Summary
WhenCode Geassfirst burst onto the anime scene in 2006, with its blend of mecha action, political intrigue, and psychological warfare, nobody expected it to achieve such critical success. The tale of Lelouch Lamperouge, an exiled prince turned masked revolutionary, somehow scratched an itch thateven series likeDeath Notecouldn’t satisfy.
Set in an alternate world where the Britannian Empire (inspired by the British Empire) dominates much of the globe, including Japan,Code Geasswove a complex narrative of rebellion, personal vendettas,and the corrupting nature of power.
The original series, which concluded in 2008, left an indelible mark on not just the anime landscape, but also its viewers. Its wild success spawned a franchise that included several sequels and movies, such asAkito the Exiled,Lelouch of the Resurrection, andRoze of the Recapture.
These follow-ups aimed to expand theCode Geassuniverse and capitalize on the fervent fanbase the original had cultivated. But despite the franchise’s enduring popularity and the excitement surrounding each new release, these sequels and films have largely failed to recapture the magic that made the originalCode Geassa modern classic.
Why Code Geass Is Considered A Mecha Masterpiece
In as few words as possible,Code Geassis a masterclass in storytelling that stays fresh on your mind long after the final credits roll. The series' brilliance is not just in its plot, but in its ability to challenge viewers' moral compasses at every turn.
The show doesn’t shy away from asking tough questions: Can evil deeds be justified if they lead to a greater good? Is rebellion merely a cycle that replaces one tyrant with another? Lelouch is meant to fit the archetype of an anti-hero, but his character is much more dimensional than that. In fact, this applies to most of the characters we see in the series. At first, they’re all very obvious representations of clichés and tropes. But with each episode, it’s hard to ignore the fact that though they represent chess pieces, they are also characters with colorful lives.
Take Lelouch and Suzaku’s dynamics, for example. On the surface, they share the same goal. But their childhood, motives and beliefs lead them to radically different paths. From Suzaku’s perspective, Lelouch is the misguided rebel, but Lelouch considers himself the real hero. It’s hard to argue with either of them, because they’re both right and wrong.
What setsCode Geassapart isits refusal to provide easy answers. Instead, it presents a morally gray landscape where characters' motivations are as complex as the political machinations they navigate. Lelouch’s actions, while often questionable, force viewers to grapple with the idea that sometimes, the ends might indeed justify the means.
How Code Geass Balances Philosophy and Entertainment
But this series isn’t just a philosophical treat – it’s a rollercoaster of emotions and high-stakes drama. It excels at crafting nail-biting scenarios where Lelouch’s strategic brilliance is put to the test. Each obstacle is high-stakes, and you see Lelouch struggle, yet watching our anti-hero’s plans unfold is a thrill unlike any other in anime.The Geass power, while formidable,is merely a tool in Lelouch’s arsenal of wit and cunning.
And then there’s the ending – widely hailed as one of the greatest in anime history (and for good reason). It’s somehow both devastating and satisfying, and it’s hard to imagine a better exit for a story so grand. Lelouch’s death was impactful, and the way he executed the whole act was perhaps the best way to conclude his character.
The Fall from Grace: How Code Geass Sequels and Movies Lost Their Way
In the years since its conclusion, the Code Geass franchise has struggled to replicate that initial magic through various revisits and expansions.
In general, the sequels and movies that followed the original series have suffered from a lack of clear creative vision, resulting in a disjointed narrative that fails to live up to the original. Instead of charting new territory, these follow-ups seem content to wade in the shallow waters of fan service, reusing familiar elements without the depth that made the original so compelling.
Character Regression, Not Progression
Perhaps the most glaring misstep in these new additions to the franchise is the mishandling of character development. The rich, complex characters that fans fell in love with have been reduced to pale imitations of their former selves. Motivations have been altered, relationships rewritten, and character arcs reset, all in the service of pandering to a broader fanbase.
This approach not only undermines the growth these characters experienced in the original series, but also robs them of the little quirks that made them so captivating in the first place.
The 2017-2018 recap film trilogy, for instance, recut and revised the original plot, but it offered little value to longtime fans only confused newcomers. Similarly,Code Geass: Lelouch of the Re;surrection (2019)continued this alternate, where the author explained that timeline but failed to capture the essence of what made the original series great. However, bringing Lelouch back, even if only done for closure, was an obvious mistake.It erased the weight of the original ending, and only made it hard to enjoy the movie or take it seriously.
At the time I wrote the last episode of TV series, Lelouch didn’t manage to say his farewell properly to Nunnally. Nunnally also didn’t manage tell Lelouch the things she wanted to tell him. They understood each other in the end, but by that time it was already too late. I thought if I got the chance to make a continuation, I wanted to settle those unsettled parts.
The Hollow Promise of Resurrection
The announcement ofCode Geass: Z of the Recapturein 2020, positioned as the start of a decade-long franchise plan, initially sparked hope among fans. However, its indefinite delay and the track record of previous entries have left many skeptical. While the promise of new animation and updated designs holds some appeal, there’s a growing concern that these projects are more focused on exploiting nostalgia than on crafting meaningful narratives.
For die-hard fans of the original series, these new additions to theCode Geassuniverse have proven to be at best inessential and at worst a betrayal of the characters and story they hold dear. While they may offer moments of fan service, they ultimately lack the soul and substance that elevated the original to its masterpiece status. As the franchise continues to expand, it seems increasingly clear that the true magic of Code Geass remains firmly rooted in its original incarnation.
