A Certain Scientific Railgun - Recommendations

Alt title: Toaru Kagaku no Railgun

If you're looking for anime similar to A Certain Scientific Railgun, you might like these titles.

Psychic Squad

Psychic Squad

In the future, select humans have begun to evolve and acquire special ESP powers – powers that the rest of the populace fear and detest. While some ESPers are harmless, others desire to use their powers for their own personal gain. In order to suppress this threat, identify new ESPers and protect those with powers from the public, the B.A.B.E.L. organization is founded. At its helm are three ten-year-old ESPers: Kaoru, Aoi and Shiho. Together, they will put a stop to crime and attempt to gain the trust of the public; but can their guardian, Kouichi Minamoto, manage to help the girls mature enough so their selfish actions will stop hurting the world around them?

3 votes

I agree

Reasons you might like Psychic Squad...

sothis sothis says...

Zettai Karen Children and Railgun follow a group of kids with psychic powers as they take down various bad guys. ZKC's chars are definitely more bratty, but both series have a similar feel for sure.

cikinimey cikinimey says...

BothZettai Karen ChildrenandTo Aru Kagaku no Railgunare similar. They both are in a technologically-advanced timeline. There are young girls who are doing their city's dirty work by catching criminals and helping the civilian. And ofcoure the girls all have psychic powers. These series also have good comedy, and good action scenes!

The only difference is that Zettai Karen is about three girls at 10 years which have more jokes about lolicons and other perverted stuff, and Railgun futures teens with more ecchi scenes.

Iro Iro says...

ZTC and Railgun are both one of my favourite animes. They're about a group of psychic wielding girls called "espers" fighting crime while getting on with their day to day lives. They both have some funny light comedy stuff, great action scenes and above all, solid plot/character development.

What I love about both these animes is how well they portray the friendships these girls have with each other. Its so sweet. They mess around, they get into scruffles, but when push comes to shove, they will totally lay down their lives for their friends. The writers did a very good job in developing the characters in both. They have sometimes sad background stories that shape out their motivations and help you identify with the characters. So you totally end up rooting for them when they go fight bad guys.

ZTC is more of a comedy (and boy do those guys know how to draw cute!) while Railgun is abit more serious. I got interested in ZTC after watching the new "unlimited" spin off. I thought it was rather zany at first and didn't think much of it (after seeing the darker sequel), but just keep watching, it grows on you quick! The red head's antics and OMG the cuteness helps alot. Oh yeah I just noticed both main characters are red heads!? It must be fate. Highly recommend watching both.

Telepathy Shoujo Ran

Telepathy Shoujo Ran

Ran Isozaki is a typical middle school student with a typical crush on her childhood friend Rui, and a not-so-typical ability: she has just discovered that she has the power of telepathy! Though she'd rather be finding ways to get Rui's attention, Ran finds herself in the middle of sinister supernatural situations; but she's not alone! Joining Ran is the cocky and beautiful Naha Midori, a fellow telepath who has just transferred to Ran's school. Together, Ran, Naha and Rui will experience the joys of middle school, and the perils of the supernatural!

3 votes

I agree

Reasons you might like Telepathy Shoujo Ran...

sothis sothis says...

Telepathy Shoujo Ran and Railgun follow schoolkids with special powers and overall have a similar tone and feel. Try it out!

chii chii says...

Both anime have school kids with special powers. In Telepathy Shoujo Ran it is kept a secret from others where in To Aru Kagaku no Railgun they are actually in school to make their powers better. Both have similar love hate characters and just wonder on to episode to episode not really going anywhere. Check one out if you liked the other.

Brad Brad says...

Both series follow a group of school children with supernatural abilities. Both also feature several characters who are generally considered to be love or hate types. The main difference is that in Telepathy Shoujo Ran the children keep their powers a secret, whereas in Railgun the children are at a school specifically designed to enhance their powers.

Gakuen Alice

Gakuen Alice

Ever since they met, emotionless Hotaru and ditzy Mikanhave been best friends, and are virtually inseparable-- that is, until Hotaru is invited to attend a strange school far away, a school for those who have special abilities known as "Alice". Unable to be separated from her friend, Mikan soon sets out on a mission to find her. After traveling to a city far away, she finds Hotaru at last, but gets much more than she bargained for. Now, she is lost in a school full of kids with strange powers, unusual animals, and has secured an immediate rivalry with the toughest little punk in town!

3 votes

I agree

Watch online

Reasons you might like Gakuen Alice...

eaper eaper says...

Each of these series have a similar setting: An advanced school focused on bringing up espers/alices while revolving around a ranking system and keeping the children in the given city/school. Both of these series are rather light hearted and based mainly on slice of lifey comedy with some action thrown in.

watsup3 watsup3 says...

they both deal with kids whohave esp/alice power and go to a special school. they aboth are also have slice of life feel with comedy thrown in making that much better

xXMintyXx xXMintyXx says...

Basically both based in a  school and both school is teaching them how to use esp/alice also both through female perspectives though Gakuen Alice has bits of romance (even more in manga if you want to know more after the anime ended) while in To Aru Kagaku no Railgun it has none

Yozakura Quartet

Yozakura Quartet

In the town of Sakurashin, demons and humans live together in harmony; and to help transition its new members, the Youkai Life Consultation Office provides support and guidance. Its members contain mind reading, cat-eared Ao, strong and beautiful Hime, conjurer Kotoha, and Akina - a human with the ability to vanquish the souls of harmful demons. Together, the quartet will help the town stay safe and try to keep the peace between humans, demons, and those who would harm them.

2 votes

I agree

Reasons you might like Yozakura Quartet...

sothis sothis says...

Railgun and Yozakura Quartet aren't exactly the same, but both involves a group of people protecting a 'magical' type of city and helping out its residents. I got the same 'meh' feeling from both as well.

chii chii says...

Both anime have children protecting a town with their superpowers. Both have annoying and lovable characters too. Very similar art style as well. If you liked one check out the other.

My-Hime

My-Hime

Guided by a star only they can see, a group of maidens known as HiMEs have begun to gather at Fuuka Academy. These young women have been endowed with dangerous supernatural powers that they can use to their heart's content, but there's a price: to wield them, they must put their most important thing on the line. Now, in the midst of school work and friendships, they find themselves caught in the midst of strange conspiracies seemingly related to the terrifying monsters that attack them. Is the power of the HiMEs strong enough to save themselves and the ones they love?

2 votes

I agree

Reasons you might like My-Hime...

Damaged Damaged says...

As I watch To aru Kagaku no Railgun I can't help but notice the similarities between it and My-Hime.  For starters both anime have a slightly ecchi feel to them but not so overwhelming that you are compelled to find a new show.  Also, both anime deal with characters that have super powers and their learning of how they work (and use them in combat).  There is also a good deal of humor in both of them (usually at the expense of one of the characters).

Though I have to say that one of the biggest comparisions I have to make is between Mai and Misaka Mikoto.  They both are similar character archtypes (complete with their loving and clingy sidekicks) and both have a ton of power.  The also are quite similar when it comes to disposition as well.

One more comparision for you between these 2 series is the sheer size of the cast.  The both have a lot of characters in them and there appears to be a character for everyone in both series.  You like Tsundere's?  They both have that.  You like shy and quiet?  Got that too.  The both do a great job of building up the characters as well so you will become quickly attached.

If you like one of these you are sure to like the other.

HKBattosai HKBattosai says...

If you like My-Hime or A Certain Scientific Railgun then you'll like the other because Mai and Misaka are both extremely powerful and have clingy, comedic sidekicks in Mikoto and Kuroko. Both anime have a touch of Ecchi, but not so much to classify them as such. That element adds a comedic spin to both. Lastly, they feature large casts primarily composed of female characters.

Mai-Otome

Mai-Otome

Arika Yumemiya is a poor yet energetic girl who has come to the city to become an Otome – a female warrior with the power to match an entire army. She quickly befriends her irritable fellow student Nina Wong and Princess Mashiro, the queen-to-be. With the help of her mysterious benefactor and abundant natural talent, she’s able to overcome the trials of everyday life in the competitive Garderobe Academy, but darker schemes are afoot. How will her new friendships fare, when secrets of the past and present are brought forth to spark a fight for the crown, and more?

2 votes

I agree

Reasons you might like Mai-Otome...

n00bl3t n00bl3t says...

Mai-Otome and To Aru Kaguka no Railgun both feature brightly coloured animation with an almost all-female cast. They both spend a lot of time on character-growth episodes as well as exuding the feeling that something bad is around the corner. If that is not enough to convince you that if you watched one you will like the other, then the fact that the girls in each series have superpowers certainly will.

eaper eaper says...

Each of these series are action/humor hybrids centered around a largely female cast of super powered school aged-kids. With character development taking a main role, just a touch of fan-service, and many few issues with morality (should I do X to become strong/win/what have you) it is hard not so see these anime connecting with one another.

Okami-san & Her Seven Companions

Okami-san & Her Seven Companions

Have a problem? Talk to Otogi Bank, a student aid group that helps people get what they need – for a hefty price. Led by Liszt Kiriki and staffed by tsundere Ryouko, inventor Majolica, jealous Otohime, flirtatious Tarou, serious Alice, nervous Ryoushi and maid Otsuu, Otogi Bank assists with everything from helping break into a rival school to convincing an upperclassman to not quit a sports team. Can Otogi Bank manage to make all their clients happy, and most importantly, will Ryoushi ever manage to win Ryouko’s heart?

2 votes

I agree

Reasons you might like Okami-san & Her Seven Companions...

eaper eaper says...

Each of these series focus around a group of people in school, but not a regular school. While Railgun focuses around a comedy/action series in a town full of super powered children and Ookami focuses around a comedy (with just a bit of action) high school group doing things that aren't usually found in a normal high school. Ookami also has a bit of romance, which Railgun is mostly missing.

anosora anosora says...

To Aru Kagaku no Railgun makes a cameo appearence in Ookami-san. Indication from the anime producers themselves. They are similar.

Strawberry Marshmallow

Strawberry Marshmallow

Ahh, the life of an elementary school student. Though Chika, Matsuri, Miu and Ana should focus on schoolwork, they’d much rather have fun instead. Whether it’s outings with 20-year-old-chain-smoker Noboe, holding each other hostage or learning to speak English with Ana’s foreign-born skills, there’s never a dull moment in the life of the girls. Join this cute quartet as they do cute (and often devious) things in cute and quirky ways!

1 vote

I agree

Reasons you might like Strawberry Marshmallow...

sothis sothis says...

I know this is a strange recommendation, but bear with me. While Railgun has a lot of action and superpowers, it and SM have a very, very similar group of friends with plenty of slice of life moments. In addition, Mio in SM is a carbon copy of one of the characters in Railgun (both equally as annoying). If you liked the dynamics of the group in one, check out the other.

Psychic Academy

Psychic Academy

Ai has always lived in the shadow of his brother Zero, one of the strongest psychics of this generation. After Ai's aura tests true and he is recommended to the Psychic Academy (where his first love Orina attends), he sets off to follow his path. Once arriving in this chaotic place, where people can fight using just the power of their auras, new friends (such as the well-endowed Myuu) are drawn to his side. As he is forced to fight against those who hate psychics and psychics alike, he is also faced with a difficult choice: the girl from his past, or his new fiery soulmate?

1 vote

I agree

Reasons you might like Psychic Academy...

MalteseFalcon MalteseFalcon says...

Chrome Shelled Regios and To Aru Kagaku no Railgun have obvious initial similarity: Students with special abilities. Beyond that, both series have a strong social component between the characters in the storylines that I feel is somewhat similar.

If you enjoyed one of these series, you should try the other.

 

Chrome Shelled Regios

Chrome Shelled Regios

In a post-apocalyptic world overrun with great beasts called Filth Monsters, a glimmering dome protrudes from the wasteland. This is Zuellni, a mobile city unique for having a consciousness in the form of ‘electronic fairies’. Moreover, Zuellni is an academy where the next generation of powerful Heavens-Blade wielders gather to pit their strength against each other in inter-platoon competitions. Nina Antalk, military student and leader of the 17th Platoon, is intent on recruiting only the best; thus, when mysterious Layfon Alseif transfers to the academy, she instantly recognizes his abilities and decides he’s the perfect candidate to join her group. However, with a secret past that won’t leave him alone, and unknown powers beyond the academy taking an interest in Zuellni, Layfon joining the team is only the start of all their troubles.

1 vote

I agree

Reasons you might like Chrome Shelled Regios...

MalteseFalcon MalteseFalcon says...

Chrome Shelled Regios and To Aru Kagaku no Railgun feel familiar. Part of it is the school setting, with students having special abilities. And of course, there is the girl who has worked hard to bring the level of the ability to wear it is now. And of course, there is plenty of fighting in both of them.

Regios is more action oriented, and the school setting a bit more militant, while Railgun is more relaxed and has more social interaction. However, I am sure if you enjoyed one, you would enjoy the other.