Great Pretender

There's just so much to say...this anime is a perfect 10/10. The animation is absolutely stunning. Vibrant colors and so much rich and dynamic scenery. The voice acting (especially with the incorporation of so many different languages and accents) is among the very best I've ever heard. The characters, each and every one of them, are very likeable and have their own deep backgrounds and history, a lot of which relates to other characters you'd previously have no idea were connected. The soundtrack? Every episode is given life with jazz riffs, soft pop and an enthralling score, and its all capped off with a Freddie Mercury tune that I didn't skip a single time throughout the series. Now we get to the story itself. Quite literally the driving force behind the anime. Plot twist after plot twist. Surprise after surprise. Intensity that constantly has you on the age of your seat, and wondering what'll happen next. Only you never know and the reveal is bound to drop your jaw. Each and every question you may have will be answered with just the right amount of detail and explanation. After keeping you hooked for 21 episodes, the final 2 present themselves with an ending executed more perfect than anything I've seen in a very long time. It all comes full circle. All my questions answered, all my expectations shattered, everything I thought I knew completely out the window. And just when I thought I had seen it all, an end credits scene that floored me. I did not see any of this coming! I've been watching anime for several years, I'm actually coming up on my 100th anime watched. This one was something else entirely. To make it in my top 3 of all time is a statement in and of itself.

The scene after the final credits.. So glad they left it open. Now that netflix has picked it up it has a much better chance at getting one more hopefully. I think that's all it needs.

Both the dub and sub are great. The animation is some of the best since the hand drawn days. The use of color is masterfully done. The story is simple and engaging. I grew to like most of the characters. Its a solid 8.5 series, but i voted a bit higher to off set some silly reviews. The first comedy adult anime I've enjoyed since the first season of OPM.. they dont come around often at all. Yet this is not close to as silly as OPM, dealing with some pretty heavy topics. But often the outcome isnt edgy or depressing. Which very hard to do i imagine when also writing it as a comedy that also isnt your typical 'black comedy' either.

It feels like its taken its influences from some of the best anime ever made like Bebop, baccano and GTO and made something of its own. To me, it feels original. But i can see how some might interpret that the opposite way. Different perspectives i suppose.

Give it a go i say.

I feel comfortable when I see such a beautiful animation ,this reminds me of Jojo bizarre adventure. The story is great but my only issue is that they make fraud easy which is not in reality

Though its title and theme are "pretenders", this anime is not really about fraud. In each case, the protagonists cheat the rich bad people and make society a better place. As the story unfolds, you will see that the main characters each has their own emotional background stories. They are just normal people who were helpless in this capitalist society that is full of fraud already, and decided to use this weapon against what once hurt them the most. This is an story about justice and love, told in the most stylish and warm way. A good combination of western culture and Japanese animes' profoundity.

It is a nice and sweet anime. The storylines remind of Ocean's 11 etc. The same kind of good guys that con a bad guy. Pretty basic and somewhat predictable stuff but absolutely fun to watch. What makes this anime special is de graphics style, that are uncommon for a japanese anime and reminded me of the artistic graphical novels from Cyril Pedrosa. It has a freshness in it that really fits the stories. That alone makes it worthwhile to watch