OVA
Description
Lelouch Lamperouge, whose true name is Lelouch vi Britannia, is the central figure of the story. He is the eleventh prince of the Holy Britannian Empire, exiled to Japan after his mother, Marianne vi Britannia, was assassinated and his younger sister Nunnally was left blind and crippled in the same attack. Following a confrontation with his father, Emperor Charles zi Britannia, Lelouch and Nunnally were sent to Japan as political hostages. After Britannia invaded and conquered Japan, renaming it Area 11, the siblings were hidden under the protection of the Ashford family. Lelouch adopted the alias Lelouch Lamperouge and lived as a seemingly ordinary high school student at Ashford Academy, where he served as vice president of the student council.
Beneath this facade, Lelouch harbored a deep hatred for Britannia and a burning desire for revenge. His life changed when he became caught in a terrorist incident in the Shinjuku Ghetto and encountered a mysterious green-haired woman named C.C. She granted him the supernatural power of Geass, which allowed him to compel any person to obey a single command, though it could only be used once on an individual. Recognizing the potential of this ability, Lelouch immediately used it to turn the tide of battle and executed his half-brother, the viceroy Clovis la Britannia. He then assumed the masked identity of Zero, a charismatic revolutionary leader, and formed the Order of the Black Knights from a small group of Japanese resistance fighters.
Lelouch’s personality is marked by a sharp contrast between his public and private selves. At school, he presents himself as a friendly, easygoing, and academically gifted student. In reality, he is cold, calculating, and deeply cynical, viewing most people as tools to achieve his goals. He is highly intelligent, with a genius-level strategic mind that he often exercises through chess, a game at which he excels. He is also arrogant and dismissive of the nobility, whom he considers overprivileged parasites. Despite his ruthless methods, he is capable of genuine compassion, especially toward his sister Nunnally, whom he loves unconditionally. He also cares for his allies, though he often hides this behind a stoic mask.
Lelouch’s primary motivation is to create a gentle world where Nunnally can live in peace and happiness. This desire stems from his guilt over failing to protect his mother and sister. Initially driven by revenge against Britannia, his goals gradually expand as he becomes more aware of the systemic injustices in the world. He is willing to sacrifice anything, including his own morality and relationships, to achieve this vision. He often justifies his actions with the belief that the ends justify the means, leading him to commit acts of violence and manipulation that he knows are evil.
In the story, Lelouch serves as the protagonist and the driving force behind the rebellion. As Zero, he leads the Black Knights in a series of tactical victories against Britannian forces, using his Geass and intellect to outmaneuver superior military power. His role is that of a master strategist and a symbol of hope for the oppressed Japanese people. He also becomes a central figure in the political landscape of Area 11, clashing with his half-sisters Cornelia and Euphemia li Britannia.
Key relationships shape his journey. His bond with Nunnally is the emotional core of his actions; he protects her above all else. His friendship with Suzaku Kururugi, a childhood friend and the pilot of the Lancelot, becomes deeply strained as their ideals diverge: Lelouch believes in achieving peace through revolution and sacrifice, while Suzaku seeks reform from within the system. Their rivalry becomes personal and tragic. C.C. acts as his contract partner, confidante, and sometimes reluctant mentor, providing guidance and insight while keeping her own secrets. Kallen Stadtfeld is one of his most loyal followers and a skilled Knightmare pilot, representing the Japanese cause he champions. Shirley Fenette, a classmate, harbors romantic feelings for him, but Lelouch’s involvement with Geass leads to tragedy and memory manipulation.
Over the course of the season, Lelouch undergoes significant development. He begins as a revenge-obsessed exile, but his experiences force him to confront the costs of his ambition. The accidental Geass-induced massacre ordered by Euphemia, whom he then kills, marks a turning point, deepening his guilt and resolve. He learns that power comes with a price and that his actions have irreversible consequences. By the time of the Black Rebellion, the climactic uprising, he has grown more ruthless but also more determined to see his plan through, even if it means losing himself.
Notable abilities include his Geass, which allows him to issue absolute commands to anyone he looks in the eye. The power has limitations: it works only once per person, and its range and effectiveness depend on eye contact. Lelouch’s greatest asset is his intellect. He is a master tactician and strategist, capable of predicting enemy moves, devising complex plans, and improvising in crisis. His charisma as Zero inspires loyalty among followers and fear among enemies. He is also a capable Knightmare pilot, though he primarily relies on his mind rather than combat skill. His Geass grows stronger over time, eventually gaining the ability to affect multiple people simultaneously, though this development occurs in later parts of the story. In the special edition, his powers and strategies are showcased in the events leading to the Black Rebellion, where he uses every tool at his disposal to challenge Britannia’s control of Area 11.
Beneath this facade, Lelouch harbored a deep hatred for Britannia and a burning desire for revenge. His life changed when he became caught in a terrorist incident in the Shinjuku Ghetto and encountered a mysterious green-haired woman named C.C. She granted him the supernatural power of Geass, which allowed him to compel any person to obey a single command, though it could only be used once on an individual. Recognizing the potential of this ability, Lelouch immediately used it to turn the tide of battle and executed his half-brother, the viceroy Clovis la Britannia. He then assumed the masked identity of Zero, a charismatic revolutionary leader, and formed the Order of the Black Knights from a small group of Japanese resistance fighters.
Lelouch’s personality is marked by a sharp contrast between his public and private selves. At school, he presents himself as a friendly, easygoing, and academically gifted student. In reality, he is cold, calculating, and deeply cynical, viewing most people as tools to achieve his goals. He is highly intelligent, with a genius-level strategic mind that he often exercises through chess, a game at which he excels. He is also arrogant and dismissive of the nobility, whom he considers overprivileged parasites. Despite his ruthless methods, he is capable of genuine compassion, especially toward his sister Nunnally, whom he loves unconditionally. He also cares for his allies, though he often hides this behind a stoic mask.
Lelouch’s primary motivation is to create a gentle world where Nunnally can live in peace and happiness. This desire stems from his guilt over failing to protect his mother and sister. Initially driven by revenge against Britannia, his goals gradually expand as he becomes more aware of the systemic injustices in the world. He is willing to sacrifice anything, including his own morality and relationships, to achieve this vision. He often justifies his actions with the belief that the ends justify the means, leading him to commit acts of violence and manipulation that he knows are evil.
In the story, Lelouch serves as the protagonist and the driving force behind the rebellion. As Zero, he leads the Black Knights in a series of tactical victories against Britannian forces, using his Geass and intellect to outmaneuver superior military power. His role is that of a master strategist and a symbol of hope for the oppressed Japanese people. He also becomes a central figure in the political landscape of Area 11, clashing with his half-sisters Cornelia and Euphemia li Britannia.
Key relationships shape his journey. His bond with Nunnally is the emotional core of his actions; he protects her above all else. His friendship with Suzaku Kururugi, a childhood friend and the pilot of the Lancelot, becomes deeply strained as their ideals diverge: Lelouch believes in achieving peace through revolution and sacrifice, while Suzaku seeks reform from within the system. Their rivalry becomes personal and tragic. C.C. acts as his contract partner, confidante, and sometimes reluctant mentor, providing guidance and insight while keeping her own secrets. Kallen Stadtfeld is one of his most loyal followers and a skilled Knightmare pilot, representing the Japanese cause he champions. Shirley Fenette, a classmate, harbors romantic feelings for him, but Lelouch’s involvement with Geass leads to tragedy and memory manipulation.
Over the course of the season, Lelouch undergoes significant development. He begins as a revenge-obsessed exile, but his experiences force him to confront the costs of his ambition. The accidental Geass-induced massacre ordered by Euphemia, whom he then kills, marks a turning point, deepening his guilt and resolve. He learns that power comes with a price and that his actions have irreversible consequences. By the time of the Black Rebellion, the climactic uprising, he has grown more ruthless but also more determined to see his plan through, even if it means losing himself.
Notable abilities include his Geass, which allows him to issue absolute commands to anyone he looks in the eye. The power has limitations: it works only once per person, and its range and effectiveness depend on eye contact. Lelouch’s greatest asset is his intellect. He is a master tactician and strategist, capable of predicting enemy moves, devising complex plans, and improvising in crisis. His charisma as Zero inspires loyalty among followers and fear among enemies. He is also a capable Knightmare pilot, though he primarily relies on his mind rather than combat skill. His Geass grows stronger over time, eventually gaining the ability to affect multiple people simultaneously, though this development occurs in later parts of the story. In the special edition, his powers and strategies are showcased in the events leading to the Black Rebellion, where he uses every tool at his disposal to challenge Britannia’s control of Area 11.