Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion

I used to rule the world

Seas would rise when I gave the word

Now in the morning I sleep alone

Sweep the streets I used to own

I used to roll the dice

Feel the fear in my enemy's eyes

Listen as the crowd would sing

"Now the old king is dead! Long live the king!"

One minute I held the key

Next the walls were closed on me

And I discovered that my castles stand

Upon pillars of salt and pillars of sand

- "Viva La Vida", Coldplay

Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion is a 2006-2008 anime series detailing the story of an alternate history universe, where a superpower by the name of Britannia comes to rule a third of the world. One of its princes, Lelouch vi Britannia, becomes exiled to the Britannian territory of Japan, now known merely as "Area 11". There, he idly spends his days plotting to avenge the death of his mother by destroying the empire that permitted her death, but cannot act due to his lack of power.

Then, one day, he chances upon a mysterious girl known only by the code name of "C.C." (pronounced "See-Two", /si tu/), who grants him the "power of kings". Known as "Geass", it manifests itself in Lelouch as a magical eye that compels anyone under its power to obey his commands to the limit of their physical ability. Armed with this power and the loyalty of a Japanese rebel group, Lelouch begins his long-awaited vengeance campaign on Britannia.

But among those opposing him is none other than his old friend, Suzaku Kururugi, a Japanese native who assassinated his father, the Prime Minister, to convince Japan to surrender peacefully to Britannia. Now he fights for Britannia with the goal of promoting himself and changing things from within...

Status

Anime: complete. (50 episodes, alternating between sub/English dub.)

Thoughts

"200 years from now, they'll be studying Code Geass the way we study Shakespeare today." - Trevor Huynh

An absolute masterpiece and, in my opinion, quite possibly the greatest anime ever created. Epic can only begin to describe it; Code Geass is an anime that has virtually everything. Intriguing and complex plot, memorable characters (Lelouch is the prime example, but only the tip of the iceberg), beautiful visuals and soundtrack (though the less said about most of its opening/ending themes, the better)...and within plot, there's funny, sad, epic, heartwarming...you name it.

A flawless anime? Far from it, and I can be the first in line to point out many flaws (or at least potential flaws) in the story, particularly in the second season. Yet Code Geass is remarkable for its ability to make you forget all of that when watching; I regard it as very difficult to simply sit there and passively absorb the plot without being enraptured by it, especially when Lelouch (and some other characters, depending on personal preference - my picks would notably include C.C.) is commanding the stage.

tl;dr Watch it, and prepare to be blown away. If anyone ever needed proof that anime deserves a special place in media history - this is it.