“The viewers would fall asleep”: Code Geass Director Deliberately Took a Risk with the Trilogy Movies Knowing it Would Make the Critics Unhappy

When a beloved series of over 50 episodes like Code Geass gets adapted into a trilogy of films, it poses unique challenges for the creators to maintain the integrity of the original series. Fans and critics alike often have high expectations even on trivial things; so director Goro Taniguchi’s bold decision in Code Geass‘s Trilogy films was bound to spark some serious speculations within the anime community.

Of course, Taniguchi knew that the trilogy would not please everyone, especially critics who thrive on the depth of the story and character development. Yet, he took the risk; balancing the necessity of making the films accessible to new audiences and retaining the attraction factor of battle scenes, mecha action, and the broader philosophical themes of Code Geass.

The Need for Actions in Code Geass Trilogy Films

In an interview in Great Mechanic G Summer 2018, Goro Taniguchi acknowledged the difficulties in adapting the whole Code Geass series into three movies. He revealed that the purpose of the trilogy was to introduce Code Geass to a new generation who might have missed the original broadcast or were too young to appreciate it at the time.

One of the main concerns in adapting a long series into films is pacing. The original series gave itself time to explore character development, relationships, and the complex socio-political landscape of the Code Geass world. In contrast, the films had to keep the storyline compact, with much of the details and development having to be sacrificed to make space for key plot points.

Taniguchi was well aware that this streamlined approach could risk losing the emotional weight that made the original series so beloved. However, he also recognized a shift in how modern audiences consume content, particularly in film. Thus, deliberately included action scenes to keep viewers engaged, stating,

In Code Geass, the mecha action, or Knightmare’s battles, is central to the franchise’s identity. The films particularly focused on this, making the battle scenes a key selling point. This approach may have disappointed critics who wanted deeper character interactions and philosophical discussions, but for a generation more attracted to visually driven films, the decision was a calculated risk designed to keep Code Geass relevant.

Goro Taniguchi’s Approach: Maintaining the Attractive Factors of Code Geass‘ Trilogy films

At its foundation, Code Geass is incredibly emotional despite all of its actions and political intrigue. The relationships between characters are central to the series’ thematic depth. In adapting the series into three films, there was a danger that these relationships would be diluted.

Taniguchi revealed that he intentionally worked with music composer Koutaro Nakagawa to maintain the emotional resonance of the series. While the films contain much of the high-octane action necessary to keep modern audiences engaged, Taniguchi did not want the tone to become overwhelmingly bleak or detached from the characters’ emotions. He remarked,

Taniguchi’s priority was to make sure the trilogy could stand on its own, appeal to new audiences, and serve as a gateway to the broader Code Geass universe. While he expected certain backlash from critics, his focus was on making the films commercially enjoyable, and accessible to casual viewers.

The Code Geass trilogy movies were a bold gamble by Goro Taniguchi. It showcases the challenges of adapting long-form storytelling into film and the balance between staying true to the source material and meeting the expectations of a modern audience.

Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion Trilogy Films: Initiation, Transgression, and Glorification are currently available to watch on Crunchyroll.

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