Skip to content
A Certain Scientific Railgun
A vivid juxtaposition of effervescent youth and chilling cybernetic dystopia. Through neon-lit alleys and arcade coin-flips, it captures the ache of isolation colliding with the fierce, crackling warmth of found family beneath Academy City's sterile steel skies.
A Certain Scientific Railgun
A Certain Scientific Railgun

とある科学の超電磁砲

02 October 2009 — 25 September 2020 Japan 4 season 73 episode Ended 7.4 (133)

Cast: Rina Sato, Satomi Arai, Aki Toyosaki, Kanae Itou, Atsushi Abe

Animation Sci-Fi & Fantasy Action & Adventure Comedy The Dehumanization of Utilitarian Science and Ethics Arbitrary Hierarchies vs. Inherent Self-Worth The Burden of Solitary Heroism vs. Interdependence The Duality of Surface Utopias and Hidden Systemic Evil

A Certain Scientific Railgun — Characters & Cast

Character Analysis

Mikoto Misaka

Rina Satō (Japanese) / Brittney Karbowski (English)

Archetype: Reluctant Hero / Tragic Protector Key Trait: Relentless sense of justice and fierce loyalty beneath a tsundere exterior.

Motivation

Protecting the peace of her loved ones and taking personal responsibility for the fallout of her genetic legacy.

Character Arc

Begins as a confident, somewhat short-tempered Level 5 ace who enjoys normal school life. Her world shatters when she discovers her childhood DNA was exploited to create 20,000 clone sisters destined for slaughter. After confronting despair, isolation, and self-destructive guilt, she transforms into a mature, empathetic protector who values shared vulnerability and views the Sisters as her legitimate family.

Kuroko Shirai

Satomi Arai (Japanese) / Alison Viktorin & Kayli Mills (English)

Archetype: The Loyal Enforcer / Foil Companion Key Trait: Uncompromising sense of duty and teleportation combat prowess.

Motivation

Upholding law and civic peace through Judgment while unconditionally supporting Mikoto.

Character Arc

Transitions from an eccentric, infatuated roommate who provides comic relief into an exceptionally brave and astute officer of Judgment. Even when her memories of Mikoto are erased by Shokuhou Misaki in Season 3, her instinctual morality and drive to protect justice and Mikoto remain completely intact.

Ruiko Saten

Kanae Itō (Japanese) / Brina Palencia (English)

Archetype: The "Everyman" / Grounding Moral Anchor Key Trait: Inquisitive warmth, resilience, and unshakeable empathy.

Motivation

Finding meaning and belonging in a city that undervalues powerlessness, while keeping her friendship circle united.

Character Arc

Starts with crippling self-doubt and envy as a Level 0 esper without supernatural talent, leading her to fall victim to the Level Upper network. She evolves into the emotional heart and intrepid investigator of the group, using everyday curiosity, street smarts, and an aluminum baseball bat to uncover critical truths and rescue high-level espers.

Kazari Uiharu

Aki Toyosaki (Japanese) / Cherami Leigh (English)

Archetype: The Tech-Savvy Intellectual / The Gentle Pillar Key Trait: Calm genius under technical duress and unyielding moral resolve.

Motivation

Preserving harmony in Academy City and shielding her best friend Saten and peers from harm.

Character Arc

Evolves from a shy, desk-bound Judgment dispatcher into a legendary cyber-security hacker capable of dismantling city-wide supercomputers, encrypted black networks, and rogue AI systems under intense psychological pressure.

Touma Kamijou

Atsushi Abe (Japanese) / Micah Solusod (English)

Archetype: The Catalyst / Altruistic Deconstructor of Fate Key Trait: Negation of supernatural anomalies and unwavering moral stubbornness.

Motivation

Pure, instinctual altruism to save anyone crying for help in front of him.

Character Arc

A Level 0 student possessing the mysterious Imagine Breaker in his right hand. Across his appearances, he serves as the moral compass and catalyst who shatters the fatalistic, pre-calculated outcomes designed by Academy City's scientists, showing Mikoto that she does not have to endure her hell alone.

Cast

Rina Sato as Mikoto Misaka (voice)
Satomi Arai as Kuroko Shirai (voice)
Aki Toyosaki as Kazari Uiharu (voice)
Kanae Itou as Ruiko Saten (voice)
Atsushi Abe as Toma Kamijo (voice)
Kana Ueda as Mii Konori (voice)
Minako Kotobuki as Mitsuko Kongou (voice)
Atsuko Tanaka as Harumi Kiyama (voice)
Nozomi Sasaki as Misaka Sisters (voice)
Kana Hanazawa as Erii Haruue (voice)
Yuhko Kaida as Aiho Yomikawa (voice)
Haruka Tomatsu as Kinuho Wannai (voice)
Yoshino Nanjo as Maaya Awatsuki (voice)
Hitomi Nabatame as Dormitory Superintendent (voice)
Satomi Sato as Girl (voice)

Explore More About This Movie

Dive deeper into specific aspects of the movie with our detailed analysis pages

Similar Movies