Code Geass is otaku wish fulfillment
May 11th, 2008 at 23:25:59 by wah
When you think about it, Code Geass really isn’t all that different from your run-of-the-mill harem show in what it sets out to do. It tries to cover it up, but at its core, it’s shameless otaku wish fulfillment.
For starters, let’s examine Lelouch’s qualities. He’s a lot like you!!
- Not very athletic, weak
- Does “nerdy” things such as read books (light novels) and play chess (computer games)
- Has a grudge against society
- His father disapproves of his actions
- Can only speak his mind when he’s completely and totally anonymous
- Has a sister complex
Now let’s take a look at what he has and the things that happen to him.
- Has a face that is not totally hideous
- Gets the power to force his will on people unconditionally
- Has a harem of beautiful women (complete with moe moe lolis and sexy onee-sans)
- Has an army of followers that will trust him no matter what
- Gets to pilot giant robots
- Is able to inspire fear in the hearts of the people he hates
Clearly the reason why Geass is so popular among the otaku is because they can relate to Lelouch and and enjoy living out their fantasies through him.
Tags: Code Geass
May 11th, 2008 at 23:44:49
It’s the opposite -_-;; On the outside, it panders to otaku. There’s a lot of depth to the plot.
May 11th, 2008 at 23:50:47
If you say so!!
May 11th, 2008 at 23:58:20
I don’t care about any of that. I like Geass (and I don’t like it _that_ much) because it’s highly entertaining. And hilarious. Lelouch is a very amusing character.
May 12th, 2008 at 00:01:26
Hey, there was certainly a lot of “depth” to Karen’s bunny-girl cleavage shots! ;)
Besides, there’s nothing wrong with pandering. I loved Hayate to death, but it’s a pretty blatant otaku wish-fulfillment story.
May 12th, 2008 at 00:02:46
guys i never said anything was wrong with it god
this is like 50% joke entry
May 12th, 2008 at 00:20:30
We’re allowed to seriously reply to joke posts! Gosh. :v
May 12th, 2008 at 00:41:59
XD. I completely agree. Of course it has a good plot and all, but when I look at it like this I can’t help but say that all of those things are true; about me and about the show.
May 12th, 2008 at 01:08:05
Awesome. I look at Lelouch with a new perspective.
One thing Lelouch needs to do is to use his 1337 Raep drug, cmon, he can bend wills… I mean…
May 12th, 2008 at 01:14:52
The show has good balance. When it isn’t making me laugh, it’s making me horny, and when it’s doing neither of those, it’s wowing me with crazy mechs and ludicrous plans. And then sometimes it does it all at once.
May 12th, 2008 at 01:15:42
Well, I called it just that in one of the comments to an older post, so….there it is.
I won’t say otherwise now.
May 12th, 2008 at 03:16:08
Oh my god. You found out! We knew this would happen some day, so we planned…. Oh wait.
May 12th, 2008 at 03:19:29
oh course, its his harem that got me into this show… what, no one else?
May 12th, 2008 at 12:56:52
Best Code Geass analysis ever.
May 12th, 2008 at 22:02:45
True, too bad the only wish fulfillment I get from the show is ROBOT ACTION!… Well that and some hot ass, but that’s it. Sometimes Otaku wish fulfillment only serves to piss me off, Love Hina/Negima being good examples.
May 12th, 2008 at 22:34:45
The Negima manga is good, it’s pretty much about kung fu… the 3 animes and 1 live action though suck horribly.
May 12th, 2008 at 22:54:50
Negima!? is p good for the Shinbo factor
May 13th, 2008 at 01:08:24
OMG! LULU KILLED EUPHIE!
THAT BASTARD!
May 13th, 2008 at 10:28:57
GOD DAMN IT ALL MAKES SENSE NOW
May 14th, 2008 at 01:22:09
I found that your two-cents definitely holds a few merits, though I do beg to differ. I decided to use your article as a premise to one of my own, so I will quote you on my site and link back to you.
Thanks for the insight!
May 14th, 2008 at 03:30:15
Being able to understand why a series is popular is crucial for your future choices – which series present some value besides those which aim for more blind watchers?
It’s a known fact that “The mere comprehension of a statement entails the tacit acceptance of its being true – whereas denial requires a subsequent process of rejection.”
With this assumption, it’s quite obvious that people don’t think about why they watch something, or why they don’t do it, or why there is no point in watching something. I think one should try to analyse the world around(or at leas its small part that is of the greatest importance for one) – in order to understand it better and be able to be in control of no only his actions, but the expected reactions.
Liking Code Geass only because ‘It’s Kewl’, or ‘There’s a lot of depth to the plot’ is a very shallow way of thinking. At the very beginning of these series, I decided to watch it because the Geass works a lot like the Death Note, the protagonist is apparently trying something that has a lot of sense and indeed allows to bring depth to the plot. AND, it was cool because that friggin eye reminds me of Kakashi ;)
But then, unfortunately, C.G. became too popular to be an anime with a deep plot or references to the actual processes that used to change the shape of the world. Instead, we have a focus on moe, brainless action and robots. Evidently, the author(s) had no intention of making a good series anyway ;/
“GOD DAMN IT ALL MAKES SENSE NOW”
Well said, Koji Oe. Too bad for you, you’re probably already addicted to this series ;)
Not that it should bother you, if it’s still fun to watch.
Thanks for the post!
May 14th, 2008 at 11:14:19
Look what your deeper analysis of the series has gotten you, it destroyed your enjoyment and makes you write long posts on why the series sucks. Whereas I like it because it’s kewl and get 20 minutes of entertainment each week.
Shallow for the win!
May 15th, 2008 at 13:29:15
@Pinky’s Brain: Destroyed? Enjoyment? Oh no. I enjoy writing such posts, and analysing. Stupid though may it sound to you, but thinking can be fun.
I didn’t say C.G. sucks. It’s just another big series that had potential. I still watch it, but it’s not that my analysis spoiled my fun – I wouldn’t like it more if I just kept watching without knowing, noticing the authors’ aims and tricks. You, however, cannot understand this, because you (apparently) want to achieve pleasure by turning off your brain.
In my country there is a saying that a fool is a happy man. Using this strategy, knowing that e.g. you enjoy this series while ignoring the facts, it would be reccomended for everyone to be an ignorant gullible idiot. Way to go.
May 15th, 2008 at 14:20:12
Yes, when there is no real upside to not being ignorant it’s the preferred state. I’m neither a critic nor an author, so why would I not ignore the “facts” if it provides me a tangible benefit?
May 15th, 2008 at 15:02:00
C’mon guys lets keep it cool ok
May 18th, 2008 at 12:37:54
I find it hilarious that there’s so much wank in this fandom… (by which I mean the fannish sort of wank, or course.) Relax. “Fandom is fucking funny,” and so is Geass.
I suppose what you mentioned isn’t the kind of wish fulfillment I get out of Geass, since I find it most enjoyable when Lulu gets pwned. Also, his harem is mostly not my type.
November 18th, 2008 at 17:00:42
Good God, Code Geass is just awful, no wonder the otaku love it.
June 13th, 2009 at 13:03:46
I frickin’ loved this anime and it wasn’t because i related to Lelouch’s nerdiness. I’m not a anime freak, and it wasn’t the giant robots that made this cool. The insanely twisted plot, irony, incredibly deep character developement, philisophical and political comentary, enthralling story, etc. are what made it so great.
March 1st, 2010 at 21:42:30
Code Geass sucks balls
it really is an otaku fantasy but I found it hard to take seriously. I know people will say, “Oh that doesn’t matter, entertainment doesn’t need to be taken seriously.” True, but sometimes it does separate a tolerable show from a GREAT one. So much fanservice and over the top twists may appeal to some people. Others despise them. No, Code Geass is definitely not worth a second watch from me. It does piss me off that anime fans would not know what great underrated shows exist and instead squeal over this mediocre trainwreck. Yes, I said it. Trainwreck.