TOARU KAGAKU NO RAILGUN

DESCRIPTION

CAST

ANIME ActionToaru Kagaku no Railgun S
MANGA ActionToaru Kagaku no Railgun
OVA ActionToaru Kagaku no Railgun: Misaka-san wa Ima Chuumoku no Mato Desukara
OVA ComedyToaru Kagaku no Railgun: Entenka no Satsuei Model mo Raku ja Arimasen wa ne.
SPECIAL ComedyToaru Kagaku no Railgun: Motto Marutto Railgun
ANIME ActionToaru Majutsu no Index

REVIEWS

• 

  planetJane

  78/100
  Supported by rock-solid fundamentals, this series is often campy but hard not to love.

  It's probably not the nicest thing to lead a positive review of a show by praising its "craft". Generally speaking, calling something "well-made" is kind of a backhanded compliment, at least if it's the first thing that comes to mind. Nonetheless, A Certain Scientific Railgun (just Railgun from here on out) is a testament to how far having solid fundamentals can get you. Railgun is adapted from a spinoff of the A Certain Magical Index light novel series, and stars Mikoto Misaka, nickname "Railgun", an incredibly powerful esper (a "Level 5", on a five point scale) with the ability to manipulate electricity (the nickname comes from what is presented as something of a signature move; flipping a magnetized quarter and turning it into a makeshift railgun slug. She uses it only about a half dozen times over the series' run, and her powerset is probably easiest to compare to that of the titular protagonist of DCAU oddball Static Shock.

  Misaka lives in Academy City, a city with a system of academies (hence the name, y'see) running from kindergaden through university designed to nurture and train young espers. Companions of hers include Kuroko, her roommate with teleportation powers who is madly in love with her (this being an anime, this is played entirely for comedy), Uiharu, a computer specialist who wears a small bouquet of flowers in her hair, and Saten, who tends to serve as sort of the glue of the friend group, and has her own fairly extensive arc revolving around the fact that she has no powers. The latter three characters are also part of a junior police division of sorts called Judgement. If you're having a bit of a hard time figuring out what kind of show this is, that's natural. Light novel camp of this sort tends to mix and match the slickest, most archetype-driven bits of various different genres, so it should come as no surprise that Railgun at points resembles a superhero show, slice of life comedy, police or sci-fi drama, or some combination of the four, depending on the episode.

  

  Our protagonists. Left to right: Uihara, Saten, Misaka, Kuroko

  ---

  It's a little tempting to give Railgun credit here simply because in anime at least, this wasn't as common at the time as it is now (many light novel-adapted properties today are tossed genre salads of this sort, when they're not busy riding the isekai wave that is), but Railgun's strengths don't really come from being particularly original. They come from the fact that through the tonal switchups and various additions to the cast, it manages to wring a lot of heart out of its premise and occasionally silly execution. The main four in particular are never anything less than a joy to see interact, whether they're ribbing each other, fighting alongside one another, or even not getting along (see: the rift that grows and eventually heals between Uihara and Kuroko in the last few episodes of the series), and on top of that the supporting cast is usually great too. The real standout here is Harumi Kiyama, who over the course of her appearances in the show grows from a comedy relief character (the gag being thus; she often gets warm, and thus takes her clothes off at inappropriate times. Hysterical!), to the story's first major villain (and one with pretty sympathetic motives at that), to a reluctant ally of the main cast in the final arc. We also have Konori, the girls' superior at Judgement who gets a small love story arc to flesh out her character. Kongo, a ridiculous heiress type whose incompetence with cooking is the core of what is probably the funniest moment in the series--we will leave it at the fact that it involves three of our characters attempting to grate cobbed corn--and who then goes on to help in the final battle at the series' conclusion and final arc villain, the ridiculously named Therestina Lifeline, who is just the right amount of cackling and campy. On the less impressive side there is Index protagonist Touma Kamijou, who, stripped of the context that his own series provides, only really shows up here to either cameo (which is fine, but kind of obnoxious, as though the series needs to remind viewers that it's a spinoff) or to rescue Misaka, the actual protagonist (which is genuinely frustrating as a sapping of her agency, and thankfully it only happens twice).

  

  "Index" transplant Touma and first arc villain Professor Kiyama are both introduced in a pretty low-key episode, in a comedic bit. This is pretty typical of how the show introduces and develops characters.

  ---

  Speaking of Misaka, she really does remain the standout character even as almost everyone in the cast has their moments. What was a fairly (though to be fair, not entirely) flat "tsundere" personality in Index is expanded here into a general brash headstrongness and a difficulty in processing her feelings, and a tendency to try to strike out on her own even when she shouldn't. She's actually one of the most well-rounded anime protagonists I've seen in quite some time, which makes the fact that Railgun is from 2009 a touch depressing, but more importantly, it really focuses what might otherwise be a bit of a haphazard cast without her. She is also incredibly cool when she gets the chance to shine in a fight scene, which is of course, very important for the protagonist of this sort of series.

  

  Misaka only uses her eponymous "railgun" trick about six or so times, but it never stops being a treat to watch.

  ---

  As for the visuals, they've got their ups and downs, but more of the former than the latter. It's true that the CGI has not aged particularly well, being a bit on the chintzy side even for its era and certainly not looking spectacular nowadays (incidentally this makes the villains of the final arc, who use CGI-rendered power armor, a bit hard to take as credible. It's a problem, but a minor one), and the show has a religious commitment to sidemouth, that odd stylistic choice that remains the bane of anime fans everywhere, our medium's equivalent of the dreaded "bobbing heads" of Hannah-Barbera-era American animation. That said, the animation otherwise varies from solid to actually pretty incredible, bringing out the sakuga not just for action sequences but also moments where it enhances physical comedy or lends some extra depth to a character just doing something. It goes without saying that the fights tend to be very well-done, with some serious bone-cracking done throughout the series by almost every character save maybe Uihara.

  All in all, Railgun is really just an incredibly fun show, and if you have the tolerance for light novel camp and the occasional moment of skeeviness in the comedy episodes, it's pretty easy to recommend, with or without the wider context of the parent A Certain Magical Index series.

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• 

  OVERPOWERED99

  81/100
  Electrifyingly charged with conceptual science, this is the improved addition needed for the Toaru series.

  

  We all know electricity can be an elemental awesomeness. It's powerful, it's shocking, and it sparks with brilliance. What better ways to describe Railgun than with all those words? This is the energized spinoff that does everything better than Index.

  Switch on the power. We're going to let all these cheerful cuteness and electrifying excitement flow through the circuit. As opposed to Index's focus on magic, Railgun places an innovative emphasis on science. The kind of science that's not really science but more like conceptual science, granting a magical and mysterious vibe. Structured from serious followed by episodes of lightheartedness, the story is able to flow more seamlessly rather than jumping from arc to arc in a confused mess. Having episodics and serious arcs may be a weird structure at first glance, but there's an advantageous side to this. Delving into the everyday lives of four girls unlocks investment, giving way for us to care and worry about the characters when they deal with the nasty sides of science. Their outward appearance may say entertainingly cute, yet they hold a deeper persona than mere adorableness. Through a multifaceted perspective, thoughtful themes and ideas from morality to guilt and innocence of victims are explored with intrigue. None of the characters are the same. Their power and background differs and this creates various developmental focus, notably Saten who feels like a useless underdog along with the competent tsundere by the name of Misaka. Despite their differences, it's clear that in the end, their friendship is something meaningful. Side characters are also given focus so we can understand them further but not necessarily for development. The most negative part I find throughout is the comedy. Many of them are recycled, sometimes appearing at the wrong times and stunning the mood quite awkwardly.

  Academy City, while technologically ahead of its time, is a city that looks very similar to our first world cities. Regardless, a futuristic setting can still be felt with its blue tinges and subtle glints, reinforced by a number of techs surrounding the metropolis. And among the buildings of this city is a world full of espers, situated in a life of daily activities or energetically charged with hidden secrets as they fight and protect. Sending a rush of rapid excitement, fight scenes can power up to overflowing exhilaration in a matter of light speed. The slick animation helps in achieving that as flowing smoothness makes up for an engaging action. But there's no denying the sound effects of powerful electricity and other abilities amplify it even more. Everyday episodes have consistent animation, entertaining me with character expressions that show their personality and humor. It's like two sides of the same coin. I could describe the atmosphere as a fierce adorableness because of the seamless switch from bubbliness to graveness. The seiyuus allow both spectrum to be expressed. The reminders of a CGDCT is felt with their cheery voices. Then the hype of a battle Shounen takes over when their voices turn to serious determination. An assemble of varying soundtracks also supplement with these transitions, fabricating all kinds of mood. While bland at times, the more calming to the reverberating tracks pin the mood in place, so they serve reasonably well. On a more kickass note, the opening songs have electrifyingly cool beats that really gets me going and the ending songs are just as great.

  All in all, Railgun is the improved addition needed for the Toaru series. Similarities executed differently, Index short-circuited its ideas while Railgun maintained its flow of charged-up ideas with consistency. Truly a certain awesome plasma.

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• 

  iraqlobster01

  82/100
  I'll write these for future reviews.

  Let's try out this new format.

  Synopsis (for both seasons, taken from MAL):

  Season 1: The student-filled Academy City is at the forefront of scientific advancement and home to the esper development program. The seven "Level 5" espers are the most powerful in Academy City, and ranked third among them is middle schooler Mikoto Misaka, an electricity manipulator known as "The Railgun."

  When strange incidents begin occurring throughout the city, she finds each crime to be connected to the elusive "Level Upper," a legendary device that allegedly increases the esper level of its user. As the situation escalates, it becomes apparent that there is more to the Level Upper than meets the eye, and that Academy City may be a far more twisted place than the glamorous utopia it appears to be.

  Toaru Kagaku no Railgun focuses on Misaka and her friends—and the dangerous situations they find themselves in—as they get caught up in the matter of the Level Upper. As Misaka says, "There's never a dull moment in this city."

  Season 2: Mikoto Misaka and her friends are back, investigating rumors across Academy City. Soon, Mikoto discovers something terrifying: horrific experiments are taking place throughout the city, involving the murder of thousands of espers. Moreover, these espers are far from just ordinary people: they are clones of Mikoto herself. Feeling responsible for their treatment, she sets off to put an end to the experiments; however, the forces opposing her are much more dangerous than she anticipated, and Mikoto finds herself up against some of the most powerful espers imaginable.

  Toaru Kagaku no Railgun S continues the story of the Railgun as she desperately fights to put an end to the inhuman experiments that she believes she helped cause, her life dragged deep into despair in the process. There's never a dull moment in Academy City, but no one ever said all of them would be pleasant.

  Story:

  I'm done with plot summary. Let's just analyze the story. Each analysis takes both seasons into account.

  Premise (1.5 out of 2 points): The premise of Railgun, as defined by the synopses, is definitely unique due to how supernatural the story of the show is. If you didn't read the synopsis, the show basically tells the story of Misaka Mikoto, a typical teenage girl with magnificent powers, and her adventures with her friends in this wide expanse of scientific innovation and contemporary life otherwise known as Academy City. The story integrates both normal and abnormal elements, so the story is easy for viewers who prefer a natural or supernatural premise. Additionally, the wide variety of "genre" (e.g., action, comedy, sci-fi) adds another dimension to the story while having something that any viewer can enjoy. However, such variety might push viewers away since genre preference is subjective.

  Pace (.5 out of 2 points): Railgun's pace is all over the place; I genuinely felt as if some arcs were too slow while others put their foot on the gas. Seeing such inconsistency left me in a state of confusion for some of the show, and I felt as if some of the story lines would have been much better if they were not rushed/dragged down. Overall, the pace is one of the real weaknesses of the show.

  Complexity (2 out of 2 points): Railgun is incredibly detailed. While some viewers might not appreciate shows with incredible amounts of description, background, etc., I loved the amount of lore and information that was provided regarding subjects like AIM dispersion and esper powers. The show as a whole was really interesting and complex in a way that grabs the viewer's attention instead of pushing it away. Overall, I was really immersed within the inner mechanisms of the story.

  Plausibility (1.5 out of 2 points): Like with any supernatural show, there seems to be a lack of plausibility regarding the story. However, the contemporary setting and seemingly normal lives and stories told throughout the show are extremely applicable in a real-life setting. Yes, the show does feature the atypical in the form of futuristic technology and supernatural abilities, but these features do not infringe upon the very plausible environment, people, and atmosphere that are seen in the show.

  Ending (1.5 out of 2 points): The ending is nice in that it builds upon the themes, events, and plot devices that developed as the show neared its ending. Overall, it seems as if the show wraps up nicely and leaves room for potential future seasons/side stories. The ending scene was a bit cliche, but that is more of a personal criticism rather than an actual detriment.

  Overall rating: 8/10

  Characters:

  Presence (1 out of 2 points): The characters in Railgun seem to follow a pretty consistent formula. They are either present for most of the show and consistently contribute to the development of plot and themes, appear once or twice and contribute to one or two specific arcs, or appear once and do not contribute to the show whatsoever. The main characters (i.e. Misaka, Kuroko, Uiharu, Saten) and some side characters (e.g. Kongou, Mii) are fundamental to the show's plot progression and are omnipresent overall. I was particularly sad that some characters (e.g. Touma) did not see more time in the show; I really loved his character. Other characters, like Shinobu and Shokuhou, are almost irrelevant characters whose presence is incredibly brief and, to be blunt, incredibly idle and pointless.

  Personality (2 out of 2 points): Regardless of presence, each character in Railgun is incredibly unique. No character is too generic or bland. In fact, most of the characters are very special in their own right. From the perverse nature of Kuroko, to the tsunderic (probably not a word but meh) tendencies of Misaka, each character separates themselves from the pack well, while also working well in conjunction with one another. The cast is very cohesive when one considers the interactions between these diverse personalities, which helps the viewer appreciate the cast even more as they watch.

  Backdrop (2 out of 2 points): I'm not too keen on what backdrop is supposed to be. However, from what I can gather, its the interaction between each character and their environment. With this definition, it seems to me that Railgun's environment is very prominent for each character. In general, it seems as if Academy City plays a significant role when considering both the development and adventures of our cast of characters. Again, I don't really know how backdrop relates to characters, so that's all I'll analyze for now.

  Development (1.25 out of 2 points) Most of the characters in Railgun develop quite well albeit very slowly (because of the length of the show). The first season was really spent developing the characters, so it makes sense to rate this segment high. However, some characters do take a backseat in the second season, which does hurt the show slightly, but it left room for Misaka's character to blossom during the clone arc. In addition, some characters do not develop at all, primarily due to both a lack of presence and an inadequate amount of time spent developing supporting characters in general. Don't get me wrong, some supporting cast members develop beautifully (like Kongou), yet the sheer number of characters alongside the more story-driven second season makes it more difficult for some characters to develop.

  Keep in mind, I have not watched Index yet. Ratings would probably be a bit higher if I had watched the original before the spin-off.

  Catharsis (1.5 out of 2 points): The expression of emotion primarily occurs within the second season. The first season isn't necessary devoid of any catharsis, but the emotional presence found within the last 24 episodes of the show completely dominate compared to the first 24. Most of the emotional purification happens through Misaka's experiences with her clones/Accelerator, but characters like Kuroko, Saten, Uiharu also experience feelings of doubt, fear, and other negative emotions that are eventually purged towards the end of the show. Once again, a lack of presence and development from some characters leaves them completely devoid of any emotional expression, so the catharsis in this show is not perfect.

  Overall rating: 7.75/10

  Aesthetics (artstyle):

  General (2 out of 2 points): The art style in Railgun is very defined and detailed. The attack animations are fantastic to look at, the detail in each character and object is perfect, and the setting of the show is absolutely stunning. Excellent overall.

  Characters (1.75 out of 2 points): The characters in Railgun are beautifully animated; the attention to detail from the art directors is extreme, for lack of a better term. The character design is slightly generic, as the characters are made to be middle school students, but the supernatural aspect shoves the simplicity right out the window; it really makes you question whether you're really looking at middle school students.

  Backgrounds: (2 out of 2 points): The backgrounds are hyper-realistic; it's as if you're in a real city found somewhere in the world. There's not much else I can say.

  Animation (2 out of 2 points): The animation is stellar. It is always good, especially during the battle sequences. Simple animations are executed to perfection while the more complex sequences are amazing to behold. The character movements are also very seamless and do not look choppy in any way. The environment is also animated excellently, as both nature-based forms as well as man-made forms move in a way that catch the viewer's eye.

  Visual effects (2 out of 2 points): Very good. The super powers shown in the show are very beautiful and captivating. Other visual effects add to the overall atmosphere found during a particular context and are not intrusive in any way.

  Overall rating: 9.75/10

  Aesthetics (sound):

  Voice acting (3 out of 3 points): The show uses high-profile voice actors who have been heard in plenty of anime. They fit each respective character profile well and are very pleasant to listen to. Nothing sounds exaggerated or fake as well; all of the voices are extremely realistic. Additionally, the performances of some voice actors were absolutely outstanding (Misaka S2 was so good). Excellent overall.

  Music (3 out of 4 points): Most of the music in the show was absolutely breathtaking; the openings fit the futuristic and supernatural tone that the show exudes and the ending themes tie up each episode with a touching undertone, something seen on occasion within the show. However, I was not fond of all of the ending themes; I would've preferred something more epic instead of the soothing themes.

  Sound effects (3 out of 3 points): Very good. Nothing excessive or ear-destroying. Very soothing when it needed to be and very epic when it needed to be.

  Overall rating: 9/10

  Enjoyment:

  Art (1 out of 1 point): Loved everything about how the anime looked. No complaints.

  Sound (1.5 out of 2 points): I love most of the music. As mentioned previously, some of the ending themes were a bit too lackluster; I wanted something more epic or something that I would actually listen to more than once.

  Overall (4 out of 7 points): While I believe the story of Railgun to be exhilarating, hilarious, and emotional, the flaws seen within most of the show prevent me from fully appreciating the show. The first season was a bit too slice-of-lifey for my taste, since the plot progression was usually contingent on the development of each character instead of a specific plot. Whenever a specific plot (e.g. Level Upper) was actually established, the pace of the plot was too fast and really left me in a confused state for most of the show. I found the Level Upper and 2nd main arcs to be incredibly dull and lackluster overall. The second season mended some of the problems the first season had, but lacked in other departments that were either stellar or just as bad in the first season. While Misaka's character blossoms into one of the best animated heroines ever, some other characters see little development up until the last few episodes of the show. The Febri arc was mostly bad--save for Kongou's character development and the exaggerated cuteness--and I really felt as if the show should have ended/transitioned into another season after the end of the SISTERS arc. Even with these flaws, I wholeheartedly enjoyed the show's story, but it could have been so much better with some adjustments (or a 3rd season, which hopefully comes).

  Overall rating: 6.5/10

  Summary:

  Railgun is a great show. It's nothing special, but I hold it in high esteem with most of the anime I have watched. I feel like I've done the show an injustice by watching it before checking out Index, but alas I did not have it on my list previous to watching Railgun. The flaws are not egregious, but they pile up and are impossible to ignore after a certain amount of time. Nonetheless, my casual-watcher half adored the show and my critical-watcher half thought it could have done some things better, but also thought it was a nice watch.

  I would definitely recommend it.

  Misaka is a fucking waifu by the way. She's fucking perfect.

  Total rating: 8.25/10
  Would I recommend?: Ya. Give it a watch, but don't expect anything perfect. Go into it casually.

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