A thorough analysis of the appeal and depth of "PERSONA 5 the Animation -Dark Sun...-"!

"Persona 5 The Animation Dark Sun" - A new challenge for the Phantom Thieves and a deepening story

"Persona 5 The Animation Dark Sun," which aired on December 31, 2018, is a TV special based on the hugely popular juvenile RPG "Persona 5" by ATLUS. The animation was produced by A-1 Pictures and directed by Masashi Ishihama. This work faithfully reproduces the worldview of the game while successfully bringing out the charm of the original to the fullest. Below, we will take a deeper look at the details of this work, its characters, staff, and its appeal.

■ Story

The story of "Persona 5 The Animation Dark Sun" begins with the news that Ren Amamiya, the leader of the Phantom Thieves, has committed suicide. However, behind the scenes, the Phantom Thieves identify the person they believe to have orchestrated all of the incidents and infiltrate their new target's palace in order to reform him. This TV special is based on the episodes from the original game, but depicts the activities of the Phantom Thieves from a new perspective.

■Explanation

The "Persona" series has been loved for many years as a juvenile RPG. Among them, "Persona 5" was released in 2016 and became a huge hit around the world. In 2018, the long-awaited TV anime series was realized. "Persona 5 The Animation" tells the story of Ren Amamiya, who transferred to "Shujin Academy" in Tokyo in the spring of his second year of high school, awakening as a "Persona" user after a certain incident and forming the "Phantom Thieves of Hearts" with his new friends. They change society by stealing the "distorted desires" of adults who are covered in evil desires and reforming them. Meanwhile, mysterious mental rampages occur one after another in the city, making the activities of the Phantom Thieves increasingly difficult. This work is a grand picaresque novel set in the big city of "Tokyo", depicting the daily life of a high school student and the secret activities of the "Phantom Thieves of Hearts".

■Cast

The cast of "Persona 5 The Animation Dark Sun" is made up of the same voice actors as the original game. A luxurious cast of voice actors, including Jun Fukuyama as Ren Amamiya, Mamoru Miyano as Ryuji Sakamoto, Nana Mizuki as Ann Takamaki, Ikue Otani as Morgana, Tomokazu Sugita as Yusuke Kitagawa, Rina Sato as Makoto Niijima, Aoi Yuki as Futaba Sakura, and Haruka Tomatsu as Haru Okumura, bring life to the characters. Their performances bring out the individuality of the characters and add depth to the story.

■ Main staff

The scenario was written by Shinichi Inotsume, and the storyboards were created by Kazuki Ohashi, Hisashi Saito, and Mamoru Sasaki. The directors are Kazuki Ohashi and Hitomi Ezoe, the chief animation directors are Michio Hasegawa and Koji Haneda, and the effects and action animation director is Satoshi Sakai. This team of staff worked together to faithfully recreate the worldview of the original work while pursuing the unique expression of anime.

■ Main Characters

Amamiya Ren is a high school sophomore who moved to Tokyo in the spring and transferred to Shujin Academy Private High School. After a certain incident, he awakened as a "Persona" user, and his code name in the Phantom Thieves is "Joker". Sakamoto Ryuji is a second-year student at Shujin Academy High School, and is a passionate and active man, but he is known for his rude behavior and speech, making him a notorious "problem child" at the school and standing out from the crowd. His code name in the Phantom Thieves is "Skull". Takamaki Ann is a second-year student at Shujin Academy High School, and a beautiful girl of quarter American descent. She has a cheerful and honest personality, but her very noticeable appearance makes her unable to fit in with the people around her and makes her isolated. Her code name in the Phantom Thieves is "Panther". Morgana is a black cat whose existence is shrouded in mystery. After Ren accidentally rescues her after getting lost in another world, she lives with Ren and shares her food and sleeping quarters with him. Her code name in the Phantom Thieves is "Mona". Yusuke Kitagawa is a scholarship student at Tokyo Metropolitan Kousei High School's art course. He is a beautiful boy who catches people's attention, but his unique sensibility sometimes gives him the impression of being out of touch with the world. His code name in the Phantom Thieves is "Fox". Makoto Niijima is a third-year student at Shujin Academy High School, and is the student council president with a sharp mind and good behavior. He is calm, responsible, and proactive, but he is also a genuine honor student who is serious and does not compromise. His code name in the Phantom Thieves is "Queen". Futaba Sakura has superhuman calculation abilities and genius hacking skills, but she is originally extremely bad at communication, and is currently a recluse due to a certain incident. Her code name in the Phantom Thieves is "Navi". Haru Okumura is a third-year student at Shujin Academy High School, and is the daughter of the president of a major restaurant manufacturer. She grew up in a wealthy family and appears elegant and naive, but on the other hand, she is very observant of others. His code name in the Phantom Thieves is "Noir."

■Subtitle

The TV special is subtitled "Persona 5 the Animation Dark Sun..." and was aired on December 31, 2018. The episode depicts the new challenges and deepening story of the Phantom Thieves.

■ Related works

"Persona 5 the Animation Dark Sun" is a related work to "PERSONA 5 the Animation Special Part 1 -Dark Sun...-" and "PERSONA 5 the Animation". While these works are based on the worldview of the original game, they each depict the activities of the Phantom Thieves from different perspectives.

■ Theme songs and music

The opening theme is "Dark Sun...", with lyrics by Benjamin Franklin, composition and arrangement by Meguro Masashi, and singing by Lyn. The ending theme is "Autonomy", also with lyrics by Benjamin Franklin, composition and arrangement by Meguro Masashi, and singing by Lyn. The insert songs are "IT'S TOO LATE", "Wake Up, Get Up, Get Out There", and "Rivers in the Desert", all with lyrics by Benjamin Franklin, composition and arrangement by Meguro Masashi, and singing by Lyn. These songs play an important role in enhancing the atmosphere of the story and eliciting the emotions of the viewer.

■ Evaluation and recommendation

"Persona 5 The Animation Dark Sun" is a must-see for fans of the original game. While faithfully recreating the worldview of the original work, this work pursues the unique expression of anime, depicting the new challenges of the Phantom Thieves and the deepening story. In particular, the story that begins with the news of Ren Amamiya's suicide leaves a strong impact on viewers and provides a new perspective on the activities of the Phantom Thieves. In addition, the performances by the luxurious voice actors bring out the individuality of the characters and add depth to the story. Furthermore, the music by Shoji Meguro plays an important role in enhancing the atmosphere of the story and eliciting the emotions of the viewer.

This work is also recommended for those who have not played the original game. You can experience the charm of a juvenile RPG and the grandeur of a picaresque novel. It also depicts various themes such as character growth, friendship, and messages to society, and is deeply moving. In particular, the backstories and personalities of each member of the Phantom Thieves are depicted, allowing you to feel their growth and bonds.

Furthermore, this work has been praised for its portrayal of social issues and the growth of young people. Through the activities of the Phantom Thieves, it appeals to the importance of correcting social distortions and injustices. It also conveys many messages to the viewer, depicting the growth, friendship, and self-actualization of young people. These themes are still very important in modern society and resonate with many people.

Overall, Persona 5 The Animation: Dark Sun is a must-watch not only for fans of the original game, but also for those who enjoy juvenile RPGs and picaresque romance, as well as those interested in social issues and youth development. This work faithfully reproduces the worldview of the original while pursuing the unique expression of anime, and is sure to leave viewers with strong emotions and empathy.

■Detailed information and recommendations

While Persona 5 The Animation Dark Sun is based on the episodes of the original game, it depicts the activities of the Phantom Thieves from a new perspective. In particular, the storyline that begins with the news of Amamiya Ren's suicide leaves a strong impact on viewers and offers a new perspective on the activities of the Phantom Thieves. In addition, the performances by the stellar voice actors bring out the individuality of the characters and add depth to the story. Furthermore, the music by Meguro Shoji plays an important role in enhancing the atmosphere of the story and evoking the emotions of the viewer.

This work is also recommended for those who have not played the original game. You can experience the charm of a juvenile RPG and the grandeur of a picaresque novel. It also depicts various themes such as character growth, friendship, and messages to society, and is deeply moving. In particular, the backstories and personalities of each member of the Phantom Thieves are depicted, allowing you to feel their growth and bonds.

Furthermore, this work has been praised for its portrayal of social issues and the growth of young people. Through the activities of the Phantom Thieves, it appeals to the importance of correcting social distortions and injustices. It also conveys many messages to the viewer, depicting the growth, friendship, and self-actualization of young people. These themes are still very important in modern society and resonate with many people.

Overall, Persona 5 The Animation: Dark Sun is a must-watch not only for fans of the original game, but also for those who enjoy juvenile RPGs and picaresque romance, as well as those interested in social issues and youth development. This work faithfully reproduces the worldview of the original while pursuing the unique expression of anime, and is sure to leave viewers with strong emotions and empathy.

When watching this film, please pay attention to the following points:

• The story begins with the news of Ren Amamiya's suicide and the subsequent developments
• The Phantom Thieves' New Target and Their Infiltration of the Palace
• Characters' personalities and acting by a stellar cast of voice actors
• Masashi Meguro's music and its influence on the story
• Themes depicting social issues and youth development

By paying attention to these points, you will be able to understand and enjoy the appeal of "Persona 5 The Animation Dark Sun" more deeply. Also, after watching this work, you may become interested in the original game and other related works. Please try experiencing the new challenge of the Phantom Thieves and the deepening story.