Jan 11, 2013
I started watching Code Geass because I had heard it was similar to Death Note. A common comparison, but not wholly accurate. Where Death Note entertained me, Code Geass blew me away. Code Geass is not perfect. The fanservice is annoying. The plot can be rushed. It can border on ridiculous. But those flaws pale in comparison to the quality of storytelling and the extraordinary character development which beat Fullmetal Alchemist for the title of my favorite anime.
Code Geass is about rebellion. It's about war, hatred, oppression, love, friendship, and choice. It's about discerning what is right and what is wrong; it's about loss and
...
how far people will go to recover what they love. Code Geass is about seeing a broken world through the eyes of all types of people, about never knowing who is right, about empathizing with each character. It is entertaining, yes, but it is also thought-provoking. And that is what makes it my favorite anime. On to the specifics:
Story 9/10
Not the most original premise, but not horribly cliched either. An exiled prince of the Brittanian Empire attempts to liberate Japan to create a peaceful world for his sister. There are so many twists and turns on this journey that, upon rewatching the show, I was sometimes surprised a second time. The plot twists and cliffhangers can border on ridiculous at times, but the exaggerated plot, for me, is saved by the incredible intentionality of the story and the level of foreshadowing early in the show which makes the twists more believable and creates a wonderful build-up to the end of the first season. Rewatching the show, I was catching bits of foreshadowing for events that don't happen until the second season. The plot requires some suspension of disbelief, but, if you're able to do that, it's one amazing ride.
Art 10/10
I'm not terribly picky about art. While it wasn't as gorgeous as Angel Beats! or Legend of the Legendary Heroes, there were some spectacular shots, and the art was sufficient to tell the story well. Nothing to gawk at, but it isn't distracting once you get used to it. Even more than the art itself, I appreciated the way it was directed. The snapshots of the large cast, the way it could tell a story without words, in just a few seconds.
Sound 10/10
I love the music to Code Geass. The music blended in most of the time, but, when it needed to shine and take over the mood, boy, it did. The use of "Stories" especially impressed me.
Character 10/10
The characters are what really made Code Geass for me. Having a good plot is important, but, without good characters, the ship will go down. Code Geass has an incredibly large cast, and I am thrilled to say that by the end of its two seasons, I knew every single one of their names. No, not every character is explored to his or her full potential, but very few characters are flat, and I was attached to almost all of them by the end. Lelouch and Suzaku are incredible foils for each other, and I love them as main characters. CC and Euphemia at first seem one-dimensional, but they grow deep and interesting over time. Characters I hated at the beginning of the show, I had grown to love by the end. Almost every character has a story, a reason for doing what they do. The characters are what made this show shine.
Overall 10/10
Code Geass is not for everyone. It requires some suspension of disbelief. It certainly has its flaws. But, all in all, it is absolutely brilliant. The characters are engaging. The plot is interesting. The art and music are lovely. It is a story that still sticks with me, and I enjoyed it even more the second time through. Definitely the highlight of all the anime I have watched to date. Highly recommended.
Reviewer’s Rating: 10
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