Infinite Stratos

Infinite Stratos

Company type	Media franchise
Industry	Light novels, manga, anime
Founded	May 25, 2009 (2009-05-25)
Founder	Izuru Yumizuru
Headquarters	Japan , Japan
Area served	Worldwide
Key people	Izuru Yumizuru (author), Okiura (original illustrator), Choco (illustrator for Overlap publications)
Products	Light novels, manga, anime television series, original video animation
Parent	Media Factory (original publisher), Overlap (current publisher)

Infinite Stratos, often abbreviated as IS, is a Japanese light novel series authored by Izuru Yumizuru, with illustrations by Okiura for the original Media Factory editions and for the Overlap publications. Seven volumes were released under Media Factory's imprint until October 2013; starting from volume eight, the series transitioned to Overlap's Overlap Bunko label.

The series was adapted into a manga by Kenji Akahoshi, serialized in the seinen manga magazine Monthly Comic Alive between May 2010 and July 2012. This adaptation was compiled into five volumes published by Alive Comics. The franchise further expanded with a 12-episode anime television series produced by Eight Bit, which aired from January to March 2011. An original video animation (OVA) followed on December 7, 2011. Sentai Filmworks secured licensing rights for North America, releasing the anime in April 2012. A second season was broadcast from October to December 2013.

Plot

Set in the near future, the story revolves around Japanese scientist Tabane Shinonono, who develops the cutting-edge powered exoskeleton known as "Infinite Stratos" (IS). This technology offers combat capabilities and advancements far beyond conventional weaponry. To prevent any single nation from gaining supremacy, the "Alaska Treaty" prohibits military deployment of IS units and enforces their equitable distribution worldwide. Notably, only women possess the ability to pilot these suits, resulting in a societal structure increasingly dominated by females.

A decade later, tranquility remains until it is discovered that 15-year-old Ichika Orimura is uniquely capable of operating an IS despite being male. Consequently, he is enrolled in the prestigious Infinite Stratos Academy, an international training institution for IS pilots. Amidst a predominantly female student body, Ichika must adapt to rigorous training while confronting emerging challenges.

Main characters

Ichika Orimura is a first-year student serving as class representative and Vice President of the Student Council at IS Academy. Raised by his sister Chifuyu—a renowned pilot—he commands the prototype fourth-generation IS , which he later upgrades to , outfitted with sophisticated weaponry including the . As the sole male pilot, Ichika becomes a focal point of scientific inquiry and political interest.

Houki Shinonono, Ichika’s childhood friend and national kendo champion, pilots the fourth-generation melee-oriented IS , armed with dual katanas and . Her familial connection to IS creator Tabane Shinonono adds layers to her involvement at the academy.

Cecilia Alcott represents the United Kingdom as a cadet and operates the long-range sniper IS , equipped with remote-controlled drones (B.I.T.S. System), a laser rifle , and a close-combat blade . She attends under government orders to safeguard her family’s wealth.

Lingyin Huang serves as China’s cadet representative and childhood friend of Ichika. She pilots the versatile , featuring shoulder-mounted cannons and twin blades , which can combine into a naginata-style weapon.

Charlotte Dunois is France’s cadet representative who initially conceals her gender while monitoring Ichika. She pilots a flexible second-generation IS , notable for its interchangeable armaments and Ignition Boost function.

Laura Bodewig leads Germany’s genetically enhanced cadets and commands special forces unit . Her artillery-class IS is armed with a railgun and Active Inertial Canceller; following initial conflict, she becomes Ichika’s protector.

Tatenashi Sarashiki represents Russia as both cadet and Student Council President at IS Academy. As head of a covert group opposing Phantom Task, she pilots the IS and assumes roles as Ichika’s guardian and roommate.

Kanzashi Sarashiki, Tatenashi’s sister and Japan’s cadet representative, initially lacks an operational IS due to development priorities favoring Ichika’s unit. Upon receiving her own IS , she overcomes insecurities, develops romantic feelings for Ichika, and establishes her own competence.

IS Academy personnel

Chifuyu Orimura, the 24-year-old elder sister of Ichika and his homeroom teacher at IS Academy, is a former renowned IS pilot famous for wielding the Yukihira blade, now passed down to Ichika. After their parents deserted them, she retired to raise him and enrolled him in the academy to protect him from foreign threats. She previously piloted the prototype , which successfully defended Japan against 2,341 missile strikes. Currently operating the Kurezakura IS, Chifuyu shares a mysterious history with Tabane Shinonono, intertwining their siblings' early lives.

Maya Yamada acts as the substitute teacher for Ichika's class and is a former Japanese IS Representative Cadet. She showcased remarkable combat prowess by simultaneously defeating Cecilia Alcott and Lingyin Huang during training exercises while piloting a standard mass-produced Rafale Revive model.

Phantom Task

Madoka Orimura, the long-missing younger twin sister of Chifuyu and Ichika, leads Phantom Task under the codename M. She pilots two cutting-edge IS units: the Silent Zephyrs, an enhanced version of Cecilia Alcott’s Blue Tears, and subsequently the Black Knight, supplied by Tabane Shinonono. Madoka was artificially engineered from Chifuyu’s DNA to become her successor, creating tension between her designed purpose and familial connections.

Squall commands Phantom Task's combat team with calculated ruthlessness. Piloting the distinctive Golden Dawn IS, she combines tactical discipline with effectiveness, notably restraining Madoka's excessive brutality. Her assignment includes collecting intelligence on Ichika Orimura's Byakushiki in its White Knight form; however, her full intentions remain undisclosed. The technical classification of the Golden Dawn IS is yet to be confirmed.

Autumn is an impulsive operative within Phantom Task who attempted to seize Ichika’s Byakushiki during the academy’s anniversary event using a "Remover" device but was thwarted by Tatenashi Sarashiki. She pilots Arachne, a stolen second-generation American IS featuring an eight-legged mobility system. Known for aggressive combat style, Autumn displays unusual vulnerability around Squall, hinting at romantic feelings. Her approach favors direct engagement over Phantom Task’s usual subtle tactics.

Additional characters

Tabane Shinonono, the secretive inventor behind IS technology and Houki's estranged elder sister, is one of the most wanted individuals worldwide due to her expertise. She maintains close relationships only with Chifuyu Orimura and the younger generation—Ichika and Houki—while expressing contempt for others. Her cheerful exterior hides formidable combat abilities, as seen when she effortlessly subdued three Phantom Task members simultaneously. Although responsible for modifying the system that enabled Ichika's initial IS compatibility, she denies any knowledge of Byakushiki's distinctive movements. The rabbit motifs in her appearance reflect an eccentric personality that contrasts with her dangerous reputation.

Clarissa Harfouch serves as deputy commander of Schwarzer Hase, Germany’s elite IS forces, piloting the . Like Laura Bodewig, she wears an eyepatch and shares an interest in Japanese pop culture, though her anime-based knowledge often leads to unreliable guidance when instructing Laura.

Natasha Fairs represents the United States as an IS Representative Cadet and was test pilot for the experimental , which spiraled out of control until stopped by Ichika Orimura and his allies. In gratitude, she kissed Ichika—a gesture that sparked jealousy among his peers.

Dan Gotanda has been Ichika Orimura’s close friend since middle school and stands out as one of the few prominent male characters. His presence offers rare male companionship within Ichika’s predominantly female social environment.

Ran Gotanda, Dan’s younger sister and third-year middle school student council president with an A-ranked IS aptitude, intends to enroll at IS Academy while pursuing romantic interest in Ichika. Her advances position her as a love rival to several female students, including Lingyin Huang.

Light novels

Infinite Stratos originated as a light novel series authored by Izuru Yumizuru, with artwork by Okiura. The inaugural volume was published by Media Factory through their MF Bunko J imprint on May 25, 2009. By April 25, 2018, the series had reached twelve volumes.

Due to a dispute between Media Factory and the creator, publication was temporarily halted. Yumizuru later announced the series would continue under Kodansha, with Overlap taking over publication via their Overlap Bunko label and Choco stepping in as the new illustrator, replacing Okiura. Beginning April 25, 2013, reprints of the initial seven volumes were issued. The series ultimately concluded with its thirteenth volume.

The novels have been translated into traditional Chinese and were first released by Sharp Point Press on November 9, 2010. However, Chinese translations were indefinitely suspended after Media Factory’s overseas agents entered unauthorized agreements without the author's consent.

On February 27, 2018, J-Novel Club acquired the license and commenced English translations of the series.

Volumes

{{Graphic novel list | VolumeNumber = 6 | RelDate = December 24, 2010 (Media Factory)
August 25, 2013 (Overlap) | ISBN = 978-4-8401-3516-0 (Media Factory)
978-4-9068-6610-6 (Overlap) | LicensedRelDate = February 24, 2019 | LicensedISBN = 978-1-7183-2210-3 | ChapterList =

|}

Manga

The manga adaptation by Kenji Akahoshi began serialization in Monthly Comic Alive starting May 27, 2010, concluding with the September 2012 issue on July 27, 2012. Media Factory’s Alive Comics imprint published five collected volumes between December 22, 2010 and September 21, 2012.

A second manga version by Homura Yūki debuted in Shogakukan's seinen magazine Monthly Sunday Gene-X on May 18, 2013. This installment went on hiatus on June 19, 2018, resumed in 2019, and wrapped up on February 19, 2020. Shogakukan compiled its chapters into eight tankōbon volumes released from November 19, 2013 through March 19, 2020.

Internet radio

The Internet radio program Radio IS, produced by Super A&G+, aired from January 1 to March 26, 2011. Hosted by voice actresses Yōko Hikasa and Asami Shimoda, who portrayed principal characters in the series, the first episode remained available for three weeks in archives while subsequent episodes were accessible for two weeks each. Following this, a follow-up show titled Radio IS Overtime broadcast four episodes biweekly from April 9 to May 21, 2011.

Anime

The announcement for the Infinite Stratos anime adaptation was made on June 21, 2010; its official website launched on August 8 of the same year. Directed by Yasuhito Kikuchi and animated by Eight Bit studio, character designs were created by Takeyasu Kurashima while mecha designs were handled by Takeshi Takakura. The scriptwriting team included Atsuhiro Tomioka, Chinatsu Hōjō, and Fumihiko Shimo—the latter also responsible for series composition.

Broadcasting took place on TBS from January 7 to April 1, 2011, with additional airings on CBC, SUN-TV, KBS, and BS-TBS. Media Factory distributed six DVD and Blu-ray volumes between March and September of that year. An original video animation (OVA), titled IS <Infinite Stratos> Encore: A Sextet Yearns to Be in Love, was released on December 7, 2011. A second season was officially confirmed in April 2013.

Sentai Filmworks licensed the series for North American distribution; it was simulcast via Anime Network and later released as a dubbed DVD/Blu-ray set on April 10, 2012. In the United Kingdom, MVM Films secured licensing rights and issued the first season on February 17, 2014. The second season aired from October 4 to December 20, 2013; Sentai Filmworks obtained streaming and home video rights for a release scheduled in 2014.

The soundtrack was composed by Masumi Itō (also known as Hikaru Nanase). The opening theme "Straight Jet" was sung by Minami Kuribayashi. The ending theme "Super∞Stream" featured multiple versions performed by various voice actresses corresponding to their characters’ roles during each episode’s closing credits. Both singles were released under Lantis early in 2011. The OVA’s ending theme was "Best Partner," performed by Yōko Hikasa. For the second season, Minami Kuribayashi returned with the opening theme "True Blue Traveler," while Yōko Hikasa performed the ending theme "Beautiful Sky."

Games

In Japan, the 2014 release of Infinite Stratos 2: Ignition Hearts, a video game developed by 5pb. for PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita, centers on Ichika's experiences during a school festival. Additionally, a trading card game produced by Bushiroad's Five gross was launched on November 8, 2013. Characters from the series also feature in the PlayStation Vita title Kaku-San-Sei Million Arthur.

The PC mech action title Infinite Stratos: Versus Colors, created by 5pb., became available in Japan on December 31, 2014. Following this, Infinite Stratos 2: Love and Purge, another installment for PlayStation 3 and Vita, was released on September 3, 2015. In December 2017, DMM Games introduced a cross-platform gacha game called Infinite Stratos: Archetype Breaker, which ceased operations on August 27, 2018; nonetheless, an offline version continues to be downloadable and playable.

Reception and sales

By February 2011, the light novel series had achieved sales totaling approximately 1.2 million copies. The anime adaptation's opening theme, "Straight Jet," attained the No. 16 position on the Oricon charts, while its ending theme, "Super∞Stream," reached as high as No. 10. The first volume’s Blu-ray edition sold roughly 22,000 units within its initial week, marking it as only the sixth anime series debut volume to top Oricon’s overall Blu-ray Disc weekly sales ranking.

Theron Martin of Anime News Network offered criticism regarding the anime’s protagonist being overly dense and the storyline lacking strength but commended the quality of its action scenes.

External links

• Official light novel website at Media Factory
• Official light novel website at Overlap
• Official anime website for Infinite Stratos at TBS
• Official anime website for Infinite Stratos 2 at TBS