Great Pretender Anime Review

ABOUT:

The Great Pretender is  series of unfortunate events has led Makoto "Edamame" Edamura to adopt the life of crime—pickpocketing and scamming others for a living. However, after swindling a seemingly clueless tourist, Makoto discovers that he was the one tricked and, to make matters worse, the police are now after him.

While making his escape, he runs into the tourist once again, who turns out to be a fellow con man named Laurent Thierry, and ends up following him to Los Angeles. In an attempt to defend his self-proclaimed title of "Japan's Greatest Swindler," Makoto challenges his rival to determine the better scammer. Accepting the competition, Laurent drops them off outside a huge mansion and claims that their target will be the biggest mafia boss on the West Coast.

Jumping from city to city, Great Pretender follows the endeavors of Makoto alongside the cunning Laurent and his colorful associates in the world of international high-stakes fraud. Soon, Makoto realizes that he got more than what he bargained for as his self-declared skills are continually put to the test.

(This synopsis was taken from MAL)

REVIEW:

I was honestly a bit skeptical about starting this anime but decided to give it a shot. One of the greatest decisions I ever made. To say this show is incredible is an understatement, the visual, the storyline, the characters everything. 

- Characters:

                     Makoto Edamura has a split personality throughout both seasons of the anime. In season 1 he's much more calmer and  overreacts to the smallest thing. He became more colder and more calculated in season 2. He befriends another con artist Laurent Thierry who he starts going on different schemes with.

                    Laurent Thierry is an expert con man who travels the world with his team of con artist. He goes after the corrupt individuals across the world and tries his best to rope Edamame into all his schemes.

                    Abigail Jones is nonchalant and thick skinned girl. She's skilled fighting and acting and gets the job done

- Plot and Animation:

          The plot is overall decent with no major plot holes. There are a lot of unexpected cliffhangers so be warned about that. The plot thickens a lot in each episode making you want to binge watch the series in one day like I did....The background in every episode was beautiful for each location around the globe.

-OP Song:

                Freddie Mercury The Great Pretender was a great song to end the anime with. I didn't like the op as much.

Overall I'd recommend this anime to someone who wouldn't mind a deep plot with some comedy thrown into it. Wish I could rewatch it again for the first time.

Different Types of Anime 2

 

Hey everyone, picking up from my last post I'll be talking about the sub-genres in anime today. Lets dive in!!

Cyberpunk:

This anime comes from genre of Sci-fi. It deals with a futuristic version of the world and more advanced technology. They include flying cars, A.I (Artificial Intelligence) and sometimes advance weaponry.

Examples of Cyberpunk anime are: Ghost in the Shell, Akira, Blame! and Ergo Proxy.

Ghost in the Shell

Game: 

This sub genre comes from the idea of gaming. Games include: board games, card games on even virtual games.

Gaming anime includes: No Game No Life: Zero, Death Parade, Kakegurui and Yu-Gi-Oh!

Kakegurui

Demons:

This sub genre deals with, well demons of course. This sub genre also goes hand in hand with action, comedy, horror and romance. Demons in this sub genre include: ghost, devils, monsters and any other demon type creature you can imagine.

Demon anime are: Demon Slayer, Beelzebub, Jujutsu Kaisen and The Devil Is a Part-Timer.

Jujutsu Kaisen

Harem:

Harem anime are focused more on a male audience as a lot of female characters surround a male character. The sub genre harem usually fits well with the romance, comedy and slice of life genre.

Harem anime include: Yamada-kun And The Seven Witches,  The World God Only Knows: Godesses, Saenai Heroine no Sodatekata Fine and Trinity Seven

Yamada-kun And The Seven Witches

Reverse-Harem

Reverse Harem are directed more to a female audience. The female character is now surrounded by a lot of male characters tying to vouch for heart, Like Harem, this is usually categorized with romance and comedy.

Some examples of Reverse Harem are: Ouran Highschool Host Club, B-Project, Dance with Devils and Uta No Prince Sama.

Ouran Highschool Host Club

Josei

Josei is like Slice of life but for a more mature female audience around the ages 19-45.Usually with a more realistic ideal of romance and life.

Josei Anime are: Princess Jellyfish, Chihayafuru, Usagi Drop, Gokusen and Paradise Kiss.

Martial Arts:

The genre is martial arts in anime deals with hand-to-hand combat, swordplay or some type of martial arts involved. This sub genre comes form the main genre action.

Martial Arts anime include: Baki, The God of Highschool, Katanagatari and Fog Hill Of Five Elements.

Fog Hill O f Five Elements

Kids:

Many people assume anime is for kids when its really nt. There are only a few of anime catered for kids. Theses shows barely have any violence or anything unsuitable for children 10 and under.

Children anime are: Pokemon and Digimon 

Pokemon

Historical:

This category deals with events the occurred in the past mainly in ancient times in japan. They normally include swordplay

Some Historical anime are: Rurouni Kenshin, Samurai Champloo, Mo Dao Zu Shi and Yuukoku no Moriarty.

Rurouni Kenshin

Isekai:

This is when a protagonist is transported to another world this is referred to as Isekai.

Iseaki anime examples are: How NOT To Summon A Demon Lord, The Rising of the Shield Hero, Sword Art Online and In Another World With My Smartphone.

The Rising of the Shield Hero

Military:

This subgenre includes war. This anime can also be part of the mecha, action and sci-fi.

Some military anime are: Mobile Suit Gundam 00, Hellsing, Full Metal Alchemist and The Saga of Tanya The Evil.

The Saga of Tanya The Evil

Mecha:

Theses type of anime normally deal with robotics. This anime goes well with military, sci-fi, action and space.

Examples of Mecha anime are: Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann, Guilty Crown, Koukyoushihen Eureka Seven and SSSS.Gridman.

SSSS.Gridman

Music:

This genre has become less popular now than in the last couple of years. Music anime include singing, playing instruments and dancing.

4 Music anime are: Your Lie In April, Given, Kono Oto Tomare! and Carole And Tuesday.

Given

Parody:

Parody anime are usually gags anime where you can find a lot of other anime references in them.

Examples of 4 Parody anime are: One Punch Man, Gintama, FLCL and Kono Subarashii Sekai ni Shukufuku wo!

One Punch Man

Police:

This genre usually focuses on law enforcement and what they do in there line of duty.

Some Police anime are: Death Note, Psycho-Pass, Detective Conan and  The Millionaire Detective – Balance: UNLIMITED. 

The Millionaire Detective – Balance: UNLIMITED. 

Post-Apocalyptic: 

These type of anime take place in worlds where humans are on the brink of extinction. 

4 examples of Post-Apocalyptic anime are: Attack on Titan, Dr.Stone, Seraph of The End and Trigun.

Dr.Stone

School: 

These types of anime normally take place in a school setting. Slice of life, romance and comedy can also be linked with this sub genre.

Examples of School anime are: Assassination Classroom, Kaguya-sama: Love Is War, Great Teacher Onizuka and Toilet-bound Hanako-kun and My Little Monster.

Toilet-bound Hanako-kun

Seinen: 

This type of anime is similar to Josei as its audience is around the age of 18-45 (males). They normally included violence, gore and sex. (Mature Audiences only)

4 Examples of Seinen anime are: Mushishi, Kingdom, Berserk and Rainbow.

Berserk

Shoujo and Shounen:

Shoujo targets female viewers around ages 10-18 and normally fall into other categories such as romance, school and slice of life. Shounen is targeted to male viewers around the ages 10-18 and fall into the genres such as action and adventure

Examples of 4 Shoujo anime are: Kamisama Hajimemashita: Kako-hen, Skip Beat!, Sailor Moon Crystal and Ore Monogatari!! 

Some Shounen anime are: Jojo Bizarre Adventure, One Piece, Hunter x Hunter and Dragon Ball Z

Skip Beat!

HunterxHunter

Shoujo and Shounen Ai:

These genres shows same sex relationships (lesbians and gays). This genre shows romance and loveand not close intimate relationships

Examples of Shoujo Ai: Bloom Into You, Adachi to Shimamura, Asagao to Kase-san and Yuru Yuri Nachuyachumi!

Shounen Ai include: Given, Love Stage!!, Hitorijime My Hero and Doukyuusei

Adachi and Shimamaura

Hitorijime My Hero

Space:

This type of anime mostly takes place in space.

Five space anime are: Planetes, Outlaw Star, Astra Lost In Space, Space Dandy and Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin.

Astra Lost In Space

Sports:

Sports anime deals with sports such as basketball, football, baseball, swimming and volleyball to name a few.

Five Sports Anime are: Kuroko No Basket, Haikyuu!!, Diamond no Ace, Free! and Hungry Heart

Kuroko No Basket

Super Power:

Superpower anime include flying, super strength and all the cool stuff normal humans can't do.

Five Super Power anime are: My Hero Academia, Naruto, Promare, Tiger & Bunny and Bungou Stray Dogs.

My Hero Academia

Tragedy:

Tragedy anime shows traumatic events and how the character(s) are deeply affected by it. They can be deaths, natural disasters and accidents

3 examples of Tragedy anime are: Tokyo Magnitude 8.0, Clannad and Violet Evergarden.

Violet Evergarden

Vampire:

Basically deals with vampires and the also fit into the categories such as horror, romance, comedy and drama.

3 examples of vampire anime are: Kekkai Sensen, Hellsing and Vampire Knight.

Vampire Knight

(For More Mature Audiences):

-Hentai:

Hentai is the japanese translation for ''pervert''. This focuses on explicit scenes and are normally for people age 18 and over. I will however not be giving any examples for the mature categories of anime.

-Yaoi and Yuri:

These are the more explicit version to to shounen ai and shoujo ai. Yaoi focuses the more intimate part of the relationship between older boys or men. Yuri looks at the more sexual and intimate part between to older girls or women.

-Ecchi:

This is mild hentai, as they censor the sexual scenes and it actually has a plot unlike hentai.

Again thank you for reading TheAnimeLab and stay tuned for my next update on Sunday.

Different Genres of Anime

 

Types of Genres in Anime:

Hey guys so today I'll be talking about the different types of anime and what anime to get into based on what you like. There are approximately 13 genres of anime with 31 sub genres. The major anime genres are Action, Adventure, Comedy, Drama, Slice of Life, Fantasy, Magic, Supernatural, Horror, Mystery, Psychological, Romance and Sci-Fi. The sub genres are: Cyberpunk, Game, Ecchi, Demons, Harem, Josei, Martial Arts, Kids, Historical, Josei, Isekai, Military, Mecha, Music, Parody, Police, Post-Apocalyptic, Reverse Harem, Scvhool. Seinen, Shoujo/Shounen, Shoujo/Shounen Ai, Space, Sports, Super Power, Tragedy and Vampire. For more Mature Audiences: Hentai, Yaoi and Yuri.

Action:

This genre is full of action packed fights and thrilling battles. Altogether this genre is full battle scenes, clear animation that will get your adrenaline pumping and on the edge of your seat to see what takes place next.

Some High Rating Action Anime are:

Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, Gintama, Assassination Classroom and the Jojo's Bizarre Adventure series.

Main Protagonists of the Jojo Series.

Adventure: 

Adventure: This is about going on adventures around the world (sometimes fictional), different dimensions and universes. The protagonist is usually on quests defeating antagonists with a specific goal in mind. This genre is also mixed in with the action genre.

Some Adventure Anime are: Hunter x Hunter, One Piece, Vinland Saga and Cowboy Bebop. 

      HunterxHunter

 Comedy:

 The comedy genre usually focuses on…well making the audience laugh. This genre may not be as popular as action, advemture or romance but its making its way up the ladder

Examples of Comedy Anime are: Gintama, Kaguya-sama: Love is War, One Punch Man and The Disastrous Life of Saiki K.

 The Disastrous Life of Saiki K.

Drama: 

These types of anime usually bring out emotions in their audiences. They most likely connect to the viewer in some type of way.

Examples of Drama Anime Are: Violet Evergarden, A Silent Voice, Your Name and I want to eat your pancreas.

Your Name

 

Slice Of Life:

 Normally set to focus in a realistic light where nothing out of the ordinary happens. No attacks from bounty hunters that live on mars. No shape-shifting.

Examples of this are: Wolf Children, Fruits Basket, Grand Blue and Kuragehime.

Wolf Children

 

Fantasy: 

This normally focuses on the real world sometimes made up worlds with mystical creatures such as fairies, mermaids and immortal beings.

Fantasy anime include: Princess Mononoke, The Ancient Magus’ Bride, Maquia: When the Promised Flower Blooms and That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime.

Maquia: When the Promised Flower Blooms

Magic: 

Magic genre includes characters like witches, fairies, magicians etc.

Magic anime: Magi: Labyrinth of Magic, Sailor Moon, Fate/Zero and The Irregular at Magic High School.

Magi: Labyrinth of Magic

Supernatural: 

These are extraordinary occurrence. Mystery often plays a part in this genre

Supernatural Anime: The Boy and the Beast, Durarara!!, My Neighbour Totoro and Kekkai Sensen.

Kekkai Sensen

Horror:  

This genre has blood, gore, violence and will definitely leave an unsettling feeling in the viewer.

Horror examples are: Parasyte -the maxim-, Tokyo Ghoul, Devilman Crybaby and Paprika. 

Parasyte -the maxim-

Mystery: 

Filled with mysterious deaths, crimes, events, people or even objects. They are full of so many cliffhangers that they leave viewers anticipating for more.

Examples of Mystery Anime are: Great Pretender, Detective Conan, Id:Invaded and When Marnie Was There.

Great Pretender

Psychological:

Psychological anime often plays with the mind of the viewer.

Examples are: Beastars, Psycho-Pass, Aku no Hana and Re:Zero − Starting Life in Another World.

Re:Zero − Starting Life in Another World

Romance: 

This is one of the most popular genres in anime today. It focuses on relationships and sweet moments and will play with your heart strings or either make you cringe at how sweet it is.

Romance Examples: Toradora!, Maid Sama!, A Whisker Away and My Little Monster.

Maid Sama!

Sci-Fi.: 

This genre shows the development of technology and its main focus of on machines and scientific elements.

Sci-fi anime are: Steins;Gate, Evangelion, Code Geass: Hangyaku no Lelouch and Dr.Stone.

Senku from Dr.Stone

These are the main genres in anime. In next weeks post I'll be discussing the sub genres in anime and in the fourth update I'll post a review on The Great Pretender. Till Friday.

WELCOME FELLOW OTAKUS

 To the old anime watchers and those who's thinking about starting anime, Thank you for reading and taking an interest in this blog. This post is a short introduction about what me and what I plan to write in this blog.

About me:

I began my anime journey early in 2018 starting with the reverse-harem Kiss Him Not me/Watashi ga Motete Dousunda. I then realized, ''Hey maybe my friend wasn't sprouting nonsense and that this is actually interesting.'' So thus, my anime journey began and then in late 2020 I discovered manga and took an interest in that also.

What is anime?

Anime has to do with animation. It isn't the shortened word for the anime but it is how you say 'animated cartoon' in kanji (japanese). Anime is any form of cartoon to any japanese watcher whether it is made in Japan or somewhere else. There are 2 formats of anime subbed and dubbed. Subbed anime is the japanese version with subtitles at the bottom for viewers from other countries while Dubbed anime is the english speaking voice over which voice actors reading from a translated script.

Plans for this blog:

I'm planning on posting to this blog every Friday and Sunday afternoon. I'll post reviews, my thoughts on anime/manga and on any currently airing and upcoming manga adaptions or originals. If someone wants me to review or share my thoughts on any anime/ manga you are free to comment as I am always looking for suggestions to add to my anime list. My MAL account (myanimelist) account will also be linked below. 

My writing isn't all that but I'm trying my hardest to improve on it. Feel free to send me a  friend request me on mal. Next weeks post will be about the various genres of anime and what anime to start depending on your taste.

Thanks again for choosing to look at my blog.

https://myanimelist.net/profile/caribbeanweeb