Title: IS: Infinite Stratos
Japanese Title: IS<インフィニット・ストラトス>
Genre: action, comedy, science fiction, mecha, harem
Premier: 2011-01-06
Animation Studio: 8bit
Director: Yasuhito Kikuchi
Original Creator: Izuru Yumizuru (light novel)
Official Site: http://www.tbs.co.jp/anime/is/
Episodes: 12?
Opening Theme: "STRAIGHT JET" by Minami Kuribayashi
Ending Theme: "SUPER∞STREAM" by Yoko Hikasa
Cast:
Kouki Uchiyama as Ichika Orimura
YÅko Hikasa as Houki Shinonono
Asami Shimoda as Rinin Fanerrorsource
Kana Hanazawa as Charles Dunois
Mai Kadowaki as Honne Nohotoke (Nohohon-san)
Makoto Yasumura as Dan Gotanda
Marina Inoue as Laura Bodevihhi
Megumi Toyoguchi as Chifuyu Orimura
Noriko Obata as Ran Gotanda
Noriko Shitaya as Maya Yamada
Yukana as Cecila Olcott
Yukari Tamura as Tabane Shinonono
Plot:
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. (~from ANN~)
Note, the synopsis is wrong since it is stated in the first episode that IS have been banned as weapons.
My Thoughts:
Wait, haven't I seen this before? It's a mish-mash of Sky Girls (with Gundam styling), Vandread and every school-life harem anime you have ever seen. And to top it off, Hikasa Youko's performance as the obligatory tsundere childhood friend, Houki is almost a carbon copy of her performance as Maya in Seikimatsu Occult Gakuin. Almost no originality whatsoever. Still, I'll probably keep watching since the character designs are sexy, and the mecha fights look good.