IS: Infinite Stratos

[Marik]

Alternative Title: IS <インフィニット・ストラトス> (Japanese)

Type: TV
Episodes: 12
Source: Light Novel
Studio: 8bit
Genres: Action, Mecha, Science Fiction, Shounen
Themes: Harem

Synopsis: Infinite Stratos (IS), a weaponized exoskeleton system, has become the dominant tool of warfare and conflict. Unfortunately for the men in society, only women are able to operate Infinite Stratos, with very few exceptions. One of those exceptions is Orimura Ichika, an orphan raised by his older sister who is herself a famous IS pilot.

When his compatibility with IS is discovered after he accidentally touches an IS at the age of 15, he's given a scholarship and enrolled in a school that specializes in training IS pilots. Which of course means an interesting life surrounded by girls for this shy, unassuming boy.

Resources: ANN | AniDB | MyAnimeList | Official

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Ayako - Infinite Stratos IS - 01v2 - 720p | 400p

[vejita613]

I already hate Cecilia. Otherwise this anime has made me somewhat unconformable. "Men wouldn't last three minutes"? Oh wow.

Anyone else find it curious that his sister is like..everywhere he is? Shes his teacher and his dorm room supervisor. Maybe shes keeping an eye on him due to the fact that they are siblings? Or maybe theres more to it?

[Ryllharu]

I'd say it is just a coincidence that she's everywhere. He mentioned in passing that her being a dorm supervisor must be the reason she rarely came home. The bigger question might be why she quit being the world's best IS pilot to become a teacher.

Houki going randomly into deredere mode is amusing, but in no way surprising. I much prefer that so many of the girls are so open about approaching him. Typically we would see, "eek! A man! We should avoid him." Whether they're important or not, I liked the girls who peeped into the dorm room and complimented his speed, as well as the ones who approached him in the cafeteria.

I don't mind Cecilia, but I'll admit that's mostly because she's voiced by Yukana. I like her haughty attitude, particularly because it is likely she'll get her comeuppance next episode.

Kuribayashi Minami OPs are always a treat, the ED didn't do all that much for me, but might grow on me.

Lastly, I hate when a series opens like this one did. Random, probably pointless battle, followed by an immediate "months ago..." flashback. Very trite. Sure, it shows us what kind of action we should expect, but chances are, they won't even go back to it.

[Sentenal]

I'd say it is just a coincidence that she's everywhere. He mentioned in passing that her being a dorm supervisor must be the reason she rarely came home. The bigger question might be why she quit being the world's best IS pilot to become a teacher.

Houki going randomly into deredere mode is amusing, but in no way surprising. I much prefer that so many of the girls are so open about approaching him. Typically we would see, "eek! A man! We should avoid him." Whether they're important or not, I liked the girls who peeped into the dorm room and complimented his speed, as well as the ones who approached him in the cafeteria.

I don't mind Cecilia, but I'll admit that's mostly because she's voiced by Yukana. I like her haughty attitude, particularly because it is likely she'll get her comeuppance next episode.

Kuribayashi Minami OPs are always a treat, the ED didn't do all that much for me, but might grow on me.

Lastly, I hate when a series opens like this one did. Random, probably pointless battle, followed by an immediate "months ago..." flashback. Very trite. Sure, it shows us what kind of action we should expect, but chances are, they won't even go back to it.

Considering the battle in the beginning was an "everyone vs one with the one winning", I doubt that its a pointless battle. Combined with the fact that they were actually fighting, rather that it simply being a duel, when warfare with IS are apparently forbidden. To top it off, the design of the enemy leads me to believe that it would be the generic "myserious person who beats our ass" type villain.

[RyougaZell]

Seems interesting for now... lets see how the story revolves for now. Though I think rooming him with Houki was a bit unreal.

[Kraco]

This surely was one cliche fest, like the fanatics Sankaku quoted said, but I found it interesting nonetheless. The women only artificial limitation in the premise was a reason why I planned not to even have a look at this, but I later decided to give it a chance, mainly because of the VAs. Who knows whether this can continue to entertain in the future but for now I'll keep watching.

Sharing the room with Junko Houki and the handicap discussion both felt exceedingly artificial. The place looks so expensive and well maintained that I can't imagine they would be so short of rooms they need to couple a boy and a girl. The handicap was even more stupid considering we had just before seen the dude confess he understands hardly anything from the lessons - yet still proceeds to suggest handicaps...

[shinta|hikari]

But he beat an instructor too right? He may be ignorant on the technical aspect of piloting, but his instincts should be on par with the British representative.

It just goes to show how old fashioned the guy is, and was also used to emphasized how much the entire world has changed due to the presence of IS.

[Ryllharu]

As for the pairing Houki and whatshisface in a room, it is understandable at least on a level that this is a highly selective girls-only school. All the rooms are going to be full of IS candidates. They shoved him in a room where there was space, and probably through his sister's intervention, put him into a room with someone he can be reasonably comfortable with, and vice versa considering the circumstances.

I'm certain it was artificial.

[David75]

Somehow, this feels a lot like Ladies vs Butlers, with the ecchi part tuned down.


Regarding the first scene, I see it more like a training battle where cadets are all against a hell of an instructor, being non other than Ichika's sister.

Also, who in their right mind would believe you develop IS exoskeleton on a massive scale for entertainment purposes when you only factor the costs?
Another point of utter crap is the technological jump from today's cosmonaut suit, to a high speed, high manouevrability, highly weaponed, flying exoskeleton suit... in only ten years.
We're not talking computers here, that can rely on electronics to gain orders of magnitude every 4 to 5 years.

We're talking aeronautics, mechanics, material resistance, weight gains, size gains, power density gains, ergonomics gains, acceleration dampeners and so on... so many technologies that need many oders of magnitude of progress all at the same time, all of that with coherent integration and in a mere 10 years.

Oh yeah, I did it again, trying to be serious on such an anime

[Inazuma]

Turned way down. But hell, if more story is to come. I'm fine with it

[KrayZ33]

I thought this is about Mecha... it is not.

I refuse to see that ugly "suit" as a mech

I liked the girls who peeped into the dorm room and complimented his speed, as well as the ones who approached him in the cafeteria.

they complimented *her* already making a move on him (or being quick with the kendo sword)

The handicap was even more stupid considering we had just before seen the dude confess he understands hardly anything from the lessons - yet still proceeds to suggest handicaps...

these lessons seem to be really useless so far, its like someone wants to teach him how the *fuel* makes the car move, even though all he needs to know is how *he* can make the car move.

and on top of it, it sounds like he already knows how to drive the "car"

I hope to see a real prodigy, if he turns out to be another Naruto or even Touma I'll most likely drop this.
I want want something along the lines of Sousuke or even better Kazuma from Kaze no Stigma

[Kraco]

Yeah, I'd also like that very much, but there are still two details to consider: He said he won his fight against the instructor by evading and causing the instructor to crash into a wall. That could have been just modesty but who knows. Secondly, he didn't look like he was trying to provocate the English bitch or pay back a little for her arrogant ways.

I'll admit there's one solid possibility here: The dude could be so used to kendo that whenever a duel of any sort is suggested, he reverts back to the mental state he has in kendo and thus automatically suggested a handicap for a girl. However, he would need to be quite an airhead to forget where he is and what for.

[Archangel]

Cliché is the keyword, but i can see myself enjoying this series

The misogynist in me is sure to enjoy watching the dude beating a couple of chicks senseless with his power of sheer awesomeness, and I've always been a fan of CGI in anime when it's done right.

[Buffalobiian]

I've always been a fan of CGI in anime when it's done right.

Done right? That opening battle looked horrible. I almost dropped this because of that.

But I'll keep watching 'cause Houki has a ponytail.

[MFauli]

"Shallow" is the keyword I´d use.

Admittedly, I didn´t expect a deep anime-show here, but ... I still wonder, when we´ll ever see a series like Eureka Seven again. You know, a show that actually tries to create a believable world with realistic characters and a serious, yet funny at times, story.

IS seems to be a typical harem-anime, only using the whole mecha-setting as a visual differentiator. To be honest, even Mai-Hime/Mai-Otome felt less shallow than this first episode.

Stuff I found especially silly:
- those suits being used for sports only. Yeah, lol, costs and such...
- was it actually explained, WHY only girls can use them? I mean ... does it run on estrogen? (which then could be worked around, too)
- Houki and her tsundere-behavior. srsly, first she´s annoyed, then on the roof she´s all shy, then back to brutally violent...sigh
- was that fight in the beginning supposed to be serious? anyway, these are machines, not bodies, so if two of those clash into each other, there has to be some sort of damage. Not here, though...

I´ll keep watching, though, because this first episode really didnt give much information about this show´s direction.

[Archangel]

Then give me an example of it done to your tastes, since i thoroughly enjoyed the battle

[Buffalobiian]

Then give me an example of it done to your tastes, since i thoroughly enjoyed the battle

I can't think of one. Even the OP's "CG-aided art", though still technically CGI, was done better. The shiny rendering is off-putting. Note that I'm talking about visual presentation, not fight choreography.

High-budget movies can do it right, but they're in a different league. (Appleseed: Ex Machina for example).

[KrayZ33]

CGI is probably the most unfitting thing in anime.
everything pales in comparision to a full sketched fight

the less you can see the difference between CGI-animation and normal animation the better

I prefer it when CGI is used for backgrounds/effects only

that being said, the first battle was pretty well done, its just that the suits are ugly and you have to witness a missle/laser-fest again. the lighting effects looked over the top too (everyone has shiny-as-if-it-were-golden battlesuits yaaaay)
typical macross/gundam style so to say. annoying.

also: GITS (most of the time) @ buff

[Marik]

Ayako - Infinite Stratos IS - 02 - 720p | 400p

[KrayZ33]

uhm guys.... WOW!!!!!

that was probably one of the best Mecha fights I've seen (especially in series)
I still dislike the suit-design and would love to see the same fight with Union Flags but this was extremely fun to watch

btw, the IS voice is really cool