Some questions on where to start

Jan 29, 2022 3:11 PM

Offline

Mar 2021

258

So I've been looking into this series, and I have a couple questions that I can't find definitive answers to. 1) LN or anime? I've heard that anime's pretty bad, but 22 volumes is, well, a LOT of money. That's not including the sequel, which doesn't seem to have an adaptation (another reason to go LN?). So basically, is the LN that much better, or would I not miss out taking the anime route. 2) For the anime, what order do I watch this? Including the railgun series as well, which is the side story if I'm correct. Preferably release order, or whatever order the author intended. 3) For the LN, what is the read order? I know to start with the main LN, but where after that? I know there's the sequel one, as well as side stories, like railgun. Obviously I would like this in release/authors indented order as well.

Thanks for any help. This seems like a pretty cool series, I just don't know where to invest my time and money into, or where to really start.

Jan 29, 2022 3:30 PM

purification1

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Apr 2021

161

fyrflys said:
So I've been looking into this series, and I have a couple questions that I can't find definitive answers to. 1) LN or anime? I've heard that anime's pretty bad, but 22 volumes is, well, a LOT of money. That's not including the sequel, which doesn't seem to have an adaptation (another reason to go LN?). So basically, is the LN that much better, or would I not miss out taking the anime route. 2) For the anime, what order do I watch this? Including the railgun series as well, which is the side story if I'm correct. Preferably release order, or whatever order the author intended. 3) For the LN, what is the read order? I know to start with the main LN, but where after that? I know there's the sequel one, as well as side stories, like railgun. Obviously I would like this in release/authors indented order as well.

Thanks for any help. This seems like a pretty cool series, I just don't know where to invest my time and money into, or where to really start.

I would say enjoy both the LN for index and anime for index even tho it’s a poor adaptation. Railgun is good regardless but the fillers aren’t too great after the firsts season of Railgun. But I would say watch the anime for both first then read the index LN. You could probably pirate the Index LN but the physicals are fun. But anime wise you could go release order so index I-> railgun -> index II -> railgun S -> index III -> railgun T. And there’s a index movie that you can watch not needed but it came out after index 2 and after railgun S. I watched it by index -> railgun -> index 2 -> railgun S -> railgun T ->index movie -> index 3
The movie I believe is non canon so you can skip it

Jan 29, 2022 3:36 PM

sudelikespotato

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Jun 2020

i‘ve heard ppl saying that the anime adaption is rushed and tbh it is kinda. Maybe u will not understand what‘s going on at the beginning, it‘s all mixed up lol
I‘ve watched the toaru series like this:
1. Railgun S1
2. Index S1
3. Railgun S2
4. Index S2
5. Accelerator
6. Index Movie
7. Index S3

Jan 29, 2022 4:20 PM

Render_1

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Aug 2020

629

don't listen to anyone saying watch index first, railgun definitely does the arcs better. I watched railgun 1, 2 (S), index 1, 2, railgun t, accelerator, index III I think, but sudes order looks fine aswell to me.

Call me Ren

Jan 29, 2022 5:36 PM

C0brakyle

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Sep 2021

153

I haven’t read any of the ln or mangas but I do think the index anime falls off as it goes on. Seasons 1 was strong and 3 was really weak imo. Railgun keeps delivering though.

Jan 29, 2022 5:48 PM

purification1

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Apr 2021

161

Render_1 said:
don't listen to anyone saying watch index first, railgun definitely does the arcs better. I watched railgun 1, 2 (S), index 1, 2, railgun t, accelerator, index III I think, but sudes order looks fine aswell to me.

i wouldn’t say that they both have different aspects even tho they cover the same arcs they feel vastly different even though one has poor pacing. Railgun does the arcs better but I feel watching index first gives you a better feel of the actual story as touma is the MC not Mikasa

Jan 29, 2022 11:51 PM

Liman123

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Aug 2018

1) LN is miles better at most arcs, but if you don't mind switching around, i'd suggest :
Season 1: The anime for the first 3 arcs (the 2nd one sucks in both), then LN for arc 4, anime 5, 6 is interchangeable.
Season 2: anime 7, 8 is ok in both, 9 and 10 LN, 11 anime, 12 and 13 depend on you, I think 12 is better in the anime, but 13 in the LN, but it'd be confusing so choose your one and roll with it.
Season 3: 14 anime, 15 LN, 16 anime, 17-22 LN.

The LN is better, but those are what I think you can still watch and understand the plot.
Overall, seasons 1 and 2 are ok in anime, but season 3 really is way too rushed.

2) Release order: index, railgun, index II, railgun S, the movie, index III, accelerator, railgun T

I think the best is watching the first arc of index (6ep) to learn about the world, then railgun and some of railgun S(until ep16), then release order.

3) The LN is basically 1-13, ss, 14-16, ss2, 17-22.
Then the not officially translated,sp, New Testament, then Genesis testament.
The mangas, accelerator best read between LN 10 and 12, astral buddy at the end of NT, and railgun throughout the index novels.

Liman123Jan 30, 2022 12:59 AM

Jan 30, 2022 12:52 AM

Liman123

Offline

Aug 2018

Render_1 said:
don't listen to anyone saying watch index first, railgun definitely does the arcs better.

The amount of railgun and index series intertwined arcs is like 2, and yeah, railgun is better in those.
But it also include the silent party arc which, in my opinion, is the most boring arc of the whole toaru series, and it's not even canon.

Jan 30, 2022 10:56 PM

Toxic_Hollow

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Jun 2020

188

Anime

Railgun was tons better then index

Its an every other season switch between kinda adventure. But you really dont have to. Accelerator at the end is just iceing

Index 1
Rail 1
Index 2
Rail S
Index 3
Movie
Accel
Rail T

If i was watching a second time. Id cut index entirely

Jan 31, 2022 12:57 PM

#10

ASinfulPersonage

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Mar 2013

4150

Well, this is getting out of nowhere. I remembered there's a similar thread like this already.

My answer?
2) Watch it in release order, it is more fun that way.

It's not that I dislike this genre but... to add unnecessary fan services to/in/for heroines
and ultimately destroys her character and personality; their purity tarnished because of it,
is the only thing I hope to not happen to them. For that sole purity is my fan service.

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Some questions on where to start

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