Academy City is one of the main locations of the anime A Certain Scientific Index. This location is also known as the Academy City of Science and Technology. It is a walled-in enclave within the Tokyo Metropolitan Employment Area and it is also a landlocked sovereign city-state.
Being the main setting of the Certain Scientific Index series as well as its side-story series, it has a lot of lore behind it. The series actually tells fans a lot about this location, but it also has a lot that fans may not know about it.
10 THE GOVERNMENT OF THE CITY IS QUITE UNIQUE
The Chairman of Academy City's Board of Directors is the man by the name of Aleister Crowley. This role in the government of the city gives him absolute power over the city. He is joined by 12 other members of this board of directors who, according to him, are completely expendable and can be replaced at any time.
While this government has power regarding policies and Aleister has complete control, he actually doesn't worry about government affairs and leaves those duties to his 12 subordinates of the Board of Directors.
9 THE LOCATION OF THE CITY IS KEY
Academy City is located in an area of Japan where the wind constantly flows in and all around the city. This placement west of Tokyo Japan is for no random reason, as the wind is actually a huge asset to it. It has tons of wind turbines that generate a lot of the power in Academy City.
The technology that is present in Academy City allows them to make the most of this climate. It allows them to predict the weather and of course, prepare for whatever comes their way.
8 THE CITY HAS 23 DISTRICTS
Academy City is a location that is composed of 23 districts. These districts are called School Districts and are simply named by their corresponding number. While their names are very basic, each School District is actually special, as each of the districts was created with a special purpose in mind.
Some examples of this are district 1 where most of the city's administration is located, 2 where training areas are located, 3 for outsider accommodations like hotels, and 4 for food-related facilities.
7 THE DEMOGRAPHICS OF THE CITY VARIES
Throughout the series, the population of Academy City has been said to have 2.3 million figures as said in the first volume of the manga where 2.3 million students were confirmed. However, it is also said that not all of the students that stay in Academy City have ceased to be human and become esperers.
It was also said that under 60% of the population were Level 0s. In the novel, it is also stated that 80% of the population of the city were actual students. These demographics are mirrored in the anime adaptation.
6 THE CITY HAS ROCKY FOREIGN RELATIONS
On the side of the scientific field, Academy City is the most dominant faction that there is. However, this dominance, as well as the supernatural powers of the city have made the city envied by others around the world. This envy combined with fear from other factions has resulted in some bad blood.
It also led Academy City to remain neutral when it comes to the affairs of magic in the city. This means that if a magician is the cause of the problem there will be no intervention even if lives are lost.
5 THE CITY IS FULL OF SECURITY SYSTEMS
The city is full of hidden cameras that are placed along roads and alleyways. Along with these there are minuscule machines that are used to constantly gather data far and wide. Information is always being monitored and controlled throughout many systems in order to sniff out any spy or terrorist.
There also used to be the satellites Orihime 1 and Hikoboshi II. These two satellites were once a part of a trio of satellites that constantly monitor the city according to Touma.
4 THE REGISTRATION ISN'T TOO EXTENSIVE
The actual registration that is required to become a denizen of Academy City isn't all that troublesome. In fact, when compared to the things that happen inside the city the registration measures aren't bad at all.
Those that wish to register to be denizens of the city only must give a bit of information regarding their body features. These features include their fingerprints, voiceprints, and retinal patterns. They will receive a city pass that they must use to leave the city.
3 THE STUDENTS HAVE TO GO THROUGH A LOT TO LEAVE
Whereas the denizen registration process isn't all that bad, the process that a student must go through to leave Academy City is the opposite. If a student wishes to leave the city they must write and turn in three written applications. After this, their blood must be checked for authenticity,
Finally, the student will have to have a guarantor to get a complete pass. This means a parent or guardian. Once this is complete they are injected with a nanodevice.
2 THERE ARE A FEW SECURITY FLAWS
Despite the technological advancements of Academy City, there are quite a few flaws in the city's security. These flaws aren't small either. After Orihime 1 was destroyed, live feeds of satellite images were reduced, leaving magicians to be able to easily enter the city and cause damage.
In certain districts such as District 10, inhabitants have even overrun so much and have become unreachable by technology due to Skill-Out members destroying the district's hidden cameras and security bots.
1 THE NETWORK TERMINALS OF THE CITY ARE RANKED
In Academy City the network terminals have a rank to which only a device or person with the same rank as the terminal may access them. This means that something like a Rank C terminal is unable to get information that is filed under B Rank or any Rank above that.
The terminal rankings are as follows: Rank D Cellphones, Rank C Library and homes, Rank B Teachers, Rank A Research labs, and Rank S General Board of Directors.