Great Pretender (TV series)

Great Pretender (stylized in all caps) is a Japanese anime television series produced by Wit Studio, directed by Hiro Kaburagi and written by Ryōta Kosawa. The series' arcs are called "cases", and the first case (Los Angeles Connection) was released in June 2020 on Netflix in Japan. The series' first three cases (Los Angeles Connection, Singapore Sky, and Snow of London) were released worldwide on Netflix in August 2020, followed by its fourth case (Wizard of Far East) in November. The series also aired from July to December 2020 on Fuji TV's +Ultra anime programming block. A sequel, Great Pretender: Razbliuto, premiered in February 2024.

Team Confidence

 * Makoto Edamura (枝村 真人)
 * The protagonist, a small-time Japanese con man who aspires to greater things. Hoping to find a good job to pay his ill mother's medical bills, he starts working for a company that he is unaware is engaging in fraud, and is arrested and imprisoned for his involvement. Unable to find honest work after being paroled because of his arrest and the stigma from his father's criminal past, he decides to become a con artist instead. He ends up becoming Laurent's partner after an unsuccessful attempt to con him. He is nicknamed "Edamame" by Laurent, who has difficulty remembering his name. He has a fascination with gashapon and buys them at various points in the series. He has a thick, peculiar accent when speaking English, occasionally remarked upon by others.
 * The protagonist, a small-time Japanese con man who aspires to greater things. Hoping to find a good job to pay his ill mother's medical bills, he starts working for a company that he is unaware is engaging in fraud, and is arrested and imprisoned for his involvement. Unable to find honest work after being paroled because of his arrest and the stigma from his father's criminal past, he decides to become a con artist instead. He ends up becoming Laurent's partner after an unsuccessful attempt to con him. He is nicknamed "Edamame" by Laurent, who has difficulty remembering his name. He has a fascination with gashapon and buys them at various points in the series. He has a thick, peculiar accent when speaking English, occasionally remarked upon by others.


 * Laurent Thierry (ローラン・ティエリー)
 * An expert French con man, renowned for his persuasiveness and quick wit. He grew up in Brussels with his mother Emma Thierry, and he learned several different languages as a child as he aspired to become a diplomat, being functional in at least French, English, Japanese and Mandarin Chinese. An investor named Hugo took advantage of Emma's dyslexia, tricking her out of her life savings. One night, Laurent tried to kill Hugo, but ended up stabbing a woman named Dorothy instead whom he later fell in love with. He operates as a gentleman thief, only targeting rich, corrupt people who are a negative influence to society. He uses the scams to expose his targets for their misdeeds, while helping those who were victimized by their targets live honest and happy lives. While ruthless toward his victims, he treats his comrades and associates like a family. He has a flirtatious nature and is a reputed playboy.
 * An expert French con man, renowned for his persuasiveness and quick wit. He grew up in Brussels with his mother Emma Thierry, and he learned several different languages as a child as he aspired to become a diplomat, being functional in at least French, English, Japanese and Mandarin Chinese. An investor named Hugo took advantage of Emma's dyslexia, tricking her out of her life savings. One night, Laurent tried to kill Hugo, but ended up stabbing a woman named Dorothy instead whom he later fell in love with. He operates as a gentleman thief, only targeting rich, corrupt people who are a negative influence to society. He uses the scams to expose his targets for their misdeeds, while helping those who were victimized by their targets live honest and happy lives. While ruthless toward his victims, he treats his comrades and associates like a family. He has a flirtatious nature and is a reputed playboy.


 * Abigail Jones (アビゲイル・ジョーンズ)
 * An athletic, taciturn woman who is Laurent's second-in-command. Her great physical abilities come in part from her childhood ballet training. Her life changed when Baghdad was bombed, killing her parents and she became a child soldier. She carries a dented medal that she won in a ballet competition as a memento of her parents.
 * An athletic, taciturn woman who is Laurent's second-in-command. Her great physical abilities come in part from her childhood ballet training. Her life changed when Baghdad was bombed, killing her parents and she became a child soldier. She carries a dented medal that she won in a ballet competition as a memento of her parents.


 * Cynthia Moore (シンシア・ムーア)
 * One of Laurent's associates who uses her feminine charms and acting skills to manipulate their targets. Her abilities came from her training to become a stage actress as a young adult.
 * One of Laurent's associates who uses her feminine charms and acting skills to manipulate their targets. Her abilities came from her training to become a stage actress as a young adult.


 * Kudo (工藤)
 * A Japanese con-man and Edamame's boss for his first job. After being caught by the police, he joins Laurent's gang.
 * A Japanese con-man and Edamame's boss for his first job. After being caught by the police, he joins Laurent's gang.


 * Kim Si Won (キム・シウォン)
 * A Korean con-woman and one of Laurent's associates.
 * A Korean con-woman and one of Laurent's associates.


 * Seiji Ozaki (尾崎 誠司)
 * Edamame's father. He worked as a lawyer, while secretly working with Laurent's gang. He was arrested for aiding a human trafficking network and that led to Edamame being unable to get a regular job.
 * Edamame's father. He worked as a lawyer, while secretly working with Laurent's gang. He was arrested for aiding a human trafficking network and that led to Edamame being unable to get a regular job.


 * Dorothy (ドロシー)
 * Laurent's ex-lover and the leader of the original confidence gang. She was shot on a yacht and fell overboard after a failed confidence game. In the twenty-third episode, it is revealed that she is still alive in Taiwan with her memories lost, adapting the name "Li Siang-siang".
 * Laurent's ex-lover and the leader of the original confidence gang. She was shot on a yacht and fell overboard after a failed confidence game. In the twenty-third episode, it is revealed that she is still alive in Taiwan with her memories lost, adapting the name "Li Siang-siang".

Los Angeles

 * Eddie Cassano (エディ・カッサーノ)
 * A Hollywood film director who secretly sells drugs.
 * A Hollywood film director who secretly sells drugs.


 * Salazar (サラザール)
 * A bodyguard working for Cassano; his wife died many years before the series events. He has a son named Tom who lives in foster care.
 * A bodyguard working for Cassano; his wife died many years before the series events. He has a son named Tom who lives in foster care.


 * Inspector Anderson (アンダーソン警部)
 * An LAPD detective who has been chasing after Cassano for years. He is corrupt and frequently lets Cassano get away in exchange for bribes. He has a daughter who attends college and studying overseas.
 * An LAPD detective who has been chasing after Cassano for years. He is corrupt and frequently lets Cassano get away in exchange for bribes. He has a daughter who attends college and studying overseas.

Singapore

 * Sam Ibrahim (サム・イブラヒム)
 * An exiled Arab oil tycoon and the organizer of the Pathfinder Air Race.
 * An exiled Arab oil tycoon and the organizer of the Pathfinder Air Race.


 * Clark Ibrahim (クラーク・イブラヒム)
 * An ace pilot and Sam's younger brother.
 * An ace pilot and Sam's younger brother.


 * Lewis Mueller (ルイス・ミューラー)
 * An aerial stunt pilot and former pilot in the United States Military. He was permanently disabled in a previous race with Clark that ended in his plane crashing.
 * An aerial stunt pilot and former pilot in the United States Military. He was permanently disabled in a previous race with Clark that ended in his plane crashing.


 * Isabelle Mueller (イザベル・ミューラー)
 * Lewis's wife.
 * Lewis's wife.

London

 * James Coleman (ジェームス・コールマン)
 * An English art appraiser. He pretends to love Farrah, but is only using her for her money so he can buy expensive works of art.
 * An English art appraiser. He pretends to love Farrah, but is only using her for her money so he can buy expensive works of art.


 * Thomas Meyer (トーマス・メイヤー)
 * Cynthia's ex-boyfriend, a painter who previously worked for Coleman creating "lost" art works that Coleman would then verify and sell.
 * Cynthia's ex-boyfriend, a painter who previously worked for Coleman creating "lost" art works that Coleman would then verify and sell.


 * Farrah Brown (ファラ・ブラウン)
 * A wealthy older woman in love with Coleman.
 * A wealthy older woman in love with Coleman.


 * Tim (ティム)
 * Farrah's butler.
 * Farrah's butler.

Tokyo

 * Akemi Suzaku (朱雀 アケミ)
 * CEO of Suzaku Association, a corporation that manages trading companies in Tokyo and Shanghai. The corporation is also involved in human trafficking.
 * CEO of Suzaku Association, a corporation that manages trading companies in Tokyo and Shanghai. The corporation is also involved in human trafficking.


 * Ishigami (石神)
 * Edamame's boss at the Suzaku Association.
 * Edamame's boss at the Suzaku Association.


 * Igarashi (五十嵐)
 * A character from the live-action series The Confidence Man JP by the same scriptwriter.
 * A character from the live-action series The Confidence Man JP by the same scriptwriter.

Shanghai

 * Liu Xiao (劉暁)
 * The boss of the mafia Shanghai Longhu-bang that makes their money through human trafficking.
 * The boss of the mafia Shanghai Longhu-bang that makes their money through human trafficking.


 * Chen Yao (陳尭)
 * Liu's right-hand man.
 * Liu's right-hand man.

Taipei

 * Chiang Pin Chueh (Jay) (江 品爵（ジェイ）)
 * The young head of Wang's syndicate based in Taipei. He is the adopted son of the syndicate's leader Wang. He is a playboy who likes women and has a habit of cheating on them. He has a close working relationship with Ayi. He develops a romantic interest with Dorothy, but they break up.
 * The young head of Wang's syndicate based in Taipei. He is the adopted son of the syndicate's leader Wang. He is a playboy who likes women and has a habit of cheating on them. He has a close working relationship with Ayi. He develops a romantic interest with Dorothy, but they break up.


 * Yang Kun I (Ayi) (楊 崑義（アイ）)
 * A con artist working under Jay. He self-proclaims himself as Taipei's best genius grifter, but his attempt to scam Dorothy fails. He works for Jay wanting as somebody who desires money.
 * A con artist working under Jay. He self-proclaims himself as Taipei's best genius grifter, but his attempt to scam Dorothy fails. He works for Jay wanting as somebody who desires money.


 * Lin (林)
 * A member of Wang's syndicate and Jay's younger brother. He acts in cunning ways as he will do anything to get promoted within the syndicate.
 * A member of Wang's syndicate and Jay's younger brother. He acts in cunning ways as he will do anything to get promoted within the syndicate.


 * Wang Yiqi (王 翊碁)
 * The head of a syndicate specializing in drug trafficking that rules Taipei's dark society. He is a cold-hearted man who is keeping a watchful eye on his adopted son Jay, and vows to get revenge on Dorothy after being scammed by her gang before getting amnesia.
 * The head of a syndicate specializing in drug trafficking that rules Taipei's dark society. He is a cold-hearted man who is keeping a watchful eye on his adopted son Jay, and vows to get revenge on Dorothy after being scammed by her gang before getting amnesia.


 * Tsai (蔡)
 * An executive of Wang's syndicate. He nicknamed the Drug Sommelier as he is an expert in dealing drugs.
 * An executive of Wang's syndicate. He nicknamed the Drug Sommelier as he is an expert in dealing drugs.


 * Bingyan (ビンイェン)
 * Secretary of Wang's syndicate. She is a quiet employee who is an expert at maintaining her poker face to hide her real objective.
 * Secretary of Wang's syndicate. She is a quiet employee who is an expert at maintaining her poker face to hide her real objective.

Other characters

 * Miki Edamura (枝村 美紀)
 * Edamame's late mother. She encouraged Edamame to keep his morale up since her husband's arrest.
 * Edamame's late mother. She encouraged Edamame to keep his morale up since her husband's arrest.


 * Emma Thierry (エマ・ティエリー)
 * Laurent's late mother. She was dyslexic and died after becoming a scam victim, which eventually led to Laurent becoming a con artist.
 * Laurent's late mother. She was dyslexic and died after becoming a scam victim, which eventually led to Laurent becoming a con artist.

Anime
During Anime Expo 2019, Wit Studio revealed announced the 23-episode original anime television series, directed by Hiro Kaburagi, written by Ryōta Kosawa, character designs by Yoshiyuki Sadamoto and music composed by Yutaka Yamada. Yamada also composed its theme song "G.P.", while its ending theme is a cover of the song "The Great Pretender" performed by Queen lead vocalist Freddie Mercury, originally recorded by The Platters.

The series' story is divided into blocks of episodes called "Cases". Case 1: Los Angeles Connection is episodes 1 through 5, Case 2: Singapore Sky is episodes 6 through 10, Case 3: Snow of London is episodes 11 through 14, and Case 4: Wizard of Far East is episodes 15 through 23. Case 1 began streaming on Netflix Japan on June 2, 2020, with Case 2 following on June 9. Case 3 began streaming on Netflix Japan on June 16, 2020, and Case 4 followed on September 21.

The anime series aired on Fuji TV's +Ultra anime programming block and BS Fuji from July 8 to December 16, 2020.

Great Pretender's first 14 episodes were released outside of Japan on Netflix on August 20, 2020, with the last 9 following on November 25.

A sequel original net animation (ONA), titled Great Pretender: Razbliuto, was released in four episodes from February 23 to March 15, 2024, on DMM TV, following its North America cinema screenings on January 9 and 10. Crunchyroll licensed the sequel and released it in full on February 23, 2024.

Manga
A manga adaptation by Daichi Marui began releasing on Mag Garden's Mag Comi and LINE Manga from June 10, 2020. The manga series has been licensed in North America by Seven Seas Entertainment. The series went on hiatus on September 10, 2020, due to Marui's poor health.