A Certain Magical Index (とある魔術の禁書目録(インデックス) Toaru Majutsu no Indekkusu) is a Japanese light novel series written by Kazuma Kamachi and illustrated by Kiyotaka Haimura, which has been published by ASCII Media Works under their Dengeki Bunko imprint since April 2004. A manga adaptation by Chuya Kogino began serialization in Monthly Shōnen Gangan from May 2007. J.C.Staff produced two 24-episode anime series between 2008 and 2011. An animated film was released in February 2013. A side-story manga series, A Certain Scientific Railgun (とある科学の超電磁砲（レールガン） Toaru Kagaku no Rērugan), began serialization in Dengeki Daioh from March 2007. Seven Seas Entertainment began releasing the manga in North America in June 2011. J.C.Staff produced the a 24-episode anime adaptation between October 2009 and March 2010, follow by an original video animation released in October 2010; a second anime season began airing in April 2013. The anime adaptations are licensed in North America by Funimation. A second side-story manga series, A Certain Scientific Accelerator (とある科学の一方通行 Toaru Kagaku no Akuserarēta), will begin serialization in Dengeki Daioh in December 2013. A Certain Magical Index is set in a world where supernatural abilities are a reality. While some individuals known as Espers (超能力者 Chōnōryokusha) possess special powers gained since birth, other individuals denominated Magicians (魔術師 Majutsushi) gain their powers upon mastering the power of symbolism, be it from obtaining knowledge from special books known as Grimoires (魔道書 Madōsho) or by using special magic artifacts. While several Magician cults align themselves with ancient religions, Esper powers are usually developed by experimentation and training, thus they are usually aligned with scientific institutions. This leads to a power struggle between magic and science factions for control of the world. The story is set in Academy City (学園都市 Gakuen Toshi), a technologically advanced city located in western Tokyo, known for its educational and research institutions. Tōma Kamijō is a student in Academy City whose right hand, the Imagine Breaker, has the ability to negate any supernatural powers, but also negates his own luck, much to his chagrin who meets a young girl named Index who is a nun from Necessarius, a secret magic branch of the Church of England, and her mind has been implanted with the Index Librorum Prohibitorum—103,000 forbidden magical books the Church has removed from circulation. His encounter with her leads him to meet others from the secret worlds of science and magic and an adventure with his friends where both collide. Tōma's unusual power places him at the center of conflicts relating magicians and science-based espers in Academy City. As Tōma tries to help and protect his friends, he learns the people he knows are not as they appear and begins to attract the attention of magicians and espers alike as they try to unravel the secrets behind Academy City, Index and his own special power. The side-story A Certain Scientific Railgun focuses on Mikoto Misaka, an electromaster who is the third most powerful of the seven Level 5 espers in Academy City. Set before and during the events of the novels, the manga tells the adventures of Mikoto and her friends during that time period from their point of view. Another side-story, A Certain Scientific Accelerator, focuses on Accelerator, a psychokinectic known as the most powerful esper in Academy City, who like Mikoto is a prominent character in the main story. A 24-episode anime adaptation of A Certain Magical Index was produced by J.C.Staff and directed by Hiroshi Nishikiori, and aired in Japan from October 4, 2008 to March 19, 2009. The anime was collected into eight DVD and Blu-ray Disc sets which were released from January 23 to August 21, 2009. In addition, four mini bonus episodes depicting Index super deformed, titled A Certain Magical Index-tan, were bundled with limited edition copies of the first and fifth DVDs of the first season, and the first BD/DVD release of the second season. The anime covered the first six novels in the series. Funimation have licensed the series in North America. An English language dub began streaming on Funimation's website in September 2012 and was released on DVD on December 11, 2012. The first season aired in North America on the Funimation Channel on January 21, 2013. A second season, titled A Certain Magical Index II, aired in Japan between October 8, 2010 and April 1, 2011, and was also streamed on Nico Nico Douga. The limited edition of the first BD/DVD volume of Index II, released on January 26, 2011, contained a A Certain Scientific Railgun mini-novel.

• published: 14 Sep 2013
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