I am thou, Thou art I… And I am glad to tell thou about Persona 5: The Animation, the adaptation of the sixth installment in the widely popular Persona games. The well-awaited animation is being produced by A-1 Pictures, who were also in charge of The Day Breakers, the standalone OVA of the series, as well as the currently airing Wotaku ni Koi wa Muzukashii and Darling in the FranXX.
The anime follows Amamiya Ren, a high school student sent to Tokyo on probation after being filed with charges of ‘assault’. He finds a mysterious application installed on his phone, one he tries to delete to no avail. It is later that he uncovers the truth about the application by accidentally entering the Metaverse, a cognitive place where the distorted desires of humans take form as a Palace, ruled by his/her Shadow self.
This is where Ren awakens to his Persona, a manifestation of one’s true self. With the added power of being able to fuse and use multiple Persona, him and his friends form the Phantom Thieves of Hearts, gaining allies and confidants along the way. Their goal is simple; To change the hearts of rotten adults and expose their crimes with the power given to them and prove to the world their own existence and more importantly, their justice.
And although the series will not feature major game aspects such as raising your stats or building the bonds with your confidants, which is to be expected from any Persona game adaptation, it is the perfect way to be acquainted with the unique narrative that Persona 5 offers. With the original and amazing soundtracks of the game inserted into the scenes, it is truly experience worth your time.
It is also worth noting that the director, Masashi Ishihama had announced that the anime will feature a surprise which will deviate from that of the game, that of which players are dying to find out.
So whether you’re a Persona series veteran, an avid gamer that thoroughly enjoyed the Persona 5 gameplay or someone who came to see what the hype was all about, there is enough reason to watch and try out Persona 5: The Animation until the very end.
But I warn you that your hearts may one day be stolen by these charming phantom thieves and I assure you that you’ll never see it coming.