The popular light novel series “Toaru Majutsu no Index”(A Certain Magical Index), written by Kazuma Kamachi, celebrates his twentieth anniversary this year. The first volume was released in April 2004, marking the beginning of a saga that has captivated fans for two decades. However, The anime series has been absent since the third season, which aired from October 2018 to April 2019.This adaptation covered all the original light novels, but the story continued in other literary formats.

Fans expressed their nostalgia and expectations in a recent forum. One comment noted that “JCSTAFF, the studio behind the anime, was considered a 'god-like studio' back then“. Others mentioned that the focus on female characters with particular characteristics, such as “minor seizures and violent tendencies“, was a common trend in the main characters of the time, referring to characters like Index and Mikoto Misaka.

The discussion also focused on the possibility of a fourth season of the anime, as there is a lot of material that has not yet been adapted. After the original light novel series, the story continued with “Toaru Majutsu in the Index: New Testament”(2011-2019), which spanned 23 volumes, and then with“Toaru Majutsu no Index: Testament of Genesis“, which began in 2020 and has already released nine volumes to date.

Some fans have pointed out the complexity of the plot and the difficulty of following the story's development, especially with the introduction of new magical and scientific elements that intertwine in the series' universe. Comments like “the New Testament saga has become more difficult to follow“ and “The quality of the anime adaptation of the third season did not live up to expectations“ reflect community concerns.

Despite the criticism, the franchise remains alive through other media, such as mobile video games and pachinko machines, which has helped extend its lifespan. The most loyal fans hope that the anime adaptation will be revived to continue exploring the adventures of Touma Kamijou and his friends.

• «Has it been 20 years? What's happening now?».
• «Back then, JCSTAFF was an amazing studio».
• «Won't they make a fourth season?».
• «It seems this and Saki are destined to last half a century».
• «I thought it would be easy to understand after reading all the Shakugan no Shana novels, but I was wrong. I gave up halfway through the New Testament.».
• «Otakus who were 40 back then are now 60».
• «At that time, someone in their 40s would have already left behind childish things like manga, anime and video games.».
• «I bought the first volume with the phrase "science and magic" when I was a sophomore in high school, and I still buy them. I follow Kamijou».
• «It's become boring with the tendency toward magic. Besides, I don't understand why powers that should be scientific are considered supernatural abilities.».
• «It seems that mobile games and pachinko machines helped extend the franchise's life.».
• «Kamachi Kazuma himself is releasing new light novel volumes at a rate of one every three months or so, and is also working on three or four other new series. So it's not about extending the franchise's life.».
• «Unlike Haruhi, he keeps releasing new works, right?».
• «Seriously? Come to think of it, in the third season of the 2019 anime, the characters still used flip phones.».
• «I've heard something about reliving someone's life a million times.».
• «Is it impossible that they will make a fourth season of the anime? It seems that Railgun will continue, but I hope they make the New Testament».
• «If the quality is going to be the same as the third season, it's better if they don't make it.».
• «I stopped watching after the anime came out. I remember the scenery and stage were so appealing to my teenage heart.».

Source: Yaraon!