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Summary:
When she was young, Sara Werec’s brother Ralph left home for military duty, leaving her a pendant with a music box inside. He had danced with her one last time, but she had been too distraught by the idea that he was going 130 light years away. Sara had cried until Ralph had to go, at which point she vowed to go to where her brother went. Ralph’s parting words told her that only she can accomplish what she decides to do, and that if she has those feelings, then there’s nothing she cannot do. Five years later, Sara is on a training mission taking out training bots at the Glabella Space Armored Infantry Science Institute with her three wingmen Colin, Mary, and Cedie (short for Cedric) in their Strain mecha. Cedric has feelings for her, but he’s unable to express them clearly, and Sara is too preoccupied with her now-famous brother to notice. It seems that in this period of time, Ralph has made a name for himself as a top pilot who gained the privilege of piloting a Gloire-class Strain. They live in a universe where humanity has developed ways to approach the speed of light, but a dispute that occurred with the expansion of their living space divided the human race into two: the Union and the Deague. The two sides have been fighting forever, and the Union side uses Strains and their pilots, called Reasoners.
On the way home, the Sara and her friends talk about the sub-light-speed maneuver they get to do for graduation. Sara in particular wants is looking forward to being able to go to where her brother is. Along the way, the four of them see a downcast boy named Higgins leaving with his bags packed. Apparently he damaged his Mimic recently. As their instructor explains later, Mimics are cultivated from people’s brains before they are born. Losing their Mimics means the end of them being Reasoners since the Mimics are used to control Strains. That night, Sara is listening to her pendant on the roof of the school when Cedie comes to see her. She convinces him to dance with her to the music, but then notices something falling in the sky. Explosion soon erupt in the horizon, alerting them to the fact that something is going on. After they see a Strain go down in flames, they realize that enemy Tumors are attacking. The two of them go to the hanger where their own Strains are kept and find Colin and Mary waiting for them. Mary has figured out that for Deague to be attacking them here, someone on their Union side must have betrayed them. The four then launch and find themselves up against a sky filled with Tumors.
Their battle starts with the Strains destroying several of the enemy, but Cedie soon notices a Gloire-class Strain falling through the atmosphere. He feels that something is strange about it, but before he can react, the Gloire destroys Colin’s Strain. It makes just as quick work of Mary, which infuriates Sara into attacking. However, she is no match for it either and almost dies, but is saved when Cedie knocks her out of the way. Unfortunately, this gets him killed in the process. After seeing Sara’s damaged Strain crash into the ground, the Gloire-class Strain heads off. As she gets out of the cockpit, an unhurt Sara realizes that the enemy is after an old military laboratory. Indeed, that’s where the Gloire arrives and its pilot disembarks at. This white-haired Reasoner makes his way inside and activates a room with a floor that opens up, causing a liquid-filled capsule to rise up. Inside is a girl who has strange markings on her skin. Sara meanwhile makes her way to the building and draws her weapon, but the shock of losing her friends suddenly hits her. Before she can grieve for too long, the sound of footsteps alerts her to the enemy’s presence. She finds the Reasoner about to re-board his Strain, so she fires a warning shot to stop him.
At first, Sara refuses to forgive him because he betrayed everyone, including Colin, Mary, and Cedie, but then a nearby explosion illuminates the area. It reveals the man’s face to be just like Ralph’s, except with white hair and a scar over his left eye. As Sara is standing shocked at the sight of her brother, the girl in his arms wakes up, smiles at him, and wraps her arms around him. Sara watches as he takes off in his Strain, so she borrows the Strain of a nearby dead pilot. She attempts to hold onto him, but the enemy Strain pierces through her armor into her cockpit, but the strike does not kill her. Instead, it cuts apart the necklace that held the pendant Ralph gave her. Sara’s Strain breaks into pieces and falls into the lake where she eventually emerges the next day. With tears in her eyes, Sara crumples to her knees and starts screaming into the morning sky.
ED Sequence
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ED: 「海のオパール」 (Umi no Opal) by Sema
Watch the ED! Mirror 1 Mirror 2 (4.4MB, XviD)
I’ve only listened to the ending song a few times, but I don’t really like it. The ending sequence that accompanies it is also rather uneventful because it features just Sara and someone else walking along.
The late entry into this season is WOWOW’s newest mecha-oriented series, Soukou no Strain. The first episode spent some time explaining the situation, but then really gets into the thick of things in terms of action and plot progression. I’m pretty impressed that they managed to kill off all three of Sara’s friends in the course of about 30 seconds. This was especially surprising given how they had been building up Cedie’s feelings for Sara, but I guess that just intensifies the impact of his death. I kind of wish I hadn’t read the series’ website a while back because it spoiled the fact that Ralph was going to be a bad guy. Still, there were plenty of clues in the episode – with all of the Ralph glorification going on – that I probably could have guessed the same thing if I didn’t already know.
In any case, I was pretty impressed with what the story so far and the Strain battles. The animation quality wasn’t the greatest, but it’s not bad either; it’s about what I’d expect for a show on WOWOW done by Studio Fantasia. As for the music, they seemed to use several variations of the theme from the pendant, which actually got stuck in my head once I heard it so many times. And for whatever reason, I’ve been really liking Kawasumi Ayako‘s work recently, so her voicing Sara was definitely a plus.
Because of it’s late premiere date and my own busy schedule, I’m just now getting around to blogging this. Honestly, I originally thought that I wouldn’t have time to write about Soukou no Strain, but watching it convinced me that perhaps I should try to make some time. That doesn’t mean that I’m definitely going to continue with it, but if I can manage to do some catching up on this show in the next week or so, then the odds are pretty good.
Although the quality of this show seems to be naturally mediocre, the story is more than enough to keep my watching. Who knows, this might turn out to be one of the better series this season.
first i hope… i mite reconsider watching it.. machines now r not really in my mood
Her cry in the end was gut-wrenching.
crap.. second is not bad.. i guess watching the first eps wudnt hurt =)
What a dramatic story! First time I’ve seen an anime where 3(!) friends of the protagonist were killed of. Even the for me most shocking anime, Elfen Lied, didn’t have such things.
Well, I’m curious how the story will develop from now on, especially after such an ending in this first episode.
But I’m low with my expectations since I have first a clue of a series after 3-4 episodes plus my last Mecha series was Eureka Seven which was just pure awesome for me.
Looks not very interesting…>,
This anime is not bad I’ll keep watching it, it just 13 episodes anyway. Although I disappointed when Sera’s three friends dead, still gives the anime strong points.
Am looking for her struggle against her brother in the coming episodes, don’t forgive him Sera whatever the reason is X
yeah this show pretty much kills everyone off in the first episode and proceeds to change the story significantly, using the first half of the episode as barely memories.
pretty crazy.
But the graphic is very good^^
Anyone seen Kimi ga Nozomu Eien and thought it would be some BS’ed high school romance series? This is directed by the same guy so it seems twists, turns and emotional rollercoasters are his speciality.
it’s weird………the yellow hair girl, Sara she really reminds me of Aivis Douglass from my favorite game Super robot Alpha2 somehow with character face design
oooww,
i really am done with blondies
animation does not satisfy
but worth more than any american soap operas, thats for sure
this animation gives lots of unexpected, but only 13 episodes﹐don’t know how far it goes…
13 Episodes tend to be too short for good animes, so it all depends on how they wrap it up at the end.
Hurray Omni for blogging ep1! 🙂
3 people dead in 30 seconds? Reminds me of the final episode of Gundam Seed when the M1 trio got killed consecutively. XD
I think is worth watching. Not the best in animation quality but I think the story was interesting enough. I believe it has potential.
Yeah, but after Ralph dominates Sara’s three friends and in turn her own, you see Ralph’s strain moving on to chop up others in the sky. ^^”
After 3 episodes I consider this better than Code Geass, actually.
This anime has substance
cant wait to see episode 4! so far, i really like this series. ^ ^
…judging by the 1st few episodes it is at least better than Code Geass…
Thanks for picking this one up Omni. While I’m pretty fond of Code Geass, Strain had a more impactful first episode. The pace of the first three episodes is blistering; no room for fillers in this 13 episoder. The only weakness I find is the character design, but I can forgive that if the script and pacing is kept as tight as the first three.
The very fact that it’s mecha and that Sunrise didn’t do it would be good enough reason to at least have a look at it. Either way, while the story seems interesting, animation quality isn’t too great, but it’s still probably good enough to watch.
I wasn’t too thrill with the 13 Ep length of the show till i saw who the director was. If it is any indication, this is the same director that directed KGNE and Idolo. He Just loves to put his main characters and his audience through a emotional rollcaster.
I really like this series, nice graphics and mechas. I hope you will continue blogging it Omni.
onichan! onichan! from a girls perspective anime pisses me off..and still on ep 2!
If ayako Kawasumi is on it, is worth watching… at least for me ^_^
It seems like Ayako is entering to teh Dark Side of the Mecha-Force; first ZegaPain and now this… but I like it…. damn you Megami.
I already saw episodes 1 and 2, waiting for # 3
The character design makes me remincest about the old Galaxy Angel. Good times… ^~^
You should make summary of it. This anime is awesome. I have seen it until ep.3
I liked the summary, so I picked it up. Seemed pretty good 2 episodes in…
However, 13 episodes…
… reminds me of Gunparade March, one of my favorite shows.
The story seemed to have good potential, the background providing good support. Most importantly, the characters seemed likeable, with good potential for development beyond initial impressions…
Yet, why, oh, why, did they limit themselves to 13 episodes?
I had similar thoughts with other anime including Starship Operators (which would have fit 52 episodes) and Kanon (though they seem to be trying to fix that). Now, I wonder about Soukou no Strain.
You surprised me Omni. I remember Xellos posting about how you should blog this show and you said you don’t have time for it but I go on your site and their it is Soukou no Strain ep 1. Well I’m curious what changed your mind but I’m glad you decided to blog because I watched the first two episodes and even though I don’t like the opening or closing I’m hooked on the story. Its really good and I’m glad we get to see your perspective of it too. Should be interesting but I’ve only seen two episodes so lets hope it continues this way to the end or gets better.
Sorry for the double post.
Just read the reason why you decided to blog this so now I understand. Next time I’ll read your post first. My bad
This show is too predictable…
Just….wow…what a great episode. 😀
anyone fansubing this?
great trick playing first two episodes together so you can introduce a second supporting cast to replace the one you have already killed.thirteen episodes is just about right as fast as this story is going.i have seen three and really like them very much.
and her mimic is destroyed, right? isn’t that kind of important?
the strain designs and animation remind me a lot of vandread
@zzzzz
i think code geass is better
Interesting story but not interesting enough for me to watch. I still like Code Geass a lot more than this.
Cool-looking mechs + fast-paced action scenes + a female pilot protagonist = I like. ^_^
STRAINS resemble Zone of the Enders’ Orbital Frames…
And Sara does a Shinn Asuka at the end…
@sadakups
nowthat you mention it, he does have a shinn askua attude….now im more pissed off, although ill wacth it bcoz i wanna know whose the little girl
Older brother turned bad?
Memento left by the same brother?
Mysterious loli girl?
Yeah, seems pretty generic. The animation seems mediocre too.The only thing that could save this is an interesting planned ending
@Omni
Glad you picked up blogging on this series. Saw the first 2 episodes without knowing anything about the series but was pleasantly surprised by the story.
If you’re digging the music, listen to this remix of the dance theme that someone posted at the animesuki forums:
http://forums.animesuki.com/showpost.php?p=730200
better then code geass for sure
after 3 episodes i’m really hopeing for more
wish the series was longer tho
knowing that its only 13 episodes kinda ruins it for me
I saw the screenshots for episode 3 and the huge 6XX post thread at animesuki, and I just had to add one more to my roster. I’m taking liking to this type of series! 😀