Story: 6/10
The problem I had with the story was a few things. The first was that the story many times felt episodic and loss of track. And the episodicness didn´t feel as smooth as it could have been to me. We gets some glimpses of something potentially bigger (plot wise), but it got to little time and fell out of focus. That in it´s self was a shame, because those parts seemed pretty intriguing and interesting - I would have liked to see more of those. The second thing was some things felt rushed, overlooked or under explored. They managed to build up some tension and what came out in the end was many times pretty beige. The story isn´t totally bad, It has some interesting components, as the tech users system and it powers, and the governmental experiments. These parts I actually enjoyed quite a bit. The magic use and the magic world didn´t get so much detailed screen time so much of it´s functions are still unknown to me. We do have some nice and cool action scenes, that highlighted the story for me. I probably should give TMNI II a chance so it has a chance to redeem it self.. maybe a dark rainy week.
Art:
The art and animation is actually pretty great. For a 2008/2009 production from J.C Staff, it´s very good. Nice character designs, detailed city panels, and nice light- and color settings. Movements and power/fighting techniques are showcased very well. Weapon, tech and magic attacks are well displayed. Wouldn´t go so far and call the art and character designs "original" or unique, but we get some new types of faces and body languages.
Sound: 6/10
Mostly the reason for a 6, is that I after a short amount of time already have forgotten about the soundtrack, OP and ED. But I do remember some dark piano influenced music and a big part hardcore house. It worked with the scenes, and often catches the atmosphere as well. I personally didn´t dig it, but that´s just my opinion. The two OP´s, if I remember right, are pretty decent but did not really get to me. They do showcases some meetings of characters and future fights, so if you don´t was be spoiled at all - you may wan´t to skip those.
Character: 4/10
Ok, it´s with the characters my real problem lays with TMNI, the story isn´t that bad as it may sound it is, according to me. The problem is that I almost detest the shows main characters, Index herself and Touma. Don´t get me wrong, TMNI do contain some pretty interesting and cool characters, but they get way to little screen time. But Index and Touma.. Index is pretty much a very immature young teenager, who´s often so lost she always end up in major danger and gonna be saved. Index has some tremendous powers hidden inside her, and then she uses them her whole persona changes and she becomes a total badass. To bad that not happens to often in the show, I liked that version of Index much more then the version we get stuck with most of the shows. She´s stupid, annoying and waaay over rated. How did she end up with having so many people loving her to death? Can´t get my head around that. Touma isn´t much better. He feels.. really undeep. Can´t describe it in any another way. He´s has no real motivation for acting or doing like he does, it´s more like "I don´t know why, but I won´t to save you" kind of thing. And often with out having a clue of have to do it. I have more reasons to not like Tomas character, but it would spoil a lot, so I will not get into them.
Some characters I did enjoy quite a bit on the other hand. Accelerator, Misaka, Misaka Misaka (last order), and Toumas teacher Koumoe I did like a lot. But as I mention before, they not get nearly as much screen time as they deserve. Accelerator is starting out as as villain with pretty psycho traits, and I still ended up like him many timed more then any of the MC´s. The two episodes that fleshed him out was by far the best in TMNI. Kanzaki is still much a mystery, but what have seen she is totally badass. Everything from her attitude, character desgins and sword magic are right down awesome. But I haven´t seen her much in this first season. And Misaka Misaka (last order) are also a really likable character. From the they she talk´s to the way she analyzes things. For these character and the hope that is more time for them in TMNI II, it may be worth to check TMNI II out.
Enjoyment: 5/10
Most of the time I felt my thoughts move away from the screen when watching it. It wasn´t so bad that I didn´t wan´t to finish it, but I didn´t fell eager either. So for my some parts was enjoyable and a bigger part.. njaaa..
Overall: 6/10
I didn´t feel for most of the character and wanted to strangle Index in ever other episode. But some parts was pretty good and showed potential to something better. The art and animation was nice for the eyes and when some characters did get their screen time, it was good. Overall so didn´t TMNI blow me away in any way, everthing from the school setting, all girls falls in love with Touma, and everybody wan´t to save Index so much. So for me it was mediocre as a stand alone first season of "A certain magical Index".
