If you’re a fan of anime and Japanese RPGs then it goes without saying that Persona 4: The Animation is for you. This 25-episode anime series is in Japanese with English subtitles and is based on the critically acclaimed RPG for PlayStation 2 which was released in 2008.

The first episode entitled ‘You’re Myself, I’m Yourself’ was added to The Anime Network a few hours ago, and can be streamed in SD or HD for free over here. Unfortunately the show is restricted to North American IP addresses.

The official synopsis for the series reads as follows:

“When Yu Narukami’s family moves to the rural country town of Inaba, he’s expecting a lot more peace and quiet than he’s been used to in the big city. Instead, the peace has been shattered as a rash of mysterious murders and kidnappings sweep the countryside. With the police stymied, Yu finds himself joining with a group of eight other teenagers in a desperate bid to solve the mystery. A mystery that is somehow connected to both the local weather patterns and a strange video game world which Yu, his friends and the enigmatic killer can all enter. Journey beyond the Velvet Room as the hit PlayStation 2 game becomes a spectacular anime in PERSONA 4 the Animation!”

Having played through Persona 4 and now watched the first episode of the anime, I can confirm that the show follows the game’s plot quite closely. It also features music from the game as well as other direct references, such as cuts to a calendar shifting forward to the next day.

Be sure to give this anime a chance if you’re fond of the cut-scenes in games like Catherine and the Valkyria Chronicles series, and since the show is faithful to the characters and plot of Persona 4, I can guarantee you’ll find a lot to like about it.

Feel free to check out the show’s trailer below, and remember to display annotations if you want English subtitles.

Source: The Anime Network