Story - 9/10
Now before I have people who praise this anime hate on me for not giving it a 10/10 for the story listen to this, this anime has a second season. This second season is the only reason I give the story a 9 as I feel that for those who don't know about the second season would be quite disappointed. (I know I was it took me a week to find R2). The basics of the plot is the year is 2010 and the Holy Britannia have control over 2/3 of the world and has just taken over Japan, dubbing it Area 11 and the Japanese, 'Eleveners'. Enter Lelouch the once 11th Prince of Britannia who was cast to Japan with his sister Nunnally by their father King of Britannia 'Charles Vi Britannia'.
Art - 8/10
The only reason gave the art style an 8 is because it really matters on the person watching its preference. Personally I am more-so inclined to watch an anime with a moe-esque characters and scenery, i.e Non Non Biyori. But for an anime that started almost 10 years ago and ran for slightly under a year it has high quality designs and has little things that make it what it is. Such as Lelouchs' eye when he uses Geass and Zeros' mask having an eye slot.
Sound 10/10
This is where I can really get into Code Geass, the voices, the music, the OP's and ED's are all so magnificent that I can listen to them now and still enjoy them the same as the first time I heard them, (Notably Stories and Madder Sky, from R2). I chose to watch the dub when I first watched Code Geass and I have since rewatched the dub and watched the sub once and am genuinely pleased to say they are both extraordinary, Johnny Yong Bosch did an incredible job portraying Lelouch and I recommend both sub and dub to people thinking about watching the show, as they both hold up to standard. Back to the soundtrack, without the soundtrack Code Geass wouldn't be half the show it is, it has 45 tracks (from what I gather) and each one of them are used so well that it adds a form of involvement into the show that some anime do not have. It has to have one of the best soundtracks I have ever heard even if you don't want to watch the show I recommend looking into it's soundtrack.
Characters - 9/10
The only problem I have with the characters is some of them feel a bit forced not so much in a bad way but there's still that presence. Not to mention Nina Einstein the craziest motherf**cker I have ever seen in anime, and I've seen Mirai Nikki. I can't say to much about the characters with out feeling like I'm spoiling stuff, but the characters you need to focus on, i.e Lelouch are done almost to perfection and push the show that little bit further forwards.
Personal Enjoyment - 10/10
Now even tho I have bickered on bits and pieces Code Geass and it's sequel have to be one of my all time favourite anime and I am quite pleased I didn't spoil any of it, it has been likened to Death Note quite alot and seeming that I have accidentally one way or another spoiled the hell out of that, I would have to agree. Given I feel like Code Geass just has that special something that makes it unique. I would buy this anime without hesitation, and have recommended it to my friends more times than I can account for, the way the music resonates and the characters and story develops are beyond my words and it does something that many anime try for and alot fall short on. It makes you think, about morals, about humanity, about social problems that plague us today such as racism.
Overall -
With all that said and done I give Code Geass R1 a overall of 8.94 out of 10 as without it's second season it would not be near the anime it is today. The fact that even today 9 years after it's making you can go to videos to do with it one YouTube and just see 'ALL HAIL LELOUCH' shows how much of a cultural milestone it is and how much of an affect it has had on the community, I recommend this anime only if your willing to think about what is going on in front of your eyes and are willing to put full attention into it whist you watch each episode.
I hope that I did well enough to garner some people into watching this show and I also hope that this review was up to scratch.
