Persona 4 the ANIMATION – 03
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「We are friends, aren’t we?」
For all the Chie fans out there, this was your episode. If you thought that she couldn’t get any cuter, just wait until you see the young Chie meeting Yukiko for the first time. With those hilarious facial expressions, it is no wonder that so many of her friends and classmates are unable to resist her charm. She even does a great impression of Edvard Munch’s The Scream!
After the occupants of the Velvet Room remind Yuu that his power grows with the strengthening of his social bonds, it made sense that this week would delve into the backstory of another one of his friends. I don’t mind this formula yet since the investigation into the murders has just begun and it allows us to learn more about the other members of the investigation team. The latest disappearance involving the Midnight Channel hits close to home once again with Yukiko the victim this time around. As her best friend, Chie had quite the emotional roller coaster ride as a result. Her entire personality was laid bear bare this week, from her steely resolve to rescue Yukiko from the Midnight Channel to the hidden and suppressed parts that were brought to the surface by Shadow Chie. Having seen both the good and bad sides of Chie made me think that when you share your darkest secrets (sometimes unwillingly like in Chie’s case) and your friends stay by your side, you know those are your true friends. I’d probably think about sharing my secrets if I could get my own Chariot Arcana Persona like Tomoe Gozen too.
Aside from Chie, we learned more about some other characters as well. I definitely felt sorry for Nanako being left behind all the time by Dojima and now Yuu, but she seems to handle it rather well by watching quiz shows and doing laundry — although, come to think of it, those hobbies are a little unusual for kids her age. Some characters from the game had cameos in this episode, such as the Music Club’s Matsunagi Ayane and the Basketball Club’s Ichijou Kou and Nagase Daisuke. More importantly, Yuu’s increased stats in knowledge and understanding have somehow improved his sense of humor and personality too. He still may not be much of a speaker, but when he does have something to say it’s usually something insightful, a great one-liner, or both. For example, after seeing Yukiko’s show on the Midnight Channel, I bet Yuu just said what everyone was thinking. He still needs to become more expressive though so he doesn’t get arrested for possession of deadly weapons.
Thanks to the police, I didn’t get my wish to see the characters fighting with their own weapons, but the action in Yukiko’s Castle with their Personas was satisfying nonetheless. Yuu was finally able to use his wild card ability to summon Pyro Jack so I’m hoping we’ll be able to see a greater variety of Personas in future battles. The all-out attack sqeuence consisting of the Garu (wind) and Agi (fire) skills to defeat Shadow Chie was pretty neat to see, even if wasn’t possible in the game. I’m sure some of you have heard the rumors about various animation and production problems at AIC ASTA, but so far it seems that none of these concerns have materialized as the quality of each episode has stayed consistent, and even improving some. I’m hoping this trend continues so we can have a proper introduction to Yukiko and find out what that mysterious figure in the dark is up to.
* Full-length images: 2, 10, 14, 19, 23, 24, 25, 31.
Preview
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October 21, 2011 at 4:12 amreia
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yaa!!!!! We get to see a sleeping Nanako>..< Yosuke shouldn't have commented that Chie's handwrting sucks
a 'Don!' to the stomach..
MC: お大事に *walks past*
October 21, 2011 at 9:19 amSerapita
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Yeah, sleeping Nanako is the best :)
October 22, 2011 at 4:07 amKayCea
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Nanako is too cute for her own good…She could become a force to be reckoned with when she hits her young adult phase. I’m really hoping they make her older and bring her back as one of the main characters in another Persona….Maybe in 5(‘_’?)
October 21, 2011 at 4:20 amlester
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Wow. Didn’t see that coming, Yuu summoning Pyro Jack the Magician Arcana. Since last episode that the Magician Arcana has been unlocked so he can use it and also unnoticingly establish Social Links. As Chie received her own Persona, Yuu obtain the Chariot Arcana so which Persona will Yuu use on that Arcana.
Chie is always the funny girl of the team.
Looking forward for future episodes about Kanji, Rise, Teddie, and Naoto. Especially Kanji’s true-self. Wonder how will it do.
October 21, 2011 at 4:36 amfragb85
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Did Yu just summon a lvl 32 persona on the games first dungeon? I call bull. Then again he might need it for Shadow Yukiko. She was an annoying boss. Also ONE paper crane folding session and his Understanding levels up?
Seriously though, I like how they animated the first meeting of Chie and Yukiko, since that was only told through dialogue in the game. I’m also glad they did away with the stupid “We can hide our weapons on our uniforms” shtick. The fighting was good, I digged Izanami’s moves and they actually made Disco Ninja Frog look cool.
Yu’s deadpan delivery is hilarious. “I wish I could have taped it” was the best line of the episode.
October 21, 2011 at 5:01 amRakkyo
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At least he didn’t summon Mada, the Intoxicator immediately lol
October 21, 2011 at 4:56 amRaso
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Production problems? like what?
This is scaring me….
October 21, 2011 at 7:08 amBass.EXE
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Well, for one, two anonymous animators said they quit the team after episode 3 due to poor management. So I guess we’ll see if that had a major impact next week, the first episode without them
October 21, 2011 at 3:58 pmunlisted
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If you want to read up more on these problems go here http://myanimelist.net/forum/?topicid=352331 I think the original rumor had one of those animators saying Persona 4′s third episode wasn’t worth watching but animation has remained pretty constant for the episodes thus far. Then again. I could be speaking too soon LOL.
October 21, 2011 at 5:00 amrasone0104
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YES YES YES HE CAN CHANGE PERSONAS!!!!
YES YES YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
that aside it was nice to see how yukiko
and chie met.
-Loli Chie FTW!
October 21, 2011 at 9:32 amCybersteel
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Maybe they’ll show Yuu fusing personas on the fly rather than visiting the Velvet Room. Thar’ll be cool.
October 21, 2011 at 5:03 amJiCi
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Thanks for the review… time to play “spot the differences”:
- The most glaring one is that Yu, Yosuke and Chie wear their casual outfits instead of their school outfits when visiting Yukiko’s castle. Not much a problem, but it is a difference.
- Yu and Yosuke don’t have their weapons, the golf club and the wrenches.
- Teddie saying his name has been skipped in last episode… kinda awkward, but…
- Yukiko’s inner thoughts are heard in a large hall in-game, not a bedroom like in the anime.
- Chie is still conscious when the Shadow thransforms (might be recurrant for other Shadows).
- Shadow Chie talks more in battle, like Shadow Yosuke (again, might be recurrant for other Shadows).
- The whole “thousand faces” moment never happens in-game.
- Chie faces herself while the Shadow is transformed in the anime, while in the game, you have to defeat it and then Chie faces herself.
- The scene with Chie and Yukiko as children never happens in-game. They might talk about it, but we don’t see a flashback or anything alike. (My memory is hazy on that one).
- No dungeon music ? INCONCEIVABLE ! Where’s the “Castle” theme ? (Yes, that’s how it’s called according to the OST)… might be in the next episode though, crossing my fingers.
That’s pretty much what I can notice.
Thanks again for the review !
October 21, 2011 at 11:19 amRyugan
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the yukiko and chie backstory is a Slink chariot talk that chie had with the MC(yuu) in the game i dont remember yet the rank is in 4 to 5 rank
October 25, 2011 at 7:15 amZero
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Its rank 8, iirc
October 21, 2011 at 2:34 pmElly
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Yeah, the Chie and Yukiko flashback is only talked about in the game, but in the manga, iirc, it gets expanded on, which is what I believe the anime drew on here and expanded even more.
October 21, 2011 at 5:18 amThousand Mistress
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I am a Chie fan!!!!
And we are now presented with Jack Frost so early in the anime (level 32, mind you). XD
I also saw that All-Out Attack cutscene. Pretty much the same as the game, no doubt about it~
Shadow Chie was fascinating as she was cruel. She talks too much as well, just like Shadow Yosuke. Shadow Yukiko on the other hand, I had to admit it’s much better to see that segment of hers in the anime. =))
…
The animation and the art of the anime is still making my right eye twitch. XDOctober 21, 2011 at 5:28 amfragb85
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Its not Jack Frost its Pyro Jack (Or Jack 0′Lantern if you prefer the Japanese name).
Actually its a mystery why they didn’t use Jack Frost, since he’s practically the mascot of the SMT Franchise.
October 21, 2011 at 5:35 amAnon
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Not a mystery at all, Chie’s shadow is ice based, so if Brotag summoned an ice persona it’s attack would just heal it.
October 21, 2011 at 6:28 amThousand Mistress
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I guess I’m just too used to mentioning Jack Frost instead of Pyro Jack.
But yeah, I prefer the Japanese version still. Pyro Jack seems a bit off-key, and Jack O’Lantern fits the appearance of the Persona itself.
October 21, 2011 at 6:37 amNhelraios
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since we’re discussing this, protag would use pyro jack too against Konohana Sakuya(see the preview) which iirc is fire type. gah what is he thinking!
October 21, 2011 at 7:53 amfragb85
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I think its pretty obvious it will be from the Chariot Arcana. Yu will probably use his newly acquired Arcanas each time he gets one.
October 21, 2011 at 5:35 amkingboo
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I’d think it’s coz Jack Frost mainly uses Bufu (Ice Spells) which I assume Shadow Chie is resistant / immune to.
So it had to be a Persona of the Magician Arcana that can use Agi / Fire spells. And Pyro Jack comes to mind!
Maybe Jack Frost will have a cameo later on, who knows?
October 21, 2011 at 5:43 amZen
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A competently executed action/drama show for the most part. My only major complaint would be how formulaic the last few episodes have been, but I imagine that the show will begin to take on a significantly different form once all four of the main characters have obtained their Personas, long before the formulaic structure becomes a significant problem by causing the show to become intolerably predictable and dry…
October 21, 2011 at 5:47 amCybersteel
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One question for the fans though cause my memory is a bit hazy. Is the MC’s cousin the same girl as the one of persona 3 social links?
October 21, 2011 at 5:56 amfragb85
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Uh…..no? None of the characters in P4 have any relationship with the P3 characters, short of the very brief cameo of Chihiro.
October 21, 2011 at 9:27 amCybersteel
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Chihiro… The book girl right? Visiting a bookstore with her after school is it?
Which scene did she make a cameo? Cant remember, been so long since played Persona.
October 22, 2011 at 12:01 amYanDaMan263
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^ In the Persona 4 video game, theres a part where you take a field trip to the city (forgot name) that was in Persona 3, and you visited the school from P3 and Chihiro was your tour guide of sort there.
October 21, 2011 at 6:10 amgespentRed
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She is not Maiko but it’s hinted that one of Nanako’s friend is Maiko from P3. In one of Nanako’s dialogue: “One of my friends moved here from city last year. She’s living with her mom…”. It’s not much but maybe…
October 21, 2011 at 9:24 amCybersteel
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Ooh too bad. They looked similar though. I knew my hypothesis was off because her father was a businessman I think. Yeah the friend might be her because I’d remember her going with the mother after the divorce.
October 21, 2011 at 11:47 amKugi
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I don’t think her friend is Maiko. Maiko was 8 years old as of P3, and P4 is 2 years after P3, so she would be 10 years old… it seems weird if she and Maiko would be close considering the age difference （Bigger impact in japan than in the western world)
October 21, 2011 at 5:50 amNhelraios
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I’m so happy they made protag able to switch personas.
Also the OP and ED are starting to grow on me just like every P4 song out there.
Show Spoiler ▼
October 21, 2011 at 5:54 amKurisu Vi Britannia
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I haven’t played the games but I know who that is. I’m also sad that their appearance isn’t anytime soon.
October 21, 2011 at 5:54 amKurisu Vi Britannia
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Great episode, Chie is smexi.
October 21, 2011 at 6:02 amKurisu Vi Britannia
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Just to add, St.Bernards are the dogs of gods.
October 21, 2011 at 6:12 amgespentRed
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I felt so good when Yu change Persona. I was worried that they won’t let him use other persona besides Izanagi. And the All – out attack scene! Boy, I kept screaming like a crazy fangirl for almost 1 mins.
October 21, 2011 at 6:16 amKYO
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the MC’s deadpan one-liners were quite funny. XD
October 21, 2011 at 6:32 amLurker
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I’m actually glad they’re giving the MC a personality. He was as flat as a cardboard from the previous episodes.
October 21, 2011 at 6:38 amreia
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”quite funny.XD”
It was extremely amusing to me!!
Yosuke: H..hey, did you see that?!
MC: I wish I had taped it.
Me: I wish I could tape you saying that.
Chie: It.. it left teeth marks! Are you okay?
MC: It’s making me cry.
Me: why didn’t the game add that x.x!!
*silently makes origami tsuru*
I’m happy to see more of the MC’s personality showing up XD
PS Is it just me or does the MC seem less cute in this episode,
even though he has more personality now?
maybe cos he didn’t smile that much?
love his smile when he said ‘Konishi-senpai dakke?’ in the last ep XD
October 21, 2011 at 6:44 amKYO
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yeah, the “I wish I had taped it” and “It’s making me cry” deadpan lines were really funny! I wish he’d do more of that on the next episodes. XD
October 21, 2011 at 7:26 amRyougaZell
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Hmmm wasn’t the -I’m going to cry- line was among the optional lines you could select?
October 21, 2011 at 5:43 pmGekokujou
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“I wish I had taped it.”
Man, I can’t believe the main character said that. Does this mean we’ll see Narukami make more perverted options?
October 22, 2011 at 4:14 amKayCea
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Actually I think most of the one liners the MC has been using have been possible dialogue options in game. It’s really funny because he answers questions the way I would/did(.^_^.)b
October 21, 2011 at 7:09 amOblivionsdawn
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The All Out Attack animation made me cheer, even if the combo of Garu and Agi wasn’t possible in the actual game. Maybe they are just taking a page from the guys in Persona 2 with the fusion spells.
October 21, 2011 at 7:24 amRyougaZell
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Good review of the episode Verdant. I’m just going to point out a few things:
- You use the Japanese name for Chie’s Persona >Tomoe GozenPyro JackJack O’lantern<
- You mentioned the cameons and I quote "Basketball Club’s Ichijou Kou and Nagase Daisuke" but Daisuke isn't from the Basketball Club, he is fromt he Soccer Club. Kou is the only one of those two in Basketball.
October 21, 2011 at 7:49 amDoubt
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Just as I thought, another persona for Yu!! And I sense social links aside from the main group.
October 21, 2011 at 8:11 amOni
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i must say the fight scene in ep 2 was not that great imo but ep 3 is a whole lot better also letting the MC use different personas thats just pure awesomeness i wonder what personas will show up
October 21, 2011 at 9:22 amSerapita
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Didn’t expect he would called Jack O, but now I can get my hope up on the Jack Frost or Mother Harlot! (On a second thought, Alice wouldn’t be so bad either, Die For Me!! would look so awesome)
October 21, 2011 at 10:02 amDoubt
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I think it would be like one persona for one arcana. Jack frost is magician arcana (i think). Can’t wait to see what other personas might show up.
October 21, 2011 at 9:32 amTSouL
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The end of the episode mentions about the fog, yet they havent explained how…
Show Spoiler ▼
Hope they will explain it better to the viewers later
October 21, 2011 at 9:56 amSerapita
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Show Spoiler ▼
October 21, 2011 at 3:52 pmunlisted
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They mentioned the fog in episode 2. It’s about half way through the episode when go they back into the tv the second time and before Yosuke unzips Kuma’s head. As for its siginificance I’m not quite sure Show Spoiler ▼
.
October 21, 2011 at 9:49 amgawrshness
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who’s the guy at the end of the episode? The ultimate bad guy? I don’t mind being spoiled
October 21, 2011 at 9:59 amSerapita
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Here you go.
Show Spoiler ▼
October 21, 2011 at 1:27 pmRamen
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Wow I was so surprised that they managed to incorporate a lot of the game mechanics especially the changing of personas. I was thinking that he would stick with Izanagi the whole series, but that’s been proven false.
Considering he received the chariot arcana his next might be Show Spoiler ▼
I would have liked to see an actual all-out attack where they all rush the enemies. Maybe we’ll see that in the future episodes.
October 21, 2011 at 4:29 pmDragonite88
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You know what I think this anime is a warning not to get 3D TV lol.
October 21, 2011 at 6:06 pmZardas
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That Chariot card looks a bit strange. It should be VII, not IIV.
http://randomc.net/image/Persona%204%20the%20ANIMATION/Persona%204%20the%20ANIMATION%20-%2003%20-%20Large%2032.jpg
October 21, 2011 at 9:47 pmAlteisen
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Its from the backside i think. Doesn’t the card spiraling downward in the anime?
October 22, 2011 at 1:14 amunlisted
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It does spiral down but it shows the normal backside of the card as seen in the game and the ED. They just drew it wrong. Good catch!
October 21, 2011 at 6:56 pmInoriDisward
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I absolutely lost it by the time I saw Shadow Yukiko in the tv doing all those crazy things. What was funnier was Yuu’s reaction and then he said “I should have taped it”. That was too funny, LOL!
October 21, 2011 at 7:26 pmanna
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This is the first chance I’ve had to make a comment for this series’ posts–I haven’t even been able to watch the first episode yet–though I’m really quite pleased with how well the show seems to have been brought to life like this… Even though I played P3 and P4 extensively, I don’t think I’m going to nit-pick on the varying details that others have noticed. I still have my reservations about this adaptation, especially in regards to some certain future events, but hopefully things will turn out well.. Thanks for posting.
October 21, 2011 at 10:04 pmPhosphatide
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A terrible shame we didn’t get to see the golf club and spanners.
October 22, 2011 at 1:01 amKurisu Vi Britannia
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Anyone here wanting to see those “Lacy unmentionables”? say Aye!
AYE!
October 22, 2011 at 4:29 amKayCea
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This episode had some big changes from the game but I thought it was done pretty well. The MC’s personality was a win(his nonchalant deadpan humor),Nanako was adorable and dependable as usual, Yosuke “took one for the team” again, and Chie got to be in the spotlight and was once again a bit more girlish than in game. But I think that’s GREAT change honestly and she still retains her original personality for the most part anyway.Oh and how could I forget..Kuma had some really good bear puns this time around. He really tries to step his game up each episode^_^.
Everything for the most part was good. A few parts had me thinking “Hmm..what about..uh oh well”. Like for example how Chie was conscious when her shadow was rampaging. Or has she could even still stand after the battle. Granted they did leave early because she was exhausted, it didn’t really seem like it to me. But I wouldn’t knock any points off just for that though. And all in all this is probably my favorite episode yet….(I’m a Chie fan=_=) Also I wonder…What club will he join?(I’m guessing basketball)
P.S. That Yukiko scene…..>.> It was more raunchy than I remember. Lol but it got her shadows point across so no complaints here.
October 22, 2011 at 4:33 amTankbrah
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Sorry guys I found this episode to be very boring. The only interesting thing was the revelation that our protagonist can yield multiple Personas.
October 22, 2011 at 8:29 ambaubo
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I’m quite surprised they can manage to adapt an RPG as well as this. Curious to see the new personas as the series goes on. It would awesome, although impossible, if we get to see a Mara summon in the anime.
October 22, 2011 at 9:02 amRyugan
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maybe is going to be one for each arcana
October 22, 2011 at 12:43 pmZhinvu
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I gave episode 3 a second viewing.
Show Spoiler ▼
October 22, 2011 at 3:20 pmWhee
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lawlz. let’s not go downhill plz ;_;
October 22, 2011 at 7:38 pmBob
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Dominatrix Bananahead!
“And then Chie got a persona!”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7mUTQKMRLYQ&feature=related has ruined this show for me, because I hear all of the voices in that style.
October 23, 2011 at 10:34 pmdaitro
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I was wondering when someone was gonna say that lol…..Hiimdaisy certainly changes the way you look at persona 4.
October 23, 2011 at 11:33 pmRelic
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Everything I noticed and found worth mentioning you did too. Oh man, Narukami’s personality is so bada$s! Haha. See I wasn’t sure about that little chart with stats during the eye catches, but it’s funny it correlates with what’s going on. I’m loving the show. Wish I could by the game, maybe after my piggy bank can recover from the Zelda Symphony in L.A. The show is a real hit for me thus far.
October 24, 2011 at 1:58 amlester
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Look closely on the Chariot Arcana, the whole image was mirrored. Instead of the VII Roman Numeral its IIV. http://randomc.net/image/Persona%204%20the%20ANIMATION/Persona%204%20the%20ANIMATION%20-%2003%20-%20Large%2032.jpg