The appeal and reviews of "PERSONA trinity soul": A thorough analysis of the deep story and the appeal of the characters

"PERSONA trinity soul": Abyssal city and soul quest

"PERSONA trinity soul" is a TV anime series that was broadcast in 2008, and is a completely original story based on the PS2 game "Persona 3". This work depicts the bond between brothers and the darkness of the city with the theme of "Persona", the other self that lurks deep in the heart. Below, we will introduce detailed information and reviews of this work, as well as recommended points.

■Overview of the work

"PERSONA trinity soul" was broadcast on TOKYO MX, MBS, CBC, Teletama, tvk, Chiba TV, Animax, and BS11 from January 5 to June 28, 2008. It consists of 26 episodes, each 30 minutes long, and is based on ATLUS' "Persona 3." It was directed by Matsumoto Jun, animated by A-1 Pictures, and produced by the Persona: Trinity Soul Production Committee.

■ Story

The story takes place in Ayanagi City, a futuristic emerging city facing the Sea of ​​Japan, which has recovered from the disaster caused by the "multiple apathy attacks" that occurred 10 years ago. High school student Shin Kanzato (17 years old) and his younger brother Jun (14 years old) reunite for the first time in 10 years with their eldest son Ryo (28 years old), the young police chief of Ayanagi City.

Meanwhile, strange incidents are occurring one after another in Ayanagi City. A crew member suddenly disappears from a submarine, apathy shocks the public for the first time in 10 years, and a case of inverted bodies where students are killed in gruesome forms. Ryo pursues the organization behind these incidents. And as he becomes embroiled in the incidents, Shin awakens a grotesque "Persona." The gears of the brothers' fate begin to turn.

■ Characters

The protagonist, Shingo Shin, is a second-year student at Nagi no Mori Academy. He is a 17-year-old with average senses and thoughts, and is not particularly fearless but not particularly brave. He is an honest boy, and after losing his parents he was raised by his aunt in Tokyo, but for some reason he returned to his hometown of Ayanagi City. He is a brave second son who for some reason adores his cold older brother and cherishes his somewhat cynical younger brother.

Ryo Kamigo is the eldest son of the Kamigo family and the chief of Ayanagi Police Station. He is a gloomy 28-year-old who rarely smiles. He has been independently investigating the series of bizarre crimes occurring in his jurisdiction, and has been concealing important information using his special authority, which has earned him the suspicion and resentment of some of his department members. For some reason, he tries to distance himself from his younger brothers, who have been reunited after a 10-year gap, which leads to conflict with Shin, but he seems to have some special feelings for Jun.

Jun Kamisato is the youngest child of the Kamisato family. He is a second-year student at Nagi no Mori Academy. He is 14 years old and doesn't like to have contact with others. He seems to be attached to Shin, who he has lived with all his life, but he is not an obedient and submissive younger brother; rather, he is more mature and eloquent than Shin. The mischievous, girlish expression he occasionally shows gives him a mysterious presence that cannot be described with the word androgynous alone, leaving Shin confused.

Other characters that add color to the story include Makoto's classmates Kayano Megumi, Sakakiba Takurou, Morimoto Kanan, and Murasakikura Tomoma, the leader of a secret group calling themselves Marebito.

■Worldview and setting

Ayanagi City, the setting of "PERSONA trinity soul," is a coastal city facing Toyama Bay. Ten years ago, the city center suffered devastating damage from a sudden simultaneous multiple apathy accident and disaster, but it has since been rebuilt as a futuristic city. Another characteristic is that bridge piers that were under construction on the coast have been left as they are due to discrepancies with the urban planning that was underway at the time. While the city area has lost its former appearance, there are still areas in the suburbs that retain the atmosphere of the past.

Akinetic syndrome is a mental illness of unknown cause in which all will and emotion become extremely weak, causing the individual to lose their sense of self and become like a living corpse. Ten years ago, many citizens in Ayanagi City and the surrounding areas suddenly fell ill with the disease, and in urban areas with well-developed transportation networks, it became the cause of many fatal accidents when combined with natural disasters that occurred at the same time. There is no known cure, and even if patients continue to take in nutrients to maintain their bodies, they often die of exhaustion. It is said that some people sometimes have a faint smile on their face during this process.

Shadow removal is a secretly popular spell among young people in Ayanagi City and junior and senior high school students attending Nagi no Mori Academy. It is said to release and relieve negative emotions such as anxiety and fear, as well as stress, and to have a relaxing effect. There are various treatment methods, and although it is said to have no side effects, excessive use can lead to an addiction. The presence and extent of the effect seems to vary depending on some kind of correlation between the person administering and the person receiving, or some kind of hidden aptitude for each person.

The Reverse Incident is a series of bizarre crimes occurring in Ayanagi City. The victims are found in gruesome states, as if their bodies had been turned inside out, and this term has come to be used as an abbreviation among police officials who know the facts. All information is kept secret by the police, and the facts are also hidden from the victims' relatives. The victims are young people, mainly students at Nagi no Mori Academy.

■ Production staff

The director is Matsumoto Jun, and the assistant director is Hanyu Naoyasu. The main character original was Soejima Shigenori (ATLUS), and the character design and general animation director is Ishii Yuriko. The series is written by Muto Yasuyuki, the persona design is Genma Nobuhiko, the mecha design is Tsuneki Shinobu, the art director is Suzuki Michie, the color design is Nakajima Kazuko, the cinematographer is Ishihara Koji, the CGI director is Furukawa Takayuki, the editor is Nishiyama Shigeru, the music is Iwasaki Taku, and the sound director is Hata Shoji. The producers are Adachi Kazunori, Naruke Katsunori, Kachi Hideyuki, and Kanaba Kozue, the animation producer is Omatsu Yutaka, and the production producer is Ochikoshi Tomonori. Animation is produced by A-1 Pictures, and the production is Persona: Trinity Soul Production Committee (Aniplex, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Weave, and Movic).

■ Theme songs and music

The opening theme is "Breakin' through" (lyrics by Keiji Shiina, music by Takuya, arrangement by Takuya and h-wonder, sung by Shuhei Kita), and the second song is "WORD OF THE VOICE" (lyrics by KOHSHI ASAKAWA, music by TAKESHI ASAKAWA, arrangement by FLOW and ha-j, sung by FLOW). The ending theme is "SUICIDES LOVE STORY" (lyrics by Nana Kitade, music by Hyoe Yasuhara, arrangement by Kazunori Watanabe, sung by Nana Kitade), and the second song is "Found Me" (lyrics by mavie, music by Katsuhiko Kurosu, arrangement by nishi-ken, sung by Yumi Kawamura). These songs are important elements that liven up the atmosphere of the story.

■ Evaluation and recommendation points

"PERSONA trinity soul" is an original story based on the original game "Persona 3", but it has succeeded in depicting its own unique worldview and characters. In particular, the story depicting the bond between brothers and the darkness of the city deeply moves and excites the viewer. In addition, the setting that skillfully incorporates the concept of persona and the depiction of the setting of Ayanagi City are also superb.

The appeal of the characters is also a major point. The relationship between the protagonist Shingo Shingo and the other Shingo siblings, the unique classmates, and the presence of the rare people (marebito) are all important elements that enhance the story. The acting of the cast is also excellent, especially the performances of Nobuhiko Okamoto, Takehito Koyasu, and Miyuki Sawashiro.

The production staff's talent is also highly rated. Under the direction of Jun Matsumoto, A-1 Pictures' high-quality animation supports the story, while Taku Iwasaki's music and theme song are also important elements in enhancing the atmosphere of the work.

The recommended points are as follows:

• Deep story and attractive characters: The story depicts the bond between brothers and the dark side of the city, and deeply touches the audience. In addition, the unique characters enhance the story.
• Unique worldview and setting: The setting, which cleverly incorporates the concept of persona, and the depiction of the setting of Ayanagi City are superb.
• High-quality animation and music: A-1 Pictures' high-quality animation and Taku Iwasaki's music and theme song add to the atmosphere of the film.
• Service to fans of the original game: Although it is an original story based on the original game "Persona 3," it does not forget to service the fans.

"PERSONA trinity soul" is a work worth watching, combining a deep story, the charm of the characters, a unique world view and setting, and high-quality animation and music. It is a work that can be recommended not only to fans of the original game, but also to anime fans.

■ Related works

In addition to "PERSONA trinity soul," there are many other related works in the Persona series. Below are some of them.

• PERSONA trinity soul perfect guide
• PERSONA3 THE MOVIE
• Persona 4 the ANIMATION
• Persona4 the ANIMATION Unaired episodes
• PERSONA4 the Animation -The Factor of Hope-
• Persona4 the Golden ANIMATION
• PERSONA5 the Animation

These titles also allow you to fully experience the charm of the Persona series, so be sure to check them out.

■Subtitle

The subtitles for each episode of "PERSONA trinity soul" are as follows.

• Episode 1: Special A potential (2008/01/05)
• Episode 2: Shadow Removal (2008/01/12)
• Episode 3: Marebito (2008/01/19)
• Episode 4: Whale's Wings (2008/01/26)
• Episode 5: Forced Bonding (2008/02/02)
• Episode 6: The Day the Chief Disappeared (2008/02/09)
• Episode 7: The Other Called Me (2008/02/16)
• Episode 8: Under the Camphor Tree (2008/02/23)
• Episode 9: Cry from the Sea (2008/03/01)
• Episode 10: Shadow Smiles in the Twilight (2008/03/08)
• Episode 11: Defining Dependence (2008/03/15)
• Episode 12: The Savior (2008/03/22)
• Episode 13: The Crimson Snowfield (2008/03/29)
• Episode 14: Wandering Between Places (2008/04/05)
• Episode 15: What closes off tomorrow (2008/04/12)
• Episode 16: The Child of Liberation and the Healing Spirit (2008/04/19)
• Episode 17: In the Wind Village (2008/04/26)
• Episode 18: Sinking Dreams (2008/05/03)
• Episode 19: The Returnee (2008/05/10)
• Episode 20: Memories (2008/05/17)
• Episode 21: Zankoku (2008/05/24)
• Episode 22: The Vessel (2008/05/31)
• Episode 23: Embracing Bonds (2008/06/07)
• Episode 24: The Atonement Scepter (2008/06/14)
• Episode 25: Unjustified Loss (2008/06/21)
• Episode 26: The Emerging Future (2008/06/28)

These subtitles also give a glimpse into the story's development and themes.

Conclusion

"PERSONA trinity soul" is a work well worth watching, combining a deep story, the charm of the characters, a unique world view and setting, and high-quality animation and music. It is a work that can be recommended not only to fans of the original game, but also to anime fans. I hope you will experience the charm of the Persona series through this work.