Great Pretender | Review | Pinnedupink.com

Great Pretender

A good laugh is always healthy for the body and soul. It purifies the blood and lightens up your mood, so there’s no logical reason to hold back a genuine chuckle. Of course, the time and place need to be given consideration, but once you're in the clear, be sure to laugh to your heart's content. Comedy Anime series are a great way to reconnect with your funny bone, and they come with a platter of other thrills as well. On that note, some Action and Adventure thrown into the comedy mix make for a hilarious and entertaining watch.

Great Pretender is a 23 episode TV Anime series that aired from the 9th of July until the 17th of December, in Summer 2020. It was produced by Production I.G, Fuji TV, BS Fuji, TOHO animation, and Hakuhodo DY Media Partners and brought to life by Wit Studio.

The main staff behind it included Okada Maiko as Producer, Kaburagi Hiro as Director, Hata Shouji as Sound Director, and Shirahata Yoshiyuki as Episode Director and on Storyboard. It featured the genres of Action, Adventure, Comedy, and Mystery alongside the Psychological theme. It received a Rating of R - 17+ for its violence and profanity, best suited for mature audiences.

This Original series was adapted from the “GREAT PRETENDER” Manga which is still in publication. It began publication on the 10th of June 2020, was serialized in MAGCOMI and was brought to life by Authors Kaburagi Hiro, Kosawa Ryouta, and Artist Marui Daichi. It has been published in English via Seven Seas Entertainment since the 6th of July 2021 as well.

The Story looks at Protagonist Makoto "Edamame" Edamura, who had opted for a life of crime following a series of unfortunate events. He now spends his days pickpocketing and scamming others for a living. All is swell for some time, until one day when he swindles a seemingly clueless tourist. Unfortunately, Makoto soon discovers that he was, in fact, the one that got tricked, and, to make his situation even worse, the police were now hot on his trail.

While making his desperate escape, he happens to run into the tourist mentioned earlier once again and discovers that he is a fellow con-man himself, named Laurent Thierry. As fate would have it, he ends up following Laurent all the way to Los Angeles. Having the self-proclaimed title of "Japan's Greatest Swindler," Makoto is determined to defend his title and challenges his newfound rival to a battle to determine the better scammer once again.

Laurent accepts the competition and drops them off outside a monumental mansion he claims to be that of their target, who just happens to be the biggest mafia boss on the entire West Coast. This tale follows Makoto alongside the ever cunning Laurent and his wide variety of colorful associates as they jump from city to city within the dynamic world of International High-stakes Fraud. Before long, Makoto comes to realize that he ended up getting way more than he bargained for, as his self-declared skills as a scammer are constantly put to the test at much dire stakes.

Great Pretender is about the expression of love for a delicate art. Despite the first impressions, this series is very likely to surpass expectations. The Story is thoughtful, amusing, and well-executed to the point that it's almost surprising and is delivered with excellent craftsmanship and dedication. Inspired by western crime dramas, each episode is structured excellently and showcases some provoking themes like social injustice and crime, all while turning a simple concept into a classic.

It is full of life, love, and lavishness while heavily emphasizing the human psychology behind all deceit and schemes. It is a show structured by arcs that reel audiences in with low-stakes and not-so-suspenseful cliffhangers. Each episode closes with a clean and gratifying finish but keeps viewers thirsty for another, and it does so ever comedically.

Not every episode is as perfectly balanced as the last, but the show is very whole by the end of it all. It features hilarious comedy and sensational personalities, all brought together by a strange sense of realism. The pacing is just fine, too; it works so well with the overall nature of the show. This series excels at attracting and repelling viewers simultaneously by virtue of its adult cast, human characters, and entertainment in a way that feels so natural.

The delightful cast of Great Pretender are life-like characters just overflowing with charisma. Every one of them is worthy of their screen time, performing absurd, entertaining, passionate, and emotional actions, but also down-to-earth and relatable. They are just well-written and smartly characterized misfits who grow through the course of the show, experiencing their lowest lows as well as their highest heights.

While they walk on their respective paths, hidden secrets and histories peer out of the shadows, much like real people, and they subtly develop to overcome their problems. Laurent is a mastermind, fueling the fires behind everyone else. Abigail is blunt, stoic, and honest, being the counterbalance to Laurent. Cynthia is badass, electric, heroic, and desirable. Not one of them fails to be a vibrant personality on screen, with something to learn and love behind their beautiful faces.

The Art and Animation of Great Pretender are visual feasts for the eyes. This is so from the start of the series, as the background art is masterfully done, the colors are explosive yet balanced, and it possesses consistent shading. The Art is well polished, has intricately detailed linework and thoughtful designs.

The Animation tends to flow lavishly and elegantly, weaving all the beautiful art together. Every frame has something to marvel at, with so much personality and unique artistic brilliance, and this aspect is genuinely praiseworthy.

The Sounds and Music department do not disappoint either. The Voice Acting is sensational; this peculiar cast of characters is deftly brought to life by the talented VAs whose voices embody their respective characters and their journeys so well. The Opening theme is "G.P." by Yutaka Yamada, and the Ending theme is "The Great Pretender" by Freddie Mercury, which are both fantastic. The Opening visuals are especially significant with its jazz theme. The OSTs do not fall behind, as they are brilliant, fitting, and enhance each situation perfectly.

Great Pretender is an absolutely brilliant series. It has numerous exciting scenes, well-written characters, a unique and mature style, a solid story, a compelling narrative, incredible visuals, and outstanding audio. And as mentioned before, this is best enjoyed by more mature audiences! It is definitely not your typical crime thriller, and it will take you for a wild ride. Highly recommended, you are far more likely to love this series than not, and it is very worthy of attention.