Code Geass

Alternate Titles:  Code Geass – Hangyaku no Lelouch, Code Geass – Lelouch of the Rebellion

Original Japanese Release Date: 2006

Episode Length/Run-time: 25 Episodes

Summary:

With the aid of gigantic robotic robots known as Knightmare Frames colonialism has taken new meaning and the Empire of Britannia has invaded Japan and placed it under colonial rule.  Lelouch a Britannian living in Area 11 (Japan’s new name) vows to free Japan and overthrow the Empire.  One day after school he stumbles upon a military secret which happens to be a young girl named C.C.  She gives him the power of Geass which can be used on any person only once to make them obey any order.  With this weapon Lelouch’s rebellion begins.

Review:

Code Geass, reviewed here in full (both first and second season) is a very well done anime.  While plots of overthrowing governments, coup de etats and war is nothing new to anime Code Geass brings lively characters and it’s own interesting spins to the rehashed themes in such a way that it feels fresh and new.  One of the fantastic things about this anime is the pacing.  It moves at near breakneck speed wasting no time to get to the meat of the show.  From there on they don’t dally with stupid antics (okay, they do very rarely) and focus on progressing what they set out.

The mech battles in this show are really well executed and Lelouch’s character as the ringleader is perfect.  Possible best friend to Light Yagami Lelouch is calculating, careful, cunning, and slightly cocky in just the right ways.  While we’re on the subject of characters they are just the right mix for everyone watching.  Enough bishonen to go around, cute girls ranging from well endowed sexy to loli and your stereotypical characters thrown in there to round out the mix nicely. Sometimes the stereotyping is taken a little too far and the acting could be seen as borderline corny.  But generally speaking it’s done at the right times and I feel it’s presented in such a way that works for the series overall.

The one thing that really docks this series overall is the fights in the second season.  Throughout the whole series there is gray area moral dilemmas argued and a clever cat and mouse both on and off the battlefield between Lelouch and Suzaku.  However, in the second season Suzaku, apparently, closes the mental gap rather quickly on Lelouch.  All of a sudden he, quite annoyingly, shows up out of the blue at just the right moment to squah Lelouch’s plans and win or thwart the battle.  As a viewer it not only screams unrealistic, but it screams annoying.

Despite this, the series is very well executed and has something for everyone.  The animation is clean and crisp and the music does not disappoint either.  With the characters and engaging plot I’d easily classify this anime as a gateway drug into the world of mecha for any fan or fan-to-be.

[starrater]