Gaining the power of absolute obedience in a world crushed by the Holy Britannian Empire is a heavy burden for one exiled prince to bear.
Navigating Lelouch’s rebellion—and his tactical genius—requires the right Code Geass watch order, where every move on the chessboard reshapes the fate of the world.
With alternate movie timelines and split canons, figuring out where to begin can feel as complex as executing the Zero Requiem, but C.C. would certainly approve of this guide. She’ll even hand you a box of pizza in the process.
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What is Code Geass about
Code Geass is an original anime series produced by Sunrise, first airing in Japan in 2006. Directed by Goro Taniguchi and written by Ichiro Okouchi, the series was conceived as a politically charged mecha drama that blends rebellion, strategy, and moral ambiguity.
Its striking character designs by CLAMP helped set it apart visually, giving the show an instantly recognizable look that contrasted sharply with its dark subject matter.
The story follows Lelouch Lamperouge, an exiled prince who is granted the supernatural “Geass” power, allowing him to command anyone he makes eye contact with.
Driven by the singular goal of protecting his sister and annihilating the Britannian Empire, his story escalates into a high-stakes rebellion. This conflict severely tests his morality and forces him into direct opposition with his closest of friends.
Your best guide to the Code Geass watch order
Unfolding across across two main seasons, the narrative starts with the first season airing from 2006 to 2007, followed by Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion R2 in 2008.
Set in an alternate future where the Holy Britannian Empire dominates much of the world, the series reflects themes of imperialism, resistance, and the cost of revolution.
Mecha combat serves as both spectacle and metaphor, emphasizing how warfare and power are mechanized and dehumanized within authoritarian systems.
With every season, Lelouch’s rebellion intensifies, with the introduction of clever strategic opponents and deeply emotional betrayals that constantly push his tactical brilliance to its absolute limit.
Code Geass has earned significant critical recognition during its original run. In 2007, the series received the Excellence Prize in the Animation Division at the Japan Media Arts Festival, highlighting its impact beyond commercial success.
Listing down all Code Geass seasons
| CODE GEASS SEASON | RELEASE DATE | DESCRIPTION |
| Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion (Season 1) | October 6, 2006 | The start of the saga: in a future where the Holy Britannian Empire has conquered Japan and renaming it Area 11, Lelouch gains the power of Geass and leads a resistance movement as the masked vigilante “Zero” to destroy the Empire and create a better world for his sister. |
| Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion R2 (Season 2) | April 6, 2008 | One year after the “Black Rebellion” failed, Lelouch regains his lost memories and powers. He rebuilds the Black Knights to challenge the Emperor of Britannia once and for all. |
| Code Geass: Rozé of the Recapture (Sequel) | June 21, 2024 | 5 years after the movie Lelouch of the Re;surrection. It follows two mercenary brothers, Rozé and Ash, as they embark on a mission to recapture the Hokkaido Block from Neo-Britannian forces. |
Full list of Code Geass OVAs
While the anime revolves around its psychological warfare and tragic sacrifices, the franchise introduced fun comedic spin-offs and canon side stories that add layers to the characters and story.
| CODE GEASS OVA EPISODE | RELEASE DATE | DESCRIPTION |
| The Miraculous Birthday | April 23, 2010 | A special release that features the student council prepares for Lelouch’s birthday. |
| Nunnally in Wonderland | July 27, 2012 | A comedy spin-off where Lelouch uses his Geass to tell Nunnally a story, casting the series’ characters into the roles of Alice in Wonderland. |
| Akito the Exiled – Episode 1 (The Wyvern Arrives) | August 4, 2012 | Introduces Akito Hyuga and the W-ZERO unit as they fight the Britannian Empire on the brink of defeat. |
| Akito the Exiled – Episode 2 (The Wyvern Divided) | September 14, 2013 | Akito and his squad are stranded in Warsaw. Meanwhile, a familiar Britannian strategist (Julius Kingsley) and his knight arrive in St. Petersburg to take command of the Euro-Britannian forces. |
| Akito the Exiled – Episode 3 (The Brightness Falls) | May 2, 2015 | The W-ZERO unit bonds while living with a group of Romani travelers. The plot thickens as the identity of Julius Kingsley is explored. |
| Akito the Exiled – Episode 4 (Memories of Hatred) | July 4, 2015 | The W-ZERO unit returns to base to find it under siege. Akito confronts his past and his brother, Shin Hyuga, revealing the dark history of their family and Geass. |
| Akito the Exiled – Episode 5(To Beloved Ones) | February 6, 2016 | The finale of the Akito series. The W-ZERO unit engages in a final, desperate battle against Shin Hyuga’s forces to protect their home and freedom. |
All Code Geass movies
Expanding beyond the TV series, the movie timeline constructs an alternate reality, altering key events to pave the way for Lelouch’s return in a brand-new sequel.
It’s important to note that the Code Geass movies establish a separate canon from the TV series, creating an alternate timeline where some key events deviate.
| CODE GEASS MOVIE | RELEASE DATE | DESCRIPTION |
| Code Geass: Initiation (Lelouch of the Rebellion I) | October 21, 2017 | The first film in the recap trilogy. It summarizes the first half of Season 1. While mostly faithful to the TV anime, it adds new scenes and begins to diverge from the original canon. |
| Code Geass: Transgression (Lelouch of the Rebellion II) | February 10, 2018 | The second recap film covers the end of Season 1 and the first half of R2. In this version, Shirley Fenette survives, a crucial difference that allows the story to continue into the sequel movie. |
| Code Geass: Glorification (Lelouch of the Rebellion III) | May 26, 2018 | The final recap film covering the conclusion of R2. The ending is slightly altered to set the stage for the direct sequel, Lelouch of the Re;surrection. |
| Code Geass: Lelouch of the Re;surrection | February 9, 2019 | A completely new story set two years after the “Zero Requiem.” It serves as a direct sequel to the movie trilogy. Lelouch returns to face a new threat from the Kingdom of Zilkhistan. |
Full Code Geass watch order by release date
If you want to experience Lelouch’s journey exactly as viewers did from the beginning, following the release order is one way to watch.
This order preserves the intended pacing, letting you uncover the mysteries of the Holy Britannian Empire and the true nature of its characters.
Here is the full Code Geass watch order by release date:
| ORDER | CODE GEASS TITLE | TYPE | RELEASE DATE |
| 1 | Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion | TV Series (Season 1) | October 6, 2006 |
| 2 | Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion R2 | TV Series (Season 2) | April 6, 2008 |
| 3 | Code Geass: The Miraculous Birthday | OVA (Special) | April 23, 2010 |
| 4 | Code Geass: Nunnally in Wonderland | OVA (Spin-off) | July 27, 2012 |
| 5 | Code Geass: Akito the Exiled – Ep 1 | OVA (Cinematic) | August 4, 2012 |
| 6 | Code Geass: Akito the Exiled – Ep 2 | OVA (Cinematic) | September 14, 2013 |
| 7 | Code Geass: Akito the Exiled – Ep 3 | OVA (Cinematic) | May 2, 2015 |
| 8 | Code Geass: Akito the Exiled – Ep 4 | OVA (Cinematic) | July 4, 2015 |
| 9 | Code Geass: Akito the Exiled – Ep 5 | OVA (Cinematic) | February 6, 2016 |
| 10 | Code Geass: Initiation (Lelouch of the Rebellion I) | Movie (Recap) | October 21, 2017 |
| 11 | Code Geass: Transgression (Lelouch of the Rebellion II) | Movie (Recap) | February 10, 2018 |
| 12 | Code Geass: Glorification (Lelouch of the Rebellion III) | Movie (Recap) | May 26, 2018 |
| 13 | Code Geass: Lelouch of the Re;surrection | Movie (Sequel) | February 9, 2019 |
| 14 | Code Geass: Rozé of the Recapture | TV Series | June 21, 2024 |
Code Geass chronological watch order
If you want to experience Code Geass’s story in its actual timeline sequence, Viewing events in Chronological order reveals new connections between events.
This approach reorganizes the narrative to follow the true sequence of events, letting you witness the rise of the Holy Britannian Empire, the emergence of Zero, and the full extent of the Geass power in its proper context.
Here’s the full Code Geass chronological watch order:
| ORDER | CODE GEASS TITLE | TYPE | TIMELINE |
| 1 | Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion | TV Series | October 6, 2006 |
| 2 | Code Geass: Akito the Exiled (5 Episodes) | OVA | 2012–2016 |
| 3 | Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion R2 | TV Series | April 6, 2008 |
| 4 | Code Geass: Initiation (Lelouch of the Rebellion I) | Movie | October 21, 2017 |
| 5 | Code Geass: Transgression (Lelouch of the Rebellion II) | Movie | February 10, 2018 |
| 6 | Code Geass: Glorification (Lelouch of the Rebellion III) | Movie | May 26, 2018 |
| 7 | Code Geass: Lelouch of the Re;surrection | Movie | February 9, 2019 |
| 8 | Code Geass: Rozé of the Recapture | TV Series | June 21, 2024 |
