During the Persona stage event at the 2015 Tokyo Game Show the main staff of their upcoming PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 3 title Persona 5 have revealed that the game itself will be receiving a special anime adaptation. In addition, the main cast and characters were revealed alongside the Opening theme song.
Atlus has announced that Persona 5 will be receiving a TV anime special as part of the 20th anniversary of Persona. Not many details about the anime, including whether it would be a one-off special of a TV series, were revealed. The main announcement mentions:
The much-anticipated latest numbered entry already … has a Persona 5 special anime scheduled for broadcast! The Persona 20th anniversary festival project launches!
The main cast of the upcoming game have been revealed. Information and audio snippets of the main playable characters have also been unveiled on the game’s official website. The 4 characters and cast includes (with translation from Gematsu):
- Jun Fukuyama (Lelouch Lamperouge from Code Geass) will voice the main character
The leader of the Phantom Thieves. A 16-year-old young man and second-year high school student who transfers to Shujin High School. He seems quiet and well-mannered at first glance, but gives a completely different impression once he has donned his “phantom thief” guise. He finds residence at the Shiken Cafe run by his parents’ friend. The reason for him moving from the city to the capital Tokyo is currently unknown.
- Mamoru Miyano (Rintarou Okabe from Steins;Gate) voices Ryuji Sakamoto
Just like the protagonist, he is a 16-year-old, second-year student at Shujin High School. He stands out with his wild behavior and seems to be a “problem child” even within the school. More than often, his problematic behavior imposes on the hospitality of the school’s teachers and advisers. He previously did not behave the way he currently does, but the origin of his bad behavior is currently unknown.
- Nana Mizuki (Hinata Hyuuga in Naruto) is voicing An Takamaki
A 16-year-old, quarter-American girl who attends Shujin High School. Unable to fit in with those around her due to her noticeably different appearance, she isolates herself within the school. She is often seen hanging out with the protagonist and Ryuji Sakamoto. Strange rumors about her have seemingly been circulating the school, but whether or not they’re true is currently unknown.
- Ikue Otani (Pikachu from Pokemon) will join the cast to voice Morgana
The most mysterious member of the Phantom Thieves. Childlike in height, her appearance imitates that of a black cat, but her true identity is completely unknown. It looks like she’s wearing something on her head, but…? That is all the information we currently have. Though she does resemble the black cat often seen with the protagonist…
Additionally, a leak from an upcoming Japanese gaming magazine has also revealed the 5th playable character:
- Tomokazu Sugita (Gintoki Sakata from Gintama) will voice the 5th party member Yuusuke Kitagawa
He is a scholarship student that attends the Kousei Public High School as part of the academy’s art course. He is a live-in disciple of his Japanese painter landlord Madarame.
In addition, the Opening theme song of the game has been revealed. The song will be sung by Lyn and here is a preview video of the song’s recording:
Here is the game’s TGS 2015 trailer:
The Persona series started off in 1996 on the PlayStation as a spin off in the Megami Tensei. Titled Megami Ibunroku Persona, or Revelations: Persona in the west, the game featured a series of high school characters who could summon a persona, a physical representation of their personality. The game received positive reviews and is considered as a hit. Since then, 3 main line games were released and numerous spin offs, re-releases and adaptations. Persona 2 released in 1999 and was made up of two games:Innocent Sin and Eternal Punishment. The game was a success in Japan but the game failed to receive good international support. The next game wouldn’t release until 2006 on the PlayStation 2. Persona 3 was a massive hit in both Japan and overseas selling over 500,000 units worldwide. Persona 4 followed the same path of success in 2008.
Persona 5 will release on the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4 in Summer 2016 in Japan and North America. Details about the European release have yet to be updated. A TV anime special has been announced, more details about it will be revealed at a later date.
You can visit the Persona 5 Website here: http://persona5.jp/
And follow their Twitter: @p_kouhou
Source Article – Anime News Network
Source Article – Gematsu
Source Article #2 – Gematsu
“Persona 5”, “Persona”, “Shin Megami Tensei”, images, and all associated brands and titles © 2015 Atlus co., Ltd. and SEGA Sammy