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Code Geass Watch Order
Watch Code Geass by starting with Lelouch of the Rebellion (2006), then R2 (2008). The catch is the sequel: Lelouch of the Re;surrection (2019) does not continue the TV finale directly — it continues the alternate ending of the Compilation film trilogy (2017-2018), which the creators made canon for the sequel. So before the 2019 film you should watch the three Compilation movies (Initiation, Transgression, Glorification), then Re;surrection, then the 2024 Rozé of the Recapture films.
Code Geass Watch Order — complete list
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Why this order?
Code Geass looks simple — two TV seasons and then some films — but the sequels hide a real catch about which ending they continue. Start with Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion (2006), the first 25-episode season that introduces exiled prince Lelouch, his power of Geass, and the rebellion against the Britannian Empire. Then continue straight into Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion R2 (2008), which picks up after the first season and brings the original story to its famous conclusion. For these two seasons, release order, chronological order, and story order are all identical, so there is nothing tricky to juggle yet.
The complication is the sequel film, Code Geass: Lelouch of the Re;surrection (2019). It is a direct sequel — but not to the R2 television finale. Between the TV run and the sequel, the series was re-released as a trilogy of Compilation films (Initiation, Transgression, Glorification) that condense the two seasons and end on an altered, more open conclusion. The creators have stated those films "serve now as canon" for the sequel, and Re;surrection continues that revised ending, not the original broadcast finale. That means the Compilation trilogy is not merely an optional recap: it is the load-bearing setup the 2019 film actually builds on. If you watch Re;surrection straight off the R2 TV ending, it will reference an outcome you never saw.
So the practical path splits into two routes. If you only want the original, self-contained masterpiece, watch the two TV seasons and stop — the broadcast finale is a complete story. If you want to continue into the films, watch the two TV seasons (or the Compilation trilogy in their place), then make sure you have the trilogy's altered ending in mind before Re;surrection. Our recommended order threads this needle: TV season one, TV season two, the Compilation trilogy as the canonical bridge, then the 2019 film.
The franchise then continues with Code Geass: Rozé of the Recapture (2024), a four-part film series set in the same post-Re;surrection timeline. It follows the compilation-film canon established by the sequel, so it comes last.
If you enjoy Code Geass, its blend of mecha warfare and high-stakes strategy sits near other Sunrise mecha titles, while its scheming-protagonist tone draws comparisons to Death Note.
Timeline 2006–2024
Every entry plotted by release year — see the gaps, clusters and revivals at a glance.
Where to play it today
Affiliate links (Bookshop.org for books, store links for games/films) slot in here.
Frequently asked questions
What order should I watch Code Geass in?
Watch Lelouch of the Rebellion (2006), then R2 (2008). If you stop there you have the complete original story. To continue into the films, watch the Compilation trilogy (Initiation 2017, Transgression/Glorification 2018), then Lelouch of the Re;surrection (2019), then Rozé of the Recapture (2024). For the two TV seasons, release, chronological, and story order are the same; the films introduce an alternate-ending canon.
How many seasons and episodes are there?
Two TV seasons of 25 episodes each (50 episodes total): Lelouch of the Rebellion and R2. Beyond the series there is a three-part Compilation film recap (2017-2018), the 2019 sequel film Lelouch of the Re;surrection, and the 2024 four-part film series Rozé of the Recapture.
Do I need to watch the Compilation (recap) movies?
Only if you plan to continue into the sequels. The TV series alone is a complete story, so for that experience the Compilation films are skippable. But the trilogy ends differently from the TV finale, and the creators made that altered ending canon for Lelouch of the Re;surrection — so if you want the 2019 film and beyond to make sense, the Compilation trilogy is the canonical lead-in, not optional.
When should I watch Lelouch of the Re;surrection?
After R2, but ideally after the Compilation trilogy. The 2019 film is a direct sequel to the trilogy's revised ending rather than the R2 TV finale, so going in straight off the broadcast ending means missing the setup it actually continues from.
What is Rozé of the Recapture?
A 2024 four-part sequel film series set after Lelouch of the Re;surrection, in the same compilation-film continuity. It is the most recent entry and is watched last.
Is Code Geass connected to any other anime?
It is a standalone Sunrise mecha franchise. Its scheming-protagonist tone is often compared to Death Note, but the two share no story or universe.
Is the Compilation-movie continuity different from the TV series?
Yes, and the difference matters. The trilogy changes the ending into a more open, ambiguous outcome, creating a separate timeline. It is that divergent timeline — not the original TV finale — that the 2019 sequel film and the 2024 Rozé films canonically continue.
Last updated · Sources: en.wikipedia.org, codegeass.fandom.com, escapistmagazine.com, Wikidata
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