Euphemia Li Britannia
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is a fictional character who appears in
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's
anime is a Traditional animation, hand-drawn and computer animation, computer-generated animation originating from Japan. Outside Japan and in English, ''anime'' refers specifically to animation produced in Japan. However, , in Japan and in Ja ...
television series ''Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion'' (often referred to simply as ''
Code Geass , often referred to as ''Code Geass'', is a Japanese anime television series produced by Sunrise. It was directed by Gorō Taniguchi and written by Ichirō Ōkouchi, with original character designs by Clamp. Set in an ...
'') In the series,
Omi Minami is a Japanese voice actress, essayist and columnist. She is mostly known for her work in anime and video game roles, with starring roles as Hyatt in ''Excel Saga'', Ruri Hoshino in '' Martian Successor Nadesico'', Majic in '' Orphen'', as well ...
voices the character, while
Michelle Ruff Michelle Ruff is an American voice actress known for her work in anime and video games. In her early voice acting career, she used her mother's name, Georgette Rose, as a pseudonym. Some of her roles include Rukia Kuchiki in ''Bleach'', Yuki Nag ...
plays her in the English dub. Born as the Third Princess of the Britannian Imperial Family, Euphemia is portrayed in ''Code Geass'' as the half-sister of the series'
protagonist A protagonist () is the main character of a story. The protagonist makes key decisions that affect the plot, primarily influencing the story and propelling it forward, and is often the character who faces the most significant obstacles. If a ...
and
antihero An antihero (sometimes spelled as anti-hero or two words anti hero) or anti-heroine is a character in a narrative (in literature, film, TV, etc.) who may lack some conventional heroic qualities and attributes, such as idealism and morality. Al ...
,
Lelouch Lamperouge , whose alias is , is the main protagonist of the Sunrise (company), Sunrise anime series ''Code Geass, Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion''. In the series, Lelouch is a former prince from the superpower Britannia who is given the power of th ...
. Also, Euphemia develops throughout the anime's first season a romantic relationship with the character
Suzaku Kururugi is a fictional character in the anime series ''Code Geass, Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion'' produced by Bandai Namco Filmworks, Sunrise, Inc. In the original Japanese dubbing, he is voiced by Takahiro Sakurai and his younger self is voiced ...
. In addition to the ''Code Geass'' anime, Euphemia is featured in subsequent media adaptations of the series, including
OVAs , abbreviated as OVA and sometimes as OAV (original animation video), are Japanese animated films and special episodes of a series made specially for release in home video formats without prior showings on television or in theaters, though the ...
,
manga are comics or graphic novels originating from Japan. Most manga conform to a style developed in Japan in the late 19th century, and the form has a long history in earlier Japanese art. The term is used in Japan to refer to both comics ...
and a
musical Musical is the adjective of music. Musical may also refer to: * Musical theatre, a performance art that combines songs, spoken dialogue, acting and dance * Musical film Musical film is a film genre in which songs by the Character (arts), charac ...
in which she is played by male actor Shun Mikami. The character has received a mostly positive critical reception, with critics praising her design, personality and relationship with Suzaku, while her death is considered one of the saddest moments in the series.


Appearances


In ''Code Geass''

Euphemia li Britannia appears in the ''
Code Geass , often referred to as ''Code Geass'', is a Japanese anime television series produced by Sunrise. It was directed by Gorō Taniguchi and written by Ichirō Ōkouchi, with original character designs by Clamp. Set in an ...
''
anime is a Traditional animation, hand-drawn and computer animation, computer-generated animation originating from Japan. Outside Japan and in English, ''anime'' refers specifically to animation produced in Japan. However, , in Japan and in Ja ...
series, being voiced by
Omi Minami is a Japanese voice actress, essayist and columnist. She is mostly known for her work in anime and video game roles, with starring roles as Hyatt in ''Excel Saga'', Ruri Hoshino in '' Martian Successor Nadesico'', Majic in '' Orphen'', as well ...
in the original Japanese dub, and by
Michelle Ruff Michelle Ruff is an American voice actress known for her work in anime and video games. In her early voice acting career, she used her mother's name, Georgette Rose, as a pseudonym. Some of her roles include Rukia Kuchiki in ''Bleach'', Yuki Nag ...
in the English version. Euphemia is depicted in the ''
Code Geass , often referred to as ''Code Geass'', is a Japanese anime television series produced by Sunrise. It was directed by Gorō Taniguchi and written by Ichirō Ōkouchi, with original character designs by Clamp. Set in an ...
''
anime is a Traditional animation, hand-drawn and computer animation, computer-generated animation originating from Japan. Outside Japan and in English, ''anime'' refers specifically to animation produced in Japan. However, , in Japan and in Ja ...
series as the Third Princess of the Britannian Imperial Family and a member of the Holy Britannian Empire. Euphemia is also Lelouch vi Britannia's half-sister and the sister he cared most about after Nunnally; Lelouch even once admits to Euphemia that she was his "first love". Euphemia's look mainly consists of her long pink hair, which is usually styled with two
buns A bun is a type of bread that is round and small enough that it can generally be eaten hand-held. Whether a bun is considered sweetened or unsweetened differs between countries: it is considered sweetened in the United Kingdom, a savory bread in ...
on each side of her head. In terms of clothing, she is often seen wearing a pink and white dress with a rose choker. She is a kind-hearted and open-minded woman who despises conflict in any form. Unlike many of her siblings, she is a very optimistic person who treats everyone with respect.


''Lelouch of the Rebellion''

Euphemia is introduced in the fifth episode of the first season, in which she meets
Suzaku Kururugi is a fictional character in the anime series ''Code Geass, Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion'' produced by Bandai Namco Filmworks, Sunrise, Inc. In the original Japanese dubbing, he is voiced by Takahiro Sakurai and his younger self is voiced ...
, who guides her around Area 11 (
Japan Japan is an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean off the northeast coast of the Asia, Asian mainland, it is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan and extends from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea ...
), including the war-torn city of Shinjuku. Shortly after meeting him, she reveals to Suzaku her identity and that the reason she is in Area 11 is to become its Sub-
Viceroy A viceroy () is an official who reigns over a polity in the name of and as the representative of the monarch of the territory. The term derives from the Latin prefix ''vice-'', meaning "in the place of" and the Anglo-Norman ''roy'' (Old Frenc ...
alongside her older sister, Cornelia. When she is subsequently taken hostage along with a group of tourists by the Japan Liberation Front, Euphemia attempts to use her position as princess to free the other hostages. In his Zero persona, Lelouch has incidentally led the Black Knights to the exact location, which results in his reunion with Euphemia. Though he brandishes a gun at her, he decides against killing her. Concerned about Euphemia's safety, Cornelia persuades her younger sister to select a Knight to protect her. After resolving the conflict between her ideals and Cornelia's advice, Euphemia chooses Suzaku Kururugi as her Knight. Over time, the two develop romantic feelings and genuinely fall in love with each other, with Euphemia declaring that she orders Suzaku to love her, and in return, she will love every bit of him. After finding Zero while stranded on a mysterious nearby island called Kamine, Euphemia, having deduced Lelouch's identity from their earlier encounter, convinces him to unmask, promising to keep his
alter ego An alter ego (Latin for "other I") means an alternate Self (psychology), self, which is believed to be distinct from a person's normal or true original Personality psychology, personality. Finding one's alter ego will require finding one's other ...
a secret. Returning to the mainland, wanting to help Zero and instill trust in him for the civilian populace, Euphemia announces on live television her intent to form the Special Administrative Zone of Japan in the region under
Mount Fuji is an active stratovolcano located on the Japanese island of Honshu, with a summit elevation of . It is the highest mountain in Japan, the second-highest volcano on any Asian island (after Mount Kerinci on the Indonesian island of Sumatra), a ...
, giving the Japanese people their name and country back, and govern it alongside Zero. During the administration changeover ceremony, she falls under the accidental influence of Lelouch's Geass, and is reluctantly compelled to kill the Japanese people. She is fatally shot in the stomach by Zero to end the chaos and Suzaku brings Euphemia to the floating battleship ''Avalon'' for emergency treatment. She fights off the Geass and has a last conversation with Suzaku before dying from her injuries, unaware of what has happened.


''Lelouch of the Rebellion R2''

Euphemia's death impacts and influences the actions of various characters throughout the second season of the anime. Suzaku becomes emotionally unstable and pursues Zero (whom he blames for Euphemia's demise), having discovered his true identity as Lelouch. Suzaku's actions remain motivated by his memory of Euphemia; he refers to her as an "irreplaceable woman" and carries with him a quill pen she gave him as a memento. Cornelia abandons her position as Viceroy of Area 11 in order to clear her name. Euphemia's half-sister, Nunnally, with her installment as the new Viceroy of Area 11, chooses to continue Euphemia's ideal and reinstate the Special Administrative Zone of Japan. It is also revealed that Britannia officially declared Euphemia responsible for the massacre and that she had been deprived of her royal status and executed by the Britannian Army. After the incident, she comes to be known as the "Massacre Princess" to the general Japanese public in Area 11. However, when Lelouch becomes Emperor of Britannia near the end of the series, he explains to Suzaku that he intends to shed enough blood to make the name of the Massacre Princess be forgotten. In this respect, Lelouch is successful; following his Zero Requiem plan, all the hatred originally focused on Euphemia is redirected to Lelouch, making her a
martyr A martyr (, ''mártys'', 'witness' Word stem, stem , ''martyr-'') is someone who suffers persecution and death for advocating, renouncing, or refusing to renounce or advocate, a religious belief or other cause as demanded by an external party. In ...
rather than a
scapegoat In the Bible, a scapegoat is one of a pair of kid goats that is released into the wilderness, taking with it all sins and impurities, while the other is sacrificed. The concept first appears in the Book of Leviticus, in which a goat is designate ...
.


In other media


Manga

Euphemia is featured in the
manga are comics or graphic novels originating from Japan. Most manga conform to a style developed in Japan in the late 19th century, and the form has a long history in earlier Japanese art. The term is used in Japan to refer to both comics ...
adaptation of ''Code Geass'', whose plotline presents some changes in the character's story that differentiate it from the one seen in the anime, such as the fact that she attended Ashford Academy for three days before becoming the Viceroy of Area 11, which consequently leads her to discover that Lelouch and Nunnally are alive. Euphemia also plays a major role in the manga '' Code Geass: Nightmare of Nunnally'', succeeding with the creation of the Special Administrative Zone and gaining the support of the Six Houses of Kyoto. Towards the end of the manga, Euphemia becomes the 99th Empress of the Holy Britannian Empire.


Other adaptations

In the
original video animation , abbreviated as OVA and sometimes as OAV (original animation video), are Japanese animated films and special episodes of a series made specially for release in home video formats without prior showings on television or in theaters, though the ...
titled ''Code Geass: Nunnally in Wonderland'', which adapts both ''
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland ''Alice's Adventures in Wonderland'' (also known as ''Alice in Wonderland'') is an 1865 English Children's literature, children's novel by Lewis Carroll, a mathematics university don, don at the University of Oxford. It details the story of a ...
'' and ''
Through the Looking-Glass ''Through the Looking-Glass, and What Alice Found There'' is a novel published in December 1871 by Lewis Carroll, the pen name of Charles Lutwidge Dodgson, a mathematics lecturer at Christ Church, Oxford, Christ Church, University of Oxford. I ...
'', Euphemia takes on the role of the White Queen. Shun Mikami played Euphemia in an all-male
musical Musical is the adjective of music. Musical may also refer to: * Musical theatre, a performance art that combines songs, spoken dialogue, acting and dance * Musical film Musical film is a film genre in which songs by the Character (arts), charac ...
entitled ''Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion -A Prelude Dedicated to the Sorceror-'', which took place in
Tokyo Tokyo, officially the Tokyo Metropolis, is the capital of Japan, capital and List of cities in Japan, most populous city in Japan. With a population of over 14 million in the city proper in 2023, it is List of largest cities, one of the most ...
from June to July 2012.


Reception


Popularity

Euphemia's popularity has made her a frequent subject of
cosplay Cosplay, a blend word of "costume play", is an activity and performance art in which participants called cosplayers wear costumes and Fashion accessory, fashion accessories to represent a specific Character (arts), character. Cosplayers often i ...
, causing a trend in which female fans of ''Code Geass'' attempt to replicate her iconic look. In August 2012, Euphemia was ranked in 8th place in the Most Tragic Heroine Character poll by
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. In October 2016, Euphemia, along with Cornelia, was ranked in 9th place in the Top 10 Cute Anime Sisters by Crunchyroll. In February 2016, Euphemia and Suzaku took 1st place among the 13 Best Anime Couples by ''
IGN ''IGN'' is an American video gaming and entertainment media website operated by IGN Entertainment Inc., a subsidiary of Ziff Davis, Inc. The company's headquarters is located in San Francisco's SoMa district and is headed by its former e ...
''.


Critical response

Devin Nealy of
Comic Book Resources ''CBR'', formerly ''Comic Book Resources'', is a news website primarily covering comic book news, comic book reviews, and comic book–related topics involving movies, television, anime, and video games. It is owned by Valnet, parent of publicat ...
(CBR) stated that of all the characters to best Lelouch intellectually, Euphemia is the only one to combat his rigid logic with
idealism Idealism in philosophy, also known as philosophical realism or metaphysical idealism, is the set of metaphysics, metaphysical perspectives asserting that, most fundamentally, reality is equivalent to mind, Spirit (vital essence), spirit, or ...
. Juliana Failde of CBR noted how Euphemia wants nothing but peace and love to spread throughout Japan and that she also wishes to help in making that happen. Still regarding the character, Failde wrote, "She just wanted to see other people succeed in their goals to make the world a better place." Jasmine Venegas of CBR remarked that Euphemia is a gentle soul who believes that there are better ways to solve problems than by fighting. Sean Cubillas of CBR considered Euphemia to be one of the kindest characters in the series. Patrick Sather of ''
Screen Rant ''Screen Rant'' is an entertainment website that offers news in the fields of television, films, video games, and comic books. It is owned by Valnet, parent of publications including Comic Book Resources, Collider, MovieWeb and XDA Developers. ...
'' wrote, " uphemiais a strong believer in universal
human rights Human rights are universally recognized Morality, moral principles or Social norm, norms that establish standards of human behavior and are often protected by both Municipal law, national and international laws. These rights are considered ...
and does not look down on people passed upon their
nationality Nationality is the legal status of belonging to a particular nation, defined as a group of people organized in one country, under one legal jurisdiction, or as a group of people who are united on the basis of culture. In international law, n ...
. Euphemia is extremely perceptive and possesses high-level deductive reasoning skills. Her ability to see the big picture speaks to her creativity and intelligence, and a willingness to problem-solve even in the face of insurmountable odds." Ritwik Mitra of ''Screen Rant'' praised Euphemia as one of the kindest and most well-meaning characters in the entire series. Ramsey Isler of ''IGN'' commented that " uphemias death is really the saddest thing in the series so far. She was such a noble character, perhaps the noblest in the series, and she dies with her love Suzaku by her side." Isler also complimented
Michelle Ruff Michelle Ruff is an American voice actress known for her work in anime and video games. In her early voice acting career, she used her mother's name, Georgette Rose, as a pseudonym. Some of her roles include Rukia Kuchiki in ''Bleach'', Yuki Nag ...
's voice acting as Euphemia, saying the actress "does a great job of portraying her child-like innocence, even as she's compelled to commit murder."


See also

* List of ''Code Geass'' characters


Notes


References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Britannia, Euphemia li Anime and manga characters introduced in 2006 Code Geass characters Female characters in anime and manga Fictional female mass murderers Fictional human rights activists Fictional mecha pilots Fictional pacifists Fictional princesses Teenage characters in anime and manga Television characters introduced in 2006