IS: Infinite Stratos 2 - Hitonatsu no Omoide
IS 〈インフィニット・ストラトス〉2 ロングバケーション 一夏（ひとなつ）の想いで
- Action
- Comedy
- Sci-Fi
- Harem
- Episodes
- 1
- Duration
- 39 min
- Aired
- Oct 30, 2013
- Status
- Finished Airing
Synopsis
*IS: Infinite Stratos 2 - Hitonatsu no Omoide* presents an expanded cut of the first episode from the second season, released under the same title.
It revisits the episode’s opening with additional material while keeping the story and setting consistent with *IS: Infinite Stratos 2*’s mix of sci-fi action, comedy, and harem dynamics.
Otaku Consensus
IS: Infinite Stratos 2 - Hitonatsu no Omoide lands as a serviceable collector’s cut rather than a definitive standalone OVA, with Yasuhito Kikuchi and 8bit preserving the franchise’s brisk harem-comedy timing and glossy sci-fi presentation. Its modest reception, reflected by a 6.85 MAL score and 64/100 AniList score, points to a clear divide: fans appreciate the extra opening material and cast-focused polish, while the common criticism is that it adds too little to justify itself for viewers who already watched the second-season premiere.
Why You Should Watch
Watch this if you are an Infinite Stratos completionist who cares about alternate cuts, character beats, and production-side curiosities more than new plot mileage. At one episode, it is a low-commitment addendum for viewers who want the familiar IS blend of cockpit-suit sci-fi aesthetics, competitive romantic tension, and light comedy without starting a full cour. It scratches the same itch as the bonus-episode side of Date A Live or To LOVE-Ru: not essential mythology, but extra time with a female-heavy ensemble built around harem escalation. The real appeal is archival: seeing how 8bit expands the second-season opener under the same title, while retaining the commercial sheen and music branding of the TV season.
Key Characters
- IIchika Orimura
Ichika remains the franchise’s central harem catalyst, the kind of oblivious male lead whose presence turns routine school interactions into competitive romantic positioning.
- HHouki Shinonono(VA: Yoko Hikasa)
Houki is the childhood-friend anchor of the ensemble, and fans often read her sternness as the emotional counterweight to the show’s louder harem comedy.
- CCharlotte Dunois(VA: Kana Hanazawa)
Charlotte’s appeal comes from her softer, more openly affectionate rhythm, making her one of the cast members most associated with the series’ comfort-food harem charm.
- CCecilia Alcott(VA: Yukana)
Cecilia brings the refined ojou-sama energy to the lineup, giving the ensemble a haughty but comedic romantic rival whose confidence is part of the gag structure.
What Makes It Stand Out
- 1
This is not a conventional side story: it is an expanded cut of the first episode of IS: Infinite Stratos 2, making it a rare franchise entry built around revision and addition rather than a separate adventure.
- 2
Studio 8bit handles the release, keeping visual continuity with the second TV season rather than outsourcing the special into a noticeably different production identity.
- 3
Its structure makes it most valuable as a comparison piece: viewers can directly measure what the additional opening material changes in pacing and emphasis against the broadcast-season premiere.
- 4
The ending theme performance is tied to a large block of the female cast’s voice talent, including Kana Hanazawa, Yoko Hikasa, Yukana, Marina Inoue, and Asami Shimoda, reinforcing the franchise’s character-song-driven harem branding.
- 5
AniList’s strongest tags, Female Harem, Male Protagonist, and Kuudere at 79%, accurately frame the special’s appeal as character-archetype chemistry first and sci-fi action spectacle second.
Fun Facts & Trivia
- Fun fact 1
- The special aired on October 30, 2013, during the same period as IS: Infinite Stratos 2, which explains why it functions as an expanded companion piece rather than a later nostalgia OVA.
- Fun fact 2
- Minami Kuribayashi is credited with the opening theme performance, connecting the special to a singer strongly associated with high-energy anime theme work.
- Fun fact 3
- The ending credits include key animation by Masato Anno, a small but concrete production credit that makes the ED more than just a music listing for staff-watchers.
- Fun fact 4
- Despite being only one episode, it has a sizable database footprint: MAL lists over 30,000 votes, while AniList records 103 favourites.
- Fun fact 5
- Its MAL popularity rank of #3183 is stronger than its MAL rank of #5646, suggesting the Infinite Stratos brand drew more viewer attention than the special’s average score would imply.
Studios
- 8bit
