Past Anime Review: To Aru Majutsu no Index Season 1

December 22, 2011
Posted by DarrenW

Yes, and I'm back with a classic anime from 2008, "To Aru Majutsu no Index" (A Certain Magical Index) Season 1!

For those who have seen the review for season 2 and are wondering what is season 1 like, here is a rough idea.

So let us start from our protagonist, Kamijyo Touma. Who exactly is he? Well he lives and studies in Academic City (Gakuen Toshi), a city that wholly dedicates its research to teach/equip individuals with supernatural abilities, based off the esper theory.

Index Librorum Prohibitorum

But for Touma, he is known as a level 0, a person that has no ability whatsoever. Or does he?

So the story begins with Touma being chased down by thugs in Academic City. By being nice to prevent a girl from being bullied, he basically gets pwned. After that, the girl (Misaka Mikoto) who he was trying to protect suddenly decides to kill him.

But he survives! Followingly, he finds A SMALL NUN GIRL HANGING ON HIS BALCONY. And she goes by the name of Index Librorum, Prohibitorum, otherwise known as Index. Meeting her for the first time, Kamijyo takes good care of her.

Shirai Kuroko & Misaka Mikoto

However, there is more to this story. The instant index is under Touma's care, strange occurrences start to happen. A flame eating monster, conjured by a magician with red hair, claims that she is under his protection, but Touma will have none of that. Pissed off, he attacks the magicians, and succeeds. From the first battle alone, I think you will most likely be able to tell what is going on. Touma is no ordinary person. He has the ability. The ability to negate any ability with a touch of his right hand.

Kanzaki Kaori

The magician, introduces himself as Stiyl Magnus, part of an organisation called Neccessarius. Along with Kanzaki Kaori (another member), they explain that they have been protecting Index for a long time, for she has the ability to store 103, 000 grimoires (Magic Books)

But, there is a drawback. With each coming year, they will have to "reset" her memory as it has reached its maximum capacity (Like a computer). The magic books have been using most of her memory, and within 3 days time, they have to reset her again.

Touma can't allow that. No way! Letting a small girl lose her precious and happy memories year after year. He must put an end to that imagination. He vows to never let the reset process happen.

The story takes another turn when the time limit for Index has come. She suddenly falls unconscious, but Touma finds that a magical rune in Index's throat, that seemed to be the cause of the problem. Using his ability, he activates Johann's Pen (Self-Defence System). Fighting for Index's freedom with all his might, he manages to save her from losing her memory.

But he ends up losing all of HIS MEMORY! He completely has no memory of any event that has happened in his past life.

Kamijyo Touma & Index

So a new chapter begins for Touma. With the magical world in chaos, he must put a stop to all its evil intentions, with the help of Index and the neccessarius members.

Plot-wise I would say well done, but the style is very similar to that in season 2, confusing and slightly complicating. But thats what adds to its excitement. It is able to segment the various stories into different adventures throughout the series.

The atmosphere however, is very different from its successor, as there is very little ecchi in the anime, (only for episode 1 I guess), as compared to season 2's mad ecchi spree. You will find it like any other action anime.

The art is very well done, with the visual effects from magic being very well shown in the anime. So please expect good action scenes from this anime!

For those who like climax endings, I apologize because the ending doesn't really give off that "wow" factor, but its touching.

Season 1 was very much enjoyable when I watched it last year, as compared to season 2, which I anticipated so badly, but sadly, a letdown due to its numerous ecchi, and the fact that the title of the anime is called Index, but she was not featured at all.

To Aru Majutsu no Index S1 premiered in Fall 2008 with 24 episodes, and was subbed by AoShen (Does not exist anymore), and Eclipse (Which also is no longer active either) Sigh...

You can also catch the majutsu series in light novel, game and manga (Which is recommended because it contains more information that was removed in the anime). There is also a side-story "To Aru Kagaku no Railgun" (A Certain Scientific Railgun) which features Misaka Mikoto.

However I cannot find a suitable preview video online...

Enjoy To Aru Majutsu no Index I!

Merry Christmas!
DarrenW