4 Star

Monsters, S.E.E.S and Multiple Persona’s

This is first instalment in a film series based on the Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3 video game by Atlus. Directed by Noriaki Akitaya (Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion) he brings us the introduction to the world of Persona 3, where special humans see different things from the rest of the human race.

There is a new disease plaguing Japan ‘Apathy’ and it is killing people, mainly the youth of the country and as one steps out into the path of a speeding train our story begins. As second year student Makoto Yuki (Akira Ishida, Ben-To) makes his way to his new school on a now very delayed train due to the suicide. Finally he arrives at his station and makes his way to the Iwatodai Dormitory, it is just before midnight on April 5th, 2009, and as the clock strikes things around Makoto suddenly change.

All technology stops functioning, and all the people around him are encased in coffins, but this does not bother Makoto at all and he continues on his way to the Dormitory.

He arrives at the Dormitory and is greeted by a young boy Pharos (Akira Ishida, Fairy Tail) who asks him to sign a contract with,

“Time never waits.

It delivers all equally to the same end.

I hearby agree to the statement above, and chooseth this fate, of mine own free will.”

Written upon it, Makoto signs the contract and Pharos collects it and makes it disappear. As does he when Yukari Takeba (Megumi Toyoguchi, Black Lagoon) and Mitsuru Kirijo (Rie Tanaka, Horizon in the Middle of Nowhere II), make their appearance they are shocked at his late arrival especially at this time. Yukari eventually takes this ‘ordinary transfer student’ to his room.

6th April Makoto finds himself outside Gekkoukan high school he is about to start his 2nd year in class 2-F along with Takeba and fast talking Junpie Lori (Kosuke Toriumi, Aldnoah.Zero, Naruto: Shippuden, Nura: Rise of the Yokai Clan).

The night before when Makoto was fast asleep there was a meeting of Takeba, Kirijo and school chairman Shuji Ikutsuki (Shuji Ikutsuki, Dragon Ball Z, One Piece) have a discussion about their new student and whether or not he has the talent. These people gathered are members of S.E.E.S (Specialized Extracurricular Execution Squad) and they fight the monsters that come out at the Dark hour, the 25th hour of the day. The one hour that the others cannot see because they are inside their coffins.

The other member of SEES is second year student Akihiko Sanada (Akihiko Sanada, Bleach). During the dark hour Sanada just makes it back to the dormitory as the Dark hour starts, and this time there a lot of monster climbing up the outside of the building. Kirijo tells Takeba to take Makoto to the roof for safety. But when they get there, they are in danger and pulls out her SEES gun which enables her to adopt a different persona, but she fail to pull the trigger. Makoto picks up her gun and puts it to his head and pulls the trigger. This brings out his talent for being able to summon a spirit to fight the monsters of the Dark hour.

It turns out that Junpie also has the talent and he also becomes a member of SEES and with that the team is big enough to take on the Labyrinth of Tartarus.

A great dark start to a film series and we haven’t even mentioned Igor (Isamu Tanonaka, One Piece)  and Elizabeth (Miyuki Sawashiro, Deadman Wonderland, Durarara!! X2) of the Velvet room. Watch how the girls and boys of SEES learn the ropes and controlling their persona’s.

Available to Order Online Now.