Code Geass - Lelouch of the Rebellion Episode 1 - The Day the Demon Was Born
OP - COLORS (FLOW) - I like this song. I like it lots. I also think the OP kicks ass in a vaguely 90s way; not quite sure how to explain it, but it reminds me of something I’ve seen before for some reason.
ED - Yuukyou Seishunka (ALI PROJECT) - a tolerable Ali Project song! Also illustrations.
Imagine, if you will, that I was split into two people, one of which is rational, the other not quite so. Both these people watched Code Geass 1.
The rational me thinks that the first episode of Code Geass is rushed beyond belief to get to the big moment at the end. The rational me is worried that the large cast of characters isn’t going to get that well developed, and that the plot may be a bit overly military-gung-ho (although it approves of the mystical mumbo jumbo brought by CC and the Flying Red Birdie of Mass Suicide). The rational me thinks that it’s slightly typical Sunrise in that it’s all very slick and polished but somewhat derivative, and wonders whether Goro Taniguchi is best with other people’s source material because he likes to spend his time putting flashy mecha battles in his shows whilst ripping off established favourites for plot materials (Gun X Sword = Trigun, Code Geass = Gundam)
This is what the not quite so rational me thinks:
LIEK OMG CLAMP AND THINGS EXPLOD0RATING AND PRETTY PEOPLE IN PRETTY CLOTHES AND ZOMG PEOPLE DYING AND WEIRD FLASHBACKS AND SUPARPOWARS AND *explosion*
The not quite so rational side is winning at the moment.
I thought Code Geass 1 rocked, despite being rather flawed; I think the sheer breakneck pace of the first episode carried it through any potential difficulties, and I’m very interested in seeing exactly where everything ends up. One might question the Imperialist Western PigDog enemies, but frankly all good anime series have stupidly despotic foes (at least to start with); no doubt there will be some kind of reveal that the Britannia Empire is actually not that bad after all or something along those lines anyway.
Then again, Seiji Takeda IS the producer…
October 12th, 2006 at 5:51 am
Bluwacky, nice summary of CG. erm, I must ask though, are people refering to Seiji Takeda’s choice of shows relating to wars or military conflict, and if so, is it in a derogatory fashion? This is was talked about at animesuki and referenced from some comments from 2channel, but i’m still a tad at sea about it.
October 12th, 2006 at 7:57 am
A lot of the japanese fans seem to be unhappy that he is “playing politics” in anime and Takeda himself fully admits it himself and encourages it. To be honest I think people are over thinking it, of all the shows he’s participated in, all of em had anti war messages which is his big thing and recently a more critical slant against America (GSD or Blood+). FMA definitely had an anti war theme in a few parts while Eureka was mostly drawing parallels to the middle east and cultural problems among other things. More people are vocal about Geass because it clearly portrays the US as aggressors and are jumping on it as anti-american propaganda and obviously all hands are pointing at Takeda for the blame. For the record I don’t really have anything against him.
Takeda is also involved in planning for Ayakashi Ayashi, so we’ll see if he can manage to fit something in there as well 8)
October 12th, 2006 at 10:04 am
I still haven’t had time to watch Ayakashi Ayashi, which is driving me nuts; Shou Aikawa is great at subtlety though so I shouldn’t think it’ll be hugely problematic.
Personally I don’t really give a flying doodah if it’s ZOMGAMERICABAD; I’m not exactly all “hurray for the USA!” myself. I think it’s more the heavy-handedness of the “message” that bothers me, if it’s even there; I thought FMA was pretty sensitively judged, and even though E7 annoyed me intensely the decent plot elements were relatively subtle. I guess we’ll just have to wait and see how Code Geass handles it, but given that it’s Sunrise it’ll probably be with all the gentleness of a sledgehammer to the face!
Besides, given that Mr Takeda appears to have pots of money I wouldn’t be above putting in anti-Western messages in my show if it guaranteed a nice shot of cash for animating battle scenes…
October 13th, 2006 at 2:44 pm
Hi, I’ve watched this episode, and I wonder has anyone started to sub this series? I didn’t understand much of what they said when I saw it raw..
October 14th, 2006 at 3:09 pm
There also seems to be a general (and perhaps illogical) notion that Takeda’s losing his effect because his three most recent shows, SEED DESTINY, Blood+ and Eureka 7 were not well-received by otaku in general. They’ve all been lambasted as failures…
Great writeup, anyway. For me the rational side has somewhat similar worries as you, but the irrational side of me is giggling at Lulu. I love that nickname…
I like the OP, but it sounds a bit too similar to Eureka 7’s first OP, Days (also by FLOW) - but who cares, that’s one of my most favourite OPs of all time so it’s all fine.
October 14th, 2006 at 6:16 pm
I’m amazed this hasn’t been subbed yet, it seems like the sort of thing that would get picked up immediatley….. maybe everyone’s busy with Death Note XD
From what I’ve seen on the blogs, I don’t know why anyone is getting bent out of shape by the bad guys being based in America. The Britannians look so unrealistic and stylized that making any comparisons is pretty absurd.
October 16th, 2006 at 9:19 am
If anything, Britannia implies that it is the British who conquered most of the known world. That, or the Americans lost the War of Independance.
October 16th, 2006 at 4:54 pm
I found it too stupid to be enjoyable, really.
October 16th, 2006 at 8:14 pm
After watching this subbed, my only comment is: What the hell?
The breackneck pace didn’t help things. Why are we told in the start that Britannia conquered Japan, but not why they did it? Who are the Britannians, and why do they dress so oddly? Why does Japan look totally normal, while the invaders seem like something from a sci-fi story? Who was the guy with the ridiculous pony tail and why is he commenting on everything the King (or whatever) says?
There are other events that were sort of glossed over that could have been expanded upon, like the bombing of the big office block thing. What the hell was all that about Ragnorak at the end? And if Lelouch is Japanese, why does he have a Britannian name? Or is he Britannian? In which case, why was he with the guy who got shot when they were kids?
I know most of this is going to be explained in due time, but the rushed pacing makes it seem confusing rather than mysterious.
I think this would have been better if it was less….. anime-ish. Less multi-coloured hair and generic sci-fi stuff (although Lelouch making the soldiers shoot themselves was pretty cool).
Anyway, I’m just ranting because I can see a god story in here but it’s being obscured by wierd crap.
October 22nd, 2006 at 5:10 am
Well, there are some flaws in the anime and involving some issues… but don’t get too technical! It’s an ANIME! not award winning best-seller novel by a famous writer.
for now I’m VERY happy that Lelouch looks (and somewhat acts) like Kamui from x/1999. And I was really supried that the anime people managed to capture his looks (cuz anime people usually manages to dement them)(I’m a beg artist).
anyway the graphics are good, the characters are good, the plot is good (without getting too technical) AND I’m Happy! ^_____________^
ps. probably mostly cuz I luv clamp A LOT
February 5th, 2007 at 3:13 am
About the OP Colors, would I be right in saying that it reminds you of Kokomo?
June 8th, 2008 at 11:05 am
To be precise, it’s not America that’s the enemy in this series but the Holy Empire of Britannia. Britannia is basically the United Kingdom, if the UK had kept all the land it had ever colonized right up to the 21st century, and then some, while maintaining its 17th century monarchy and aristocracy right up to modern times.
So basically, not only is the US not the aggressor here, but the US doesn’t even exist in this timeline. But that might be even more insulting for you American patriots. I mean really. The US is imperialist, why is it so bad to portray that?