“ALL HAIL BRITANNIA! ALL HAIL LELOUCH!” If neither of these declarations sounds appealing to you, believe me when I say that by the end of Code Geass, at the very least, you will understand their sentiments. Set in an alternate future where the empire of Britannia rules a third of the world, including the former country of Japan (now called Area 11), this is one of the few series that really has it all—school setting, intellectual drama, giant mech fights—and manages to execute them right.

To be sure, Code Geass was a high-profile series from the start—a collaboration with Sunrise Studios (best known for their Gundam series) and famed manga artists CLAMP, and you've already got the makings of something incredible. Add in an all-star voice cast (Jun Fukuyama, Takehiro Sakurai, Yukana) and you almost certainly can't go wrong. For starters, this anime looks amazing—some people may be off-put by CLAMP's signature lanky, super skinny character designs, but you can't deny that about 90% of the cast is comprised of beautiful boys and girls. (Actually, make that about 99%). The color pallet is incredibly vibrant, with a rainbow of colors despite the serious and political nature of the show at times. The mech designs themselves are impressive as well, with a slightly more organic feel than Gundams but not actually resembling humans quite yet. The animation is very fluid, even during the fight scenes, which, unlike some other series, actually leave you wishing they went on longer.

Of course, there are pretty anime abound out there, but what Code Geass really has going for it is the fact that almost all the characters are able to grow and carry themselves in the sometimes funny, often serious, and always dramatic plot. All of the leads are instantly likable, not necessarily in the sense that they were a favorite character, but that they all had a history and reason for doing the things they did. Nearly every single one of them intrigued me and I genuinely wanted to find out more about all of them; even the supporting cast and more minor characters were executed incredibly well. (In fact, it might just surprise you at who you're cheering for by the end). Lelouch may seem like a spectacularly cold-hearted bastard whose devotion to his younger sister Nunally is beyond obsessive, but he pulls it off so fabulously that you can't help but applaud him for it. Similarly, Suzaku is also much more complex than his outward 'white knight' demeanor may suggest, and some of the best moments in this show are when the two are squaring off not in a physical battle, but in a battle of the mind. Even the villains don't always act like true villains, and by the end of the show's many twists and turns, you may find yourself questioning just who’s really fighting for the greater good. Director Goro Taniguchi is also a mad genius, not just for being able to successfully build the tension and drama in scenes, but also knowing how to pace this story—he cuts off episodes at just the right moments, so you're always left hanging and wanting to know more immediately. Despite the high energy of the plot, the series didn’t feel rushed, and just when tensions are getting too high, it either pauses at the inevitably fluffy “school-life” episodes or just continues marching forward with an explosion that is akin to getting whiplash.

With an all-star cast, you expect an all-star performance, and Code Geass is no exception; Jun Fukuyama and Takehiro Sakurai lead as Lelouch and Suzaku, respectively, and despite being (purposely) typecast against their usual styles, they really manage to outdo themselves. During the antagonistic confrontations between the two, the anger and bitterness literally feels like it’s oozing out of their every pore, to the point that it hurts. Yukana is simply the essence of C.C., uncaring and emotionless, while Ami Koshimizu brings out the spirited and fiery force of Kallen. The soundtrack is a mix of grandiose orchestrations and jazzy numbers during fight scenes, which add to the atmosphere of flair and aristocracy. Openings and endings are also something you want to watch at least once, if not for the art direction then at the very least for the amazing songs.

It is rather inconceivable at times how a series that tries to cram so many different elements and tries to cater to every single audience could succeed so well. There are a few less-than-stellar aspects, namely the plot getting rather confusing and too-political at times, but the fabulous parts are just so fabulous that one can overlook those missteps—I don't care that I can't remember why/how Lelouch manages to defeat the Chinese Federation in one stroke so long as I can see him preening himself about it later on. The characters are what’s at the heart of this roller coaster ride, and I sincerely enjoyed watching each and every one of them getting their screen time. So whether you love the high-stakes robot battles, or the mental chess matches they play, or heck, if you just want to see lots of pretty boys and girls (with fan service for both sides), do yourself a favor, and watch this series.

My only regret I have for this series is not watching it sooner, but with the new Akito of the Exiled OVAs coming out, the fandom has been getting a revival boost, both in terms of merchandise and content. If you’ve always thought about watching the show, there’s no better time than now to jump on the Code Geass bandwagon!