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Director Goro Taniguchi shared some interesting insights on Code Geass anime in a recent interview with Full Frontal, which included the revelation on the inspiration behind the anime.
Putting an end to the age old debate regarding the similarities of Code Geass with that of Gundam, the director revealed that the anime was originally inspired by Kamen Rider.
He also addressed the perceived similarity between the dynamics of Lelouch and Suzaku from Code Geass and Char and Amuro from Gundam, he emphasized that unlike Char and Amuro, Lelouch and Suzaku’s connection doesn’t revolve around battlefield encounters. Instead, they share the bond of childhood friendship, having spent a summer together.
“Aah, I don’t really agree. Unlike Char and Amuro, they don’t meet on the battlefield: they’re more like childhood friends who spent a summer together. That’s been a foundational element in their identity, a sort of paradise they both look back to. So I think it’s different.“
Taniguchi noted that while Lelouch and Char might share resemblances, the base structure of Code Geass anime was inspired by Kamen Rider and not Gundam.
He also went on to draw the parallels between the two series, citing the example of the boss of Shocker in Kamen Rider, who just like Lelouch, creates an evil organization but is ultimately opposed by a childhood friend who becomes Kamen Rider.
“…it’s true that Lelouch and Char resemble each other – I get it now. But I think that’s because it all comes back to the monomyth – or the so-called hero’s journey. Still, as I told Ōkouchi back then, the base pattern isn’t Gundam but rather Kamen Rider. Just like Lelouch, the boss of Shocker begins by creating an evil organization, but by sheer bad luck his childhood friend becomes Kamen Rider and comes to destroy him. (laughs) No matter how well he plans his strategies, he’s always crushed by Kamen Rider’s power. (laughs) That’s the sort of image we had.“
While Taniguchi did acknowledge the surface-level resemblances between Lelouch and Char, when it came to their noble origins and quest for revenge, he also emphasized that these traits do not define the core essence of Lelouch’s character.
Instead he said it was closer to Star Wars. He revealed that he wanted Suzaku to start with a white robot and eventually transition to a black one, just like that of Luke Skywalker’s clothing. And Lelouch’s journey darkness from to redemption.
Code Geass is a Japanese anime television series produced by Sunrise. It was directed by Goro Taniguchi and written by Ichiro Okouchi, with original character designs by Clamp.
Code Geass was broadcast in Japan from October 2006 to July 2007. Its sequel series, Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion R2, ran from April to September 2008. The series has also been adapted into various manga and light novels.
Initiation, Transgression, and Glorification, a three-part compilation film recapping the events of both anime series’ seasons, while also altering storylines for various characters and establishing an alternate universe, was released between 2017 and 2018.
A new original film titled Code Geass Lelouch of the Re;surrection, taking place after the Zero Requiem of the film trilogy’s alternate universe, was released in theaters in February 2019.
Source: Full Frontal
