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Code Geass Watch Order: Complete List by Release Date

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The fact that you’re looking up the Code Geass watch order for Code Geass means you’ve realized one thing – this anime refuses to be simple! Between TV seasons, recap movies, side-story OVAs, and an alternate timeline that casually rewrites history, it’s easy to let the confusion get to you.

The easiest way to survive this chaos? Watch everything in release order so you can keep the emotional whiplash to a minimum. Let the story unfold the way fans originally lost their minds over it.

On that note, find the complete Code Geass watch order by release date below, with every major entry explained so you know what you’re signing up for.

Code Geass Watch Order: A Brief Overview

1. Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion (TV, 2006–2007)

Promotional image for the anime series Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion

Welcome to the very beginning, where the chaos sets its foundation. Meet Lelouch Lamperouge, an exiled prince living in occupied Japan who accidentally gets a god-tier mind control power and immediately decides, “Yeah, I could overthrow an empire with this.” 

And honestly? That’s a very valid choice.

Get a whole dose of political chess, high school drama, and mecha warfare in Season 1. The show starts flashy, gets darker with each episode, and quietly sets emotional traps that you don’t even realize until much later.

2. Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion R2 (TV, 2008)

A promotional image for the anime series Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion R2, featuring several main characters in action poses against a blue background.

R2 doesn’t give you a second to relax. It shows up, flips the board, and reminds you that no plan in Code Geass ever goes smoothly. Lelouch might be smart, but he is way over his head at this point.

This season goes full “no brakes.” Betrayals, moral dilemmas, and plot twists keep hitting you left and right like it’s a competitive sport. The ending is so iconic that it’s still talked about to this day.

3. Special Edition: Black Rebellion (2008)

An image of the anime character known as Zero from Code Geass. The character, whose true identity is Lelouch vi Britannia, is shown from the chest up, wearing his iconic black and purple mask with gold trim. The single visible eye is purple. The background is a dark cityscape at night.

Don’t have the time to sit back and binge the entirety of Season 1? Well, Black Rebellion is essentially Season 1 on fast-forward.

This movie trims the side plots and focuses on the big moments, so you don’t lose out on the experience. If you’ve already watched Season 1, feel free to skip this.

4. Special Edition: Zero Requiem (2009)

A promotional image for the anime Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion R2 Special Edition - Zero Requiem. The image features two main characters. In the background, a young man with brown hair and a white and blue military-style uniform stands with his arms crossed. In the foreground, another character in a masked, black and purple suit (the "Zero" costume) is dynamically posed with a flowing cape. Japanese text is visible on the lower left of the image.

It’s the same with Zero Requiem, which is basically a recap of R2. The movie condenses the mayhem, keeping the emotional beats intact and speeding through everything else.

The focus of this movie remains steadfast on Lelouch as he learns the consequences of his actions. Again, it’s not a must-watch, but if you want an emotional hit before you move on to the next segments, then feel free to grab some tissues.

5. Code Geass: Akito the Exiled Parts 1–5 (2012–2016)

A promotional poster for the anime series Code Geass: Akito the Exiled. The image features the two main characters, Akito Hyuga and Leila Malcal, with a large gray Knightmare Frame (mech) behind them on the left. Japanese and English text at the bottom identifies the title and the release date for the first episode, "The Wyvern Arrives".

Akito the Exiled is set in Europe during the timeline of the main series, but this one doesn’t focus on Lelouch. Instead, it’s like the creators thought, “What if we could tell the story somewhere else and dial up the sadness 10x?”

The show is darker and more grounded compared to the main series. While it’s an optional watch, you can definitely pick it up on a lazy weekend just to understand the massive scale of Britannia.

6. Picture Dramas and Mini OVAs (2007–2013)

An illustration of nine female characters from the anime series Code Geass, viewed from a low angle, with one character in the center holding a sword aloft.

These short bonus episodes are a breath of fresh air from all the grittiness. They can range from really goofy slice-of-life moments to emotional masterpieces. 

Some of these episodes are pure comedy. Meanwhile, others really dive into some relationships that didn’t get their due justice in the main series. 

These dramas and OVAs aren’t relevant to the overall main plot. But if you love the characters, then you’re going to love these.

7. Lelouch of the Rebellion I – Initiation (2017)

Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion I - Initiation promotional image featuring main characters like Lelouch Lamperouge, C.C., Suzaku Kururugi, and others. The title text is in Japanese and English, reading "CODE GEASS Lelouch of the Rebellion Episode I". The image shows multiple characters in dramatic poses against a dark background with red accents.

Welcome to the beginning of another movie trilogy. And before you go, “Another one?!” stay reassured that this isn’t just another simple recap like the last one.

Initiation is more focused on telling the early story with a cleaner pacing, and you don’t really figure out the sneaky changes until much later. Consider this movie the start of an officially alternate timeline.

8. Lelouch of the Rebellion II – Transgression (2018)

Promotional poster for the anime movie Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion II - Transgression, featuring main characters Lelouch, C.C., Suzaku, and Kallen, surrounding a large robot and the movie title logo

The second part of this trilogy strays further away from the TV version of the anime. Get ready to witness cracking alliances and everyone’s moral compass spinning out of control.

The movie sharpens character motivations and tweaks certain outcomes. At this point, the trilogy has already established its uniqueness.

9. Lelouch of the Rebellion III – Glorification (2018)

A vibrant, action-packed anime movie poster for Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion III — Glorification. The image features several main characters from the series, including Lelouch vi Britannia in the foreground in a white and gold outfit, and C.C. with long green hair in the background. Other characters and mech suits (Knightmares) are also present in the composition. The title text is prominent in the center left in both Japanese and English.

The divergence from the main story is practically staring you in the face at this point. Glorification is the culmination of the rebellion, and the changes have already altered the original ending and created a new future for the story.

This trilogy is merely the foundation for the modern Code Geass story. Without it, the next era wouldn’t exist.

10. Lelouch of the Resurrection (2019)

The image is a promotional cover for the manga adaptation of the Code Geass: Lelouch of the Re;surrection movie. It features key characters from the series.

You thought you saw the last of Lelouch? Well, surprise! If you couldn’t guess from the title itself, you can expect some old faces returning in this one. 

The story continues directly from the trilogy timeline. So if you haven’t watched it before starting this one, get right on to it!

11. Rozé of the Recapture (2024–2025)

promotional poster for the anime Code Geass: Rozé of the Recapture.

This one is the latest installment in the Code Geass universe. Rozé of the Recapture pushes the anime to enter the new generation, with new protagonists taking the spotlight. 

The themes remain the same. Get ready to dive into a world of occupation, rebellion, power, and consequences.

Everyone’s favorite Lelouch takes a back seat here. But his shadow is everywhere. This series just goes on to show that Code Geass isn’t done expanding the universe yet.

Final Thoughts on the Code Geass Watch Order

Watching Code Geass in the order of its release dates is probably the least stressful way to enjoy this universe. The pacing really sets you up to experience some of the most complex characters, while sustaining level 100 emotional damage.

Whether you stop at R2 or dive into the movies and beyond, you can bet on one thing. Code Geass will keep you thinking long after the credits roll.

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