A thorough analysis of the deep appeal and emotion of PERSONA5 the Animation Special Part 2 -Stars and Ours-

Overall review and recommendation of PERSONA5 the Animation Special Part 2 -Stars and Ours-

Overview

"PERSONA5 the Animation Special Part 2 -Stars and Ours-" is a 60-minute TV special that aired on TOKYO MX and BS11 on March 23, 2019. This work is a special episode of the anime series based on ATLUS's hugely popular juvenile RPG "Persona 5" and was produced by A-1 Pictures. It is directed by Ishihama Masashi, with a story concept by Hashino Katsura, series composition by Inotsume Shinichi, and music by Meguro Masashi.

■ Story

The Phantom Thieves succeed in reforming Shido Masayoshi, the politician who is the mastermind behind all of this. However, the public reaction is not what they had imagined. In order to right the distortions in the human world and to uphold the justice they believe in, Amamiya Ren and his friends set out on their final battle as the Phantom Thieves of Hearts. This second part of the special depicts the members of the Phantom Thieves as they struggle towards the final battle while facing their own beliefs.

■ Characters

A wide variety of characters appear in "PERSONA 5 the Animation," each with their own unique background and growth. The main characters are introduced below.

Ren Amemiya (CV: Jun Fukuyama)

Ren is a second-year high school student who moved to Tokyo in the spring and transferred to Shujin Academy, a private high school. Due to a certain incident, he awakens as a "Persona" user. His code name in the Phantom Thieves is "Joker." Through his parents' connections, he lives in a rundown coffee shop and begins the life of a student in the city. Ren demonstrates leadership skills and overcomes difficulties together with his friends.

Ryuji Sakamoto (voiced by Mamoru Miyano)

A second-year student at Shujin Academy, Ryuji is a passionate and active man, but he is also known for his violent behavior and speech, making him a notorious "problem child" at school and standing out from the crowd. His code name in the Phantom Thieves is "Skull." Ryuji and Ren are key members of the Phantom Thieves, and they inspire each other.

An Takamaki (CV: Nana Mizuki)

She is a beautiful second-year student at Shujin Academy High School who is quarter American. She has a cheerful and honest personality, but her very conspicuous appearance makes her feel isolated and unable to fit in with the people around her. Because of this, she cherishes her only best friend who attends the same high school very much. Her code name in the Phantom Thieves is "Panther." Making the most of her beauty and fighting ability, Anzu plays an important role as a member of the Phantom Thieves.

Morgana (CV: Ikue Otani)

Morgana is a black cat whose existence is shrouded in mystery. After Ren accidentally rescues him after getting lost in another world, he ends up living with Ren and sharing his food and sleeping quarters. Although he talks nasty things about his friends, he actually cares about his friends. His code name in the Phantom Thieves is "Mona." As the navigator for the Phantom Thieves, Morgana guides his companions.

Yusuke Kitagawa (voiced by Tomokazu Sugita)

He is a scholarship student in the art course at Tokyo Metropolitan Kousei High School. He is a beautiful boy who catches everyone's attention, but his unique sensibility sometimes gives him the impression of being otherworldly. He was orphaned at a young age when his mother died young, but his talent for art was recognized and he lives as a live-in apprentice under the master of Japanese painting, Madarame. His code name with the Phantom Thieves is "Fox." Yusuke uses his artistic talent to contribute to the Phantom Thieves' battles.

Makoto Niijima (CV: Rina Sato)

A third-year student at Shujin Academy, he is the student council president with a sharp mind and good behavior. He is calm, collected, and responsible, but he is also earnest and unwilling to compromise, making him a true honor student. His code name with the Phantom Thieves is "Queen." Makoto uses his knowledge and strategy to plan the Phantom Thieves' operations.

Futaba Sakura (CV: Aoi Yuki)

Although she has superhuman calculation abilities and genius hacking skills, she is not only extremely bad at communicating, but has also become a recluse due to a certain incident. Although she is a first-year high school student, she has not attended school since being considered a middle school graduate. Her code name with the Phantom Thieves is "Navi." Futaba uses her technical skills to gather information and support the Phantom Thieves.

Haru Okumura (CV: Haruka Tomatsu)

A third-year student at Shujin Academy High School, Haru is the daughter of the president of a major restaurant manufacturer. She comes from a wealthy family and appears elegant and naive, but on the other hand, she has a keen eye for people. While she can easily interact with anyone, she also tends to avoid deep connections with others. Her code name with the Phantom Thieves is "Noir." Haru makes the most of her sociability and fighting ability as a member of the Phantom Thieves.

■ Production and direction

"PERSONA5 the Animation Special Part 2 -Stars and Ours-" faithfully reproduces the epic story of the original game while drawing viewers in with the production and visual beauty that only anime can offer. Director Masashi Ishihama carefully depicts the emotions and growth of the characters without compromising the atmosphere of the original. In addition, thanks to the production skills of A-1 Pictures, the depiction of the battle scenes and otherworldly worlds is extremely vivid and powerful.

■Music

The music is by Meguro Masashi, who has re-arranged the music from the original game to suit the anime. The opening theme "Dark Sun..." is sung by Lyn, with lyrics by Benjamin Franklin and music composed and arranged by Meguro Masashi, and excites the adventure and fighting spirit of the Phantom Thieves. The ending themes "Life Will Change" and "Wake Up, Get Up, Get Out There" are used, symbolizing the development of the story and the growth of the characters. These songs are important elements that bring out the emotions of the viewer.

■ Evaluation and recommendation

"PERSONA5 the Animation Special Part 2 -Stars and Ours-" is a work that can be highly recommended not only to fans of the original game, but also to anime fans. In particular, the character growth and deep bonds, as well as the epic story, are appealing. The members of the Phantom Thieves face their own beliefs as they take on the final battle in a moving and deeply impactful way. In addition, A-1 Pictures' beautiful visuals and Meguro Masashi's music further enhance the story.

This work brings out the best in a juvenile RPG with themes of youth, justice, and friendship. Through the adventures and growth of the Phantom Thieves, viewers will be forced to reflect on their own beliefs and values. In particular, the tension and emotion leading up to the final battle will leave a strong impact on viewers.

Moreover, this special second part is positioned as the culmination of the entire series, providing a good opportunity to look back on the journey of the Phantom Thieves. It is a must-see for those who have played the original game and those who are experiencing this world for the first time. "PERSONA 5 the Animation Special Part 2 -Stars and Ours-" provides viewers with excitement and emotion, depicting a memorable story.

■ Related works

You can enjoy the story more deeply by watching "PERSONA 5 the Animation Special Part 2 -Stars and Ours-" together with the following related works.

• PERSONA5 the Animation Special Part 1
• PERSONA5 the Animation series, all episodes

By watching these films in order, you can gain a deeper understanding of the adventures and growth of the Phantom Thieves and get a full picture of the story. You can also learn more about the background and character settings by playing the original Persona 5 game.

Conclusion

"PERSONA5 the Animation Special Part 2 -Stars and Ours-" is a wonderful work that maximizes the appeal of the original game and draws viewers in with the production and visual beauty that only anime can offer. The growth and bonds of the characters, as well as the epic story, provide viewers with deep emotion and excitement. This is a work that can be highly recommended not only to fans of the original game, but also to anime fans, and is a work that you should definitely watch.