Hello everyone,
Here we are for another review, this time of a very famous recent series that mix the mecha fights from Gundam with the machinations from Death Note. Yes I'm talking about Code Geass, an original anime project written by Ichirou Okouchi and directed by Gorou Taniguchi.
Let's start with a synopsis :
The Empire of Britannia has invaded Japan using giant robot weapons called Knightmare Frames. Japan is now referred to as Area 11, and its people the 11's. A Britannian who was living in Japan at the time, Lelouch, vowed to his Japanese friend Suzaku that he'd destroy Britannia. Years later, Lelouch is in high school, but regularly skips out of school to go play chess and gamble on himself. One day, he stumbles on terrorists 11's who've stolen a military secret that end up being a girl that to save Lelouch give him the power of Geass, which makes anyone obey any order. Lelouch becomes the masked Zero to lead the rebellion to destroy Britannia once and for all.
Ow, that's a big and complex story and yes it continues on these terms for the great majority of the series focusing in making new twists at each and every episodes while keeping the viewer a little shocked by some of the developments.
The series content is not clichè (or well, I haven't be able to predict most of the series except maybe the ending) and the content is fresh enough to get you very interested in watching the continuation. (Watched the first season in a single sunday)
Unfortunately due to the change of time-slot (from night slot to afternoon slot) the second season was a lot less dark and more shounen like causing major outcry in the fans.
My favourite arc of this series is the first arc of the second season regarding the execution of the members of the Black Knights, especially with how Lelouch managed to fool Rolo into submission and loyalty! (I hate Rolo from the bottom of my heart for what he has done with Shirley so yeah...
)
The characters are many and most of them are likable even thought there are a couple of exceptions that I can't really stand that is Rolo Lamperouge and Suzaku Kururugi (aka Spinzaku).
The first for the reason I already narrated, the second for his closed mind and mainly because his thinking are directly against my beliefs.
There is growth in our characters in both personality and age (as the anime have a couple of time-skip) even thought some of the developments aren't the most impressive.
My favourite character is by far Kagura Sumeragi, the head-mistress of the Kyoto House and the Supreme Council Chairwoman after the creation of the United Federation of Nations. I like her because...well she's extremely cute and I love watching that little cute figure trying to look serious. 
Nice second place for Anya Alstreim, even thought due to the low screentime she got I still haven't fully understood her personality.
The graphical quality is top notch, I loved the Clamp design for the girls (especially Kallen looks the most beautiful out there). The animation is mostly consistent even thought there are some major screw up here and there (probably fixed in the dvd release)
Very nice also the opening and ending animations especially the second season FABULOUS animation.
The sound quality of the series is top notch with tons of famous seiyuu working on this project. Some notable example are Jun Fukuyama in Lelouch Lamperouge's role, Yukana as C.C., Fumiko Orikasa as Shirley Fenette, Ami Koshimizu as Kallen Stadtfeld and many others.
I also loved most of the songs played in the serie, especially the first opening of the second season named "O2" by Orange Range that I still hear sometimes.
Concluding, this is one of the few series I feel I can suggest to anyone as the great production values and the very original story will leave you wanting for more in one way or another.
If only they could recreate the second season better...
See you soon,
feal87