Review of Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion
Code Geass has been my favorite anime for a very long time, even though I wasn't sure if I'd like it at all when I started watching it. The first episode I'd seen was the cat chase episode, so you can imagine my disbelief when I watched the first few episodes afterwards. STORY: The plot of Code Geass is so well thought out that I wouldn't dream of giving it anything but a ten. It keeps you on your toes and guessing, but it doesn't get tiring like it can with some other anime. Every plot twist makes sense and, to be honest, makes you feelkind of dumb at some points. It definitely had me saying "why didn't I see that coming????" plenty.
The storyline will also -- if you're a crybaby like myself -- make you cry at certain parts. It's very emotional, but does not focus on one thing for too long, making it appeal to different audiences. It will keep you entertained if you like figuring things out and thinking about what you're watching, but it will also be enjoyable if you like to just mindlessly marathon shows as well.
In any case, the story had me impressed from start to finish, which is why I gave a ten.
ART: The art is beautiful, and I think this is more personal opinion then anything else as to why I only gave it an eight. CLAMP was the designer for the series, and don't get me wrong -- I love CLAMP, but sometimes the proportions will weird me out a little. I guess it's up to personal preference.
Other then that, the world art is gorgeous. The mechas are gorgeous. Buildings, scenery, everything is beautifully drawn with the perfect amount of detail. I find it very easy to get wrapped into the world that Code Geass creates because of this.
SOUND: I have seen both the sub and the dub, and I do prefer the sub, but both are well done. I usually find dubbed anime to be unbearable to watch, especially if I've seen the original, but the dub voice actors put a great amount of emotion into their roles and I think did a pretty decent job.
In the original, I have no complaints.
Other then that, the soundtrack is beautiful and haunting at times and I fell in love with it during my first watch of the show, back in like 2008.
CHARACTER: I gave a ten because every character is so well thought out and so different from each other. The character development is fantastic and gorgeous to watch (as well as heart shattering at times). Each character gets focused on, at least somewhat, and you really get inside the head of Lelouch in a way that you don't really see with a lot of shows these days, I feel.
The designs were all fantastic and I love them to bits and pieces. I have no complaints and I don't think I ever will.
I tend to go through phases with some of the characters, whether I love them or hate them, and I think that shows how great the character development is. For instance, I hated Suzaku for a very long time, and everything he stood for. But over time I understood him more and more, and the more I watched the more I found myself sympathizing with him. Now, I still go through phases -- I either hate his guts or I love him to bits and pieces. To me, that shows that they made the characters all very HUMAN. They gave them emotions, a goal to strive for. Secrets and quirks and they made them realistic. That, to me, deserves a ten.
ENJOYMENT: Code Geass is one of those shows I can watch over and over again and not get tired of it. I could have every plot twist memorized, know exactly how the series was going to go, and still find myself getting emotional and enjoying the rewatch.
I've probably seen the entirety of the series ten or eleven times now, but I still find myself recommending it to people and offering to watch it with them, even though I know exactly what's going to happen. It does not lose it's rewatch value, I think it gains it. It allows you to think "oh, how did I miss that the first time? Of course that's what would happen" and things like that, which for me is highly enjoyable.
In any case, no matter what watch you're doing, first, second, tenth, you will enjoy Code Geass.
OVERALL: I'm giving Code Geass a ten for overall. Over the years it has remained my favorite anime and will continue to do so for a long time, I think. I'm so glad I decided to watch this show all the way through and give it a chance. It's so beautiful and emotional and fun to watch and think about.
Everything about this show appeals to me. You've got your mechas, your romance, your fight scenes, good character development. It makes you think, on top of all that. I think any could enjoy this show as much as I do, it doesn't matter who you are or what you like. This is an anime I would gladly recommend to anyone.