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+---- Thread: [Review] Toaru Majutsu no Index [Anime] (/showthread.php?tid=3584856)
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[Review] Toaru Majutsu no Index [Anime] - Eminent - Jun 29, 2013
Review and format by Eminent
Toaru Majutsu no Index
![[Image: 10815.jpg]](https://cdn.myanimelist.net/images/anime/3/10815.jpg)
Notes:
This review only covers season 1. I watched the specials too, but they're not really worth an entire review. If you want a summary, they're really just like the deleted scenes menu of a movie, with ridiculous dubs.
Summary:
Set in a city of scientifically advanced superhuman students, but in a world where magic is also real. Touma Kamijou’s right hand, the Imagine Breaker, will negate all magic, psychic, or divine powers, but not his own bad luck. One day he finds a young girl hanging on his balcony railing. She turns out to be a nun from the Church of England, and her mind has been implanted with the Index-Librorum-Prohibitorum - all the magical texts the Church has removed from circulation.
Information:
Episodes: 24 + 2 specials
Aired: Oct 5, 2008 to Mar 19, 2009
Genres: Action, Magic, Sci-Fi, Super Power
Rating: R - 17+
Stream: AnimeFreak • AnimeFTW • AnimeUltima
OP/ED:
OP
Spoiler (Click to View)
ED
Spoiler (Click to View)
Trailer:
Review:
Plot:
The plot is the one main lacking point in this series. Honestly, that is a very strange way to start off the review considering my love for the series, but it is true that the plot could definitely have used some changes.
In actuality though, it wasn't really the plot overall that suffered the show, there were a couple aspects that messed it up a little. To start with, it seemed like the producers were making the show as if it was going to be a lot longer than it really was (Yes, I know it's only season 1). It had the classic shounen style of having a bunch of different smaller stories comprising the series, rather than the main character opposing one antagonist. The problem is, the series is only 24 episodes, so it couldn't be pulled off as well as a show like Naruto could.
This also directly creates another huge problem with the show. There is a complete lack of antagonism in general in the show. Well, moreso it's just a lack of a main antagonist. But I'm sure you can agree that it's frustrating when the show ends when an antagonist is defeated, but the antagonist is some random character who was introduced the episode before. The villain needs development, otherwise the show will fall apart. That being said, the main villain is hinted at throughout the show, but not really given much screen time or explanation. It seems like they're treating both seasons as one, not caring much for the first season.
It also seems like the world created for this show is a large one, with lots of small details. These details pile up and are difficult to explain without dragging on. I think this might be the reason for the length of the series, and also contributes to the viewer being confused for pretty much the whole thing. In fact, it's so confusing, that the main character has to go to school to learn these things.
I completely just tore apart the plot for this series, but don't worry, the show isn't terrible!
Characters:
I've seen others argue about the characters being cliche and overused. And.. well, some of them kind of are. God dammit, why do I even like this show?
Touma Kamijou, voice acted by Abe Atsushi, is the main protagonist of the show. He is powerless to an extent, and has terrible luck, but still manages to beat the strongest people in the world. That in and of itself is pretty cliche, but his personality fits the protagonist stereotype pretty well, too. Not much more needs to be said. P.S. He voice acts the main character of Another and Bakuman if that makes a difference.
Index, voiced by the beautiful Yuka Iguchi, is supposedly the main female protagonist. In reality, she is one of the most important people in the world, but she somehow managed to stay with a complete stranger without her organization caring, and then the show pretty much forgot about her after the first few episodes. For a show that has her name in the title, it really lacked focus on her, when she should have been the premise for the entire show. She does make appearances, and shows up a lot, but she is usually fairly unrelated to whatever is going on in the show, and is kind of out of the loop.
Mikasa Mikoto, who is Kawaii as hell, is voice acted by Rina Satou. She isn't really a main character in this show, and only appears every once in awhile, but when she does appear, I totally love it, because she's either kicking ass, or doing something totally cute. She really brings life to the series, and is probably the most unique character in the entire show, with the exception of her roommate, Shirai Kuroko. She has a lot of flavor to her character, and is pretty well developed considering how little screen time she got compared to other characters. Hell, she was good enough to get her own 2 season side story which was rated higher than this show!
Thoughts:
Overall, there were quite a few things lacking with this show. So far I've done nothing but say bad things about it, which may make it surprising when you see what I rated it. The fact is, the show delivered something better than what I've given it credit for so far. Its enjoyability is incredible. The way it's set up makes you completely overlook its flaws unless you really focus, and it's incredibly easy to get lost in the show and have a good time. If I had to compare the experience to something, I would say it's similar to Ao no Exorcist (Not in content, but in the meta aspect).
To add to the above paragraph, I would also like to inform you that I haven't seen the second season yet. However, I want to extremely bad right now, but I knew I had to write this before I could continue the series. I'm actually dreading writing this, because I would rather be watching that. So, what makes it so hard to stop watching this show?
I think the reason I love this show is because I'm still able to get caught by the the hooks that shounen anime purposefully uses to lure premature males. The mix of cool action effects, lots of humor in-between, and very cute girls (*cough* Misaka) makes guys really enjoy a show. Although this causes various aspects of the show to be lacking, and despite the fact this strategy has been used in many other shows before, it still works by being just unique enough to pass as a different story. This particular show had a pacing that was similar to D. Gray-man, but it was much less dark.
This show also is making me seriously consider getting a Misaka figure.
In general, there were plenty of aspects of this show that made it technically "bad". However, there was that special touch to it that sort of brainwashed me into not seeing its faults. I was able to get completely lost in the show, which is something not many shows can do. Honestly, a show that can hide its faults it equally as good as a show that has no faults to begin with. It had a great vibe to it, and it was lots of fun to watch; I can't wait to watch season 2.
My Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ 8/10
MAL Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ 7.85/10
* - Elfen Lied - Jun 29, 2013
Wow. A honest and in depth review. I was thinking of watching this soon and now I have decided to give it a go.
* - Kenji Harima - Jun 29, 2013
I keep pondering on whether to watch this or not. I guess I'll give it a shot. Convincing review.
* - TheElo124 - Jun 29, 2013
i have to agree with you on that rating. it has a good story and art
* - Bleach - Jun 29, 2013
is there only one season of this anime :? let me know
* - Eminent - Jun 29, 2013
(Jun 29, 2013 08:28 AM)Bleach Wrote: is there only one season of this anime :? let me know
Nope, there's two 24-episode seasons, 2 specials (They come right after season 1), and then there's a side story that follows Misaka as the main character. There are 2 seasons, which are also 24 episodes for the side story, but season 2 is airing right now :)
* - King~ - Jun 29, 2013
What is the order to watch it in?
Index > Index II > Railgun > Railgun S ?
or
Index > Railgun > Index 2 > Railgun S ?
or something else lol. Railgun is my friend's favorite show so I want to watch it in the correct order ^^
* - Eminent - Jun 29, 2013
(Jun 29, 2013 12:54 PM)agsking Wrote: What is the order to watch it in?
Index > Index II > Railgun > Railgun S ?
or
Index > Railgun > Index 2 > Railgun S ?
or something else lol. Railgun is my friend's favorite show so I want to watch it in the correct order ^^
Well, technically it doesn't actually matter, since Railgun is a side story, and not actually a sequel or prequel. However, the order I recommend would be:
Index > Specials > Index II > Rewatch specials > Railgun > Railgun S
* - King~ - Jun 29, 2013
(Jun 29, 2013 12:56 PM)Eminent Wrote: Well, technically it doesn't actually matter, since Railgun is a side story, and not actually a sequel or prequel. However, the order I recommend would be:
Index > Specials > Index II > Rewatch specials > Railgun > Railgun S
Why (without spoiling anything ^^) rewatch the specials?
* - Eminent - Jun 29, 2013
(Jun 29, 2013 01:13 PM)agsking Wrote: Why (without spoiling anything ^^) rewatch the specials?
Just because they're funny ^.^ There's actually no real reason to
* - Bleach - Jun 30, 2013
well Ive finished index 1 and 2 and judging from index 2 ending theres going to be a index 3 im I wrong?
* - Eminent - Jun 30, 2013
(Jun 30, 2013 08:48 PM)Bleach Wrote: well Ive finished index 1 and 2 and judging from index 2 ending theres going to be a index 3 im I wrong?
I'm not sure. It's adapted from a novel, so maybe if there's more to that. However, each season so far has been 2 years after the last, and since railgun s2 is airing atm, it could be a few years still if there's another one
* - Phizo - Jul 1, 2013
In my opinion, it wasn't great enough to give it that high of a rating.
Although, I've only watched Index and didn't bother to continue on. Is it worth it?
My most favourite scene:
Spoiler (Click to View)
I love the opening, too. ^~^
* - TheElo124 - Jul 1, 2013
for timeframe its railgun > railgun s > index > index 2
* - Eminent - Jul 1, 2013
(Jul 1, 2013 03:42 AM)Supaginge Wrote: for timeframe its railgun > railgun s > index > index 2
Stfu, I'll watch it backwards if I want 🤣