#md3 watches persona 5 the animation

[mysticdragon3md3]

One of the best parts of P5A ep5 was hearing Ryuji say “RenRen” again.  ^-^

[mysticdragon3md3]

spoilertastic reactions to P5A ep3

So we’re going with family names, huh?  *bitter sigh*  Fine...!  But I expect that to eventually change, you two!

Ryuji, don’t make your RenRen jealous.  (Let me stretch interpretations for my OTP, okay!)

Obligatory AkiRyu screengrabs:

Morgana Cat!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I really like how the changes from the game's storyline efficiently condenses the story.  That'll come in handy when they need more time to establish character tones or cram in everyone's Confidant routes, later in the series.  And yet, it doesn’t feel choppy anymore.  That seemed to stop after episode 1.  I can see this being much easier for a Persona-newbie to follow, than the Persona 4 anime, which got me completely lost.  x_x;

I liked how Ryuji directly interacted with Shiho.  Since the anime skipped a lot of the game's long section of showing Ryuji's concern for the prisoners in the Palace, which went a long way towards his protective characterization, it's nice to get these replacement instances of portraying his concern for other people.  Also, he knows best about Kamoshida getting worse while everyone is working towards Nationals.  It’s kind of odd that the game didn’t have them interact before.  

And again, the camera closes in on subtle eye movements to convey emotions and important points.  

OMG Kamoshida's shit lost Ann's job to Mika?!  >O<!!!!!!!!!!!  These changes the anime makes to condense the story are really effective.  ^_^  I hate Kamoshida even more, if that's possible.

Again, with the shifting facial/eye expressions replacing actual dialogue scenes, that were in the game.  In the game, Ann directly apologized for misplacing her anger onto Akira/Ren. In episode 3, instead, it’s all in facial expressions.  It's really efficient to convey characters’ emotions with this direction in the anime.  But it's kind of ironic, because it used to be that if an anime wanted to save budget, they'd put in a lot of voice acting vs drawing more movements.  But this anime is the other way around.  ^_~    

"But they don't know anything."  Right when Ann said this, she gets reflected in Akira's glasses and his head slumps down slightly, like Ann's situation reminds him of how no one would believe him when he was arrested.  In fact, it very immediately shows the similarity between the sad expression in Ren's eye and the sad expression on Ann's face.  That shift in lenses was just like when the glare came off Ren's glasses after Kawakami was talking to him about how everyone was ostracizing him over rumors, but then Ren's glasses suddenly shifted to clear and showing his eyes, when Kawakami mentioned "Sakamoto" to start talking badly about him.  I wonder if this lense glare/reflection shifting is going to happen with every Confidant, to show their similarities with Ren and Ren’s sympathies towards them.  It would build up Ren's character development and rapport with the Confidants well.  ^_^  

And once again, some key dialogue from earlier gets repeated. 

 In episode 2, Ryuji’s lines “You can’t just walk away when someone’s in trouble, right?...How is that wrong?” paralleled Arsene’s question “Simply going to watch? Wouldst thou forsake him?...Was your choice back then a mistake?” to Ren during his Awakening, to reaffirm his resolve.  It may seem obvious to emphasize key themes by repeating virtually identical dialogue across characters/scenes, but I like how such a clear emphasis on what’s important to the story, also says what’s important to Ren and what created the bond with his friends.  

Yup.  Not a cat.  LOL  

"MonaMona"  ^_________^  (I kind of miss the portrait icons, but this is ok.)

So the director said in an interview that there would be a surprise in this series, implying something different from the game's storyline.  All this time I was afraid the change would be Akechi not getting his game ending, since I dislike Akechi.  But what if the change is something nice, like characters who were originally intended to join the Phantom Thieves, but got cut from the game, getting to join them?  Hifumi was originally supposed to be Queen!  O.o  When I first went through the game, I wanted Mishima to join the Thieves.  I wonder if he'll get to in the anime.  *.*  ...Probably not though.  A lot of the plot depends on his Phan-site, and he only did that because it was the only thing he could do to help, since he didn't get a Persona.  

No, Morgana.  You are an awesome cat.  ^___^  

Don't give your name, Ren!  LOL  And Ryuji is the one who corrects him.  LOL  I don't want to hear anymore crap about how "Ryuji is stupid".  ^o^

I like how Ren is always saying something to give everyone Strength.  

Look at Morgana's and Ren's smirks when Ann Awakens.  ^o^!  It’s like Ren is figuring out his place/role to give others Strength and he’s becoming proud of it.  And not just that, but he’s also proud of his friends finding Strength to get out of the same Weaknesses that he used to be in.  

Yes!  Ann being a cool dominatrix!  Kamoshida and his goons need to suffer!!!!!!  

And I like that they directly referenced "Cougars".  Look at Morgana’s eye expressions!  LOL

Morgana's slingshot!  ^o^

I like how in addition to Ren encouraging his friends' Strength, he also protects them during the fight.  

Ryuji was right about Ren being different in the Metaverse.  He has to wait until he gets there, for him to actually say the things that he feels and act on that protective nature of his that he seems to have been doubting ever since his arrest.  (Why else would he need both Arsene and Ryuji to reaffirm that his impulse to protect others wasn’t wrong?)  Like what he should have said to Ann in that cafe, while she was crying for what to do.  I look forward to the series progressing and the emergence of smirky, sassy Akira, who can start to say these things and be confident in himself, outside of the Metaverse.  It occurs to me that meeting Ryuji was Ren’s reaffirmation that he wasn’t wrong, while helping Ann release her unrestrained self is kind of what Ren also needs to do.  I guess each Confidant represents a part of character Growth that Ren needs.  Ryuji represents “protect people regardless of the consequences to yourself”, and Ann reflects “don’t restrain/repress yourself”.  So I guess the story is kind of an indirect character arc for him, reflected through the friends he gains.  

Alright.  That's a MUCH better transition for the All-Out Attack!  So much better than ep2!  ;u;  And I like the group ending finale too.  ^__^  

It occurs to me that Ryuji is always the one offering drinks.  His mom sure raised him to be polite.  O_o  

“The four of us...” = “Yon-nin”.

My favorite "yon-nin"!  ^u^  <3 <3 <3 <3

Before this series was released, I had watched the Persona 5 Daybreakers OAV and some of the pacing's lag during the fight scene made me vent out a post full of all my fears.  Fears that I did not want to come true when the anime series production had finished, but I just had to get out of my system. And there was no way to know whether it’d come true or not, until the series premier.  Nothing to do but whine and cry out in fear.  I'm so relived now, that each episode of this series so far has given me primarily positive things to say---each and every episode.  ;u;  I'm so happy to be wrong!  ;U;  That’s ALL I want!  I just want to be wrong, when I have nothing but worries!  ;u;  After years and years of anime adaptations screwing up every time they deviated from the source material, anime production is finally getting to that point where it really adds to the manga or videogame, more than dilutes.  ;u;!  

[mysticdragon3md3]

reactions to P5A ep9

I'm skipping ahead a few episodes because Tumblr says ep9 is very AkiRyu heavy.  ;u;  

Yawning Morgo!  ^u^

Oh, so that's why the boys were gritting their teeth.  I could understand Ren's just blushing expression when I saw it on Tumblr.  But I guess Ryuji and Yusuke had to grit their teeth to ignore hearing Ann bathe.  But seriously guys...How closely are you listening to hear another person bathe???  It's not like there was no one else in the bathhouse, so it couldn't have been that quiet.  And maybe it's just my fujoshi brain stuck on AkiRyu, but when Ryuji bumped Ren and Ren said "Don't touch me", my rotten brain was like "Oh? What'll happen if Ryuji touches Ren while he's turned on?"  LOL  Omg I'm such a fujoshi... x_x;  

Morgana sleeps in the school garden! ^o^

These DORKS.  Ren hiding his intrest in the maid and then getting all excited Takemi called him an "adult"...  Omg...It was so easy in-game for any player to project less dorky reactions onto the protagonist.  But this anime just has to go with all this "cliche highschool boy shenanigans" characterization.  ^^;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;  And then Ren's identity lie was "I'm a dad"?...OMG   I just hope this anime series doesn't have Ren date all the girls.  Can't we just have an anime adaptation where the protagonist focuses on being a Phantom Thief and doesn't date anyone, so all his friends stay on equal footing?  ;o;?  

Despite all the dorkiness, I think Ryuji redeemed himself when he admitted in the chat that he ran away from Operation Maid Watch because he "can't do bad things".  He's just too much of a good boy.  ^___^

Nakaoka is a "troublemaker" to Yamauchi???  What?  But he's under their thumb...  o_o?

In the game, I liked that all the spying plans and motivation for investigating potential problems for the re-formed track team were Ryuji's ideas.  It made him seem really clever, and maybe even suited to investigation skills.  But in the anime it was all Ren's idea and motivation, which was really sweet because it portrayed Ren as very concerned for Ryuji.  He even said in that scene before spying on the new track advisor, that he just didn't want to see Ryuji "uncharacteristically sad".  ;u;  Renren!!!!!  

It's weird that they cut out the voice recording incriminating Yamauchi's ulterior motives.  But I guess it must have been an important character moment to show Ryuji trusting Ren as strongly as Ren was concerned for Ryuji (being troubled by the track team).  ;u; 

As in the game, this confrontation scene between Ryuji and the track team, reminded me of all the cool stuff Ryuji said he believes in.  I think maybe that was the time I realized he was such a good guy.  I mean, he had been compassionate and comfortably warm before, but this scene when he advises the track members to live for themselves and their own integrity, and not be afraid of having a place to belong, really showed how spiritually Strong Ryuji is.  ^___^  

I'm so glad the former coach is returning.   I didn't realize until recently that he probably stood up for Ryuji and that was why Kamoshida got him fired.  So I'm curious---and I just like seeing nice characters around.  Even if it'll just be the background.  

[mysticdragon3md3]

reactions to P5Anime ep1

WAIT A SEC! I CAN WATCH PERSONA 5 THE ANIMATION EPISODE 1 ON CRUNCHYROLL WITHOUT A PREMIUM MEMBERSHIP?!?!?!  *O*!!!  It just aired today/yesterdayJST!  I thought I had to wait a week for the free viewing!  ;U;  

The direction is really choppy though.  But it can't be helped, with budget restrictions and probably the assumption that this series is for an audience that already played the games anyway.  But it's especially choppy between scenes.  There's just no time taken to show the scenes aren't related or are related, and who they're related to, etc.  I wonder if people who haven't seen the game's cutscenes before, would be able to follow along.  When I tried to watch Persona 4 Golden the Animation, I was totally lost.  Is that how people would feel watching this without playing the game?  

And I notice all the limited animation where the videogame could afford more motion.  But that's expected.  Still looks pretty.  

They certainly didn't need to waste any resourced writing any new music.  It's ALL the music from the game.  ^u^!  

But wait a sec.  If they didn't explain that Ren was wrongly arrested for doing essentially a good deed, BEFORE the Arsene's Awakening scene, then how is there supposed to be weight to Arsene's question, "Was the decision you made back then wrong?"  Everyone fangirls over how "Akira knew Ryuji for only like 30 minutes, but already he would die for him" (and frankly, I have a soft spot for that angle because Ryuji is best boy), but in reality, the reason Akira/Ren was so resolute to save Ryuji was because Akira/Ren had to re-affirm to himself that saving someone is more important to him than being punished or killed for it.  He had to reaffirm that he would make the same decision as back then.  And that steeled resolve is what solidified Arsene to support Akira/Ren with power.  

I know the majority of my reactions are negative, but I did have a good time with this anime episode.  Aside from my nitpicks, it's good, it's beautiful, it has the original cast, and I'm having a good time.  Rest assured, I spent the entire time watching this episode, clutching a big plushie VERY tightly.  

I love watching Akira/Ren.  I love watching Joker looking cool---SOOOO COOL! He was such a cool, beautiful, smirky sinnamon roll!  The animation on him escaping the casino was the best!  It was so good, I didn’t even mind that they cut out that awesome roll he did on the ground in the game’s cutscene- --the anime episode didn’t even need it, it was already so cool!   I loved hearing him talk and emote.  I loved how the direction implied that the light from the Metaverse app kind of hypnotized Akira/Ren into sleeping and facilitating the meeting with Igor.

I loved watching Ryuji come into the scene in a much more natural way than the game---though only a slight difference, it made a difference that mattered.  I mean, I know Ryuji is impulsive, but what did he think he was going to do, running up to Kamoshida's car in the game?  Warn Ann not to accept Kamoshida's ride?  I think the fact that Kamoshida sped off as soon as he saw Ryuji, even though Ryuji was doing nothing but casually walking, said a lot about the conflict between them.  And that foreshadowing was good.  ^_^  And of course, him telling Akira/Ren to run, while he himself was getting beaten up and while he was saying aloud he didn’t want to die, was just so much more immediate in the anime, and may have better reinforced what a selfless good guy he can be, even towards someone he just met.

I loved how much more natural Ann's introduction scene was.  Because that long time of staring between Ann and Akira/Ren in the game's cutscene was kind of weird.  ^^;  Giving her an action like plucking that flower petal from Akira/Ren's hair and commenting on her thoughts about it, was a much more immediate and interesting characterization for Ann, vs the game's "she's pretty and nice enough to not call you a weirdo for staring".  In the anime's episode one, Ann's introduction scene was more "she's pretty but ALSO sensitive and observant".  Yeah, that's what I got from her calling the rain a shame for pulling all the flower petals off the trees.  In fact, that has implications of Ann's protective aspect, which is a big part of her motivation during the first part of the game.  And this anime conveyed all that in less than a handful of lines.  Impressive.  

And to reiterate a 7:59 PM 4/7/2018 post of mine: I think I like this more subtle close-up of Joker smirking at the end of his Awakening, vs the videogame’s cutscene.  ^.~;  Don’t get me wrong, I love Production I.G., I do prefer that anime studio, and they did have the resources to put a lot more drama into every frame, but...That final reveal of Joker's transformation...?  It looks super cool and everything, and could even be a poster, but...Whose perspective is this supposed to be?  Maybe Kamoshida’s?  But when the anime cutscene ends, the CG cutscene has Joker looking in Ryuji’s direction.  o_o?  It’d be pretty weird for this intimidating look to be towards Ryuji, whom he just rescued.  I like how the anime series’ portrayal more conveys Joker being intoxicated with power, more than intimidating.  That’s the only problem I ever had with that scene from the game.  I’m glad the anime series fixed it.  I hope it also fixes the characterization inconsistencies during the second half of the game.  

[mysticdragon3md3]

Anime News Network posted a non-region-locked 6 minute preview of the Persona 5 anime series (the first 6 minutes of episode 1 at https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2018-03-28/persona-5-anime-episode-1-1st-6-minutes-streamed/.129641), and I just had to take some screengrabs.  ^.^!!!

The changes to the beginning, compared to the game, filled in some explanations, which was nice.  Like, having Crow here initiate Joker’s distraction run and say they’ll meet up later, was a really efficient way to show this was part of a plan.  Also, this whole scene was good foreshadowing.

I also liked the anime showing what Joker did with the suitcase, unlike the game. (I swear, it looked super stylish when he did it.  It just happened so fast that it would have taken forever to get good screengrabs.)

Very stylish.  I’m sure there’s some kind of “satan/cathedral art” allusion here. 

Not gonna lie.  It hurt to watch Akira/Ren get beat up. ;o;!  Get your hands off our sinnamon roll!  (It’s going to take a few more episodes before I switch from Akira to Ren.)

It was really nice that one of the first things Akira/Ren says was to ask if his friends are okay.  Sae said they were, but...refresh my memory: Did she know Akira/Ren and who his group of friends were beforehand?  I can’t remember.  ~_~;  

And I’m sorry, but as long as Jun Fukuyama is also voicing Akira/Ren, I’m always going to compare him to Lelouch.  I really feel like the job he did as Lelouch got him the P5 protagonist role.  They’re just too similar.

Picture source:  https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2018-03-28/persona-5-anime-episode-1-1st-6-minutes-streamed/.129641

[mysticdragon3md3]

md3 watches P5A Dark Sun

(If you like Akechi, don’t read my episode reactions under the cut.)

So finally, we’re at all these scenes that are supposed to give Akechi's backstory and were no doubt the parts that made his fangirls think he's just a "cinnamon roll who did nothing wrong", etc.  But I didn't feel any sympathy for him.  He said at one point during the fight that he was Ren's rival.  And that's what he seems like: the typical anime rival character.  Though truthfully, I've found a lot more of those rivals to be cool, but there have been a good half of them that I still perceive as jerks that I don't really sympathize with.  That latter is Akechi.  So I don't think it's weird to re-live all his "sympathetic" scenes and still not sympathize with him.  

All those scenes did was prove to me, once again, that Ryuji is a much better Man than me and a very good boy.  He was the first one to refute Akechi's own self-deprecations.  He was the first one to call out to Akechi, when he slammed the ship's doors between them.  

Once again, the animation of this series is so minimal that there just isn't enough interesting direction to make up for it.  A-1 Pictures always makes series that are fairly pretty, satisfactory, the normal level.  But sometimes they produce really meh series.  o_o;  We all know they can do good stuff, but when all their series look nice in the stills, then you get to watching and the direction/animation is just blah, it kinda hurts.  x_x  

How long is this?  Holy smack!  This is a 51 minute episode?  I know this is an OAV, but I thought it was being used to cap the series, so it'd be just like an normal series episode length.  o_O

It all gets too real when Shido says, "Then why was I chosen? Why are they surrendering the seat of prime minister to me?  Everyone denies the value of hard work these days.  Instead, they seek to effortlessly gain wealth.  That is why I must reestablish this mighty country.  One that does not waver.  One that others will bow to."  (First, jeeze, he really does just imagine everyone clapping for him whenever he wants.  What a narcissist!)  It's scary because there are real politicians like that.  And talk about projection and blind to your own faults.  He seriously thinks all the answers to his rhetorical questions just now are “because I’m the best”.  They just said a few scenes ago that Shido is advancing in the polls because he sabotaged all his rivals/opponents.  And he was the one turning “mental shutdowns” and “psychotic breakdowns” into a mercenary business to fund his campaign, instead of doing the actual hard work to earn support legally.  And if I have to hear another politician---even a fictional one---say they want to put their country above all others while implying all other countries are inferior, instead of equal---!!!  BLAHRG!!!  Have had too much of that in the real world.  Well, at least in anime and videogames, people like that get defeated in boss battles.  

Morgana’s attack really was framed as hurting Shido a lot.  ^u^   Ryuji got hit! ;O;!!!!!!!!!! The ironic thing is, he's probably the one that can take the most physical damage and still fight.  He’s so reliable.  But I’m glad everyone came to protect him while he was down.  

They left out the teddy bear barrage from Alice's attack.  But I still like how Shido underestimated her, then she got really creepy.  

"Is this all you've got?  Checkmate.  You're not even in my league."  Were those lines in the game too?  I really like them.  ^__^  Really helps out headcanons where Akira becomes a politician in the future.  

Ryuji's big scene!  ^u^  Of course it was better in the game, but I will watch as many versions of this scene as provided!  *o*  

Please don't hit him.  Please don't hit him.  Please don't hit him.  Please don't hit him.  Please don't hit him.  Oh thank the gods, they just yelled at him!  And after he said to Ann, "But your cryin' face aint' so cute," it felt at least a little more justified.  Thank you, director for cutting off their yelling at him too.  This is a better version than the game!  ;U;  

I like that the scene divided the emotional characters from the calmer ones.  While Ann, Haru, and Futaba are crying and yelling at Ryuji, Makoto, Yusuke, Ren, and Morgana are just smiling, happy he's alive and they all can be silly together again.  

I know this ending credits sequence is just a walk cycle and Futaba's posing seems a little odd (or in character?), but I love Morgana hopping up and down throughout it.  ^-^!  And I love seeing all the Phantom Thieves smiling together.  ^-^  

Do all OAVs have after-credits scenes now?  

Another thing that's too real.  Shido confesses and everyone doesn't believe it.  Especially the part where someone in the crowd shouted, "They must have trapped him!"  Ug.  That would totally happen in real life.  And likely already has.  ~_____~;  

8:00 PM 5/25/2019  The end.  For now.  

Got a souvenir. ^_^

[mysticdragon3md3]

late post reactions to P5A ep6

11:21 AM 5/12/2018 Just remembered that a new ep of Persona 5 the Animation was today at 10am.  ep6

Look how mad MOrgana is at Yusuke's "confession"!  LOL

I don't like how Ren seems to snub Ryuji a lot so far in this anime.  

"What do you want to do?"  "There's something I'm curious about."  If the AkiRyu fandom doesn't use these screengrabs for some jokes, I'll be very surprised.  

Morgana and Ryuji are playing shogi together?  ^o^!   Serious closeups on Ryuji and Morgana while they talk about possibly targeting Madarame.  

Hey, that's the restaurant from the game!  I didn't even know it was in Yusuke's route!  

Ryuji is being too straightforward about the Madarame rumors.  Yusuke getting in Ryuji's face was good dramatic blocking, but it started to make me angry at Yusuke.  The direction did everything it could to make us feel Ryuji being intimidated.  Makes me protective over best boy.  I get that the scene wanted to condense all the accusations vs Madarame into a representative, but that kind of hurt.     Later gotta screengrab Ren and Morgana looking into the window they're about to jump down into.  ^.^  

Ryuji got angry when Madarame's shadow said "They need to be broken in..."  And he's so angry he runs in.  This would have more weight if we knew Ryuji was physically abused by his father and had to watch his mother get abused the same way.  

The camera wouldn't show Yusuke's face when Ryuji directly hit the truth.  

I really like this incognito meetup with Nakanohara.  Like they're real con artist pros!  ^o^  

Wow, this Nakanohara guy is really nice.  Worrying about Yusuke and not wanting him to end up like their senpai who suicided.  I don’t remember this compassion in his characterization from the game.  

[mysticdragon3md3]

got lazy watching P5A at air-time after 4/28/2018 ep4

4/28/2018:  Woke up this morning and watched Mother's Basement's video essay saying P5A was pointless.  [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qbzyzRdcLmo] I disagreed, wrote some thoughts, and didn't feel traumatized by a favorite YouTuber dumping on something I’ve been enjoying, because Geoff writes in a way that feels objective and accepting of differing opinions.  ^-^ 

12:31 PM 4/28/2018 As much as I enjoy Geoff losing his mind, ranting over stuff, I still enjoy that his video essays do carry an aspect of objective acceptance of differing opinions.   It occurs to me that Geoff/Mother's Basement feels the way I did when I first watched the Daybreakers OAV.  At the time, I was still so steeped in my attachment and protectiveness towards the actual Persona 5 game, that I could only see the OAV's flaws.  

But by 2 weeks/anime episodes ago, I was already lamenting any criticisms I had against that OAV, because the anime's All-Out Attack sequence was sooooooo bad.  o~o;  I totally agree with Geoff that the All-Out Sequences totally could have been high-quality stock footage that they just re-use every episode.  It could have been like any Toei anime.  It works!  Though it's repetitive, it looks nice every time and saves more animation budget/time for animating actual new scenes.  Yeah, the anime would have done much better to just insert the videogame's actual All-Out Attack sequences.  ~.~;  But it's been improving little by little each episode, so I'm not losing hope yet.  

As to the question, "What is the point of this anime adaptation?" or "How can anyone like this?".  I think the answer is simple:  fanservice.  Episode 2 and 3 was just so much fodder for the AkiRyu community alone, and just the hints I hear from the AkeShu community, they’re squealing their minds out.  But more than just providing more "canon" frames of official art of Ships together, I think it's fanservice in the way of allowing fans to just have more time with the characters we love.  Just reliving the same instances from the game, in a different format, without the pressure of controlling anything, or even just being chucked out of 1st person and into just the spectator perspective, makes the same story/characters seem a little fresh and new.  Like re-watching Disney movies in another language, or re-watching an anime dubbed.  (By the way, go watch Mulan in Chinese, especially if you're not fluent in Chinese.  It's like watching it for the first time all over again.)  It's like going over a photo album, except some things have changed and you won't know what until the page is turned.  I don't know, I just like reliving this story and these times with these characters.  (Then again, I can watch my favorite movie/series twice a day, everyday, for a month.)  Even if it’s technically repetitive, I still want to spread out that time with these characters and relive it.  

And kind of essential marketing, when I remember how much we all used to gush over Haikyuu, but now, with the exception of Good Smile Company’s new Nendoroids, it seems we all forgot about Haikyuu---and that was a really good show!  When I walk the aisles of recent artist alleys, seeing all the Haikyuu merch that we used to be so excited about, but being overlooked by customers, in favor of currently-airing series like BNHA, I feel very thankful that this anime adaptation is reviving the P5 fandom.  With every Saturday and every new episode, a flood of social media posts and fans come out of the woodwork.  It makes me feel good to know that the fandom hasn’t forgotten P5, to move onto other things.  Which is especially easy, since the Dancing Star Night spinoff game, which is keeping the fandom alive in Japan a year later, isn’t (yet) localized.  

But yes, watching P5A is very much like watching a Let's Play of the game.  And I know because I watched a playthrough of the game without playing it.  That's actually how I got into Persona 5, and it was my first in-depth experience with ANY Persona.  And yet, it was very effective and intense for me.  The common question for anime adaptations of games is "Who is this for, when you can just play the game?"  This is for high-anxiety people like me, who are so afraid of the pressure of playing, of being responsible for the character's actions, of the intensity of being virtually placed in those moments, that I've been putting off playing the game, even though it's been on my shelf since last Black Friday. I even bought the PS4 for it!  Though I already watched all the Let's Plays and all the spoilers, yes, I bought the videogame.  I have a history of still enjoying playing a game even after watching all the cutscenes.  (It worked with DMC3 and I know it’ll work with P5.)  That’s how different playing a game is for me vs watching even the same story; that first-person intensity probably makes all the difference.  Though I STILL haven't played it yet.  Book aficionados are always bragging how reading novels is so much more intense, personal, and  just better than watching a movie adaption, but I think videogames have got reading books beat, when it comes to immersion.  (At least when a game is made well.)  And it's because of that immersion that anxious people, HSPs, etc. just need some distance.  The same things which makes books and videogames so effective, can over-stimulate anxious HSPs, and make it too much to experience.  The dampening distance created by less intense adaptations, like a video that plays regardless of pressure on the viewer to interact and be proactive, is just what over-sensitive people need, to be able to take part in a fandom/franchise.  And I really like this world, this fandom, and as I'm discovering, this franchise, which never caught my eye before.  So even though there's an enormous list of other great anime to catch up on, I still keep coming back to this P5A, the same way I keep re-watching Natsume Yuujinchou instead of checking out new shows.  It's comfort food.  I'm already familiar, and I could be watching different and maybe better things, but...I just can't take the intensity of a new show all the time.  Yes, this anime series is just a marketing tool.  (But I think it's also fun for pre-established fans of the game to re-live the story and spend more time with these characters.)  But if it can bring in new fans, even just to spark the curiosity into checking out the videogame, why not?  Sure, you could say an anime adaptation could be so bad that it would turn off the curious from checking out the videogame.  But I don't think this anime is that bad.  In fact, it's been making slight improvements in each successive episode.  Then again, maybe my bar is just reeaaaaaaaaaaally low, after watching the Dramatical Murder anime adaptation, and still trying to scrape some enjoyment out of that, after having been attached to the game.  Though it is a shame that the anime couldn’t have taken more liberties or done something more interesting, given that the director(s) seem to be very skilled.  

Bringing back that "Akria vs Ren" war was a hilarious touch.  

1:09 PM 4/28/2018 https://youtu.be/mxfefiuAtQ8

Ooh!  Someone posted the P5A ep4 opening sequence, and it's brand new!  *O* Oh my goawd!  It actually showed Ryuji posting up those Calling Cards!  ^U^   That was nice.  I liked it.   If Mother’s Basement did a “What’s in an OP” on this, he’d probably complain about the cliche sky shot at the end.  Frankly, I do too.  It’s hackneyed.  I get the symbolism, but I actually kind of prefer the ending shot of the first 2 eps’ temporary opening sequence, with Joker firing his gun towards the camera and all those graphics/stars flying around.  ^.^;;;;  

1:28 PM 4/28/2018 https://youtu.be/THftcierPG0 Pixie Falls For Joker In P5 The Animation posted by Harry Type-C Oh they found a use for the red eyes on Joker!  ^o^  

1:34 PM 4/28/2018 Here we go.  Persona 5 the Animation ep4.  [I’ll add screengrabs when I have time.] "A dumb kid trying to sound mature."  LOL  And Ren says nothing!  LOL   "It's cute!"  "Well, if you say so, Lady Ann!"  LOL   "Go Go Mask"?  At least it wasn't "Go Go Kamen".  I'm tired of comparisons between Joker and Tuxedo Kamen/Mask.  Postponing Ren's code name?  Is there going to be a special reveal for the end?  ^.^?   Morgana charging towards the treasure!  ^o^!!   "I'm not expecting much..."  Oh, c'mon, Ann!  Not after that shot was giving such a heartwarming moment. "I'll kill that cat later."  LOL   Nooo!  I don't want to say goodbye, Arsene!  ;o;  "We shall meet again."  I've always had a problem letting go, especially of my old selves.   I love that "ice queen" look on Ann.  Perfect for this moment.   Oh, Morgana!  Clinging to the treasure!  LOL   Run!  Run!  Run, everybody!   I like the camera going to Mishima when Ann talked about Shiho having to pretend to not see things.   Wow.  They really needed more time to cram the story.  It's going over the credits.   Joker.  "I chose it because it seems like you've got something."   "Nya nya urusai da."   "And I was going to offer to name it.  I have some leftovers.  Hang on." Woah!  Jumping ahead much with this preview clip!  Why are all the Phantom Thieves already together?  Why is Akechi already throwing down his blackmail ultimatum?!?