Persona 4: The Animation - episode 1
Oct. 7th, 2011 12:19 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
rose_of_painThe Persona 4 anime premiered today and was quite pleasantly surprised to see that its being streamed by Anime News Network, which means we get subs right away and nice quality too.
So far it was pretty good. It kept a lot of the game elements in it which I really liked. Though not much of the story has happened so far so can't say for sure yet if its going to be good or not. I'm a little nervous just 'cause the last time I watched a game-based anime that started out true to the game..and then went REALLY downhill (fucking Togainu no Chi anime *twitchtwitch*) so REALLY hoping that won't happen with this one.
But yeah I think one can watch the anime without having ever played the game and still enjoy it. Even though I think its still better to play the game just 'cause you do get a different perspective with the anime. As now its more of a 3rd POV instead of the more 1st POV you get from playing as Souji instead of just watching him like you do with the anime. But for those who don't plan to play the game, the anime does offer a nice way of still checking it out.
Anywho, going to go into a pretty length full review of the episode 'cause I got a lot to say about it as compared to the game and all. Persona 4 is my 2nd favorite game of all time (1st being FFVII of course) and actually managed to push Tales of Symphonia down to 3 which was kinda a big deal to me as ToS has been 2nd for a loooong time. But yeah, P4 is a fandom that I'm actually still quite active in despite the fact I don't talk about it much.
Episode started right off exactly like the game does, with the Velvet Room limo scene which had me squeeing right off the back. I didn't think they would include Igor in the series since he only interacts with the player in the Persona games and I figured the anime would probably take away a lot of the game elements like most game-based anime do. Well, guess not this one! And I loved the fact that they didn't show Souji yet and instead had Igor directed at the viewer so you get a little of that 1st person POV even if its only for a short time. Then Souji wakes up on the train and aghaidahgdaiafdi weirded me out a little to hear him talk at first. lol I mean more than just the occasional grunt and "Persona!" XD. But I'm sure I'll get used to that. After all I'm a big fan of Namikawa Daisuke.
I'm glad to see they used the original theme for the opening music! I thought it was going to be a new song from the trailers and talk I heard. So yay! Love the style of the opening too though curious if it will change next episode since this may have been just for episode one. VERY curious to see if it'll be like the game opening or not.
I do have one big complaint about the anime though. The protagonist's name. Narukami Yu. WTF. Why did they change it? I thought the official name was Seta Souji. Like I know the game itself doesn't have a name but everyone always uses the manga names like with P3 and I thought it was in fact Souji in that. I mean why change it when the ENTIRE FANDOM has been using that name for YEARS now?! I don't think I'll ever get used to this. I know its also that name for the P4 fighting game too and I just don't get it. T_T So far it doesn't seem to have changed the fandom much though as I still see all the fans still call him Souji and still use that name in fics but I'm going to cry a little inside the day I see someone use Yu instead. I mean maybe I can try to learn to like it if this is the name they have wanted to use but I just don't get why and am really curious if there's any real reason behind it. I dunno. I just always liked the nice sound to the name Seta Souji and this name just isn't as nice. I think my ears are just going to pretend I don't hear this new name every time it comes up. lol
Its also going to take some time getting used to Teddie's Japanese voice 'cause I've never been a fan of it. Its really annoying. lol The English one is so much better. And of course will have to get used to seeing him being called Kumo too since even the fanfics pick the name Teddie normally. But yeah, this is one of the VERY FEW times I actually like an English dub cast better. I mean I listened to clips on youtube of the game before so this isn't anything new to me. Really Teddie/Kumo's is the only one I really don't like. The others aren't bad but I still kinda prefer the English voices as I think some of them suit the characters better (mainly Yosuke's).
The animation itself is really nice! Hope that keeps true the whole series. Granted I don't like the whole Persona style of having the chin and neck area a darker shade than the rest of the head. I forgot they do that in the game in the artwork but I guess its 'cause now I'm seeing it more often (since its not really on the in-game figures at all) and seeing it while they're moving, its more noticeable. Kinda annoying but I'm sure I'll get used to it. Its just a personal preference that I don't really like that type of shading. Makes me keep thinking my screen's colors are off or something. lol
But oh man I LOVELOVELOOOOOOVE the fact they kept so many of the game elements in! The calender! Oh my god I do hope that stays within it. Granted I bet people who haven't played the game might find it annoying lol but ohhhhh so nice to see it there! ^.^ And the eye scene-cut in the battle! Just like the game. ^^ Made me very happy! Even though it was interesting to see that they only had Izanagi fighting and made it more like Souji's movements become Izanagi's. Will be curious to see if they still have the characters fight as well any or if they'll just have it Persona-based in the fights. And the stats during the eye-catch! XD I bet they'll gradually go up as the story progresses. lol
Also found it interesting how they combined the first two adventures into the TV into one. I mean it does make sense so they can save on time some. But also odd to see Chie there when Souji summons Izanagi and to have Teddie show up in the noose room. Also Chie getting licked bby the tongue-persona? LULZ Bet that was some fanboy's dream come true. XD Considering I've seen fanart and fics involving those tongues...lolololol. But wondering how they'll do the next part since a lot of that didn't originally happen til later. And I'm worried they might go straight to Yosuke's shadow but like...that wouldn't work yet 'cause Saki is still alive and they haven't really shown the rest of the dynamics between her and Yosuke yet and all that jazz. I mean I know they want to pick the pace up a little but it'd be really missing quite a bit without that. But I'll wait to see what they'll do.
But another thing that caught my attention was the fact that Souji has his uniform buttoned up 'cause in the game, he has it open all the time. So found that a bit unusual. But also really liked how they actually showed a little bit of his past before Inaba (even if it was pretty brief) I'm wondering if we'll get more into the actual life of Souji in this. And then during the first fight with him summoning Izanagi and him gradually opening up his jacket...I was like "I SEE WHAT THEY DID THERE!" XD Clever. 'Cause its like they had Souji all kinda shy and polite at the beginning when his jacket was buttoned up, obviously not quite ready for his new surroundings, a bit unsure of himself. But when he gets his Persona powers, the jacket comes open and THAT SMIRK! He suddenly then becomes more of the confident and calm Souji we are all used to. Or really that the fandom makes him out to be. 'Cause all things considered, in the game Souji is more of what the player wants him to be and can be changed slightly depending on what choices you decide to go with. But I know I at least always go the impression that he was a rather confident and intelligent character, a little on the suave side but also a little of the "Mr Perfect" type character (like with how Junpei even snidely calls Minato in P3). But I really hope now that we get to see a little more of Souji actually talk and such, that perhaps we'll see a little more vulnerability that I've seen in a lot of fics and all. I mean really curious to see how they will deal with him since he's a character that can go so many different directions depending on how you want to perceive him. And I've read so many fanfics dealing with this that it will be interesting to see what they actually do with it now that there's more freedom with his personality since he's no longer just "Protagonist". Though I still won't call him "Yu". XD
...if that makes any sense. lol I dunno. Souji is such a hard character to really get. I mean like I understand him and all but like I have such a hard time writing him. I don't think I could ever RP him. Which is why in the few P4 RPs I've done, I've always voted for the other person to play Souji lol Just 'cause I can't really think as if I was him despite the fact that you play as him in the game. I dunno. I'm much better at the other characters. Even when I wrote my P4 fic, it was kinda challenging to do the Souji bits. I mean I did get the hang of it but I'm still not sure if I got his character right. I kinda just went with my own personal view of him (granted he wasn't the focus of the fic, Yosuke was but there was still plenty of Souji in it too). So yeah, really curious and kinda excited to see how it goes. Kinda hoping they don't make him too perfect though. And if they do, that there is at least some note of it. Or if they'll give him a little more of at the Jerk!Souji that you can make him go (doubt they'll do that though, lol I never did in the game even if it was REALLY tempting sometimes XD).
Also curious to see how they'll do the Social Links. If they'll put any of those stories in or just focus on the main plot. Or do little bits of all of them are just do some and forget the others. Like maybe only do the main cast and not so much on the NPCs. And if they decided to have Souji date any of the girls or not. I have a feeling he won't though. That the might not go with any of the date directions and make this more generic to the story so that it won't make any of the pairings "official" or anything. At least I think I'd prefer if it goes that way. Especially as to be honest, of all the date scenes I've done and watched on youtube, I never really felt like Souji was truly attached to any of the girls. More like he was just fooling around. Which is why I've often enjoyed the whole playboy take people have done on him in fics. XD Though I would love to see of the Ai scenes just 'cause I love how you try to piss off and she only like you more. lol But I also could see them taking her out completely since she's not really needed for the plot. At all. XD
But enough rambling! I shall wait anxiously for next week!
~Lyn
So far it was pretty good. It kept a lot of the game elements in it which I really liked. Though not much of the story has happened so far so can't say for sure yet if its going to be good or not. I'm a little nervous just 'cause the last time I watched a game-based anime that started out true to the game..and then went REALLY downhill (fucking Togainu no Chi anime *twitchtwitch*) so REALLY hoping that won't happen with this one.
But yeah I think one can watch the anime without having ever played the game and still enjoy it. Even though I think its still better to play the game just 'cause you do get a different perspective with the anime. As now its more of a 3rd POV instead of the more 1st POV you get from playing as Souji instead of just watching him like you do with the anime. But for those who don't plan to play the game, the anime does offer a nice way of still checking it out.
Anywho, going to go into a pretty length full review of the episode 'cause I got a lot to say about it as compared to the game and all. Persona 4 is my 2nd favorite game of all time (1st being FFVII of course) and actually managed to push Tales of Symphonia down to 3 which was kinda a big deal to me as ToS has been 2nd for a loooong time. But yeah, P4 is a fandom that I'm actually still quite active in despite the fact I don't talk about it much.
Episode started right off exactly like the game does, with the Velvet Room limo scene which had me squeeing right off the back. I didn't think they would include Igor in the series since he only interacts with the player in the Persona games and I figured the anime would probably take away a lot of the game elements like most game-based anime do. Well, guess not this one! And I loved the fact that they didn't show Souji yet and instead had Igor directed at the viewer so you get a little of that 1st person POV even if its only for a short time. Then Souji wakes up on the train and aghaidahgdaiafdi weirded me out a little to hear him talk at first. lol I mean more than just the occasional grunt and "Persona!" XD. But I'm sure I'll get used to that. After all I'm a big fan of Namikawa Daisuke.
I'm glad to see they used the original theme for the opening music! I thought it was going to be a new song from the trailers and talk I heard. So yay! Love the style of the opening too though curious if it will change next episode since this may have been just for episode one. VERY curious to see if it'll be like the game opening or not.
I do have one big complaint about the anime though. The protagonist's name. Narukami Yu. WTF. Why did they change it? I thought the official name was Seta Souji. Like I know the game itself doesn't have a name but everyone always uses the manga names like with P3 and I thought it was in fact Souji in that. I mean why change it when the ENTIRE FANDOM has been using that name for YEARS now?! I don't think I'll ever get used to this. I know its also that name for the P4 fighting game too and I just don't get it. T_T So far it doesn't seem to have changed the fandom much though as I still see all the fans still call him Souji and still use that name in fics but I'm going to cry a little inside the day I see someone use Yu instead. I mean maybe I can try to learn to like it if this is the name they have wanted to use but I just don't get why and am really curious if there's any real reason behind it. I dunno. I just always liked the nice sound to the name Seta Souji and this name just isn't as nice. I think my ears are just going to pretend I don't hear this new name every time it comes up. lol
Its also going to take some time getting used to Teddie's Japanese voice 'cause I've never been a fan of it. Its really annoying. lol The English one is so much better. And of course will have to get used to seeing him being called Kumo too since even the fanfics pick the name Teddie normally. But yeah, this is one of the VERY FEW times I actually like an English dub cast better. I mean I listened to clips on youtube of the game before so this isn't anything new to me. Really Teddie/Kumo's is the only one I really don't like. The others aren't bad but I still kinda prefer the English voices as I think some of them suit the characters better (mainly Yosuke's).
The animation itself is really nice! Hope that keeps true the whole series. Granted I don't like the whole Persona style of having the chin and neck area a darker shade than the rest of the head. I forgot they do that in the game in the artwork but I guess its 'cause now I'm seeing it more often (since its not really on the in-game figures at all) and seeing it while they're moving, its more noticeable. Kinda annoying but I'm sure I'll get used to it. Its just a personal preference that I don't really like that type of shading. Makes me keep thinking my screen's colors are off or something. lol
But oh man I LOVELOVELOOOOOOVE the fact they kept so many of the game elements in! The calender! Oh my god I do hope that stays within it. Granted I bet people who haven't played the game might find it annoying lol but ohhhhh so nice to see it there! ^.^ And the eye scene-cut in the battle! Just like the game. ^^ Made me very happy! Even though it was interesting to see that they only had Izanagi fighting and made it more like Souji's movements become Izanagi's. Will be curious to see if they still have the characters fight as well any or if they'll just have it Persona-based in the fights. And the stats during the eye-catch! XD I bet they'll gradually go up as the story progresses. lol
Also found it interesting how they combined the first two adventures into the TV into one. I mean it does make sense so they can save on time some. But also odd to see Chie there when Souji summons Izanagi and to have Teddie show up in the noose room. Also Chie getting licked bby the tongue-persona? LULZ Bet that was some fanboy's dream come true. XD Considering I've seen fanart and fics involving those tongues...lolololol. But wondering how they'll do the next part since a lot of that didn't originally happen til later. And I'm worried they might go straight to Yosuke's shadow but like...that wouldn't work yet 'cause Saki is still alive and they haven't really shown the rest of the dynamics between her and Yosuke yet and all that jazz. I mean I know they want to pick the pace up a little but it'd be really missing quite a bit without that. But I'll wait to see what they'll do.
But another thing that caught my attention was the fact that Souji has his uniform buttoned up 'cause in the game, he has it open all the time. So found that a bit unusual. But also really liked how they actually showed a little bit of his past before Inaba (even if it was pretty brief) I'm wondering if we'll get more into the actual life of Souji in this. And then during the first fight with him summoning Izanagi and him gradually opening up his jacket...I was like "I SEE WHAT THEY DID THERE!" XD Clever. 'Cause its like they had Souji all kinda shy and polite at the beginning when his jacket was buttoned up, obviously not quite ready for his new surroundings, a bit unsure of himself. But when he gets his Persona powers, the jacket comes open and THAT SMIRK! He suddenly then becomes more of the confident and calm Souji we are all used to. Or really that the fandom makes him out to be. 'Cause all things considered, in the game Souji is more of what the player wants him to be and can be changed slightly depending on what choices you decide to go with. But I know I at least always go the impression that he was a rather confident and intelligent character, a little on the suave side but also a little of the "Mr Perfect" type character (like with how Junpei even snidely calls Minato in P3). But I really hope now that we get to see a little more of Souji actually talk and such, that perhaps we'll see a little more vulnerability that I've seen in a lot of fics and all. I mean really curious to see how they will deal with him since he's a character that can go so many different directions depending on how you want to perceive him. And I've read so many fanfics dealing with this that it will be interesting to see what they actually do with it now that there's more freedom with his personality since he's no longer just "Protagonist". Though I still won't call him "Yu". XD
...if that makes any sense. lol I dunno. Souji is such a hard character to really get. I mean like I understand him and all but like I have such a hard time writing him. I don't think I could ever RP him. Which is why in the few P4 RPs I've done, I've always voted for the other person to play Souji lol Just 'cause I can't really think as if I was him despite the fact that you play as him in the game. I dunno. I'm much better at the other characters. Even when I wrote my P4 fic, it was kinda challenging to do the Souji bits. I mean I did get the hang of it but I'm still not sure if I got his character right. I kinda just went with my own personal view of him (granted he wasn't the focus of the fic, Yosuke was but there was still plenty of Souji in it too). So yeah, really curious and kinda excited to see how it goes. Kinda hoping they don't make him too perfect though. And if they do, that there is at least some note of it. Or if they'll give him a little more of at the Jerk!Souji that you can make him go (doubt they'll do that though, lol I never did in the game even if it was REALLY tempting sometimes XD).
Also curious to see how they'll do the Social Links. If they'll put any of those stories in or just focus on the main plot. Or do little bits of all of them are just do some and forget the others. Like maybe only do the main cast and not so much on the NPCs. And if they decided to have Souji date any of the girls or not. I have a feeling he won't though. That the might not go with any of the date directions and make this more generic to the story so that it won't make any of the pairings "official" or anything. At least I think I'd prefer if it goes that way. Especially as to be honest, of all the date scenes I've done and watched on youtube, I never really felt like Souji was truly attached to any of the girls. More like he was just fooling around. Which is why I've often enjoyed the whole playboy take people have done on him in fics. XD Though I would love to see of the Ai scenes just 'cause I love how you try to piss off and she only like you more. lol But I also could see them taking her out completely since she's not really needed for the plot. At all. XD
But enough rambling! I shall wait anxiously for next week!
~Lyn
