Quick Review of R2 The Complete Official Guidebook + Photos

I got the Code Geass R2 official guidebook a while ago, so here's a quick photo review of it.

***This review is in progress. It will be updated with translated info throughout the day.***
If there's something in particular you'd like me to photograph or translate, please tell me.

First and foremost, unlike the euphemistic summaries from magazines and online synopses, the book repeatedly states that Lelouch is dead. The last few photos are of instances that I found in the book where it stated so.

Overall, the R2 guidebook did a better job of presenting the series and being a good guidebook than the one for season one. Instead of trying to cram detailed summaries of every episode and throwing character designs there, the publishers chose instead to give succinct synopses of each episode and devote full, uncluttered pages for more characters. The timeline chart is also a great clarification guide for those who don't follow the series closely.

The worse part of the book, like with season one's, is that it barely covers all of the details and sub-plots of Code Geass R2. The amount of information provided by the guidebook feels like a casual read for first-time viewers. Simply, Code Geass is too gigantic of a series to cover in a single, 100+ page book. It'd require at least four art books to cover every production sketch, then a few more for magazine spread, promotional material, and storyboard reprints, all of which are usually standard material for most other anime shows' guidebooks. A lot of minor characters didn't make it into the R2 guidebook, or only received a brief paragraph. Production sketches of props, outfit details, and facial expression sheets were omitted, too. This is not the book to get for cosplay reference. Magazine booklets from Newtype, Animedia, and Animage are far better in that respect.

I think the R2 guidebook should've been at least 50 pages longer and made into a 2,500 to 3,000 yen book. That way, the essence of the series could've been captured better. Despite the shortcomings, the R2 guidebook is still a good buy for fans of the series, and I'd recommend people to pick it up for the retail price (1200 yen = $13; it's worth the money, but not worth paying over $20 for).

Note: Please excuse the fact that these are photos, not scans. I'm not about to go break the spine just to scan the whole book, since it's my only one.

Cover, table of contents


Lelouch, Suzaku's character profiles


Character profiles for C.C., Jeremiah, Rolo


Character profiles for Kallen, Kaguya, Tianzi, Xingke


Character profiles for Emperor Wakamoto Charles, V.V., Marianne, Schneizel, Kanon, Gino, Anya


Character profiles for Nunnally, Milly, Rivalz, Shirley; sample page of timeline chart


Sample page of episode synopses; Knightmare Frame evolution (generation) chart


Knightmare Frame, Damocles line art


Minor character profiles; line art of selected settings


Explanations of keywords from series


Instances where I found Lelouch's death specifically mentioned


From Lelouch's character profile page:
"Lelouch, who gathered not just his sister's but the sins of all of his kin, tells Suzaku that he wants him to kill him. And, atoning for his sin of killing his father by becoming Zero and devoting himself to world peace. That is Suzaku's wish. Pierced by Suzaku's sword, Lelouch dies with a satisfied smile on his face. The curtains are lowered upon the history of one boy who performed the perfect 'evil' to the end."

From Suzaku's character profile page:
"For those two who bear the heavy sin known as killing their fathers, they share the belief that they can forgive each other by imposing the greatest punishments on themselves. Death for Lelouch who wishes for a tomorrow with his sister, life for Suzaku who wishes to atone for his sins through death. Suzaku, who accepts the weight of Zero's mask, gives his gratitude to Lelouch. For the fact that he can atone for his sins. For the results of fulfilling his own wish."

From Nunnally's character profile page:
"In the end, Nunnally isn't even allowed to bear her brother's sins. Until right before her brother dies, she seems to want to hate him for that. Upon realizing the truth behind her brother's actions, Nunnally clings to her brother's corpse and wails. And then, she succeeds her brother's will and starts walking together with Suzaku, who has become Zero, down the road as a ruler who creates peace. Because that alone is the one and only thing she can do for her brother."

From time line chart:
"Emperor Lelouch, during the parade before executing the rebels in Japan, is attacked by Zero and perishes."

From Turn 25 synopsis:
"However, Suzaku, masquerading as Zero who is thought to have died in the war before, appears and stabs Lelouch to death with a sword in front of the crowd."

***This review is in progress. It will be updated throughout the day.***