There are a few things to say about Code Geass, but really one word sums all--epic.
In a world of leading character dominated by hot blood good guys, a calculating villain (or seems to be) is refreshing. Moreover, something other than a hutch from personality or just simple mindedness has shown to prevail over incredible odds. Lelouch Vi Britannia shows that fate does not require luck, but rather meticulous planning, ironic to how the first piece of the puzzle, his encounter to the "witch" C.C. is purely accidental.
So what of this Sunrise and Clamp crossover? Why there are thousands Black Knights hailing both in the world of Zero and in reality?
Charisma.
What made Code Geass so great is a vast cast of characters, each developed to its fullest over the two seasons. The relationships between these characters, how the bonds between two change them and the world around them. The conflicts between characters, ideological or other wise. Code Geass have done a remarkable job depicting the complexity and simplicity, consistency and deviation of human mind.
Lelouch is the epitome of these coexisting contradictions and endless evolutions. He sought to create a world that will accept him and his sister. However, his goals were not simply to find a good job and make a fortune so there will be no fear of insecurity; he desired perfection. First, the wrong must be punished: he will punish the man who watched the siblings suffer, his father, the emperor of Britannia, and revenge for his mother, the former empress of Britannia. It was shocking to witness his determination of creating a world that will guard and cherish his sister. He has loved and killed; he has made friends and betrayed friends; he stained his own hands and even bended his sister's will and used his own life as the exchange for a world that he believed his sister would be happy. All these pure devotions, behind a mask, as no one in the world will know and acknowledge his devotion except his closest allies. As he took the world's all evil into him for a better world to be born from the nurturing ashes.
But this is not the only path he has to question...
Similarly, his closest ally, which was also his worst enemy, Kururugi Suzaku, as the series #2 male lead, also faces dilemma as he stands to create a better world, with the same desire as Lelouch, but only standing as his friend's foe.
There are just plethora of conflicts, contradictions, mysteries, schemes, and of course, romance that surrounds each characters, weaving each individual gem into a mosaic of tales of love and hatred, trust and betrayal, hope and despair. It is not something can be described by words alone. It is the experience of the inevitability and chances in the world and how great or insignificant human beings are compared with.
Story aside, the overall quality of this production is at the zenith, comparable (maybe just a bit of “not yet”) to the legendary Neo Genesis Evangelion (which is holding the perfect score on my anime ranking along with Rorouni Kenshin). The original music soundtracks are astonishingly great, especially the performance by HITOMI fitting into the emotional scenes. Voice actors really bring the characters to life. Even though it is a bit overly dramatic at times, but this series is one that survives and flourishes on drama. Character designs, settings, and story boards are well-thought out and nicely executed (C.C. is HAWT, woah, C.C. is REALLY HAWT). Well, beside the unavoidable graphic decline as the series became popular, the graphic quality is quite constant in season one, and well…not so much in season two (Other than C.C. is HAWTER in season two).
To conclude, I give Code Geass Season One a perfect 10.0/10.0 (Congratulations, good thing you have a cliff ending like EVA, or else I can’t rate you anymore) and R2 a 9.0/10.0 (Too much plot twisting with bad pacing in the second half, but still amazing overall). Kudos to Sunrise and Clamp. For anyone out there who has not seen this marvel yet, YOU MUST SEE THIS!! It is available for FREE on AnimeNewsNetwork, both dubbed and subbed versions.
Go and change the world (with C.C. fan-service…as you wish).
Image from Animesuki Code Geass Image Thread with rights to the respective artists.
