Toaru Project

The Toaru Project (とあるプロジェクト, Toaru Purojekuto^?) is an on-going series of media releases related to the Toaru Majutsu no Index franchise. The project began in 2018, and started off with a third season of the Toaru Majutsu no Index anime series.

Development

Toaru-Project AnimePosters — The three anime projects of the Toaru Project. From left to right: *Toaru Majutsu no Index III*, *Toaru Kagaku no Accelerator*, and the third season of *Toaru Kagaku no Railgun*.

The Toaru Majutsu no Index light novel series, written by Kamachi Kazuma and illustrated by Haimura Kiyotaka, was adapted into an anime series between 2008 and 2011 and a theatrical release on 2013. Its main spinoff, Toaru Kagaku no Railgun, was also adapted into an anime series between 2009 and 2013. After the TV airing of the second season of Toaru Kagaku no Railgun, the series entered a period where no animated media related to both series was released; instead, another of Kamachi's works, Heavy Object, was greenlit for an anime adaptation during the 10th year anniversary of Kamachi Kazuma's career as a light novel author.^[1]

Between the years 2014 and 2016, Dengeki Bunko's editor Miki Kazuma appeared during the biannual Dengeki Bunko Festival and urged fans of the franchise to wait for any further developments.^[2] On March 2017, Index was involved in a crossover project with Sega's Dennou Senki Virtual-On video game franchise, spawning the Toaru Majutsu no Virtual-On light novel,^[3] and later videogame. On October 1, 2017, Miki Kazuma appeared at the Dengeki Bunko Autumn Festival 2017 to announce the Toaru Project, as well as the confirmation of a third season of Toaru Majutsu no Index.^[4] Along with an accompanying video announcing the production of the third season. On September 2018, Kamachi Kazuma would later get an official twitter account. Toaru Majutsu to Kagaku no Expo held from November 3rd, 2018 to November 25th, 2018.

Words of encouragement

Kamachi Kazuma: "Finally did season 3! Long or not long... Honestly, it was long, but animation technology has rapidly advanced. So lets aim at what you think is good!"^[5]
Miki Kazuma: "It's been 4 years since the movie. It's finally starting again with Index III! However, with the labeling of Toaru PROJECT, it won't just stop with Index III! We have various plans in place! Lastly, a couple of words: 'Everyone, kept you waiting, huh? This is the best climax ever!' I'll be doing my best so please support us!"^[5]

Media Releases

Toaru Majutsu no Index III

Main article: Toaru Majutsu no Index III

A third season of the Toaru Majutsu no Index anime series was greenlit during the Dengeki Bunko Autumn Festival 2017. Voice actors Abe Atsushi and Iguchi Yuka will reprise their roles as Kamijou Touma and Index respectively.^[4] This, coupled with the fact that Othinus and Lessar's seiyuus were revealed in the Toaru Majutsu no Virtual-On videogame, two characters who up to that point had were only light novel-exclusive, as well as the Toaru Majutsu no Index mobile MMO showing light novel-exclusive content, made it clear that the upcoming third season would soon be imminent.

Early in June 2018, more of the cast were revealed, with Satou Rina, Okamoto Nobuhiko, and Hino Satoshi are all reprising their roles as Misaka Mikoto, Accelerator, and Hamazura Shiage respectively. Moreover, a new key visual for the upcoming season was revealed, prominently showing important characters including Hamazura Shiage, as well as the new logo, making Toaru Majutsu no Index III the official title of the sequel. The sequel will premiere on October 2018.^[6]

On July 8, 2018, the first teaser for the third season was released at Anime Expo 2018 held in Los Angeles and later uploaded to Youtube on the official channel. The video reveals that Iuchi Maiko will be returning to compose for the series, and that it will premiere in October on Tokyo MX and other channels.^[7] Iguchi Yuka, Index's voice actress, would later announce that she will be doing the new season's ending,^[8] while Kurosaki Maon was announced as the artist for the opening.^[9] The third season is confirmed to be airing on October 5, 2018.^[10] Finally, during Comiket 94, a second preview was released. It contained new footage including animated sequences of the 14th Toaru Majutsu no Index volume, as well as a snippet of the first opening of the new season, Gravitation by Kurosaki Maon.^[11]

A special edited version of Toaru Majutsu no Index Movie: Miracle of Endymion was aired on September 30 to celebrate the broadcast of the new season. AT-X was later confirmed in airing the movie as well. Being a special edited version, cast members Abe Atsushi and Iguchi Yuka hosted a special program that included an AT-X exclusive planning mixed in with the new information,^[12] including voice actors for the new character as well as confirming the first ending theme of the season, Kakumei Zen'ya by Iguchi Yuka. Voice actors for Oyafune Suama and Oyafune Monaka were later listed in the official twitter page as well.^[13]

Toaru Majutsu no Index III was confirmed for 26 episodes. Later in the middle of the season, Iguchi Yuka would announce on her Twitter that she would be singing the second ED titled Owaranai Uta,^[14] while Kurosaki Maon was confirmed to be doing the 2nd OP while also being the one to write the song herself,^[15] called ROAR to be released on March 6, 2019.^[16]

Toaru Kagaku no Accelerator (anime series)

Main article: Toaru Kagaku no Accelerator (anime)

During the 2018 Dengeki Bunko Fall Festival, in the Toaru stage of the event, Abe Atsushi, Iguchi Yuka, Satou Rina, and Miki Kazuma confirmed that Toaru Kagaku no Accelerator will be getting an anime in 2019. They later showed a preview with the characters Accelerator, Last Order, and Esther Rosenthal. Hidaka Rina, Last Order's seiyuu, was later introduced as a secret guest.

It was later confirmed that Kamanaka Nobuharu will be directing the anime.^[17] On March 23, 2019, the PV for the anime was uploaded on Toaru Project channel. The full staff is also revealed to have Sugihara Kenji for Series Compostion, Yaegashi Yohei as the character designer, and keeping Iuchi Maiko for the soundtrack. Moreover, the first OP is revealed to be done by THE SIXTH LIE called Shadow is the Light to be released on August 21, 2019 ^[18] and the ED is revealed to be done by Sajou no Hana called Parole to be released on July 31, 2019,^[19]^[20] and later confirmed to be getting 12 episodes.^[21]

A second PV and key visual was later released for AnimeJapan.^[22] Esther Rosenthal was also revealed to be played by Kubo Yurika.^[23] The anime was later confirmed to start airing on July 12, 2019, with the first episode getting an advanced screening at Yunika Vision on June 29.^[24] Two more PVs, each featuring the OP and EDs were later uploaded on June 22, 2019. After the advanced screening of the first episode, the official Toaru Project later revealed the VAs for the members of Scavenger. Leader will be voiced by Fujita Akane, Naru by Koga Aoi, Seike by Nukui Yuka, and Yakumaru by Nishida Nozomi.^[25] The advanced screening at Yunika Vision had the OPs and EDs cut, though THE SIXTH LIE did have a rooftop performance of Shadow is the Light in the nearby Pepe Mall Shinjuku.^[26]

Toaru Kagaku no Railgun T

In the same stage immediately after the Toaru Kagaku no Accelerator anime reveal, a new season of Toaru Kagaku no Railgun was later revealed. Arai Satomi, Shirai Kuroko's seiyuu was introduced as secret guest.

It was later confirmed that Nagai Tatsuyuki will return to direct the anime. Along with Mikoto and Kuroko's seiyuus, Toyosaki Aki, Itou Kanae, and Asakura Azumi were all confirmed to be reprising their roles, as Uiharu Kazari, Saten Ruiko, and Shokuhou Misaki respectively.^[27] A key visual of Mikoto and Misaki in their Daihasei outfits was also shown, indicating an adaptation of the Daihasei Festival arc as seen in the Railgun manga.

Other than tweets from the Railgun manga's editor's meetings with Nagai regarding the adaptation of the new season, it is not until Moetron News leaked that the new Railgun season will premiere on January 2020 with the title of Toaru Kagaku no Railgun T.^[28] Included in this leak is is brand new key art featuring Misaka and Misaki with the rest of the Railgun cast.

Toaru Majutsu no Index: Imaginary Fest

Main article: Toaru Majutsu no Index: Imaginary Fest

A new card game for iOS and Android devices was announced during the Index III Special Broadcast on January 5, 2019 with a small teaser movie. The game is an "academy superpower battle RPG" and will as a free-to-play title with item-based micro-transactions in 2019 in Japan. The game allows the player to relive scenes from the anime and build decks using the characters from the from anime, movies, the latest light novels, and from sidestories. Attesting to this, the teaser movie briefly showed Othinus, Leivinia Birdway, and Kuroyoru Umidori. The game is being developed and published by Square Enix.^[29] The theme song of the game, entitled "JUNCTION", will be performed by Kurosaki Maon.^[30]

Toaru Kagaku no Dark Matter

Main article: Toaru Kagaku no Dark Matter

As early as July 15, 2019, it was announced that another spin-off would be released, featuring Kakine Teitoku as the main protagonist. It was not until the release of Toaru Kagaku no Accelerator × Toaru Kagaku no Railgun Toaru Magazine that it was confirmed that it would be an ongoing manga instead of a oneshot with the release of the first chapter. It is an original side story written by Kamachi Kazuma and illustrated by Kisaragi Nankyoku, focusing Kakine Teitoku's past.^[31]