A Certain Magical Index / Railgun / Accelerator Watch Order
Watch Index and Railgun in parallel by release date — they happen at the same time from different perspectives. Accelerator is a side-story. Start with either Index S1 or Railgun S1 depending on taste.
Updated April 17, 2026
Viewing order
- 1
A Certain Magical Index (S1)
TV2008· 24 epsRequiredTouma's story. The "main" starting line for most fans.
- 2
A Certain Scientific Railgun (S1)
TV2009· 24 epsRequiredMikoto's spin-off. Runs parallel to Index S1.
- 3
A Certain Magical Index II
TV2010· 24 epsRequired - 4
A Certain Magical Index: The Movie — The Miracle of Endymion
Movie2013OptionalSide-story movie.
- 5
A Certain Scientific Railgun S
TV2013· 24 epsRequiredSisters Arc — parallel to Index II.
- 6
A Certain Magical Index III
TV2018· 26 epsRequiredRushed adaptation — some watch with a novel summary handy.
- 7
A Certain Scientific Accelerator
TV2019· 12 epsOptionalSpin-off of a spin-off.
- 8
A Certain Scientific Railgun T
TV2020· 25 epsRequiredRailgun's best-reviewed season.
The Toaru franchise (A Certain Magical Index, A Certain Scientific Railgun, A Certain Scientific Accelerator) runs on parallel timelines set in the same city, Academy City. Railgun frequently depicts events from Index's perspective — the Sisters Arc is a famous example, covered in both Index II and Railgun S. Purists often construct an interleaved episode-by-episode order; for first-time viewers, watching each show block-by-block in release order works fine and preserves the surprise of seeing the same events from Mikoto's POV in Railgun. Index III is notorious for rushed pacing — many supplement with a light novel summary. Railgun T (2020) is widely considered the franchise's best season.
Frequently Asked Questions
Most fans recommend Index S1 first — it establishes Touma, the magical side of the world, and the Sisters project that Railgun S builds on. If you want a more self-contained sci-fi story, Railgun S1 works as an entry point too.