After 10 Years, A Massive Sci-Fi Mech Franchise Returns With Epic New Series

Published Sep 27, 2026, 7:30 PM EDT

Casandra Ronning is a staff writer for Screen Rant's anime section. Since mid-2024, she has dedicated herself to expanding her knowledge and experience in the entertainment industry. She is most proud of conducting an exclusive interview with popular voice actor Stephanie Nadolny.
 

After years of theatrical releases and other projects keeping the franchise alive, one of anime’s greatest science fiction and mecha series is finally returning with an all-new TV series. Almost exactly two decades after the anime’s original debut and 10 years since its last TV series, Code Geass has just dropped the latest look at its next major installment.

Code Geass: Star Chaser Aspal is slated for a 2027 release date and will follow a brand new cast in an unfamiliar setting. While the franchise has released several feature films in the past several years, Star Chaser Aspal is the first new series in quite some time. The announcement and teaser trailer are certain to spark excitement among longtime fans as viewers wait to experience the world’s latest developments and high-stakes storytelling.

Code Geass Is Officially Returning With a New TV Series

Code Geass: Star Chaser Aspal was first unveiled in December 2025 as part of the franchise’s 20th anniversary project and is scheduled to premiere in 2027, although a specific release date has yet to be announced. However, the newly released teaser trailer on September 25 offers the first substantial look at what’s to come, and it couldn’t be more stunning.

Unlike previous installments in the franchise, Star Chaser Aspal will introduce an entirely original story alongside a new cast of characters, and it’s unclear whether the series will take place in the same world or a parallel one. At the time of writing, we know that Kazuya Nomura, best known for his directorial work on Moriarty the Patriot, is directing the new Code Geass series with character designs by Rolua and Agarmatha designs by Yoshi, and the series scripts are overseen by Mado Nozaki.

While the franchise’s latest release, Code Geass: Rozé of the Recapture, may be presented as a 12-episode series on international streaming platforms, in Japan, it was originally four separate theatrical films first, making Star Chaser Aspal the first genuine TV series since Code Geass: Akito the Exiled, a five-part OVA series which aired from 2012 to 2016. Since then, the franchise has focused on feature-length films, starting with the three-part alternate-timeline recaps, followed by Code Geass: Lelouch of the Re;surrection in 2019 and finally the four Rozé of the Recapture films in 2024.

Code Geass Remains One of Anime’s Most Beloved Franchises

The original series, Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion, secured its place among some of anime’s greatest offerings thanks to its spectacular writing, characters, and world-building. From Lelouch to the politically charged supporting characters, the cast was filled with clashing ideologies, and everyone, no matter what their position was, had to face their own morality at some point in ways that left behind major consequences and ramifications, no matter what they chose.

While Rozé of the Recapture and Akito the Exiled didn’t quite capture the same reception as Lelouch of the Rebellion, as reflected in the series’ IMDb scores, Star Chaser Aspal has the opportunity to carry over each installment's greatest strengths while learning from previous series’ weaknesses. By introducing a new group of characters in a setting that looks considerably different from what fans are used to, the new series could very well breathe new life into the franchise and reinvigorate its broader appeal.

After nearly two decades since the franchise’s initial release, the appeal of another Code Geass series lies in the story’s potential to take its greatest elements, from the political tension to the high-stakes battles to the devastating consequences and sacrifices made, and carry them into an entirely new story that expands on the world or the nature of Geass itself. Given the franchise's strong legacy, Code Geass: Star Chaser Aspal has much to live up to, but if the teaser is any indication, the future of the franchise seems promising.