It can be very annoying feeling as if you’re out of the loop when friends (or strangers online) reference a specific anime you haven’t seen.
Especially when the series in question flew under your radar when it first aired, and now you’re so far behind it feels like a slog catching up. In one such instance, we have the main character of an anime uttering three words that spark a reaction both on and off screen: “I am Atomic.” But, what anime is this from, and what’s the story behind this line in particular? For what reason do fans reference this anime moment outside the context of its series?
What anime is “I am Atomic” from?
The Eminence in Shadow, or Kage no Jitsuryokusha ni Naritakute! is the series you’re looking for. The line “I am Atomic” is said by one of its main characters, Cid Kagenou, voiced by Seiichirou Yamashita in Japanese and Adam Gibbs in English. However, it seems the reason this line blows so many minds is the ASMR-like effect applied to the Japanese audio track.
The Eminence in Shadow began airing on October 5, 2022, during the Fall 2022 anime season. Its second season began airing on October 4, 2023, and is planned for twelve episodes. The “I am Atomic” line in question seems to be said during the fifth episode of the first season, and is associated with Kagenou’s most devastating ability. The Eminence in Shadow is available for streaming via HIDIVE.
