Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion Series 1
Released By: Manga Entertainment
Rating: 12
Running Time: 116 Mins
Audio: English & Japanese DD 2.0
Release Date: Out 21/1/2013
Reviewed By: Sandra Scholes

 Far into the future, Japan has been invaded by Britannia which is comprised of the rest of the known world, and once conquered, it is stripped of its cultural identity had its flag removed and a new one put in its place, and is renamed Area 11. While the hostile takeover is going on, one child, abandoned and on the street vows to his friend he will avenge his people and take down the Britannians for good.

Seven years after the great war, in 2017 the Japan everyone knew has changed, and a foppish prince rules the land with a cruelty that is unmatched. A high school kid called Lelouch has to get to school with his friend or risk getting expelled, and comes across an accident where a truck veers off the motorway. Being the sort of guy he is, he dashes out and tries to make a rescue attempt on any potential survivors, but that is when his life takes a sudden turn where he unravels a conspiracy against the Japanese people, and finds a young girl the authorities are after who gives him the choice of living in a world of lies, or being given an amazing amount of power.

Can two people have the same ideals and be on different sides? That is the general idea of this anime's plot as Lelouch and fellow classmate Suzaku want to end the bloodshed between the Elevens and the Britannians, but both don't see eye to eye yet. When the girl, known as CC/C2 he met at the accident decides to stay with him and aid him with his powers. She also has an ulterior motive to see what humans are like, but by being there she risks him and his disabled sister being discovered and taken by the authorities.

Lelouch has his own reasons for hating the Britannians, and under the name of Zero organises to overthrow the enemy government. After the death of prince Clovis, security is tightened at the royal palace, and many want to know who assassinated him. Prince Clovis controlled the military, dressed like a 17th Century dandy with too much time on his hands. He has everyone around him catering to his every whim, but he has little regard for the Japanese people/Elevens that have been under their control for over seven years. He attempted to crush the Eleven's rebellion, but they are smart, hitting his men with all he has got. They want Area 11 back the way it was - Japanese owned and before the Britannians invaded it. Lelouch as his alter-ego Zero is getting used to his new power which allows him to be able to control and use others using his right eye to hypnotize them to do his bidding. Called Geass, it can enable him to command anyone, and he intends to get his revenge against the ones who killed his motherland left his sister blind and crippled. When Lelouch's friend Suzaku is accused of aiding the terrorists and gets held as a prisoner, he has to act fast - if he tells them anything, his identity could be uncovered by the enemy.

The Britannian army use many weapons at their disposal. Their nightmares or mecha units are some of the most advanced around. These enable them to destroy those enemies, who would stand against them, yet the resistance movement have also developed their own kind of nightmares, and some may even be more developed than their own.

Like Guyver: The Bioboosted Armor and Aquarion, Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion is part gripping story, part excellent animation with tonnes of fight scenes and heavy battles to keep us entertained, and some handsome bishonen male characters and a sympathetic side story about Lelouch for the girls.

Bonus Material:  Opening 1, Ending 1, Audio Commentaries on 1, 4 and 5, Opening Version 2, Picture Drama 1, 2, 3, Audio Commentary 8, Picture Drama 4, 5, 6, Audio Commentary on 11, Opening 2, Ending 2, Audio Commentary on 14, Opening 2 - Version 2, Audio Commentary on 19, 21, Ending 2 - Version 2, Opening 3, Picture Drama 7, 8. 9, and Audio Commentary.

Verdict: One of the best sci-fi anime series around.