Sōkō no Strain

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Strain: Strategic Armored Infantry

Sara and her contemporaries
奏光のストレイン
Genre Mecha, Military, Psychological
TV anime
Director Tetsuya Watanabe
Studio Studio Fantasia
Licensor Flag of the United States FUNimation Entertainment
Network WOWOW
Original run 1 November 2006 – 14 February 2007
Episodes 13
Manga
Author Studio Fantasia
Illustrator U.G.E.
Publisher Flag of Japan Fujimi Shobo
Demographic Shōnen
Magazine Monthly Dragon Age
Original run 2006 – February 2007
Volumes 1

Strain: Strategic Armored Infantry (奏光のストレイン?) is a mecha anime series by Studio Fantasia. It premiered across Japan on WOWOW from November 1, 2006. A manga adaptation is being serialized in the Dragon Age magazine. The concept of the series is loosely based upon Frances Hodgson Burnett's novels, most notably A Little Princess, but also Little Lord Fauntleroy and The Secret Garden. On May 15, 2008. Texas-based licensor; FUNimation Entertainment, has picked up the licensing to Strain: Strategic Armored Infantry (also known as Soko no Strain). The anime will be available in a complete DVD[1] release in Spring 2009.[2].

Contents

[edit] Story

In the distant future, the galactic Union is in a war with the mysterious Deague. The Union's strongest force is made up of mecha called Strains, operated by users called Reasoners. A little orphan girl named Sara Werec despairs that her brother Ralph, an incredible Reasoner, will be going 130 light years away to the front line, and according to general relativity, even if he survives, when he comes back home, she'll be long dead. She decides that when she grows up, she will join the war, too, just to see her brother again.

One day, when she grows up to be the star Reasoner of her academy, the planet is suddenly attacked by the Deague. The enemy force is headed by a strangely powerful Strain, whom Sara attempts to engage; the enemy pilot retrieves a little girl in stasis from a secret lab, and Sara recognizes the pilot as her brother. Stripped of her ability to control a Strain, she devotes herself to training under the name Sara Cruz. She is supported by the Reasoner Lottie and her friends, tormented by the snobbish "lesser" pilots with whom she now shares status, and fueled with one desire: to discover the truth.

The manga that was serialized in Dragon Age Magazine focuses on the background of Lottie and stops once Sara joins the team.

[edit] Characters

Almost every character has been adapted from a Hodgson Burnett character. Though the first names of many characters are retained from A Little Princess and the other novels, the last names are scrambled, such as Crewe=Werec, or otherwise altered, such as St. John=Johannitz.

[edit] Union

Sara Werec (セーラ・ウィーレック Sēra Uirekku)?, (Seiyū: - Ayako Kawasumi)
She begins a happy, well-liked and bright girl, the star graduate student of the elite Grabera Spatial Armoured Infantry Research Institute. Her parents, James and Annie Werec, are dead and she clings to the notion of seeing her beloved brother again. However, when her friends, her teachers and her Mimic are destroyed by none other than Ralph himself, she becomes a brooding, blunt, taciturn girl reduced to piloting unremarkable Gambee units.
She appears to suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder. Despite her defeat and disgrace instigated by her traitorous brother (which she escapes by cutting her hair, renaming herself Sara Cruz and transferring to another academy) and the bullying she endures from the bitter and confused Gambee pilots, Sara is completely focused on learning the truth. Her most precious possession is a musical pendant given to her by Ralph, until it is stolen (presumably by the jealous Isabella) in episode 2, after which she finds her Emily. Soon afterwards, Sara discovers that, against all expectations, Emily allows her to pilot a Strain again and she takes control of the Ink Strain Ram Dass. She considers Emily to be her last hope to find out the truth and hopes that Ralph will revert to the kind and loving brother he once was.
Sara's name comes from the novel's Sara Crewe.
Lottie Gelh (ロッティ・ゲラー Rotti Gerā)?, (Seiyū: Yukana)
A Reasoner who uses her status 'above' the common Gambee pilots to interfere when justice is needed. She has a sharp mind and a wide network of friends, the closest of which are called the Space Squadron, of whom she is Queen; she is most often seen with Jessie. Lottie is determined to have her Space Squadron fight together as a team, and she tries various plans to convince Sara to cooperate in this as the series goes on. However, before Sara becomes a willing member of her team, which Lottie describes as "as close as family, partners in life and death," Lottie must realize that she, too, should work as a team member instead of a dictator.
She seems to question who Sara was, but doesn't know Sara's real identity. Lottie notices that Sara "fights like a Reasoner". She hates Ralph Werec because he killed Lottie's older brother during his attack on Grabera Academy. Lottie nurtures the ambition of someday killing Ralph herself. While Lottie reacts violently to the news of Sara's true identity, near the end, she becomes one of Sara's strongest supporters.
Lottie's name comes from the novel's Lottie Legh.
Jessie Ijesse (ジェッシイ・アイジェス Jeshī Aijesu)?, (Seiyū: Miyu Matsuki)
Lottie's friend, who constantly goes along with whatever ideas she has, but not without complaint. She is quiet, unathletic, and generally an unaccomplished Reasoner, but is part of the renowned Space Squadron.
The novel's Jessie was a "silly" but good-hearted girl that was friends with Lavinia. This Jessie does not have a special relation with her, although she responded quite positively when Lavinia, believing her to be Sara, kissed her in the showers. "Ijesse" is an anagram of "Jessie", as her namesake had no surname.
Emily (エミリィ Emirī?)
A special Mimic that takes the form of a porcelain doll, her model name is E.M.L.Y., so Sara names her Emily. Sara finds her abandoned with a prototype Strain in a garage while looking for her stolen pendant. Emily functions in place of Sara's own Mimic, which should be impossible.
Her name comes from Sara Crewe's beloved doll Emily, the one possession that she refuses to surrender after she loses everything else.
Lavinia Reberth (ラヴィニア・リベルス Rabinia Riberusu)?, (Seiyū: Ai Nonaka)
The lowest scoring Reasoner of the Space Squadron in Basion Academy. Unlike the novel's Lavinia, who tormented Sara Crewe when she could get away with it, this Lavinia is instantly infatuated with Sara "Cruz" and tries many ways to get close to her and attract her, although in a running gag, somebody will always get in her way and spoil her plans. Lavinia also has the tendency to get carried away. This is at first comedic, but becomes tragic as it leads to the death of one of her comrades and the exposure of Sara's identity.
Her name comes from the stuck-up Lavinia Herbert.
Ermengarde Johannits (アーメンガァド ヨハニッツ Āmengādo Yohanittsu?)
Ermengarde is a fellow Reasoner in Basion, and a member of the Space Squadron. She has pink hair and greatly resembles Louise, the female lead of Zero no Tsukaima. Her friends call her "Ermy". She is quite obsessed with her weight, although there does not appear to be any reason for her to be so. However, as much as she restricts herself to health food and exercise, she cannot resist a good dessert. Ermengarde and Martha are always seen together.
Her name comes from the original novel's Ermengarde St. John, a friend of Sara.
Martha Shoebbeypower (マーサ・シュビーパウエル Māsa Shubīpaueru?)
Martha is another Reasoner from Basion, is part of the Space Squadron, and is a close friend of Ermengarde. She looks very masculine and is extremely fond of meat and training her muscles. She and Ermengarde may be a play on the old butch and femme stereotype, especially as the two lesbians on the team are actually Jessie and Lavinia.
Her name comes from Martha of The Secret Garden.
Carrisford Radofrics
One of the two boys in the Space Squadron, "Carris" has blue hair and a fondness for Sara. She begins to open up to him when he reminds her of Cedie. Like Cedie, Carris is eventually killed by Ralph Werec, for which Lavinia blames herself. Carris is originally from Gall, but is much younger than he should be due to sub-light speed travel. His younger brother is now much older than he is and is the chief administrator of Gall.
His name comes from Mr. Carrisford, the employer of Ram Dass (the namesake of Sara Werec's Strain) and an old friend of Ralph's, who was initially accused of stealing Sara's fortune but comes back to restore it. "Radofrics" is an anagram of "Carrisford", missing one R, as his namesake had no first name.
Dickon Cidnok
The final member of the Space Squadron, he is rather loud, outgoing, and opinionated. He is a flirt, saying that he exists only for girls, and teases the other Reasoners all the time. He and Carris are a comedic duo that berate each other over their lack of progress with Ermengarde and Sara, respectively, until the accident that kills Carris.
His name comes from Dickon, the young Yorkshire boy in The Secret Garden who befriended Mary Lennox. "Cidnok" is an anagram of "Dickon", though this construction is unnecessary as his namesake's surname was "Sowerby".
Melchisedec and Carmichael
The creators of Ram Dass, who have been overlooked in their breaking a Union law against customized Strains because their creation saved Basion Academy. They appear to be young children, but are treated as equal mechanics, and in the epilogue where the rest of the Space Squadron has aged, the two are still children. They had the Emily doll in their storeroom, but know nothing about her origins. Melchisedec is an incredible egotist, but Carmichael is always there to bring him to reality. They first cover up what they know of Sara's secret, then expose it when they learn just who she is.
Carmichael was the surname of the Large Family in A Little Princess, who had been searching for Sara Crewe while she lived next door all along. Melchisedec was Sara's pet rat.
Isabella
Voiced by: Rie Tanaka
A blue-haired Gambee pilot in Basion, Isabella has an inferiority complex about her bad grades and takes it out on Sara, whom she deems an easy target and who refuses to follow her lead. She shies away, though, in the face of Lottie Gelh. Isabella's arrogance eventually becomes her downfall; having failed to listen to a warning she was given about the behaviour of Tumors in battle, she is quickly ambushed and killed during her first real fight.
Isabella is possibly a reference to Isobel Grange, the most beautiful girl connected to the regiment Ralph Crewe belongs to in A Little Princess.
Mariette
Isabella's friend, who is at first shy and does everything that Isabella says. She also shows extreme caution. However, all that changes when Isabella is killed by Tumors under the command of Ralph. Mariette blames Sara and soon becomes an even worse bully than Isabella, even trying to kill Sara. However, in the end, Lottie convinces her and her followers to support the Squadron.
Mariette was Sara's French maid in A Little Princess.
Colin, Mary and Cedie
Sara's close school friends from Grabera before it was destroyed. Cedie had a crush on Sara for years, and Colin and Mary had taken it upon themselves to play matchmaker, but Sara was so focused on her studies and seeing Ralph again that she never noticed. They are killed in the first episode after taking Ralph on in an attempt to protect Grabera.
Colin and Mary are the main characters of The Secret Garden. Cedie is the nickname of Cedric in some adaptations of Little Lord Fauntleroy.
Becky
A blue-haired trainee medic who is absent-minded and prone to panic during a crisis. Sadly, she is sometimes too quick to perceive a crisis and in effect, is often harshly reprimanded for every mistake. Sara takes pity on her and offers her advice.
Becky's name comes from the maid in the novel, who was treated as a slave by the headmistress.

[edit] Deague

Ralph Werec (ラルフ・ウィーレック Rarufu Uirekku)?, (Seiyū: Takashi Kondo)
Ralph was a dutiful soldier, the star student of Grabera Academy and the youngest person ever to pilot a Gloire Strain. Sara last saw him promising on his parents' grave not to let the family down. Six years later, he reappears in disguise with a scar on his face, having done just that and joined the Deague. He even coldly destroys Sara's home, friends and Mimic. Sara is driven by the mystery of why he has done so, and promises to face him again. Ralph's true motivation is partially out of compassion and partially from insanity.
Ralph Crewe in the novel was Sara's father, who died and his fortune disappeared; this led to Sara Crewe's ruin, as this Ralph's defection did to Sara Werec.
Emily (エミリィ Emirī)?, (Seiyū: Ai Nonaka)
Not to be confused with Sara's Emily. Ralph also has an Emily, although she is a real little girl rather than a doll or Mimic, and she does not assist Ralph in his Strain. She sees herself as Ralph's new little sister. She strongly resembles Sara's Emily, except wearing a green dress rather than a red one, and she has strange blue markings on her face and hands. As a member of the alien race from which the E.M.L.Y. was developed, she is personally aware of everything that happens to the doll Emily and has developed an affection for Sara because of this.
Like the doll Emily, she is named for Sara's doll.
Medlock (メドロック Medorokku?)
Captain Vivian Medlock is a purple-haired woman in high heels. She is Ralph Werec's immediate superior in the Deague, as well as his lover. She believes in complete annihilation of her enemies, no matter the cost. She first found Ralph when he surrendered to her ship and informed her of Emily's existence and location.
Mrs. Medlock is the person in charge of Misselthwaite Manor in The Secret Garden.

[edit] Glossary of terms

[edit] Strain

The spatial armoured infantry of the Union army. They are only controllable by those that have Mimics, and their pilots are called Reasoners. A Strain is the most special type of mecha, and appears to be more powerful. Sara states in episode 2 that she has more trouble piloting a Gambee than a Strain, although this may be because she is used to the latter. Strains are powered by mercurion and are apparently the only manned machines capable of combat at speeds close to that of light. According to s-strain.jp, the name is a backronym for STRategic Armoured INfantry. Two colours have been seen in the anime: the green-coloured type, as a standard type, as well as a purple one, which might be for higher ranking soldiers.

[edit] Flisser Strain

A type of Strain used to train the students of Grabera Academy. They use less mercurion than the regular kind. Ralph in his Gloire destroys them with great ease, however, due to his incredible power, this may not be an indication of their lack of defense.

[edit] Alien Strain

The first Strains, these were piloted by Emily's race (see Aliens).

[edit] Gloire Strain

A more specialized and much more powerful type of Strain. The only one seen in the series is piloted by Ralph Werec, who destroys every regular Strain he comes across in it. This Strain distinguishes itself through its size and its trident-like 'tail' appendage. Ralph's particular Gloire Strain has been customized by the Deague, and Sara and Lottie refer to it specifically as the Gloire (with no confusion, as the Basion fleet contains no Gloires). Instead of green, Gloire Strains are golden brown.

[edit] Ink Strain/Strain EX

The special prototype Strain designed and created by Melchisedec and Carmichael. A Strain that is an even match for a Gloire Strain in combat because of its high agility and capacity for speed. This type of Strain is slightly larger than the average and possesses a disproportionately large left arm. Further, its colour scheme is based on dark shades of red, rather than the standard green. The only one known to exist is Ram Dass, Sara's special Strain; as the Union prohibits customized mecha, and Melchisedec and Carmichael are surprised that it even works, Ram Dass is probably the only one there is.

The novel's Ram Dass was Mr. Carrisford's servant.

[edit] Mimic

The main qualification for a Reasoner, a Mimic is a machine fused with brain cells from the Reasoner before his or her body was fully developed and born. Not everyone has a Mimic, and it is implied that they are only made for the elite. The gym teacher at Grabera Institute says that a Mimic should be treated as the Reasoner's "twin" because they are not replaceable. The name is a backronym, standing for Ministerial Instrument of Mercurion Interface Core.

[edit] E.M.L.Y.

A special type of Mimic that resembles the regular kind. Sara's Emily is included in this class, disguised as a doll by Melchisedec to facilitate a connection with its Reasoner. The E.M.L.Y. may not distinguish between the DNA of the operator. Ralph's Emily can also see whatever happens to Sara's Emily, and the two together are referred to as "the samples" by the Deague; this is because Ralph's Emily is an alien, and the doll contains a brain from the same race.

The concept was based loosely on Sara Crewe's doll, Emily.

[edit] Gambee

The mobile infantry of the Union army, and far more common than Strains and largely unpractical for use in sub-light battles because of their inferior maneuverability (they are, however, quite effective in normal space). Isabella and Mariette, the girls that torment Sara "Cruz" at school, are Gambee pilots and resent the Strain pilots for their power. Sara states that Gambees are harder to pilot than Strains, but this may be because she is used to the cockpit of a Strain. However, it is true that Gambees are not as maneuverable as Strains; they were instead built as support units and are meant to be stationary. Gambees are known to be equipped with electric claws that can be detached and shot at an opponent.

[edit] TUMOR

The grunt forces of the Deague army, these unmanned machines are simple enough to have been replicated in every training academy for practice purposes. The main strength of Tumors is in their sheer number - Sara estimates that the swarm that attacked Grabera Institute contained about 5000 - rather than their individual power, which is easily taken care of. Another dangerous quality of Tumors is that they work together during battle, showing signs of swarm intelligence that allows them to ambush, herd and overwhelm opponents which would otherwise destroy them easily. Unlike their manned Union counterparts Gambees, Tumors are effective in both sub-light and normal speed battles. They are powered by mercurion, but use the energy differently from Strains. While Tumors have powerful shears, their main offensive weapon seems to be the ability to explosively self-destruct upon contact with an enemy. The name is a backronym, standing for Tactical Unmanned Maneuverable ORb.

[edit] Mercurion

The source of energy that powers both Strains and Tumors and allows sub-lightspeed space travel, although it is stated that the Union and Deague use the resource differently, which causes the Deague to work in a manner in which they are unfamiliar and take more time recharging Ralph's Gloire Strain. Mimics have a core made of mercurion and brain cells taken from prospective Reasoners when they are still in utero foetuses. Episode one shows that Mimics have to restock their mercurion supply after each use, and episode thirteen adds that so do Strains. However, Mimics reload by being placed in small compartments, while mercurion is pumped into Strains by a large hose.

[edit] Aliens

An alien race of long-lived, pale green-skinned little girls with strange markings was discovered piloting the first Strains 600 years ago; due to the time-dilation effect of sub-lightspeed travel, Ralph Werec was there to witness this. Ralph's Emily was among these girls. Many of the aliens were kidnapped and dissected, their brains installed in E.M.L.Y.s, others sealed away like the girl Emily. The Deague is after all living and dead "samples" of this race, and many Union officers do not know anything about it, the Strains treated as black box technology.

[edit] Sub-Lightspeed Travel

This is often used as a plot device, as its use allows people to effectively travel through time, as well as being a very dangerous battle setting. Firing projectile weapons forward at sub-light speed results on them rapidly decelerating into oneself. It is only safe to fire to the side or behind. This is demonstrated in episode three.

[edit] Episode list

The gaps in the air dates are attributed to two two-week hiatuses for a tennis tournament in late December-January, and the early premiere of Rocket Girl.

Episode # Title Air Date
01 "Prelude of Despair"   2006-11-01
Sara is about to graduate with her close friends, but a surprise attack on the school changes everything. 
02 "Meeting"   2006-11-01
Sara fights to qualify for higher training. When her precious pendant is stolen, she comes upon a chance she never thought she would have. 
03 "Sub-Light Speed Demon"   2006-11-08
A battle at sub-light speed, an ability that Sara has just qualified to use, comes with both costly and miraculous results. 
04 "Reasoner Sara"   2006-11-15
Sara duels with her brother and meets the other Reasoners. 
05 "Infinite Revenge"   2006-11-22
Sara deals with her new status as a Reasoner, the aftermath of the last battle, and Mariette's vengeance. 
06 "Silently Walking Away"   2006-11-29
Sara returns to the fray of battle and grows a fondness for her team. 
07 "Lavinia's Beautiful Trap"   2006-12-06
Lavinia attempts to attract Sara, but makes a costly mistake. 
08 "Gall Space Repair Station"   2006-12-13
Sara goes out to Gall, a space station, to look for Emily. However, she isn't the only one looking. 
09 "The Myself Before My Eyes"   2006-12-20
Sara's secret is out, and Lottie wants to know why. 
10 "Upcoming Memories"   2007-01-10
Detailing the truth of the Emilys, the war and Ralph's defection. 
11 "The Beginning of Revelry"   2007-01-31
Sara and the Union prepare for battle, while Medlock sees the truth in Ralph's madness. 
12 "Offense and Defence of the Libertad"   2007-02-07
Sara, Reasoners, Gambee pilots, and even Medlock and Emily mobilize-- but will they be enough to stop Ralph? 
13 "The Last Waltz"   2007-02-14
Sara and Ralph fight to the death after their last connection is severed. 

[edit] Theme songs

Opening
Message performed by Yoko
Ending
Umi no Opal performed by Sema (episodes 1-8, 10-13)
Aurora ~a ray of dawn~ performed by Yoko (episode 9)

[edit] References

  1. ^ FUNimation Entertainment Acquires Strain: Strategic Armored Infantry from Happinet
  2. ^ Funimations Adds Strain: Strategic Armored Infantry

[edit] External links