Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion

Seven years after Japan's conquest by the Holy Empire of Britannia, Lelouch Lamperouge, a teenage student, becomes entangled in a conflict between Britannian forces and anti-government rebels in the Shinjuku Ghetto. During the chaos, a mysterious girl with green hair saves him and bestows upon him a power that allows him to command others.

Lelouch uses his new abilities to command an enemy Sutherland and directs the rebels in a successful assault against the Britannian forces, prompting Viceroy Clovis to deploy the advanced Lancelot, piloted by Suzaku Kururugi. The Lancelot's overwhelming power disrupts Lelouch's strategy, but he ultimately forces Clovis into a standoff, taking him hostage and halting the battle.

Lelouch confronts and kills Clovis for his role in his mother's death, then returns to Ashford Academy where he discovers Kallen Kōzuki, a former ally, is a student. Struggling with the limits of his power, he devises a plan to conceal his identity from her. Meanwhile, Suzaku Kururugi is publicly blamed for Clovis's murder.

Following Clovis' death, the Purist faction in the Britannian Army seeks to eliminate Honorary Britannians by making Suzaku a scapegoat. With assistance from Kallen and Kaname Ohgi, Lelouch devises a plan to save him, publicly declaring himself Zero and taking responsibility for Clovis' murder. He manipulates Jeremiah Gottwald to aid in Suzaku's rescue, but Suzaku declines Lelouch's offer to betray Britannia, choosing instead to reform the Empire from within.

To Lelouch's surprise, C.C., the woman who granted him his powers, is found to be alive and residing in his home. Suzaku, now cleared of all charges, crosses paths with Third Princess Euphemia li Britannia and becomes entangled in a conflict involving the Purist faction. At the same time, Second Princess Cornelia li Britannia assumes control of Area 11 as Viceroy and sets out to capture Zero, who has become the Empire's most notorious enemy.

Suzaku enrolls at Ashford Academy but struggles with discrimination from Britannian students. Cornelia intensifies her search for Zero by attacking rebel bases without success. Meanwhile, a cat steals Lelouch's Zero mask, sparking a chaotic chase across campus. The Britannian Emperor delivers a speech at Prince Clovis' funeral, emphasizing the importance of social hierarchy and progress.

Cornelia launches an operation in the Saitama Ghetto to dismantle a resistance group, drawing Lelouch into a trap despite C.C.'s objections. His attempt to support the rebels fails due to Cornelia's tactical skill and the resistance's conflicting goals, leading to his near capture. C.C. saves him by impersonating Zero, enabling his escape and prompting Lelouch to reconsider the future of his rebellion.

A faction of the Japan Liberation Front seizes control of a hotel, taking hostages that include several members of the Ashford Student Council and a disguised Princess Euphemia. Lelouch uses this situation to his advantage, coordinating a rescue with Ohgi's resistance group while negotiating with the hostage-takers. Meanwhile, Suzaku destroys the floating hotel using the Lancelot, and Lelouch ensures the resistance receives credit for the rescue before publicly declaring the formation of the Order of the Black Knights, a group dedicated to justice and the protection of the weak.

From Kallen's point of view, the episode explores her strained relationship with her biological mother as the Black Knights launch a mission to eliminate the drug Refrain, which has gained a following among the Elevens. Kallen's mother is discovered to be a user and is arrested after the Black Knights destroy the drug's supply. Kallen vows to transform the world by the time her mother is released.

Cornelia leads a Britannian military operation to Narita to eliminate the remaining forces of the Japan Liberation Front, while Lelouch sends his Knights to track her in hopes of capturing her to learn the truth about his mother's death. As the battle nears the Front's base, Kallen uses her upgraded Guren Mk-II Knightmare Frame to trigger a large landslide, devastating much of the Britannian army.

The Black Knights successfully attack the Britannian Army in Narita, forcing Cornelia into a confrontation with Kallen and Lelouch. As the Japan Liberation Front hinders the army's response, Suzaku arrives in the Lancelot to rescue Cornelia, briefly capturing Lelouch before being overwhelmed by C.C., who reveals her true identity while saving him. The Black Knights withdraw as the Britannian Army and Japan Liberation Front turn on each other.

Zero and key members of the Black Knights meet with Taizō Kirihara, a powerful figure in Japan's underworld and a former acquaintance of Lelouch. Lelouch impresses Kirihara with his strategic skills and reveals his true identity to secure his backing. Upon returning to Tokyo, Lelouch learns from Shirley that her father died as a result of events during the Battle of Narita.

Kallen and Lelouch each contemplate the civilian casualties from the Narita campaign. Shirley secretly follows Lelouch and observes a battle between the Japan Liberation Front and the Britannian Army, which Lelouch ends by destroying the freighter, killing all aboard and surprising the Black Knights. Suzaku defeats Lelouch in combat, forcing him to eject, and Shirley nearly kills him after his mask falls off, revealing his identity as Zero.

Lelouch and C.C. travel to Narita, suspecting Shirley has discovered Lelouch's identity as Zero. Meanwhile, Ohgi finds the injured Villetta Nu on the battlefield, and Mao, a young man with Geass abilities, manipulates Shirley using his mind-reading power, causing her to nearly shoot Lelouch. To protect her from the emotional turmoil, Lelouch uses his Geass to erase Shirley's memories of him.

C.C. recounts her past with Mao, explaining how his inability to control his Geass led to his mental deterioration. Meanwhile, Villetta, injured and suffering from amnesia, awakens in Ohgi's home. Lelouch intervenes to rescue C.C. from Mao after he overpowers her, using strategic deception and the Britannian Police to subdue him.

C.C. leaves to serve as a messenger to the Chinese Federation, while Milly undergoes a marriage interview with Lloyd Asplund, the creator of the Lancelot. Meanwhile, Mao kidnaps Nunnally and holds her hostage in the Ashford Academy sewers, prompting Lelouch and Suzaku to team up for her rescue. Using Suzaku's combat skills and Lelouch's Geass ability, they outmaneuver Mao, who reveals Suzaku's past before being killed by C.C. after Lelouch silences him.

During the inauguration of a memorial art museum for Clovis, Euphemia evaluates the displayed artworks while Lelouch assists in rescuing Kyoshiro Tohdoh, persuading him to join the Black Knights. Shirley discovers a revealing letter about Zero's identity, and during the mission, Lelouch uses his tactical skills to counter the Lancelot, only to be shocked when it is revealed to be piloted by Suzaku. As reinforcements arrive, Lelouch orders a retreat, and Euphemia declares Suzaku her knight after witnessing his valor.

Euphemia knights Suzaku while Lelouch organizes the Black Knights, setting a new command structure. Diethard Reid proposes killing Suzaku, but Lelouch instead devises a plan to capture him and the Lancelot on Shikinejima. Though nearly successful, the operation is interrupted when Schneizel el Britannia arrives in Avalon and attacks the island.

Lelouch, Euphemia, Kallen, and Suzaku find themselves stranded on Kaminejima after the Avalon's mysterious arrival. Suzaku discovers Kallen, a Black Knight pilot, and reveals he killed his father, while Euphemia confirms Lelouch's identity as Zero. Meanwhile, Schneizel, Lloyd, and Cécile explore ancient ruins on the island, where the group falls and Lelouch and Kallen steal a prototype Knightmare Frame, Gawain, to escape. Elsewhere, the exiled Japanese government, supported by the Chinese Federation, launches an attack on Kyūshū.

The Britannian Army uses the Lancelot to counter the Kyūshū invaders, while Nina's conversation with Princess Euphemia helps ease the princess's emotional turmoil regarding Suzaku. As Suzaku faces a critical moment with his Lancelot running out of power, Euphemia urges him to continue fighting. Zero and C.C. arrive in the Gawain to recharge the Lancelot, allowing it and the Gawain to conclude the battle together.

During the Ashford Academy's annual school festival, several characters attend under assumed identities, narrowly avoiding exposure. Suzaku pilots the Ganymede to help create the world's largest pizza as part of the festival. When Euphemia's true identity is revealed, she uses the moment on live television to declare a new administrative zone where Elevens can be called "Japanese" again, a move that Lelouch sees as dangerously naive.

Lelouch and Euphemia have a private conversation about Japan's future during a commemoration ceremony, after which Lelouch suspends his rebellion. When his Geass power unexpectedly fails, he jokingly tells Euphemia to kill all the Japanese, which she carries out under the influence of the command, resulting in a massacre. Lelouch takes responsibility and devises a plan to expose Euphemia's zone as a trap, directing the Black Knights to counter Britannian forces, protect civilians, and stop Euphemia.

Lelouch is forced to kill Euphemia in front of Suzaku, who brings her dying body back to Avalon. As the Black Knights struggle to control the chaos, Euphemia dies, and Lelouch declares his vision for a new United State of Japan. With C.C.'s reassurance, he continues his campaign, leading to a full-scale revolt in Area 11 and the eventual destruction of the Tokyo Settlement.

Lelouch's tactical brilliance helps the Black Knights and their allies gain an advantage over the Britannian Army, leading to widespread unrest and the capture of Ashford Academy as their new base. With the students protected under Lelouch's command, Suzaku, now aware of Zero's true identity from a mysterious boy named V.V., begins a vengeful pursuit, joined by Cornelia in her own quest for retribution.

Lelouch captures Cornelia to question her about his mother's murder, but the information she provides proves unsatisfying. Meanwhile, V.V. takes Nunnally to Kaminejima, prompting Lelouch to leave the Black Knights to save her. As the Black Knights struggle without him, Suzaku pursues Lelouch, leading to a climactic showdown.

A year after the Black Rebellion, Lelouch Lamperouge appears to have returned to a normal school life with no memory of his past. When he skips class and visits Babel Tower with his brother Rolo, the Black Knights, led by C.C., stage an attack to retrieve him, triggering the return of his memories and his re-emergence as Zero. Meanwhile, Suzaku Kururugi informs the Emperor of his intention to kill Zero himself.

Lelouch leads the Black Knights in a counteroffensive against Britannian forces while recovering memories of his past, which had been altered by the Emperor's Geass after his arrest the previous year. The arrival of the powerful Vincent Knightmare Frame disrupts the battle, forcing the Black Knights to collapse Babel Tower to escape, which also eliminates Viceroy Carares and opens a path to the Chinese Federation Consulate. As Zero announces his vision for a new United State of Japan, the Britannian military withdraws, but the Vincent's pilot, Rolo, remains a threat, revealing to Li Xingke that he too wields the power of Geass.

Lelouch returns to Ashford Academy during a televised broadcast, leading Villeta Nu's Special Division to question whether he is the real Zero. To locate his sister, he attempts to manipulate Rolo into becoming his pawn, while Gilbert G.P. Guilford issues an ultimatum to Zero—reveal his identity or face the execution of captured Black Knights. Meanwhile, Suzaku commands the Britannian forces in the Lancelot against the Euro Universe, and Lelouch's confrontation with Rolo takes an unexpected turn as Rolo's abilities give him the advantage.

Lelouch discovers the true nature of Rolo's Geass and negotiates his survival by offering to give up C.C. Meanwhile, Li Xingke kills Eunuch Gao Hai to seize control of the consulate. As a deadline looms, Zero confronts Guilford in a duel, using a tactical ploy to collapse part of the settlement and create chaos, allowing the Black Knights to rescue prisoners. Rolo later arrives to kill Lelouch for betraying him, but Lelouch takes a bullet meant for him, using the moment to appeal to Rolo's doubts about his future and family ties.

Suzaku returns to Ashford Academy to monitor Lelouch, who continues to lead the Black Knights while posing as a student. During a welcome event, C.C.'s unusual behavior nearly exposes Lelouch, and Kallen's arrival to retrieve her draws the attention of Villeta. Suzaku confides his ambition to become Knight of One to Lelouch and gives him an opportunity to meet the new Viceroy of Area 11, Nunnally vi Britannia.

Lelouch uses Rolo's Geass to buy time to warn Nunnally without exposing his memories to Suzaku. The Black Knights attempt to capture her during her transport to Area 11, but Nunnally reveals she willingly accepted the role and asks Zero to support her vision for Japan. As the mission is disrupted by Britannian forces and the airship crashes, Suzaku rescues Nunnally, separating her from Lelouch once again.

Nunnally assumes the role of Viceroy of Area 11 and announces her plan to reestablish the Specially Administrated Zone of Japan, causing Lelouch to fall into despair. As he nears surrender to Refrain, Kallen urges him to continue his mission as Zero, while Rolo tries to convince him to abandon his role and return to a normal life. Meanwhile, the Black Knights face a naval assault led by Suzaku, but Lelouch regains hope after witnessing fireworks at Ashford Academy, leading him to the battlefield where he defeats the Britannian fleet and confronts Suzaku as Zero, declaring his intent to join Nunnally's administration.

Lelouch faces skepticism from the Black Knights and the Britannian Army regarding his intentions. In a private meeting, Zero proposes to be exiled from Area 11 in exchange for delivering one million participants, leading the Britannians to believe he is seeking personal safety. At the ceremony, Zero's question to Suzaku about what it means to be Japanese prompts a powerful response, culminating in Suzaku exiling all one million participants who dress as Zero, avoiding a massacre through peaceful resistance.

Lelouch discovers that the Chinese Empress Tianzi is to be married to First Prince Odysseus of Britannia as part of a political arrangement brokered by the High Eunuchs, who will gain noble status in exchange for ceding territory to Schneizel el Britannia. As the wedding takes place, Li Xingke launches a coup to overthrow the Eunuchs, but Lelouch intervenes, taking the Empress hostage. Meanwhile, V.V. prepares to send Jeremiah Gottwald after Lelouch and C.C.

Lelouch escapes with Empress Tianzi, while the Black Knights seek to ally with Indian forces. Li Xingke, promised forgiveness by the Eunuchs, uses the Shenhu to pursue the Empress, capturing Kallen after her Guren's power fails. As Xingke demonstrates strategic skill and forces the Black Knights to retreat to a symbolic tomb, the Eunuchs betray him by enlisting Britannian support. Meanwhile, a second Lelouch appears at Ashford Academy.

Sayoko Shinozaki impersonates Lelouch at Ashford Academy while Li Xingke turns against the Eunuchs after they refuse to protect Tianzi. As the Black Knights resist both Chinese and Britannian forces, Zero confronts the Eunuchs, who confess their betrayal, and intervenes directly with his new Knightmare Frame to protect Tianzi. Meanwhile, Diethard exposes the Eunuchs' treachery through the Chinese media, sparking nationwide unrest, leading to a Britannian withdrawal and Xingke's successful elimination of the Eunuchs and rescue of his allies, though Kallen and the Guren are captured by Britannia. Zero forms an alliance with Xingke and Tianzi, and Lelouch returns to find Anya and Gino unexpectedly enrolled at Ashford.

Lelouch is surprised by Sayoko's portrayal of him as a playboy and attempts to fix the situation as Milly's Cupid Day turns the school into a romantic battlefield. Meanwhile, Rolo and Sayoko help Lelouch evade the female students, and he has a quiet conversation with Shirley before exchanging hats. Elsewhere, political tensions rise as Schneizel advocates for diplomacy over war, Cornelia seeks to expose Geass to clear Euphemia's name, and Jeremiah uses a Geass Canceller to restore Shirley's memories of Zero.

Shirley, having regained her memories, begins to question her understanding of reality and seeks to reconcile with Lelouch. Meanwhile, Lelouch monitors the arrival of a G Train, a key component in his plan to disrupt Tokyo, while Jeremiah pursues him at Ashford Academy, ultimately joining his cause after learning of Lelouch's motives. In a separate confrontation, Shirley is gravely injured by Rolo after revealing her knowledge of Nunnally, and she confesses her feelings to Lelouch before her condition worsens.

Lelouch holds Rolo responsible for Shirley's death but ultimately blames the power of Geass itself, leading him to launch a violent attack on the Geass Directorate, killing all its inhabitants. V.V. attempts to stop the Black Knights with the Siegfried but is defeated by Lelouch and Cornelia, forcing him to retreat to the Thought Elevator, where he meets Charles, who sends Lelouch to the Sword of Akasha. Meanwhile, Kallen and Nunnally talk about Lelouch before Suzaku interrupts, deciding to use Refrain on Kallen to determine if Lelouch has returned as Zero, despite believing Shirley's death was a suicide.

Suzaku refrains from using Refrain on Kallen, choosing not to descend to Lelouch's methods, and uncovers Lelouch's control over the Intelligence Agency at Ashford. Meanwhile, Villetta nearly kills Ohgi after his confession of love, but Sayoko intervenes, leading to a confrontation that results in Ohgi falling from a cliff with Villetta following. Elsewhere, Nina successfully tests a nuclear bomb, and Lelouch discovers the Emperor's immortality through V.V.'s Code. C.C. reveals her desire to die and takes Lelouch to "C's World," where he learns of her past. After realizing her true wish, Lelouch returns to reality, vowing to fulfill it, and rescues C.C. from the Sword of Akasha, only to find she has lost most of her memories.

Forty-seven nations unite under the United Federation of Nations and declare war on Britannia to free Japan, prompting the relocation of Britannia's military, including the Knights of Rounds, to the region. Nina requests that the Lancelot be armed with her new F.L.E.I.J.A. bomb. Meanwhile, the Emperor challenges Zero to a global showdown, and Lelouch, fearing for Nunnally's safety, reveals his identity to Suzaku and asks for his help, setting up a meeting at the Kururugi Shrine.

The Black Knights face heavy losses as Luciano and Bismark attack, with only Li Xingke holding them off. Suzaku and Lelouch briefly reconcile over Nunnally, but Lelouch is soon arrested by Schneizel's guards, believing Suzaku betrayed him. After a conversation with Schneizel, Lelouch is rescued by Guilford, who was manipulated by Lelouch's Geass, and proceeds to disable the Tokyo Settlement using the Gefjun Disturber while reinforcements arrive by sea.

As the power goes out, the Black Knights launch an attack on the Tokyo Settlement, leading to a tense confrontation between Lelouch and Suzaku when the latter threatens to use the F.L.E.I.J.A. bomb. Meanwhile, battles erupt across the city, with Kallen arriving in her upgraded Guren to turn the tide, while Rolo's true intentions regarding Nunnally come to light. In the end, Suzaku's dying Geass triggers the bomb's detonation, devastating the settlement and triggering a breakdown in Lelouch.

A temporary ceasefire allows Schneizel to negotiate with the Black Knights, during which he exposes Lelouch's identity and the extent of his Geass abilities. The Black Knights agree to betray Lelouch in exchange for Japanese independence, leading to his capture and emotional farewell with Kallen. With the help of Rolo, Lelouch escapes, but Rolo dies from the strain of using Lelouch's Geass, prompting Lelouch to vow to kill the Emperor on his own.

Lelouch and Suzaku travel to Kaminejima to confront the Emperor as Ragnarok begins. Suzaku, no longer bound by moral constraints, allies with Schneizel to become the Knight of One in exchange for killing the Emperor, while Lelouch uses his Geass to command much of the Britannian military on the island. Meanwhile, the Black Knights decide to announce Zero's death to obscure the truth, but their claim is met with skepticism, and Anya is taken over by Marianne, who restores C.C.'s memories. At Kaminejima, Suzaku is stopped by Bismarck while Lelouch enters the Sword of Akasha unchallenged, ultimately deciding not to kill his father but to trap them both inside for eternity.

Lelouch discovers the truth behind his mother's death from Emperor Charles and Marianne, who reveal their plan to create a world free of lies through Ragnarok. After nearly reconciling with them, he rejects their vision, seeing it as a world without future, and uses an evolved Geass to defeat them with the power of the collective unconscious, erasing both from existence. With Ragnarok averted, Lelouch becomes the new Emperor, using his Geass to secure his rule, appointing Suzaku as his Knight of Zero while C.C. watches from the shadows.

Lelouch initiates major political reforms in Britannia by dismantling the aristocracy and the Area system. As the Knights of Rounds attempt to challenge his authority, Suzaku, piloting the Lancelot Albion, defeats them, resulting in the deaths of several key members. With his power secured, Lelouch moves to align Britannia with the U.F.N., but tensions escalate when Schneizel attacks the Britannian capital from his new fortress, the Damocles, revealing that Nunnally is alive and declaring her opposition to both Lelouch and Suzaku.

Schneizel reveals a plan to use the Damocles to threaten global annihilation, aiming to enforce peace, but Cornelia opposes him and is killed. Lelouch struggles with the idea of fighting Nunnally, regains focus with encouragement from Suzaku and C.C., and Nunnally resolves to take responsibility for launching F.L.E.I.J.A. despite her inability to fight. A battle ensues between Lelouch and Schneizel's forces over Mount Fuji, where Lelouch disrupts part of the threat by detonating sakuradite mines, but the Damocles and its deadly payload remain a looming danger.

The Black Knights board the Avalon, and Lelouch escapes in the Shinkirō with C.C. holding Kallen back. Using Nina's F.L.E.I.J.A. Eliminator, Lelouch and Suzaku infiltrate the Damocles, where Lelouch outmaneuvers Schneizel using his Geass. Meanwhile, Suzaku battles and defeats Gino outside, who sacrifices himself to disable the Damocles' shields, enabling Kallen to attack, while Lelouch confronts Nunnally, who has regained her sight.

Lelouch and Suzaku engage in a final confrontation to fulfill their promise, the Zero Requiem. Suzaku faces Kallen in battle, while Lelouch comes up against Nunnally, the person he holds most dear and considers his greatest enemy.