Mandrake the Magician and Lelouch Lamperouge: Difference between pages
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{{Infobox animanga character |
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{{Superherobox| <!--Wikipedia:WikiProject Comics--> |
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| color = #000 |
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image=<!-- Deleted image removed: [[Image:mandrake6.jpg|220px]] --> |
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| color text = #FFF |
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|caption=Mandrake the Magician |
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| name = Lelouch Lamperouge |
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|comic_color=background:#c0c0c0 |
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| series = Code Geass |
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|character_name=Mandrake the Magician |
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| image = [[Image:CODE GEASS R2 - 01 - Large 36.jpg|250px]] |
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|real_name=Mandrake |
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| caption = Lelouch Lamperouge |
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|publisher=[[King Features Syndicate]] |
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| first = |
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|debut=[[June 11]], [[1934]] |
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| last = |
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|creators=[[Lee Falk]], Phil Davis |
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| voiced by = '''Japanese''' <br /> [[Jun Fukuyama]] <br /> [[Sayaka Ohara]] (Child) <br /> '''English''' <br /> [[Johnny Yong Bosch]] <br/> [[Michelle Ruff]] (Child) |
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|alliance_color=background:#ffc0c0 |
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| nickname = Lulu |
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|status=active |
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| alias = Lelouch vi Britannia (real name)<br />Zero<br />Black Prince<br />King of Elevens<br />Emperor of Justice<br />Man of Miracles |
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|alliances=The College of Magic (''Collegium Magikos''), Inter-Intel |
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| age = 17 (first season) <br /> 18 (second season) |
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|previous_alliances= |
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| gender = Male |
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|aliases=none |
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| height = 178 cm |
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|relatives=Princess Narda (wife), Theron (father), Derek (twin brother), Lenore (half-sister), Luciphor (''The Cobra'', half-brother) |
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| born = [[December 5]], [[1999]] [[Settings and themes of Code Geass#Terminology|a.t.b.]] |
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|powers=Has the power to instantly hypnotise others and can telepathically communicate with others and read minds. |
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| occupation = Ashford Academy Student<br />Leader of the Order of the Black Knights<br />Emperor of Britannia<br />Chairman of the U.F.N. |
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|}} |
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| title = His Majesty |
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| relatives = [[List of Code Geass characters#Charles di Britannia|Charles di Britannia]] (father, deceased)<br> [[List of Code Geass characters#Marianne vi Britannia|Marianne vi Britannia]] (mother, deceased) <br> [[Nunnally vi Britannia]] (sister)<br>See [[List of Code Geass characters#Britannian Imperial Family|Britannian Imperial Family]] |
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| nationality = Britannian |
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| divider = yes |
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| aux1 name = Allegiance |
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| aux1 = Order of the Black Knights<br />The Holy Britannian Empire<br />The United Federation of Nations |
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| aux2 name = Position |
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| aux2 = Order of the Black Knights leader<br />99th Emperor of the Holy Britannian Empire<br />2nd Supreme Council Chairman of the U.F.N. |
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| aux3 name = {{nowrap|[[Knightmare Frame]]}} |
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| aux3 = [[Knightmare Frames#Burai|Burai]] <br />[[Knightmare Frames#Gawain|Gawain]] <br /> [[Knightmare Frames#Shinkirō|Shinkirō]] |
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}} |
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{{nihongo|'''Lelouch Lamperouge'''|ルルーシュ・ランペルージ|Rurūshu Ranperūji}} is the [[Byronic hero|Byronic]] [[protagonist]], [[anti-hero]] and [[tragic hero]] of the [[Sunrise (company)|Sunrise]] [[anime]] series ''[[Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion]]''. Lamperouge is his assumed surname, while his real name is {{nihongo|'''Lelouch vi Britannia'''|ルルーシュ・ヴィ・ブリタニア|Rurūshu vi Buritania}}, son of the 98th Britannian Emperor. His [[seiyū]] is [[Jun Fukuyama]], and his child self is voiced by [[Sayaka Ohara]]. His English dub voice is provided by [[Johnny Yong Bosch]] with [[Michelle Ruff]] doing Lelouch's child voice. |
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He was chosen the most popular male character of 2006 and 2007 at [[Animage]] magazine's annual [[Animage#Character|Anime Grand Prix]].<ref>[http://img139.imageshack.us/img139/6079/fmalejs1.jpg Favorite Male Character, 29th Annual Anime Grand Prix]</ref> His seiyū Jun Fukuyama also won the "Best Actor in a Leading Role" award for his portrayal of the character at the first [[Seiyū Awards]] in 2007. |
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'''''Mandrake the Magician''''' is a [[United States|U.S.]] [[comic strip]] created in 1934 by [[Lee Falk]] (also creator of ''[[The Phantom]]'') and mainly appearing in [[Print syndication|syndication]] in newspapers. Falk soon gave the job of drawing the comic strip to artist [[Phil Davis (cartoonist)|Phil Davis]], while continuing to write the storylines. Davis worked on the strip until his death in [[1964]]; Falk then recruited current artist Fred Fredericks. On Falk's death in [[1999]], Fredericks took over writing the strip as well. Mandrake is widely believed to have been the first bona fide [[superhero]].<ref>[http://ask.yahoo.com/20070503.html Who was the first superhero?]</ref> |
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==Character planning history== |
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While first designing the concept art design for Lelouch, the series's original character designers [[Clamp (manga artists)|CLAMP]] had initially conceived of his hair color as being white. [[Ageha Ohkawa]], head writer at CLAMP, said she had visualized him as being a character to which "everyone" could relate to as being "cool", literally, a "beauty". During the early planning stages for Lelouch's alter ego, Zero, CLAMP had wanted to create a mask never witnessed prior in any Sunrise series. While developing the character during the initial planning stages, the series' core staff at Sunrise, director [[Gorō Taniguchi]], writer [[Ichirō Ōkouchi]], and the production team discussed numerous possible influences for the character with CLAMP, such as [[Kinki Kids]] and [[Tackey and Tsubasa]].<ref name="newtypemay2007interview">{{cite book | title=''[[Newtype (magazine)|Newtype]]'', [[May 2007]] issue}}</ref> |
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==Character outline== |
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Mandrake was an [[Magic (illusion)|illusionist]] whose work was based on an impossibly fast [[Hypnosis|hypnotic]] technique. As the narrator informed us: "Mandrake gestured hypnotically" and the subject or subjects of this hypnosis would suddenly see the illusions he wanted. Mandrake fought criminals and other villains in his spare time. This would include common gangsters, mad scientists, and aliens from outer space or other dimensions. |
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[[Image:Prince Lelouch.JPG|thumb|left|Lelouch as a child, when he was a prince of Britannia]] |
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Lelouch is the son of the Emperor of Britannia, Charles di Britannia, and the late [[Marianne vi Britannia|Imperial Consort Marianne]], making Lelouch the eleventh prince of the Britannian Imperial Family.<ref name="ep3">{{cite episode|title=Stage 3: The White Knight Awakened|titlelink=List of Code Geass episodes|series=Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion|serieslink=Code Geass|network=MBS|airdate=2006-10-12}}</ref> He was seventeenth in line for the throne prior to his mother's assassination and his sister's crippling in the same incident. A ten year old Lelouch confronted the Emperor afterward and accused him of leaving his mother defenseless, even going as far as renouncing his entitlement to the throne. In response, his father banished him to Japan, where he was used as a political hostage in the [[Settings and themes of Code Geass#Terminology|Sakuradite]] conflict. |
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It was during his stay at the Kururugi household that he first met [[Suzaku Kururugi]], with whom the young Lelouch did not interact initially in a friendly manner,<ref name="picdrama1">{{cite episode|title=Code Geass Picture Drama 1|titlelink=List of Code Geass episodes|series=Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion DVD 1|serieslink=Code Geass|airdate=2007-01-26 }}</ref> before later becoming friends. However, when Britannia finally developed its Knightmare Frames fleet and decided to invade Japan to seize control of the Sakuradite mines, consequently discarding Lelouch's use as a diplomatic tool, Lelouch, fearing for his and his sister's safety, hid their true identities and sought the help of the Ashford family, who were his mother's allies. |
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After the series existing in [[cartoons]], [[radio plays]], and [[serials]], a movie based on Mandrake with magician [[Criss Angel]] is set to start filming in 2008. |
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His mother's death and his father's apparent lack of concern in regards to it were huge blows to Lelouch. He always felt that it was unfair for both his mother and sister, and therefore made it his goal to pursue a better world for [[Nunnally Lamperouge|Nunnally]]. He also seeks to discover the true reason for his mother's death, as she was murdered in the Aries Imperial Palace, a place terrorists would be unlikely to penetrate successfully without being noticed, if at all. |
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==Other characters== |
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===Supporting characters=== |
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'''Lothar''' is Mandrake's best friend and crime-fighting companion. |
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[[Image:Mandrakedaily.JPG|left|thumb|250px|Mandrake the Magician [[daily strip]] from [[2002]]. Art by [[Fred Fredericks]].]] |
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In the comic strip, Mandrake first met Lothar during his travels in Africa. Lothar was then "Prince of the Seven Nations", a mighty federation of jungle tribes, but passed on the chance to become king and instead followed Mandrake on his world travels, fighting crime and villains from all over the world (and the rest of the universe as well). He is often referred to as the strongest man in the world with the exception of perhaps Hojo - Mandrake's chef and secret chief of Inter Intel. |
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===Zero=== |
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Perhaps one of the first black crime-fighting heroes ever to appear in comics, Lothar made his first appearance alongside Mandrake in 1934 in the inaugural daily strip. Mandrake and Lothar are generally recognized{{Fact|date=October 2008}} as the world's first interracial team of crime-fighters. |
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[[Image:Code Geass - Lelouch of the Rebellion R2 - 06 069 0002.jpg|thumb|Lelouch as Zero]] |
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Shortly after gaining the power of Geass from [[C.C. (Code Geass)|C.C.]], Lelouch assumes the secret identity {{nihongo|'''Zero'''|ゼロ}}, a mysterious, masked revolutionary dressed in a black helmet and cloak. The helmet has a retractable plate over the left eye so Lelouch can use his Geass. In this guise, he forms the [[List of Code Geass characters#The Order of the Black Knights|Order of the Black Knights]], initially composed of the members of [[Kaname Ohgi]]'s resistance group. The goal of this vigilante group is a campaign against powerful individuals who oppress the helpless, which he eventually expands into reforming Japan as an independent nation. |
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Lelouch is willing to do whatever it takes to accomplish his goal, even if it means lying to his followers and using people as bait for the outcome he desires. However, he has trouble putting those he is close to in harms way for the sake of his goal, which is a weakness as a commander but a remnant of his humanity and sanity. His feelings for Nunnally in particular often hinders his plans, particularly at the end of the first season, where he abandons a massive war with Britannian forces to rescue her. Gradually, however, he has come to embrace the fact that he has to destroy before reconstruction can occur, even if it means harming those he cares about. |
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In the beginning, Lothar was little more than Mandrake's servant. He spoke poor English, wore a fez, short pants and a leopard skin. His muscles far exceeded his mental abilities. But despite that, Lothar was still recognized early on as Mandrake's equal by the readers{{Fact|date=October 2008}}. When artist Fred Fredericks took over in 1965 (after original artist Phil Davis had died), Lothar was modernized; he began to speak correct English and his clothing changed, although he still often wears shirts with leopard skin patterns. |
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Originally, Lelouch is motivated by the desire to avenge his mother's death and construct an ideal world where his sister Nunnally can live in peace. After Nunnally becomes Viceroy of Area 11, and her wishes conflict with his goals, his friends help him to realize that his rebellion is no longer just for Nunnally, but for all the people of the world. |
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'''Narda''' is of royal blood; she is Princess of the European nation [[Cockaigne]] (today ruled by her brother Segrid). She made her first appearance in the second Mandrake story. Although she and Mandrake were infatuated with one another from first sight, they didn't marry until 1997, when it was an extravagant triple wedding ceremony-- at Mandrake's home of Xanadu, in Narda's home country Cockaigne, and Mandrake's father Theron's College of Magic (''Collegium Magikos'') in the Himalayas. |
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==Character history== |
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'''Theron''' is Mandrake's father, although this was a secret to Mandrake for a long time. Mandrake's mother died shortly after she gave birth to Mandrake and his twin brother Derek. Theron is the headmaster of the College of Magic (''Collegium Magikos'') somewhere in the Himalayas. Theron is hundreds of years old, probably due to the energy of the powerful ''Mind Crystal'' of which he is the guardian. |
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===First season=== |
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Lelouch is introduced in the first episode of the series as a student of Ashford Academy high school, where he is a member of its student council. A brilliant thinker who is quite talented at [[chess]], he lives with his younger sister, Nunnally, with their maid, [[Sayoko Shinozaki]], at a house situated within the compounds of Ashford Academy, where they are looked after by the Ashford family. |
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Lelouch is soon swept into the conflict between the Britannia Empire and the pockets of resistance which oppose it when he accidentally boards a truck being used by Japanese resistance operatives.<ref name="ep1">{{cite episode | title = Stage 1: The Day The Fiend Was Born | titlelink = List of Code Geass episodes | series = Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion | serieslink = Code Geass | network = MBS | airdate = 2006-10-05 }}</ref> Within the truck is a capsule holding [[C.C. (Code Geass)|C.C.]], who sacrifices herself to save him from the military forces trying to recapture her. When it seems as if her sacrifice was pointless, C.C. suddenly touches his hand and offers him the "Power of the King", the mythical power of Geass. The Geass manifests itself in him as the power of absolute obedience, which allows him to make people obey his orders without question. He uses this power to order the Britannian soldiers to kill themselves in his name. |
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'''Hojo''' is Mandrake's chef at his home of Xanadu. However, he is also the secret Chief of the international crime-fighting organization ''Inter-Intel'', in addition to being a superb martial arts expert. As such, he has used Mandrake's help with many cases. Hojo's assistant at Inter-Intel is '''Jed'''. |
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With his new power, Lelouch begins his rebellion against the Empire, starting by killing his half-brother, [[Clovis la Britannia|Clovis]], after extracting information about the murder of his mother, Marianne. He later forms the Order of the Black Knights and takes up the identity of Zero to lead them, becoming a revolutionary and gaining popular support amongst the people. |
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'''The Police Chief''' is named Bradley but mostly just called "Chief", and has been aided by Mandrake on several occasions. He created the "S.S.D." (Silly Stuff Dept.) for absurd and unbelievable cases that only Mandrake could solve. He has a son, Chris. |
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The turning point in his rebellion comes when [[Euphemia li Britannia]] declares the region under Mount Fuji the Special Administrative Zone of Japan, giving the Japanese people their name and country back, albeit in a much smaller area. This effectively destroys any possibility of the Black Knights' rebellion; acceptance would render them powerless and refusal would make them pariahs. Lelouch confronts her at the opening ceremony and tries to have her shoot him, hoping to make himself a martyr. When she says she plans to give up her title, he surrenders and agrees to work with her. However, at this moment his Geass permanently activates, and an offhand comment about ordering her to kill the Japanese forces her to do just that. Lelouch reluctantly kills her and uses the massacre as an excuse to declare Japan an independent nation. He then leads an attack on the Tokyo Settlement. The attack goes well at first, but when Lelouch learns that Nunnally has been kidnapped, he abandons the battle, leaving his forces helpless against the much better organized Britannian forces. |
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'''Magnon''' is Mandrake's most powerful friend. He is the emperor of a million planets but even he has sometimes needed Mandrake's help. Magnon and his wife Carola have a daughter, Nardraka, who is named after Mandrake and Narda and is their godchild. |
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Lelouch and C.C. make their way to Kaminejima to search for Nunnally, where Lelouch is confronted by Suzaku Kururugi. Lelouch attempts to broker a truce, but Suzaku is distraught over the death of Euphemia and refuses to listen. An angered Lelouch draws his pistol and both Lelouch and Suzaku attempt to shoot one another. A single gunshot is heard as the screen fades to black at the end of the first season. |
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'''Lenore''' is Mandrake's younger half-sister. She is a world-renowned explorer. |
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===Second season=== |
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'''Karma''' is Lothar's girlfriend, an African princess, who works as a model. |
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In the second season, set a year later, Lelouch is once again a student at Ashford Academy. He has had his memories rewritten by the Emperor, revealed to possess a Geass power of his own, making him believe that he was never a prince and that he has a younger brother, [[Rolo Lamperouge]], instead of a sister. Lelouch's memories are restored by C.C., and he resumes leadership of the Black Knights. |
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When Nunnally is appointed as Viceroy of Area 11, and announces her plans to reestablish the Special Administrative Zone of Japan, Lelouch falls into depression since he would be impeding her wishes by continuing his rebellion. He nearly begins taking Refrain before Kallen stops him. With the help of Kallen and his friends at the Ashford Academy, Lelouch realizes that his mission no longer revolves solely around Nunnally, but concerns the rest of his friends and the Japanese people as well. To solve both concerns, Lelouch engineers the legal exile of the Black Knights by getting the Britannians to agree to exile Zero in exchange for bringing one million participants for Nunnally's new Japan. By having them all dress as Zero, he forces Suzaku to exile them all rather than order a massacre. |
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'''Xanadu''' is Mandrake's high tech residence, it has one of the world's best security with all electronic gadgets like closed circuit TV, sectional road which divides from half, dropping iron gates. |
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The Black Knights escape to the Chinese Federation, where Lelouch begins forging an alliance with the other world powers to create a force that rivals Britannia. He starts by destabilizing the Chinese Federation, returning control to Empress [[List of Code Geass characters#Tianzi|Tianzi]] from the High Eunuchs. Kallen is captured during the battle, and Lelouch works to free her from their custody when he returns to Area 11. |
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===Villains=== |
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'''The Cobra''' is Mandrake's most evil and dangerous foe. He made his first appearance in the very first Mandrake story. In a story from 1937, the Cobra was apparently defeated; however, he returned with a vengeance in a story from 1965. This time hiding his face (scarred and disfigured in battle with Mandrake) behind a menacing silver mask. The Cobra's main goal is to get his hands on one of the two powerful ''Crystal Cubes'' that are guarded by Mandrake and his father Theron. Mandrake then learned that The Cobra's true identity was Lucifer, Theron's oldest son - thus making The Cobra Mandrake's half-brother. He stole one of the two mind crystals (These crystals increase mental energy to the n<sup>th</sup> degree) from the college of magic and hence is very powerful. In later years, the Cobra abandoned his silver mask as his face had been reconstructed through surgery. The Cobra is sometimes accompanied by his assistant '''Ud'''. |
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During his time in Area 11, Shirley is killed by Rolo after her memories are restored by [[Jeremiah Gottwald]], an assassin for the Geass Directorate. Unable to retaliate against either, as they are now his allies, Lelouch instead wipes out the Directorate, in the process learning of C.C.'s wish to die and that the Emperor has become immortal. C.C. would have had Lelouch kill her and take on her immortality, but instead spares him by placing him inside her memories while the Emperor kills her. Lelouch refuses to let her die unhappy and convinces her to live on, but her memories of her life after gaining Geass are erased during their escape. |
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'''Derek''' is Mandrake's twin brother, and although similar to his brother in appearance, is totally different when it comes to morals and ethics. Derek is only after money and women and gladly uses his magical powers (that almost rival Mandrake's) to achieve his own personal goals. Mandrake has many times tried to remove Derek's knowledge of magic through mental battles, although it has always been only temporary solutions. |
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Derek has a son, Eric (mother unknown) who so far has shown no signs of following in his father's footsteps. |
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Once Lelouch's new alliance, the United Federation of Nations, is formed, their first act is to liberate Japan. To insure Nunnally's safety, Lelouch meets with Suzaku in an attempt to convince him to help. Lelouch takes full responsibility for all that he has done rather than admit the truth, but Suzaku agrees to help since he recognized what Lelouch is doing. Prince Schneizel's troops, having been ordered to follow Suzaku, then move in to arrest Lelouch, convincing him that Suzaku sold him out. Lelouch escapes with the help of Guilford, having used his Geass to make Guilford see him as Princess Cornelia, and begins his attack on Tokyo. Rolo and Sayoko are sent in to retrieve Nunnally and Kallen. |
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'''The Clay Camel''', real name '''Saki''', is a master of disguises. He is known to be able to mimic anyone and change his appearance in seconds. His name comes from the symbol he leaves at the scenes of his crimes, a small camel made of clay. |
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The battle initially goes well, but the hostilities are cut short when Suzaku fires Nina's F.L.E.I.J.A. bomb under the influence of the command Lelouch placed on them. Nunnally is apparently among the dead, which leaves Lelouch heartbroken. This is only made worse when Schneizel convinces the Black Knights to betray him using recorded evidence from his meeting with Suzaku. Rolo evacuates him, but dies in the attempt. Lelouch comes to terms with his feelings for Rolo and buries him properly. |
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'''The Brass Monkey''', daughter of The Clay Camel with a similar talent for disguises. |
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Having been given his life back, Lelouch focuses his energy on defeating his father. Lelouch confronts the Emperor in the Sword of Akasha, where he learns of the Emperor's plan to remakes the world in such a way that no one will be able to lie to one another, thereby creating peace. He also learns the truth behind his mother's assassination, and that her soul lived on through her Geass power. He denies their new world, which would never move forward attempt to create a new world, and kills both Charles and Marianne. One month later, he installs himself as the 99th Emperor of Britannia and appoints Suzaku as his "Knight of Zero." |
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'''Aleena the Enchantress''' is a former friend of Mandrake's from the ''College of Magic'', a much-married spoilt temptress, who now prefers to use her magic powers for her own benefit. This includes trying to win Mandrake's heart, but when that doesn't succeed, she gladly tries to bring him trouble instead. |
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[[Image:Emperor Lelouch.jpg|thumb|250px|left|Lelouch Lamperouge, now as the 99th Emperor of the Holy Empire of Britannia.]] |
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'''8''' is an old and very powerful crime organization with roots to medieval times. Long thought to be dead and no more than a myth, Mandrake discovered that the organization is very much alive. They are known to often incorporate the number 8 in their crimes or leave the number 8 as a mark. They are organized like an [[octopus]] with eight arms (headquarters) spread out all over the world, and one head (the grim and mysterious leader '''Octon''', only shown as a menacing image on a computer screen). Over the years, Mandrake has succeeded in destroying their headquarters one by one. In one of the stories the Octon of 8 is revealed as Cobra. |
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As Emperor, Lelouch establishes himself as an ally of justice, abolishing all the oppressive laws and class systems of Britannia, frees every colony (thereby abolishing the concept of "Numbers"), and puts down all resistance to his goals. However, the seemingly benevolent acts are a smokescreen for his intention to take over the world, which he calls the Zero Requiem. He announces that Britannia intends to join the U.F.N., and Kallen escorts him to the meeting. She tries to confront him about what she means to him along the way, but Lelouch remains silent on the matter, even when she kisses him. She bids him farewell when it becomes clear he won't respond, and Lelouch does the same once she walks away. |
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At the meeting, Lelouch takes the council members hostage after it is revealed that Britannia's large population would give him a majority voting block. This brings him into conflict with Schneizel and the Black Knights, the former bringing his F.L.E.I.J.A.-equipped floating fortress into the battle. The biggest surprise comes when Nunnally is revealed to be alive and declares herself to be his enemy. Though initially reluctant, Lelouch is convinced that he must fight her for the sake of his plan. He is able to take over ''Damocles'' and use his Geass on Schneizel, forcing him to serve Zero. He also uses his Geass on Nunnally to make her give up the control key to the fortress. With no one left capable of opposing him, Lelouch becomes the ruler of the world. |
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'''Ekardnam''' ('Mandrake' backwards) is Mandrake's "evil twin", who exists on the other side of the mirror. Like his world (where the government is run by the "Private of the Armies", and generals do menial work like running the elevators), Ekardnam is an exact opposite, i.e., evil and treacherous, and uses his "evil eye" powers to work his magic. He was seen when Narda was drawn into the mirror, an adventure that may have been only a bad dream. |
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[[Image:Death of Lelouch.JPG|thumb|250px|The death of Lelouch, at the hands of Zero.]] |
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'''The Deleter''' is one of the most unusual of Mandrake's foes. He is an extraterrestrial contract killer who will "delete" anyone for the right price. However, he does have a code-of-honor, and will seek justice for anyone who tries to cheat him out of his contract fee. |
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Lelouch arranges the public execution of the Black Knight leaders and the U.F.N. representatives. Suzaku, disguised as Zero, interrupts and kills Lelouch, the culmination of the Zero Requiem as they had planned. By directing the hatred of the world onto himself, Lelouch's death will serve to facilitate peace. He dies smiling, saying he is the one who both destroys worlds and creates them. Suzaku is left to play the role of Zero. Lelouch dies in the arms of a crying Nunnally. The aftermath is narrated by Kallen, who ends up forgiving Lelouch and explains how the world is much better off with all the energy being focused on reconstruction. The viewers last hear of Lelouch during the final scene of the series, where C.C. is reflecting upon how the power of Geass isolates people, but ironically brought the world together. At the end of the series, C.C. is shown to be traveling around the countryside, riding in the back of a hay cart with a mysterious driver talking about how Geass doesn't seem to isolate people after all. She addresses Lelouch as she speaks, leaving the viewer to decide who she is actually speaking to. |
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== |
==Abilities== |
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===Donkey Eye of the Phunk=== |
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[[Image:Davismandrake.jpg|thumb|400px|[[Phil Davis (cartoonist)|Phil Davis]] drew the comic strip for three decades.]] |
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[[Image:Lelouch-geass.jpg|thumb|250px|Lelouch using his Geass.]] |
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Mandrake had a prominent role in ''Magic Comics'' and Big Little Books of the 1930s and 1940s. [[Dell Comics]] published a ''Mandrake the Magician'' issue in their [[Four Color]] comic series with various main characters. The ''Mandrake'' issue was #752 and featured original stories by Stan Campell and written by Paul Newman. |
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Lelouch's Geass, given to him by C.C., grants him "the power of absolute obedience," allowing him to plant commands within a person's mind upon eye contact which they will obey without question. Activation of his Geass is visually represented by the manifestation of a Geass sigil in his left eye. Commands dictated in this state are written into the minds of the designated targets once the sigil projects from his eye to theirs. |
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Lelouch could initially toggle Geass activation at will, but subsequently loses this control to an affliction known as {{nihongo|Geass runaway|ギアス[[wiktionary:暴走|暴走]]|giasu bousou}}. In the second season, C.C. gives Lelouch a contact lens that blocks his Geass, but indicates that his Geass will eventually grow powerful enough to render it ineffective. Lelouch's Geass evolves to cover his other eye in episode 21 of the second season, but he receives a second contact to compensate. |
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In 1966-67 [[King Comics]] published ten issues of a ''Mandrake the Magician'' comic magazine. Most of the stories were remakes of newspaper strip stories, and featured art by [[Andre LeBlanc]], [[Ray Bailey]] and others. Mandrake stories also ran as back-up features in other King titles. |
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<!-- List format is used here for the sake of clarity. It's easier to think of each rule as an independent item. --> |
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Italian publisher Fratelli Spada produced a considerable amount of original Mandrake comic book stories in the 1960s and 1970s. A few of these were even published in the American Mandrake comic book mentioned above. |
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Of all the Geass abilities in the series, Lelouch's has been explored the most, and also seems to have the most restrictions and side effects of any Geass introduced. |
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*Commands must be issued verbally. |
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*The victim must make direct eye contact for commands to be issued. The maximum effective distance is 270 meters. Line of sight via a reflective surface is sufficient for the effect to occur. |
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*Commands may be issued only once to any given individual, but any number of commands may be issued at initial application so long as eye contact is unbroken. Since Jeremiah's Geass Canceler negates all Geass effects, those exposed to it may be commanded once again. |
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*The victim will not perform any action disallowed by their physical or mental capabilities, though they will try to carry out the command to the best of their ability. For example, a victim will not be able to correctly answer a question they don't know the answer to, but will direct the user to someone who can if they are able. However, commands that affect the mind or consciousness, such as telling the victim to forget something, will take effect despite the fact that the victim could not normally force themselves to do so. |
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*An action will be carried out for as long as dictated in its command, or upon the indicated conditional circumstance. Eye contact does not need to be maintained for command execution to occur. No upper limit has been established, but the conditional command Lelouch gives Suzaku is still in effect more than a year later. |
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*The victim's memories for the duration of command issue and execution are sealed and cannot be recalled. |
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*The victim may be able to resist a command for a short period if it is something they find utterly reprehensible, but will eventually submit. |
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So long as the above conditions are met, commands may be issued to anybody besides those who have gained the power of immortality and to any number of individuals at once. Those under the effect of Geass have a red outline on their pupils, presumably a visual cue for the viewer since the characters never point it out. |
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[[Marvel Comics|Marvel]] released a Mandrake mini-series in 1995, written by [[Mike W. Barr]] and with painted art by [[Rob Ortaleza]]. However, only two of three planned issues were published. |
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===Intellect=== |
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Mandrake has also enjoyed great success in comic books all over the world, for example Britain, Australia, Brazil, India, France, Spain, Italy, Germany, Norway, Denmark, Finland and Sweden (although in the case of the Nordic countries, most often as a back up feature in the [[The Phantom|Phantom]] comic books). |
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Even without his Geass, Lelouch is a formidable opponent. He is highly intelligent, possessing a [[genius]]-level intellect, and is capable of devising and executing strategies with incredible speed and precision. Rolo notes that operating the Absolute Defense Territory of the Shinkirō requires complex calculations which he cannot perform, while Lelouch almost makes it look easy. In the audio dramas, Suzaku says that, when they were children, Lelouch devised a secret [[sign language]] containing over 500 words.<ref>[http://galvea.livejournal.com/1557.html#cutid1 Stage 9.725 - The Night Before the Decisive Battle.] Retrieved on April 18, 2008.</ref> |
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Lelouch is quick to deduce facts from simple clues. In episode 14, when [[List of Code Geass characters#Mao|Mao]] says C.C.'s name, Lelouch instantly comes up with fourteen different possibilities for Mao's identity, including the correct one. Lelouch is also able to predict the [[Knightmare Frame#Lancelot|Lancelot]]'s actions exactly through his study of their past battles, allowing Tohdoh and the Four Holy Swords to almost defeat it, had not the battle been interrupted. |
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''Mandrake'' is popular in India through [[Indrajal Comics]]. |
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Lelouch is also charismatic and persuasive; as Zero, he is able to win the support of much of Japan's population through well-delivered speeches combined with his ability to make miracles in almost any situation through his superior tactical planning. Mao repeatedly praises Lelouch's persuasive talent, and V.V. remarks that Lelouch is "a lot like his father." |
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In ''[[Mad Magazine]]'' in the 1950s, Mandrake was spoofed as "Manduck." He lives in a hovel, which he convinces visitors is a palatial home by 'gesturing hypnotically.' In the story he matches wits with [[The Shadow]]; he, Lothar, and The Shadow all gesture hypnotically at each other and only Lothar (looking like Manduck) remains. In a later article, Manduck pulls off the (enviable!) trick of turning Lothar into a six-foot-tall blond [[woman]]. |
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===Physical=== |
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Mandrake is also set to be featured together with [[the Phantom]] in ''The Phantom Annual #2'', written by [[Mike Bullock]] and [[Kevin Grevioux]] and published by [[Moonstone Books]]. |
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Physically, Lelouch is underwhelming. He possesses the physical prowess of a teenager who engages in little to no strenuous physical activity. Thus, one of Lelouch's traits is the inability to run very fast or for any substantial period of time. Within the series, this is usually played for comedic effect, as Lelouch is constantly outpaced by his classmates in every situation, and even the most simple tasks requiring manual labor exhaust him before he manages to accomplish anything significant. This joke is taken to its logical conclusion in the second season, where it is revealed that Lelouch is supposed to attend remedial physical education classes, but skips them as often as possible. This creates problems when Sayoko poses as Lelouch: she is a master of martial arts, and hence far more athletic than Lelouch himself. However, Lelouch does have some decent skill with [[firearms]]. |
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Lelouch is shown to be very talented at domestic skills such as cooking and sewing; it has been stated that this comes as a result of his taking care of himself and Nunnally for seven years. He serves as the cook for parties held by the Student Council, both because the others (except Milly) are terrible cooks and nobody else can meet his exact requirements (such as measuring ingredients to three significant decimals). |
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[[Moonstone Books]] will being producing an original series of Mandrake comics in 2008. |
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Lelouch is capable of proficiently handling a Knightmare Frame, but rarely battles opponents one on one, usually attacking with groups or using clever deceptions to gain advantages. Pilots such as Suzaku and Cornelia, both of whom are masterful Knightmare pilots and usually pilot more advanced Knightmares than his own, are commonly able to overwhelm him in single combat. Lelouch is typically accompanied by Kallen, who serves as his personal guard. After stealing the [[Knightmare Frame#Gawain|Gawain]], Lelouch co-pilots it with C.C., controlling the weapons and command functions while C.C. handles navigation and flight. After the Black Knights are exiled from Japan, Lelouch pilots the [[Knightmare Frame#Shinkirō|Shinkirō]], which has the most powerful defense of any Knightmare, but requires complex calculations to be effective. Its nearly-impenetrable defense allows him to hold his own against even the members of the [[List of Code Geass characters#Knights of Rounds|Knights of Rounds]] during the second battle of Tokyo. |
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==In other media== |
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===Radio===<!-- This section is linked from [[Mutual Broadcasting System]] --> |
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On radio as a 15-minute program, ''Mandrake the Magician'' aired on the [[Mutual Broadcasting System]] from [[November 11]], [[1940]], until [[February 6]], [[1942]]. Originally a three-day-a-week serial, it expanded to five days a week in 1941. Uttering the incantation "invovo legem magicarum" was [[Raymond Edward Johnson]] who starred as Mandrake. Juano Hernandez portrayed Lothar, and Francesca Lenni took the role of Princess Narda. The series was directed by Carlo De Angelo. |
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==Appearances in other media== |
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[[Image:Mandrakemovieposter.jpg|right|frame|Movie poster from the 1939 movie serial]] |
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=== |
===Lost Colors=== |
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In ''[[List of Code Geass media#Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion Lost Colors|Code Geass: Lost Colors]]'', the [[video game]] for the [[PlayStation 2]] and [[PlayStation Portable]], there are a few endings and clips of Lelouch that involve the main character, [[List of Code Geass characters#Rai|Rai]]. If the player decides to use Rai's Geass on Suzaku to make him join the Order of the Black Knights, Lelouch becomes angry, having wanted Suzaku to join him of his own accord, and uses his Geass to put Rai into an eternal sleep, resulting in a game over. If the player follows the Blue Moon route and makes Rai and Nunnally fall in love, Lelouch will be reluctant to accept their relationship and will be with them during their first date, watching them closely as they go visit the Ashford Academy's garden. |
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In 1939, Columbia produced a 12-part ''[[Mandrake the Magician (serial)|Mandrake the Magician]]'', based on the King Features strip, starring Warren Hull as Mandrake and Al Kikume as Lothar. The serial is widely available on DVD. |
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=== |
===Nightmare of Nunnally=== |
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Lelouch receives a different Geass ability in the ''Nightmare of Nunnally'' spin-off series as a result of his near-death during the Britannian attempt to recapture C.C. Instead of the ability to control others, he receives invulnerability granted through a suit of black armor, transforming into a much, more heavily armored version of Zero. In the armor, Lelouch can fight on par with multiple Knightmares in single combat. As in the original series, C.C. often serves as his body double, but here is able to manifest the same Geass ability and fight on the same level as Lelouch. With his new abilities, Lelouch forms a different Order of the Black Knights and leads them directly in battle instead of planning strategies from the rear, though his fighting ability allows him to achieve the same ends. |
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==See also== |
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NBC made a pilot for a ''Mandrake the Magician'' TV series in 1954, but no other episodes were made. Stage magician Coe Norton starred as Mandrake and [[Woody Strode]] as Lothar. |
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* [[List of Code Geass characters]] |
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[[Anthony Herrera]] had the title role in the TV movie ''Mandrake'' (1979) with Ji-Tu Cumbuka as Lothar. Magician [[Harry Blackstone Jr.]] was featured in the cast. |
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In the animated series ''[[Defenders of the Earth]]'' (1986-1987), Mandrake the Magician teams up with fellow [[King Features]] adventurers [[Flash Gordon]] and [[The Phantom]]. Mandrake's friend Lothar also has a prominent role, as well as a teenage son nicknamed L.J. who was also a martial artist. On the other hand, Mandrake has an adoptive son of Asian blood named Kshin, whom he's training as his apprentice and heir. [[Peter Renaday]] was the voice of Mandrake and [[Buster Jones]] the voice of Lothar. The entire series has been released by BCI Eclipse in two DVD sets. |
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In the animated series ''[[Phantom 2040]]'', featuring a future Phantom, Mandrake has a brief, unnamed appearance in the episode "The Magician". He is presented as an old friend of that Phantom's father, and his remarkably well-preserved shape is compatible with the longevity-conferring properties of the Crystals. |
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===Unrealized and unauthorized projects=== |
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An unauthorized ''Mandrake'' movie produced in Turkey was made in 1967, ''Mandrake Killing'e karsi'', directed by Oksal Pekmezoglu and starring Güven Erte as Mandrake. |
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In the 1960s, [[Federico Fellini]], a close friend of creator [[Lee Falk]], intended to make a Mandrake movie, but the project never got off the ground. |
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Within two weeks of signing with his first agent, American filmmaker [[Michael Almereyda]] was hired by [[Embassy Pictures]] to rewrite a script for ''Mandrake the Magician''. He told ''Filmmaker'' that upon receiving the assignment, he flew to New York and checked himself in at the [[Chelsea Hotel]] to work on the rewrite. Three weeks later, he emerged with new draft in hand, but by then the studio had changed heads, and in as little time as his revision took, the project was dropped.<ref>[http://www.filmmakermagazine.com/winter1999/king_space.php King of Infinite Space], ''Filmmaker Magazine'', Winter 1999, retrieved April 15, 2006</ref> |
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===Theatre=== |
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The musical ''Mandrake the Magician and the Enchantress'' was produced during the late 1970s at the Lenox Arts Festival in Massachusetts with music by George Quincy, script by [[Lee Falk]] and Thayer Burch, and lyrics by Thayer Burch. |
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Mandrake is also a character in the play ''King Kong Palace'', written by Chilean playwriter [[Marco Antonio de la Parra]]. In the play, Mandrake is now a performer in birthday parties and attempts to seduce Jane, the ambitious wife of [[Tarzan]], in order to satisfy his lust for power. |
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===Upcoming movie=== |
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[[Baldwin Entertainment Group]] and [[Hyde Park Entertainment]] have bought the rights to make a Mandrake movie, to be directed by [[Chuck Russell]], director of such films as ''[[Eraser]]'', ''[[The Mask]]'', and ''[[The Scorpion King]]''. No release date has been confirmed. The two companies also own the rights to Lee Falk's [[The Phantom]]. [[Jonathan Rhys Meyers]], star of such films as ''[[Mission Impossible III]]'' and ''[[Match Point]]'', is on board the project as the title character.<ref>{{cite news |first=Stuart |last=Kemp |title=Rhys Meyers dons cape for 'Mandrake' Real-life magician [[Criss Angel]] will be responsible for developing the visual effects. |url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/film/news/e3i2b399e0dbd654f9fca04192f214836d3 |work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |date=[[2007-10-31]] |accessdate=2007-11-07}}</ref> |
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===Software=== |
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A software company called MandrakeSoft started in France in 1998. Their biggest product was the [[GNU]]/[[Linux distribution]] ''Mandrake Linux''. In February 2004, MandrakeSoft lost a court case against [[Hearst Corporation]], owners of [[King Features Syndicate]]. Hearst contends that MandrakeSoft is infringing upon King Features' trademarked character ''Mandrake the Magician''. The word [[Mandrake]] is not unique to the King Features character, and MandrakeSoft appealed the decision. However, the Linux-tool ''Lothar'' which was developed in a project sponsored by MandrakeSoft also has a name inspired by the comic strip, where Lothar is the longtime friend of Mandrake the Magician. The use of a magician's [[top hat]] and magic [[wand]] in images and logos also showed that MandrakeSoft wanted to associate the name with a magician, and not (for example) the [[mandrake root]]. Consequently and due to the acquisition of the Linux company called [[Conectiva]], MandrakeSoft and its product have changed names to [[Mandriva]] and [[Mandriva Linux]]' respectively. |
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==Leon Mandrake== |
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[[Leon Mandrake]], the stage magician, who was known for his top hat, pencil line moustache and scarlet-lined cape, bears a strong resemblance to the comic strip character. In fact, Leon Mandrake had been performing for well over ten years before Lee Falk introduced the comic strip character and today most people would acknowledge the striking resemblance between them. Many diverse sources assert that the comic character was drawn to resemble Leon. Davis did meet Leon Mandrake; they became good friends and corresponded for years afterwards. |
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==Reprints== |
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*[[Dragon Lady Press]] reprinted a [[1937]] Mandrake daily story in ''Classic Adventure Strips'' #1. |
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*[[Pacific Comics Club]] reprinted two Mandrake daily stories from [[1938]] Feature Books #18 and #23. |
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*[[Nostalgia Press]] published a hardback book reprinting two [[1938]] daily stories. |
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*[[Pioneer Comics]] reprinted a large number of Mandrake stories in [[comic book]] form. |
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*[[Comics Revue]] has reprinted several Mandrake daily stories. |
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*[[JAL Publications]] has reprinted several Mandrake stories |
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==Pop culture references== |
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Baseball player [[Don Mueller]], an outfielder for the [[San Francisco Giants|New York Giants]] on their [[1951]] [[National League]] [[pennant]] winners and [[1954 World Series|1954 World Championship]] teams, was known as "Mandrake the Magician" for his hitting ability. |
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[http://www.theantechamber.net/UsHistDoc/CreatureJekyllIsland.html#mm The Mandrake Mechanism] by which money is magically created by the Federal Reserve. |
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==References== |
==References== |
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{{reflist}} |
{{reflist}} |
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{{Code Geass}} |
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==External links== |
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*[http://mandrake-comics.blogspot.com Online Mandrake comic strips] - An amazing & versatile collection of Mandrake comics/strips |
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*[http://www.kingfeatures.com/features/comics/mandrake/about.htm Mandrake the Magician at King Features, includes facts and the option of reading comic strip stories free online] |
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*[http://www.toonopedia.com/mandrake.htm Toonopedia entry] |
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*[http://89.151.245.18/ Xanadu - extensive website dedicated to Mandrake the Magician] |
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*[http://www.deepwoods.cjb.net/ The 21st Phantom's Deep Woods] - Phantom fan site that provides access to current and archived online Mandrake comic strips |
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*[http://phorum.thedan.org/ The Phantom Phorum] - Discussion forum dedicated to The Phantom and Mandrake the Magician |
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*[http://www.superherohype.com/news/topnews.php?id=5572 Chuck Russell to direct Mandrake movie] |
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*[http://comic-guy.blogspot.com Comic World] - Archive of Indian Mandrake Publication (Indrajal Comics) |
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{{King Features Syndicate Comics}} |
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Revision as of 11:58, 11 October 2008
| Lelouch Lamperouge | |
|---|---|
| Code Geass character | |
| File:CODE GEASS R2 - 01 - Large 36.jpg Lelouch Lamperouge | |
| In-universe information | |
| Alias | Lelouch vi Britannia (real name) Zero Black Prince King of Elevens Emperor of Justice Man of Miracles |
| Nickname | Lulu |
| Gender | Male |
| Title | His Majesty |
| Occupation | Ashford Academy Student Leader of the Order of the Black Knights Emperor of Britannia Chairman of the U.F.N. |
| Relatives | Charles di Britannia (father, deceased) Marianne vi Britannia (mother, deceased) Nunnally vi Britannia (sister) See Britannian Imperial Family |
| Nationality | Britannian |
Lelouch Lamperouge (ルルーシュ・ランペルージ, Rurūshu Ranperūji) is the Byronic protagonist, anti-hero and tragic hero of the Sunrise anime series Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion. Lamperouge is his assumed surname, while his real name is Lelouch vi Britannia (ルルーシュ・ヴィ・ブリタニア, Rurūshu vi Buritania), son of the 98th Britannian Emperor. His seiyū is Jun Fukuyama, and his child self is voiced by Sayaka Ohara. His English dub voice is provided by Johnny Yong Bosch with Michelle Ruff doing Lelouch's child voice.
He was chosen the most popular male character of 2006 and 2007 at Animage magazine's annual Anime Grand Prix.[1] His seiyū Jun Fukuyama also won the "Best Actor in a Leading Role" award for his portrayal of the character at the first Seiyū Awards in 2007.
Character planning history
While first designing the concept art design for Lelouch, the series's original character designers CLAMP had initially conceived of his hair color as being white. Ageha Ohkawa, head writer at CLAMP, said she had visualized him as being a character to which "everyone" could relate to as being "cool", literally, a "beauty". During the early planning stages for Lelouch's alter ego, Zero, CLAMP had wanted to create a mask never witnessed prior in any Sunrise series. While developing the character during the initial planning stages, the series' core staff at Sunrise, director Gorō Taniguchi, writer Ichirō Ōkouchi, and the production team discussed numerous possible influences for the character with CLAMP, such as Kinki Kids and Tackey and Tsubasa.[2]
Character outline
Lelouch is the son of the Emperor of Britannia, Charles di Britannia, and the late Imperial Consort Marianne, making Lelouch the eleventh prince of the Britannian Imperial Family.[3] He was seventeenth in line for the throne prior to his mother's assassination and his sister's crippling in the same incident. A ten year old Lelouch confronted the Emperor afterward and accused him of leaving his mother defenseless, even going as far as renouncing his entitlement to the throne. In response, his father banished him to Japan, where he was used as a political hostage in the Sakuradite conflict.
It was during his stay at the Kururugi household that he first met Suzaku Kururugi, with whom the young Lelouch did not interact initially in a friendly manner,[4] before later becoming friends. However, when Britannia finally developed its Knightmare Frames fleet and decided to invade Japan to seize control of the Sakuradite mines, consequently discarding Lelouch's use as a diplomatic tool, Lelouch, fearing for his and his sister's safety, hid their true identities and sought the help of the Ashford family, who were his mother's allies.
His mother's death and his father's apparent lack of concern in regards to it were huge blows to Lelouch. He always felt that it was unfair for both his mother and sister, and therefore made it his goal to pursue a better world for Nunnally. He also seeks to discover the true reason for his mother's death, as she was murdered in the Aries Imperial Palace, a place terrorists would be unlikely to penetrate successfully without being noticed, if at all.
Zero
Shortly after gaining the power of Geass from C.C., Lelouch assumes the secret identity Zero (ゼロ), a mysterious, masked revolutionary dressed in a black helmet and cloak. The helmet has a retractable plate over the left eye so Lelouch can use his Geass. In this guise, he forms the Order of the Black Knights, initially composed of the members of Kaname Ohgi's resistance group. The goal of this vigilante group is a campaign against powerful individuals who oppress the helpless, which he eventually expands into reforming Japan as an independent nation.
Lelouch is willing to do whatever it takes to accomplish his goal, even if it means lying to his followers and using people as bait for the outcome he desires. However, he has trouble putting those he is close to in harms way for the sake of his goal, which is a weakness as a commander but a remnant of his humanity and sanity. His feelings for Nunnally in particular often hinders his plans, particularly at the end of the first season, where he abandons a massive war with Britannian forces to rescue her. Gradually, however, he has come to embrace the fact that he has to destroy before reconstruction can occur, even if it means harming those he cares about.
Originally, Lelouch is motivated by the desire to avenge his mother's death and construct an ideal world where his sister Nunnally can live in peace. After Nunnally becomes Viceroy of Area 11, and her wishes conflict with his goals, his friends help him to realize that his rebellion is no longer just for Nunnally, but for all the people of the world.
Character history
First season
Lelouch is introduced in the first episode of the series as a student of Ashford Academy high school, where he is a member of its student council. A brilliant thinker who is quite talented at chess, he lives with his younger sister, Nunnally, with their maid, Sayoko Shinozaki, at a house situated within the compounds of Ashford Academy, where they are looked after by the Ashford family.
Lelouch is soon swept into the conflict between the Britannia Empire and the pockets of resistance which oppose it when he accidentally boards a truck being used by Japanese resistance operatives.[5] Within the truck is a capsule holding C.C., who sacrifices herself to save him from the military forces trying to recapture her. When it seems as if her sacrifice was pointless, C.C. suddenly touches his hand and offers him the "Power of the King", the mythical power of Geass. The Geass manifests itself in him as the power of absolute obedience, which allows him to make people obey his orders without question. He uses this power to order the Britannian soldiers to kill themselves in his name.
With his new power, Lelouch begins his rebellion against the Empire, starting by killing his half-brother, Clovis, after extracting information about the murder of his mother, Marianne. He later forms the Order of the Black Knights and takes up the identity of Zero to lead them, becoming a revolutionary and gaining popular support amongst the people.
The turning point in his rebellion comes when Euphemia li Britannia declares the region under Mount Fuji the Special Administrative Zone of Japan, giving the Japanese people their name and country back, albeit in a much smaller area. This effectively destroys any possibility of the Black Knights' rebellion; acceptance would render them powerless and refusal would make them pariahs. Lelouch confronts her at the opening ceremony and tries to have her shoot him, hoping to make himself a martyr. When she says she plans to give up her title, he surrenders and agrees to work with her. However, at this moment his Geass permanently activates, and an offhand comment about ordering her to kill the Japanese forces her to do just that. Lelouch reluctantly kills her and uses the massacre as an excuse to declare Japan an independent nation. He then leads an attack on the Tokyo Settlement. The attack goes well at first, but when Lelouch learns that Nunnally has been kidnapped, he abandons the battle, leaving his forces helpless against the much better organized Britannian forces.
Lelouch and C.C. make their way to Kaminejima to search for Nunnally, where Lelouch is confronted by Suzaku Kururugi. Lelouch attempts to broker a truce, but Suzaku is distraught over the death of Euphemia and refuses to listen. An angered Lelouch draws his pistol and both Lelouch and Suzaku attempt to shoot one another. A single gunshot is heard as the screen fades to black at the end of the first season.
Second season
In the second season, set a year later, Lelouch is once again a student at Ashford Academy. He has had his memories rewritten by the Emperor, revealed to possess a Geass power of his own, making him believe that he was never a prince and that he has a younger brother, Rolo Lamperouge, instead of a sister. Lelouch's memories are restored by C.C., and he resumes leadership of the Black Knights.
When Nunnally is appointed as Viceroy of Area 11, and announces her plans to reestablish the Special Administrative Zone of Japan, Lelouch falls into depression since he would be impeding her wishes by continuing his rebellion. He nearly begins taking Refrain before Kallen stops him. With the help of Kallen and his friends at the Ashford Academy, Lelouch realizes that his mission no longer revolves solely around Nunnally, but concerns the rest of his friends and the Japanese people as well. To solve both concerns, Lelouch engineers the legal exile of the Black Knights by getting the Britannians to agree to exile Zero in exchange for bringing one million participants for Nunnally's new Japan. By having them all dress as Zero, he forces Suzaku to exile them all rather than order a massacre.
The Black Knights escape to the Chinese Federation, where Lelouch begins forging an alliance with the other world powers to create a force that rivals Britannia. He starts by destabilizing the Chinese Federation, returning control to Empress Tianzi from the High Eunuchs. Kallen is captured during the battle, and Lelouch works to free her from their custody when he returns to Area 11.
During his time in Area 11, Shirley is killed by Rolo after her memories are restored by Jeremiah Gottwald, an assassin for the Geass Directorate. Unable to retaliate against either, as they are now his allies, Lelouch instead wipes out the Directorate, in the process learning of C.C.'s wish to die and that the Emperor has become immortal. C.C. would have had Lelouch kill her and take on her immortality, but instead spares him by placing him inside her memories while the Emperor kills her. Lelouch refuses to let her die unhappy and convinces her to live on, but her memories of her life after gaining Geass are erased during their escape.
Once Lelouch's new alliance, the United Federation of Nations, is formed, their first act is to liberate Japan. To insure Nunnally's safety, Lelouch meets with Suzaku in an attempt to convince him to help. Lelouch takes full responsibility for all that he has done rather than admit the truth, but Suzaku agrees to help since he recognized what Lelouch is doing. Prince Schneizel's troops, having been ordered to follow Suzaku, then move in to arrest Lelouch, convincing him that Suzaku sold him out. Lelouch escapes with the help of Guilford, having used his Geass to make Guilford see him as Princess Cornelia, and begins his attack on Tokyo. Rolo and Sayoko are sent in to retrieve Nunnally and Kallen.
The battle initially goes well, but the hostilities are cut short when Suzaku fires Nina's F.L.E.I.J.A. bomb under the influence of the command Lelouch placed on them. Nunnally is apparently among the dead, which leaves Lelouch heartbroken. This is only made worse when Schneizel convinces the Black Knights to betray him using recorded evidence from his meeting with Suzaku. Rolo evacuates him, but dies in the attempt. Lelouch comes to terms with his feelings for Rolo and buries him properly.
Having been given his life back, Lelouch focuses his energy on defeating his father. Lelouch confronts the Emperor in the Sword of Akasha, where he learns of the Emperor's plan to remakes the world in such a way that no one will be able to lie to one another, thereby creating peace. He also learns the truth behind his mother's assassination, and that her soul lived on through her Geass power. He denies their new world, which would never move forward attempt to create a new world, and kills both Charles and Marianne. One month later, he installs himself as the 99th Emperor of Britannia and appoints Suzaku as his "Knight of Zero."
As Emperor, Lelouch establishes himself as an ally of justice, abolishing all the oppressive laws and class systems of Britannia, frees every colony (thereby abolishing the concept of "Numbers"), and puts down all resistance to his goals. However, the seemingly benevolent acts are a smokescreen for his intention to take over the world, which he calls the Zero Requiem. He announces that Britannia intends to join the U.F.N., and Kallen escorts him to the meeting. She tries to confront him about what she means to him along the way, but Lelouch remains silent on the matter, even when she kisses him. She bids him farewell when it becomes clear he won't respond, and Lelouch does the same once she walks away.
At the meeting, Lelouch takes the council members hostage after it is revealed that Britannia's large population would give him a majority voting block. This brings him into conflict with Schneizel and the Black Knights, the former bringing his F.L.E.I.J.A.-equipped floating fortress into the battle. The biggest surprise comes when Nunnally is revealed to be alive and declares herself to be his enemy. Though initially reluctant, Lelouch is convinced that he must fight her for the sake of his plan. He is able to take over Damocles and use his Geass on Schneizel, forcing him to serve Zero. He also uses his Geass on Nunnally to make her give up the control key to the fortress. With no one left capable of opposing him, Lelouch becomes the ruler of the world.
Lelouch arranges the public execution of the Black Knight leaders and the U.F.N. representatives. Suzaku, disguised as Zero, interrupts and kills Lelouch, the culmination of the Zero Requiem as they had planned. By directing the hatred of the world onto himself, Lelouch's death will serve to facilitate peace. He dies smiling, saying he is the one who both destroys worlds and creates them. Suzaku is left to play the role of Zero. Lelouch dies in the arms of a crying Nunnally. The aftermath is narrated by Kallen, who ends up forgiving Lelouch and explains how the world is much better off with all the energy being focused on reconstruction. The viewers last hear of Lelouch during the final scene of the series, where C.C. is reflecting upon how the power of Geass isolates people, but ironically brought the world together. At the end of the series, C.C. is shown to be traveling around the countryside, riding in the back of a hay cart with a mysterious driver talking about how Geass doesn't seem to isolate people after all. She addresses Lelouch as she speaks, leaving the viewer to decide who she is actually speaking to.
Abilities
Donkey Eye of the Phunk
Lelouch's Geass, given to him by C.C., grants him "the power of absolute obedience," allowing him to plant commands within a person's mind upon eye contact which they will obey without question. Activation of his Geass is visually represented by the manifestation of a Geass sigil in his left eye. Commands dictated in this state are written into the minds of the designated targets once the sigil projects from his eye to theirs.
Lelouch could initially toggle Geass activation at will, but subsequently loses this control to an affliction known as Geass runaway (ギアス暴走, giasu bousou). In the second season, C.C. gives Lelouch a contact lens that blocks his Geass, but indicates that his Geass will eventually grow powerful enough to render it ineffective. Lelouch's Geass evolves to cover his other eye in episode 21 of the second season, but he receives a second contact to compensate.
Of all the Geass abilities in the series, Lelouch's has been explored the most, and also seems to have the most restrictions and side effects of any Geass introduced.
- Commands must be issued verbally.
- The victim must make direct eye contact for commands to be issued. The maximum effective distance is 270 meters. Line of sight via a reflective surface is sufficient for the effect to occur.
- Commands may be issued only once to any given individual, but any number of commands may be issued at initial application so long as eye contact is unbroken. Since Jeremiah's Geass Canceler negates all Geass effects, those exposed to it may be commanded once again.
- The victim will not perform any action disallowed by their physical or mental capabilities, though they will try to carry out the command to the best of their ability. For example, a victim will not be able to correctly answer a question they don't know the answer to, but will direct the user to someone who can if they are able. However, commands that affect the mind or consciousness, such as telling the victim to forget something, will take effect despite the fact that the victim could not normally force themselves to do so.
- An action will be carried out for as long as dictated in its command, or upon the indicated conditional circumstance. Eye contact does not need to be maintained for command execution to occur. No upper limit has been established, but the conditional command Lelouch gives Suzaku is still in effect more than a year later.
- The victim's memories for the duration of command issue and execution are sealed and cannot be recalled.
- The victim may be able to resist a command for a short period if it is something they find utterly reprehensible, but will eventually submit.
So long as the above conditions are met, commands may be issued to anybody besides those who have gained the power of immortality and to any number of individuals at once. Those under the effect of Geass have a red outline on their pupils, presumably a visual cue for the viewer since the characters never point it out.
Intellect
Even without his Geass, Lelouch is a formidable opponent. He is highly intelligent, possessing a genius-level intellect, and is capable of devising and executing strategies with incredible speed and precision. Rolo notes that operating the Absolute Defense Territory of the Shinkirō requires complex calculations which he cannot perform, while Lelouch almost makes it look easy. In the audio dramas, Suzaku says that, when they were children, Lelouch devised a secret sign language containing over 500 words.[6]
Lelouch is quick to deduce facts from simple clues. In episode 14, when Mao says C.C.'s name, Lelouch instantly comes up with fourteen different possibilities for Mao's identity, including the correct one. Lelouch is also able to predict the Lancelot's actions exactly through his study of their past battles, allowing Tohdoh and the Four Holy Swords to almost defeat it, had not the battle been interrupted.
Lelouch is also charismatic and persuasive; as Zero, he is able to win the support of much of Japan's population through well-delivered speeches combined with his ability to make miracles in almost any situation through his superior tactical planning. Mao repeatedly praises Lelouch's persuasive talent, and V.V. remarks that Lelouch is "a lot like his father."
Physical
Physically, Lelouch is underwhelming. He possesses the physical prowess of a teenager who engages in little to no strenuous physical activity. Thus, one of Lelouch's traits is the inability to run very fast or for any substantial period of time. Within the series, this is usually played for comedic effect, as Lelouch is constantly outpaced by his classmates in every situation, and even the most simple tasks requiring manual labor exhaust him before he manages to accomplish anything significant. This joke is taken to its logical conclusion in the second season, where it is revealed that Lelouch is supposed to attend remedial physical education classes, but skips them as often as possible. This creates problems when Sayoko poses as Lelouch: she is a master of martial arts, and hence far more athletic than Lelouch himself. However, Lelouch does have some decent skill with firearms.
Lelouch is shown to be very talented at domestic skills such as cooking and sewing; it has been stated that this comes as a result of his taking care of himself and Nunnally for seven years. He serves as the cook for parties held by the Student Council, both because the others (except Milly) are terrible cooks and nobody else can meet his exact requirements (such as measuring ingredients to three significant decimals).
Lelouch is capable of proficiently handling a Knightmare Frame, but rarely battles opponents one on one, usually attacking with groups or using clever deceptions to gain advantages. Pilots such as Suzaku and Cornelia, both of whom are masterful Knightmare pilots and usually pilot more advanced Knightmares than his own, are commonly able to overwhelm him in single combat. Lelouch is typically accompanied by Kallen, who serves as his personal guard. After stealing the Gawain, Lelouch co-pilots it with C.C., controlling the weapons and command functions while C.C. handles navigation and flight. After the Black Knights are exiled from Japan, Lelouch pilots the Shinkirō, which has the most powerful defense of any Knightmare, but requires complex calculations to be effective. Its nearly-impenetrable defense allows him to hold his own against even the members of the Knights of Rounds during the second battle of Tokyo.
Appearances in other media
Lost Colors
In Code Geass: Lost Colors, the video game for the PlayStation 2 and PlayStation Portable, there are a few endings and clips of Lelouch that involve the main character, Rai. If the player decides to use Rai's Geass on Suzaku to make him join the Order of the Black Knights, Lelouch becomes angry, having wanted Suzaku to join him of his own accord, and uses his Geass to put Rai into an eternal sleep, resulting in a game over. If the player follows the Blue Moon route and makes Rai and Nunnally fall in love, Lelouch will be reluctant to accept their relationship and will be with them during their first date, watching them closely as they go visit the Ashford Academy's garden.
Nightmare of Nunnally
Lelouch receives a different Geass ability in the Nightmare of Nunnally spin-off series as a result of his near-death during the Britannian attempt to recapture C.C. Instead of the ability to control others, he receives invulnerability granted through a suit of black armor, transforming into a much, more heavily armored version of Zero. In the armor, Lelouch can fight on par with multiple Knightmares in single combat. As in the original series, C.C. often serves as his body double, but here is able to manifest the same Geass ability and fight on the same level as Lelouch. With his new abilities, Lelouch forms a different Order of the Black Knights and leads them directly in battle instead of planning strategies from the rear, though his fighting ability allows him to achieve the same ends.
See also
References
- ^ Favorite Male Character, 29th Annual Anime Grand Prix
- ^ Newtype, May 2007 issue.
- ^ "Stage 3: The White Knight Awakened". Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion. 2006-10-12. MBS.
{{cite episode}}: Unknown parameter|serieslink=ignored (|series-link=suggested) (help); Unknown parameter|titlelink=ignored (|title-link=suggested) (help) - ^ "Code Geass Picture Drama 1". Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion DVD 1. 2007-01-26.
{{cite episode}}: Unknown parameter|serieslink=ignored (|series-link=suggested) (help); Unknown parameter|titlelink=ignored (|title-link=suggested) (help) - ^ "Stage 1: The Day The Fiend Was Born". Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion. 2006-10-05. MBS.
{{cite episode}}: Unknown parameter|serieslink=ignored (|series-link=suggested) (help); Unknown parameter|titlelink=ignored (|title-link=suggested) (help) - ^ Stage 9.725 - The Night Before the Decisive Battle. Retrieved on April 18, 2008.
