Code Geass Special
The first "real" anime i've watched. And by "real" i mean that it is not Dragonball Z or Naruto. First a small summary about the series and what it is all about.
The Empire of Britannia has invaded Japan using giant robot weapons called Knightmare Frames. Japan is now referred to as Area 11, and its people the 11's. A Britannian who was living in Japan at the time, Lelouch, vowed to his Japanese friend Suzaku that he'd destroy Britannia. Years later, Lelouch is in high school, but regularly skips out of school to go play chess and gamble on himself. One day, he stumbles on terrorists 11's who've stolen a military secret and is caught by a member of the Britannian task force sent after them, who is Suzaku. As the rest of the squad arrives, Suzaku is shot for disobeying orders, while the military secret, a young girl, gives Lelouch the power of Geass, which makes anyone obey any order. While Suzaku is secretly made the pilot of Britannia's brand new prototype Knightmare, Lancelot, Lelouch becomes the masked Zero to lead the rebellion to destroy Britannia once and for all.
Why everyone should watch it
If there is one thing that is used in Japanese animation it is the use of giant robots also called "Mecha". And yes they are also in the world of Code Geass. But they are not the main subject here. The main character is Lelouch Lamperouge, the exile prince of Britannia. This guy makes the series so unbelievable good. Lelouch is a headstrong, manipulatory tactician with the mind of a cunning genius. He is still the best written character i have seen in an anime to date even beating Steins Gate's Hououin Kyouma but we will look at him later.
Unlike a lot of other main characters in anime, Lelouch is not a hero in any sense of the word; in fact he is quite the rogue. His goals are noble, but the means to which he achieves those goals are anything but, and a lot of times he will raise a few eye brows. Lelouch is a harsh manipulator but also a loving brother, fighting for his blind sister so that she may live in a safe world. To be fair, Lelouch's arrogant actions come back to bite him in the rear several times throughout the series, so karma does play its role in the story of Code Geass. Another vastly important role that is touched upon in the story is that of the relationship between Lelouch and Suzaku. Once best friends, now bitter enemies (or rivals, depending on how one looks at it) this drama provides a lot of the tension in the series because the two now are forced to try and kill one another while trying to maintain a shred of the friendship they once shared. Now there are ofcourse alot of other fascinating characters but none of them reach the hight of LeLouch. Also the story is absolutely amazing, a real masterpiece. I don't want to spoil anything so i won't go explain it too much. The only time the story is not so great, is when the desctruction of god makes its appearance. I won't explain it further, that bacause you have to see it yourself and that no one but Stephan Hawking could tell you what they are actually on about.
Now another topic, Japanese vs English. Ofcourse you are craving to watch it but you don't know what version to watch. I can tell you they are both great. Japanese is ofcourse the purist way of watching it. But the english version is probably one of the best dubbed version of any anime ever translated. It would be a close one between the English dubbed version of Full Metal Alchamist Brotherhood and Baccano.
A small disclamer: You will get graphic violence right off the bat, and while it's not in every episode it's intense enough to make this inappropriate for kids; in addition, people are shown being massacred. There is some nudity, as well. It isn't for the faint of heart.
The Empire of Britannia has invaded Japan using giant robot weapons called Knightmare Frames. Japan is now referred to as Area 11, and its people the 11's. A Britannian who was living in Japan at the time, Lelouch, vowed to his Japanese friend Suzaku that he'd destroy Britannia. Years later, Lelouch is in high school, but regularly skips out of school to go play chess and gamble on himself. One day, he stumbles on terrorists 11's who've stolen a military secret and is caught by a member of the Britannian task force sent after them, who is Suzaku. As the rest of the squad arrives, Suzaku is shot for disobeying orders, while the military secret, a young girl, gives Lelouch the power of Geass, which makes anyone obey any order. While Suzaku is secretly made the pilot of Britannia's brand new prototype Knightmare, Lancelot, Lelouch becomes the masked Zero to lead the rebellion to destroy Britannia once and for all.
Why everyone should watch it
If there is one thing that is used in Japanese animation it is the use of giant robots also called "Mecha". And yes they are also in the world of Code Geass. But they are not the main subject here. The main character is Lelouch Lamperouge, the exile prince of Britannia. This guy makes the series so unbelievable good. Lelouch is a headstrong, manipulatory tactician with the mind of a cunning genius. He is still the best written character i have seen in an anime to date even beating Steins Gate's Hououin Kyouma but we will look at him later.
Unlike a lot of other main characters in anime, Lelouch is not a hero in any sense of the word; in fact he is quite the rogue. His goals are noble, but the means to which he achieves those goals are anything but, and a lot of times he will raise a few eye brows. Lelouch is a harsh manipulator but also a loving brother, fighting for his blind sister so that she may live in a safe world. To be fair, Lelouch's arrogant actions come back to bite him in the rear several times throughout the series, so karma does play its role in the story of Code Geass. Another vastly important role that is touched upon in the story is that of the relationship between Lelouch and Suzaku. Once best friends, now bitter enemies (or rivals, depending on how one looks at it) this drama provides a lot of the tension in the series because the two now are forced to try and kill one another while trying to maintain a shred of the friendship they once shared. Now there are ofcourse alot of other fascinating characters but none of them reach the hight of LeLouch. Also the story is absolutely amazing, a real masterpiece. I don't want to spoil anything so i won't go explain it too much. The only time the story is not so great, is when the desctruction of god makes its appearance. I won't explain it further, that bacause you have to see it yourself and that no one but Stephan Hawking could tell you what they are actually on about.
Now another topic, Japanese vs English. Ofcourse you are craving to watch it but you don't know what version to watch. I can tell you they are both great. Japanese is ofcourse the purist way of watching it. But the english version is probably one of the best dubbed version of any anime ever translated. It would be a close one between the English dubbed version of Full Metal Alchamist Brotherhood and Baccano.
A small disclamer: You will get graphic violence right off the bat, and while it's not in every episode it's intense enough to make this inappropriate for kids; in addition, people are shown being massacred. There is some nudity, as well. It isn't for the faint of heart.
© Sem van Kerkhoven - Works best on Chrome