Code Geass Lelouch of the Rebellion

{{about|a three-part compilation anime film|the anime television series with the same name|Code Geass{{!}}Code Geass}}

{{infobox film

| name = Code Geass Lelouch of the Rebellion

| native_name = {{Infobox Japanese|child=yes|hide=no|header=none|kanji=コードギアス反逆のルルーシュ|revhep=Kōdo Giasu Hangyaku no Rurūshu}}

|image= CodeGeassmovieposter.png

| caption = Theatrical release poster for Initiation

| director = Gorō Taniguchi

| screenplay = Ichirō Ōkouchi

| based_on = {{based on|Code Geass|Gorō Taniguchi and Ichirō Ōkouchi}}

| starring = see below

| music = {{ubl|Kōtarō Nakagawa|Hitomi Kuroishi}}

| cinematography = {{plainlist|

Hiroyuki Chiba
Sōta Ōya {{small|(Initiation)}}

}}

| editing = Seiji Morita

| studio = Sunrise

| distributor = Showgate

| released = {{film date|2017|10|21|Initiation|2018|02|10|Transgression|2018|05|26|Glorification}}

| runtime = {{plainlist|

135 minutes {{small|(Initiation)}}{{cite web|url=https://eiga.com/movie/86060/|title=コードギアス反逆のルルーシュI 興道|date=October 21, 2017|website=eiga.com|language=ja|access-date=October 21, 2017}}
133 minutes {{small|(Transgression)}}{{cite web|url=https://eiga.com/movie/87545/|title=コードギアス反逆のルルーシュII 叛道|date=February 10, 2018|website=eiga.com|language=ja|access-date=February 10, 2018}}
140 minutes {{small|(Glorification)}}{{cite web|url=https://eiga.com/movie/87546/|title=コードギアス反逆のルルーシュIII 皇道|date=May 26, 2018|website=eiga.com|language=ja|access-date=May 26, 2018}}

}}

| country = Japan

| language = Japanese

}}

{{nihongo|Code Geass Lelouch of the Rebellion|コードギアス反逆のルルーシュ|Kōdo Giasu Hangyaku no Rurūshu|lead=yes}} is a Japanese three-part animated science fantasy action film based on the anime television series with the same name co-created by director Gorō Taniguchi and writer Ichirō Ōkouchi. The three-part film was directed by Taniguchi, written by Ōkouchi, and produced by Sunrise. The first film, {{nihongo foot|Initiation,|コードギアス反逆のルルーシュ I 興道|Kōdo Giasu - Hangyaku no Rurūshu Ichi - Kōdō|{{lit.}} "Code Geass Lelouch of the Rebellion Episode I: The Awakening Path"|group=lower-alpha}} was released on October 21, 2017. The second film, {{nihongo foot|Transgression,|コードギアス反逆のルルーシュ II 叛道 |Kōdo Giasu - Hangyaku no Rurūshu Ni - Handō|{{lit.}} "Code Geass Lelouch of the Rebellion Episode II: The Rebellion Path"|group=lower-alpha}} was released on February 10, 2018. The third film, {{nihongo foot|Glorification,|コードギアス反逆のルルーシュ III 皇道|Kōdo Giasu - Hangyaku no Rurūshu Sān - Ōdō|{{lit.}} "Code Geass Lelouch of the Rebellion Episode III: The Imperial Path"|group=lower-alpha}} was released on May 26, 2018.{{cite web|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2017-07-28/code-geass-compilation-film-trilogy-reveals-visual-teaser-video-dates/.119436|title=Code Geass Compilation Film Trilogy Reveals Visual, Teaser Video, Dates|last=Pineda|first=Rafael Antonio|date=July 28, 2017|website=Anime News Network|access-date=July 28, 2017}}

The three-part film is a compilation of the television series, but with differences in storylines that makes it a separate continuity,{{cite web|url=https://www.polygon.com/platform/amp/2018/6/12/17453146/code-geass-resurrection-r3-timeline-r2-recap-movies-anime|title=The Code Geass recap movies are key to new sequel's confusing timeline|last=Haasch|first=Palmer|date=June 12, 2018|website=Polygon|access-date=June 12, 2018}} and setting up for the sequel film, Code Geass Lelouch of the Re;surrection, which was released in 2019.{{cite web|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2018-08-03/code-geass-fukkatsu-no-lelouch-sequel-is-one-february-2019-film/.135049|title=Code Geass: Fukkatsu no Lelouch Sequel Is One February 2019 Film|last=Loo|first=Egan|date=August 3, 2018|website=Anime News Network|access-date=August 3, 2018}}

Plot

{{See also|Code Geass season 1{{!}}Code Geass season 1|Code Geass season 2{{!}}Code Geass R2}}

The three-part film largely covers the events of the main anime series. Initiation compiles Season 1, Episodes 1-17; Transgression covers Season 1, Episodes 18-25 and Season 2, Episodes 1-16; and Glorification covers Season 2, Episodes 17-25.

Aside from a few bonus scenes and cut plot points, by far the most significant change is the fate of Shirley Fenette. In this alternate continuity, Shirley’s father is never killed during the Battle of Narita, thus avoiding the chain of events that ultimately results in her own death. Instead, Shirley survives through the rest of the story, with plot details adjusted to be consistent with how they occur in the original continuity in spite of Shirley’s survival.

In a post-credits scene at the end of Glorification, C.C. is shown riding on horseback towards a ceremony at Jeremiah Gottwald’s orange farm that he and Shirley are hosting. The tracks from the hay cart she rode on at the end of the original series are shown on the road she is traveling on.

Voice cast

class="wikitable" ! Character !! Japanese voice cast
Lelouch Lamperouge	Jun Fukuyama Sayaka Ohara (young)
Suzaku Kururugi	Takahiro Sakurai Akeno Watanabe (young)
C.C	Yukana
Kallen Kouzuki	Ami Koshimizu
Nunnally vi Britannia	Kaori Nazuka
Charles vi Britannia	Norio Wakamoto
V.V.	Eisuke Kawashiro
Cornelia li Britannia	Junko Minagawa
Euphemia li Britannia	Omi Minami
Rolo Lamperouge	Takahiro Mizushima
Shirley Fenette	Fumiko Orikasa
Milly Ashford	Sayaka Ohara
Rivalz Cardemonde	Noriaki Sugiyama

Production

In June 2017, it was announced that a three-part compilation film of Code Geass was in the works, with series director Gorō Taniguchi and writer Ichirō Ōkouchi returning for the films. Taniguchi confirmed that while the films are recap of the television series, there are few changes to the storylines, creating a "what if?" scenarios leading up to the sequel film.{{cite web|url=https://v-storage.bnarts.jp/anime/geass/90992/|title=本日・5月26日(土)公開！『コードギアス反逆のルルーシュIII 皇道』監督：谷口悟朗＆シリーズ構成：大河内一楼より公開記念コメント到着！|date=May 26, 2018|website=V-Storage|language=ja|access-date=May 26, 2018}}{{cite web|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2018-05-29/code-geass-writer-director-confirm-return-for-next-sequel/.132177|title=Code Geass Writer, Director Confirm Return for 'Next' Sequel|last=Ressler|first=Karen|date=May 26, 2018|website=Anime News Network|access-date=May 26, 2018}}{{cite web|url=https://natalie.mu/comic/news/248835|title=「コードギアス」第1部キービジュ公開、特典第1弾は「仮面告白大会」収録DVD|date=September 15, 2017|website=Comic Natalie|language=ja|access-date=September 15, 2017}}{{cite web|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2017-12-08/2nd-code-geass-anime-compilation-film-teaser-highlights-zero-return/.124993|title=2nd Code Geass Anime Compilation Film's Teaser Highlights Zero's Return|last=Pineda|first=Rafael Antonio|date=December 8, 2017|website=Anime News Network|access-date=December 8, 2017}}{{cite web|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2018-03-26/3rd-code-geass-recap-film-reveals-teaser-video-tv-ad-visual/.129527|title=3rd Code Geass Recap Film Reveals Teaser Video, TV Ad, Visual|date=March 26, 2018|website=Anime News Network|access-date=March 26, 2018}}{{cite web|url=http://www.ota-suke.jp/news/214410|title=「コードギアス反逆のルルーシュ」第3部「皇道」ビジュアル＆特報|date=March 24, 2018|website=Ota Suke|language=ja|access-date=March 24, 2018}} Many of the key staff members from the television series were credited for their respective roles; manga artist group CLAMP for their character design concept, with Takahiro Kimura as an animation character designer, and Kōtarō Nakagawa and Hitomi Kuroishi for their musical scores.{{cite web |url=https://geass.jp/L-geass/staff_cast.php |title="Initiation" STAFF & CAST | date=October 21, 2017 | website=Code Geass Movie Official |language=ja |access-date=October 21, 2017}}{{cite web |url=https://geass.jp/L-geass/staff_cast02.php |title="Transgression" STAFF & CAST |date=February 10, 2018 |website=Code Geass Movie Official |language=ja |access-date=February 10, 2018}}{{cite web |url=https://geass.jp/L-geass/staff_cast03.php |title="Glorification" STAFF & CAST |date=May 26, 2018 |website=Code Geass Movie Official |language=ja |access-date=May 26, 2018}}

The voice cast from the television series reprised their respective roles to re-record their old dialogues and new ones for the new scenes.

The opening songs from the television series were used in the compilation films' openings. The new ending songs were announced: {{nihongo|"Only Red is Missing"|赤だけが足りない|Aka dake ga tarinai}}, sung by Iris was used in Initiation, "The Moon", sung by Sakura Fujiwara, was used in Transgression, and "NE:ONE", sung by Survive Said the Prophet, was used in Glorification.

Release

The three-part film was released in Japanese theaters; Initiation was released on October 21, 2017, Transgression was released on February 10, 2018, and Glorification on May 26, 2018.

Reception

=Box office=

Transgression debuted at number eight in the Japanese box office.{{cite web|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2018-02-14/2nd-code-geass-film-opens-at-no.8-macross-delta-film-tops-mini-theater-ranking/.127765|title=2nd Code Geass Film Opens at #8, Macross Delta Film Tops Mini-Theater Ranking|last=Pineda|first=Rafael Antonio|date=February 14, 2018|website=Anime News Network|access-date=February 14, 2018}}

=Critical reception=

James Beckett of Anime News Network gave the three-part film "C+" rating, and states "If you like your robot wars filled with magic, melodrama, and more beautiful CLAMP boys than you can shake a stick at, then the original Code Geass will likely be worth your time."{{cite web|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/code-geass/lelouch-of-the-rebellion/movie-trilogy-blu-ray/.150989|title="Code Geass Lelouch of the Rebellion" Movie Trilogy Blu-ray Review|last=Beckett|first=James|date=September 12, 2019|website=Anime News Network|access-date=September 12, 2019}} Comic Book Resources published an article listing places where—in writer Liz Adler's opinion—the films improved upon the anime, and where the original anime was better.{{cite web|url=https://www.cbr.com/code-geass-movie-trilogy-anime-better/|title=Code Geass: 5 Things The Movie Trilogy Did Great (& 5 Things The Original Anime Did Better)|work=Comic Book Resources|last=Adler|first=Liz|date=March 26, 2020|accessdate=December 25, 2021}} Panos Kotzathanasis of Asian Movie Pulse gave a mostly positive review of Initiation.{{cite web|url=https://asianmoviepulse.com/2018/03/anime-review-code-geass-lelouch-rebellion-movie-1-2017-goro-taniguchi/|title=Anime Review: Code Geass Lelouch of the Rebellion Movie 1 (2017) by Goro Taniguchi|last=Kotzathanasis|first=Panos|date=March 10, 2018|website=Asian Movie Pulse|access-date=December 25, 2021}} Sarah Rawlings of Anime UK News rated Initiation 7/10.{{cite web|url=https://animeuknews.net/2018/11/code-geass-lelouch-of-the-rebellion-1-initiation-review/|title=Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion 1 – Initiation Review|work=Anime UK News|last=Rawlings|first=Sarah|date=November 25, 2018|access-date=December 25, 2021}}

Sequel

The sequel was teased when the three-part film was first announced. In August 2018, it was revealed that the sequel is going to be an anime film, and returning key staff and cast members from the anime television series and the three-part film were announced for the film. The sequel film, titled {{nihongo|Code Geass Lelouch of the Re;surrection|コードギアス復活のルルーシュ|Kōdo Giasu Fukkatsu no Rurūshu}} was released in Japanese theaters on February 9, 2019.{{cite web|url=https://natalie.mu/eiga/news/293993|title=「コードギアス」完全新作「復活のルルーシュ」が2019年2月に公開、特報も到着|date=August 3, 2018|website=Comic Natalie|language=ja|access-date=August 3, 2018}}