A Certain Dark Side's Item
Four girls, one ruthless leader, and the missions Academy City keeps in the dark.
Last updated: 7 November 2026
A Certain Dark Side's Item premiered on 9 October 2026 on AT-X, Tokyo MX and BS11 in Japan, and it streams on Crunchyroll, where it is listed as A Certain Dark Item. The series is animated by J.C.Staff and directed by Tatsuyuki Nagai. It follows ITEM, a four-girl dark-side unit led by Shizuri Mugino, and it is the A Certain Magical Index franchise's first TV anime since 2020. The episode count has not been officially confirmed yet.
About A Certain Dark Side's Item
A Certain Dark Side's Item is a Fall 2026 TV anime from studio J.C.Staff, directed by Tatsuyuki Nagai with series composition by Shogo Yasukawa, character design by Shigeki Kimoto and music by Maiko Iuchi. It adapts Kazuma Kamachi's spin-off light novels, published by Dengeki Bunko, which had reached seven volumes by the time the anime premiered. The story is set in Academy City and follows ITEM, an elite unit of four girls who work the city's dark side. Their leader is Shizuri Mugino, the fourth-ranked Level 5 esper. Alongside her are Frenda Seivelun, Rikou Takitsubo and Saiai Kinuhata, and all four voice actors reprise their roles from the earlier series: Ami Koshimizu, Maaya Uchida, Aya Suzaki and Chinatsu Akasaki. The series premiered on 9 October 2026 on AT-X, Tokyo MX and BS11. Crunchyroll streams it as part of its Fall 2026 lineup, where it is listed under the shorter title A Certain Dark Item, and Muse Communication licenses the series in Southeast Asia. It is the first TV anime in the wider A Certain Magical Index franchise since 2020.
A Certain Dark Side's Item is a TV anime from 2026, first released in Fall 2026. It belongs to the Action and Sci-Fi and Supernatural genres and is listed as currently airing. The summary above is written by the AnimeYug team in our own words.
Official Trailer
Story & Plot
Academy City is a place built on science, where students develop esper powers and the streets look safe. That safety has a price. Behind it sits a dark side of covert groups who handle threats and dirty jobs in secret, far from public view.
ITEM is one of those groups. It is a small unit of just four girls, and it takes on missions that can never be traced back to anyone. The work is dangerous, the targets are worse, and failure is not really an option.
Leading them is Shizuri Mugino, the fourth-ranked Level 5 esper in the whole city. Her power, the Meltdowner, can cut through almost anything, and she runs her team with total confidence. What ITEM's members find on their missions, though, keeps pulling them further into the darkness they work in.
Story Arcs & Episode Guide
The A Certain Dark Side's Item anime is split into story sagas. Here is every saga in order, with its episodes and years.
| Arc | Episodes | Years | About |
|---|---|---|---|
| Season 1 | Episode count not confirmed yet | 2026 | Season 1 premiered on 9 October 2026 on AT-X, Tokyo MX and BS11, and streams on Crunchyroll. No official episode total has been announced. |
Why Watch A Certain Dark Side's Item
- The A Certain Magical Index franchise's first TV anime since 2020
- Animated by J.C.Staff and directed by Tatsuyuki Nagai
- All four ITEM voice actors reprise their roles from the earlier series
- Based on Kazuma Kamachi's spin-off light novels, seven volumes by the premiere
- Streaming on Crunchyroll in its Fall 2026 lineup, listed as A Certain Dark Item
Who Is It For?
A Certain Dark Side's Item suits viewers who like the Academy City setting and want its shadowy side for once, rather than its school life. Long-time franchise fans get a familiar cast in a darker story, and new viewers can start here too, since ITEM's missions stand on their own.
Main Characters
View all characters →Voice Actors
The Japanese voices behind the main characters of A Certain Dark Side's Item.
- Shizuri MuginoLeader of ITEM and the fourth-ranked Level 5 esperJapanese voiceAmi Koshimizu
- Frenda SeivelunITEM's explosives and traps specialistJapanese voiceMaaya Uchida
- Rikou TakitsuboITEM's tracker, who reads the AIM fields of espersJapanese voiceAya Suzaki
- Saiai KinuhataITEM's defensive wall, with a body tougher than steelJapanese voiceChinatsu Akasaki
Staff & Production
- Original Creator
- Kazuma Kamachi
- Animation Studio
- J.C.Staff
- Director
- Tatsuyuki Nagai
- Series Composition
- Shogo Yasukawa
- Character Design
- Shigeki Kimoto
- Music
- Maiko Iuchi
Manga & Source Material
The anime adapts Kazuma Kamachi's spin-off light novels, a side story of A Certain Magical Index set in Academy City. The novels are published under Dengeki Bunko and had reached seven volumes by the time the anime premiered in October 2026.
- Written by Kazuma Kamachi
- Published by Dengeki Bunko
- Seven volumes released by the anime's premiere
- Set in Academy City
- A spin-off of A Certain Magical Index
Series Timeline
- 2020
The wider A Certain Magical Index franchise airs its most recent TV anime before this series, the start of a six year gap on television.
- March 2026
A teaser promotional video introduces the anime, with the main staff and the returning ITEM cast presented.
- 9 October 2026
A Certain Dark Side's Item premieres on AT-X, Tokyo MX and BS11, with Crunchyroll streaming the series in its Fall 2026 lineup.
Release Schedule
- Premiere
- 9 October 2026
- Japanese broadcast
- AT-X, Tokyo MX and BS11
- Streaming
- Crunchyroll, listed as A Certain Dark Item
- Southeast Asia
- Licensed by Muse Communication
- Episodes
- Not officially confirmed yet
Details as of 7 November 2026, from official announcements. The episode count has not been confirmed by any official source, so this page does not guess one.
Quick Answers
Is A Certain Dark Side's Item finished?
No, not yet. A Certain Dark Side's Item is currently airing, which means new episodes are still being released.
What genre is A Certain Dark Side's Item?
A Certain Dark Side's Item is a Action and Sci-Fi and Supernatural anime. You can browse more titles like it on our Action anime page.
When did A Certain Dark Side's Item release?
A Certain Dark Side's Item first released in Fall 2026. It is a TV series.
When did A Certain Dark Side's Item premiere?
It premiered on 9 October 2026 on AT-X, Tokyo MX and BS11 in Japan. Crunchyroll streams the series as part of its Fall 2026 lineup.
How many episodes is A Certain Dark Side's Item?
That has not been confirmed yet. No official source has announced an episode count for the series, so any total you see on aggregator sites is unconfirmed for now. This page will be updated when an official count is announced.
Where can I watch A Certain Dark Side's Item?
On Crunchyroll, where the series is listed under the shorter title A Certain Dark Item. In Southeast Asia, Muse Communication licenses the series.
Do I need to watch A Certain Magical Index first?
No. This is a spin-off that follows ITEM on its own missions in Academy City, so you can start here. Knowing the earlier series adds background on Mugino and her team, but the story stands on its own.
Who voices Shizuri Mugino?
Ami Koshimizu. She reprises the role from the earlier series, alongside Maaya Uchida as Frenda Seivelun, Aya Suzaki as Rikou Takitsubo and Chinatsu Akasaki as Saiai Kinuhata.
Watch Order
Good news: there is nothing else you need to watch before or after this one.
- 1A Certain Dark Side's ItemTV (2026): start here. This spin-off follows ITEM's own missions, so no earlier series is required viewing, though franchise fans will know Mugino's team from A Certain Magical Index and A Certain Scientific Railgun.
Where to Watch
A Certain Dark Side's Item is officially available to stream on these platforms:
Streaming availability changes often and differs by country. Please check the platform in your region.