Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion, Part 1 (Limited Edition) - A sturdy case and rare collectibles included

The Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion, Part 1 (Limited Edition) box may seem like a lot of money for what's not even the full series of Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion, but what it does have is worth the extra money. With the release of a complete box set buying something like this may seem like a waste of money, but the box comes with a variety of extras that you won't find by purchasing the DVD box set. For first-time viewers of the show or casual fans of Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion this collector's item may not be for you, but for those people who truly enjoy the world of Code Geass this box is more than worth it.

The first thing that should be noted is the case in which the DVDs come. While the first season box set comes in your standard bulk plastic case the Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion Part 1 (Limited Edition) box is made of thick, sturdy cardboard decorated with beautiful artwork from the show. There is no side of the box which is not decorated, including the inside. A cloth strip is included to help you open the box, which has a convenient door that opens to reveal the DVDs stored inside. Even more convenient is that the door not only opens but also slides back into the box, making it possible to display your DVDs easily. The box is big enough to hold all of season 1, and since each DVD is in its own individual case there's no need to fumble with the layered DVDs that complete box sets deal with.

This is only the beginning of the extra features included in this box. Because there are more DVDs in the Japanese release of the series than in the American release the DVDs themselves come with more than one insert booklet. While this may seem silly at first there are extra stories in each book that would be lost if only some of them were released. Of particular note are the history lessons that the cast conducts at the end of each book and Sayaka's journal entries, which add a bit of depth to the everyday life of someone in the middle of the chaos that is Code Geass. I believe these are standard fare in the Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion DVDs but their inclusion in this set is always appreciated. Also included with the DVDs is a booklet of character sketches.

So far I've only mentioned the DVDs themselves, but that isn't all that is included in this box. This first part of the series comes with the first manga issue of the Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion series. Each Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion (Limited Edition) comes with a manga included, but those are hardly the extras people get all excited about. The real icing on the cake here are the two CDs that come together with the set. While it may not seem like a lot just hearing that there are two CDs included, Bandai really went above and beyond with their release of this series.

The first of these two CDs is the first volume of the series' Original Sound Track (OST). This doesn't cover all of the music in Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion, obviously (as it is only the first volume) but it contains much of the music that you hear during the show. For people who enjoyed the music of the series it is a very nice bonus to a very nice box. The real prize, however, is the second CD. The second CD is the first Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion Sound Story. It is rare that these materials are released to an American audience, and each track on the CD adds either humor or insight into an episode of the show. In some cases the tracks actually provide information that comes before the series itself begins, giving new life to the series. These are audio CDs only and so each and every track was re-recorded with the American vocal cast for the series. Even if you aren't a fan of the show itself in English these CDs at least allow you to hear the extra material in a way that you can understand it.

This second CD is a rare collectible that few shows even offer, and the stories themselves range from humorous to serious, and from pointless one-shots to character-driven story-lines. If Bandai were still around I would urge each and every fan of the series to purchase this Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion Part 1 (Limited Edition) but unfortunately my endorsement of their dedication to bring fans as much of the series as possible will never reach them. However I would still urge serious fans of the series to look into this option when purchasing the show. Following this Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion Part 1 (Limited Edition) are part two and part three , each with included bonus materials (such as the second and third sound stories).