Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion (2006-2007)

[コードギアス 反逆のルルーシュ]

Director: Goro Taniguchi
Studio: Sunrise
Starring: Jun Fukuyama, Yukana, Takahiro Sakurai
Episodes: 25

Synopsis:
A cynical student living in occupied Japan receives a mysterious power that allows him to stand against the ruling Holy Britannian Empire.

Impressions:
I have a particular fondness for this series because of how it hooked me in the first episode. Some comparisons get made to Death Note with both series starring a cerebral, egomaniacal villain protagonist, but this is a much more flamboyant take on the premise, which can add to the fun factor. The thing I like best is the rich cast and how they play off each other. We have the interesting juxtaposition of school life comedy, mecha action and political chess with these great characters that give it all so much life. The character designs by CLAMP are a little much for some people, but the stylized aesthetic is thematically appropriate (and I'm a fan of CLAMP's work anyway). Mech designs are also quite good and they get put to good use, as you'd expect from a Sunrise series. Sometimes the plot elements are a touch heavy-handed, but subtlety isn't usually the series' strong suit and that's not necessarily a bad thing. I will say that the series finale feels a bit slapdash, where easier solutions were created rather than navigating more complex pathways. That doesn't put a dint in my enjoyment, though, and I definitely think this is one for the collection.

Rating:
Own It