Ever since Gorō Taniguchi’s Code Geass came out in 2006, anime fans have found an uncanny resemblance between the series and the prominent series Mobile Suit Gundam by Yoshiyuki Tomino that started in 1979. Be it the characters of the series or the narrative, Code Geass feels like it has drawn inspiration from the science fiction series and followed in similar footsteps.
Although the theme and the base storyline of the two series are completely different, certain elements and characters of Code Geass draw parallels with Mobile Suit Gundam. Even the dynamics between Lelouch and Suzaku felt like a varied representation of Gundam’s protagonists, Amuro Ray and Char.
However, last year Taniguchi made a major revelation and put an end to the discourse about Code Geass and Gundam’s similarities. He also revealed the difference between Lelouch and Amuro’s characters. The Japanese anime director pointed out that Code Geass is not inspired by Gundam but actually draws inspiration from the famous Kamen Rider franchise created by artist Shotaro Ishinomori.
Gorō Taniguchi Reflects On The Difference Between Lelouch and Amuro’s Character
In an interview with Full Frontal, Code Geass director Taniguchi was asked the age-old question about the similarity between the protagonist of his series and Mobile Suit Gundam. He was also questioned about how the relationship between Lelouch and Suzaku looked exactly like Amuro and Char’s relationship in Gundam.
Taniguchi revealed:
Aah, I don’t really agree. Unlike Char and Amuro, they don’t meet on the battlefield: they’re more like childhood friends who spent a summer together. That’s been a foundational element in their identity, a sort of paradise they both look back to. So I think it’s different.
The past of Lelouch and Suzaku that gives their relationship a nostalgic remembrance makes it different from Char and Amuro’s relationship which was formed on the battlefield.
Taniguchi went on to say that the only reason why Lelouch and Suzaku feel similar is because of their stereotypical hero journey, which both of them are going through in their own narratives.
The True Inspiration Behind Code Geass
While talking about Code Geass and Gundam, Taniguchi also made it clear that his series has never been influenced by Gundam. Instead, it actually took inspiration from the famous Japanese superhero TV series, Kamen Rider. The only reason it feels similar to Gundam is the involvement of science fiction in the central story of Code Geass.
Taniguchi stated:
Still, as I told Ōkouchi back then, the base pattern isn’t Gundam but rather Kamen Rider. Just like Lelouch, the boss of Shocker begins by creating an evil organization, but by sheer bad luck his childhood friend becomes Kamen Rider and comes to destroy him. (laughs) No matter how well he plans his strategies, he’s always crushed by Kamen Rider’s power. (laughs) That’s the sort of image we had.
The base structure of Code Geass is quite similar to Kamen Rider and it is reflected through different elements of the story, be it The Black Knights or the main character Lelouch.
While Code Geass and Kamen Rider are from totally different eras, the examples explained by Taniguchi make it easier for fans to draw parallels between the two anime series.
Code Geass is available to watch on Crunchyroll.
