Toaru Kagaku no Railgun (anime)

Toaru Kagaku no Railgun (とある科学の超電磁砲（レールガン）), translated as A Certain Scientific Railgun, is the anime series adaptation of the Toaru Kagaku no Railgun manga series by Fuyukawa Motoi. The series was produced by J.C. Staff between 2009 and 2013, and was directed by Tatsuyuki Nagai and written by Seishi Minakami, with music by Maiko Iuchi.

The anime series is composed of two 24-episode seasons, and is set in the same universe as the Toaru Majutsu no Index light novel series, although with a focus towards one of the seven Level 5s in Academy City, Misaka Mikoto.

Plot
Like in the original manga, the Toaru Kagaku no Railgun anime series serves as a supplement to the Toaru Majutsu no Index anime, focusing more on life in Academy City.

Misaka Mikoto is known by many as the ranked-third Level 5, the highest attainable level of an esper, and a role model to many students in Academy City, especially in Tokiwadai Middle School, where she studies. However, a little-known fact is that Mikoto is also like most of the population of students in the city and is far from the role model figure many assume her for. The series documents Mikoto's various exploits within the city together with her devoted roommate Shirai Kuroko and her friends Saten Ruiko and Uiharu Kazari.

The first season focuses on a mysterious sound file that is rumored to allow its listeners to gain esper levels, as well as the teacher that develops the file. The second season coincides with a substantial arc in the Toaru Majutsu no Index light novels which involves an experiment that used Mikoto's DNA map to create clones of herself which are later slaughtered to give way for an attempt to produce the first Level 6 in Academy City. Both seasons feature anime-original story arcs.

Characters

 * Misaka Mikoto - An Electromaster, ranked at Level 5, and a student in Tokiwadai Middle School. She is considered as a student role model for her steady progress of her abilities, but is actually a tomboyish girl with a strong sense of justice. She is voiced by Rina Satou.
 * Shirai Kuroko - A teleporter who works in Judgment and is Mikoto's schoolmate and roommate. She has an almost unhealthy obsession over her "onee-sama", and will go to great lengths to receive her affection. She is voiced by Satomi Arai.
 * Saten Ruiko - Studies in Sakugawa Middle School and is a Level 0 with an ambition to gain esper abilities that does not match her enthusiasm in pursuing it. She is close friends with Uiharu, and she flips her skirt at times. She is voiced by Kanae Itou.
 * Uiharu Kazari - A Level 1 esper with an ability she does not think highly of. She is Ruiko's schoolmate and Kuroko's colleague in Judgment, and is formidable at using the computer to gain information. She is voiced by Aki Toyosaki.