Is Code Geass Good and Worth Watching in 2022?

Code Geass remains one of the most recognizable and iconic anime long after its original release date, with Lelouch being one of the most popular anime characters ever to be created. But does the show stand the test of time? If you're a newcomer wondering if Code Geass is good and worth watching in 2022, here's what we think:

About Code Geass

Credit: Sunrise

Code Geass is a mecha anime that follows Lelouch, an exiled prince of the futuristic Brittanian Empire, which has conquered many known nations, including Japan, where he now lives as an elite Brittanian student.

Lelouch despises Britannia and wants to destroy it, as the empire has killed his mother and crippled his sister, Nunnally, before exiling both siblings. His dream is to create a better world where Nunnally can be safe and happy, but he feels powerless to achieve this goal.

This changes when he receives the Geass, a mysterious and dangerous power that will allow Lelouch to change the world - if he doesn't destroy it first.

Is Code Geass Actually Good?

Credit: Sunrise

With an impressive score of 8.70/10 on MyAnimeList, Code Geass is almost universally considered to be a good anime. Its intricate plot and complex protagonist - who is one of the smartest anime characters of all time - definitely help!

Code Geass is also impressive due to the way it mixes and matches genres. At a first glance, it's a mecha anime, but if this isn't your thing, don't give up on it yet!

While a large part of the show is devoted to battles and mind games, we also spend a lot of time with Lelouch's friends and classmates, who add excellent school comedy elements.

But the genre-blending doesn't stop there. Code Geass isn't a romance, but after a dozen or so episodes you can't help wondering if Lelouch and C.C. end up together.

The anime likes to be ambiguous where pairings are concerned, but you are likely to develop a few favorite ships along the way.

Of course, genres aside, no story goes very far without a great cast of characters. While by no means the first anime to feature a morally grey protagonist, Code Geass did a particularly great job at making Lelouch multilayered.

Lelouch is a genius mastermind, but starts off as a rather lazy and unmotivated student, as he doesn't feel powerful enough to change the world.

When he receives his Geass, he decisively puts his plan to destroy Brittania and create a better world for Nunally into motion. In doing so, however, he loses part of himself, occasionally becoming cruel and making a number of wrong decisions, with a devastating cost for himself and his loved ones.

By the ending of Code Geass - another reason why the series is so great - we realize the full impact of Lelouch's actions on him and others, both positive and negative. In having Lelouch mess up, but also be brave and try to make amends, the writers give us an excellent, well-rounded character.

The side characters are also great. Their relationships with Lelouch are very important, but they are also people in their own right, with their own goals, beliefs, and desires - sometimes aligned with Lelouch's own, and sometimes completely different.

Suzaku, Lelouch's childhood friend and one of his main antagonists, is a particularly interesting example due to how similar his and Lelouch's goals should theoretically be.

While Suzaku, who is Japanese, should want Brittania destroyed as much as the Brittanian Lelouch - if not more so – he approaches cruelty in a completely different manner.

Rather than seeking quick results through huge and occasionally violent acts - as Lelouch does - he firmly believes in changing evil from the inside, so he works toward becoming an honorary Brittanian soldier.

This is only one example, though. Even minor characters have their own agendas, and fight for their own wants and desires, justified or misguided, making for explosive and sometimes heartbreaking scenes.

Related: Why Does Suzaku Join Lelouch in Code Geass?

Are There Any Negatives?

Credit: Sunrise

The review above establishes that Code Geass is a great anime, worth watching more than two decades after its original run. Of course, this isn't to say there are not some potential negatives to be aware of:

Those viewers who are new to anime might not notice anything horribly wrong with the animation, but the general consensus is that it didn't age very well.

While not atrocious to look at, it doesn't stand a chance compared to the much more carefully animated 2010s and 2020s anime that came after.

Of course, if you can get past that, Code Geass has a terrific story to tell, and great characters to help it tell it, proving that looks are often deceptive.

The over-the-top facial gestures and unrealistic character designs might feel outdated, but, once you get used to the style, it shouldn't prevent you from thoroughly enjoying Code Geass.

Another issue you might want to be aware of before going into Code Geass is the amount of fanservice, which can feel outdated at times; after all, humor shouldn't be based on female anatomy and accidental nudity with female characters being the most affected.

Related: What Is C.C.'s Real Name in Code Geass?

The one thing that saves Code Geass in that regard is that it doesn't entirely depend on such scenes to be funny but you might want to be aware of the fanservice if it's something that bothers you.

In conclusion, Code Geass is an anime that stands the test of time and it's totally worth watching and rewatching - or at least giving a chance - in the 2020s, even though it does have a few negatives you might want to know about.