If you are a fan of the anime series A Certain Magical Index, you might be wondering if there will be a fourth season of this popular show. The series, based on the light novels by Kazuma Kamachi, follows the adventures of Touma Kamijou, a high school student with a special power that can negate any supernatural ability, and Index Librorum Prohibitorum, a young nun who has memorized the contents of 103,000 forbidden books of magic. Together, they get involved in various conflicts between science and magic in the futuristic Academy City.
The anime adaptation of A Certain Magical Index has been produced by J.C.Staff and directed by Hiroshi Nishikiori. The first season aired from October 2008 to March 2009 and covered the first six volumes of the light novels. The second season aired from October 2010 to April 2011 and covered volumes seven to thirteen. The third season aired from October 2018 to April 2019 and covered volumes fourteen to twenty-two. There is also an animated movie, A Certain Magical Index: The Miracle of Endymion, which was released in February 2013 and featured an original story.
So, will there be a fourth season of A Certain Magical Index? Here is everything we know so far.
Will there be Certain Magical Index Anime Season 4?
As of now, there is no official confirmation or announcement about the production or release of A Certain Magical Index Season 4. However, this does not mean that the series is over or that there is no hope for a continuation. There are several factors that suggest that a fourth season is possible and even likely in the future.
First of all, the source material is still ongoing and has plenty of content left to adapt. The light novel series currently has 23 main volumes, plus two side story volumes and a sequel series called New Testament: A Certain Magical Index, which has 23 volumes as well. The anime has only adapted the first 22 volumes of the main series, leaving one volume and the entire sequel series untouched. Moreover, the author is still writing new volumes for both series, so there is no shortage of material for a fourth season and beyond.
Secondly, the popularity and demand for the series are still high among fans and viewers. The anime has received positive reviews and ratings from critics and audiences alike, and has sold well in terms of Blu-ray/DVD sales and merchandise. The series also has a large fanbase both in Japan and overseas, who are eagerly waiting for more episodes. The anime has also spawned several spin-offs, such as A Certain Scientific Railgun and A Certain Scientific Accelerator, which are also successful and well-received. These spin-offs also help to keep the interest and hype for the main series alive.
Thirdly, the production studio and staff have expressed their interest and willingness to continue the series. In an interview with Crunchyroll in 2018, director Hiroshi Nishikiori said that he would love to work on more seasons of A Certain Magical Index if he had the chance. He also said that he wanted to adapt the entire story of the light novels until the end. Similarly, in an interview with Anime News Network in 2019, producer Kohei Kawase said that he hoped to make more seasons of A Certain Magical Index as long as there was enough support from the fans.
Therefore, based on these factors, we can conclude that A Certain Magical Index Season 4 is not impossible or unlikely to happen. However, we cannot say for sure when it will happen or if it will happen at all. There might be some challenges or obstacles that could delay or prevent the production of a fourth season, such as scheduling conflicts, budget issues, licensing rights, or creative differences. Until we hear an official announcement from the studio or the author, we can only speculate and hope for the best.
Certain Magical Index Anime Season 4 Release Date
Assuming that A Certain Magical Index Season 4 is greenlit and in production, when can we expect it to be released? Again, this is hard to predict without any official information or confirmation. However, we can try to make an educated guess based on some patterns and trends.
If we look at the previous seasons of A Certain Magical Index, we can see that there was a gap of two years between the first and second seasons, and a gap of seven years between the second and third seasons. The reason for the long gap between the second and third seasons was mainly due to the production of other related projects, such as the spin-offs and the movie. Therefore, if we assume that there are no other major projects in the works that could interfere with the production of A Certain Magical Index Season 4, we can expect a shorter gap than seven years.
However, we also have to consider the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has affected the anime industry in many ways. Many anime projects have been delayed or postponed due to the health and safety measures, as well as the logistical and financial challenges caused by the pandemic. Therefore, even if A Certain Magical Index Season 4 is in production, it might face some delays or difficulties due to the pandemic.
Taking all these factors into account, we can estimate that A Certain Magical Index Season 4 could be released sometime in 2025 or 2026, at the earliest. However, this is only a rough guess and not a confirmed date. We will have to wait for an official announcement from the studio or the author to know the exact release date of A Certain Magical Index Season 4.
Where Can You Watch Certain Magical Index Anime?
If you want to watch or rewatch the previous seasons of A Certain Magical Index, you can find them on various streaming platforms. The series is licensed by Funimation in North America, who also provide an English dub for the series. You can watch all three seasons of A Certain Magical Index, as well as the movie and the spin-offs, on Funimation’s website or app. You can also watch the series on Crunchyroll, which offers both subbed and dubbed versions of the series. However, Crunchyroll does not have the movie or the spin-offs available on its platform.
Certain Magical Index Anime Season 4 Plot
What will be the plot of A Certain Magical Index Season 4? Since we do not have any official synopsis or trailer for the fourth season yet, we can only speculate based on the source material and the previous seasons. However, be warned that there might be some spoilers ahead for those who have not read the light novels or watched the anime.
The fourth season of A Certain Magical Index will most likely adapt the 23rd volume of the light novel series, which is the last volume of the main series. This volume is titled World War III and features a massive conflict between Academy City and Russia, as well as other factions and organizations involved in the magic and science sides. The volume also reveals some secrets and mysteries about Touma’s past and his Imagine Breaker power, as well as Index’s true identity and role in the world. The volume also sets up the stage for the sequel series, New Testament: A Certain Magical Index, which introduces new characters and threats to Touma and his allies.
The fourth season of A Certain Magical Index will also likely include some original content or filler episodes that are not directly based on the light novels. This is because the 23rd volume of the light novel series is relatively short compared to the previous volumes, and might not be enough to fill a full season of 24 episodes. Therefore, the studio might add some extra scenes or stories that are not in the light novels, but are still relevant and consistent with the main plot and characters. For example, they might include some scenes from the side story volumes or from other related media, such as manga or games.
Certain Magical Index Anime Season 4 Trailer
Is there a trailer for A Certain Magical Index Season 4? Unfortunately, no. Since there is no official confirmation or announcement about A Certain Magical Index Season 4 yet, there is no trailer for it either. Trailers are usually released a few months before the premiere of a new season, so we will have to wait until we hear some news about A Certain Magical Index Season 4 before we can see a trailer for it.
However, you can watch the trailers for the previous seasons of A Certain Magical Index on YouTube or on Funimation’s website. You can also watch some fan-made trailers or videos that speculate about A Certain Magical Index Season 4 on YouTube or other platforms. However, these are not official trailers and should not be taken as reliable sources of information.
Certain Magical Index Anime Characters, Cast & Anime Staff
If you are curious about who are the main characters and cast members of A Certain Magical Index Season 4 (if it ever happens), here is a brief introduction to them.
I. Characters & Cast
Touma Kamijou (voiced by Atsushi Abe): The protagonist of the series, a high school student who has a power called Imagine Breaker that can negate any supernatural phenomenon. He is often dragged into various conflicts and troubles involving magic and science, but he always tries to help those in need with his courage and sense of justice.
Index Librorum Prohibitorum (voiced by Yuka Iguchi): The deuteragonist of the series, a young nun who has memorized 103,000 forbidden grimoires that contain the secrets of magic. She is hunted by various factions that want to use her knowledge for their own purposes, but she is protected by Touma, who becomes her friend and guardian.
Mikoto Misaka (voiced by Rina Satou): The tritagonist of the series, one of the strongest espers in Academy City and the third-ranked Level 5. She has the ability to manipulate electricity and magnetism, and is nicknamed “The Railgun” for her signature move. She has a crush on Touma, but she often gets annoyed by his obliviousness and bad luck.
Accelerator (voiced by Nobuhiko Okamoto): The main antagonist of the first season and one of the main characters of the series, the strongest esper in Academy City and the first-ranked Level 5. He has the ability to manipulate vectors, which allows him to control any physical phenomenon. He was initially a ruthless and arrogant person who killed thousands of clones of Mikoto in an experiment to become a Level 6, but he was defeated by Touma and changed his ways after meeting Last Order, the last clone of Mikoto.
Last Order (voiced by Rina Hidaka): A supporting character of the series, the last clone of Mikoto who was created for the Level 6 Shift experiment. She has a cheerful and innocent personality, and considers Accelerator as her big brother. She also has a special connection to the mysterious entity known as Aiwass.
II. Anime Staff
- Director: Hiroshi Nishikiori (Azumanga Daioh, Trinity Seven)
- Series Composition: Masanao Akahoshi (Freezing, Strike the Blood)
- Character Design: Yuichi Tanaka (Nyan Koi!, My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU)
- Music: Maiko Iuchi (Rail Wars!, Date A Live)
- Studio: J.C.Staff (Toradora!, Food Wars!)