Infinite Stratos watch order
Only women can pilot the IS, the powered exoskeletons that changed the world's balance of power, until Ichika Orimura turns out to be the one man who can. He's sent to the IS Academy, where he's surrounded by girls, including five rival pilots who all want his attention. A mecha harem comedy based on Izuru Yumizuru's light novels.
First time? Watch season 1 (12 episodes), the Encore OVA, season 2 (12) and the World Purge OVA, in that order. Infinite Wedding is a skippable bonus.
Story order
Story order is release order, except that the Hitonatsu no Omoide cut sits where season 2 episode 1 does. Encore and season 2's first episode both take place during the same summer break, so either can come first.
- Infinite Stratos
Ichika's first term at the IS Academy, adapting light novel volumes 1–3: Houki, Cecilia, Lingyin, Charlotte and Laura arrive one by one, and the season ends with the Silver Gospel fight during the seaside trip.
- IS: Infinite Stratos Encore: A Sextet Yearning for Love
A summer-break side story set between the two seasons, from light novel volume 4: Charlotte visits Ichika's house hoping to have him to herself, the other girls turn up with the same idea, and Houki gets her moment at the shrine festival. Included (dubbed) in Sentai's season 1 set, where it's counted as episode 13.
- IS: Infinite Stratos 2: Hitonatsu no Omoide (optional)
A 39-minute extended cut of season 2 episode 1 (same title, same summer-break story), released on disc while season 2 was airing. Watch it in place of the broadcast episode 1, not as well as it; Sentai's season 2 release already uses this version.
- Infinite Stratos 2
The second term, picking from light novel volumes 4–8: student council president Tatenashi and the school festival, Ichika's birthday, Kanzashi and the tag match, and the Phantom Task organization. The last two episodes (the Kyoto trip) are anime-original.
- IS: Infinite Stratos 2: World Purge-hen
An OVA set after season 2, adapting the World Purge arc from light novel volume 8 that the TV series skipped: the academy is hacked, the girls are trapped in dream worlds, and Ichika has to pull each of them out. The last animated story.
- IS: Infinite Stratos 2: Infinite Wedding (optional)
A picture drama (new illustrations and voice acting, not animation) from the Japanese season 2 Blu-ray box, in which the girls daydream about married life with Ichika. Non-canon and not part of the English releases; optional.
Release order
Hitonatsu no Omoide came out on disc a few weeks into season 2's broadcast run; World Purge followed a year later, and Infinite Wedding was a bonus in the 2016 Japanese Blu-ray box.
- Infinite Stratos
Ichika's first term at the IS Academy, adapting light novel volumes 1–3: Houki, Cecilia, Lingyin, Charlotte and Laura arrive one by one, and the season ends with the Silver Gospel fight during the seaside trip.
- IS: Infinite Stratos Encore: A Sextet Yearning for Love
A summer-break side story set between the two seasons, from light novel volume 4: Charlotte visits Ichika's house hoping to have him to herself, the other girls turn up with the same idea, and Houki gets her moment at the shrine festival. Included (dubbed) in Sentai's season 1 set, where it's counted as episode 13.
- Infinite Stratos 2
The second term, picking from light novel volumes 4–8: student council president Tatenashi and the school festival, Ichika's birthday, Kanzashi and the tag match, and the Phantom Task organization. The last two episodes (the Kyoto trip) are anime-original.
- IS: Infinite Stratos 2: Hitonatsu no Omoide (optional)
A 39-minute extended cut of season 2 episode 1 (same title, same summer-break story), released on disc while season 2 was airing. Watch it in place of the broadcast episode 1, not as well as it; Sentai's season 2 release already uses this version.
- IS: Infinite Stratos 2: World Purge-hen
An OVA set after season 2, adapting the World Purge arc from light novel volume 8 that the TV series skipped: the academy is hacked, the girls are trapped in dream worlds, and Ichika has to pull each of them out. The last animated story.
- IS: Infinite Stratos 2: Infinite Wedding (optional)
A picture drama (new illustrations and voice acting, not animation) from the Japanese season 2 Blu-ray box, in which the girls daydream about married life with Ichika. Non-canon and not part of the English releases; optional.
Explained
What is Hitonatsu no Omoide?
It isn't a separate story. It's a longer version (39 minutes instead of about 24) of season 2 episode 1, with the same summer-break events: Laura at the water park, the maid café and Phantom Task's theft of the Silent Zephyrus. Watch one or the other.
Where does Encore fit?
Between the seasons. It's a summer-vacation episode with no big plot, made as a follow-up to season 1, and it leads naturally into season 2's summer-break opening.
Does the anime finish the story?
No. Season 1 covers light novel volumes 1–3, and season 2 plus World Purge pick selectively through volumes 4–8, with an anime-original ending. To continue, start the light novels at volume 8. The light novels themselves stopped at volume 12 in 2018; the promised final volume has never been released.
Will there be a season 3?
Nothing has been announced as of October 2026. Light novel volumes 9–12 haven't been animated, but the novels have been on hold since 2018 and there's been no anime news since the 2016 Blu-ray box.
Is there an English dub?
Yes. Sentai Filmworks dubbed season 1 with Encore, season 2 and the World Purge OVA (released on Blu-ray in 2017), with Jessie James Grelle as Ichika and Monica Rial as Houki. Infinite Wedding isn't included in the English releases.