Series Review: To Aru Majutsu no Index
I recently finished watching To Aru Majutsu no Index and figured I should write a review for this! Actually, I should be writing more reviews as it is, so this is part of my effort to write more reviews!
To Aru Majutsu no Index reminded me of watching Shakugan no Shana. I mean, the storyline was sort of similar, and the overall feel of the anime was sort of similar, but what really brings that feeling to this anime is probably the fact that it’s developed by the same studio and published by the same publisher as Shakugan no Shana.
(They even have a special titled “A Certain Magical Index-tan” which is almost exactly like the special titled “Shakugan no Shana-tan” from Shakugan no Shana!)
Shana was an anime I thoroughly enjoyed, both seasons one and two, and I’m hoping a third season is coming out, so I thought I’d enjoy Index just as much! However, that’s not all true. There are some key differences. Index was really fun to watch, but where it lacks is in character development.
For character development, a character would be introduced and for a few episodes we’d focus on that character. Like, they would have an “arc”. Once their “arc” was complete, that character would disappear never to be seen again. That is, aside from the main male character, Toma Kamijo.
This was annoying. Index, the main female character, is introduced at at the beginning and has her “arc”. Shortly after that, she goes to stay with Toma and we really don’t see her as much for the rest of the series. She pops up in an episode every now and then, but not much.
This continues until the end of the series. Index is brought back out from the sidelines as it were and becomes active in the storyline, but really not until the end…
I had hoped that she would have joined Toma along side and work together with him, but I guess that didn’t happen.
I do have good comments about this anime. The first opening was really good, probably one of the better openings for an anime I’ve seen in a while. The second opening was also good, but not as good as the first.
The art and animation was really well done.
I did enjoy the storyline, aside from the lack of character development, so I wouldn’t say this anime was a total loss.
In the end, I would recommend watching this, but just be prepared for a lack of character development. :)
(I’ll post a couple of more pictures soon…)
That girl is kind of a babe WHO IS SHE
Her name is Index. And yes she’s suppost to be the main heroin but as Chibi had said, we haven’t see her that much in the series. I guess we’ll have to wait until 2nd season for that.
Ohh SHE’S Index. She’s cute, but I don’t wanna watch it if she barely shows up.. unless you can promise there are many other cute girls.
They’re making a second season? Maybe that’ll make up for the lack of character development then..
I’ll definitely be watching the second series :D
I agree the series needs a bit more character development but most of the light novel’s volumes are more plot-driven than anything else, especially the arcs that were adapted into the TV series. The major character developments are mostly limited to the short stories volumes, which haven’t been adapted into Anime yet. Then again, all of the arcs that were animated (Volume 1 – 6) were um…not very good, imho. It’s after Volume 7 where stuff gets much better so yes, do look forward to Season 2. ;)
Well, I guess the title of this anime shouldn’t be To Aru Majutsu No Index since she is not seen for a long time (I don’t know about the novel) but actually I enjoyed watching Touma getting in trouble and trying to be the heroe, even though he doesn’t mean it (like every other underdog turned into heroe). You gotta accept that this show has a little “Harem” in it since Index, Aisa, Mikoto, Misaka (all of them?!) and Kanzaki eventually develops feelings for Touma, but at least they don’t get in the typical girl fight, which is totally refreshing, in my opinion.
I gotta agree that the characters speak for hours before watching some action, but the context is pretty interesting (if you put enough atention). What else to say? the animation is great, the battles are amazing, the character aren’t quite deep, but at the end you enjoy watching how the series develops. Also, you gotta love Kaori Kanzaki, an anime babe comparable to Kanu Unchou from Ikkitousen fame… a real hottie!