is a mecha anime series by Happinet and Studio Fantasia. It premiered in 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. In 2008, Texas-based licensor FUNimation Entertainment acquired the license of Strain: Strategic Armored Infantry (also known as Soko no Strain or Soukou no Strain). The anime was available in a complete DVD release on January 27, 2009 across North America.
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 anagrams or other modifications, such as the character Crewe's name being converted to Werec, or the character, St. John's name being changed to Johannitz.
Union
Sara Werec
is described in the series as a happy, well-liked and bright girl, the star graduate student of the elite Grabera Spatial Armoured Infantry Research Institute, at the beginning of the series. She is an orphan; her parents, James and Annie Werec, are dead and she clings to the notion of seeing her older brother Ralph 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.
The series recounts that after being defeated by Ralph, Sara 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 about Ralph's betrayal. 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 the doll she calls "Emily". Soon afterwards, Sara discovers that, against all expectations, Emily allows her to pilot a Strain again, giving her control of the Ink Strain Ram-Dass. Sara considers Emily to be her last hope to finding 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
in the series is 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 realizes that she should work as a team member, instead of a dictator.
In the series, she seems to question who Sara is but doesn't know Sara's real identity. Lottie notices that Sara "fights like a Reasoner". Lottie hates Ralph Werec because he killed her 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, she becomes one of Sara's strongest supporters.
Lottie's name comes from the novel's Lottie Legh. While an early official trailer calls her Lotti Getter, the "Lottie Gelh" spelling appears onscreen in the series.
Jessie Ijesse
in the series is 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 Lottie's 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 (Mimic)
in the series is special Mimic that takes the form of a porcelain doll. Sara names her Emily after its model designation, E.M.L.Y.. Sara finds her abandoned with the Ram-Dass Strain in a garage while looking for her stolen pendant. Emily functions in place of Sara's original Mimic, which should be impossible.