Persona 5 was easily one of the biggest and best-reviewed JRPGs in years, reigniting the gaming genre and truly putting the Atlus franchise on the map. Once a mere spinoff of the niche Shin Megami Tensei, Persona has easily eclipsed it to take on a life of its own. This popularity isn't just in the realm of gaming, however, with Persona 5 and its Phantom Thieves stealing the hearts of fans of other mediums as well.
Like other Atlus games in the franchise before it, Persona 5 received a manga and an anime adaptation. These each gave their own spin on the story, namely with how some of the characters are named. Given how popular Persona 5 has gone on to become, gamers probably want to enjoy it in as many ways as possible. Thus, here's how to get beneath the mask with the Persona 5 manga and anime.
The Plot of Persona 5
As in the game that spawned them, the plot of the Persona 5 adaptations involves a group of teenagers known as the Phantom Thieves. Witnessing hardships and injustice in their everyday lives, these teens travel to a fantasy world via a smartphone app, becoming the Phantom Thieves who uncover the wickedness in the hearts of corrupt individuals. Hoping to reveal the truth about many people in power, the Phantom Thieves, led by Joker, seek to turn their everyday realities into a more welcoming world.
Their allies in this quest include Igor, keeper of the mysterious Velvet Room, as well as his two less-than-friendly young wardens. There's also Mona, a talking cat who's the transforming guide of the Phantom Thieves. Much of the iconography and themes present reflect the prison/enslavement concepts central to the premise, with the story of outlaw, rascal do-gooders also making the story into something of a picaresque novel.
Where to Read the Persona 5 Manga
The Persona 5 manga was first released just a bit after the game came out in 2016. Drawn by Murasaki Hisato, the book follows the story of the game, all while giving the protagonist the established name of Akira Kurusu (he could be named whatever the player chose in the game). The manga is still ongoing at this time, with Viz Media handling the Western localization since early 2020.
So far, there are nine volumes of the Persona 5 manga, with a 10th about to release in Japan. Eight of the volumes have been brought over to the West so far, so the localization schedule is not too far behind. The series can be purchased physically from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-a-Million, Right Stuf Anime and Walmart, while Kindle & Comixology carry the digital versions.
Where to Watch the Persona 5 Anime
CloverWorks produced Persona 5: The Animation, which ran from 2018 to 2019. The show was only the third anime that the studio had produced theretofore, being preceded by Slow Start and Darling in the Franxx. They're more well-known now for recent hits such as the spooky Shadows House, the cosplay anime My Dress-Up Darling and the highly anticipated Spy x Family. Persona 5: The Animation had 28 episodes and two OVAs, as well as a special from A-1 Pictures. It's notable for giving Joker the civilian name Ren Amamiya, as well as for retaining the iconic Shoji Meguro soundtrack from the games.
Persona 5: The Animation can be streamed through Hulu, Crunchyroll and Funimation. It can also be purchased as a Blu-ray collection through sources such as Amazon, Right Stuf Anime and Walmart, but the cost is exorbitantly high, making the aforementioned streaming services veritable rivers in the desert in comparison.