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"Electromaster" (電撃使いエレクトロマスター Erekutoromasutā?, lit. "Electric Shock User") is the first episode of the Toaru Kagaku no Railgun anime series adaptation, first broadcast on October 3rd 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.[1]

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...

Synopsis[]

In the technologically advanced city of Academy City, a girl hums a certain tune while opening a canned beverage. She leans upon rails and begins drinking and enjoying her drink, up until she is approached by some suspicious-looking chaps. Of course, she takes notice, but pays no heed to them. The bystander effect is still prevalent even in this city, and citizens, though worried, ignores the queer situation that is happening — "Judgment will surely take care of this". The girl is simply amused, and states that the City is never dull.

Meanwhile, a tour bus passes by the advanced streets of the City, and a tour guide tells the people inside some trivial minutiae. Apparently, there are some prospective students in the bus, wanting to get powers of their own, as the City is famous for it the world over. While talking, a bright flash suddenly occurs, and the traffic is thrown into disarray. Although no one is hurt, it seems that the traffic will be delayed due to the traffic lights mysteriously going out.

Part of Academy City's Morals and Ethics Committee (or more popularly known as Judgment), Tokiwadai student Shirai Kuroko is chasing some thugs which she was to apprehend. She manages to reach them, but she discovers they have all been beaten up by friend and schoolmate Mikoto Misaka, much to Kuroko's disappointment.

On their way to school, Kuroko lectures to Mikoto that she must not interfere with Judgment affairs and she shouldn't be picking fights. On the park, Mikoto kicks a vending machine to get a free drink, but Kuroko has to teleport both of them away when the security robots come to investigate. Mikoto and Kuroko then return to Tokiwadai Middle School for a "System Scan", the annual testing of students' Power Levels.

Kuroko's test involves teleporting a package at a specific mark, which she was off by a few centimeters. Her performance was average and so she's still a level 4. Kuroko is made fun of by Kongou Mitsuko, a second-year student (who Kuroko says that she wish wasn't acquainted with), states that she'll become Level 5 before Kuroko. Suddenly a big explosion is heard from the nearby pool and this causes Kongou to lose her balance. It turns out that Mikoto is doing her test at the pool by shooting a Railgun using coins into the water.

After the test, Kuroko and Mikoto are taking a shower. Kuroko tells Mikoto that everyone was surprised by the loud blast from her railgun. Mikoto complains that they can't even measure her ability properly without using the pool. Kuroko says her ability is something to take pride in as Ace of Tokiwadai. Meanwhile, Kuroko tries to violate Mikoto and receives a beating for her indiscretions.

At Sakugawa Middle School, Uiharu Kazari is waiting for Saten Ruiko after classes end. Saten does her regular, routine greeting by lifting Uiharu's skirt and see her pink polka-dotted underwear, much to her embarrassment. Uiharu, a colleague of Kuroko at Judgment, is invited by Kuroko to meet up with Mikoto. Uiharu is looking forward to meeting a Level 5 and dragged Saten along to the meeting. At the restaurant where the meeting is to take place, Kuroko explains that Uiharu is a big fan of Mikoto's. Kuroko then tries to go over the plans for the day, but Mikoto grabs Kuroko's notepad and learns that Kuroko plans to eventually drug her and take her to a love hotel. After pinching Kuroko's cheek as punishment, Mikoto agrees to meet Uiharu. Kuroko jumps into Misaka's lap in celebration just as Uiharu and Saten arrive outside the restaurant.

Outside the restaurant, Uiharu and Saten introduce themselves to Mikoto. Uiharu and Saten are surprised that Mikoto is rather nice and down-to-earth instead of being haughty and arrogant like the rich socialite image they had in mind. The group pick up some flyers about a crepe shop handing out a cute Gekota (a mascot which looks like a frog with a bowtie) merchandise to the first 100 customers. Kuroko points out that Mikoto is interested in the merchandise but Mikoto tries to deny that statement. The other three girls can see that Mikoto is interested and they go to that crepe stand. Mikoto and Saten are standing in the line while Uiharu and Kuroko grab seats. It comes to Saten's turn at the stand and she happens to get the last gecko merchandise. Mikoto is disappointed, but the disappointment soon turns to happiness as Saten gives her the Gekota key-chain.

While the girls are enjoying eating crepes, Uiharu notices that a nearby bank has its security shutters on. An explosion occurred at the bank. Kuroko tells Uiharu to contact Anti-Skill and tells Mikoto to let her handle the situation. A group of three robbers escape from the bank but they are confronted by Kuroko. Kuroko quickly trips up one of the robbers and pins the second robber, a Pyrokinesist, to the ground with some spikes, but the third robber manages to run off. Meanwhile, Mikoto and Saten are helping a tour guide look for a little boy that has gone missing. Saten spots the little boy running into the robber and the robber tries to kidnap the boy. Saten runs to the boy's rescue and manages to grab the boy, however, she gets kicked in the face.

Mikoto is angered after witnessing the incident and tells Kuroko she will stop the robber from escaping. The robber gets in his vehicle and charges right at Mikoto. Mikoto sends the car flying using her Railgun. The robbers are eventually taken away by the Anti-Skill. Saten gets thanked by the tour guide, the little boy's mother, and Mikoto compliments on her bravery.

Adapted From[]

Adapted To[]

Major Events[]

New Characters[]

By order of appearance

New Abilities[]

New Locations[]

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 Railgun Manga Chapter 44.
  • 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 40th chapter. 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 11th episode of the second season of Railgun anime adaptation. In fact, the animation is reused from the former episode.[2][3][4]
  • 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.[5]

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 iPhone.
  • Background scenery features several banners with Happy Anniversary. This refers to the Golden Jubilee of Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko's marriage, that occurred on April 10, 2009.
  • Kuroko references the Koto, 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 e- 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?

Soundtrack[]

# Title Time Scene & Notes
Unverified Track The tour guide briefs young children about Academy Ciry
Judgment desu no Kuroko catching a Skill-Out, Mikoto frying the remaining ones[6]
only my railgun Opening (BD versions only)
Uiharu Kazari Kuroko lectures Mikoto on interrupting Judgment's work[6]
Tokiwadai Joshiryou Tokiwadai Middle School starts up System Scan to their students[7]
Yare yare Kuroko's pervertedness on Mikoto in the showers[7]
Tsūgakuro Saten and Uiharu's introduction[8]
Nichijō Uiharu excited to meet the third-ranked Level 5[9], Part 1 End
Sorette... Part 2 Start, Mikoto looking into Kuroko's plan wrtten on her notebook[7]
Tea time Kuroko introduces Uiharu to Mikoto; Saten introduces herself as well to Mikoto[7]
Tokiwadai Chugakkō Mikoto getting the last Gekota accessory from Crepe Rablm[6]
battle area Incident at Isobe Bank[6]
Gyakuten Mikoto shoots her Railgun at one of the thugs[8][6]
Hōkago Mikoto praising Saten on saving the child from the thug[7]
only my railgun Ending (initial TV airings)
Dear My Friend -Mada Minu Mirai e- Ending (BD versions only)
Unverified Track Preview

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.

References[]

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