Video game adoptions are almost always bad due to the studio taking their own twist on the story, taking shortcuts with the production, or just plainly getting things wrong. This applies with anime adopts of video games too. However, over the years some studios are able to get it right and make a show that is not only faithful to the source material but a great show in general. That is what studio AIC ASTA and Aniplex is trying to do with Persona 4 Animation, adoption of one of the best JRPGs from 2009 and still holds a place in most peoples hearts here in Giant bomb. There is a lot of things going for this adoption and I will cover each episode to see how it holds up.

The episode pretty much started off like the game with Yu Narukami (Charlie Tunoku) going about his day in Inaba, going to school, hanging out with Chie and Yosuke, and getting super powers. You know, the usual stuff. The interesting part about the anime when compare to the game is how it is paced. It skip past a lot of build up and heads straight to points in to the story that matter. At times it feels a bit rushed in places but overall its fitting for a series that will run for 25 minutes. Another interesting concept they used in the show was the transition from the game like the calendar and the TV screen. Not only does it remind fans of the game but also a smart way to move the show along and cut to commercial breaks (May be more apparent on Hulu where there are commercials). The last thing that does stick out to fans is the event that Yu gets his Persona, which is much early than in the game. However, it may just be a good idea for Yu to get it early due to the length of time in the episode and leaves us with a good end and set up.

Visually, the show looks glorious with lots of contrast, shading, lighting, and designs. Animation is pretty well done with lots of movements and expression from characters. Music is pretty the game music which are still good and placed in appropriate moments. While those who only listen to the English voices of the characters, it may be a bit hard to get use to the Japanese voices. However, they still do a good job. Yui Horie and Showtaro Morikubo give Chie and Yosuke lots of energy in their performance and while not having a lot of lines, Daisuke Namikawa does a good job as Yu and hopefully does talk a lot more. So far the anime is shaping up to be pretty good but there still more episodes to come and I will continue to cover it. Now if you excuse me, I'll be heading in to the meat dimension. Investigation Team, GO!

Highlights

Video game adoptions are almost always bad due to the studio taking their own twist on the story, taking shortcuts with the production, or just plainly getting things wrong. This applies with anime adopts of video games too. However, over the years some studios are able to get it right and make a show that is not only faithful to the source material but a great show in general. That is what studio AIC ASTA and Aniplex is trying to do with Persona 4 Animation, adoption of one of the best JRPGs from 2009 and still holds a place in most peoples hearts here in Giant bomb. There is a lot of things going for this adoption and I will cover each episode to see how it holds up.

The episode pretty much started off like the game with Yu Narukami (Charlie Tunoku) going about his day in Inaba, going to school, hanging out with Chie and Yosuke, and getting super powers. You know, the usual stuff. The interesting part about the anime when compare to the game is how it is paced. It skip past a lot of build up and heads straight to points in to the story that matter. At times it feels a bit rushed in places but overall its fitting for a series that will run for 25 minutes. Another interesting concept they used in the show was the transition from the game like the calendar and the TV screen. Not only does it remind fans of the game but also a smart way to move the show along and cut to commercial breaks (May be more apparent on Hulu where there are commercials). The last thing that does stick out to fans is the event that Yu gets his Persona, which is much early than in the game. However, it may just be a good idea for Yu to get it early due to the length of time in the episode and leaves us with a good end and set up.

Visually, the show looks glorious with lots of contrast, shading, lighting, and designs. Animation is pretty well done with lots of movements and expression from characters. Music is pretty the game music which are still good and placed in appropriate moments. While those who only listen to the English voices of the characters, it may be a bit hard to get use to the Japanese voices. However, they still do a good job. Yui Horie and Showtaro Morikubo give Chie and Yosuke lots of energy in their performance and while not having a lot of lines, Daisuke Namikawa does a good job as Yu and hopefully does talk a lot more. So far the anime is shaping up to be pretty good but there still more episodes to come and I will continue to cover it. Now if you excuse me, I'll be heading in to the meat dimension. Investigation Team, GO!

Highlights

I really liked it and didn't mind the stuff they cut out, but I would really like to hear what people that haven't played the game think of it.

@DarkShaper said:

I really liked it and didn't mind the stuff they cut out, but I would really like to hear what people that haven't played the game think of it.

My sentiments exactly. I think that certain points about the plot will be lost on those new to the story, it definitely got the introduction out of the way quickly.

Time will tell whether or not it will always be moving through the story as quickly as this buts it not really a worry, its not like they are lacking for material to chew on.

I didn't mind Teddie's VA as much as I thought I would, whenever I saw a clip of the Japanese sub of the game in the past I had always found it obnoxious.

I'm really curious to hear what non-Persona fans thought of it as well. Maybe, if you lack the knowledge of important stuff that didn't get brought it, it won't seem as rushed. Maybe their planning to include that stuff later anyway.

Yup, looks like shit. 

Man, Japanese Chie is so much better than English Chie.

@Cloudenvy said:

Man, Japanese Chie is so much better than English Chie.

i will cut you

@mutha3 said:

@Cloudenvy said:

Man, Japanese Chie is so much better than English Chie.

i will cut you

Please don't. D:

@Cloudenvy said:

Man, Japanese Chie is so much better than English Chie.

I'm surprised to say that I totally agree. Might have went with her instead of Yukiko on my first playthrough if she had this voice. I'm really enjoying they way they're using the music so far and thought the blurry way they did the preview was cool too.

@Enigma777 said:

Yup, looks like shit.

I will cut you.

@Cloudenvy said:

Man, Japanese Chie is so much better than English Chie.

A bag of garbage is better than Chie in general, so that isn't saying much!

WAIT!

Is the status screen really in the anime?

That's awesome.

Also,

@mutha3 said:

@Cloudenvy said:

Man, Japanese Chie is so much better than English Chie.

i will cut you

He won't be the only one.

@natetodamax said:

@Cloudenvy said:

Man, Japanese Chie is so much better than English Chie.

A bag of garbage is better than Chie in general, so that isn't saying much!

Non-believer! an enemy of Chie is an enemy of steak!

@natetodamax said:

@Cloudenvy said:

Man, Japanese Chie is so much better than English Chie.

A bag of garbage is better than Chie in general, so that isn't saying much!

Trying a bit hard to be controversial are we?

@Twinsun said:

@natetodamax said:

@Cloudenvy said:

Man, Japanese Chie is so much better than English Chie.

A bag of garbage is better than Chie in general, so that isn't saying much!

Trying a bit hard to be controversial are we?

Nope!

I didn't like Chie very much before, but now I looooooove Chie.

@Cloudenvy said:

Man, Japanese Chie is so much better than English Chie.

A bag of garbage is better than Chie in general, so that isn't saying much!

It was okay. I'll agree that I found Japanese Chie to be cuter than the English dubbed Chie. Not sure why, it might be because she seems feistier and less tomboyish. The main character is predictably boring, though. I imagine it would be hard to give him a personality since he's a silent protagonist, which works in a game, but seems strange in an anime. He doesn't really say anything interesting throughout the episode.

I can't decide whether to watch this or not, I kinda wanted to forget as much of the story as possible so the Vita version of the game feels fresher.

@natetodamax said:

@Cloudenvy said:

Man, Japanese Chie is so much better than English Chie.

A bag of garbage is better than Chie in general, so that isn't saying much!

GET OUT NOW!

A bag of garbage is better than that slut Rise

Is anyone else having trouble with their video player? The animation freezes up constantly, but the audio keeps going. I'm might just wait until it comes up on Hulu tomorrow.

@Nexas said:

Is anyone else having trouble with their video player? The animation freezes up constantly, but the audio keeps going. I'm might just wait until it comes up on Hulu tomorrow.

Yeah, the player isn't that great, but if you live outside of the US it's your only option since Hulu is US-only.

@Nexas said:

Is anyone else having trouble with their video player? The animation freezes up constantly, but the audio keeps going. I'm might just wait until it comes up on Hulu tomorrow.

Euro-person here, and I experienced no problems. Lemme check back for a sec....

Nah, it works fine for me right now as well.

I hate to be this guy, but errr how do I watch this? I don't live in the States..

I hate to be this guy, but errr how do I watch this? I don't live in the States..

@FluxWaveZ said:

@zameer said:

I hate to be this guy, but errr how do I watch this? I don't live in the States..

Does this link not work? It works for me and I don't live in America. Though it might just be for North America anyways.

Thanks for that link, everything else I found was US exclusive

@natetodamax said:

@Cloudenvy said:

Man, Japanese Chie is so much better than English Chie.

A bag of garbage is better than Chie in general, so that isn't saying much!

It's too obvious to dignify with a response.

...But I'm going to anyway, takes balls that does, BALLS!

@mutha3 said:

@Nexas said:

Is anyone else having trouble with their video player? The animation freezes up constantly, but the audio keeps going. I'm might just wait until it comes up on Hulu tomorrow.

Euro-person here, and I experienced no problems. Lemme check back for a sec....

Nah, it works fine for me right now as well.

Ditto, and I'll be the first to admit my internet connection is usually horrible for this sort of stuff.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=VBdjKeuRl20

@mutha3: Sorry no one can beat ほっちゃん. It's just a fact of life.

Ok, finally got the video to work properly. Overall I think was descent first episode. It introduces the cast and themes of the series while cutting a lot of the fluff that would tie down a 25 episode show. Yu unlocking his Persona on their first trip inside the TV was an interesting change of pace. Also I fucking love how Yu unbuttoning his jacket is portrayed as some big character defining event; He's all "Fuck your shit! Time to get dangerous."

@Enigma777 said:

Yup, looks like shit.

I will cut you.

Awesome. Not only can I figure out if Persona 4 is worth the fandom, but I can also practice my Japanese in the weeabooest goddamn way possible.

Not that I dislike her but what is with the rabid love for Chie? Also I prefer her English voice.

I don't mind Rise. That said, Chie hate is inexcusable.

Blargh, so pumped to watch it with subs after watching it without earlier. Downloading now. I have an erection.

@Enigma777 said:

@Hailinel said:

@Enigma777 said:

Yup, looks like shit.

I will cut you.

Not if I cut you first!

You've already been cut!

@Video_Game_King said:

Awesome. Not only can I figure out if Persona 4 is worth the fandom, but I can also practice my Japanese in the weeabooest goddamn way possible.

"Worth" the fandom?

Way to be a judgmental prick.

No interest at all in just a sub. I'll wait till they dub it, if they do.

@Beforet said:

No interest at all in just a sub. I'll wait till they dub it, if they do.

But so many of the Japanese voices are better! except Teddie who is awful. D:

@Beforet said:

No interest at all in just a sub. I'll wait till they dub it, if they do.

They will, but it won't be for a while. They haven't announced who the dub cast even is, yet.

@Video_Game_King said:

@Hailinel: I wasn't exactly trying to come off that way.

Too bad, because you did. A fandom is something that justifies itself. You can't say whether or not something is "worth" a fandom. It's like watching a season of Star Trek and then calling the Trekkie fandom bullshit. You come off sounding like a jackass, and none of the Trekkies will care what you think, anyway.

@Cloudenvy said:

@Beforet said:

No interest at all in just a sub. I'll wait till they dub it, if they do.

But so many of the Japanese voices are better! except Teddie who is awful. D:

Nope! Waiting for the dub. Unless they announce that all of the voice actors for the dub would be changed. Then I will watch the sub.

@Hailinel:

Are you suggesting that I watch a season of Star Trek just to call the fandom bullshit :P? (If it makes you feel any better, the first three minutes of this are pretty cool. I've only watched the first three minutes.)

@Cloudenvy: ...Have you heard Rie Kugimiya as Rise?

I thought the gas attendant was meant to be female?

@Scrumdidlyumptious: I could never tell.

looks good but i'll wait till its localized

@MrAristocrates said:

@Cloudenvy: ...Have you heard Rie Kugimiya as Rise?

Of course!

But I think English Rise can be just as obnoxious sounding.

Hey! I like both Chie and Rise.

Cool episode. I laughed out loud when the calendar popped up and again with the status screen.

@Hailinel said:

@Video_Game_King said:

@Hailinel: I wasn't exactly trying to come off that way.

Too bad, because you did. A fandom is something that justifies itself. You can't say whether or not something is "worth" a fandom. It's like watching a season of Star Trek and then calling the Trekkie fandom bullshit. You come off sounding like a jackass, and none of the Trekkies will care what you think, anyway.

Anyone is welcome to dislike Persona as much as they want. If someone thinks it sucks or that it should not have a fanbase they are welcome to. The people that hate it only become an asshole when they seek out fans just to bitch about it.

@DarkShaper said:

Anyone is welcome to dislike Persona as much as they want. If someone thinks it sucks or that it should not have a fanbase they are welcome to.

Only here's the thing: I don't dislike it. Sure, there are some awkward moments when the characters try to say English words (Juu-ne-su? And when she's saying the rest of the sentence in English?), but it's still pretty cool, what with the selectively deranged animation (did Igor murder the butterfly guy from the first Persona?) and just how well it translates from a game to an anime. It was all word choice, really.