# Code Geass Watch Order

The short answer: start with Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion, go straight into R2, and then — only if you want more afterward — finish with the film Lelouch of the Resurrection. This is Sunrise's razor-sharp fusion of mecha spectacle and political chess, following an exiled prince who is granted the power to bend anyone to his will and points it squarely at the empire that conquered his homeland. The two TV seasons are really one continuous story, so their order is not up for debate: R2 picks up after the first season's shattering finale and pays off everything the opening act sets in motion. The 2019 film is a later epilogue set well after that ending, which is exactly why it lands last and stays optional. Watch it in sequence and let the plan unfold — this is one of anime's great tragedies of ambition, and it rewards being taken in order.

> Here is the one genuine wrinkle worth flagging. Lelouch of the Resurrection technically continues the timeline of a later compilation-movie trilogy — three films that recut R1 and R2 into a condensed retelling with a slightly altered ending — rather than flowing straight out of the original TV finale. Our recommendation is unambiguous: watch the R1 → R2 television series, the complete and definitive version of the story, then move on to Resurrection if you want more, simply accepting the minor continuity nudge between the show's ending and the movie's jumping-off point. You lose nothing essential doing it this way — the series is the real experience, and the film still plays cleanly as an epilogue. Only bother with the recap trilogy if you specifically want the exact lead-in the movie was built on.

## The order

1. **[Code Geass: Hangyaku no Lelouch](https://hozuna.com/anime/code-geass)** — TV · 2006 · 25 eps
   The foundation and your starting line — the 25-episode first season from 2006, where exiled prince Lelouch gains his Geass and launches a masked rebellion against the Britannian empire. Everything downstream is built on it, so this is non-negotiably where you begin.
   Streams on: Crunchyroll, Hulu, Netflix

2. **[Code Geass: Hangyaku no Lelouch R2](https://hozuna.com/anime/code-geass-lelouch-of-the-rebellion-r2)** — TV · 2008 · 25 eps
   The direct continuation and the story's back half: a second 25-episode season, from 2008, that opens a year after the first and drives the conflict to its true conclusion. This is the definitive endpoint of the saga — roll into it immediately after R1.
   Streams on: Crunchyroll, Netflix

3. **[Code Geass: Fukkatsu no Lelouch](https://hozuna.com/anime/code-geass-lelouch-of-the-re-surrection)** — Movie · 2019 · 1 eps _(optional)_
   An optional coda — a 2019 feature film set years after the series' finale, best saved for when you want to revisit these characters beyond the main story. It follows the compilation-movie continuity rather than the TV ending (see the note above), so treat it as a bonus epilogue you can comfortably skip.
   Streams on: Crunchyroll, Netflix

## FAQ

**Where should I start with Code Geass?**

Start with Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion, the 2006 first season. It builds the world of Britannia-occupied Japan from scratch and introduces Lelouch and his Geass, and every later entry assumes you have already seen it. There is no earlier prequel to watch first — this is the true beginning.

**Which order should I watch Code Geass in?**

Lelouch of the Rebellion (R1), then R2, then — optionally — the film Lelouch of the Resurrection. The two TV seasons are a single continuous story and have to be watched in that sequence; the movie is a later epilogue and the only genuinely skippable piece.

**Do I need the Code Geass compilation movie trilogy?**

No. There is a trilogy of compilation films that condense the two TV seasons into three movies with a slightly altered ending, and while Lelouch of the Resurrection technically continues that film continuity, you do not need the recaps to follow or enjoy it. We recommend the full R1 → R2 series as the definitive telling, with Resurrection straight afterward. Only seek out the compilation trilogy if you specifically want the exact version of events the movie continues from.

**Is Lelouch of the Resurrection skippable?**

Yes — it is optional. The R1 → R2 series tells a complete, self-contained story with a definitive ending, which makes Resurrection bonus material: a 2019 feature film that revisits the cast well after that finale. Watch it if you want more time with these characters, and skip it with a clear conscience if the series ending is enough for you.

**What about Code Geass: Akito the Exiled — is it required?**

No. Akito the Exiled is a side-story spin-off that runs alongside the main saga rather than continuing Lelouch's arc, so it sits outside this core watch order. It is an optional extra for fans who want to spend more time in the Code Geass world — you do not need it to understand R1, R2, or the movie.

**Where can I watch Code Geass?**

Both Crunchyroll and Netflix carry the entire recommended order — R1, R2, and Lelouch of the Resurrection — so either service lets you watch the whole run in one place. Regional catalogs can differ, so check each title's own page for the up-to-date details.