An anime adaptation for Infinite Stratos was first announced on June 21, 2010 and its official website opening on August 8, 2010. The adaptation will be directed by Yasuhito Kikuchi who also directed Macross Frontier with Eight Bit, who also handled Macross Frontier, animating the adaptation.
The character designer and chief animation director of the anime will be Takeyasu Kurashima and the mecha designer will be Takeshi Takakura.
The script will be handled by Atsuhiro Tomioka, Chinatsu Hōjō, and Fumihiko Shimo. Shimo will also be handling the series' composition.
The anime began airing in Japan on January 7, 2011 on TBS. Sentai Filmworks has licensed the anime in North America. The Anime Network will simulcast the series on their website. The first 3 episodes will premiere on January 23, 2011, followed with a new episode each week.
A second series aired from October 3, 2013 to December 19, 2013.
Music
The anime's soundtrack is composed by Hikaru Nanase. The opening theme song for the anime is "Straight Jet", performed by Minami Kuribayashi. The ending theme song is "Super∞Stream", with first episode version sung by Yōko Hikasa , the second and third episode version sung by Yōko Hikasa and Yukana , the fourth and fifith episode version sung by Yōko Hikasa, Yukana and Asami Shimoda, the sixth and seventh episode version sung by Yōko Hikasa, Yukana, Asami Shimoda and Kana Hanazawa and the final version for the rest of episodes sung by Yōko Hikasa, Yukana, Asami Shimoda, Kana Hanazawa and Marina Inoue. Each version of the song reflects the voice actresses' character who is running with Ichika in the episode's ending credits. The CD single for "Straight Jet" will be released on January 26, 2011 and the CD single for "Super∞Stream" will be released on February 16, 2011. Both singles will be published under the Lantis label.
Episodes Summary
Season 1
| Episode | Title | Original Air Date | Manga Equivalent | Light Novel Equivalent |
| 01 |
"My Classmates are All Girls" "Kurasumeito wa Zenin Onna" (クラスメイトは全員女) |
January 6, 2011 | Chapter 1 |
Volume 1 Chapter 1 |
| 02 |
"Class Representative Runoff!" Kurasu Daihyō Ketteisen!" (クラス代表決定戦！) |
January 13, 2011 |
Chapter 2 Chapter 3 |
Volume 1 Chapter 2 |
| 03 |
"The Transfer Student is my Second Childhood Friend" "Tenkōsei wa Sekando Osananajimi" (転校生はセカンド幼なじみ) |
January 20, 2011 |
Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 |
Volume 1 Chapter 3 |
| 04 |
"Showdown! The Class League Match" (決戦!クラス対抗戦（リーグマッチ）) |
January 27, 2011 |
Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 |
Volume 1 Chapter 4 |
| 05 |
"Boy Meets Boy" "Bōi Mītsu Bōi" (ボーイ・ミーツ・ボーイ) |
February 3, 2011 |
Chapter 10 Chapter 11 |
Volume 2 Chapter 1 |
| 06 | "My Roommate is a Young, Blonde Nobleman"
"Rūmumeito wa Burondo Jentoru" (ルームメイトはブロンド貴公子) |
February 10, 2011 |
Volume 2 Chapter 2 | |
| 07 | "Blue Days ~ Red Switch"
"Burū Deizu/Reddo Suitchi" (ブルー・デイズ/レッド・スイッチ) |
February 17, 2011 |
Volume 2 Chapter 3 | |
| 08 | "Find Out My Mind"
"Faindo Auto Mai Maindo" (ファインド・アウト・マイ・マインド) |
February 24, 2011 |
Volume 2 Chapter 4 | |
| 09 | "Ocean's Eleven!"
"Ōshanzu Irebun!" (海に着いたら十一時(オーシャンズ・イレブン!) |
March 3, 2011 |
Volume 3 Chapter 2 | |
| 10 |
"Thin Red Line" "Shin Reddo Rain" (その境界線の上に立ち(シン・レッド・ライン) |
March 10, 2011 |
Volume 3 Chapter 3 | |
| 11 |
"Get Ready" "Getto Redii" (ゲット レディ) |
March 24, 2011 |
Volume 3 Chapter 4 | |
| 12 |
"Your Name Is" "Yua Nēmu Izu" (君の名は(ユア・ネーム・イズ) |
March 31, 2011 |
Volume 3 Epilogue | |
| OVA |
"A Sextet Yearning for Love" "Koi ni Kogareru Rokujūsō" (恋に焦がれる六重奏) |
December 7, 2011 |
Volume 4 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 |
Season 2
| Episode | Title | Original Air Date | Manga Equivalent | Light Novel Equivalent |
| 01 |
"Hitonatsu no Omoide" (一夏(ひとなつ)の想いで) |
October 3, 2013 | ' |
Volume 4 Chapter 2 Blu-Ray DVD 1 Story |
| 02 |
"Hāto Peinkirā" (恋スル☆舌下錠(ハート・ペインキラー) |
October 10, 2013 |
' ' |
Volume 5 Chapter 1 Chapter 2 |
| 03 |
Translucent chord of Cinderella's heel "Shinderera Hīru no Sukiiro Waon" (硝子少女(シンデレラ・ヒール)の透色和音) |
October 17, 2013 |
' ' ' |
Volume 5 Chapter 3 |
| 04 |
(ミステリアス・レイディ) |
October 24, 2013 |
' ' ' |
Volume 5 Chapter 4 Epilouge |
| 05 |
"Raburī Sutairu" (ラブリー・スタイル) |
October 31, 2013 |
' ' |
Volume 6 Epilouge |
| 06 | Pride of a Maiden (The Secret Base)
"Otome no kyōji (Za Shīkuretto Bēsu)" (乙女の矜持(ザ・シークレット・ベース) |
November 7, 2013 |
Volume 7 Chapter 1 | |
| 07 | Sisters
"Shisutāzu" (シスターズ) |
November 14, 2013 |
Volume 7 Chapter 1 Chapter 2 | |
| 08 | Open Your Heart
"Ōpun yua hāto" (オープン・ユア・ハート) |
November 21, 2013 |
Volume 7 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 | |
| 09 |
"Hiirou no Jouken" (ヒーローの条件) |
November 28, 2013 |
Volume 7 Chapter 4 | |
| 10 |
Cooking My Way (クッキング・マイ・ウェイ) |
December 05, 2013 |
Volume 8 Chapter 4 | |
| 11 |
Looking For Memories (Rukkingu Fou Memoriizu)" (恋こがれ京舞台(ルッキング・フォー・メモリーズ)) |
December 12, 2013 | ||
| 12 | Girls Over "Gāruzuōbā" (ガールズオーバー) |
December 12, 2013 |
' |
Staff and Cast
Trivia
- The fight scenes involving the IS alternates between drawings and CGI.
- The anime excludes/changes certain aspects of the light novel.
- One thing to note about the ending theme sequences of Season 1 is that, from episode 1 to 9, they depict Ichika and all the IS pilot girls close to him running in a certain sequence. Ichika is in front with the girl who most recently joined his side following close behind. After a small gap the rest of the girls follow, lined in the order they are introduced. From episode 10, the ending sequences change slightly to just show the girls running, after Ichika, in the order introduced.
- Throughout the whole anime, not a single tournament was complete because of a disruption.
- The second season shows blood which causes the age recommendation to be put to 17+.
- A few episodes of Season 2 are anime only with small but important parts from the light novel included in them. These parts all involving Phantom Task.
- Similar to Season 1, the ending theme sequences of season 2 depict Ichika and the IS pilot girls running. However, the background showes the inactive form of the personal pilot IS's and then the pilot in casual clothes. The order is the same as when they were introduced. For episode 12, it has all of the pilots (not their IS's) is the opposite order of their ending following Ichika and Tatenashi (Kanzashi, Laura, Charlotte, Lingyin, Ceclia and Houki). At the end, it showes Ichika and Chifuyu getting their picture taken with one more girl each episode until all of them are there.