Infinite Stratos (2011)

[IS〈インフィニット・ストラトス〉]

Director: Yatsuhito Kikuchi
Studio: Eight Bit
Starring: Koki Uchiyama, Yoko Hikasa, Yukana
Episodes: 12

Synopsis:
The world's only male with the compatibility for piloting exoskeletal frames known as Infinite Stratos is accepted into an academy dedicated to training the next generation of IS pilots.

Impressions:
When I was watching Undefeated Bahamut Chronicle, I was seeing comparisons to this series, so I decided to check it out. Both are ecchi harem mecha stories (with the mechs being open exoskeletons summoned from hammerspace) set in a school where the male lead is the only male character, but that's about as far as it goes. Our male lead is slightly more assertive here but still fairly typical for a harem male lead. Clearly Ichika draws so many women to him because his supermassive density produces a significant gravitational pull. (Apparently in the original novels you can tell this is deliberate obfuscation. In which case, give this man an Academy Award. Actually, give him all of the Academy Awards.) Four of the five haremettes are violent tsundere, which is why Charles is best boy, but even if you don't like that type, their individual quirks might succeed in appealing to you anyway. (They did with me, at least, but as I said before, Charles is best boy. Put a ring on that, Ichika, you fool. Vive la France.) Actually, both Houki and Laura swing so hard (personality-wise, that is) that you'd almost think they were different characters (and I actually did think Houki was two different people in the first episode). Make of that what you will. Although the open suit design of the IS is dumb (narrowly excused in-universe by the Absolute Defense function of the shields), their combat functionality and the choreography of the mech battles are pretty neat. Although I've heard this series is rather divisive (especially the second season), I enjoyed it fairly well and would recommend giving it a watch. Mainly for Charles.

Rating:
Watch It