Toaru Kagaku no Railgun Episode 01

"Electromaster" (電撃使い (エレクトロマスター) ) is the first episode of the Toaru Kagaku no Railgun anime series adaptation, first broadcast on October 2nd 2009. It was written by Minakami Seishi and storyboarded and directed by Nagai Tatsuyuki, who also acts as the overall director of the series. The animation was co-directed by Sano Keiichi, Abe Nozomu, Kamitani Tomohiro and Yamashia Yuu.

Academy City is where over 1.8 million students are gathered to undergo esper ability development. This everyday life is possible through the efforts of the public order maintenance organization Judgment who work behind the scenes. However, there is a darkness that their eyes cannot reach. Within the dark alleyways are delinquents who disturb the peace. These people are then struck down by a beam of light. There, the strongest electric princess of Academy City, the Railgun, Misaka Mikoto, stood...

In one of those typical days, Mikoto and a girl from Judgment named Kuroko meet the latter's colleague and a fan of the former: Uiharu Kazari and Saten Ruiko. These four girls enjoy their afterschool time as close friends, but Uiharu senses trouble at a nearby bank...

Adapted From

 * Toaru Kagaku no Railgun Manga Chapter 001
 * Toaru Majutsu no Index Light Novel Volume 08 Prologue
 * Toaru Kagaku no Railgun Manga Chapter 004

Major Events

 * Uiharu Kazari and Saten Ruiko meet Misaka Mikoto and Shirai Kuroko.
 * Okahara Ryouta and his gang are caught.

New Characters
By order of appearance
 * Misaka Mikoto
 * Shirai Kuroko
 * Uiharu Kazari
 * Watanabe (Unnamed)
 * Kongou Mitsuko
 * Saten Ruiko
 * Hitotsui Hajime (non-appearing)
 * Konori Mii
 * Yomikawa Aiho
 * Tessou Tsuzuri

New Abilities

 * Electromaster (Railgun-variant) - Misaka Mikoto, Level 5
 * Teleport - Shirai Kuroko, Level 4
 * Clairvoyance or Telepathy - Unnamed Tokiwadai Middle School student, Level 3 or 4
 * Telekinesis - Unnamed Tokiwadai Middle School student, Level 3
 * Pyrokinesis - Okahara Ryouta, Level 3 (level raised via Level Upper)

New Locations

 * Academy City
 * School District 7
 * Vending Machine 7116
 * Tokiwadai Middle School
 * Joseph's Coffee and Restaurant
 * Sakugawa Middle School
 * Crepe Rablm
 * Isobe Bank

Trivia

 * The vending machine, a recurring location in the Toaru Majutsu no Index universe, is given a name, referred as Vending Machine #7116.
 * This is the first time the System Scan is shown in the anime continuity.
 * Watanabe appears in this episode but will not be named until .
 * The scene where Kongou brags about her abilities is taken directly from the Prologue of 8th Index Light Novel Volume. Here, the scene is used to introduce Kongou as part of the cast, despite not appearing in the Railgun manga until the . The scene is also redone in the manga as well, as part of her introduction in the manga continuity.
 * Although her obsession with Gekota is downplayed in the first season of Index, it takes a prominent role in the anime, which is exemplified by Mikoto's actions during the episode. Furthemore, mooing sounds can be heard when Gekotas are focused in a scene.
 * It should be improbable for the car to flip and tumble several times in the air front first if the car wasn't running upon an incline, or Mikoto's Railgun to hit at a certain angle. The scene is less dramatic in the original manga.

Referbacks

 * This would be the first time A Certain Tune is heard in the Toaru Kagaku no Railgun anime adaptation.
 * The scene where Mikoto kicks a certain vending machine, though taken from the manga, is based off the similar scene in the 3rd Toaru Majutsu no Index light novel, which was later adapted for the 10th episode of the Index anime adaptation and later in the of the second season of Railgun anime adaptation. In fact, the animation is reused from the former episode.
 * The gesture Mikoto does after firing the Railgun, as if flipping her hair, is similar to what she does in the first episode of Index, though this time, no electric arcs appear out of her head.

Cultural References

 * Zener cards are used to test a clairvoyant or telepath during this episode.
 * Saten Ruiko's cellphone looks similar to that of an.
 * Background scenery features several banners with Happy Anniversary. This refers to the of  and  marriage, that occurred on April 10, 2009.
 * Kuroko references the, a traditional Japanese stringed musical instrument, and Japan's national instrument.
 * During the establishing shots of Crepe Rablm, as well as later shots of the line forming in front of the cart, one can see the forms of Shana and Yoshida Kazumi from the Shakugan no Shana fame wearing their uniforms. Later, after Mikoto laments failing to get a Gekota, faces that are similar to Takasu Ryuuji and Aisaka Taiga of Toradora fame, both of which are also anime produced by J.C.Staff, as well as being published by ASCII Media Works.

Differences in Adaptation

 * Saten is introduced earlier in the anime than in the manga, to complete the four girl ensemble theme going for the show. Her appearance in the manga regarding her opinion on Mikoto is different to that in the anime, which is that in the manga, she too shares Uiharu's awe of Mikoto.

Animation Trivia

 * Mikoto kicking the vending machine is reused animation from the 10th episode of the Toaru Majutsu no Index animation.
 * Two boys in the background pass by Uiharu and Saten with notable blushes after Saten flips up Uiharu's skirt.
 * After Uiharu sighs after having her skirt flipped up, you can see a man in the foreground walking to the right side. However, there is an animation error, as the man does not transition smoothly out of the scene and instead looks like he disappeared.
 * only my railgun, the first opening theme of the Toaru Kagaku no Railgun anime adaptation is played at the end of the episode in place of the ending theme, though it is not the case when the episode was released in Blu-Ray, as only my railgun and Dear My Friend -Mada Minu Mirai he- are the OP and ED respectively in that version.

Unanswered Questions

 * If Uiharu is Level 1, then what is her power?
 * Why was the music player in Ryouta's pocket focused on?

Quotes

 * Mikoto: "Seriously, never a dull moment in this city, huh?"
 * Kuroko: "This is Judgment!"―recurring quote.
 * Mikoto: "Chaser!"'―as Mikoto kicks a certain vending machine.
 * Kuroko: "Well, I say that... but it's a humble little chest that needs some more con-fi-dence. But this humility is Oneesama's iniquity! The allure of this seductive humility! Kuroko, no, Kuroko's heart is breaking!"―to Mikoto as she molests her in the shower.
 * Saten: "U~i~har~ru!"―said to Uiharu Kazari just as she flips her skirt.
 * Saten: "As long as every day is fun, I'm okay with it."―to Uiharu regarding her state as a Level 0.
 * Saten: "I don't think I can keep up with your friends."―to Uiharu.
 * Kuroko: "Stay back, Oneesama. Maintaining the security of Academy City is Judgment's job. Please behave yourself this time."―to Mikoto regarding the current Judgment operation.
 * Mikoto: "Kuroko! This fight has turned personal now. Sorry, but... I'm stepping in now."
 * Ryouta: "I remember now. There's this horrifying teleporter in Judgment who'll tear apart your body and soul if she catches you... And there's another who rules over even that teleporter's body and soul—the strongest Electromaster!"―regarding Kuroko and Mikoto
 * Kuroko: "That's right... That person is definitely amongst the top of Academy City's 2.3 million people. Third strongest of the seven Level 5's, the Railgun—Misaka Mikoto Oneesama. Tokiwdai Middle School's pride, the unrivaled Electric Princess."―to Ryouta regarding Mikoto.
 * Uiharu and Saten: "Amazing..."―regarding Mikoto after she fires her Railgun.
 * Kuroko: "You skill wasn't bad. Maybe somewhere around Level 3. It seems you went down the wrong path after growing too confident of your own abilities. Take some time to examine your soul, and then make a fresh start for yourself."―to Ryouta.
 * Mikoto: "That was quite a feat Saten-san. You really looked cool back there."―to Saten.