The Eminence in Shadow

Shadow dreams to pull the strings of fate from the shadows, blending in with ordinary life while plotting a moment of grande finale. He trains night after night to forge a persona that goes unseen by the world. Then a cruel turn rips away his plan, and he wakes in a strange realm where his obsession is rewarded with leadership of a secret group dedicated to opposing hidden threats. There he finally gets to act out the fantasies he's stored away for so long, guiding a quirky crew as they face dangers that echo his own grand designs.

The Eminence in Shadow arrived in 2022 as an anime adaptation of a light novel series created by Daisuke Aizawa and illustrated by Kanichi Kato.

Online fans picked up on the premise of a guy who pretends to be a mastermind while actually ruling a secret team. The show spawned fan art, memes, and discussions about ambition, deception, and how pop culture treats power fantasies.

Critics note the fast paced humor and action while balancing satire of secret world tropes with a surprisingly earnest sense of loyalty among the group. Themes include identity, the cost of living a lie, and the lure of control.