History Literature / TheIrregularAtMagicHighSchool

* ''The Irregular at Magic High School: Out of Order'' (2014): A 3D FightingGame for the UsefulNotes/PlayStationVita by Creator/BandaiNamcoEntertainment.

''The Irregular at Magic High School'' (''Mahouka Koukou no Rettousei'') is a Japanese light novel series written by Tsutomu Satou with illustrations by Kana Ishida . The novel began as a web novel serialization on the site Shousetsuka ni Narou ("Let's Become a Novelist") on October 12, 2008. It then became the second web novel after ''Literature/SwordArtOnline'' to be commercialized and published by Creator/DengekiBunko in July 2011. The series would be released 4 years later by Yen Press in North America.

An anime adaptation by Creator/{{Madhouse}} began airing in the spring 2014 anime season. A second season began in Autumn 2020, covering the Visitors Arc.

* CoolGuns: "Silver Horn"[[note]] [[DualWielding dual wielded]] by Tatsuya. Optimized for his general use, these two are Tatsuya's main [=CADs=][[/note]], "Trident"[[note]] So named because its three activation sequences are purely optimized for the sole purpose of using [[spoiler:Decomposition]]. In other words, Tatsuya will only use this [=CAD=] knowing that he'll walk into a battle to the death.[[/note]] and "Third Eye"[[note]] An experimental sniper-shaped [=CAD=] with a superior targeting system and visual augmentation than most [=CADs=]. It's sole use is facilitate Tatsuya's use of [[spoiler:[[FantasticNuke Material Burst]]]] on targets at long-range. Because of its purpose, never mind Tatsuya, ''the [=CAD=] itself is normally sealed away''. Basically, if Tatsuya is actually deployed with "Third Eye", [[spoiler:it's because things have gone ten different ways to '''hell''', and something, or someone, needs to die right now, in the most violently explosive way possible.]][[/note]] , gun-shaped Specialized [=CADs=] that Tatsuya uses.

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/rettousei_401.jpg]]

''The Irregular at Magic High School'' is a Japanese light novel series written by Tsutomu Satou with illustration by Kana Ishida . The novel began as a web novel serialization in ''"Let's Become a Novelist"'' on October 12, 2008. It then became the second web novel after ''Literature/SwordArtOnline'' to be commercialized and published by Creator/DengekiBunko in July 2011. The series would be released 4 years later by Yen Press in North America. The light novel series received positive critical attention from both Japanese and American critics.

The web novel consisted of only 6 web chapters written covering the First Year arc completed on March 21, 2011, and the author has already planned for a total of 15 web chapters to cover the entire three years of Magic High School. Included also is a series of side stories, ''Mahouka Koukou no Shounen Shoujo (loosely, The Boys and Girls at Magic High School)''.

* [[FantasticRacism Fantastic Prejudice]]: The course 1 students in general view the course 2 students with a lot of contempt, and feel they're leagues above the latter group. While 1's are generally considered pretty powerful, Tatsuya is considered a 2, yet manages to defeat the Vice President in the blink of an eye during a mock battle.

* IAmNotLeftHanded: At the beginning of the novel, Tatsuya was shown as a badass who could read the Activation Sequence of magic (thus allowing him to counter them) and use multiple [=CADs=] to fight. These abilities are amazing in-universe, yes, but nowhere near as powerful as what he's concealing.

* InstantRunes: A signature of Modern Magic.

%%* PragmaticAdaptation: Although it also has many of its own problems, adaptation makes the work much more good-natured and sympathetic, giving Tatsuyu just a quiet kind NiceGuy personality instead of his cold and disturbing original from the novel. She also almost completely removes romance with an emphasis on IncestSubtext (but not from OP and ED), replacing it with pretty fanservice.%% Which adaptation? Who's "she"?

''The Irregular at Magic High School'' is a Japanese light novel series written by Tsutomu Satou with illustration by Kana Ishida . The novel began as a web novel serialization in ''"Let's Become a Novelist"'' on October 12, 2008. It then became the second web novel after ''Literature/SwordArtOnline'' to be commercialized and published by Dengeki in July 2011. The series would be released 4 years later by Yen Press in North America. The light novel series received positive critical attention from both Japanese and American critics.

* WillTheyOrWontThey: The whole romantic line of the series, especially after the 16th volume, is built around the question: "Is the strong incest subtext between Shiba siblings the usual fan-service and temporary deception, or slowly developing mutual love?". TheyDo in the sequel series.

-->'''Tatsuya:''' There's not a single person who studies Elemental Magic sequences who doesn't know his name.

* AsskickingEqualsAuthority: Magic usually trumps combat, magic is determined by one's genes, and the setting is a futuristic one where genetic engineering and soldiers bred from birth are entirely acceptable if one has the right connections. The result is a society with an arms race, ArrangedMarriage[=s=] and aristocratic cold war.

An anime adaptation by Creator/{{Madhouse}} began airing in the Spring2014Anime season. A second season began in Autumn 2020, covering the Visitors Arc.

''The Irregular at Magic High School'' is a Japanese light novel series written by Tsutomu Satou with illustration by Kana Ishida . The novel began as a web novel serialization in ''"Let's Become a Novelist"'' on October 12, 2008. It then became the second web novel after ''LightNovel/SwordArtOnline'' to be commercialized and published by Dengeki in July 2011. The series would be released 4 years later by Yen Press in North America. The light novel series received positive critical attention from both Japanese and American critics.

* NotSoStoic: Happens for both of stoics. [[CryCute Shizuku is adorable.]] [[TranquilFury Tatsuya is scary]].

* SpaceFillingEmpire: A consequence of WorldWarIII is that the Mahouka Earth [[http://vignette3.wikia.nocookie.net/mahouka-koukou-no-rettousei/images/f/f6/1558504_612048822204380_9207457148527027621_n.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20140407003445 is covered with those]]. The USA are now the [[ExpandedStatesOfAmerica United States of '''North''' America]], there is a [[MakeTheBearAngryAgain ''New'']] [[UsefulNotes/SovietRussiaUkraineAndSoOn Soviet Union]], modern day China [[ChinaTakesOverTheWorld devolved into a Great Asian Alliance after conquering most of Asia]], India and Iran have united Central Asia, there's a [[MiddleEasternCoalition League of Arabian Nations]]... Europe is a strange mix of this trope and BalkanizeMe: while UsefulNotes/TheEuropeanUnion is now an [[UnitedEurope united federated entity]], it splits into an eastern and western halves along the Franco-German border. The only countries mentioned to have stayed more or less the same are Turkey, Australia (which is in isolationism), Brazil, and Japan.

** [[spoiler:Honoka to Tatsuya. Tatsuya turned her down sincerely because he can't return her love with his lack of nearly all "strong" emotions (strong emotions only. She says she'll like him until she finds someone better.]]

*** "Mahesvara": Given by soldiers of the Great Asian Alliance after [[spoiler:the Okinawa incident]]. Refers to the Hindu deity [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shiva Shiva]] said to be the god of destruction and reforming. [[labelnote:Novel Quotes]] "Three years ago, an unidentified demon smashed them at Okinawa. Among the soldiers who returned through prisoner exchange, none dared to utter that title ("Mahesvara"). The upper echelons of the Great Asian Alliance military officially denied his existence. They forbade the soldiers from mentioning that name. It was a nightmare better left buried. Yet, no matter how they denied him with their lips, the nightmare had become reality and was baring its fangs at them." | "Three years ago, soldiers from Hong Kong used English phrases to get around the gag order from above. Today, that term spread like wildfire through the invading forces. — Mahesvara! — Their morale drowned in a rising tide of horror."[[/labelnote]]

%%* PragmaticAdaptation: Although it also has many of its own problems, adaptation makes the work much more good-natured and sympathetic, giving Tatsuyu just a quiet kind NiceGuy personality instead of his cold and disturbing original from the novel. She also almost completely removes romance with an emphasis on IncestSubtext (but not from OP and ED), replacing it with a pretty fan-service.%% Which adaptation? Who's "she"?

* PowerIncontinence: When Miyuki gets emotional, sometimes the surroundings get frozen over. [[spoiler:Explained further in the LN: Miyuki is using 50% of her power to suppress Tatsuya's magic. The moment she releases the seal, she gains full control on her magic.]]

* RedBaron: Tatsuya, who's also TheDreaded and has various terrifying monikers. More directly played with "Crimson Prince" Masaki, who is a model young magican from a good family. Red is even his trademark color.

* RuleOfSymbolism: The ten main magical clans are an allusion to the mafia, and more specifically the {{Yakuza}}. In particular, the author and the characters repeatedly hint that these families were initially used by politicians and businessmen to secretly and illegally solve their problems. In particular, the family of Kuroba from the Yotsuba clan have outstanding magical espionage skills including the instantaneous and secretive killing of witnesses. However, they TurnedAgainstTheMasters with manipulation, magic and blackmail, so that the yakuza are now ''their'' puppets.

* ScientificallyUnderstandableSorcery : Modern freezing spells work by slowing down molecules, and heat spells work the opposite way.

* {{Meganekko}}: Mizuki Shibata wears them to [[PowerLimiter reduce her magical sensitivity]] to tolerable levels. [[note]]Due to magic, wearing glasses is rare. It's hinted that those wearing them mostly do so for the same reason Mizuki does.[[/note]]

* LoadsAndLoadsOfCharacters: There are quite a few named characters just attending First High School. And then there are the students at the other magic schools...

* SomethingCompletelyDifferent: The ''Maidens of Cygnus'' spinoff is a more archetypal fantasy story, beginning with an ignorant yet plucky HeroicBastard receiving the CallToAdventure.