Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion (Japanese: コードギアス 反逆のルルーシュ, Hepburn: Kōdo Giasu: Hangyaku no Rurūshu), often referred to simply as Code Geass, is a Japanese anime television series produced by Sunrise. It was directed by Gorō Taniguchi and written by Ichirō Ōkouchi, with original character designs by Clamp. Set in an alternate timeline, it follows the exiled prince Lelouch Lamperouge, who obtains the "power of absolute obedience" from a mysterious woman named C.C. Using this supernatural power, known as Geass, he leads a rebellion against the rule of the Holy Britannian Empire, commanding a series of mecha battles.
Code Geass was broadcast in Japan on MBS from October 2006 to July 2007. Its sequel series, Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion R2, ran as a simulcast on MBS and TBS from April to September 2008. The series has also been adapted into various manga and light novels, with the former showing alternate scenarios from the TV series.
Initiation, Transgression, and Glorification, a three-part compilation film recapping the events of both anime series' seasons while also altering storylines for various characters and establishing an alternate universe,[5] was released between 2017 and 2018. A new original film titled Code Geass Lelouch of the Re;surrection, taking place after the Zero Requiem of the film trilogy's alternate universe, was released in theaters in February 2019. Code Geass: Rozé of the Recapture, an anime film series set in the same alternate universe, was announced in December 2020 as part of a 10-year plan. On 7 December 2024, after the screening of Code Geass: Rozé of the Recapture, series producer Taniguchi revealed that multiple sequel is being produced.[6]
Bandai Entertainment licensed most parts of the franchise for English release in December 2007, airing the series English-dubbed on Adult Swim in the United States. Most manga and light novels have also been published in North America by Bandai.
Code Geass has been well received in Japan, selling over a million DVD and Blu-ray discs. Both seasons have won several awards at the Tokyo International Anime Fair, the Animage Anime Grand Prix, and the Animation Kobe event. It received critical acclaim for its story, voice acting, large audience appeal, the conflicts among its main characters, and the moral questions it presented.
In an alternative timeline, the world is divided into three superpowers (similar to the world of Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell): the Holy Britannian Empire (the Americas; also called Britannia), the Chinese Federation (Asia), and the Europa United (Europe and Africa). The story takes place after the Holy Britannian Empire's conquest of Japan on August 10, 2010, a.t.b., by means of Britannia's newest weapon, the "Autonomous Armored Knight," or "Knightmare Frame." In turn, Britannia effectively strips Japan and its citizens of all rights and freedoms and renames the country Area 11, with its citizens referred to as Elevens.
The point of divergence for this timeline appears to be that during the reign of Elizabeth I, though the queen remained unmarried, she bore a son (the fictional ancestor of the Britannian Emperors, Henry IX). However, several alternative timelines exist in the Code Geass universe, and the point of divergence may differ between each. The most common point of divergence in all timelines is that in the Code Geass universe, Julius Caesar's invasions of Britain between 55 and 54 BC ended in failure when the British Celts united under Alwin the First. They forced the Romans out and established the First United British Kingdom in 54 BC, which became the first year of the Britannian Calendar (1 a.t.b, first year of Ascension Throne Britannia, with 55 BC as 1 b.t.b., first year Before Throne Britannia). While other Roman invasions follow, by 43 a.t.b.(12 BC) Britannia was recognized as an independent kingdom by the Roman Empire. As such, while many events in the Code Geass universe share similar dates with actual history, in truth they take place about half a century earlier (as with the French Revolution of 1789 a.t.b., or 1734 AD). Almost all timelines share a version of the Geass Order/Cult/Directorate, an organization that controls and uses Geass users and abilities and which is heavily involved with the Britannian Imperial Family.
Plot
Lelouch vi Britannia is an exiled Britannian prince, the son of Emperor Charles zi Britannia and his royal consort Marianne vi Britannia. Lelouch has a sister, Nunnally Vi Britannia. Marianne was brutally murdered in the palace, and Nunnally, who witnessed the murder of their mother, was so traumatized that she lost both her sight and ability to walk. Lelouch is furious with his father, believing he failed his mother and sister by turning a blind eye to their mother's death and failing to pursue their mother's killer.
Lelouch and Nunnally are sent as political pawns to Japan to lull the Japanese government into a false sense of security. After the siblings are sent to Japan, Japan is attacked and defeated by Britannia. With the ruins of Japan as a background, Lelouch vows to his Japanese friend Suzaku Kururugi that he will one day obliterate Britannia as an act of vengeance against his father.
Seven years later, Lelouch (now going by the name Lelouch Lamperouge) is now a popular yet withdrawn student at Ashford Academy. Lelouch becomes involved in a terrorist attack and finds a mysterious girl called C.C. (C2), who saves Lelouch's life from the Britannian Royal Guard by making a contract with him and granting Lelouch a power known as Geass (ギアス, Giasu). This power, also known as the "Power of Kings" (王の力, Ō no Chikara), allows him to command anyone to do whatever he wants, including bending their will to live, fight, or die on his behalf. This power can affect an individual just once and only through direct eye contact. Lelouch decides to use his Geass to find his mother's murderers, destroy the Britannian Empire, and create a better world where Nunnally can live happily. In the process, Lelouch becomes Zero, a masked vigilante and the leader of the resistance movement known as The Black Knights, gaining popularity and support among the Japanese on his way towards the rebellion of Britannia. However, this does not come without a cost. Caught up in a conflict where he does not know the full extent of his powers, Lelouch will have to battle Suzaku, a resistance member named Kallen Stadtfeld, the strongest army in the world, his own half-siblings, and many others in a battle that will forever change the world.
Production
Code Geass began as a concept developed at Sunrise by Ichirō Ōkouchi and Gorō Taniguchi, who proposed it to producer Yoshitaka Kawaguchi. Kawaguchi had previously approached Okouchi and Taniguchi during the production of Planetes.[7] The basic idea for the plot consisted of a "hero" who led a secret organization, which later developed into a conflict between two characters with different values and who belonged to the same military unit, who eventually became Lelouch Lamperouge and Suzaku Kururugi.[7]
During these initial planning stages, Kawaguchi also contacted the noted manga artist group Clamp.[7] This was the first time Clamp had ever been requested to design the characters of an anime series.[8] Clamp signed onto the project early during these development stages and provided numerous ideas, which helped develop the series' setting and characters.[8]
While developing the character designs for Lelouch, the protagonist of the series, Clamp originally conceived of his hair color as being white.[8]Ageha Ohkawa, head writer at Clamp, said she had visualized him as a character to which "everyone" could relate as being "cool," literally, a "beauty."[8] During these planning stages, Clamp and the Sunrise staff discussed a number of possible inspirations for the characters, including KinKi Kids and Tackey & Tsubasa.[8] They had wanted to create a "hit show," a series that would appeal to "everyone."[8] Lelouch's alter ego, Zero, was one of the earliest developed characters, with Ōkouchi having wanted a mask to be included as a part of the series, feeling it was necessary for it to be a Sunrise show, and Clamp wanting a unique design never prior seen in any Sunrise series (said mask was nicknamed "tulip" for its distinctive design).[8]
The concept for the Geass may have been inspired by the Irish and Welsh legends of "Geas" or "Geis." A geas is a compulsion laid on someone to do or not do something. While the geas itself does not lie on any spectrum, the benefits or actions of it may be decidedly benevolent or malevolent. The concept fits into the wider fictional world and its lore of British inspirations.
Clamp's finalized original character design art, illustrated by its lead artist Mokona, was subsequently converted into animation character designs for the series by Sunrise's character designer Takahiro Kimura, who had previously spent "every day" analyzing Clamp's art and style from their artbooks and manga series.[8] In working on the animation character designs, he focused on designing them so as to enable the series' other animators to apply them without deviating from Clamp's original art style.[8]
The music for the series was composed by Kōtarō Nakagawa and Hitomi Kuroishi, who had earlier worked with the series' core staff in Planetes and Taniguchi's earlier work, Gun X Sword. In addition to the incidental music featured in each episode, Kuroishi also composed numerous insert songs for the series, including "Stories," "Masquerade," "Alone," and "Innocent Days," which were each performed by Kuroishi herself, while "Picaresque" and "Callin'" were performed by the singer-songwriter Mikio Sakai, who had also earlier worked with Nakagawa and Kuroishi in Planetes. The bands FLOW, Ali Project, Jinn, SunSet Swish, Access, and Orange Range have provided songs for the opening and ending themes in the original broadcast.[9][10]
When the series was being developed for broadcast on MBS TV, it had been given the network's Saturday evening prime time slot, which was later changed to a Thursday late-night time slot. Due to this change, the overall outlook and some elements of the series were changed and further developed to suit the more mature, late-night audience.[7] The supernatural "Geass" ability finally came into the show at this point and was first conceived as a special power granted by an "angel" to the main characters, though this last part was also modified.[7]
Code Geass officially premiered on the Mainichi Broadcasting System (MBS) television station on October 5, 2006 (01:25 JST on October 6, 2006). Its satellite television premiere across Japan on Animax was on November 7, 2006.[11][12] Upon the airing of the first 23 episodes, the series went on hiatus on March 29, 2007,[11][13] and completed the broadcast of the first series with a contiguous one-hour broadcast of episodes 24 and 25 on Saturday, July 28, 2007.[14]
The immense popularity of Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion followed with the development of its sequel, Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion R2 (コードギアス 反逆のルルーシュR2, Kōdo Giasu Hangyaku no Rurūshu Āru Tsū), which was first announced on the March 2007 issue of Newtype and later confirmed by Sunrise producer Yoshitaka Kawaguchi on the series' official staff blog on March 9, 2007.[15][16]
Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion R2 premiered on all Japan News Network (JNN) member stations (like MBS and TBS) on April 6, 2008, in the primetime anime timeslot, with the timeslot changing from 18:00 JST on Saturdays to 17:00 JST on Sundays.[17][18] Prior to the series' television broadcast, three private preview screenings of episode 1 were held on March 15 and March 16 in Osaka and Tokyo respectively, which was attended by the series' Japanese voice actors as well as a pool of 3800 randomly selected applicants. On April 15, 2008, at 17:00 JST, the last 6 minutes of the then unaired third episode was accidentally posted onto the Internet due to an error by Bandai Channel, Bandai's online broadcast channel and the series online distributor, in the midst of testing a system preventing illegal online uploads.[19]
The Code Geass: The Miraculous Birthday (コードギアス 反逆のルルーシュ キセキの誕生日, Kōdo Giasu: Kiseki no Tanjōbi) picture drama was based on a live event held in Tokyo, Japan, on Lelouch's birthday.[citation needed]
Another OVA anime titled Code Geass: Nunnally in Wonderland (コードギアス 反逆のルルーシュ： ナナリーinワンダーランド, Kōdo Giasu Hangyaku no Rurūshu: Nanarī in wandārando) was announced and revealed through the anime's official website. Takahiro Kimura did the character designs for the series. Makoto Baba was assigned as the director of the OVA, while episode scriptwriter Yuuichi Nomura and music composer Kotaro Nakagawa returned for the said project. In the story, Lelouch makes the ultimate use of his Geass for his little sister Nunnally, who loves Alice in Wonderland.[20] The Blu-ray was released by Bandai Visual on July 27, 2012, with English subtitles and bundled with a 40-page picture book.[21]
A new Code Geass series was first revealed on December 5, 2009.[22] In April 2010, it was officially revealed that a new Code Geass side story anime called Code Geass: Akito the Exiled (コードギアス 亡国のアキト, Kōdo Giasu: Bōkoku no Akito) would be directed by Kazuki Akane (The Vision of Escaflowne). The side story is an OVA series set in Europe during the Britannian invasion of the continent between Lelouch of the Rebellion's two seasons.[23] Originally intended to be released in four chapters, production of a fifth Akito the Exiled episode was announced after the Japanese debut of the third entry on May 2, 2015.[24] Along with the two seasons of the television series, the OVAs are licensed by Funimation. In January 2016, Manga Entertainment, which licensed the series in the UK, listed that they would release the first two episodes on Blu-ray with an English dub on December 5, 2016. They later changed the date to April 10, 2017, and as of most recently, the release is now scheduled to be on October 1, 2017.[25]Madman Entertainment has also released the first three episodes on DVD. Funimation announced it would release the series in early 2017. On March 15, 2017, Funimation officially announced the pre-order and release date, June 27, 2017. The release will be a Blu-ray and DVD combo pack with both subbed and dubbed audio.[26] The picture drama has been released in only Japan and Italy.
A three-part theatrical compilation anime film of the TV anime was released, with the first film titled Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion I - Initiation (コードギアス 反逆のルルーシュ 興道, Code Geass - Hangyaku no Lelouch - Kōdō, "Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion: The Awakening Path") released on October 21, 2017.[27] The second film titled Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion II - Transgression (コードギアス 反逆のルルーシュ 叛道, Code Geass - Hangyaku no Lelouch - Handō, "Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion: The Rebellion Path") was released on February 10, 2018. The film placed 8th in the mini-theater ranking on its opening weekend. The third compilation film, titled Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion III - Glorification (コードギアス 反逆のルルーシュ 皇道, Code Geass - Hangyaku no Lelouch - Ōdō, "Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion: The Imperial Path"), was released in theaters on May 26, 2018.[28] Each film has several changes to the storyline, as Taniguchi stated, to give it more of a "what if" scenario leading to the new film.[29][30]
Code Geass: Lelouch of the Re;surrection (コードギアス 復活のルルーシュ, Kōdo Giasu: Fukkatsu no Rurūshu) movie was announced on November 27, 2016.[31][32][33][34] It was released in theaters in Japan on February 9, 2019.[35][36][37] It takes place in the alternate continuity established in the recap films and is a sequel to the "Zero Requiem" arc of that continuity.[38]
A new anime titled Code Geass: Z of the Recapture was announced on December 5, 2020, Lelouch's birthday.[39] The new anime project is part of a new 10-year plan for the franchise by Studio Sunrise, with Yoshimitsu Ohashi is directing the anime, Noboru Kimura writing the scripts, and Takahiro Kimura returning to design the characters.[40] It was later announced to be a four-part film series titled Code Geass: Rozé of the Recapture,[41] with the first part releasing in Japanese theatres on May 10, 2024, the second releasing on June 7, the third releasing on July 5, and the fourth releasing on August 2. The film series was also streamed worldwide on Disney+ streaming service's Hulu and Star content hub in a 12-episode series format.[42] In celebration of the new anime, the Code Geass Lelouch of the Re;surrection movie was re-released in 4D in Japanese theaters on January 29, 2021.
International licensing
Both seasons of Code Geass have been licensed for release in the United States by Bandai Entertainment,[43] and the first season began airing on Cartoon Network's Adult Swim programming block in the U.S. on April 27, 2008; the second began airing on November 2, immediately following the first season.[44] The series finale premiered on June 7, 2009, ending the second season and the rest of the story. On April 23, 2010, Adult Swim's broadcast rights to the series expired.[citation needed]
Following the closure of Bandai Entertainment in 2012, Sunrise announced at their official panel during Otakon 2013 that Funimation has rescued both seasons of Code Geass and, in addition, licensed Akito the Exiled, along with a handful of other former Bandai Entertainment titles.[45]
In Australia and New Zealand, the series is sub-licensed to Madman Entertainment by Bandai Entertainment USA[46] and began airing on Australian channel ABC2 on January 19, 2009. As of 2018, it is available on Australian Netflix.
In the Philippines, the first season of Code Geass premiered on November 10, 2008, weekday nights at 7:30 p.m. PST, and ended on December 15, 2008, through TV5, while season 2 premiered on May 4, 2009, and ended on June 5, 2009, weekday nights at 6:00 p.m. PST, with a weekend afternoon recap of the week's episodes also on TV5. Despite the poor ratings it attained due to competition with local TV newscasts and prime-time soaps, the series was able to gain a huge following and became one of the most talked-about anime series in the country during its run. Code Geass had its Philippine cable premiere on July 27, 2010 through Hero TV.
In Italy, the first season aired from September 23, 2009, to February 25, 2010 on Rai 4, while season 2 was broadcast on Rai 4 from March 4, 2010 to August 12, 2010; both seasons were broadcast at about 11:10 p.m..
Sunrise announced at its Anime Boston panel on Friday that Funimation had licensed the remake film trilogy.[47]
Funimation announced that they had licensed the Code Geass Lelouch of the Re;surrection film for its North American theatrical release in May 2019.[48]
Kadokawa Shoten has published four separate manga adaptations, each containing an alternate storyline.[49] The first four manga series have been licensed for an English-language release in North America by Bandai Entertainment.[50] The first, Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion, by Majiko~! and originally serialized in Monthly Asuka, focused on the protagonist of the series, Lelouch Lamperouge, with few differences from the anime's basic storyline. The most noticeable difference from the anime version is the absence of the Knightmare frames. Its chapters were collected in eight tankōbon volumes released from December 26, 2008, to March 26, 2010.[51][52] Bandai's English adaptation of the series was published from July 29, 2008,[53] to February 15, 2011.[54] A following of the manga named Code Geass: Leolouch of the Rebellion Re was released between 2018 and 2022, showing Lelouch and other characters point of view during and as prequel of the Zero Requiem Arc, thus the manga bore a complete different style and a plot more in line with Season 2 of the anime, with the inclusion of the Knightmare frames in the storylines. Considered as the "definitive" version of the Code Geass manga, the manga has also a sequel manga named Code Geass: Lelouch of the Re;surrection, published in 2020, which while similar to the same named movie, it actually takes place in anime universe, especially with Jeremiah who recover Lelouch's body after the Zero Requiem, instead of Shirley(who in the movie universe, she is still alive). Thus, some fans had armonized both version of the manga stating that in Code Geass:LoR manga universe, the main difference was that the Knighmare frames, where deploy for the first time during the Black Rebellion of 2017 a.t.b., instead during the Second Pacific War of 2010 a.t.b., but most likely it was only the result of different artist/plotline/design used between the manga.
The second manga is Code Geass: Suzaku of the Counterattack (コードギアス 反攻のスザク, Kōdo Giasu: Hankō no Suzaku). It was written by Atsuro Yomino and serialized in Beans A magazine. It focuses on the character Suzaku Kururugi in an alternate reality, where he fights against the criminal organization known as the Black Knights. While initially bearing a strong resemblance to its source, the manga is a tokusatsu show where the Lancelot mecha is now a bodysuit that Suzaku wears (the suit makes a cameo appearance as a costume in the 21st episode of the first season of the anime); further, the characters of Cecile Croomy and Euphemia li Britannia are composited as Mariel Lubie. It was released in two volumes on June 26, 2007 and September 26, 2008.[55][56] The first English volume was released on January 6, 2009,[57] and the second followed it on October 13, 2009.[58] Different from the anime version, in this reality (apart from the lack of the Knightmare frames), the story ends with Charles Vi Britannia killed by Schneizel el Britannia, who places the blame on Zero, who is taken prisoner by Suzaku. However, Suzaku later freed Zero and help the Black Knights in their plans to invade Britannian HQ, when he found out that Schneizel had orchestrated the all ordeal to capture C.C. and obtain her immortality using Lyond technical assistance. In the final fight, while Lelouch is seriously injured(losing his left eye), Suzaku managed to kill Schneizel by absorbing C.C. liminal powers, thus becoming immortal and granting C.C. wish to dying. In 2022 a.t.b., 5 years after Japan independence, Suzaku show up at Tokyo at the doorstep of Lelouch and Nunnaly's house. There were plan to continue the main plot of this alternative reality, with Suzaku travelling to Pendragon, Britannian capital, by 2018 a.t.b. to recruit Euphemia(and granting her the Geass) in order to destroy V.V. and the Geass Order, which in this timeline is using the economic fallout of Britannian loss of Japan and newly-crowned Emperor Odysseus Vi Britannia weak government to cause confusion and chaos in Britannian areas in order to create a succession family crisis, that would allow them to put a more desirable candidate to the Britannian throne, allowing them to achieve the Ragnarok Circuit. As such, V.V. would have used the recent reappearance of the twin imperial brothers, Pollux and Castor Vi Britannia, to wage a blood feud between the imperial family. While in the ensuing two years, the struggle took his tool, with local conflict showing up in all the Britannian Empire and several Imperial Family member killed or injured(including Cornelia, who lost a leg at the start of the arc and is the main motivation for Euphemia involvement in the family fight), eventually, despite a bloody coup d'état done by the two brothers on Pendragon with the Puritans support, both the Geass Order and V.V. are destroyed, while Castor and Pollux attempt a desperate assault on Tokyo to regain resources and allies using a mass-produced version of the Lancelot bodysuit, but the sudden reappearance of Zero in the Japanese ranks and the cleary inexperience in using the new gears, resulted in the brothers defeats and demise. By 2020 a.t.b., Euphemia succeeded as 100th Empress of the Britannian Empire and started a policy of extending citizenship, with the related political and civil rights, to all subjects of the Empire(thus by now, limited to only the Americas and a few areas overseas). In part, this arc was used in the Nintendo DS game of Code Geass.
Code Geass: Nightmare of Nunnally (コードギアス ナイトメア・オブ・ナナリー, Kōdo Giasu Naitomea Obu Nanarī), serialized in Comp Ace and written by Tomomasa Takuma, focuses on Lelouch's sister, Nunnally Lamperouge, who goes into searching for her missing brother when her health is restored by an entity named Nemo.[49] It was published in five volumes from June 26, 2007[59] to April 25, 2009.[60] The English volumes were published from June 9, 2009,[61] to March 23, 2010.[62] The Nightmare of Nunnaly timelines is one of the most divergent among the various version of Code Geass, in particular the geass power in this version, do not allow the user only to have psychical abilities, but are able to grant physic abilities(like invulnerability, alchemy, rapid speed, super-strength and so on), more akin to "superpowers", also the Geass Order in this version is known as the Church of Eden Vital also known as the Eden Vital Religious Order, which is the de-facto national religion of the Holy Britannia Empire, with the Emperor serving as nominal Pope of the Church, but as the other version, the Church ultimate goal is to unleash Heaven's Door(the Ragnarok Connection in the anime) and turn humanity in one only being. While events due show up differently from the anime, the main plot divergence is when Charles Vi Britannia unleashed a personal coup d'état to reform the Holy Britannian Empire in the "Holy Nation of Eden Vital", a theocratical nation with the viceroy replaced by the cardinals of the Church. However, despite arresting Schneizel, Charles failed to suppress all opposition, since the remaining Britannian forces, under Euphemia(who is proclaimed as the 99th Empress) and Cornelia managed to reach an agreement with the Japanese resistance and the Black Knight to united forces in exchange to Euphenia granting freedom to Japan, which Euphemia extended in renouncing to the policy of "Pax Britannia" and promising equal deals to the other Areas of the Britannian Empire if they do not collaborate with the forces of the Holy Nation. In the subsequent Battle of Kamine Island, Charles is defeated when Nunnaly refused to open the Heaven's Door and disappear inside C.C. world, all the forces of the Holy Nation then surrender but, following the battle Lelouch grant C.C. request of dying, absorbing her powers inside him. In the end, the Holy Britannian Empire is reestablished and Euphemia took actions to uphold the areas freedoms, but all the rage of the world(without the Zero Requiem arc taking place in this timeline) is still direct towards Britannia and subsequently local infighting happen between Britannian and former "Numbers", Suzaku decided to continue to serve as Euphemia personal knight, while Nunnanly become the first new Britannian Ambassador to Japan, meanwhile Lelouch after saying his last goodbye to Nunnanly, Suzaku and Euphemia took the mantle of the "Demon King" (as the Church called C.C.) and stated, despite apologizing, that his purpose is to spread chaos through the world(thus if it is to achieve a similar purpose of the Zero Requiem Arc or is simply for the sake of it, it is not known to the reader).
A fourth manga adaptation, Code Geass: Tales of an Alternate Shogunate (幕末異聞録 コードギアス 反逆のルルーシュ, Bakumatsu Ibun Roku Kōdo Giasu Hangyaku no Rurūshu), was serialized in Kerokero Ace.[63] Set in an alternate 1853, Lelouch is the commander of the Shogunate's military counterinsurgence brigade known as the Shinsengumi, which fights the Black Revolutionaries, a rebel group led by a masked individual known as Rei. It was released in a single volume on October 25, 2010,[64] while the English version was published on May 10, 2011.[65] Another one of the most divergent, with the main events that different in this reality take place in 1867 a.t.b. instead of 2017 a.t.b., since in this timeline in 1853 a.t.b., Commodore Perry of the Britannian Empire forced Japan to "open the border"(as it was in the anime universe timeline), but in this universe, Perry had obtained the Geass power and was able to turn Japan in to a de-facto protectorate of the Britannian Empire, the first step before turning it into a full Britannia Areas with him as Viceroy. However, as it turn out Perry did not only went to Japan for economic gains, but because he also found out about the Hidden Shrine(The "Though Elevator" in the anime) in Japan for the Geass Cult. As result of the discovery and the abundant access to the Japanese Sakuradite, in this reality, Knightmare frame were already available by 1863 a.t.b.(Note: The Though Elevator are also container of ancient advanced technologies and schematics, thus the feasibility of creating such advanced weapons in the time period, is seen ironically in the manga as well), greatly increasing Britannia power and influence, but Perry had the secret plans to use the new discoveries to increase his personal power and took over the ruling Britannian dynasty. While these event are taking place, the struggle between the Black Revolutionaries and the Shonugates forces increase, especially when the Black Revolutionaire assault in mass the main Britannian Sakuradite mines on Mount Fuji in order to increase their numbers of Knightmare, however they are stopped by Suzaku, who aboard the Lancelot(also a Knightmare frames in this reality, though it was granted to him by TaS universe version of Euphemia), reveal that he know that Rei is in fact Lelouch, but also reveal that he know of Perry duplicity against the Britannian throne and the Shonugate. Discovered, Perry activated a newly-created anti-gravity engine of his hidden ship, revealing to be in fact the prototype for a colossal dreadnought-frame, however in the subsequent battle, Perry's ship fall from the sky and he is captured by Suzaku, who is able to reflected back Perry's Geass against him. As result, the Britannian Empire decide to refrain to directly intervene in the Shonugate affair, since the power of the Knightframe is too great to be left its production unchecked, instead opting to a favourable economic treaty and a defense pact against other nations involvement with Japan, while Lelouch and C.C. decide to emigrate, both to avoid the Britannian authorities, as well believing that with Suzaku, Japan will be protected by further interferences. While, this manga was clearly done with an ironic approach, there was also a plan to develop the manga further, showing as a sort of "plot-twist" that as result of the divergence with the original timeline of the anime, in 2017 a.t.b. the Empire of Japan is the new superpower of this reality having completed the conquest the entire America continent in the Third Pacific War of 2010-2013 a.t.b., while Japan already dominated the Asian and Oceania continents. By the start of the planned arc, the only remaining power in defiance of Japan are the Vienna Concordate (a loose alliance made between Europia and Euro-Britannia following the Japanese victory during the Second Pacific War of 1941-1944 a.t.b.) and the remaining Britannian forces which are confined in the southern part of the Africa continent, with Elizabeth City (Port Elizabeth in OTL) serving as de-facto capital empire of the Holy Britannian Empire under Empress Marianne, meanwhile a girl named Lucia (de-facto Lelouch female descendant/version in 2017 TaS timeline) hide in the ruins of Pendragon from Japanese Imperial forces led by Suzaku. But this plotline was obviously dropped soon after, possibly to avoid controversies with OTL events.
In late 2009, Bandai announced a new project greenlit for 2010. A manga, titled Code Geass: Renya of Darkness (コードギアス 漆黒の連夜, Kōdo Giasu: Shikkoku no Renya), was the first product announced. The story takes place in the same official Code Geass history as the anime, but in a different era, with the anime director Goro Taniguchi scripting the story. The title character, Renya, is a 17-year-old boy who encounters a mysterious, perpetually young witch named "Reifū C.C." who has appeared in Japan's historical Edo era to seek a new partner for a covenant.[66] It began publication in the May 2010 issue of Shōnen Ace. Bandai Entertainment announced that it will publish the manga in English, as with the other adaptations.[67] On January 2, 2012, as a part of Bandai Entertainment's announced restructuring, they have since, among other titles, revoked publishing of Code Geass: Renya of Darkness for English release.[68] Regardless, the main plot of the manga rotate alongside a serious succession crisis that happen on the Britannian throne around 1855-1860 a.t.b., when the previous Emperor died and his immediate successor is killed, leading to the crisis between the Legimate faction (who want to put on the throne the direct successor, which however is an infant) and the Purist (who want to put the eldest prince of the late Emperor), who have both different candidate but de-facto is mostly a political fight between the House of El and the House of Soresi. The struggle is worsen due to the infighting between the Geass Order, which by now is mostly guided by an individual named Dash (which is surprising similar to Lelouch, thus most likely he is a distant relatives from Lelouch's mother side of the family tree), who while not completely immortal, has managed to modify some part of the Geass code to create "Knightmare", which however in this time period are individual literally "cursed" by the Geass, who are able to manifest physic abilities(as it was in Code Geass: NoN universe, where said individual are called "Irregulars"), thus with the price of their eventual demise due to overuse of their abilities. The Britannian succession crisis is then moved to Japan, when it is reveal that Claire Li Britannia, a distant relative of the Emperor, has been sent by her parents to avoid the family meddling, where she become a close friend of Renya. By the manga ends, eventually Claire is put on throne as the 88th Empress of Britannia with the help of Renya, C.C. and House Weinberg, while Dash is eventually killed in a fire and C.C. take control of the Geass Directorate to avoid further infighting within the organization. Interesting, it is reveal in the manga one of the controversy regarding the exact location of Pendragon, Britannian Capital. While in most work, Pendragon is shown on the West Coast of the Continental US (more precisely, in the location of OTL city of Yuma, Arizona), in several other works of the franchise the city was shown in the Eastern Coast; the reason for such misunderstanding raise with the fact that originally, Pendragon was supposed to be built on the city of Nashua, New Hampshire, where the Though Elevator in North America is situated, but the succession crisis of the time, caused a swift of programs by the Directorate, which unsure if it could hide the existence of the Elevator in the ongoing crisis, influenced the Britannian temporary leader to change the location of the planned capital to the West Coast, where by 1860 a.t.b., Pendragon was completed.
The spinoff Code Geass: Oz the Reflection (コードギアス 双貌のオズ, Code Geass: Soubou no Oz) takes place between the first and second seasons of the anime television and is told from two perspectives. The photo story in Hobby Japan centers around Orpheus Zevon, a young terrorist with the Knightmare Frame Byakuen, who is in pursuit of his lover's killer. The manga in Newtype Ace revolves around Oldrin Zevon, a girl in the Britannia Empire's anti-terrorist unit, the Glinda Knights, who pilots the Knightmare Frame Lancelot Grail. The stories of Oz the Reflection and Akito the Exiled take place at the same time, in between seasons 1 and 2 of the TV series.
Audio CDs
The series has been adapted into a series of drama CDs called Sound Episodes, the first of which was released in Japan in April 2007 by Victor Entertainment, with new volumes released monthly. Written by many of the same writers as the series, these episodes are set between episodes and feature theme songs performed by the series' voice actors. They have also been available online on a limited streaming basis on the Japanese internet website Biglobe.[citation needed]
In total, twelve drama CDs have been released. The first six, released between April 25, 2007 and September 27, 2007, cover the first season of the series, with the other six focusing on the second season.
Soundtrack
The music for the series, which is composed by Kōtarō Nakagawa and Hitomi Kuroishi, has been released across two original soundtracks, which are produced by Yoshimoto Ishikawa and released by Victor Entertainment. The first was released in Japan on December 20, 2006, and the second was released on March 24, 2007.[9] The covers and jackets for both soundtracks were illustrated by Takahiro Kimura.[9]
Code Geass ('Code Geass') has been additionally novelized into a series of light novels. First serialized in Kadokawa Shoten's The Sneaker magazine, they are divided into two separate series corresponding with the series' two seasons. The first series, Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion, spanned five volumes, with the first, labeled as volume 0, released in Japan on April 28, 2007, and the last on March 1, 2008.[69][70] All five volumes in the first series of novels have been released in English by Bandai Visual.[50] The first volume was released in November 2008, and the last one on February 23, 2010.[70][71] The first novel acts as a prologue, focusing on how Lelouch befriended Suzaku Kururugi when the former prince and his sister, Nunnally Lamperouge, were sent to Japan as political hostages.
The second novel series, Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion R2, covers the second season of the anime series, in which Lelouch continues his battle against the Britannian Empire. It was released in four volumes from June 1, 2008, to March 1, 2009.[72][73] A single-volume side story novel, Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion Red Tracks (コードギアス 反逆のルルーシュ 朱の軌跡, Kōdo Giasu: Hangyaku no Rurūshu Shu no Kiseki), was released on April 1, 2008, in Japan. It focuses on the life of teenager Kallen Stadtfeld, who becomes a soldier for the organization the Black Knights under Lelouch's leadership to defeat Britannia.[74] On January 3, 2012, the English publication of the light novel adaptation of R2 was cancelled as part of Bandai Entertainment's planned restructuring, which had been announced the day before.[75]
The official website for the first Nintendo DS game launched on July 16, 2007, with the game being released a few months later, on October 25.[80]
A second game, titled Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion Lost Colors, was developed for the PlayStation Portable and PlayStation 2 and released in Japan on March 27, 2008.[81] It is a visual novel game that follows a new protagonist named Rai (ライ), who suffers from amnesia. He has a Geass ability similar to Lelouch's but activated by voice.
The third game for the Nintendo DS is a collection of minigames featuring chibi forms of the characters. The player moves along a board through dice rolls, landing on different spots to activate minigames. The minigames are parody-style events with multiple genres. These include helping Jeremiah grow oranges, racing against C.C. and Shirley in swimming, and a side-scrolling beat-em-up featuring Kallen in Guren-like armor.[citation needed]
Code Geass characters have appeared as costumes in the Japanese version of the PlayStation 3 game Tales of Graces F. These characters are Zero, Suzaku, C.C., and Kallen. These costumes were never released in the US version for unknown reasons.[82] It was discontinued for download on September 27, 2019.
On December 5, 2020, a mobile game called Code Geass: Genesic Re;CODE was announced as part of the 10-year plan by Studio Sunrise. Considered a direct sequel, the smartphone game featured stories about the Code Geass characters, including several new ones.[83] It was released on October 4, 2021. The game's server terminated in April 2023.
Code Geass: Lost Stories is a mobile game developed by f4samurai and DMM Games. It is a social game for smart phones and PCs.[84] It launched in May 2022.[85][86]
Artbooks
Two artbooks featuring illustrations of the series, Code Geass Graphics Zero (ISBN4048540793) and Code Geass Graphics Ashford (ISBN4048540807), have been published in Japan.[49] Coinciding with the release of the second season of Code Geass was the publication of another artbook, Code Geass – Lelouch of the Rebellion illustrations Rebels (ISBN4048541692), which featured 134 art pieces from the first season. Another 95-page artbook titled Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion – The Complete Artbook (ISBN9784048541183) has also been published. Finally, CLAMP, the well-known manga artist team that did the designs for Code Geass, put out their own artbook, entitled Code Geass x CLAMP: Mutuality.[citation needed]
Internet radio broadcasts
"Code Geass" has also been adapted into a series of weekly internet radio broadcasts, which were streamed online on the BEAT☆Net Radio! portal, the first of which, Code Geass: The Rebellion Diary (コードギアス 反逆日記, Kōdo Giasu: Hangyaku Nikki), began streaming on October 6, 2006. It featured Sayaka Ohara (the voice actor of Milly Ashford) and Satomi Arai (the voice actor of Sayoko Shinazaki). The second, Code Geass – Mountains of the Rebellion (コードギアス 反逆の山々, Kōdo Giasu Hangyaku no Yamayama), was first streamed on December 12, 2006, and was hosted by Jun Fukuyama (the voice actor of Lelouch) and Noriaki Sugiyama (the voice actor of Rivalz). During R2, a new show named Code Geass – LuluKuru Station (コードギアス ルルクルステーション, Kōdo Giasu Rurukuru Suteishōn) was streamed, hosted by Fukuyama and Takahiro Sakurai (voice actor of Suzaku). [citation needed]
Reception
Critical response
Code Geass achieved commercial success and earned critical acclaim after its release. Anime News Network's columnist Todd Ciolek attributed the popularity of Code Geass to "the series hitting every important fan sector," including a "complex cast of characters and a fast-paced story, told with Goro Taniguchi's capable direction" for "general-interest fans" to "pretty and just-a-little-broken heroes" for "yaoi-buying female fans."[87] Carl Kimlinger also finds that the series "has the skill and energy to carry viewers over the top with it, where they can spend a pleasurable few hours reveling in its melodramatic charms."[88] He also adds that Taniguchi "executes the excesses of his series with care, skillfully intercutting events as Lelouch's plans come together (or fall apart) and using kinetic mecha combat."[89]
T.H.E.M. Anime Reviews reviewer Dallas Marshall gave the series 6 out of 7 stars, stating, "a melodramatic piece of science fiction that has more than enough going for it in terms of action and visuals but tends to go overboard with its emotionalism. If this minor flaw can be overlooked, there is an epic story to be told with a rather intriguing main character at the helm. Take away one star if that minor 'flaw' cannot be ignored."[90]
A less favorable review was given by Carlo Santos of Anime News Network, who gave it an overall "C" and wrote that the franchise "in a way, [...] reflects the malaise of a generation: the realization that old, rich, powerful people have screwed up the world and that the young are helpless to do anything about it." According to him, Lelouch's actions exemplify the wish to see problems like "economic collapse, class conflict, political instability, and radical extremism" solved by "Zero's vigilante methods," but Santos expresses doubt in such an approach and concludes that "the series is at its best when raising questions rather than offering a final solution" (the review is focused on the manga adaptation of the story, which has certain differences compared with the original anime).[91]
Home video sales
By August 2008, over 900,000 Code Geass discs had been sold in Japan.[92] Reportedly, Bandai Visual shipped over one million DVD and Blu-ray discs related to the Code Geass franchise by November 2008, placing it among the most popular contemporary anime series in both Japan and North America.[93] In 2008, the first volume of R2 was the fourth-bestselling anime DVD and Blu-ray disc in Japan, according to Amazon.com.[94]
Box office
Episodes 1, 3, and 5 of Akito the Exiled were screened theatrically in Japan between 2012 and 2016, with episode 1 grossing ¥35,112,097 ($440,054) in 2012 and episodes 3 and 5 grossing ¥216,957,460 ($1,994,224) during 2015–2016. Combined, the three episodes grossed ¥252,069,557 ($2,434,280) at the Japanese box office.[95]
During 2017–2018, Code Geass launched three theatrical recap movies in Japan (October 21, February 10, and May 26, respectively), across 79 theaters.[96][97] The first part, The Awakening Path, grossed ¥67,954,086.40 opening night, rising to number #8 on the charts.[98]The Rebellion Path grossed ¥57,241,203.20 during its opening premiere, ranking #7 on the charts.[99]The Imperial Path grossed ¥67,864,834,800 on its opening day and debuted at #8 on the charts.[100] Combined, the film trilogy grossed ¥647,802,700 in Japan.[95]
Accolades
Since its premiere, Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion has collected numerous awards and accolades. At the sixth annual Tokyo Anime Awards held at the 2007 Tokyo International Anime Fair, Code Geass won the best anime television series award.[101] The second season also got the award for "Best Screenplay" at the 2009 Tokyo Anime Fair.[102] In noted Japanese anime magazine Animage's 29th Annual Anime Grand Prix, Code Geass won the most popular series award, with Lelouch Lamperouge also being chosen as the most popular male character and "Colors" being chosen as the most popular song[citation needed]. In the 30th Annual Anime Grand Prix, Lelouch won first place again, and C.C. was voted the most popular female character.[citation needed] At the first Seiyu Awards held in 2007, Jun Fukuyama won the award for best voice actor in a leading role for his performance as Lelouch Lamperouge in the series, while Ami Koshimizu won the award for best voice actress in a supporting role for her performance as Kallen Stadtfeld.[103]
Furthermore, Code Geass won the award for Best TV Animation at the twelfth Animation Kobe event, held annually in Kobe, Hyōgo Prefecture,[104] with R2 taking the award in the following year.[105] In the 2009 Seiun Award, Code Geass R2 was a nominee in the category "Best Media Award."[106]
