Code Geass: Boukoku no Akito 01
I'm absolutely stunned. I really enjoyed this introduction of the new Code Geass installment and I actually find this much more intriguing than the style, premise, and narrative of the original series. However, it's hard to truly label this as Code Geass for me because it's not very Geass like but at the same time has hints here and there that truly resemble Geass.
As the information provides, this takes place in between the two Black Rebellions and I think it's a fitting setting considering it reveals the audience to two very important things that weren't revealed or explained upon at all in the original series: the status of the EU and the state of Japanese people.
The EU government and the country as a whole is littered with problems and this is quite a prominent theme from the beginning all the way to the end. Whether you're seeing the various political agendas of using Japanese people in the war against Britannians or the country's internal strife when dealing with democracy, it's clear the internal struggle of the country is affecting the war. We get very large peaks at how the EU countries are doing during the current state of affairs such as its situation with the aristocracy and poverty which lends to the current turmoil that's ravaging the union. It's quite haunting to see an entire city completely devoid of life but people scavenge around.
However, the EU isn't solely divided into just the poor and the rich. Rather it's much more complicated than that. Within the rich there is an even more delicate segregation: the politicians and the soldiers. While it's hard to call the latter rich, it's quite clear that they are living much more luxurious lives than its poorer population. Even though both parties are rich, they seem to almost exist exclusively apart from each other. Soldiers are on the battlefield fighting while the politicians celebrate with victory parties. This gives the audience a very deep interworkings of the EU as well as see that soldiers stand apart from politicians creating a different socio-ecosphere.
The poorer population is also similarly segregated and while the unfortunate EU citizens are hinted at, we get a larger focus on the most unfortunate of the bunch: Japanese. Those who saw both seasons of the original series might realize that they were quite blind when watching this OVA. The reason being is that, the Japanese didn't simply lose the war against Britannia but they lost the war against the world. By being essentially wiped off the map, having their pride stomped on, and their identity rewritten, they are a people no longer wanted anywhere.
Not wanted in their homeland or anywhere else, the OVA does an impressive job revealing the current state of affairs with the Japanese not only in the EU but effectively the world. This is how things are. Japanese are treated as social outcasts and do not have a place in the EU. They are regarded as mere exiles that happen to be living in EU. One can even draw the conclusion that this might've been a post-slavery America, though not as harsh. Even when considering the war, Japanese are simple expendables as the EU would rather have Japanese casualties and not worry rather than sacrifice their own kin.
The two important characters are easily Reila Malkal and Akito Hyuga. Despite spending only an hour with them, the audience can gain great insight into what they hold important and how their psyches work. At the same time, the OVA doesn't reveal so much that they get quickly boring. Reila, despite being uptight at first, is revealed to be much more caring and worrisome. It's clear that she doesn't hold EU's political system in high regard but at the same time has no choice but to abide by it. This stark contrast shows that she acts in two different ways. What results is how she acts in front of Akito and those she is close to and the politicians. It's hard to see where this character will end up in the end as she tries to form an opinion about Akito and the rest of the Japanese population.
Akito, arguably mysterious even at the end of the OVA, comes front and center as both an awesome protagonist in both intellect and skill - and guts though its hard to discern if it's a matter the former two. His Japanese heritage makes him an expendable soldier in the EU and he is often mistreated or looked down upon by other EU soldiers. However, he doesn't let that get to him, though the real question is why that doesn't affect him. Akito appears toe be a very stern person with not much personality, however, it's clear that he cares for people despite what his appearances say otherwise. His need to protect others or cover for someone or to entertain Reila is a prime example. In addition, his sadistic nature comes into question as he often times grins. To say the least Akito is an enticing character. The most important question about Akito, however, is: Why does he fight? Akito jests "world peace" but what truly does that mean is a question can be asked throughout the entire OVA.
Even as other Japanese people enter the fray, the idea of "world peace" is quite prevalent. What does this really mean? Is it for the Japanese? If it is then what would it look like and what is the agenda behind it to reach such a result?
If there is any with the main narrative is that it fails to capture where exactly this show is going to go. Is it the random battles and meandering of the W-0 Squad or is the show working towards a tragic end. There isn't any central conflict tying all this together other than defeating the Britannians, but this seems like a meaningless conflict for the OVA series as we know what happens to the EU at the end. Perhaps this show is more about how we get to the end rather than the actual end. Pacing is, fortunately, good for the series as there are battles and conversations that are all interesting littered throughout.
The visuals are somewhat mixed as I stood both amazed at the use of CG for fights but the overabundance of it made me hard to swallow it all. CG looks great. Whether it's the stylized fight scene with heavy use of shades in the beginning to the excellently choreographed mecha-fights, it's awesome. The character designs are fairly cool too.
Lastly, the music ranges from a somewhat jazzy saxaphone tune, perhaps reminiscent of the original series, to piano pieces. It's interesting because maybe this is trying to tie the heritage of classical piano pieces to many of the infamous European pianists. Who knows. Regardless, it was fitting and enjoyable.
Overall, I'd say this was splendidly done.