Anime Review: Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion

On August 10th of the year 2010 the Holy Empire of Britannia began a campaign of conquest, its sights set on Japan. Operations were completed in one month thanks to Britannia's deployment of new mobile humanoid armor vehicles dubbed Knightmare Frames. Japan's rights and identity were stripped away, the once proud nation now referred to as Area 11. Its citizens, Elevens, are forced to scratch out a living while the Britannian aristocracy lives comfortably within their settlements. Pockets of resistance appear throughout Area 11, working towards independence for Japan.

Lelouch, an exiled Imperial Prince of Britannia posing as a student, finds himself in the heart of the ongoing conflict for the island nation. Through a chance meeting with a mysterious girl named C.C., Lelouch gains his Geass, the power of the king. Now endowed with absolute dominance over any person, Lelouch may finally realize his goal of bringing down Britannia from within!

(Source: Bandai Entertainment)

Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion Genres: Action, Mecha, Sci-Fi

Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion Synonyms:

Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion Studios: Sunrise, Mainichi Broadcasting, Bandai Entertainment, Sony Music Entertainment,

Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion Review

Code Geass is a fantastic series which has rightfully become one of the more popular series in the 2000's decade.

Before I start this review, please don't read the description, infact, don't even read this review, there aren't any spoilers, but reading these spoils just _that_ much more of Code Geass. Don't understand the premise, don't even look at the pictures (I guess that can't be helped) don't understand anything, just jump straight into it, you won't be dissapointed.

Code Geass is a masterpiece in the true sense of the word- and I don't even throw the word around. I would rate it much higher than 93 (I have only Fate/Zero rated at >93) if it weren't for some _very_ tiny and maybe even insignificant problems, but while writing a review, I can't overlook anything. But we will get to that in a bit.

If you are still sticking around, then let's get down to it.

Artwork and Animation (18/20)

The Artwork of Code Geass (CG from now on out) is aged and withering, that is not to say its bad -its not- it just isn't in tune with what we watch over here in 2014 (CG was released in 2006, almost 8 years back). The artwork is much more realistic, mature and hardy, which gives its own special flavor to the series. I think the original "shock" of a new artwork really only lasts the first 5~ minutes, after that, it doesn't really matter since you will be too sucked in to give a crap.

The character models are also great. At first you would probably think that the legs are too long (not Special A long), but they aren't, they are in tune with reality. The faces are also very well done, especially C.C (pronounced C2) and Leouch's.

img(http://i.imgur.com/OXiXfro.jpg)

img(http://i.imgur.com/57v2Vgb.jpg)

\>pic in case, _my_ waifu.

Of course, how can I forget mechas? Well, mechas back in the day didn't look and move the way they do now, but they are still very good, I'm not a mecha fan, so i won't comment on this further, you decide.

img(http://i.imgur.com/EsbzClu.jpg)

img(http://i.imgur.com/rIPmm6Y.jpg)

The general animation and artwork is also top-of-the-world quality, and I don't say it lightly. The blood and particle effects (if can call it that) are quite something. The uncensored scenes really get your blood flowing.

img(http://i.imgur.com/Z6Jt1HO.jpg)

The environment is also quite beautiful,it isn't eye-gaping good, but it _will_ make you look twice.

The art section also shines in the way of fanservice, there is fanservice at opportune moments, but it isn't overdone, and is kept low (think 4-5 scenes over 25 episodes), which means while you won't be looking at breasts all day long, you also won't be running along to type "omg code geass hentai" on Google Images.

Oh course, there is the occasional Pizza Hut sign, which is annoying advertisement, but atleast it isn't overdone, and I can understand budget constrains. I'm fine with ads as long as they don't go out of their way to get in my face.

Music and Sound(18/20)

The voice acting is a success. Voices are more than enough convincing and confident. The environment sounds were also very good and contributed greatly to the scenes. That said, all is not well in the music department. The OP01 (colors - by Flow) is just goddamned magic from the skies, it is by far the best OP I ever heard. The second time I heard it, I just watched it over and over six times and even then I wasn't finished. See, that's why I said I wish I could rate higher. Seeing how great the section has been so far, I would have called it "brilliant", but the problem with writing objective reviews is this - All the OPs and EDs are equal, one good OP doesn't negate a shit OP. That said, OP02 was meh at best and OP03 (which showed up like, twice) was utter crap. The EDs were all to the tune of "meh" , well compared to Colors anyways they were.

youtube(cZ7zQbMxm28)

Story (19/20)

The story in Code Geass is downright brilliant. As much as I like to say that a story can't be perfect, I guess I'm just going to have to concede this one. CG starts off very strong and keeps making an even stronger story, with some respite at ep06 (which was just some sort of comedy ep) and then never ever let's up. There are no flashback episodes and there are no fillers, CG just marches over anything and everything with its solid plotline. Sure there are some things which are never explained, but they can be explained most of the time with simple deductive reasoning. Why would you EVER want a series to explain EVERYTHING to you? Which I guess is another good thing about CG - It forces you to use your brain. The story isn't a hand me down, and you have to hold your concentration to engage in CG. It isn't as ridiculously hard to grasp as KSnH, and it is also much more rewarding if you grasp it.

The division of focus in CG allows for a greater variety of support and CG never once favours one side over the other, despite Lelouch's skill, he isn't a god, and has to retreat quite often.

One thing I found weird about CG is that even though it revolves around the power of Geass, the Geass is almost always used subtextually. Sure, there are times when it is used on screen, but most of the time, you just have to chalk it down to lelouch using it in the background.

Characters (19/20)

img(http://i.imgur.com/6TKfB8s.jpg)

The characters in CG are....amusing.

I found that there is absolutely __no__ character in the entire series that didn't get a great amount of development (other than the very very far off supporting crew that appear as often as villager A). Let that sink in for a while. Every single character has a backstory, every single character changes, and every single one of them goes nuts. Which is the correct thing to do when your country gets blown to shit.

I found some of the characters annoying to the point I hoped a KnighMare crashed into them and they just die already.

Now, that isn't necessarily a bad thing, because the point is - the characters managed to squeeze a response from me, a bad response admittedly, but a response nevertheless. Which means I -at some point- _connect_ with the character that will be negatively effected by the actions of the annoying character in question. How is that a bad thing?

Also, the amount of Yurifaggotory around a certain someone is so much that the entire series turns into /u/ while she is on the screen.

Enjoyment (19/20)

Code Geass is by far quite enjoyable. It never has a boring moment, it never feels drawn out and it just continues to surprise you at every turn of the way. Oh, and no cliffhangers in any episode, you know, except the last ep, which would have been annoying when the second season was yet to air, but over here in 2014 it just gives you that NEED to get the fuck off your couch and get the second season rolling already.

So yeah, total is 93/100, which makes it the second best thing I ever watched.

In case it isn't evident already, go watch it unless you hate anything exciting and fun.

img(http://i.imgur.com/Pc7bzpl.jpg)

It's hammy, bombastic, melodramatic, and in all ways over the top. Code Geass cranks it up to 11 on all fronts.

Code Geass is a difficult series to review, simply because all of its defining features are things which some consider strengths and others weaknesses. Perhaps this is why there's such a rift in the fanbase, and it's one of those series which everyone seems to either love or hate. SO, I'm going to step out of my usual reviewing template and go over what exactly Code Geass is, and you can decide for yourself whether these are positive qualities or negative ones.

Code Geass is over the top. The characters are over the top, the setting is over the top, the dialogue is over the top, the performances are over the top, the music is over the top, and the battles are over the top... everything is over the top. If it's not over the top at any given moment, something's wrong--you've probably hit your pause button by accident or something. There's no such thing as a non-dynamic entry in this series, or a conflict that doesn't conclude with an epic twist turning the tables grossly in one side's favor in a wild display of military tact. Some might call this hammy. I call it thespian. And man oh man, I do love me some thespianism.

Code Geass is powerful... which is not entirely separate from its over-the-topness. Characters live (sometimes die), breathe, and interact, each with their own lives, goals, values, and motivations--and more than often, these wills clash. Everyone is out to change the world for the better, and each in their own unique way, leading the viewer to a good bit of philosophising. This also creates some damn powerful scenes liable to pull a tear or two unless you really find yourself detached from the characters. Some people might find this overbearing. I, myself, love really powerful and over-the-top series (like Death Note), and this more than qualifies.

Code Geass is moody. At times it wants to be a political drama series, and at times it wants to be a school comedy series, like jumping between Gundam and Ouran High School Host Club. I think this is what turns a lot of people off--some just don't like their peas and mashed potatoes touching, I suppose. The political drama aspects are much more prominent than the "school hijinx" aspects, which only occupy one or two scenes per episode with an occasional filler-esque episode thrown in (though, truthfully, there's no legitimate filler in Code Geass--good news for those who dislike filler), and the contrast makes sense in terms of the plot, given that the main character is the leader of a terrorist faction leading an undercover life as a student. Because of this, and because of the fact that I enjoy both drama series and school comedy series, I have no problem with this stark contrast. Others might.

Finally, Code Geass is pretty. This series is kind of the poster child of the "new wave" of animation, with its angular jaws, bright colors, pretty boy character designs, and shiny... well, everything. I'm a pretty hip old codger myself, but many seem to hold a very bitter resentment for this modern style of animation, so if it's something that really eats at you, you're probably not going to be able to sit through the entirety of Code Geass. If you're like me and don't really care one way or the other what kind of style a series employs as long as it looks good overall and is reasonably unique in its own right (which Geass is, with its exceptionally wiry and "idealized" character designs and well-constructed mecha frames), then this shouldn't be a problem. I think the designs add to the thespian style of the show, myself, looking at how medieval artwork often idealized the human form.

If you're a thespian with a love for emotional character interactions, an interest in all genres of anime, and a tolerance for different art styles, like me (or, if you enjoyed both Death Note and Gundam 00), then stop reading this and go watch this series right now--nowhere else will you find entries more dynamic, scripts more powerful, and plot twists less expected. If not? Well, maybe this show isn't for you, but it's worth giving a chance anyway. Code Geass is my personal favorite series of all time, with--in my opinion--the most powerful ending of all time, and while that's not until the second season, the first still ends on a pretty damn powerful note... albeit a cliffhanger. For that reason, I'd suggest waiting to start the series until you have both seasons available to you so you can go the whole distance. Once you do, though, you (hopefully) won't regret it.