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.
Plot
Makoto Edamura is a small-time Japanese con artist who claims to be Japan's greatest swindler. After attempting to scam a seemingly naive French tourist in Asakusa with his partner Kudo, Makoto discovers that he has been outplayed and targeted by the police. The tourist is revealed to be Laurent Thierry, a far more skilled and internationally connected con man, who draws Makoto into the world of high-stakes fraud. Fleeing Japan, Makoto follows Laurent to Los Angeles, where he becomes entangled in elaborate confidence schemes targeting powerful criminal figures, including major mafia bosses. As Makoto is drawn deeper into Laurent's operations, his assortment of associates, and a network of international con schemes, he realizes he got more than he bargained for as each operation pushes the limits of his abilities.