Code Geass

Code Geass
File:CodeGEASSLogo.jpg Image from the opening theme sequence
Genre	Science fiction, Fantasy, Mecha
Anime
Directed by	Gorō Taniguchi
Studio	Sunrise

Code Geass - Lelouch of the Rebellion (コードギアス 反逆のルルーシュ, Kōdo Giasu Hangyaku no Rurūshu) is a Japanese anime series, created by Sunrise. It was directed by Gorō Taniguchi and scripted by Ichirō Ōkouchi (both of whom who had earlier worked on another Sunrise series, the acclaimed Planetes), and featured character designs by the noted all-female Clamp mangaka group.

The series premiered across Japan on MBS from October 5 2006. Its satellite television premiere across Japan on Animax was on November 7, 2006. It has been announced that a second season of the series is to be produced.

Story

On August 10th, 2010, a.t.b., the Holy Britannian Empire overpowered Japanese forces and conquered the country with their robotic weapons, the Knightmare Frames, in less than a month. Japan lost its freedom and rights and was renamed Area 11, and the Japanese people, stripped of their identity and renamed "Elevens", are forced to survive in ghettos while Britannians live in first-class settlements. Yet rebel elements exist, as pockets of Japanese nationalists continue the fight for their independence.

A young boy named Lelouch made a pledge to destroy the Britannian Empire after his father, the Emperor of Britannia, did nothing to pursue the terrorists who murdered his mother and crippled his sister. Seven years later, he stumbles upon a group of rebel Elevens who have stolen a military secret. With the weapon of Geass that he obtains from the secret, he finally has the power that he needs to face the Britannian Empire and fulfill his two wishes: to seek revenge for his mother and to construct a world in which his beloved sister can live happily.

Characters

Main article: List of Code Geass characters

Knightmare Frames

File:CODEGEASS02.jpg

Despite only being a prototype model so far, the Lancelot is the most advanced Knightmare Frame from the Britannian Empire

Main article: Knightmare Frames

First used during the invasion of Japan, the Knightmare Frames (ナイトメアフレーム, Naitomea Furēmu) are giant robots designed by the Britannia Empire, using self-propelled roller skate systems christened Landspinners to achieve high mobility and speeds and gain superiority on modern battlefields. They are also equipped with a sophisticated Factsphere open sensor camera on the head or torso to gather visual data. Their power source is also known as the Yggdrasil Drive and their later models now incorporate nuclei made of Sakuradite, a material now paramount in superconductivity technology.

Their main standard weapons are hand-held rifles, shoulder or wrist-mounted Slash Harkens (wired rocket anchors), Stun Tonfas, lances and airburst hand grenades. The cockpit, which is set in the protruding 'hump back', can be ejected in case of emergency and is equipped with parachutes. Verbally, the name sounds like nightmare but in spelling, it refers to a knight's mare.

Geass

File:Lelouch-geass.jpg

Lelouch (as Zero) using the power of Geass.

A mysterious ability which C.C., who calls it the Power of the King (王の力, Ou no Chikara), can bestow. C.C. is unable to use the power herself and she is immune to the power being used on her. People who have Geass are not immune to other Geass's effects. It is likely that Geass is different for each person it is bestowed upon. The power of the Geass increases with each usage, and should the user lack the willpower, may be consumed by the power, which was the case with Mao and his insanity. However, one who can resist and fully control the power has the qualities to become the King.

Lelouch's ability

Lelouch's power of Geass, "the power of absolute obedience", allows him to momentarily control a mind, in a fashion similar to hypnotism, and is situated in his left eye. When activated, a red bird-shaped sigil, similar to the mark on C.C.'s forehead, lights up in the eye and reaches out to its target(s). Lelouch's Geass later evolves and becomes permanently activated. According to the English version of the Newtype magazine, the Power of Geass has something to do with the very existence of humankind and can be used to destroy or transform just about anything.

Lelouch performs some experiments with his power of Geass and discovers the following:

• The user can only use it once on a same individual. Any following attempts will be ineffective.
• The victim is bound by his or her physical and mental capabilities. Asking the victim about or to do something that he or she doesn't know or cannot do will produce no effect.
• The user must have direct eye contact with the victim. The power cannot work over telecommunications or monitors, but it can work through glasses.
• Direct eye contact via a reflective surface, i.e. mirror, will be enough for the power to work.
• The power will work within a 270 meter radius of the user.
• The user may give as many commands as he or she wishes while direct eye contact is maintained.
• The user must give the commands verbally. However, the power of Geass will control the victim for the duration of what the user's command indicates, so the victim may still act under the power's influence even when direct eye contact is broken.
• The user may use the power on as many people as he or she wishes simultaneously, provided that they meet the above rules first.
• The user can also use the power on him or herself, as long as the above limitations and conditions are met.
• The victim will not retain any memories from the time during which he or she is under the influence of the power of Geass due to the rewiring and damage to the brain.

Mao's ability

Mao's power of Geass differs from Lelouch's in that it allows him to telepathically hear every person's conscious thought within a radius of 500 meters. He does not need to maintain direct eye contact with his victim and has no usage limit on an individual. Mao can concentrate on fewer victims at a time, which decreases his effective range but allows him to read deeper into the victims' minds and even probe their memories. He cannot read something if the victim has no knowledge of or completely forgotten about it. Bird-shaped sigil are lit in both of his eyes all the time, because his power evolved over time and became permanently activated. C.C. gave the power of Geass to Mao when he was six.

Nunnally's ability (in 'Nightmare of Nunnally' manga only)

Nunnally's power of Geass allows her to read "future lines", or to see into the future. An entity similar to C.C., Nemo, bestows the power onto her. Like Lelouch, a red, bird-like sigil lights up in Nunnally's left eye when the power is activated.

World

File:GEASSmap.JPG

Britannia's invasion of Japan.

Holy Britannia Empire (神聖ブリタニア帝国, Shinsei Buritania Teikoku)

An international superpower that possesses about one-third of the entire world. It remains in expansion, with the recent invasion and colonization of Area 18. Britannia invades Japan to obtain a newly discovered energy source, the Sakuradite. The Britannia Empire appears to be based on an alternative universe in which the monarchy remains absolute, suppressing the American colonies' rebellion in the 1700s and thereby conquering the American continents.

Japan

A nation that had rich sources of the new power source named Sakuradite. Under Prime Minister Genbu Kururugi and with the shadow support of the Sakuradite industries, Japan oppressed and dominated other countries through economic control. Frictions between the Britannian Empire and Japan eventually developed into a diplomatic conflict and later open war with the former, invading and conquering the country to seize control of the resource. Japan's name is soon changed to Area 11 and its people are renamed to Elevens. The number denotes the numerical order by which Britannia has occupied new territories.

Area 18

A desert country, which appears to be based within the Middle East.

EU

Another country, presumably the European Union and supporting equal rights, unlike the Holy Empire of Britannia.

Chinese Federation

An Asian federation, where wealth is reportedly equally distributed.

Terminology

Settlements (租界, Sokai)

A first-world level place in the conquered Areas where Britannians live, as opposed to the Ghettos only inhabited by native citizens. The settlements are powered by massive solar panels and the residents can go about the city in ease using monorails.

Ghetto (ゲットー, Gettō)

A third-world level place where Elevens live. The ghettos are filled with the bombed remains of the pre-war buildings and their residents can barely make out a living.

Ashford Academy (アッシュフォード学園, Asshufōdo Gakuen)

A private academy, owned by the Ashford family, where Lelouch, Nunnally and their friends study.

Eleven (イレヴン, Irevun)

The name given to the Japanese upon the conquering and colonization of Area 11.

Honorary Britannian (名誉ブリタニア人, Meiyo Buritania-jin)

Citizens of the conquered Areas can become Honorary Britannians when they swear allegiance to the Britannia Empire. They attain the same legal rights as normal Britannians, but by no means are they free from prejudice and inequality. Also, Honorary Britannian soldiers cannot achieve the same career as native Britannians as certain privileges are forbidden to them.

Purist faction (純血派, Junketsu-ha)

A faction which opposes the Honorary Britannian system, claiming that the Britannian army and society should only consist of Britannians.

Sakuradite (サクラダイト, Sakuradaito)

An important resource used on the manufacturing of superconductors, abundant in Japan, which is responsible for 70% of the world's supply. One of its mines reside in Mount Fuji, and this strategic material was the primary reason for the Britannia Empire's invasion. Since then annual meetings are held between Britannian and the other world's powers to determine each one's share of Sakuradite extracted from Area 11. From episode 13, it is speculated that the material is able to be stored in liquid form and is explosive, or at least highly flammable.

Holy Calendar (a.t.b)

The calendar used by the Britannia Empire. It started during the Roman empire's first (foiled) attempt to invade Great Britain. The initials A.T.B. mean 'Ascension Throne Britannia' and refer to the election of a Celtic super-leader by Britannian tribes to resist the invader.

Knight (騎士, Kishi)

The title for a pilot of a Knightmare Frame. Honorary Britannians, by principle, cannot become Knights. The only known exception to the rule is Suzaku, who was chosen by Princess Euphemia. Knight is another title of the Empire that is the lowest court rank allowed to request an audience from a member of the royal family.

Shiseiken (四聖剣, lit. Four Holy Swords)

An elite unit of four of Kyōshirō Tōdō's most talented and devoted followers. In episode 11 during the confusion in the Battle of Narita they ambushed Governor-General Cornelia's Knightmare unit using the newly developed Burai Kai Japanese Knightmares. Their existence extends all of the way back into the initial invasion of Japan by the Empire of Britannia seven years prior to the Battle of Narita.

Episodes

Main article: List of Code Geass episodes

Staff

• Planning: Kenji Uchida, Seiji Takeda, Kazumi Kawashiro
• Original story: Ichirō Ōkouchi, Gorō Taniguchi
• Series composition: Ichirō Ōkouchi
• Associate series composition: Hiroyuki Yoshino
• Original character design: CLAMP
• Character design: Takahiro Kimura
• Knightmare design: Akira Yasuda, Eiji Nakata, Jun'ichi Akutsu (Bee-Craft)
• Mecha design & concept design: Kenji Teraoka
• Main animators: Takahiro Kimura, Yuriko Chiba, Eiji Nakata, Seiichi Nakatani
• Art director: Yoshinori Hishinuma
• Color design: Reiko Iwasawa
• Director of photography: Sōta Ōya
• Editing: Seiji Morita
• 3DCG director: Tetsuya Watanabe
• 2DCG director: Masoto Miyoshi
• Special illustrations: Shigeru Morita
• Music: Kōtarō Nakagawa, Hitomi Kuroishi
• Sound direction: Yasuo Uragami, Motoi Izawa
• Sound production: AUDIO PLANNING U
• Sound production desk: Keiko Uragami
• Recording studio: APU MEGURO STUDIO
• Mixer: Takaaki Uchiyama
• Assistant mixer: Hisanori Ōshiro
• Sound effects: Masahiro Shōji (Fizz Sound Creation)
• Music producers: Yoshimoto Ishikawa (Victor Entertainment), Keiichi Tomura (Sony Music Entertainment), Noboru Mano (Sunrise Music Publishing)
• Associate producers: Jun Satoyoshi, Hirofumi Inagaki, Osamu Hosokawa
• Producers: Hitoshi Morotomi, Yoshitaka Kawaguchi, Takao Minegeshi, Atsushi Yukawa
• Associate director: Kazuya Murata
• Director: Gorō Taniguchi
• Production: Mainichi Broadcasting System, Sunrise, Project Geass (Sunrise, Bandai Visual, Bandai, Bandai Namco Games, Hakuhodo DY Media Partners)

Theme music

Opening themes

COLORS (first season, episodes 1-12)

• Lyrics: Kohshi Asakawa, Keigo Hayashi
• Arrangement: Takeshi Asakawa
• Composition: FLOW & Koichi Tsutaya
• Performance: FLOW

Kaidoku Funō (解読不能, lit. Indecipherable) (first season, episodes 13-)

• Lyrics, composition and arrangement: Jinn
• Performance: Jinn

Ending themes

Yūkyō Seishunka (勇侠青春謳, lit. Hero Youth Song) (first season, episodes 1-12)

• Lyrics: Arika Takarano
• Arrangement: Mikiya Katakura
• Composition: Mikiya Katakura
• Performance: ALI PROJECT

Mosaic Kakera (モザイクカケラ, Mozaiku Kakera, lit. Mosaic Fragments) (first season, episodes 13-)

• Lyrics and arrangement: Junzō Ishida
• Composition: Masayuki Sakamoto and SunSet Swish
• Performance: SunSet Swish

Insert songs

Stories (featured in episodes 5, 13), Masquerade (featured in episode 14)

• Lyrics, music and performance: Hitomi

Picaresque (ピカレスク, Pikaresuku, featured in episode 17), Callin' (featured in episode 20)

• Lyrics, music and performance: Mikio Sakai

Alone (featured in episode 21), Innocent Days (featured in episode 22 and 23)

• Lyrics, music and performance: Hitomi

Releases

DVD

• The first DVD volume was released in Japan on January 26 2007. It included stage 1 (the first episode), Code Geass - Emergency Navi News (コードギアス緊急ナビニュース, Kōdo Giasu Kinkyū Nabi Nyūsu), and numerous other special features and extras, including a picture drama.

• The second volume was released on February 23, 2007. It included stage 2 to 4, and included numerous other special features and extras, including a picture drama entitled stage 3.25.

• The third volume was released on March 23, 2007. It included stage 5 to stage 7, and included numerous other special features and extras, including a picture drama entitled stage 6.75.

• The fourth volume of the series is slated for release on April 25, 2007. It is to include stage 8 to 10, as well as numerous special features and extras, including a picture drama entitled stage 8.5.

Soundtrack

• The first original soundtrack for the series was released on December 20, 2006. It included 22 tracks, including the first ending theme, Yūkyō Seishunka (勇侠青春謳). The jacket and cover was illustrated by Takahiro Kimura.
• The second original soundtrack for the series was release on March 24, 2007. Its jacket and cover is illustrated by Takahiro Kimura. It includes 23 tracks.

Broadcast stations

Code Geass premiered across Japan on Mainichi Broadcasting System from October 5, 2006. Its broadcasting runs across Japan also include:

Broadcast network	Broadcast term	Broadcast day and timings (in JST)
Mainichi Broadcasting System	October 5 2006～	Thursdays 25:25 ~ 25:55
Hokkaido Broadcasting		Thursdays 26:10 ～26:40
Chubu-Nippon Broadcasting		Thursdays 26:50～27:20
TBS	October 6 2006～	Fridays 25:55～26:25
Touhoku Broadcasting Company		Fridays 26:15～26:45
Shizuoka Broadcasting System		Fridays 26:15～26:45
RCC Broadcasting Company	October 7 2006～	Saturdays 26:40～27:10
RKK Kumamoto Broadcasting	October 8 2006	Sundays 26:30～27:00
Sanyo Broadcasting	October 9 2006～	Mondays 26:25～26:55
RKB Mainichi Broadcasting	October 10 2006～	Tuesdays 26:30～27:00
Animax	November 7 2006～	Tuesdays 23:00～23:30

Manga

Code Geass has been adapted into three different manga adaptations, containing alternate storylines:

Code Geass - Lelouch of the Rebellion (コードギアス 反逆のルルーシュ, Kōdo Giasu Hangyaku no Rurūshu)

Serialized in the Monthly Asuka magazine. (first serialization: October 2006)

Original story: Gorō Taniguchi, Ichirō Ōkouchi/artist: Majiko!

Tankōbon compilations (Asuka Comics DX):

1. ISBN 4-04-854065-3 (released on 26 December 2006).

Code Geass - Suzaku of the Counterattack (コード・ギアス 反攻のスザク, Kōdo Giasu Hankō no Suzaku)

Serialized in the Beans A magazine. (first serialization: Beans A　Vol.6)

Original creator: Sunrise/scenario coordination: Ayaka Hasumi (ArcLight)/ artist: Atsuro Yomino

Code Geass - Nightmare of Nunnally (コード・ギアス ナイトメア・オブ・ナナリー, Kōdo Giasu Naitomea Obu Nanarī)

Serialized in Comptiq's Comp Ace magazine. (first serialization: Comp Ace VOL10)

Original story: Gorō Taniguchi, Ichirō Ōkouchi/artist: Tomomasa Takuma

An alternate story in which Lelouch's fate is unknown after his meeting with C.C. and Prince Clovis. Nunnally makes a Geass contract with Nemo and gains the power to read the future. She also obtains a new body and takes up piloting an unusual and powerful Knightmare Frame. Many people who can use the power of Geass, collectively called "Geass Users", make their appearance in the manga.

Novel

Our Days (僕らの日々, Bokura no Hibi)

Serialization: Newtype Magazine

• A series of short stories about Lelouch and his friends' school lives at the Ashford Academy.

Related media

Code Geass - The Rebellion Diary (コードギアス はんぎゃく日記, Kōdo Giasu Hangyaku Nikki)

First premiering on October 6 2006 on BEAT☆Net Radio!, a series of weekly internet radio broadcasts. It features Sayaka Ohara (seiyū of Milly Ashford) and Satomi Arai (seiyū of Sayoko Shinazaki).

Code Geass - Lots about the Rebellion (コードギアス 反逆の山々, Kōdo Giasu Hangyaku no Yamayama)

First premiering on December 12 2006, a series of internet radio broadcasts, hosted by Jun Fukuyama (seiyū of Lelouch) and Noriaki Sugiyama (seiyū of Rivalz).

Code Geass - Emergency Navi News (コードギアス緊急ナビニュース, Kōdo Giasu Kinkyū Nabinyūsu)

Released on September 29 2006, a 30-minute preview, hosted by Teriyuki Tsuchida, first appearing on TBS. BIGLOBE has also distributed it as a streamable broadcast. It was included in the first DVD.

Production: Kyodo Television, director: Hiroshi Watanabe, script: Noboyuki Toyama

External links

• Official site Template:Jp icon
• MBS's official site Template:Jp icon
• Sunrise's official site Template:Jp icon
• Official blog Template:Jp icon
• Animax's official site Template:Jp icon