When it comes to anime, Code Geass stands out from the crowd. It's one of the greatest animes of all time, in addition to being one of the best shows of any genre. Before watching it, I saw that it had potential. However, I could never have predicated how great the series would be. There's so many things that make the show what it is. However, there's three particular elements that make the show the best. This article is for discussing those particular attributes. I could go into detail about the songs, music and action, but it would take hours to explain every reason why Code Geass is the best. I believe it's better to focus on the key ingredients to the show's success.
Reason 1: The Plot
Code Geass has a plot that's entirely unique. It feels like a show where the writers had a majority of the plot points thought out at the beginning. It's become common for popular shows to go on longer than expected. This often leads to having to add subplots and twists that don't make much sense. Code Geass doesn't have that problem. The show has two seasons. The reason for the small number of seasons wasn't due to a lack of popularity. It was because the show's storyline was resolved in season two. It felt like the writers made the show last as long as it needed to without overstaying it's welcome. Both seasons have twenty-five episodes. The fifty episodes of Code Geass explore one of the most exciting stories ever written.
Part of what makes Code Geass so exciting is that it has an original storyline. The show revolves around Lelouch Lamperouge, a young man who used to be a Britannian prince. After seeing how evil his father, the Emperor, truly was, Lelouch left the Britannian family and took his younger sister, Nunnally, with him. Nunnally was the only family member Lelouch could trust. Nunnally's had a rough life, but she wants to the world to be a more peaceful place. Lelouch takes it upon himself to make Nunnally's dream a reality. He meets an elusive woman, named C. C., who gives him the power of geass. Lelouch's geass gives him the ability to hypnotize people into following one of his commands. Lelouch uses his new power to rally against his evil family. Lelouch, who becomes a costumed anti-hero named Zero, assembles a team called the Black Knights. The Black Knights consist of a group of young men, as well as Kallen Stadtfeld, a classmate of Lelouch's who's secretly an expert pilot. Lelouch believes that he, C. C. and the Black Knights have what it takes to bring down the Emperor's forces. However, things aren't so simple. Lelouch's half-siblings, Princess Cornelia and Prince Schneizel, are determined to bring Zero down. Worst of all, Lelouch's childhood friend, Suzaku Kururugi, becomes his main rival on the battlefield. Like Lelouch, Suzaku wants to change Britannia. However, Suzaku has much different plans. Lelouch and Suzaku's conflicting plans lead to an intense rivalry that could jeopardize their friendship and the safety of the world.
As much as I love classic good vs. evil stories, Code Geass benefits from changing things up. Lelouch and Suzaku become rivals, but things aren't so simple. Lelouch isn't pure good, nor is Suzaku pure evil. They both have strengths and flaws. This makes their actions more interesting and suspenseful. On a similar note, C. C. and the Black Knights are fighting on the side of good, but they have their own flawed attributes. Even most members of Lelouch's corrupt family have some moral values. Yes, they're villains, but they aren't the type of villains who want to endanger the world for money. They actually believe what they're doing will help the world. It's up to Lelouch to prove them wrong.
Reason 2: The Characters
Code Geass has a ton of characters. Normally, this might be a problem. When shows have a giant cast, it's normal for interesting characters to be underdeveloped and ignored. While no show can develop every single character, Code Geass manages to give development and screentime to just about every major character.
Lelouch is one of the most complex protagonists in all of fiction. Depending on who you ask, Lelouch could be seen as a hero, a villain, an anti-hero or an unpredictable mastermind. Lelouch isn't as noble as your average protagonist, but every action he takes has a reason behind it. He's not meant to be a role-model to be imitated, but there are things to admire about him. Before Lelouch came along, the country of Japan was robbed of freedom and respect. Lelouch, who wasn't even from Japan, came around and became a symbol of hope for the country.
The rivalry between Lelouch and his friend, Suzaku, is very sophisticated. They both want to stop the corrupt nature of Britannia, but Suzaku doesn't approve of the way Lelouch does things. He has his own plans, which may seem more justifiable, but deep down, Suzaku is like Lelouch. He's a guy who wants to make the world a better place, even if it means doing some questionable things.
A lot of the heart of the show comes between the bond between Lelouch and C. C. At first, C. C. may seem rude and distant, but after learning about the tragic past she had, it becomes hard to not adore her and root for her. She and Lelouch enjoy playfully poking fun at one another. C. C. might even get on Lelouch's nerves, but deep down, Lelouch is very thankful to have her in his life. Lelouch and C. C. are both flawed people who have suffered through things that most people couldn't relate to. However, they're able to relate to one another. So many people will come and go from Lelouch's life, but C. C. is the one person who decides to always remain by Lelouch's side. Considering that she's immortal, it's the ultimate commitment.
The villains in Code Geass are a unique brand of baddies. While a lot of them do vile things, a majority of them have noble intentions. Lelouch's eldest sister, Princess Cornelia, is given a lot of backstory and motivation for her actions. It gets to the point where it's tempting to want to see her win. Prince Schneizel is a sneaky scoundrel, but he manages to go about things with an eloquent demeanor. As for Lelouch's dad, Emperor Charles, he's pretty evil. It's very easy to root against him. He's about as despicable of a father as possible, but even he is given an intriguing backstory.
Code Geass has a variety of characters. There's cool characters, such as Kallen, the caring but fierce pilot, and Jeremiah Gottwald, the most loyal person that any royal family could ever ask for. There's cute characters, such as Shirley Fenette, who has a massive crush on Lelouch. There's also funny characters, such as Diethard Ried, Zero's cameraman/fanboy, and Lloyd Asplund, the most delightfully eccentric scientist of all time.
Reason 3: The Animation
Code Geass has the best animation that I've ever seen for any show! I made the mistake of assuming that the show was from the 2010's. It's from the 2000's, but the animation is superior to just about anything from the decade that came after it. Looking at a scene of the gorgeous animation is a quick way of getting investment in the show. The show is sparkling with the most eye-catching animation to ever be broadcast on television sets.
Each character is given a unique design. Lelouch is already a captivating fellow to begin with, but he achieves a new level of coolness when he receives his Zero costume. The character designs come in all types of styles: There's cute designs, beautiful designs, cool designs and just about any other type of design that you can imagine. Watching the show's animation is like looking at the most beautiful book of art brought to life. I have seen hundreds of cartoons and several animes, but none of them have ever managed to top the visuals of Code Geass. Charles might be the Emperor of Britannia, but Lelouch is the King of Style.
Code Geass is a spectacular show. It has the most captivating plot, the best ensemble of characters and the most gorgeous animation.
Reason 1: The Plot
Code Geass has a plot that's entirely unique. It feels like a show where the writers had a majority of the plot points thought out at the beginning. It's become common for popular shows to go on longer than expected. This often leads to having to add subplots and twists that don't make much sense. Code Geass doesn't have that problem. The show has two seasons. The reason for the small number of seasons wasn't due to a lack of popularity. It was because the show's storyline was resolved in season two. It felt like the writers made the show last as long as it needed to without overstaying it's welcome. Both seasons have twenty-five episodes. The fifty episodes of Code Geass explore one of the most exciting stories ever written.
Part of what makes Code Geass so exciting is that it has an original storyline. The show revolves around Lelouch Lamperouge, a young man who used to be a Britannian prince. After seeing how evil his father, the Emperor, truly was, Lelouch left the Britannian family and took his younger sister, Nunnally, with him. Nunnally was the only family member Lelouch could trust. Nunnally's had a rough life, but she wants to the world to be a more peaceful place. Lelouch takes it upon himself to make Nunnally's dream a reality. He meets an elusive woman, named C. C., who gives him the power of geass. Lelouch's geass gives him the ability to hypnotize people into following one of his commands. Lelouch uses his new power to rally against his evil family. Lelouch, who becomes a costumed anti-hero named Zero, assembles a team called the Black Knights. The Black Knights consist of a group of young men, as well as Kallen Stadtfeld, a classmate of Lelouch's who's secretly an expert pilot. Lelouch believes that he, C. C. and the Black Knights have what it takes to bring down the Emperor's forces. However, things aren't so simple. Lelouch's half-siblings, Princess Cornelia and Prince Schneizel, are determined to bring Zero down. Worst of all, Lelouch's childhood friend, Suzaku Kururugi, becomes his main rival on the battlefield. Like Lelouch, Suzaku wants to change Britannia. However, Suzaku has much different plans. Lelouch and Suzaku's conflicting plans lead to an intense rivalry that could jeopardize their friendship and the safety of the world.
As much as I love classic good vs. evil stories, Code Geass benefits from changing things up. Lelouch and Suzaku become rivals, but things aren't so simple. Lelouch isn't pure good, nor is Suzaku pure evil. They both have strengths and flaws. This makes their actions more interesting and suspenseful. On a similar note, C. C. and the Black Knights are fighting on the side of good, but they have their own flawed attributes. Even most members of Lelouch's corrupt family have some moral values. Yes, they're villains, but they aren't the type of villains who want to endanger the world for money. They actually believe what they're doing will help the world. It's up to Lelouch to prove them wrong.
Reason 2: The Characters
Code Geass has a ton of characters. Normally, this might be a problem. When shows have a giant cast, it's normal for interesting characters to be underdeveloped and ignored. While no show can develop every single character, Code Geass manages to give development and screentime to just about every major character.
Lelouch is one of the most complex protagonists in all of fiction. Depending on who you ask, Lelouch could be seen as a hero, a villain, an anti-hero or an unpredictable mastermind. Lelouch isn't as noble as your average protagonist, but every action he takes has a reason behind it. He's not meant to be a role-model to be imitated, but there are things to admire about him. Before Lelouch came along, the country of Japan was robbed of freedom and respect. Lelouch, who wasn't even from Japan, came around and became a symbol of hope for the country.
The rivalry between Lelouch and his friend, Suzaku, is very sophisticated. They both want to stop the corrupt nature of Britannia, but Suzaku doesn't approve of the way Lelouch does things. He has his own plans, which may seem more justifiable, but deep down, Suzaku is like Lelouch. He's a guy who wants to make the world a better place, even if it means doing some questionable things.
A lot of the heart of the show comes between the bond between Lelouch and C. C. At first, C. C. may seem rude and distant, but after learning about the tragic past she had, it becomes hard to not adore her and root for her. She and Lelouch enjoy playfully poking fun at one another. C. C. might even get on Lelouch's nerves, but deep down, Lelouch is very thankful to have her in his life. Lelouch and C. C. are both flawed people who have suffered through things that most people couldn't relate to. However, they're able to relate to one another. So many people will come and go from Lelouch's life, but C. C. is the one person who decides to always remain by Lelouch's side. Considering that she's immortal, it's the ultimate commitment.
The villains in Code Geass are a unique brand of baddies. While a lot of them do vile things, a majority of them have noble intentions. Lelouch's eldest sister, Princess Cornelia, is given a lot of backstory and motivation for her actions. It gets to the point where it's tempting to want to see her win. Prince Schneizel is a sneaky scoundrel, but he manages to go about things with an eloquent demeanor. As for Lelouch's dad, Emperor Charles, he's pretty evil. It's very easy to root against him. He's about as despicable of a father as possible, but even he is given an intriguing backstory.
Code Geass has a variety of characters. There's cool characters, such as Kallen, the caring but fierce pilot, and Jeremiah Gottwald, the most loyal person that any royal family could ever ask for. There's cute characters, such as Shirley Fenette, who has a massive crush on Lelouch. There's also funny characters, such as Diethard Ried, Zero's cameraman/fanboy, and Lloyd Asplund, the most delightfully eccentric scientist of all time.
Reason 3: The Animation
Code Geass has the best animation that I've ever seen for any show! I made the mistake of assuming that the show was from the 2010's. It's from the 2000's, but the animation is superior to just about anything from the decade that came after it. Looking at a scene of the gorgeous animation is a quick way of getting investment in the show. The show is sparkling with the most eye-catching animation to ever be broadcast on television sets.
Each character is given a unique design. Lelouch is already a captivating fellow to begin with, but he achieves a new level of coolness when he receives his Zero costume. The character designs come in all types of styles: There's cute designs, beautiful designs, cool designs and just about any other type of design that you can imagine. Watching the show's animation is like looking at the most beautiful book of art brought to life. I have seen hundreds of cartoons and several animes, but none of them have ever managed to top the visuals of Code Geass. Charles might be the Emperor of Britannia, but Lelouch is the King of Style.
Code Geass is a spectacular show. It has the most captivating plot, the best ensemble of characters and the most gorgeous animation.
