Post by Inuyasha-Kun on Oct 18, 2008 12:33:06 GMT -5
I just decided to put this up so people can get my opinions on great animes that need to be watched. I was going to make this just a Code Geass topic, but I know it probably wouldn't last too long with just Code Geass. This said, I decided to just make the entire topic a review of animes I recommend starting with Code Geass cause I am just in love with that anime.
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Honestly, Code Geass is like a revolution in anime. It brings everything to the table; action, drama, comedy, mature, romance, mecha. With all this packed into one storyline, its hard to believe how they could make the storyline actually good while keeping everything. WRONG. They keep every single aspect of each genre in tact in bits and pieces for some and a huge load for others; such as drama and action. Code Geass does something that you don't see happen a lot in other animes. It brings character development to the next level. Each character in the story is extremely unique in their own way and even though you may hate a character in the first few episodes, you might begin to love them later and maybe the characters you loved in the beginning will become the characters you despise most. It brings this aspect that each character in the story was not just put there for no reason. Each and everyone has a back story to their lives that are heart aching at times. And as the story advances, the character development of EVERYONE starts at the perfect pace. As for the animation and action, probably some of the best I've seen in a long time. A LONG TIME. It takes mobile suits to the next level and kind of feels like an RPG in a way because the knightmare (What the robots are called) you love most usually always gets an extreme upgrade that makes it kick so much a$$. Oh and this beats Gundam, A LOT. The action in the anime is just extremely well done and stylized. This action can be more intense than 10 Gundam series combined with a bit of help from Bleach, Naruto, and One Piece. Think of it like this; remember episode 133 in Naruto? Yeah, the best episode in the series? Well remember how awesome and stylized the action was? Well now imagine that, but happening in more than one episode. Oh and without the crappy animation. Get the point? Also, the creators of Code Geass aren't shy about showing blood. Code Geass has some of the most terribly gruesome and disturbing massacre scenes that I believe no anime has come close to. When I mean massacre, I mean losts of people dying and lots of blood everywhere. I don't mean things like torture scenes seen on animes like Higurashi No Naku Koro Ni. This is a MASSACRE. Now the art style of Code Geass is made by the legendary artists CLAMP and their art shines throughout the anime. The character designs are fabulously made and gives the anime a lot more style than a realistic approach like other animes, Death Note for example. Though some critics do believe the art is extremely fan service, I believe this choice was made for the good. Honestly, would anyone have known about Code Geass unless they got the some publicity by having CLAMP draw their characters? Exactly. Though I do agree that it does provide lots of fan service, it still proves to give the anime an upper edge because of its stylized look that makes people more attracted to it. Because of that attraction, we enjoy the overall experience of the anime more. Trust me, if you watch Code Geass first and try to read the manga adaption by Majiko, you won't last too long cause of that craving you want for CLAMP's art style. CLAMP's art is basically the personality of the anime. With so much to talk about, I actually forgot to make the storyline as my first overview of the anime which is the biggest reason behind my love for the anime. Here is the basic summary:
"On August 10, 2010, a.t.b. (the Imperial calendar), the Holy Empire of Britannia overpowered Japanese forces and conquered the country with their new robotic weapons, the Knightmare Frames, in less than a month. In the aftermath of Britannia's invasion, Japan lost its freedom, its rights, and even its name, becoming Area 11 of the Britannian Empire. The Japanese people, renamed as "Elevens", are forced to survive in poor neighborhoods, while Britannians live in first-class settlements. Rebel elements persist, however, as pockets of Japanese organizations struggle against the Empire for the independence of Japan.
After his father, the Emperor of Britannia, failed to prevent the assassination of his mother, an attack which also left his sister blind and crippled, the young prince Lelouch vowed to destroy Britannia. Seven years later, he accidentally becomes mixed up with "terrorists" in Area 11 and encounters a mysterious girl named C.C., who gives him the power of Geass. With it, he finally has the power that he needs to defeat Britannia and fulfill his two wishes: to seek revenge for his mother and to construct a world in which his beloved sister can live happily." - Wikipedia
Yeah the story makes you suck in a lot of information in the beginning. This may seem daunting, but it really is quite simple once you basically get the grasp of whats happening. Critics have struck Code Geass for this huge amount of info the audience has to learn, but honestly, it really isn't too much. We have to suck in more information at school than this so it is nothing we can't handle. Now, as some people have referred it to, Code Geass is Death Note with Robots. This is actually a really accurate way to tell what Code Geass is. Fans of Death Note can easily tell that Code Geass bases a lot on the hit series. For example, Lelouch Vi Britannia is an extremely intelligent person who gains some mysterious power that he uses in order to create a new peaceful world for his sister and himself; Light Yagami is an extremely intelligent person who gains the power of the Death Note which he uses in order to create a new world without evil. See the resemblance? Aside from that, Code Geass does things that Death Note hasn't and that is the attachment people have with the characters. Of course, Death Note does have characters people like and are attached to like Light Yagami and Lawliet, but that really is it. Unless its something about me, those were the only two that I ever had liked a lot. Now as for Code Geass, there are a TON of characters that I have fallen in love with. Lelouch, Karen, CC, Nunnally, Shirley, Rolo, Nina, Suzaku, Jeremiah, Schneizel, Ohgi, Villetta, Sayoko, Tohdoh, Kaguya, Rakshata, Lloyd, Cécile, Corenlia, Euphemia, Li Xingke, and Jiang Lihua. Yes, that's a LOT of characters that I like thus proving my point on character relationships between the audience and show. Also, Death Note may be intense, but it does not have nearly as much action as Code Geass. You see, Death note focuses more on thinking while Code Geass attempts to corporate both thinking and tons of action which is successfully does. Actually, I wouldn't be surprised if the writers of Code Geass got some help from Ohba Tsugumi, the author of Death Note. The story shows intense scenes of well thought of battles and battle tactics that can really turn your head over heels. Along with these smart battles comes extremely intelligent, if not genius, scenes of drama and dread that can hurt you to the point you feel as though someone took a knife and ran it right down your heart and that you get shivers down your whole spine while your whole body becomes numb because of what just happened. With putting so much into the story, it's hard to believe the writers didn't go insane while coming up with this. Along with everything being completely awesome, the sound in the anime is absolutely fantastic. No more weird clunky sounds of robots moving like you get from Gundam and crap. This is what robot should REALLY sound like. Accompanied by great sound effects comes and awesome orchestral BGM that has a distinct flavor that you will recognize as Code Geass. The first opening by Flow is probably the best however. The other openings and endings are either mediocre or down right horrendous. The voice acting is well done as most animes, but I didn't exactly like Lelouch's voice over at first. It seemed way to deep and adult for someone like Lelouch. Other that that, everyone else is excellent especially the voice actor for Nunnally who gave one of the best voice acting performances I have ever heard in the final episode. It brings you to tears nearly 99% of the time and makes you numb and all those feelings I described before 100%. I do believe it wouldn't be as powerful as it was if it didn't have the most perfect background music to accompany it that provides a both depressing and joyous feeling depending on what's happening in the scene. Honestly, EVERY SINGLE TIME I SEE THE FINAL EPISODE OF CODE GEASS, I GET THE SPINE CHILLING AND HEART ACHING FEELING. Of course I'm a guy so I can't really cry, but I almost did. Well now, I think I basically covered everything. Animation, Story, Characters, Art, Sound, Presentation; yup. All right, my pros and cons of Code Geass is below a long with my final score. I hope you enjoyed my review of Code Geass and hope that it inspired you to watch this fabulous anime.
Pros: Storyline is one of the deepest and most well thought of stories since the release of Death Note, this is as good a story can get for an anime; Action is superbly made, stylized and frantic accompanied by excellent animation that transcends how good animation can get for an anime; Sound design and direction is perfectly blended into each scene of the anime and the background music delivers a unique and excellent score that gives the anime much more personality; The most superb drama scenes I have ever scene in my life; Character development is at the most perfect pace and it is a fact that you will like atleast 3 characters in the whole anime; Art is extremely attractive and well made that gives the anime even more personality and the robot designs are far superior than any Gundam series (IMO); BEST ENDING IN AN ANIME EVER!!!
Cons: Story can be overwhelming at times; Comedy sections aren't the best; The massacres in the anime can be disturbing to some; Some scenes actually have nudity even though there are like only 3, only boobies
Score: 5 out of 5
9 out of 10
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Honestly, Code Geass is like a revolution in anime. It brings everything to the table; action, drama, comedy, mature, romance, mecha. With all this packed into one storyline, its hard to believe how they could make the storyline actually good while keeping everything. WRONG. They keep every single aspect of each genre in tact in bits and pieces for some and a huge load for others; such as drama and action. Code Geass does something that you don't see happen a lot in other animes. It brings character development to the next level. Each character in the story is extremely unique in their own way and even though you may hate a character in the first few episodes, you might begin to love them later and maybe the characters you loved in the beginning will become the characters you despise most. It brings this aspect that each character in the story was not just put there for no reason. Each and everyone has a back story to their lives that are heart aching at times. And as the story advances, the character development of EVERYONE starts at the perfect pace. As for the animation and action, probably some of the best I've seen in a long time. A LONG TIME. It takes mobile suits to the next level and kind of feels like an RPG in a way because the knightmare (What the robots are called) you love most usually always gets an extreme upgrade that makes it kick so much a$$. Oh and this beats Gundam, A LOT. The action in the anime is just extremely well done and stylized. This action can be more intense than 10 Gundam series combined with a bit of help from Bleach, Naruto, and One Piece. Think of it like this; remember episode 133 in Naruto? Yeah, the best episode in the series? Well remember how awesome and stylized the action was? Well now imagine that, but happening in more than one episode. Oh and without the crappy animation. Get the point? Also, the creators of Code Geass aren't shy about showing blood. Code Geass has some of the most terribly gruesome and disturbing massacre scenes that I believe no anime has come close to. When I mean massacre, I mean losts of people dying and lots of blood everywhere. I don't mean things like torture scenes seen on animes like Higurashi No Naku Koro Ni. This is a MASSACRE. Now the art style of Code Geass is made by the legendary artists CLAMP and their art shines throughout the anime. The character designs are fabulously made and gives the anime a lot more style than a realistic approach like other animes, Death Note for example. Though some critics do believe the art is extremely fan service, I believe this choice was made for the good. Honestly, would anyone have known about Code Geass unless they got the some publicity by having CLAMP draw their characters? Exactly. Though I do agree that it does provide lots of fan service, it still proves to give the anime an upper edge because of its stylized look that makes people more attracted to it. Because of that attraction, we enjoy the overall experience of the anime more. Trust me, if you watch Code Geass first and try to read the manga adaption by Majiko, you won't last too long cause of that craving you want for CLAMP's art style. CLAMP's art is basically the personality of the anime. With so much to talk about, I actually forgot to make the storyline as my first overview of the anime which is the biggest reason behind my love for the anime. Here is the basic summary:
"On August 10, 2010, a.t.b. (the Imperial calendar), the Holy Empire of Britannia overpowered Japanese forces and conquered the country with their new robotic weapons, the Knightmare Frames, in less than a month. In the aftermath of Britannia's invasion, Japan lost its freedom, its rights, and even its name, becoming Area 11 of the Britannian Empire. The Japanese people, renamed as "Elevens", are forced to survive in poor neighborhoods, while Britannians live in first-class settlements. Rebel elements persist, however, as pockets of Japanese organizations struggle against the Empire for the independence of Japan.
After his father, the Emperor of Britannia, failed to prevent the assassination of his mother, an attack which also left his sister blind and crippled, the young prince Lelouch vowed to destroy Britannia. Seven years later, he accidentally becomes mixed up with "terrorists" in Area 11 and encounters a mysterious girl named C.C., who gives him the power of Geass. With it, he finally has the power that he needs to defeat Britannia and fulfill his two wishes: to seek revenge for his mother and to construct a world in which his beloved sister can live happily." - Wikipedia
Yeah the story makes you suck in a lot of information in the beginning. This may seem daunting, but it really is quite simple once you basically get the grasp of whats happening. Critics have struck Code Geass for this huge amount of info the audience has to learn, but honestly, it really isn't too much. We have to suck in more information at school than this so it is nothing we can't handle. Now, as some people have referred it to, Code Geass is Death Note with Robots. This is actually a really accurate way to tell what Code Geass is. Fans of Death Note can easily tell that Code Geass bases a lot on the hit series. For example, Lelouch Vi Britannia is an extremely intelligent person who gains some mysterious power that he uses in order to create a new peaceful world for his sister and himself; Light Yagami is an extremely intelligent person who gains the power of the Death Note which he uses in order to create a new world without evil. See the resemblance? Aside from that, Code Geass does things that Death Note hasn't and that is the attachment people have with the characters. Of course, Death Note does have characters people like and are attached to like Light Yagami and Lawliet, but that really is it. Unless its something about me, those were the only two that I ever had liked a lot. Now as for Code Geass, there are a TON of characters that I have fallen in love with. Lelouch, Karen, CC, Nunnally, Shirley, Rolo, Nina, Suzaku, Jeremiah, Schneizel, Ohgi, Villetta, Sayoko, Tohdoh, Kaguya, Rakshata, Lloyd, Cécile, Corenlia, Euphemia, Li Xingke, and Jiang Lihua. Yes, that's a LOT of characters that I like thus proving my point on character relationships between the audience and show. Also, Death Note may be intense, but it does not have nearly as much action as Code Geass. You see, Death note focuses more on thinking while Code Geass attempts to corporate both thinking and tons of action which is successfully does. Actually, I wouldn't be surprised if the writers of Code Geass got some help from Ohba Tsugumi, the author of Death Note. The story shows intense scenes of well thought of battles and battle tactics that can really turn your head over heels. Along with these smart battles comes extremely intelligent, if not genius, scenes of drama and dread that can hurt you to the point you feel as though someone took a knife and ran it right down your heart and that you get shivers down your whole spine while your whole body becomes numb because of what just happened. With putting so much into the story, it's hard to believe the writers didn't go insane while coming up with this. Along with everything being completely awesome, the sound in the anime is absolutely fantastic. No more weird clunky sounds of robots moving like you get from Gundam and crap. This is what robot should REALLY sound like. Accompanied by great sound effects comes and awesome orchestral BGM that has a distinct flavor that you will recognize as Code Geass. The first opening by Flow is probably the best however. The other openings and endings are either mediocre or down right horrendous. The voice acting is well done as most animes, but I didn't exactly like Lelouch's voice over at first. It seemed way to deep and adult for someone like Lelouch. Other that that, everyone else is excellent especially the voice actor for Nunnally who gave one of the best voice acting performances I have ever heard in the final episode. It brings you to tears nearly 99% of the time and makes you numb and all those feelings I described before 100%. I do believe it wouldn't be as powerful as it was if it didn't have the most perfect background music to accompany it that provides a both depressing and joyous feeling depending on what's happening in the scene. Honestly, EVERY SINGLE TIME I SEE THE FINAL EPISODE OF CODE GEASS, I GET THE SPINE CHILLING AND HEART ACHING FEELING. Of course I'm a guy so I can't really cry, but I almost did. Well now, I think I basically covered everything. Animation, Story, Characters, Art, Sound, Presentation; yup. All right, my pros and cons of Code Geass is below a long with my final score. I hope you enjoyed my review of Code Geass and hope that it inspired you to watch this fabulous anime.
Pros: Storyline is one of the deepest and most well thought of stories since the release of Death Note, this is as good a story can get for an anime; Action is superbly made, stylized and frantic accompanied by excellent animation that transcends how good animation can get for an anime; Sound design and direction is perfectly blended into each scene of the anime and the background music delivers a unique and excellent score that gives the anime much more personality; The most superb drama scenes I have ever scene in my life; Character development is at the most perfect pace and it is a fact that you will like atleast 3 characters in the whole anime; Art is extremely attractive and well made that gives the anime even more personality and the robot designs are far superior than any Gundam series (IMO); BEST ENDING IN AN ANIME EVER!!!
Cons: Story can be overwhelming at times; Comedy sections aren't the best; The massacres in the anime can be disturbing to some; Some scenes actually have nudity even though there are like only 3, only boobies
Score: 5 out of 5
9 out of 10
