Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion holds a special place in the hearts of anime enthusiasts worldwide. Created by director Gorō Taniguchi and writer Ichirō Ōkouchi, this sci-fi military thriller has garnered immense popularity since its debut.
Spanning two seasons, the series first graced screens on October 6, 2006, followed by its second season on April 6, 2008. Its unique blend of sci-fi, mecha battles, dark fantasy, and political intrigue grabbed audiences, drawing them into its richly woven narrative.
Set in an alternate timeline dominated by the Holy Britannian Empire, the story follows Lelouch vi Britannia, the 17th prince of the empire. Exiled to Japan, known as Area 11, alongside his sister after the tragic death of their mother, Lelouch harbors a deep-seated hatred for his royal lineage.
His desire for vengeance fuels his determination to dismantle the empire that betrayed him. Fate intervenes when he gains the power of Geass, a mysterious ability allowing him to implant commands into others, albeit just once. Armed with this newfound power, Lelouch embarks on a journey to challenge his oppressive family and reshape the world.
Code Geass weaves a story of thrilling mecha battles, intricate plots, and shocking betrayals, grabed fans with its compelling narrative. As the fandom eagerly delves deeper into the series, uncovering its secrets and intricacies, here are 30 fascinating facts about Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion that every fan should know.
30. Anime Came First
Unlike most anime series, which are adaptations of a successful manga series. The anime came first for Code Geass, and later it got adapted into a manga.
Further, all the mangas have a different storyline. Therefore, Code Geass anime is canon, and the mangas are non-canon. Apart from Code Geass, Cowboy Bebop is another example where the anime came before the manga.
29. Nina And Table-kun
We all remember the traumatic scene in the Neon Genesis Evangelion series, where the protagonist Shinji Ikari plays with himself around a comatose girl.
However, Code Geass also has such a scene. In the series, we saw Nina Einstein having an obsessive attraction towards the Britannian princess, Euphemia Li Britannia. However, things get crazy in Season 1 Episode 12, when we see Nina playing with herself using a table while looking at a photo of Princess Euphy.
28. Voicing Kallen Isn’t An Easy Job
We all love Kallen Kozuki, the cool Japanese revolutionary driving the Guren mecha. However, the revolutionary also attends the Ashford Academy as the shy girl under her paternal family name, Kallen Stadtfeld. We all loved to see her two personalities.
However, it was a pain for the Japanese voice actor, Ami Koshimizu. She reported having trouble voicing Kallen because of her two personalities. Eventually, she enjoyed dubbing Kallen and even found similarities of the character with herself. Further, the voice actress even received her first Seiyu Award in 2007 for Kallen Kozuki.
27. Guren Type 2 An Inspiration For Gurren Lagan
We are all familiar with another mecha show, Gurren Lagan, where we also witness some cool mechas like Code Geass. However, the detail which piqued the interest of Code Geass fans is the similarity between Kallen’s lagan and the main mecha in the anime Gurren Lagan which has the same name as the show.
Further, not only Gurren Lagan shares the name with Guren Type 2 but also has a similar color scheme as the Code Geass mecha. Thus, many fans speculate that the Gurren Lagan took inspiration from Guren Type 2.
26. Two Unknown Generations Of Knightmares
Throughout the Code Geass anime, we witnessed many cool mechas, which are called Knightmare Frames. In the show, it was further stated that there are nine generations of Knightmare frame.
We all witnessed at least one Knightmare from every generation, apart from the first two generations. Further, there is only one third-generation Knightmare in the entire Code Geass anime, which was Ganymede.
25. Code Geass Without Knightmare Frames
It is hard to imagine Code Geass without Knightmare Frames. Even the show is categorized into the mecha generation, but imagine if the show has no more Knightmares.
However, there is a Code Geass world without the existence of Knightmare Frames. The manga Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion follows the storyline in anime with few changes. However, the major change is that the manga has no Knightmare Frames.
24. The Inspiration For Prince Schneizel
You all remembered the handsome and manipulative second prince of the Holy Britannian Empire, Schneizel el Britannia. He even planned to destroy the world to rebuild it.
However, this narcissist price gets his personality and looks from the manga X-1999 character Yūto Kigali. The makers of Code Geass used Kigali to design the Britannian Prince.
23. Geass And Mythology
The Geass originates from Gaelic and Irish mythology. In those mythologies, there is a reference to the term Geis. According to the description of Geis in those mythologies, it is a kind of taboo in which a person is under the effect of a bow or spell.
Further, it is stated that if a person with the ability of Geis violates, the taboo will get weak and eventually die. However, if the user doesn’t violate the taboo, then the power of Geis will increase.
22. The Chess Is Weird In Code Geass
Throughout the series, we saw chess playing an important part in the show. The show is full of chess references, and even we witness some thrilling chess matches in the show. However, the most thrilling chess match in Code Geass might be the one between Prince Schneizel and Lelouch.
But in that match, Schneizel intentionally got his king checked. In real life, such a move like this would be declared illegal, and thus, the player who made a move will either be disqualified or forced to make a legal move. However, in the anime, there was no trouble. It seems like chess works a bit differently in the world of Code Geass.
21. Nina Is Einstein
The Princess Euphemia fan girl, Nina, is a brilliant scientist as we saw in the show, who even helped to develop the life-threatening weapon F.L.E.I.J.A. Further, her full name is Nina Einstein.
The Code Geass creator took inspiration from the real-world scientist Albert Einstein. They not only share the same surname but also both helped to create weapons of mass destruction which they both later regretted.
20. The Unnecessary J In The Name
We all remember the devastating mass destruction weapon F.L.E.I.J.A, which was developed by Nina Einstein. Later, the weapon was used in the Second Battle of Tokyo, where the detonation of the F.L.E.I.J.A in the middle of the Tokyo Settlement caused over 35 million deaths.
Further, the weapon was again used by Prince Schneizel against his brother Lelouch vi Britannia. The F.L.E.I.J.A stands for Field Limitary Effective Implosion Armament. Thus, the J in the name seems unnecessary.
19. Pizzas Are Only For Japan
There are a lot of “Pizza Hut” references throughout the series, and if you are a C.C fan, then you might have seen her having many pizzas.
However, the Pizza Hut references are only limited to the Japanese dub. Cause the anime was an enormous hit in Japan and Pizza Hut made a deal to advertise their brand in the series. But in the English dub, all the Pizza Hut references were edited out as advertising in the United States was expensive back then.
18. Zero Was The First In Existence
Zero was the first character that the Code Geass creators made. They always wanted a character wearing a mask. Therefore, they went through countless designs to come across a unique design for the mask. When they finally came up with the Zero mask design, the creators initially called it “tulip” because of the shape.
17. Tone Down In The Mature Content
There is much adult content or scenes containing nudity in the first season of Code Geass. However, the show’s creators had to level down the mature content from the show because of getting a different time slot.
The second season got an early time slot compared to the first one, and thus, there were chances that younger audiences would also watch the show. However, the second show didn’t completely get rid of the mature content, they just weren’t as explicit as the first season.
16. Shogunate Instead Of Knights
Code Geass anime has a huge knighthood concept. Because in this anime, we witness an empire that hails from the United Kingdom. Therefore, the show has a system of knighthood. However, there is an alternate universe where instead of kinghood, there is the culture of the Japanese Shogunate.
In a Code Geass manga called Code Geass: Tales of an Alternate Shogunate, we witness Lelouch, but as a commander of Shogunate’s military, which fights a rebel group led by a masked individual, rei.
The manga series is set in a timeline of 1853 instead of the show’s A.T.B 2000s setting. Further, the manga also has the concept of Geass, but it is a power to summon the Knightmare frames.
15. The Arthurian Knights Reference
One of the amazing Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion facts is that it is full of King Arthur and His Round Table Knights’ references. Like Suzaku, Kururugi is based on the legendary knight, Sir Lancelot and Suzaku further operate a Knightmare frame with the name Lancelot.
Even Lelouch is even based on an Arthurian knight, Sir Gawain. Even Lelouch operates a Knightmare known as Gawain. Further, the relationship between Lelouch and Suzaku is like Gawain and Lancelot. Knights initially had love and respect for each other, but the love later turned into hatred.
14. C.C Is Only Sixteen
Many Code Geass fans have a huge crush on the green hair girl, C.C. Undoubtedly, she is a beautiful girl, and not admiring her beauty would be a disrespectful girl. However, the mysterious young girl has been around for centuries.
Because of inheriting the Code of Immortality, she is immortal. Therefore, her body’s growth stopped, and she still looks like a 16-year-old even after centuries. Further, she will only grow if she gives her Code to someone else.
13. Suzaku’s Perspective
As we know, there are many spin-off mangas of the original Code Geass manga. One such spin-off is the Code Geass: Suzaku of the Counterattack. This manga follows the plot of the original anime series.
However, the only difference about this manga series is that instead of Lelouch, this manga tells the story from the perspective of Lelouch’s friend, Suzaku Kururugi.
12. The Forbidden Love: Kallen and Lelouch
“Lelouch and Kallen” is one of the most popular ships in Code Geass. Undoubtedly, the two make a perfect couple. In the series, we further see that both Black Knight members developed a mutual romantic feeling for each other. We even saw the two share a kiss in the series.
But their love story can never go beyond that point. Because Lelouch already witnessed the trauma of losing a loved one with Shirley’s death. Therefore, to not experience that again he pushed Kallen away.
11. What is C.C.’s Name?
The biggest mystery and one of the most amazing Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion facts about the show is C.C’s name, which no one knows. Her name is a mystery in every Code Geass anime and manga.
However, in the anime series, she tells her real name to Lelouch, but the scene is muted. Therefore, it seems Lelouch is the only person in the entire world to know C.C.’s name.
10. More X-1999 Influence
We already talked about how the Code Geass creators used the X-1999 character Yūto Kigali as a reference for the character design of Prince Schneizel. However, there is one more character whose design is inspired by a character from X-1999.
The creators took inspiration from Kamui Shiro of X-1999 to design Lelouch vi Britannia. However, the major reason behind so many X-1999 influences that director Gorō Taniguchi hired the Clamp to design the characters. Also, Clamp is the creator of X-1999.
9. Lelouch Is The Weakest
Undoubtedly, Lelouch is the coolest character in the serious, and why wouldn’t he be? Because Gorō Taniguchi always wanted the protagonist of the Code Geass to be the coolest character in the show. However, he is the weakest character in the show.
Although he commanded an army, had high intelligence and the power of Geass, and eventually became the king of the Holy Britannian Empire. But physically, he’s the weakest character in the show. Only climbing a few stairs or a little run can exhaust the man behind the mask of Zero.
8. The Geass Detecter
C.C possesses not only the ability to give the Power of Geass to others, but she can also detect other Geass users. She uses this ability to track down those individuals who might become a threat to her and Lelouch in the future. She can even track down those who are under the influence of Geass’s power.
7. Initial Concept For The Anime
Gorō Taniguchi and writer Ichirō Ōkouchi initially wanted the plot to revolve around a heroic character who would lead a group to fight against evil. Then they made two characters who would work in the same military, but this concept eventually gave birth to the characters Lelouch and Suzaku.
8. C.C Is An Expert Fighter
The green hair girl might be an absolute beauty but never approach her carelessly. Because there is an amazing Code Geass: Lelouch of the rebellion fact is that besides being a beauty, she is also an expert fighter.
She can pilot a Knightmare Frame, using weapons like guns and blades, and also excel in hand-to-hand combat. Further, C.C. has the advantage of being immortal.
7. Shirley Is Alive
One of the major plots in the show is the death of Lelouch’s friend and probable love interest, Shirley Fenette. However, in the Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion movie series, which is set in an alternate timeline where Shirley lives.
This movie trilogy retells the original Code Geass but with a few changes. Shirley, being alive, changes a lot of the Code Geass history. As she knew about the Zero Requiem and even helped C.C. escape with Lelouch after his “execution.”
6. Fear Of Failure
Undoubtedly, Code Geass is one of the most successful anime. However, a fun Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion fact is that the Sunrise studio was afraid that the series might be a flop. The primary reason behind this fear was that this was the first directorial project for Gorō Taniguchi.
Further, the series initially was supposed to have 50 episodes. But because of the fear of failure, the season was cut down to 25 episodes only. This is also the reason behind season one’s plot felt rushed.
5. There Are Many Versions Of Lelouch
As we know there are many spin-off manga and anime series of the original Code Geass anime. All the different Code Geass spin-off universes are different.
However, most of them have Lelouch in them. But every spin-off takes a unique take on Lelouchy’s character. Thus, in every spin-off, you will come across a different Lelouch who might have traits that are unknown to you.
4. Nunnally With The Geass
We all remembered Lelouch’s blind little sister Nunnally. In the original series, she was a victim of Geass, as her father Geass commanded her to be blind after her mother’s assassination.
She was the reason behind Lelouch’s attempt to make a peaceful world. Unlike the real story where her brother receives the Geass, in the spin-off, Code Geass: Nightmare of Nunnally, she receives Geass from a doll-like entity with a Geass sigil on her. Nunnally’s Geass power allows her to summon a Knightmare which she uses to search for her lost brother.
3. Jeremiah Is The Orange Boy
In the Code Geass anime, we come across an elite Britannian warrior, Jeremiah Gottwald. He was a proud Britannian and was ready to put his sword on anyone who threatened his master.
However, he was defeated by Lelouch but Jeremiah later comes back with an artificial eye capable of disabling a Geass’s effect. The most noticeable feature was his orange eyes which also earned him the nickname “Orange Boy”. After the Zero Requiem, we even see Jeremiah working on an orange field along with Anya Alstreim.
2. Lelouch With White Hair
We all remembered Lelouch for his noticeable black hair, which he inherited from his mother, Marianne vi Britannia, along with her violet eyes. However, an amazing Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion fact is that the creators, Gorō Taniguchi and writer Ichirō Ōkouchi, initially thought Lelouch had white hair instead of his noticeable black hair. But we finally got Lelouch with black hair. However, it would have been great to see Lelouch with white hair.
1. Lelouch The Geass Hunter
In the latest Code Geass movie, we witness the return of Lelouch vi Britannia. In that movie, he again wore his mask of Zero to protect her sister Nunnally and Suzaku, who got captured by the rulers of Zilkistan. Further, he stops the evil Geass users of that country.
However, Lelouch again parts ways from his sister and friends to go on a separate journey along with C.C. He takes on the identity L.L. and plans to become Geass Hunter along with C.C. to hunt down evil Geass users.
There is a Code Geass movie and a series under development which released in the future. Further, we might see Lelouch again in that series but as a Geass Hunter.
Honorable Mention
Ane Jiyoku Tsukushi: Nee-san no Shitagi
