Ah, the nostalgic days of 2013, when I first chanced upon anime and mangas. The classic design of Air by Kyoto Animations left me wondering what else I could discover. Action, suspense, gore, horror, fantasy, and twisted storylines are some of my favorite anime genres. A reason given is the exceptionally well-delivered plots and elements by Japanese storytellers and their spin-offs in animated series by production houses.
Without a doubt, new technology and green screens, as well as AI, have made animation more precise, cleaner, and even more enjoyable, but they remain incomparable to those early 2000s releases.
And one of them is Code Geass. Like Death Note, this anime is popular in Japan, with over a million copies sold and a huge fanbase. So, what makes it so special and worth the hype? Let’s do a deep dive into dissecting this series and see if it’s actually worth your time.
A Brief Synopsis
The anime is set in an alternative timeline where three different leaderships operate, namely, the Britannian Empire, the Chinese Federation, and European Union. With the conquest of Japan by Britainnia, all the rights of the residing citizens were seized and put under the rules and regulations of their captors.
The story is told of a young exiled Britannian prince, Lelouch vi Britannia, who is on a journey to seek revenge for the murder of his mother and the impact it left on his sister from the responsible perpetrators, the Britannian Empire.
Our protagonists now reside in captured Japan, known as Area 11, but the filth of the empire will soon be exposed by their mistreatment of the citizens, now known as Elevens. Lelouch is saved from an incident by a mysterious girl with green hair, who gives him the power of Geass.
This grants him the power to control anyone and anything. You can draw a parallel between this and Death Note. With just one look into the eyes of a person, Lelouch can order them to work under his will or even kill themselves if that is what he wants from them. With this newfound power, Lelouch teams up with the Japanese rebels to take down the Britannian Empire.
About Production
The original concept of Code Geass was introduced by Ichiro Okouchi and Goro Tanaguci, with Clamp approaching character design. The prior storyline went along the lines of a hero who leads a secret organization, which is somewhat similar to what the actual plotline followed.
The plan was to deliver an approachable series to please the crowd and make it a hit amongst the anime community. So, the creators sought help from multiple character artists, which ultimately led to the making of the character we know as Lelouch.
The series was produced by Sunrise and first released on October 5, 2006, on MBS TV as Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion. A second season aired on April 8, 2008. Upon its release, it soon rose to popularity amongst the masses, and the series soon saw a compilation movie set in an alternate universe in 2017–2018.
Thoughts and Views on Code Geass
Now, I personally root for an anti-hero in any web series, anime, or movie. Somehow, it makes that character stand out more in the antagonistic setting, where you cannot fully support or understand their actions.
Code Geass is exactly where that spice is perfected. You might find Lelouch to be this cute boy enjoying his days at a high school where he makes acquaintance with other female peers, but his other persona lies in an alias named Zero, who abuses the power of “geass” to seek his vengeance.
One of the major reasons for Code Geass’s popularity lies in the variety of characters and their arcs, which help shape the storyline. It does not fall short of battles, blood, gore, betrayal, lies, and tears. As seen in Attack on Titans with certain divisions of class, hierarchy, and power wielders, the concept is reflected in Code Geass. Now, this absolutely does not mean that your favorite characters are not used as pawns.
The moment you see yourself getting attached to a character you like, better run. Lelouch is a genius, in my opinion. He knows what he is doing and what his motive is. A perfect “icing on the cake” moment for an anti-hero who is made to be loved and hated by the audience. The super mecha battles and futuristic technology seen in Code Geass are both appealing and well executed.
One thing that stood out to me was Lelouch’s speech on what is good and what is evil, in which he asks Guilford, “What do you do of the evil that cannot be stopped by means of justice?”This is self-explanatory: regardless of how cruel Britannia is, Lelouch comes clean about not being the savior of the ones in need. His motive is revenge, and he is driven by that hatred toward civilization; that is what makes his character unique.
Another scene that I frankly enjoyed was the battle between Lelouch and Mao set in an amusement park. Throughout the season, the eerie confusion over Mao being duped by Lelouch was worth watching.
Somehow, anime with heartbreaking storylines are something I love to torture myself with, even if it means spending more tissues on tears and snot. Code Geass may be a war-based strategic anime, but it will make you cry. Every death was worth Lelouch’s sacrifice, but the one that stood out the most to me was Rolo’s. It was just tragic enough.
Somehow, anime with heartbreaking storylines are something I love to torture myself with, even if it means spending more tissues on tears and snot. Code Geass may be a war-based strategic anime, but it will make you cry. Every death was worth Lelouch’s sacrifice, but the one that stood out the most to me was Rolo’s. It was just tragic enough.
The story blends well to maintain the balance of Lelouch juggling between being a good student and Zero when he removes his mask and allows the Geass to take over. This gives him room to make friends and alliances, but there are sides chosen, and judgments made that lead to the creation of rifts and troubles for his British buddies and himself.
I like such takes where the protagonist of the story leads a secret life but has a villain for an alter-ego that should not come out to the people they befriend on their journey of mass destruction.
As much as the positives lie in the anime, Code Geass has a few lackluster aspects in its animation and plot. What falls short is how the key elements of the entire life of Lelouch were supposed to be his mother’s death and his sister’s fallout, but the anime somehow fails to link these crucial points, and the sense is somewhere lost in the translation of it all. There is no connection between the ending of the anime and where it began.
I would also add that I like the new-style character designs more than those from the early 2000s. Sharp lines and stick figures somehow make me laugh, as the anatomical detail makes them more comical. Imagine Optimus Prime having a full-on battle with a paper-thin human; that is humor in and of itself.
But then again, these are the recent advances brought in by technology and the animation industry. Regardless, Code Geass makes a good impact by blending mechanics, modern warfare, and an indulgent storytelling style.
Sunrise did what they do best: it brought ultra-mech designs and urbanized tools to the right places and characters. The show itself provides the satisfaction of watching a multi-genre stream that covers all aspects of romance, action, and vengeance. Once I started the episodes, it was hard to resist finishing them in just one sitting.
Final Verdict
Long-term anime watchers and fans will never say anything bad about Code Geass. It is one of the most popular anime series, attracting an increasing number of viewers. The voice acting, music, background, and plotline are perfectly placed, and there is no doubt that this anime lives up to its hype to date.
Code Geass brings in various layers and details that are quite difficult to cover in just one article. It is absolutely worth your time and attention; that is a personal yes from me, and revisiting this show will never leave you any room for boredom unless you give yourself spoilers for the very end that will give you some sad hours to deal with.
For me, Code Geass is a banger if I ignore the little mishap along the storyline, but as engaging as any other popular anime is, this one will truly stay with you until the very end with intense twists and turns. The only ones who should kill are those who are prepared to be killed. We give the anime ratings of 4.8/5.
Our Rating: 4.8/5.
You can watch the official release of Code Geass on many streaming platforms like Netflix, Hulu, and Crunchyroll.
Also Read: 30 Best Anime Where the Main Character Was Betrayed But Makes A Comeback
