Code Geass
By Danae Stahlnecker,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Alternate history sci-fi has violence, nudity, heavy themes.

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Code Geass
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What's the Story?
CODE GEASS is set in an alternate universe where the Americas are known as the Holy Britannia Empire, and they have used giant mecha suits to conquer other nations -- including Japan. When high school student Lelouch (voiced in English by Johnny Yong Bosch) gets caught up unexpectedly in a terrorist attack, he gains special geass powers from the mysterious C.C. (voiced by Kate Higgins) that allow him to control other people. He decides to use his power to fulfill his childhood vow to take down the Empire and create a peaceful world where his younger sister can live happily.
Is It Any Good?
This tense war drama serves as a useful allegory for ongoing real-world issues of prejudice, violence, and war. Code Geass features a morally gray protagonist and a large ensemble cast of characters, all of whom offer different perspectives of the Empire and how to effectively bring it down. What's good is that there are no easy answers, and even Lelouch, with all his power, isn't always right. The series sparks a lot of reflection and discussion around our lives in a complicated, violent world and what we would do to achieve the future we want.
But though characters may have different motivations, they still fall back on using violence to solve problems. Also, even though the show successfully challenges peoples' prejudices based on nationality or ethnicity, it fails to offer the same treatment to its disabled and queer characters.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about violence and war. What perspectives do different characters have about the violence they both experience and perpetuate? Why do they have these perspectives? How do you feel about their ideas?
Families can talk about peace. What would it take for communities to achieve peace? How do the characters find peace for themselves and their communities?
Families can talk about historical fiction. What parts of the story are inspired by real-world history? How does the history help us understand the characters' motivations and personal journeys?
TV Details
- Premiere date: October 6, 2006
- Cast: Johnny Yong Bosch, Kate Higgins, Yuri Lowenthal
- Networks: Crunchyroll, Netflix, Hulu
- Genre: Action
- Topics: Activism, Magic and Fantasy, Robots
- TV rating: TV-14
- Last updated: April 22, 2023
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