This anime features fights with weapons, high-tech robotic armor, large-scale wars, elaborate and fascinating battles. However, fighting is not sustained by action alone. Conflicts involve psychological clashes with strategic solutions. Due to the theme, the protagonist's actions suffer from a certain limitation. It can be assumed that he will renounce something and that someone will die, due to his heightened pragmatic amorality. However, events are not predictable: exactly what, when, and why. It is important to emphasize that this protagonist is not a character who stands out in everything, who always wins and never makes mistakes. Given that his plans are not always successful, this makes the character humanized, creating verisimilitude. There are several moments in which the character is surprised, needs to improvise, loses everything, goes into despair, betrays and is betrayed. Furthermore, even though amorality is not a recurring theme in animes, the merit is not in always being something completely unpredictable for the public, but in the characters' sagacity, intelligence and Machiavellianism against rivals.
The main negative criticisms of this anime focus on the twists, especially due to the deaths that are subsequently not confirmed. Of course, this is a plot element that enriches any story, but it is not immune to criticism, especially when used excessively. On the other hand, this anime offers a way to compensate for these false casualties, presenting numerous deaths that actually occur and are highly impactful. Furthermore, by awakening these doubts, expectations are generated about some situations, leaving unknowns, making people think and create countless theories. What is pointed out by some as a defect in the story, in some moments of it ends up being its biggest success.
Furthermore, there are negative reviews regarding the twists because they are supposedly amazing. Is it really harmful to have complex and extraordinary twists? What is the impediment to something being plausible in fiction? Only history itself can be an impediment and, in this case, there are no internal contradictions. As for being amazing in the sense of being increasingly grandiose, scale by scale, every anime scales, otherwise the public loses interest. So the question about comebacks is not whether they are amazing.
In terms of image, the animation is quite fluid and well detailed, above average, but does not reach the level of UIfotable or Makoto Shinkai. Even today, the details of the giant robots are impressive, especially in the constant fluid action scenes. In relation more specifically to the art, it is from the giant CLAMP, made with a certain originality. The art denotes its innovation when compared to that of other robot and military animes, which have more square features. Furthermore, the anime needed features that exposed softness, to compose a proposal for a futuristic and mystical alternative reality. What's most impressive is that science fiction has the potential to make everything dated absurdly quickly, but Code Geass, due to its spectacular art work, practically doesn't age.
One of the most striking features of this anime is its soundtrack. It is not necessary to watch this anime, just listen to its music to be consumed by emotions. It is splendid how it manages to move listeners, producing feelings of both sadness and euphoria. Among the countless sensational songs, the most prominent are: Innocent Days, Stories, Continued Story and Madder Sky.
The episode openings and endings are excellent, with great emphasis on the phenomenal last episode ending. This last ending is one of the most artistic and symbolic moments of the work. In addition to having a fascinating melody, the music for this ending has lyrics that, if analyzed more carefully, reveal how much the work is involved with its theme.
Regarding the characters, several are very charismatic and manage to win over the audience almost immediately. However, the protagonist Lelouch is not notable for being naturally extremely charismatic, but rather for, despite having all the characteristics of a villain, still managing to develop charisma. The merit is even greater because Lelouch was transformed into a kind of anti-hero, just for rivaling equals, and not villains. As a rule, no one hates protagonists, and an antihero is what we are or are afraid of being. However, it is admirable how this anime manages to make the audience develop empathy and root for someone who represents not only an anti-hero, but the height of amorality. In this way, it proves to be a work of excellence in writing.
The merits of the plot in relation to its protagonist become even more evident when we analyze that Lelouch's motivations are not noble, that the methods are terrible and that the objectives are questionable. There is much more of a villain than a hero in him. It is someone who, like his father and brother, has no empathy, or has a small degree of selective empathy, which is the definition of psychopathy. The anime makes the audience have empathy for those who don't have empathy, which is fabulous. It is also quite realistic, since politics has been proven to be an environment that tends to attract psychopaths. Furthermore, I don't identify with Lelouch, I wouldn't act the way he did, I fundamentally disagree with his principles, but I cried at his fate.
Regarding the opponents, forget the word villain, since in this story there are no villains or heroes, just a protagonist and several antagonists. All the main characters in this work are antiheroes. What is most impressive about this anime is that the rivals Lelouch, Charles and Schneizel do not differ in terms of philosophy, means or objectives. Therefore, what leads us to root for one and not the other are not the differences, or logical issues, but simply because the plot is seen from Lelouch's perspective.
Although Lelouch, Charles and Schneizel have similar goals, there are nuances between them and this is one of the most splendid characteristics of the character creation work in this anime. They differ in something very profound, which is their vision based on the past, present and future. This is extraordinary, splendid, rich, because the author transcended the initial philosophical proposal, giving a depth within his characters that would be difficult for anyone to see in this philosophy. Therefore, it is not pretentious to say that this is a visionary work.
Another relevant character is Suzaku, since he is the closest we have to a hero in this anime, but he has dirty hands and is an antagonist for most of the plot. It's brilliant to take a clear almost hero and turn him into an antagonist, while making us root for a clear almost villain. This significantly increases the difficulty of writing and the merits of the script must be recognized. Furthermore, what differentiates Lelouch from Suzaku is not the visions, nor the goals, nor the methods. The two share the same philosophy. The characters only differ in their paths, which is a brilliant way to create a rival.
Regarding CC, who is the co-protagonist, despite not being the main character in the anime, she won the Anime Grand Prix, the animation Oscar, for two years in a row in the best female anime character award category. Highlight, she won competing with other characters who were the main ones in their animes. She is an enigmatic character, who despite having a lot of her past developed, enough so that we don't feel too much, ends up with many unrevealed mysteries. Another relevant point is when, due to a certain event, she becomes weakened, becoming comical and much more charismatic.
Code Geass is one of the very rare animes with a peculiar ending for its characters, something brave, and not at all convenient. Animes that follow character endings with similar paths to this are so rare that you can count on your fingers how many are like this, and even fewer are those that manage to please. It is easily possible to find one of the many videos on the internet of people watching the latest episode. Reactions range from hysterical screams to uncontrollable crying spells. The final episode is simply the best of all anime endings.
Without a doubt, with its protagonist, the final episode has the most exciting part of the anime, but it should be noted that it is not the only good part. Other characters such as Shirley, Jeremiah, Nunnally, Anya and Rolo have memorable scenes that produce strong emotions. Also noteworthy are some of these characters for easily making people change their opinion about them.
Despite all the praise it deserves, that it is certainly a masterpiece, and that in some points it is more than spectacular, it is still an anime made by imperfect beings and that contains some small imperfections. In this matter of problems, one point that needs to be mentioned is the beginning of the second season, as it has a somewhat confusing beginning that may not be very pleasing. Although it is a deliberate confusion, which is later explained, serving to have revelations that instigate, until the plot develops further and accelerates the pace.
Finally, there are several peaks that excite, the closer to the end, the more constant these peaks are and the more impossible it is to stop watching. It is also worth mentioning that it is very exciting to follow the evolution of robots, the rivalry involved in their production, as well as the look and power they present.
