Sentai Filmworks Licenses IS: Infinite Stratos

by Prizkilla
Feb 12, 2011 9:08 AM | 52 Comments

I apologize for this late post.
According to their official website, Sentai Filmworks announced on January 18 that they have licensed the anime IS: Infinite Stratos. Sentai Filmworks has not specified when and how the anime will be realeased in North America.

Source: Sentai Filmworks website

20 of 52 Comments Recent Comments

Arcadies said:
One thing I am curious about is what the cast is going to look like.

The Fandom Post - ‘Infinite Stratos’ Anime Gets English Cast Reveal

Ichika – Josh Grelle
Houki – Monica Rial
Charlotte – Shannon Emerick
Cecillia – Brittney Karbowski
Rinin – Hilary Haag
Laura – Tiffany Grant
Chifuyu – Luci Christian
Yamada – Cynthia Martinez
Tabane – Allison Keith
Ran – Luci Christian
Dan – Chris Ayres
Riko – Allison Sumrall
Nohohon – Monica Passley
Sayuka – Tiffany Terrell

Somebody who knows more about this series and/or who's more familiar with Texan VAs should weigh in on this. I will say this, though: Considering what Tiffany Grant's most famous role is, casting her as Laura should be worth at least a few chuckles.

In any case, I may very well pick this show up, if only to confirm if my initial assessment of it as a generic harem comedy disguised as a poor Tom Clancy ripoff is anywhere near the mark.

Feb 20, 2012 1:50 PM by LelouchZero

One thing I am curious about is what the cast is going to look like.

Feb 11, 2012 10:14 PM by Arcadies

Setsuna200 said:
its being dubbed and it comes out this april check it out on amazon.com

They are also releasing a bonus soundtrack CD with it and if it sells well they will add nifty things in the future.

Feb 4, 2012 2:13 AM by Roloko

its being dubbed and it comes out this april check it out on amazon.com

Feb 3, 2012 7:21 PM by Setsuna200

is there only 12 episodes to IS? or other episodes will be added soon?

Feb 24, 2011 6:06 PM by cokemylife

i think this might be a good investment

Feb 21, 2011 4:22 PM by Setsuna200

yFSC said:
It's nice to see that a GOOD show like Infinite Stratos got licensed (what, a week after it aired?). Though, might as well not dub it, since it has some quality VA.

Also nice to see that crap shows will stay unlicensed.

It's good as your post.

Feb 15, 2011 2:53 AM by ringoo4

It's nice to see that a GOOD show like Infinite Stratos got licensed (what, a week after it aired?). Though, might as well not dub it, since it has some quality VA.

Also nice to see that crap shows will stay unlicensed.

Feb 15, 2011 2:24 AM by yFSC

Whoomp said:
I got the impression that his was one of this seasons worst series, being harem ecchi with some tacked on story. I have yet to confirm that though since what I got in HotD was enough ecchi to last for years to come. It's kinda sad that Sentai have seems to have picked up the shows that intrests me the least these last few seasons but as always there are fans of these kinds of things as well so good for them.

McRib said:
Shaft shows never get licensed. Despite breaking sales records in Japan, Bakemonogatari hasn't been licensed.

The only Shaft show in recent history to get licensed was Dance in the Vampire Bund. Which was never capitalized by Funimation, probably because of the content that they never screened before picking it up.

Not really true, the first 2 seasons of Hidamari Sketch and Maria Holic have all been released by Sentai Filmworks. Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei have been licensed by Media Blasters but have yet to be released. All in 2010.

I personally believe that in the case of Bakemonogatari the licensing cost is way higher than any other show Shaft have produced in the last few years exactly because of those strong sales, they wouldn't have to license it to other countries recoupe production costs. The presumed sales of an American release probably wouldn't be sufficient to cover that cost. Especially seeing how "otakucentric" the show is it would be very hard to sell it to an audiance outside that base. Especially since within that base, the buying crowd isn't in majority compared to the "pay for anime? no way!"/leech-crowd.

Exactly. Bakemonogatari would never be a success outside Japan. I mean, half the show is about playing with japanese words and idioms. How could you localize something like that? There is no way you could dub it succesfully, you'd have to butcher every last piece of it. Even in the subs you have to consantly pause and read explanations every 5 minutes about what the characters are saying. Even if the company that made Bagemonogatari let the show be licenced abroad, that would only serve to spoil it's reputation, as it would probably be a total failure.

Feb 14, 2011 3:13 AM by Pan151

^Then, we can just say it is the best selling TV animation in 21th century, right?... ;)

Feb 14, 2011 2:34 AM by ringoo4

I should amend my statement. Best selling anime in the last 15 years.

--------01～10--------
*174,353　Evangelion (1995)
*81,499　Gundam (1979)
*71,363　Bakemonogatari（4巻第1週まで）(2009)
*69,247　Gundam SEED DESTINY (2004)
*58,563　Gundam SEED (2002)
*52,923　Dragon Ball GT (1996)
*52,900　FMA (2003)
*47,671　Code Geass (2006)
*46,081　Macross F (2008)
*45,023　Cowboy Bebop (1998)
--------11～20--------
*41,337　Code Geass R2 (2008)
*41,037　Haruhi Suzumiya (2006)
*40,832　K-ON！（最終巻第1週）(2009)
*40,471　Dragon Ball Z (1989)
*38,349　Nadesico (1996)
*37,570　Gundam 00 (2007)
*37,436～37,441　Future Boy Conan (1978)
*31,696　Gundam W (1995)
*29,146　Lucky Star (2007)

http://www.mangashare.com/forums/threads/15208-Japan-s-Top-20-Best-Selling-Anime

Feb 14, 2011 12:46 AM by RyanSaotome

RyanSaotome said:

zansabarshadow said:
Why isn't anyone picking up magica, it is CLEARLY the best this season.

Shaft shows are never licensed. Look at Bakemonogatari, its the best selling anime series ever, at 80k per dvd/bd. Yet nobody licensed it, either because nobody thought it would sell in America, or Shaft just doesn't believe in licensing them.

Bakemonogatari sold very well, but best selling anime series it certainly is NOT.

Feb 14, 2011 12:32 AM by outlawauron

Good for USA, but in LA we are fucked... I think the only lincensed animes are dragon ball,sailor moon and card captors sakura, so don't complain...

Feb 13, 2011 11:19 PM by Staric

WTF do they have to hurry license all anime now for ?
they don´t even dub (i hate them)

Feb 13, 2011 11:15 PM by Morrigan-Z

Monad said:
Who the hell are this Sentai guys who started licensing so much shows now?

Sentai Filmworks is a Japanese licensing company that entered into a partnership with the former ADV Films which is now Section 23 films.

Feb 13, 2011 9:55 PM by ShadowBlazer3000

i just hope if stratos is a successful seller in america, they would add more episodes to it =o and i don't know about yalls but i think they should really pick Beezlebub, I've reccomended it too all my friends (anime lovers or not) and they started to like anime shows and asked me for more good animes... this could be a new best seller o.o

Feb 13, 2011 6:57 PM by cokemylife

TraumaHunter said:

RyanSaotome said:
We all know the general american audience wouldn't be interested in a magical girl show. The majority of older anime fans will look at it and think its for kids, and it won't be aired on tv for kids to watch. So wheres the market for Madoka?

^ yeah. why on earth would they. In america gundam is one of the few animes thats known about to the general public. Throwing a mecha anime thats showing good early promising signs onto their belt is a good jab @ funimation (whom we all wish would just quit already. -.-)

i may be wrong but funimation doesnt have gundam, bandai does.

Feb 13, 2011 4:45 PM by removed-user

It would be a smart choice if they licensed Level E

Feb 13, 2011 4:12 PM by Cordelia

indeed. shaft stuff doesnt get licensed. if they did i would buy them all so its a shame.

Feb 13, 2011 3:21 PM by removed-user

Like I said before, the quality of a series is irrelevant. The sales potential is all that matters... and this show is looking to be a big seller in Japan, and I see no reason it shouldn't be one of the better sellers from this season in America, as well. Its basically Strike Witches in modern times, and Strike Witches is one of the better selling "Otaku pandering" animes in America.

Its the reason the entire anime industry is just making ecchi/harem/fanservice shows over and over again. They are what sells, and the American audience buys them up as well.

Feb 13, 2011 11:59 AM by RyanSaotome

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