Code Geass: Rozé of the Recapture

Code Geass: Rozé of the Recapture (Japanese: コードギアス 奪還のロゼ, Hepburn: Kōdo Giasu: Dakkan no Roze) is a 2024 Japanese four-part animated science fantasy action film series directed by Yoshimitsu Ohashi and written by Noboru Kimura from co-original story conceived by Gorō Taniguchi and Ichirō Ōkouchi; the four-part film series is based on the Code Geass franchise by Sunrise, who also produced the films. Distributed by Showgate, Rozé of the Recapture is a sequel to Code Geass Lelouch of the Re;surrection (2019),[5] which itself takes place in an alternate continuity established in the three-part compilation film: Initiation, Transgression and Glorification (2017–18). Set in the Neo-Britannian Empire on former Hokkaido, the two mercenary brothers named Rozé (Kōhei Amasaki) and Ash (Makoto Furukawa) are tasked to rescue Hokkaido princess named Sakuya (Reina Ueda).[6] Rozé of the Recapture was released in 2024, with the first film on May 10, the second film on June 7, the third film on July 5, and the final film on August 2.[7]

Code Geass: Rozé of the Recapture
Key visual for the first act of the series
コードギアス 奪還のロゼ
(Kōdo Giasu: Dakkan no Rozé)
Genre
Created bySunrise
Anime film series
Directed byYoshimitsu Ohashi
Produced by
  • Hiroshi Morotomi
  • Yoshitaka Kawaguchi
  • Takuo Minegishi
  • Atsushi Yukawa
Written byNoboru Kimura
Story by
CinematographyHiroyuki Chiba
Edited byKumiko Sakamoto
Music byKenji Kawai
StudioSunrise
Distributed byShowgate
Released
  • May 10, 2024 (2024-05-10) (Act 1)
  • June 7, 2024 (2024-06-07) (Act 2)
  • July 5, 2024 (2024-07-05) (Act 3)
  • August 2, 2024 (2024-08-02) (Final Act)
Runtime
  • 74 minutes (Act 1)[1]
  • 76 minutes (Act 2)[2]
  • 76 minutes (Act 3)[3]
  • 74 minutes (Final Act)[4]
Films4
Original net animation
Licensed byDisney Platform Distribution
Original networkDisney+[a]
Released June 21, 2024 (2024-06-21) September 6, 2024 (2024-09-06)
Episodes12
icon Anime and manga portal

Rozé of the Recapture released internationally on Disney+ via Hulu and Star content hub in a 12-episode television series format from June 21 to September 6, 2024.[8][9][10]

Plot

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Following the death of Emperor Lelouch vi Britannia and the dissolution of the Holy Britannian Empire, remnants of the old empire captured the island of Hokkaido and founded the Neo-Britannian Empire, where the Japanese people are oppressed just like the old days of the empire when their country was one of its colonies. Two brothers named Ash and Rozé, dubbed "The Nameless Mercenaries" fight the Neo-Britannian empire, eventually joining forces with the local resistance forces in their mission to rescue princess Sakuya Sumeragi, but only a few know that Rozé is actually Sakuya in disguise, and the person she wants to rescue is her childhood friend and body double Sakura Haruyanagininomiya, who is passing as Sakuya to protect her. Her weapons are Ash's piloting skills, her tactical prowess and the power of Geass, which forces anyone into absolute obedience, the same power Lelouch himself once used in his rise into power.

Episodes

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Note: Each film act is divided into three parts (episodes), which later stream internationally in a television series format as an ONA.

No.TitleOriginal release dateStreaming release date
Act 1
1"Melting Snow"
Transliteration: "Yukido -Merutingu Sunō-" (Japanese: 雪解-Melting Snow-)
May 10, 2024 (2024-05-10)June 21, 2024
Rozé and Ash work with the Seven Shining Stars to recapture Hokkaido to rescue their leader, Kensei Kuroto, and the other members held at the Abashiri Concentration Camp. After the duo succeeds in defeating the Kirkwayne brothers, the Seven Shining Stars launch a surprise attack on the camp using the Zi-Apollo.
2"Ice Wall"
Transliteration: "Hyōheki -Aisu Uōru-" (Japanese: 氷壁-Ice Wall-)
May 10, 2024 (2024-05-10)June 28, 2024
Rozé and Ash start working together with the Seven Shining Stars to take back Hokkaido; their mission is to rescue the leader of the Seven Shining Stars, Kensei Kuroto along with other members who are being held at the Abashiri Concentration Camp. Rozé also succeeds in rescuing Sakura, but later gets recaptured by Catherine.
3"Raspberry"
Transliteration: "Kōka -Razuberī-" (Japanese: 紅霞-Raspberry-)
May 10, 2024 (2024-05-10)July 5, 2024
With Kuroto back in command and Rozé's strategies, the Seven Shining Stars are strong enough to repel the Einberg's plans to exterminate the resistance forces; Rozé and Ash go off on their own to take a break; Ash rescues a girl from Britannians. Meanwhile, Sakura (as Sakuya) is ascended to the throne after Calis al Britannia's death.
Act 2
4"Alliance"
Transliteration: "Hotarubi -Araiansu-" (Japanese: 蛍火-Alliance-)
June 7, 2024 (2024-06-07)July 12, 2024
The Black Knights assist the Seven Shining Stars in freeing Hokkaido. However, the existence of the Neo-Britannian Sky Fortress Damocles causes chaos. As supplies and extra forces arrive from the Black Knights, a certain figure appears.
5"Damocles"
Transliteration: "Kōbō -Damokurīzu-" (Japanese: 光芒-Damocles-)
June 7, 2024 (2024-06-07)July 19, 2024
A rescue operation is launched to save the Japanese from the Sky Fortress Damocles and F.L.E.I.J.A.
6"Lavender"
Transliteration: "Kaoru -Rabendā-" (Japanese: 薫衣-Lavender-)
June 7, 2024 (2024-06-07)July 26, 2024
Under Kuroto's command, the struggling Seven Shining Stars, Rozé and Ash, have to make a last-minute decision in order to stop Damocles; Norland pays no attention to the ongoing battle and starts planning his next move with Christoph. Meanwhile, Walther discovers Sakura's real identity as Sakuya's decoy.
Act 3
7"Hazy Moon"
Transliteration: "Oborodzuki -Hējī Mūn-" (Japanese: 朧月-Hazy Moon-)
July 5, 2024 (2024-07-05)August 2, 2024
Walther decides to keep Sakura's identity secret out to loyalty to Sakuya's family. Meanwhile, Rozé pays a visit to the orphanage where Ash was raised and discovered that he and his brother were adopted by Norland and raised to work for him as assassins. After Norland kills his brother, Ash rebels and is arrested where he meets and befriends Sakuya's father, who dies while attempting to escape with Ash. After escaping, Ash met Sakuya, who used her Geass to make him protect her as she were the most important person to him, making him view her as his late brother. Bedridden with guilt, Rozé is captured by Christoph, who discovered the truth about her identity and her Geass.
8"Ginto"
Transliteration: "Gin'usagi -Gintō-" (Japanese: 銀兎-Ginto-)
July 5, 2024 (2024-07-05)August 9, 2024
Christoph maintains Sakuya imprisoned, intending to make experiments with her Geass. Meanwhile, the Neo Britannian Army storms the Seven Shining Stars hideout. The other resistance forces arrive to protect them, but their leaders end up sacrificing themselves to let the others escape. Amidst the battle, Ash fights Arnold, who was restored into a cyborg equipped with an Anti-Geass device that he uses to dispel the effects of Sakuya's Geass on him. Furious with Sakuya for impersonating his brother and using him, he leaves the battlefield and storms Christoph's lab. Ash fights and defeats Christoph, who flees and Sakuya apologizes to Ash for using him as he prepares himself to kill her.
9"Reset"
Transliteration: "Namari Kokoro -Rīsetto-" (Japanese: 鉛心-Reset-)
July 5, 2024 (2024-07-05)August 16, 2024
Ash decides to spare Sakuya and keep working with her to liberate Hokkaido, following a promise he made with her father. Christoph kills himself to prevent being put under her Geass and Norland sends Narah as an ambassador to initiate peace talks with the United Federation of Nations. A few months later, large robotic units called Loki, invade countries around the world from the shore, killing all humans in sight and Narah realizes that it is a ploy by Norland. As the Black Knights are in disarray with the sudden attack, Rozé and Ash discover that their friends are also under attack by the same machines.
Final Act
10"Purple Surf"
Transliteration: "Shiran -Pāpuru Sāfu-" (Japanese: 紫瀾-Purple Surf-)
August 2, 2024 (2024-08-02)August 23, 2024
Norland disposes of his subordinate who developed the Loki. All armies around the world fight desperately the robots while Sakuya and Ash take the oportunity to invade the palace in order to rescue Sakura. Walther and Sakura escape from the Loki through an underground tunnel with help from Catherine, who decides to stay behind. Sakuya invades Norland's office and discover that the Loki were his creation. Arnold appears and challenges Ash to a duel. While Ash kills Arnold, Sakuya confronts Norland, who reveals himself as a clone of her grandfather, the former Britannian emperor Charles zi Britannia, created to be a new vessel for his mind, which was prevented with Charles' death. Since then all his actions so far were in preparation for his true objective which is the extermination of all humanity. Norland escapes by piloting his own Knightmare Frame, with Sakuya and Ash chasing after him.
11"Devastating Force"
Transliteration: "Kachioso -Debasutētingu Fōsu-" (Japanese: 褐襲-Devastating Force-)
August 2, 2024 (2024-08-02)August 30, 2024
12"Breaking Dawn"
Transliteration: "Asahi -Burēkingu Dōn-" (Japanese: 浅緋-Breaking Dawn-)
August 2, 2024 (2024-08-02)September 6, 2024

Voice cast

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Character Japanese voice cast[7][11] English voice cast[10][12]
Rozé Kōhei Amasaki Luca Padovan
Ash Phoenix Makoto Furukawa
Makoto Koichi (young)
Cory Yee
Braylyx Rivera-Babbey (young)
Sakuya Sumeragi Reina Ueda Suzie Yeung
Sakura Haruyanagininomiya Xanthe Huynh
Calis al Britannia Kana Ichinose Bryan Chao
Norland von Lunebelg Hiroki Yasumoto Dan Green
Catherine Sabathra Nao Tōyama Dani Chambers
Narah Vaughn Yumi Uchiyama Morla Gorrondona
Stanley Vonbraun Daisuke Hirakawa Dave B. Mitchell
Walther Lindstedt Yasuyuki Kase David Goldstein
Divock Merte Masaaki Mizunaka Neil Kaplan
Christoph Scissorman Hiroyuki Yoshino James Urbaniak
Heath Lott Ryōta Ōsaka River Vitae
Arnold Renck Soma Saito Griffin Puatu
Jack Hogan (young)
Greede Kirkwayne Hirofumi Nojima Aaron Phillips
Gran Kirkwayne Yūki Ono Alex Bankier
Nichol Phoenix Manaka Iwami Ryan Alexander Young
Ruby Hina Yomiya Lila Peldon
Sister Mari Hino Jennifer Sun Bell
Kensei Kuroto Takaya Kuroda Chris Okawa
Isao Munobe Katsuyuki Konishi Andrew Chan
Haruka Rutaka Miyu Tomita Kira Buckland
Tomōmi Oda Shoya Chiba Alan Lee
Shota Munemori Taito Ban Aleks Le
Yoko Araki Riho Sugiyama Dawn M. Bennett
Yuri Sano Anzu Haruno Risa Mei
Sarashino Tomi Hayato Fujii Jimmie Yamaguchi
Kaoru Shizuka Chikahiro Kobayashi Rick Kumazawa
Minato Sakai Lynn Jennifer Sun Bell
Jurō Sumeragi Rikiya Koyama Keone Young
Vallen Stark Masashi Nogawa Dave B Mitchell
Mei Ema Haruka Shiraishi Courtney Lin
Cornelia li Britannia Junko Minagawa Mary Elizabeth McGlynn
Nina Einstein Saeko Chiba Kim Mai Guest
L.L. Jun Fukuyama Johnny Yong Bosch
C.C. Yukana Kate Higgins
Suzaku Kururugi/Zero Takahiro Sakurai Yuri Lowenthal
Kallen Stadtfeld Ami Koshimizu Karen Strassman
Kaguya Sumeragi Mika Kanai Stephanie Sheh
Gino Weinberg Sōichirō Hoshi Dave Wittenberg
Akito Hyuga Miyu Irino Micah Solusod
Leila Malcal Maaya Sakamoto Jeannie Tirado
Ryo Sayama Satoshi Hino Ricco Fajardo
Ayano Kosaka Yoko Hikasa Elizabeth Maxwell
Yukiya Naruse Yoshitsugu Matsuoka Aaron Dismuke
Orpheus Zevon Tatsuhisa Suzuki Caleb Yen
Oldrin Zevon Nana Hamasaki TBA
Sokkia Sherpa Yū Watanabe TBA

Production

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In December 2020, it was announced that a new anime project for Code Geass franchise was green-lit, with Yoshimitsu Ohashi directing the series at Sunrise, with Noboru Kimura providing the screenplay from an original story by co-creators Gorō Taniguchi and Ichirō Ōkouchi, Takahiro Kimura co-designing the characters with Shuichi Shimamura from original character concept by manga artist group CLAMP, and music composed by Kenji Kawai.[13] In December 2023, it was announced that it would be a four-part film project, and Kōhei Amasaki and Makoto Furukawa was cast as Rozé and Ash, respectively.[14][15] In March and April 2024, more cast members were announced.[7][11]

The opening theme song is "Running in My Head" performed by Miyavi,[14] while the ending theme song is "Rozé (prod. TeddyLoid)" performed by Hikari Mitsushima.[16]

Reception

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Box office

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The first film failed to reach top 10 in the Japanese box office in its first week.[17] The third film debuted at number 7 in its opening weekend.[18] The final film entered number 10 in its opening weekend.[19]

Critical reception

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Richard Eisenbeis of Anime News Network gave the first film an A- rating, and stated "Not only does it give us an excellent main character in Rozé (someone who feels both similar to and distinct from our previous protagonists), but also a true Code Geass story without undercutting what came before."[20] For the second film, he gave a B+ rating, and stated "Outside of the big battle, the rest of this part of the anime spends time on intrigue rather than action."[21] The third film received an A- rating, and stated "It hits the majority of its emotional beats well—especially those involving Ash and Sakuya—and the story is exciting with some truly excellent twists and turns."[22] The final film received a B- rating, and stated "The pacing issues are just so egregious, especially here at the end, that they hinder not only the story but everything else as well[…]But when it comes down to it, this is what we're left with: an often enjoyable but regretfully flawed sequel to one of the 2000s' most seminal anime."[23]

Notes

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  1. ^ Released through the streaming service's Hulu and Star content hubs

References

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  1. ^ コードギアス 奪還のロゼ 第1幕 [Code Geass: Rozé of the Recapture -Act I-]. eiga.com (in Japanese). May 10, 2024. Retrieved May 10, 2024.
  2. ^ コードギアス 奪還のロゼ 第2幕 [Code Geass: Rozé of the Recapture -Act II-]. eiga.com (in Japanese). May 31, 2024. Retrieved May 31, 2024.
  3. ^ コードギアス 奪還のロゼ 第3幕 [Code Geass: Rozé of the Recapture -Act III-]. eiga.com (in Japanese). Retrieved June 28, 2024.
  4. ^ コードギアス 奪還のロゼ 最終幕 [Code Geass: Rozé of the Recapture -Final Act-]. eiga.com (in Japanese). July 16, 2024. Retrieved July 16, 2024.
  5. ^ Valentine, Evan (May 10, 2024). "Code Geass: Roze of The Recapture Releases New Trailer". CBR. Retrieved May 10, 2024.
  6. ^ Maddie P (May 10, 2024). "'Code Geass: Rozé of the Recapture': Release Date, Cast, and Everything We Know So Far". Collider. Retrieved May 10, 2024.
  7. ^ a b c Cayanan, Joanna (March 23, 2024). "Code Geass: Rozé of the Recapture Anime's 1st Trailer Reveals More Cast, May 10-August 2 Opening Dates". Anime News Network. Retrieved March 23, 2024.
  8. ^ Dempsey, Liam (March 22, 2024). "Code Geass: Rozé of the Recapture Anime Reveals Release Dates, Visual and Trailer". Crunchyroll. Retrieved March 22, 2024.
  9. ^ Dempsey, Liam (May 23, 2024). "Code Geass: Rozé of the Recapture Anime Announces Global Streaming Date". Crunchyroll. Retrieved May 24, 2024.
  10. ^ a b Hazra, Adriana (June 18, 2024). "Code Geass: Rozé of the Recapture Anime Reveals English Dub Cast". Anime News Network. Retrieved June 18, 2024.
  11. ^ a b Dempsey, Liam (April 10, 2024). "Code Geass: Rozé of the Recapture Anime Reveals New Key Visual, More Cast". Crunchyroll. Retrieved April 10, 2024.
  12. ^ "Code Geass: Rozé of the Recapture (2024)". Behind The Voice Actors. June 21, 2024. Retrieved June 21, 2024.
  13. ^ Loo, Egan (December 5, 2020). "Code Geass Franchise Gets New Anime Series, Smartphone Game". Anime News Network. Retrieved December 5, 2020.
  14. ^ a b Dempsey, Liam (December 18, 2023). "Code Geass: Rozé of the Recapture Anime Reveals First Trailer, May 2024 Release". Crunchyroll. Retrieved December 18, 2023.
  15. ^ "「コードギアス」新作「奪還のロゼ」2024年5月に上映開始 兄弟役に天崎滉平、古川慎". Comic Natalie (in Japanese). December 18, 2023. Retrieved December 18, 2023.
  16. ^ "「コードギアス」新作の公開は5月から 予告映像や追加キャスト13人、ED主題歌も発表". Comic Natalie (in Japanese). March 23, 2023. Retrieved March 23, 2023.
  17. ^ Hazra, Adriana (May 16, 2024). "27th Detective Conan Film Stays at #1, Uma Musume Pretty Derby: Road to the Top Opens at #6". Anime News Network. Retrieved May 16, 2024.
  18. ^ Hazra, Adriana (July 11, 2024). "Look Back Anime Film Rises #1, 3rd Code Geass: Rozé of the Recapture Film Opens at #7". Anime News Network. Retrieved July 11, 2024.
  19. ^ "映画ランキング:映画『ヒロアカ』初登場1位 『インサイド・ヘッド2』など新作4本がランクイン". Oricon News (in Japanese). August 5, 2024. Retrieved August 5, 2024.
  20. ^ Eisenbeis, Richard (May 10, 2024). ""Code Geass: Rozé of the Recapture Part 1" Anime Film Review". Anime News Network. Retrieved May 10, 2024.
  21. ^ Eisenbeis, Richard (June 11, 2024). ""Code Geass: Rozé of the Recapture Part 2" Anime Film Review". Anime News Network. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
  22. ^ Eisenbeis, Richard (July 23, 2024). ""Code Geass: Rozé of the Recapture Part 3" Anime Film Review". Anime News Network. Retrieved July 23, 2024.
  23. ^ Eisenbeis, Richard (August 7, 2024). ""Code Geass: Rozé of the Recapture Part 4" Anime Film Review". Anime News Network. Retrieved August 7, 2024.
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