The appeal and evaluation of "IS2": Evolution and excitement as a sequel

IS2 - Infinite Stratos II - Review and Recommendation

■ Public Media

TV anime series

■ Original Media

Light novel

■ Broadcast period

October 3, 2013 - December 19, 2013

■Broadcasting station

TBS affiliates

■Frequencies

half an hour

■ Number of Episodes

Episode 12

■Original Story

Izuru Yumizuru

■ Director

Yasuhito Kikuchi

■ Production

Animation Production: Eightbit

■Works

©Izuru Yumizuru, OVERLAP/Project IS

■ Story

"IS <Infinite Stratos>" is a flying powered suit that can only be operated by women. Since its development and release in Japan, the world has become a female-dominated society.

IS Academy is an all-girls school that trains IS pilots and is attended by female candidates from all over the world. However, the protagonist, Orimura Ichika, is forced to enroll in IS Academy because, despite being a boy, he is somehow able to activate an IS. As the only boy in a school of girls, he is joined by his childhood friend, Houki, a kendo girl, and a diverse array of girls from various countries. This is a whirlwind of action battles and romance. What will become of Ichika's love, with the sudden enemy attacking, the mystery hidden within the IS, and the girls' love affairs surrounding him?

■Cast

・Ichika Orimura/Kouki Uchiyama・Houki Shinonono/Yoko Hikasa・Cecilia Alcott/Yukana・Rinne Otori/Asami Shimoda・Charlotte Dunois/Kana Hanazawa・Laura Bodewig/Marina Inoue・Tatenashi Sarashiki/Chiwa Saito・Kanzashi Sarashiki/Suzuko Mimori

■ Main staff

・Original work: Yumizuru Izuru (published by Overlap Bunko)
・Director: Yasuhito Kikuchi ・Character design: Kumi Horii ・Sub-character design: Sorato Shimizu ・Mechanic design: Takeshi Takakura, Koichi Mugitani (CHOCO)
・Chief animation directors: Kumi Horii, Kuso Shimizu, Shinya Nishizawa ・Series director: Shin Tosaka ・Sound director: Akihiko Nakajima ・Music: Hikaru Nanase ・CGI director: Eiji Inomoto (Orange)
・Color design/Tomomi Murakami (Hiwa)
・Art director: Shunichiro Yoshihara (Biho)
Art setting: Yoshinori Shiozawa Director of photography: Koji Tanaka (Rare Trick)
Edited by Yoshiko Kimura (MADBOX)
・Animation Production: Eightbit

■ Main Characters

Ichika Orimura The only boy in the world who can use IS. Although he has a carefree personality, he has a passionate side and sticks to his beliefs. He is incredibly popular with girls, but he is surprisingly naive and eccentric when it comes to love.

Shinonono Ichika's first childhood friend. She has a long ponytail. She aspires to become a swordsman and has a stubborn personality. She has had feelings for Ichika for a long time, but has not been able to express them honestly. Her older sister is Tabane, an IS developer.

Cecilia Alcott - British representative candidate. A proud young lady born into a distinguished family, she takes pride in both her appearance and her abilities. She was touched by Ichika's manly fighting style during the match, and has had feelings for him ever since.

Huang Suzune: A candidate for the Chinese national team. Ichika's second childhood friend. She has had feelings for Ichika for a long time, but is always annoyed by his eccentricities. As the only one in a different class, she can't help but worry about Ichika's actions every day.

Charlotte Dunois: A candidate for the French national team. She enrolled in the school as a male IS pilot in order to get closer to Ichika and gather data. Even after she found out that she was a girl, Ichika continued to treat her kindly, which made her develop feelings for him. After that, with Ichika's persuasion, she decided to live life at the school as a girl again.

Laura Bodewig: A German representative candidate. A girl who was raised as a fighting tool. When she was in the German army, she was trained by Chifuyu and came to respect and admire him. Because of this, she initially hated Ichika, but was touched when he saved her without regard for his own safety, and since then, she has openly declared that "Ichika is my wife."

The student council president who boasts the strongest abilities in Tatenashi Academy. A second-year student, he is Ichika's senior. He is cheerful and mischievous, and often teases Ichika, but he also has a mysterious side to him.

Sarashiki: Kanzashi Tatenashi's younger sister and Ichika's classmate. She has an introverted and reserved personality. She is a candidate for the Japanese national team, but for some reason her personal robot is incomplete.

■Subtitle

Episode 1: Summer Memories (2013/10/03)
・Episode 2: Koisuru☆Sublingual Tablets (2013/10/10)
・Episode 3: Glass Girl's Transparent Color (2013/10/17)
・Episode 4/Mysterious Lady (2013/10/24)
・Episode 5/Lovely Style (2013/10/31)
・Episode 6: Maiden's Pride (2013/11/07)
・Episode 7/Sisters (2013/11/14)
Episode 8: Open Your Heart (2013/11/21)
・Episode 9: The Conditions of a Hero (2013/11/28)
・Episode 10/Cooking My Way (2013/12/05)
・Episode 11: The Kyoto Stage (2013/12/12)
・Episode 12: The Girls Spread Their Wings (2013/12/19)

■ Related works

IS Infinite Stratos (January 2011)

■ Theme songs and music

・OP1
・True Blue Traveler
1 to 12
Lyrics: Minami Kuribayashi Composition: Daisuke Kikuta Arrangement: Daisuke Kikuta Vocals: Minami Kuribayashi

・ED1
・BEAUTIFUL SKY
1 to 8
Lyrics by Saori Kodama; Composition by Akihiko Yamaguchi; Arrangement by Akihiko Yamaguchi; Vocals by Houki Shinonono, Cecilia Alcott, Lingyin Huang, Charlotte Dunois, Laura Bodewig (Yoko Hikasa, Yukana, Asami Shimoda, Kana Hanazawa, Marina Inoue)

・ED2
・BEAUTIFUL SKY
9 to 11
Lyrics by Saori Kodama; Composition by Akihiko Yamaguchi; Arrangement by Akihiko Yamaguchi; Sung by Houki Shinono, Cecilia Alcott, Lingyin Huang, Charlotte Dunois, Laura Bodewig, Kanzashi Sarashiki (Yoko Hikasa, Yukana, Asami Shimoda, Kana Hanazawa, Marina Inoue, Suzuko Mimori)

・ED3
・BEAUTIFUL SKY
12
Lyrics by Saori Kodama; Composition by Akihiko Yamaguchi; Arrangement by Akihiko Yamaguchi; Sung by Houki Shinono, Cecilia Alcott, Lingyin Huang, Charlotte Dunois, Laura Bodewig, Kanzashi Sarashiki, Tatenashi Sarashiki (Yoko Hikasa, Yukana, Asami Shimoda, Kana Hanazawa, Marina Inoue, Suzuko Mimori, Chiwa Saito)

■Review

"IS2 - Infinite Stratos II" is a TV anime series that was broadcast in 2013 and is based on the light novel by Izuru Yumizuru. While maximizing the appeal of the original work, the anime has its own unique developments and delves deeper into the characters, making it a long-awaited sequel for fans.

The story is set in a world where IS, a flying powered suit that can only be operated by women, has been developed. The protagonist, Ichika Orimura, is the only man who can operate an IS and is forced to enroll in IS Academy. There, he meets girls from various countries, including his childhood friend, Houki Shinonono, and gets caught up in various incidents and battles. The love stories surrounding Ichika are also depicted, entertaining viewers.

The anime was produced by Eightbit and directed by Yasuhito Kikuchi. Character design by Kumi Horii, sub-character design by Kusato Shimizu, and mechanical design by Takeshi Takakura and Koichi Mugiya make for a visually appealing series. The IS battle scenes in particular are rendered realistic and powerful thanks to the skills of CGI director Eiji Inomoto.

The cast is also impressive, with Kouki Uchiyama as Ichika Orimura, Yoko Hikasa as Houki Shinonono, Yukana as Cecilia Alcott, and others who express the individuality of each character. In particular, the voice actors of the representative candidates from each country convey the backgrounds and emotions of the characters well, adding depth to the story.

The theme songs are also impressive, with the opening theme "True Blue Traveler" sung by Minami Kuribayashi and the ending theme "BEAUTIFUL SKY" sung by a unit of the main characters. These songs not only enhance the atmosphere of the anime, but also leave a lasting impression on viewers.

"IS2 - Infinite Stratos II" has an excellent balance of action and romance, and the story development is attractive for not getting bored of the viewer. In particular, the relationship and growth of Ichika and the girls around him are carefully depicted, and the characters that are easy to empathize with make the story more exciting. In addition, the IS battle scenes are worth watching, and the content will satisfy even fans of the mechanics.

However, fans of the original work may be dissatisfied with some of the original developments and the way characters are handled in the anime. However, the anime also has its own unique perspective and direction, making it a work that can be enjoyed in a different way from the original work.

■Recommendation

"IS2 - Infinite Stratos II" is recommended not only for fans of the IS series, but also for viewers who want to enjoy both action and romance. It is especially perfect for those who are interested in the mechanical design and battle scenes, and those who want to empathize with the character growth and relationships. Also, those who have never read the original light novel will be able to discover new charms by starting with the anime.

As a related work, be sure to check out "IS: Infinite Stratos," which aired in 2011. You can get a deeper understanding of the story of the entire series and the background of the characters. Also, Izuru Yumizuru's original light novel will give you a more detailed look at the world view and the inner world of the characters, so if you're interested, be sure to pick it up.

"IS2 - Infinite Stratos II" is a work that combines visual beauty with an interesting story, and here is why it is loved by so many viewers. Please jump into this world and enjoy the adventures and romance of Ichika and the girls.