Japan Man

In order to tool up for my next awesome post about the Code Geass/Evangelion mash up anime/manga called Line Barrels, I just want to make my peace with Code Geass by explaining the true meaning behind the best part of the entire series which obviously includes R2 because I know it sucks. If you haven’t watched Code Geass yet, don’t read any further because I’m posting mega spoilers.

The best part of Code Geass is when Euphemia li Britannia goes on a killing spree because Lelouch misfires his geass at her. Despite creating a Special Administration Zone of Japan she begins to slaughter every Japanese person present at the administration changeover ceremony. Zero gives her a bullet meal and she dies from her injuries afterwards.

This moment was the best part of Code Geass because it shows how a supposed champion of the poor and meek is actually a horrible beast. Euphemia, like Suzaku, is only a champion for dependent 11s because of the attention she receives. Before she becomes a “heroine”, she is a nobody princess cupcake. Her supposed nice and friendly demeanor towards people is her weapon to control the weak souls who need her. Unlike Lelouch who strives to change the world for his own selfish reasons Euphemia wants all people to be dependent, weak, and helpless like herself. Thus, she almost defeats Lelouch until his geass kicks in and says fuck that.

Lelouch’s geass exposes Euphemia for who she truly is. She actually despises 11s. The only reason she helps them is because of the attention she receives and the feeling of superiority over them. Why do you think she made a filthy traitor 11 like Suzaku as her knight? Instead of choosing some one decent or respectable, she chooses a common patricide who is dependent on his triumphant enemies for his own survival.

You aren’t supposed to feel sorry for the 11s.  I know I don’t. When they got massacred I didn’t laugh or feel bad. I felt pretty much indifferent to the whole affair because 11s are depicted as less than human. Except for the former resistance members and Karen (who is a half 11) almost every other 11 is disgusting. They live in the slums, abuse tourists, refuse to fight, and lack any type of dignity or self-respect. They way they flocked to the Special Administration Zone idea was hilarious considering that they still would have to depend on Britannia for protection anyway. . In fact the Special Administration Zone of Japan would be just like how Japan is today….but that is a topic for another day.

I hope this post helps clarify some of the questions you guys might have had about the series. The winner up for the best part was when Mao pulls Suzaku’s card and reveals that he is a patricide. I might do a follow up post about that later after I knock out Line Barrels. I don’t think people read enough literature or actively use their brains to think things through. If they did everyone would be angry about how the first season ended on a cliff hanger that made no sense in context to the direction of the series. But that is how corny anime/manga gets when it hits the main stream. It loses all it’s self respect and integrity like the 11s in Code Geass.

My campadre Darkmane put me on to Code Geass and I was totally absorbed in it for the last few days. I was blown away by the depth and scope of the story. Not since Berserk have I watched an anime that conveyed human relationships and emotions in a totally realistic way. So you can understand how upset I am that the first season of Code Geass ends with a whimper instead of a bang.

Revenge stories like The Count of Monte Cristo and Cask of Amontillado are classics because the objects of revenge are ignorant of the hero’s plot. If a powerful, intelligent foe learns of  the main protaginist’s plans before they come to fruition, the hero will perish or lose his chance to take revenge. Once the Britannia Emperor found out that Lelouch is Zero, I knew that I didn’t need to watch Code Geass any longer.

The ending is the largest problem among other small unnecessary plot twists towards the end. In only 3 episodes, Nanaly is kidnapped; Nina starts powering an mysterious overpowered Knighmare Frame; Orange returns as some cybernetic freak; and V.V. makes an appearance. None of these side plots are fully resolved even in the beginning of Code Geass season 2.

Code Geass disappointed me becaue the ending proved that the anime is no where near classic. Instead of closing the ending out with a complete win, revenge, or loss for the main character, I was left with a cliffhanger. The worst part about this cliffhanger is that it makes no sense in terms of Code Geass’s original plot and characters. If you watch the beginning of the Code Geass R2 (the second season), you will see what I mean. This is why I am going to have to recommend that you guys pass on watching it.  What do you guys think? Is Code Geass overrated? Or am I missing something?

On Saturday, April 26 of 2008 at 1:30 AM, Adult Swim on Cartoon Network premiered the anime series Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion, a new edition to their night time line up. I honestly don’t know how well it did or if there was any hype about Code Geass before it dropped on the network, but I know one thing… I loved it. That first episode I saw on that night propelled me into a Code Geass two day marathon ( I know i’m hella late to this one, thanks all mighty Internets!!!) that left me thrilled, entertained and yearning for more. That being said, lets talk about this anime series that’s got your old boy darkmane in a tizzy.

Written and directed by Ichiro Okouchi and Goro Taniguchi respectively, with the art styling of the  CLAMP ladies (not surprised that they’re involved with this one), comes the story of Lelouch Vi Britannia under the alias of Lelouch Lamperouge who exists in an alternate reality of our own where the mighty Britannia super power has taken over most of the world, including Japan. Unfortunately, like all the previous nations Britannia conquered, Japan is given an area designation number ( Area 11) and Japanese people are robbed of their freedom and rights.

About seven years after Japan was conquered a fated incident occurs which brings Lelouch into contact with his old childhood friend Suzaku Kururugi and the mysterious C.C, who would give him the ability to command others by bending them to his will called Geass. With this power he attempts two things: to destroy the nation of Britannia so he can build a new world for his disabled sister and exact vengance on its’ royal family for the murder of his mother.

Code Geass’s story is adult and by adult I mean brutally honest. People die and questions of morality come into play as Lelouch and his friend Suzaku pave their own paths for the future of Japan and the rest of the world. The “Nightmare Frames” (the stories name for its big Gundam like machines) are beautifully designed and much cooler than the ones you would find in anime’s like um, I don’t know, lame ass Eureka  Seven. I felt none of the characters in the story were irrelevent.  All of them were basically memorable and had good roles to play like Shirley a love interest for Lelouch or the nerdy, filthy racist Nina who’s utterly terrified of 11’s (what the Japanese are now called)

In the end, Code Geass is well written with all of the right elements needed to make a great story excellent. This one will play with your emotions and tug at your heart strings. To be honest, there was a point in the story which almost brought me to tears. That is no easy feat, let me tell you. I doubt I need to comment on CLAMP’s art style because it is already famous. There’s a manga for Code Geass as well, but from what I’ve read of it so far on onemanga.com it’s not as good as the anime but down the line it may flesh out some aspects of the story the anime leaves out. If for some reason you haven’t seen this one yet, I suggest you get on it now especially since the second season started to drop in Japan this month. Trust me, it won’t be a waste of your time like Naruto, hehe.