Code Geass: Akito the Exiled

This compilation presents five OVA (original video animation) episodes from 2012 connected to the popular Code Geass series, which centers on a near-future world war taking place in an alternative timeline where the planet is divided between the Holy Britannian Empire representing the Americas, the Chinese Federation supporting Asia, and the combined European-African continents functioning under the Europa United banner. In these episodes, Leila Malcal is the commander of her own special European army unit called W-0. Leila, who was a Britannian aristocrat before joining the other side, is paired with a squad of Japanese teenage terrorists in their battle against the Britannian army. Complicating matters is the presence of Akito Hyuga, a blue-haired lieutenant under Leila's command who has a fairly important secret. The episodes feature lots of laborious mecha-inspired mayhem and violent warfare (the uncommonly high death rate among Leila's fighters becomes a wearisome sick joke). This offering doesn't complement the well-established story flow of the Code Geass franchise all that well, nor does it hold up as a satisfactory standalone piece because so much of its convoluted plot is dependent on the original source material. Diehard fans of Code Geass may want to seek this out, but others can pass. Presented in a dual-language Blu-ray/DVD Combo edition, rated TV-14, extras include select episode commentaries. Not a necessary purchase. (P. Hall)