Infinite Ryvius [S01E01 to S01E26]

Imagine this: You’re on a school trip to a space station (cool, right?), and suddenly everything goes wrong. The station explodes, your teachers are gone, and the only way out is a secret warship hidden in the depths. Oh, and you’re stuck with 400 other teens—no adults, no rules, and the ship has enough firepower to blow up a planet. That’s the setup for Infinite Ryvius, and let me tell you, it’s not your average sci-fi anime.

First off, let’s get the basics out of the way: This 26-episode series from Sunrise (the folks behind Code Geass and Gundam) aired back in 1999-2000, but don’t let the age fool you—it’s still as relevant as ever. Directed by Goro Taniguchi and with character designs by Hisashi Hirai (who later did Gundam SEED), Ryvius takes the “Lord of the Flies” concept and cranks it up to 11 in space. The teens escape to the Ryvius, a super-advanced cruiser with a 1G environment (so no floating around like astronauts!), a badass mech called the Vital Guarder, and enough supplies to last months. But here’s the catch: Someone’s trying to sabotage them, and without adults to keep order, the group starts to fall apart.

You know that feeling when a group project goes off the rails because no one can agree on who’s in charge? Multiply that by 1000, add life-or-death stakes, and you’ve got Ryvius. The first captain, Juli, tries to keep things fair, but after a battle leads to some classmates dying, she quits out of guilt. Then Ikumi steps up—and let’s just say he doesn’t play nice. He institutes martial law, cracks down on dissent, and suddenly the ship feels less like a refuge and more like a prison. Fans on MyAnimeList go crazy about this arc because it’s so real: When people are scared, they either fold or become tyrants, and Ikumi’s descent into harshness hits way too close to home.

But it’s not all doom and gloom. The sci-fi elements are chef’s kiss. The Vital Guarder mech fights are intense—think giant robots duking it out in space, but with actual strategy, not just flashy explosions. And the worldbuilding? The Geduld plasma field (which the ship is stuck in) feels like a character itself—mysterious, dangerous, and always looming. The show doesn’t info-dump either; you learn about the Ryvius’s tech as the teens figure it out, which makes the story feel more immersive.

What really makes Ryvius stand out, though, is its characters. No one is perfect. Juli’s guilt is crippling, but you understand why she feels that way. Ikumi’s authoritarian streak comes from a place of fear, not malice. Even the side characters—like the tech geeks who keep the ship running or the troublemakers who stir up chaos—have their own motivations. Fans love how the show explores the messy, complicated parts of being a teen: peer pressure, identity crises, and the struggle to do the right thing when everything is falling apart.

By the time you get to episode 26, you’re emotionally invested. The ending isn’t happy, but it’s honest. It leaves you thinking about what you would do in their shoes—would you follow the rules, rebel, or try to lead? MyAnimeList’s discussion thread for the finale is full of people talking about how they cried, laughed, and yelled at their screens. It’s that kind of show—one that sticks with you long after the credits roll.

So, should you watch Infinite Ryvius? If you’re into sci-fi with heart, dark stories about human nature, or just want something that’s not your typical shonen anime, absolutely. It’s a classic for a reason—winning the Animation Kobe Television Award in 2000 wasn’t a fluke. Just be warned: It’s going to make you feel things. A lot of things. But hey, isn’t that what good anime is all about?

In the end, Ryvius isn’t just about space ships and mechs. It’s about growing up, making mistakes, and learning that even when you’re lost in the dark (or the Geduld plasma field), you still have to keep going. And let’s be real—who hasn’t felt lost at some point? That’s why this show resonates with so many people, even 20 years later. Give it a watch—you won’t regret it.