it goes into so much more detail than the anime counterpart. If you’re a history, occult, or physics geek, you’ll especially get a kick out of the way the story manages to tie so many of the concepts in these fields together into one big, interconnected metric. It’s just a pity that the imaginative setting of Index’s Academy City looks so drab and lifeless in the anime, distinguishable only by the CG-animated windmills that dot the landscape.
This level of detail in Index does come at a cost, however. The characters spend far too much time spouting exposition at each other when they’re supposed to be in life-threatening situations. It’s more noticeable in the anime where you can see all the action physically happening as the characters talk, which is ironic because the anime actually cuts out the most egregious examples of exposition-itis. The anime toned down what is actually the most appealing part of the light novel for worldbuilding fans, but it didn’t cut out enough to make the story accessible for anime-only viewers.
While the anime boasts strong special effects animation, especially during the action scenes, it also struggles at making the dialogue-heavy scenes visually interesting to watch. There are many occasions in Index where the characters merely sit or stand around talking to each other, and while this isn’t a problem in a novel as long as the dialogue itself is interesting, the scenes look static in animated form. While the anime does use some direction tricks here and there to spice things up, such as split screens, camera pans, and the Dutch angle, the effect can be hit-and-miss.
For example, take this scene from episode 1, where Index explains to Touma the existence of magic. The off-kilter camera angles in this scene are supposed to make the viewer feel a sense of unease, as if something about the scene is not quite right. But the effect is almost immediately compromised whenever the camera cuts to Index and Touma pulling goofy faces at each other. Is the viewer supposed to feel some of Touma’s unease after having his view of the world overturned? Or are we just supposed to laugh and take the existence of magic in stride? The framing of the scene supports both interpretations, and in the end it just leaves me confused about what kind of anime Index is trying to be.
That said, the anime does add in some nice visual details here and there, which tell us a lot about the characters. Index (the character) does not seem particularly religious through the dialogue or the light novel’s descriptions, but she is shown making the sign of the cross in episode 6 at a time when she’s particularly worried. Index (the anime) appears to be a loose depiction of Christianity at best, but little things like this are a neat reminder that Index is indeed a nun in this universe, and that her actions are consistent with her education.
There are also continuity nods in the anime that don’t exist in the light novel. In the first light novel volume, Misaka doesn’t appear outside the first scene, but she is shown throughout the anime adaptation alongside her friend Kuroko. Not only does this help establish the importance of her character for later episodes, her role as an observer in the first arc helps show that there’s more happening in the world of Index besides what’s happening through Touma’s perspective. I find this kind of scene-setting more interesting than the light novel’s constant explanations of magic and science lore, and I wish the anime did more of it.
All in all, A Certain Magical Index isn’t bad as an anime, and I’d recommend it as a more digestible form of the story to those who like the concept behind the setting but aren’t particularly fussy on the details. Besides cutting a good chunk of the exposition, the anime is a faithful, almost page-by-page adaptation of the light novel. If you don’t care about exactly how the special abilities work and just want to find out what happens in the plot, the anime is a fine substitute for the light novel… just be warned that it doesn’t move along quick enough to smooth over the glaring pacing problems in this series, and that the dialogue-heavy scenes don’t make a strong impression.
But if you have gotten hooked on the world of Index, the first nine volumes are available in English from Yen Press. The first season of the anime covers the first six volumes of the light novel, while the second season covers volumes 7-13, plus some of the side stories. While I’m here, I might as well recommend the Railgun manga, though, which is my favorite iteration of the franchise. I’ve always liked the idea behind the Index series, even when the execution doesn’t quite appeal to me at times, and I think that the franchise is broad enough that there’s something in it for everyone.
What’s your favorite version of the Index story?
Share this:
Like this:
Like Loading.Related
- Editorials
- toaru kagaku no railgun
- Toaru Majutsu no Index
The stakes are higher than ever as Toma discovers that the world may be on the brink of destruction. As Toma and his friends navigate through this dangerous new world, they must uncover the secrets behind the mysterious god-like being known as Othinus. The battle between science and magic intensifies, and Toma must use all his wits and powers to protect his friends and prevent disaster. The New Testament arc introduces new characters and expands upon the existing ones, delving deeper into their motivations and backstories. Toma's journey is filled with action, suspense, and emotional moments that keep readers and viewers on the edge of their seats. The conflict between science and magic is a recurring theme in A Certain Magical Index, and the New Testament arc explores this theme further. It examines the consequences of humanity's thirst for power and knowledge and raises philosophical questions about the balance between science and spirituality. Overall, the New Testament arc of A Certain Magical Index offers fans a thrilling continuation of the series' captivating storyline. With its unique blend of supernatural abilities, intricate world-building, and complex characters, it continues to captivate audiences and keep them eagerly awaiting each new installment..
Reviews for "Uncovering the hidden connections between the new terminaent and other elements in A Certain Magical Index"
1. John - 2 out of 5 stars - I found "A Certain Magical Index New Testament" to be quite disappointing. The plot felt scattered and confusing, making it difficult to follow along with the story. Additionally, I felt that the character development was lacking, as many of the characters felt one-dimensional and shallow. The constant use of magical powers without much explanation also took away from the overall enjoyment of the series. Overall, I wouldn't recommend this anime to others, as there are much better options available within the genre.
2. Sarah - 1 out of 5 stars - I really did not enjoy "A Certain Magical Index New Testament". The story was overly convoluted and hard to understand, leaving me feeling disconnected from the characters and the overall plot. The animation quality was also subpar, with awkward movements and unimpressive fight scenes. I was also disappointed by the lack of character development and the excessive use of fan service, which seemed unnecessary and distracting. Overall, I would suggest skipping this anime and finding something more engaging and well-executed.
3. Mike - 2 out of 5 stars - "A Certain Magical Index New Testament" didn't live up to the hype for me. The pacing of the series was inconsistent, with moments of intense action followed by long periods of unnecessary dialogue and exposition. The storyline became needlessly complex and hard to follow, making it difficult to stay engaged. I also found the main characters to be unrelatable and lacking depth. While the concept and world-building were interesting, the execution fell short, leaving me unsatisfied and unimpressed. I wouldn't recommend this anime to anyone seeking a cohesive and compelling story.