Name(s): Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion / Code Geass: Hangyaku no Lelouch / コードギアス 反逆のルルーシュ / Code Geass: Lelouch, el de la Rebelión
Format: TV series (25 24-minute episodes)
Studio(s): Sunrise
Original Publication: N/A (unknown)

This is a good series—to that I have no objection. But Code Geass has been said as having “something for everyone.” If you’re someone who wants more out of any of its elements then you won’t get it, because they’re always sacrificed for something else.

Basically, Code Geass does well a lot of the popular elements of anime it tries to combine, but it doesn’t excel at any of them. This series actually feels kind of cold and calculated to me, like a deliberate melting pot mix of success-proven stuff guaranteed to churn a profit.

You’ve got mechs, but their designs are mostly boring and the fights not too exciting. You have the mind games, but they’re not nearly as clever or labyrinthine as anything in Death Note. You’ve got the high school life, but every character involved in it that isn’t majorly important to the overall storyline is dull and forgettable. There’s even tits, but not nearly enough nipple.

I’ve seen everything in Code Geass before but done better. Not all in one place, but what does it gain by doing so?

Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion Special Edition – Black Rebellion

AKA: Code Geass: Hangyaku no Lelouch Special Edition – Black Rebellion / コードギアス 反逆のルルーシュ SPECIAL EDITION BLACK REBELLION /
Format: Original video animation [OVA] (1 117-minute episode)
Studio(s): Sunrise
Related: N/A

Original Publication: May 27, 2019 (12:00 AM)

I only watched this because I took a huge break between watching season 1 and 2. It’s an official recap and I’m glad it exists, even though two hours is a hefty length. I heard this is from the perspective of Lelouch, but that’s not technically correct. C.C. narrates the entire recap. Sure, it focuses mostly on Lelouch, but it would be weird if it didn’t focus on the main character who’s making most of the decisions that impact the plot. Doesn’t really matter, but I was interested in hearing a Lelouch narration and didn’t get it.

The narration barely exists anyway, this is largely just a clip show. A lot of character development with regards to changing motivations is skipped over out of necessity, but by and large I think this did the job of jogging of my memory. It’s just Code Geass but simplified. For any crazy people considering watching this first, the season proper is absolutely better.