History Anime / Persona4TheAnimation

* NeverMyFault: The girls in episode 20 continue to insist that the guys are perverts [[AccidentalPervert because they walked in on them at the hotsprings.]] [[InsaneTrollLogic They conveniently choose to ignore that Yukiko was the one who caused the mix up in the first place.]] Even worse, when the boys try and go into the other of the two hot springs because the girls are in the first one, it turns out that the girls have switched. The boys get blamed ''again''. The mistake is pointed out to the girls by the boys and they ''still won't apologize''.

-->''"So I'm stuck here for a whole year?"''\\
'''Yu Narukami'''

** The movie, ''Factor of Hope'', ends with a [[spoiler:flashback to 2010, where Minato Arisato (the FanNickname of Persona 3's protagonist) is preparing to shoot an Evoker at his head. This became the offical teaser trailer for the upcoming Persona 3 movie.]]

-->'''Yu Narukami'''

* WrongGenreSavy: Dojima, like in the game, is clearly a competent police officer, but is under the mistaken impression that murder mystery is one that can solved with real world logic.

* Foreshadowing: A very subtle one in episode 4. [[spoiler: When the spotlights hit Teddie's eyes they briefly change from his usual black into a Shadow's yellow. Hinting at his status as a shadow/]]

* GetAholdOfYourselfMan

* EvolvingCredits: One of the ending credits (first appearing in episode 2) involves a lot of falling, rotating tarot cards. Their faces are left blank until Yu earns the appropriate Arcana, however.

--'''Yu Narukami'''

-->'''Nanako:''' Teddie-chan, Onii-chan...[[CovertPervert are you perverts?]]\\

-->''All of these skills are needed to finish off '''[[ChewingTheScenery THE MEGA BEEF BOWL]]'''.''

-->''Bonds of people is the true power.''

-->'''Shadow Mitsuo:''' You have no bonds. Friendship is an illusion. You are empty.

-->[[spoiler:'''Shadow Yu''']]: [[spoiler:I felt depressed when I was separated from everyone... losing your friends and advancing alone is terrifying... I don't want to be alone. It's too much to bear...]]

-->'''Margaret:''' Romance in moderation can fertilize the heart. But if you go overboard... ''it will prick you.''

-->'''Mr. Experiment:''' Thanks for tuning in, all you curious kiddos! With the body of an adult and the heart of a child, lovely whiskers and gentlemanly ways, I'm Mr. Experiment! [...] In this corner let's try to solve mysteries found in your everyday lives!

-->'''Yu:''' I'm sick of your ''Bullshit!''

-->'''Kanji:''' I didn't sleep with anyone or anything!

-->'''Rise:''' Go on! Now's your chance, Yu!\\

->''"So I'm stuck here for a whole year?"''
-->--'''Yu Narukami'''

->''"So I'm stuck here for a whole year?"''
-->--'''Yu Narukami'''

-->'''Nanako:''' Teddie-chan, Onii-chan...[[CovertPervert are you perverts?]]\\

-->''All of these skills are needed to finish off '''[[ChewingTheScenery THE MEGA BEEF BOWL]]'''.''

-->''Bonds of people is the true power.''

-->'''Shadow Mitsuo:''' You have no bonds. Friendship is an illusion. You are empty.

-->[[spoiler:'''Shadow Yu''']]: [[spoiler:I felt depressed when I was separated from everyone... losing your friends and advancing alone is terrifying... I don't want to be alone. It's too much to bear...]]

* JokeCharacter: Mot of the Death Arcana doesn't really protect Yu from anything and its attempts to use Mudoon fail miserably.

-->'''Margaret:''' Romance in moderation can fertilize the heart. But if you go overboard... ''it will prick you.''

-->'''Mr. Experiment:''' Thanks for tuning in, all you curious kiddos! With the body of an adult and the heart of a child, lovely whiskers and gentlemanly ways, I'm Mr. Experiment! [...] In this corner let's try to solve mysteries found in your everyday lives!

-->'''Yu:''' I'm sick of your ''Bullshit!''

* SimultaneousArcs: Episodes 13 & 14 are the same series of days, except they're told from the point of views of Nanako & Yu respectively.

-->'''Kanji:''' I didn't sleep with anyone or anything!

-->'''Rise:''' Go on! Now's your chance, Yu!\\

[[redirect:Anime/{{Persona4}}]]

[[quoteright:350:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/p4a_8559.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:350:The Sky's The Limit]]

->''"So I'm stuck here for a whole year?"''
-->--'''Yu Narukami'''

[[http://www.p4a.jp/ Announced]] on April 11, 2011 (incidentally, the beginning date of the story) for the [[Fall2011Anime Fall 2011 anime season]], '''''Persona 4: The Animation''''' follows OrdinaryHighSchoolStudent [[CanonName Yu Narukami]], who has moved from the big city to the tiny rural town of Inaba to live with his uncle and cousin for one year. Shortly after he arrives, a string of unusual murders begins, with the victims hung from high places. Together with his new friends, he must unravel the mystery of the murders and the UrbanLegend of the "Midnight Channel".

Both of the game's character designers (Kazuma Kaneko and Shigenori Soejima, [=Shadow/Persona=] designer and human designer, respectively), the game's soundtrack composer (Shoji Meguro), and the majority of the main Japanese voice cast (Creator/DaisukeNamikawa, ShowtaroMorikubo, Creator/YuiHorie, Creator/AmiKoshimizu, TomokazuSeki, Creator/RieKugimiya, KappeiYamaguchi, Creator/RomiPark, UnshoIshizuka, Creator/AkemiKanda, MitsuakiMadono) are on board. The first volume of the English dub, which also features virtually all of the original voice actors (Teddie and Chie gets their P4 Arena/Golden VA instead of their original ones), was released on Sept. 18th, 2012, while the second half was released on January 15th, 2013.

Please note ''Persona 4: The Animation'' is an [[AnimeOfTheGame animated adaptation]] of the EasternRPG ''VideoGame/{{Persona 4}}'' and follows roughly the same plot as the game, so beware of spoilers for the game on this page, and vice versa.

Now has a [[Recap/{{Persona 4}} recap page]].
----
!!In addition to those from [[VideoGame/{{Persona 4}} the video game]], ''Persona 4: The Animation'' provides examples of:

* AdaptationalBadass
** Izanagi. In the game Izanagi's just a cool-looking Persona with low-tier stat growth/elemental affinities/skills that most players will have gotten rid of by the second dungeon; but in the anime he comes off as the biggest badass of the entire bunch, regularly being the go to Persona when Yu needs to wipe out a particularly dangerous Shadow.
** Beelzebub is a good and late game persona but he's far from the best. When Yu fuses him in the fight against shadow Naoto, it uses Megidolaon and ''turns the entire dungeon into a smoking crater''. Then later in the anime, when [[spoiler:Namatame takes control of Yu,]] he summons various persona to fight [[spoiler:the rest of the gang]]. They don't mind much, until suddenly Beelzebub is summoned. Rise looked about ready to shit bricks after scanning him and realizing it was the same guy Yu used to beat Naoto.
** Several of Yu's other Personae count as well, during the True Ending episode. A prime example being Rakshasa (a level 16 Persona in the game) [[spoiler:going toe-to-toe with Yoshitsune (who is a whopping level 75) during Yu's battle against Margaret. ]]
** [[spoiler:Adachi]] certainly became one of these in episodes 24 and 25. He went from being a simple battle that's mostly warm up for the fight with [[spoiler: Ameno-Sagiri]] to being able to defy gravity, teleport and create clones of himself. Heck, he even has [[spoiler:the reaper]] on his side! Not to mention that he [[CurbStompBattle royally schools]] Yu in the first part of their MirrorMatch, even managing to bring him to his knees.
** Rise's Personas get a moment of badass in Episode 25. Note that in the game proper, Himiko and Kanzeon have no attacks and are glorified MissionControl. In the anime, Himiko and later Kanzeon join the other Personas in directly attacking [[spoiler:Ameno-Sagiri]].
* AdaptationExpansion
** By cutting out nearly all of the dungeon-crawling, the anime has more time to focus on the characters' backstories.
*** For example, the third episode shows [[CrowningMomentofHeartwarming the start of Chie and Yukiko's friendship]], something that was first shown in the manga adaptation but only mentioned briefly in the game.
*** Episode 9 shows Rise letting her manager knowing she's done being an idol and even lets us hear one of her songs (in lieu of an Opening).
*** Episode 10 expands the scenes right before the Shadow Rise fight, especially when she splits into seven and each clone drops rather brutal verbal bullying on the real one.
*** Also of note is episode 12, which gives considerable CharacterDevelopment to Yu/The Main Character, something he lacked in the game proper due to being pretty much a vessel for the player.
*** Episode 15 expands on the King's Game by having Yu get in on the crazy hijinks, whereas he usually responds to player choices in the game proper (See MundaneMadeAwesome below). The girls get in on it, too. After Chie is forced to sit on Yu's lap, Yukiko and then Rise decide to "show her how it's done." Yosuke demands that Yu stops hogging them all, to which Yu pushes up his glasses and responds [[LargeHam "It's because I'm... the king."]]
** Certain relationships are also made more important in the anime than in the game. [[spoiler:Naoto]] and Nanako, for example (see BigBrotherInstinct below). Kanji and Naoto also get a lot more ShipTease.
** Additionally, the killer is hinted at much more obviously in the anime. Take for example the fact that in the anime the cop [[spoiler:Naoto was fighting with was Adachi, rather than some random, unnamed officer]].
** [[spoiler:Naoto]] is also given an early RedHerring status (see RedHerring below).
** Shadow [[spoiler:Naoto]] loses the MadScientist act and instead talks coldly and bluntly while deconstructing its owner. It also goes half the way and binds its owner to a metal operating table while it has the chance, where in the game, the team starts the fight immediately after it goes berserk.
* AdultsAreUseless: Justified, no rational adult would believe there's an alternate dimension that can entered through a TV.
* AdrenalineMakeover: The protagonist after he gets his Persona. He [[FemaleGaze lets his uniform jacket hang open]] and even ''smiles.''
* TheAnimeOfTheGame
* AndTheAdventureContinues: Despite the series' supposed end with Episode 25 (The battle against [[spoiler:Adachi and Ameno-Sagiri]]), the REAL final episode, "No One is Alone", was released when Vol. 10 of the anime was released this past August in Japan. Naturally, the episode focuses on [[spoiler:the final battle against Izanami as well as a battle against Margaret, though not necessarily in the manner someone who has played the original game would expect...]]
* AscendedMeme
** What was once a throwaway line in the game about cabbage became Adachi's signature item thanks to the fandom. And that meme became immortalized in the animated adaptation.
** Also, the line [[spoiler:"Bitches and Whores"]], a line misattributed to Adachi courtesy of a fan edit to a Persona 4 {{Hentai}} doujinshi is now actually said by him in a plot centric piece of dialogue in Episode 24.
* ArmorPiercingQuestion: PlayedForLaughs in the HotSpringsEpisode.
-->'''Nanako:''' Teddie-chan, Onii-chan...[[CovertPervert are you perverts?]]\\
'''Teddie''' and '''Yu:''' [[HeroicBSOD AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA]]
* AsLongAsThereIsEvil: [[spoiler:Ameno-Sagiri comments that he is a manifestation of the collective unconscious of humanity.]] As long as there are people who want him, he will reappear again.
* AttractiveBentGender: [[spoiler:Naoto]], who has ''at least'' one male and ''at least'' one (albeit off screen) female character crushing on her. [[spoiler:Teddie]] is also an example, winning the cross dressing pageant by a landslide. It's commented offhand that [[spoiler:Naoto]] won the beauty pageant because there were both boys ''and'' girls voting.
* AwesomenessByAnalysis: [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IG_3jCkKBAU The dub does this for the Mega Beef Bowl Challenge]]. Yu is [[JohnnyYongBosch also using his]] [[Manga/{{Trigun}} Vash the Stampede]] interpretation of said bowl while ''using'' the in-game script!
-->''All of these skills are needed to finish off '''[[ChewingTheScenery THE MEGA BEEF BOWL]]'''.''
* TheBechdelTest: It passes, having featured numerous conversations between Yukiko and Chie.
* {{Bifauxnen}}: [[spoiler:Naoto]]
* BigBrotherInstinct: Most of the group has its moments, but there are two main examples.
** Yu is the bigger example. He may be irreverent and a little [[{{Cloudcuckoolander}} cuckoo]], but he really loves Nanako, taking up the mantle of her older brother with ease and frequently having her around when he's hanging out with friends. The depth of feeling between the two is especially evident in episode 22.
** Naoto is an [[GenderInvertedTrope inversion]], [[spoiler:because she is a girl]]. The first time we see Naoto's true colors is when Nanako is upset about her "case," dressed up in her Detective Loveline costume. Naoto picks up Nanako's abandoned magnifying glass, hands it back to her and encourages her not to give up by telling her that a detective should see the case through until it's over. When they visit the Amagi Inn and most of the others want to stay up in the baths, Naoto falls asleep with Nanako, and the two share a bed.
* BigDamnMovie: With ''[[http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=14342 Persona 4 The Animation - Factor of Hope]]'', a 90-minute movie including never-before seen footage and the events of the final episode. It was included as the "Bonus Disc" of the final volume of the anime in Japan.
* BlandNameProduct: Episode 5 has a blink-and-you'll-miss-it portion where Ai and Yu go to "Atzrbucks Coffee" (though it's only visible written that way in the background with an abstract logo, and the top portion only shows the end of "-RBUCKS COFFEE" so it could easily be mistaken for ProductPlacement).
* {{Bokukko}}: [[spoiler:Naoto]]
* BookEnds
** The first thing Yu kills is one of the shadows attacking the group in Episode 1 -- he does so by plunging Izanagi's sword through the shadow's head. In the [[spoiler:sort-of]] final (25th) episode -- in the fight against [[spoiler:Adachi and his Persona Magatsu Izanagi]]? Yu's Izanagi plunges his sword straight through [[spoiler:Magatsu Izanagi]]'s head. The scenes even look exactly the same.
** Yosuke's social link is the first non-automatic social link that gets initiated in the game. In the adaption, it's also the last one that gets resolved.
** When Narukami first arrives at Yasoinaba train station, he is alone and depressed by how boring his new home seems. When he departs in the end, he is surrounded by friends and his memories make him smile despite having to say goodbye.
* BreatherEpisode
** Episode 5 is ''definitely'' this; bringing the plot to a halt after the Shadow Yukiko battle to focus on the Strength and Moon Social Links.
** Episodes 13 and 14 focus on the summer break and Yu's Social Links ''right'' after Mitsuo's capture.
** Episode 19 is also a breather, focused entirely on the cultural festival and coming right after a comparably tense episode dealing with Nanako's feelings about her mother's death.
** Episode 20 as well, which focuses on the Investigation Team's night at the Amagi Inn. [[spoiler:Episode 21 is Nanako's kidnapping, and the first time we see the usually lighthearted Yu ''completely lose his shit.'']]
* BrickJoke
** Episode 6; The delivery scene.
** After seeing Shadow Yukiko on the Midnight Channel, Yu states that he wished he recorded it. By episode 10, this has turned into a running gag. This includes Yu rapidly hitting the record button while Rise is "showing her stuff", and then immediately trying to view it after the Midnight Channel ends. Unfortunately for Yu, it doesn't turn out as planned.
* BungledSuicide: Happens in episode 25 when Yu defeats [[spoiler:Adachi, who promptly turns his own gun on himself and tries to pull the trigger before Yu can stop him.]] He's found to be alive after [[spoiler:Ameno-Sagiri is defeated]] though.
* ButtMonkey: The guys for some episodes, with Yosuke taking the brunt of it.
* CallingTheOldManOut: Yu does this to Dojima in episode 18.
* TheCameo: [[spoiler:The ''VideoGame/{{Persona 3}}'' main character]] at the end of ''Factor of Hope''.
* CanonName: Although the protagonist [[HelloInsertNameHere has no official name in the game]], he is named Yu Narukami both in this anime and in [[VideoGame/Persona4Arena the fighting game sequel]].
* CantGetAwayWithNuthin: Yosuke shows Yu the two swords that he found in his backyard. Not moments latter a cop notice them and the two of them are arrested and sent to jail.
* CassandraTruth
** In Episode 14, Dojima and Adachi ask Yu what he's been doing late. His response: "[[ItMakesSenseInContext A fox told me to pick up a part-time job.]]" Predictably, Dojima and Adachi just laugh at him.
** Played for laughs in the 15th episode, when a drunk Yukiko and Rise tell Naoto all about the Personas, but the latter flatly refuses to believe it.
** Played seriously in episode 21 when [[spoiler:Yu is being interrogated at police station by his uncle. Again, he explains about Personas, but Dojima just doesn't believe him.]]
* CatFight: Ai and Chie get into one in episode 5.
* CensorSteam: Episode 20 makes liberal use of this in the Hot Springs scenes.
* ChekhovsGunman: Pretty much [[ChekhovsArmory every single person in episode 13 shows up in episode 14.]]
* ClarkKenting: Subverted; Rise puts on fake glasses to try and disguise herself, but people still recognize her immediately.
* {{Cloudcuckoolander}}: The fanbase cannot decide if Yu is this, or a DeadpanSnarker. And then there's Margaret.
* CombatSadomasochist: The two MachoCamp flunky Shadows alongside Kanji's Shadow ''really'' enjoy getting hit.
* ComicalOverreacting: While the characters normally summon their Personas when they're actually engaged in battle, they do so immediately the moment they meet [[CampGay Shadow Kanji]].
* ContinuityCavalcade
** When the Investigation teams visits Gekkoukan High in episode 15, all the background music changes to ''VideoGame/{{Persona 3}}'' tracks.
** The OP Song for the episode when the gang goes to [[VideoGame/{{Persona 3}} Tatsumi Port Island]] is none other than "Burn my Dread".
** The "King's Game" background music is none other than the battle theme from ''VideoGame/{{Persona 3}}'', "Mass Destruction".
* ContinuityNod: Although the anime is much abbreviated, attentive viewers can note specific bits from the games that are still present.
** Though he no longer draws attention to or explains it, Igor repeats the Tarot reading he did in the beginning of the game during the very first episode.
** VideoGameInterfaceElements are featured during transitions, fight scenes and the mid-episode {{Eye Catch}}es.
** Various Social Link characters are present in the background of scenes they have no involvement in.
** Yu has a habit of folding [[ThousandOrigamiCranes multiple origami cranes]] in his free time.
** Many scenes that were changed or added to the anime still borrow directly from other events featured or mentioned during the game.
*** A flashback detailing Chie and Yukiko's first meeting in episode 3.
*** Yukiko's pet bird in episode 4, hinted at during the opening cinematic of the game.
*** Adachi coming back from shopping at Junes with nothing but cabbage in episode 7.
*** Rise's decision to quit being an idol in episode 9.
** Personas and Shadows demonstrate abilities related to ones they have in the game.
*** Chie's shadow has her Persona Tomoe's weaknesses in episode 3.
*** Also, Nice Guy and Tough Guy causing Chie and Yukiko to get mad and making Yu and Yosuke collapse reference two abilities Shadow Kanji has in the game; Roar of Wrath (which inflicts Rage on female characters) and Forbidden Murmur (which inflicts Poison on male characters).
*** [[spoiler:Shadow Mitsuo]] inflicts Fear status on Yu using Evil Touch.
*** In the same episode, all the Personae that Yu uses in the battle against [[spoiler:Shadow Mitsuo]] reflect their abilities in the game -- Pyro Jack absorbs fire, Ara Mitama is strong against physical attacks, High Pixie uses Lightning, et cetera.
*** Shadow Kanji's flunkies have the same immunities as they did in the game in episode 7. Also, Yamata-no-Orochi is fused with the same Arcana combination that would be used in the game (Magician x Priestess = Moon).
*** During the battle with [[spoiler:Shadow Naoto]], when she turns Yosuke, Yu and Teddie into old people, she's actually using her Galgalim Eyes attack, which causes the Enervation status. The connection to the game is further established by having Kintoki-Douji use Energy Shower to reverse the effect - in the game, the skill Energy Shower cures the Enervation status effect.
*** [[spoiler:Shadow Naoto]] also fights like she does in the game, by exploiting weaknesses. Yu keeps having to change Personas because she keeps preparing to use attacks that his current Persona is weak to (though thanks to Rise, Yu is one step ahead).
*** During the [[spoiler:Shadow Naoto]] fight, Yu has Mot use Mudoon, which doesn't work. Naoto's Persona, Sukuna-Hikona, resists Dark attacks.
*** [[spoiler:Kuni-no-Sagiri, in possession of Namatame,]] takes control of Yu. When he breaks free, he takes control of the entire party.
*** Kohryu is the Ultimate Persona of the Hierophant Arcana, attained by maxing out the Ryotaro Dojima Social Link. In the series, [[spoiler:Dojima's spirit somehow assists Yu across worlds, allowing Yu to fuse Kohryu.]]
*** Sraosha using Mahamaon to [[spoiler:exorcise the shadows that possessed Namatame]], a Light-based OneHitKill that can instant kill regular enemies.
*** Chie finishes off the [[spoiler:Reaper (at least, the one she and Yukiko are fighting)]] by having Tomoe use God Hand on it.
*** [[spoiler:Ameno-Sagiri uses Nebula Oculus (complete with "[[SuckingInLines charging]]" mode)]] to flatten Yu and the landscape surrounding him. Then he tries to attack [[spoiler:Lucifer with a light-based beam attack... which Lucifer reflects right back at him. Lucifer learns Repel Light at level 96.]]
*** During the [[spoiler:True End episode, Margaret uses the Personas Helel, Yoshitsune, Cu Chulainn, and Loki in her battle to make Yu come to his senses; these are four of the Personas she uses during her actual boss battle in the original game. Also, all of her Persona cards are gold-colored, just like the Aeon Arcana card in Persona 3 FES and Persona 4 Golden]].
* ContinuityPorn: Just have a look at the ContinuityNod section above.
* {{Cosplay}}: When she's investigating Yu, Nanako cosplays as an in-universe fictional MagicalGirl detective named Loveline. Apparently the cosplay's so good, some kids actually think that she ''is'' Loveline.
* CreditsMontage: The ending for the first episode.
* CringeComedy
** The "Steamy Bathhouse" sequence in Episode 7, with Shadow Kanji and his flunkies' flamboyance cranked UpToEleven.
** Parts of Episode 8, as well. Bathed in Morooka's vomit much?
* CurtainsMatchTheWindow: Almost everyone, except Aika Nakamura, who has aqua teal hair and brown eyes, [[spoiler:Izanami with black hair and red eyes]], Kanji Tatsumi who's blond with beady black eyes, and Teddie's human form, with blond hair and blue eyes. Kanji is actually a double subversion, as he dyes his hair.
* CutawayGag: Twice in episode 11, both times when the team realizes they've left the head of Teddie's original body behind. Cue some kid crying at its white-eyed, soulless stare.
* ADayInTheLimelight: Episode 13 focuses on Nanako rather than Yu.
* DeathGlare
** Naturally, Kanji [[FaceOfAThug has one of these by default]].
** Yu in episode 23. See HeroicSafeMode below.
** ''The entire Investigation Team'', plus Dojima, in episode 24. (Yosuke, of all people, manages to pull this off quite well).
* DemotedToExtra
** Igor, due to his Japanese seiyuu having passed away. All of his lines in the animation are taken directly from his speaking parts in the game itself.
** Also amongst the S-Links, since the Sun S-Link are two separate stories, they chose Ayane's S-Link and as a result, the only time we see Yumi is when she's silently annoyed at Kou [[LargeHam hamming it up]] in the Culture Festival drama play.
* DumpStat: For the most part, Yu's Knowledge is lower than his other stats, with the exception of the short period where [[TheSlacker it's his Diligence that's trailing behind]].
* EleventhHourSuperpower: In the TV series semi-finale, [[spoiler:during the battle with Ameno-Sagiri, Yosuke finds the strength of heart to evolve his Persona from Jiraiya into his Ultimate Persona Susanoo, which he uses to save Yu's life. The rest of Yu's friends then express their belief in him by doing the same, evolving into Suzuka-Gongen, Amaterasu, Rokuten-Maoh, Kanzeon, Kamui, and Yamato-Takeru to drive Ameno-Sagiri back and give Yu the opening he needed to fuse the Persona of the Judgment Arcana, Lucifer.]] The same thing happens [[spoiler:with Yu in the True End OVA: after getting out of his self-induced HeroicBSOD GroundhogDayLoop, he awakens to the power of the World Arcana, and obtains his Ultimate Persona, Izanagi-no-Okami]].
* EnemyWithout: Of course, the main characters' shadows appear and have to be defeated before they can gain their respective personas. Special mention goes to [[spoiler:Yu's shadow in the final episode, which didn't appear in the game. He immediately accepts its faults as his own and thereby gains the strength to escape the LotusEaterMachine and defeat Izanami.]]
* EntitledBastard: [[spoiler: Adachi]]. He apparently has had a lot of things in his life not go his way, so he does a ton of crap because he feels the world owes him.
* EvenTheGirlsWantHer: [[spoiler:Naoto]] gets a love letter from a girl after she returns to school after her kidnapping. It's also implied that she wins the pageant in large part because of the female vote.
* EvenTheGuysWantHim: Yu. Yosuke apparently has confusing feelings for him during Episode 19's group date.
* EvolvingCredits: One of the ending credits (first appearing in episode 2) involves a lot of falling, rotating tarot cards. Their faces are left blank until Yu earns the appropriate Arcana, however.
* EyeCatch: Used to show Yu's character stat growth. It also changes at times to reflect events in the current episode: in Episode 12, [[spoiler:all of the stats are blank]], the first major clue that something is very, very wrong. In Episode 19, after Yu seamlessly plays the part of a girl in the group date cafe, his Understanding ranking is changed to "Effeminate".
* FacePalm: Yosuke does one when he's exasperated over Yu's drunk shenanigans.
* FakeBuzz: In the club of episode 15, half the characters start acting as if they're drunk, even after it's confirmed that there's no alcohol served there. Carries over to the next day, [[YourMindMakesItReal where the ones who acted drunk don't seem to remember much of the previous day.]]
* FastForwardGag: Yu has one of these in episode 19 when explaining the importance of entering the school's beauty pageant to the girls.
* TheFellowshipHasEnded: What Yu initially fears is that his band of friends he has gathered will fall apart just as quickly once they're no longer unified by their quest to find the killer.
* FemaleGaze
** There's several shots of Yosuke's backside in the first few episodes, [[EatingTheEyeCandy Yu's open uniform jacket after he summons Izanagi for the first time]] and the pure fanservice that was Yosuke LickingTheBlade in episode 3. Complete with [[DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything close-up and slurping sound.]]
** Taken further in Episode 15: [[MrFanservice Yu's]] [[http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_ly4jxqHoek1qh9on7.gif pretty ripped]].
** And after [[TheBigGuy Kanji]] shows up, he's often seen wearing a sleeveless shirt, which lets the animators focus quite a bit on his rather muscular arms.
* FinalExamFinale: Episode 12 / the mid-season finale, where the entire team needs to work together and Yu needs to unleash all the Arcana he's gathered except Star over the past 11 episodes to take down Shadow Mitsuo.
* {{Flanderization}}: Condensing the game down to a 26 episode series is bound to make this happen, though Yosuke and Chie get it especially bad.
** Chie [[AbuseIsOkayWhenItsFemaleOnMale kicks]] Yosuke over the smallest of annoyances (i.e. he says her handwriting is sloppy).
** Yosuke has his {{Jerkass}} tendencies exaggerated quite a bit. Additionally, he was the de facto MrExposition in the game (given the SilentProtagonist), and basically in many ways acted like the leader of the group. Now that Yu is SuddenlyVoiced, Yosuke has much less competence.
* FunnyBackgroundEvent
** Teddie's Persona holding off the Dice in episode 11 while the character discuss their strategy for dealing with the Shadow... Tediie's Persona just bouncing around in the background, occasionally casting a spell.
** In episode 13, keep an eye on Kanji, frantically eating his watermelon at top speed.
* GetAholdOfYourselfMan
** Yu pulls this trope on Yosuke during the fight with his Shadow. Yu [[DeadpanSnarker claims]] that it was an accident, but turns it into a straight example with the lines he delivers after the punch.
** [[spoiler:Margaret does this to Narukami after his HeroicBSOD in the True End episode.]]
* GettingCrapPastTheRadar: While Narukami is watching Rise's shadow on the Midnight Channel, we see his right arm [[ADateWithRosiePalms moving rhythmically]]. The next shot reveals it's his hand around the remote, continuously clicking the record button.
* TheGlassesComeOff: All members of the Investigation team (sans Teddie) do this at the end of the 3rd opening. And, of course, there's [[spoiler:Yu removing his damaged glasses before unleashing the full power of the World Arcana on Izanami]].
* GlassesPull
** Yu has enacted this trope at least twice now, seemingly for no other reason then to be a [[LargeHam ham]]. Namely, during his attempt to catch the guardian, and during the anime's version of the "King's Game" event.
** Not to mention [[UpToEleven every single party member besides Teddie]] in the second opening.
* AGlitchInTheMatrix
** When Yu [[spoiler:is dragged into Shadow Mitsuo's LotusEaterMachine]], he catches on that something is up when he tries to put his hand in the TV and it no longer works. With the deception revealed, Shadow Mitsuo reveals itself and starts giving him one hell of a HannibalLecture.
** [[spoiler:The True End episode seems to start off normally, but it immediately becomes apparent to Yu that something is wrong when the events of the day before he is set to leave Inaba keep repeating themselves. Turns out it was the result of a GroundhogDayLoop he created after suffering an absolutely ''epic'' HeroicBSOD watching Izanami kill all of his friends.]]
* GratuitousEnglish
** It continues the trend.
-->''Bonds of people is the true power.''
** Look no further than the opening and ending songs! The opening especially has caused a lot of {{mondegreen}}s.
** Though the preceding text before the 2nd Ending theme is decent, the first line of that text however comes of as if [[Franchise/StarWars Yoda]] was speaking it.
** One of Shadow Kanji's flunkies speaks nothing but Engrish.
* GroundhogDayLoop: The final episode. Narukami repeats his final day with his friends over and over out of fear of being alone.
* HannibalLecture
** Like in the game, the Shadows do this to their hosts, but Shadow Mitsuo gives a very bone-chilling one to Yu [[spoiler:inside the LotusEaterMachine]]:
-->'''Shadow Mitsuo:''' You have no bonds. Friendship is an illusion. You are empty.
** Yu gets another one from [[spoiler:Izanami after watching her drag all of his friends to their deaths. He does NOT take this one well at all.]]
** [[spoiler: Adachi]] attempts to give everybody one, but it results in the ShutUpHannibal below.
* HarmfulToMinors: How Yosuke tries to stop Teddie from removing his head, as it would scar the kids for the rest of their lives.
* HeartSymbol: When [[spoiler:Naoto]] tells the group she was scared, Kanji gets these floating around him.
* HeroicSafeMode: In episode 23 [[spoiler:Nanako's apparent death]] causes Yu to enter this state, and it's scary as hell, particularly his [[http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pBR80ez_Zts/T2O8wzJuIAI/AAAAAAAAAgU/HUcxPa3IHfs/s1600/ScreenHunter_59%2BMar.%2B16%2B18.17.jpg expression]] [[spoiler:when he nearly kills Namatame]]. He's able to regain control of himself long enough for the situation to calm down, but once everyone goes their separate ways (save for Youske), he snaps out of it and [[PostVictoryCollapse breaks into]] [[NotSoStoic tears]].
* HiddenDepths: A key part of the series is exploring various characters' hidden depths.
** Yosuke seems like he hasn't got a care in the world, [[spoiler:but he's really bored with everyone and everything in his life.]]
** Chie is a tomboy and tries to be an ideal best friend and protector for Yukiko, [[spoiler:but she's often jealous of Yukiko's looks and the attention Yukiko gets from boys.]]
** Yukiko plays the part of the perfect daughter and future innkeeper, [[spoiler:though she feels stifled by the fact that her path in life has already been decided for her.]]
** Ai is a stereotypical AlphaBitch on the surface, [[spoiler:but underneath it all, she's a bundle of insecurities.]]
** Kanji acts like a stereotypical punk/manly man, [[spoiler:but he also loves cute things, is kind to children, loves his mother and enjoys sewing and knitting.]]
** Rise, the ex-idol, [[spoiler:doesn't know who the real Rise is, and is struggling to find herself in the midst of the identities that have been manufactured for her.]]
** Teddie realizes the implications of the fact that despite his cuteness, [[spoiler:he is empty inside]].
** Naoto plays the part of a mature young man, [[spoiler:but is actually a young girl who is insecure about her age and gender because her chosen profession is one dominated by men.]]
** Dojima has spent so much time dedicated to his work, [[spoiler:he's never taken up the role of father the way he should have.]]
** Nanako is a sweet young girl [[spoiler:with abandonment issues brought on by the fact that her father never seems to have time for her.]]
** Even Yu gets in on the act. Outwardly, he comes across as both TheStoic and TheAce with a ''really'' strange sense of humor (the audience isn't sure whether he's a DeadpanSnarker or CloudCuckooLander; it's hard to tell). [[spoiler:In episode 12 we find out that even ''he'' [[IJustWantToHaveFriends just wants to have friends]], and is deeply afraid of being abandoned by the people he's close to]]. This is further explored and confirmed in [[spoiler:Episode 26, when Yu ends up facing ''his own'' Shadow during his battle with Margaret:]]
-->[[spoiler:'''Shadow Yu''']]: [[spoiler:I felt depressed when I was separated from everyone... losing your friends and advancing alone is terrifying... I don't want to be alone. It's too much to bear...]]
* HomoeroticSubtext
** Episode 12 seems to have a lot of this between Yu and Yosuke. Yosuke pulls Yu out of [[spoiler:Mitsuo's Shadow's illusion]], and they then look each other in the eye while in Jiraiya's arms. At the end of the episode, Yosuke calls Yu by his first name.
** Episode 15 and the Love Hotel, Chie, Yukiko, and Rise in the rotating bed having giggle fits. Something similar happens when Teddie, Yosuke, and Kanji end up in a bed together, except in that case the only one laughing is Teddie.
** Episode 19 has some tension between [[EvenTheGuysWantHim Yu]] and Yosuke during the group date. Yosuke says that he feels he was "about to cross a line that should never be crossed," and searches frantically for a drink.
** Episode 25 had something similar to Episode 12. [[spoiler:Yosuke shouts Yu's name while being the first to awaken to Susanoo-o and uses it to save Yu from Ameno-Sagiri.]]
* HorribleCampingTrip: Episode 8. Especially horrible for poor [[ButtMonkey Kanji]].
* HotSpringsEpisode: Episode 20, when the group spends the night at the Amagi Inn.
* IAlwaysWantedToSayThat
** In the opening of the 6th episode, Igor is not in the Velvet Room so Margaret says "Welcome to the Velvet Room" in his place then invokes this trope.
** Adachi, when he arrests Rise's stalker.
** Teddie, the first time he summons his Persona. ("Bear-sona!")
* IWishedYouWereDead: Saki's true feelings reveal that she wished Junes, her father's store, Shopping District, to be dead.
* IdiosyncraticEpisodeNaming: They're called Scents and are titled in English.
* IdolSinger: Risette
* InnocentSwearing
** In episode 20, Nanako happily announces to the group that [[spoiler:Margaret]], the fortune teller at the cultural festival, told her that Yu was a "gigolo".
** Subverted in the dub in which she says he's a "man-whore". Possibly a reference to the game where it was sometimes needed to juggle female social-links to get them all maxed.
* InsaneTrollLogic: Teddie's response to how the main villain rationalizes his actions.
* InVinoVeritas: Subverted. [[FakeBuzz No vino]], [[CassandraTruth plenty of veritas]].
* JapaneseDelinquents
** Kanji is designed as this. Dyed blond hair? Check. Frequently [[TrrrillingRrrs rolls r's]] to convey rage? Check. Scar on forehead? Check. Wears uniform inappropriately? Check. Foul-mouthed? Check.
** Izanagi is also modeled after a stereotypical Japanese gang leader.
* KarmaHoudini
** [[DoomedByCanon Let's face it]], ''the girls'' surely don't get their comeuppance for their mistreatment on the boys in episode 20. Somewhat mitigated in the dub, as the reason the girls don't forgive them is because whilst the girls are at fault for the mix-up with the hot springs, they accuse the guys of trying to perve on them, which Yosuke admits to.
** Yu himself is one in episode 15 as he doesn't get punished for taking a picture of Kanji, Teddie, and Yosuke together in their hotel room, much to the latter's dismay.
* LargeHam: A few of the characters get to indulge in some hamminess, but the crown goes to Yu. The cross-dressing pageant is just one example of Yu seriously hamming it up.
* LateArrivalSpoiler
** The anime assumes most of the viewers have already [[VideoGame/{{Persona 4}} played the game]], and because of this, certain scenes are played with much less fanfare ([[spoiler:Teddie revealing his human body was a big deal in the game, in the anime he just popped his head off and things continued from there]]). They also put less effort into hiding things ([[spoiler:Naoto was harder to figure out in the Japanese game than in the anime]]).
** Averted with the revelation of [[spoiler:Adachi]] being the killer. The episode before the revelation ended in a cliffhanger towards his identity. Then, episode 24 starts with multiple scenes that try to avoid revealing his, and when it's finally time to let the viewers know, it has tremendous buildup.
* LotusEaterMachine
** [[spoiler:Shadow Mitsuo pulls this on Yu in episode 12,]] [[ContinuityNod and we get to see first-hand what being hit with Evil Touch]] [[AdaptationExpansion and suffering from Fear status really means.]]
** [[spoiler:Most of episode 26 is this, caused in part by Izanami to keep Yu from seeing the truth, and in part by him crossing the DespairEventHorizon]].
* LoveDodecahedron
** In episode 5, we have Ai dating Yu to make Ichijou jealous, since he's actually in love with Chie, who Yosuke tries to hook up with Yu because he thinks she likes him, incorrectly. Though Chie's reactions in later episodes when Yu compliments her suggest Yosuke might not have been wrong.
** And of course, we also get the complications from Yu being a love interest for basically any readily present female Social Link.
* LoveHotel: In episode 15, complete with funky lights and a rotating bed that all of the room's residents have to share. HilarityEnsues.
* LoveHurts: Discussed by Margaret when discussing the Lovers Arcana.
-->'''Margaret:''' Romance in moderation can fertilize the heart. But if you go overboard... ''it will prick you.''
* LowerDeckEpisode: Episode 13 gets Nanako's perspective on Yu's summer vacation.
* MaleGaze
** Chie gets quite a few closeups of her thighs in Episode 2.
** Episode 8 has the camera pan up over Yukiko and Chie's bodies after they change into their bathing suits.
** In Episode 9 they ''literally'' switch into Yosuke's point of view while both he and Yu momentarily gaze at Chie's thighs (apparently Yu likes them, but Yosuke doesn't). Episode 15 also has a closeup of her backside as she's about to sit in Yu's lap.
** In episode 9, when Rise bends over to get some ganmodoki for the guys, Yosuke stares at her ass. ''That'' he does like. Oh, and he openly gapes at her chest.
* ManlyTears: Both Yosuke and Yu indulge in these in episode 23.
* MeaningfulBackgroundEvent: In the background of episode 6, Nanako leaves a television show playing while the conversation with Yu and Dojima is going on. The words are fully intelligible, and it's very obviously reminiscent of [[spoiler:Naoto's show on the Midnight Channel,]] much later on.
-->'''Mr. Experiment:''' Thanks for tuning in, all you curious kiddos! With the body of an adult and the heart of a child, lovely whiskers and gentlemanly ways, I'm Mr. Experiment! [...] In this corner let's try to solve mysteries found in your everyday lives!
* MoodWhiplash: Episode 22. It starts with [[spoiler:Nanako having to be rescued from the TV world before getting sent to hospital]] and just when things are looking up, [[spoiler:Yu gets called to the hospital, and the episode ends with Nanako flatlining.]]
* MundaneMadeAwesome
** Yu fishing in episode 14. [[spoiler:See ThemeMusicPowerUp below.]]
** Yu catching the King's Chopstick/throwing the dart in episode 15. The battle theme from ''{{Persona 3}}'' plays as the last button on his shirt falls open, and the a battle animation flashes across the screen when he reveals his command.
** Yu commanding the other boys to hold the line while the girls chuck washtubs at their heads in episode 20.
** Episode 23 has Yu finishing the Rainy Day Special, complete with dramatic music.
* MythologyGag
** Yu's ringtone for when [[ClingyJealousGirl Ai]] calls him is Zigeunerweisen, also known as the GameOver theme from ''VideoGame/{{Catherine}}'', and his inner monologue after she calls plays out exactly like one of Vincent's.
** In episode 25, [[spoiler:after Ameno-Sagiri proclaims he'll bring Order to the world by transforming everyone into Shadows, Yu summons everyone's favorite [[OrderVersusChaos champion of Chaos]] in the main ''Franchise/ShinMegamiTensei'' series: Lucifer, the Rebel King of Hell.]]
** The 13th and 14th episodes' plots are basically an extended one to the whole aspect of building up Social Links in the games, with the 13th episode focusing on Nanako's and the Investigation Team's reactions to Yu wandering around with so many strangers.
* NeverMyFault: The girls in episode 20 continue to insist that the guys are perverts [[AccidentalPervert because they walked in on them at the hotsprings.]] [[InsaneTrollLogic They conveniently choose to ignore that Yukiko was the one who caused the mix up in the first place.]] Even worse, when the boys try and go into the other of the two hot springs because the girls are in the first one, it turns out that the girls have switched. The boys get blamed ''again''. The mistake is pointed out to the girls by the boys and they ''still won't apologize''.
** [[spoiler: Adachi]] ended causing two people to get killed by their Shadows, which made even worse in here than in the game because before throwing them into the TV, it's clear he was attempting to sexually assualt them.
* NoHoldsBarredBeatdown: A fantastic one delivered by Yu to Shadow Mitsuo after he comes out of his HeroicBSOD. He summons Persona after Persona to pound the shield around Mitsuo into dust. Every single one of those Personas are powered by his Social Links: his bonds with his friends. [[AwesomeMoments WHO'S empty, Shadow Mitsuo?]]
* {{Nosebleed}}: Kanji gets one of these in episode 8, and again in episode 19 during the beauty pageant. Both times, it's girls who cause it, which really adds to the confusion of his sexuality.
* NotDrawnToScale: Teddie and Naoto get this the worst. Walking out of the Textile Shop in episode 6, Naoto is just taller than Yu's shoulder in one shot and barely shorter than his shoulder height in the next. When Naoto and Kanji are talking outside, in one shot the top of his head reaches just below Kanji's chest. In a few seconds, Naoto only seems to reach Kanji's ''waist''. Later on in the episode, he is shown as up to Kanji's shoulder. Episode 21 has Naoto looking slightly taller than, slightly shorter than and the same height as Adachi.
* NoThemeTune: Episodes 23 and 24 open with just the title cards, no theme song. Epsiode 25 also forgoes the theme tune, instead showing the title card just as [[spoiler:Adachi is presumed to have shot Yu in the head]].
* PragmaticAdaptation: In an effort to condense a 90+ hour game into 26 half-hour episodes, the anime seems to be showing no class time and cutting out the vast majority of the dungeon crawling--basically showing condensed versions of the dungeon plots and then skipping straight to the boss battles. It seems that they will also be showing the very sidestory-ish Social Link plots, however. Similarly, the team no longer uses weapons, since it's a whole lot harder to convince viewers that the investigation team has been sneaking swords and chairs into Junes under their clothes when everything is being fully animated.
* PrecisionFStrike
** The name of the third-last episode: "The World is Full of Shit"
** In the final confrontation with the killer, Yu kick's off the team's epic ShutUpHannibal with this.
-->'''Yu:''' I'm sick of your ''Bullshit!''
** In the English Dubbed version of Episode 20, Kanji says "Fuck off" in his sleep. This is the only instance of the F-word in the English translation.
* [[PromotedToLoveInterest Promoted to]] [[TheNotLoveInterest the Not Love Interest]]: Yosuke. In light of Yu not forming a romantic relationship with any of the females in the anime, Yosuke undoubtedly becomes the closest to him. He is always the one who jumps to Yu's aid when he is in serious trouble, is the one person who stays behind [[spoiler:for Yu to cry on when Nanako dies,]] and Yosuke is the first one [[spoiler:who evolves his Persona in order to rescue Yu.]]
* {{Pun}}
** In episode 9, Yukiko calls Chie's Persona a "Chie pet". As if that single pun wasn't enough for her, she then goes off on a short tangent about Tomoe -- Chie's persona is Tomoe, Chie is moe.
** Episode 15 has one that gets LostInTranslation. Teddie and Yukiko laugh at a pun on Kanji's name, "ii kanji," which means "good feeling/s". The subbers settle for using the pun that was used in the game, "Great Kanjecture". For bonus points, the latter isn't just lame -- it doesn't make a lot of sense.
* RealLifeWritesThePlot: Igor's role is severely reduced because his voice actor passed away and they're only using his archived dialogue from the game.
* RedOniBlueOni: Applies to Yu and [[spoiler:Adachi]], who are the Blue and Red Oni, respectively. [[spoiler:When they meet face to face in Magatsu Inaba, Adachi gradually has VillainousBreakdown while Yu [[TheStoic calmly]] tells him to ShutUpHannibal. Also, Adachi's Magatsu Izanagi is primarily [[ColorCodedForYourConvenience red]] in contrast to Yu's Izanagi and its [[ColorCodedForYourConvenience blue]] aura.]] It could also apply in the game, but it applies more here due to the fact that Yu has a personality here.
* RedHerring: Like in the game, the in-universe version is [[spoiler:Mitsuo]]. For the audience, we also get [[spoiler:Naoto]] as a bit of a RedHerring early on. When Yu first sees him eerie music plays and the shot fixates on his eyes during a tense sideways glance. That's not to mention that he spends time with [[spoiler:Kanji, right before Kanji disappears.]] The SpoilerOpening ruins the latter example, though.
* RunningGag
** Yu and his attempts to tape the Midnight Channel programs.
** Aika making deliveries/working in increasing unlikely places. Not only does she work at Aiya, make a delivery in the middle of a chase scene, and bring food to the protagonists on top of a mountain in the middle of the school camping trip, but she also has a job at a noodle shop at Tatsumi Port Island and at the Amagi Inn. They try to explain away the job at Tatsumi Port Island, but by the Amagi Inn episode, [[RuleOfFunny the writers stopped caring.]]
* SceneryCensor: In addition to CensorSteam, episode 20 uses this to hide the girls' lady bits from the audience. There are many, many conveniently positioned arms. At one point, a washtub held at a funny angle is used to hide [[spoiler:Naoto's]] entire upper half.
* SchoolFestival: Episode 19, complete with a cheesy play, beauty pageant, cross-dressing pageant and a "Group Date Cafe."
* ScoobyStack
** Once while Chie and Yosuke spy on Kanji and Naoto in episode 6.
** Again in episode 8 while the rest of the group watches Kanji and Hanako.
** In episode 9, Yosuke and Kanji while they're staking out the tofu shop.
* SequelHook: At the [[spoiler:supposed]] end of the TV series, [[spoiler:Igor presents Yu with the Orb of Sight, forged from the strength of his bonds and which can dispel falsehoods]]. The late introduction of this element hints that there's one plot line left dangling...
* ShipTease
** Episode 2 has Chie and Yosuke share a hug. She then knees him in the groin.
** Chie's acting disapproving of Ai and Yu's relationship cues [[ShipperOnDeck Yosuke]] to ship them in episode 5. Naturally, Yu/Chie fans like this one, too.
** Episode 8 has Yukiko and Narukami hiding in one sleeping bag together and Chie and Yosuke in another. When the time comes for actual sleep, they switch it up and Yosuke and Yu, and Yukiko and Chie sleep next to each other. When Yu says good night to Yukiko and turns around to go to sleep, he and Yosuke are ''spooning'' (though they apparently don't do this for the entire night).
** Pretty much most scenes with those 4 in it, or Naoto and Kanji are some form of shiptease. The studio sure knew the fanbase well.
** Episodes 9 and 10 have a lot of moments that would make Narukami/Rise fans {{Squee}} with joy, including a rather nice moment by the riverbank.
** Episode 15 features some between Yu and Chie; they share a personal moment on a alone on a park bench as the sun sets, with some blushing on Chie's part. Yu and all of the other girls get this, too ([[spoiler:except, of course, Naoto, still presumed to be a boy]]). King's Game, yo. The King's Game also gives us a rather (ahem) interesting Teddie/Kanji moment, [[YaoiFangirl if you're into that sort of thing]]. Kanji/Naoto gets teased as well. Kanji blushes when he looks at Naoto across the train station. He does the same again when they're all out "drinking" and Teddie is embarrassing him.
** Episode 17 gives a healthy boost to the Naoto/Kanji ship by showing that [[spoiler:[[SweetOnPollyOliver he's still attracted to her]]]]. He even gets some floating hearts when talking to the group at Junes. (See HeartSymbol above)
*** Episode 19 teases this one a lot. Kanji begs Naoto to 'make him a man.' He also gets a nosebleed at the thought of seeing Naoto in a bathing suit, even with Naoto's refusal to come out from behind the curtain [[SeriousBusiness (complete with Kanji getting so excited they show the animation usually reserved for summoning Personae)]]. Earlier in the episode, during the group date, he describes his ideal partner as mysterious, with a strong facade. Now who might that be?
*** Episode 20 also has Kanji blushing and acting awkward and Kanji-ish when Naoto mentions the pageant. Later when Kanji hops into bed with whom he assumes is Chie, Yosuke [[CantActPervertedTowardALoveInterest wonders out loud why he didn't seek Naoto out.]]
** Episode 22 has the first major tease of Yu/Naoto, a fan favorite. Naoto talks about being happy to be seen as valuable for something other than detective skills. Naoto then blushes, and rushes off and heads in the wrong direction, forgetting it's still the middle of the school day.
* ShoutOut
** When Yu commanded Chie to sit on his lap he was channeling [[Manga/KusoMisoTechnique a certain memetic manga.]]
** One episode has Yu and Nanko watching a news report about "[[Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion Pen Pen the Penguin]]".
** Chie tells Naoto that she's living the life of a detective like Kindaichi.
** Naoto's Midnight Channel area, like in the video game, shows a lot of references to tokusatsu series, including the 'Franchise/KamenRider'' series.
* ShipperOnDeck: Yosuke tries to be this for Yu/Chie.
* ShutUpHannibal
** Yu does an absolutely awesome ''nonverbal'' version to Shadow Mitsuo in episode 12.
** In the final confrontation with [[spoiler:Adachi]] in the game, the party delivers one to their foe as a group, and this person [[ShutUpKirk all but brushes it off]]. But in the final TV episode, [[spoiler:where they've been split up, every group of party members delivers its own rebuttal to Adachi separately, wearing him down. By the time we get back to Yu and he delivers his own ShutUpHannibal, Adachi ''completely loses it''.]]
* SimultaneousArcs: Episodes 13 & 14 are the same series of days, except they're told from the point of views of Nanako & Yu respectively.
* SkinshipGrope: In Episode 20, the rest of the girls grope [[spoiler:Naoto]] in the hot springs while admiring her soft hair and skin.
* SoundtrackDissonance: In episode 21, the first chords of the soft, mellow ending theme start playing while [[spoiler:Dojima is laying injured in the street, begging Yu to save his daughter, "his only reason for living." ''Even more'' jarring in that only moments ago we saw Yu, whose video game counterpart was a HeroicMime, have his first true (however brief) [[GetAholdOfYourselfMan emotional breakdown]] of the series.]] It is then averted for effect in Episode 22. The credits play with no animation or music after the end-of-episode scent, setting episode 23 up to look ''very, very'' bleak.
* SpoilerOpening: Just like in the game, the opening gives away [[spoiler:many of the]] kidnapping victims, as well as the identities of the full investigation team. If one hasn't played the game, the script and direction of the anime is clearly intended to make a RedHerring out of [[spoiler:Naoto]] (see above), but simply watching the credits pretty much tells you [[spoiler:she's a good guy all along.]]
* SpurnedIntoSuicide: Almost played straight ([[SuicideAsComedy and for lulz]]) by [[spoiler:Ai Ebihara]] in episode 5. [[spoiler:After she overhears that Kou doesn't care for her romantically and likes Chie better, Ai is so distraught that she runs off crying to the roof of the school and prepares to climb over the fence and jump over the edge. Luckily, Yu gives chase and manages to talk her out of it.]]
* StatOVision: How Rise's [[MissionControl support role]] is represented in the anime, via Himiko's "visor." It displays the traditional game interface, including enemy HP, skills, stats, and what they (or Yu's Personas) are planning to do next.
* StatusQuoIsGod: Yu's potential romances from the game never go beyond ShipTease.
* TheStinger
** They tend to show whatever Yu sees on the Midnight Channel.
** Also, [[spoiler:The TV run of the anime ended with Igor handing Yu an "Orb of Foresight," hinting that things aren't quite over yet...at which point a trailer for Volume 10, and the "True End" episode, immediately aired.]]
** The movie, ''Factor of Hope'', ends with a [[spoiler:flashback to 2010, where Minato Arisato (the FanNickname of Persona 3's protagonist) is preparing to shoot an Evoker at his head. This became the offical teaser trailer for the upcoming Persona 3 movie.]]
* SuperDickery: [[spoiler:Episode 26 begins with Margret slapping Yuu and preparing to kill him for no explained reason. It then flashes back and reveals that Margret was pulling a GetAholdOfYourselfMan]]
* SurprisinglyGoodEnglish: While at first, most of the episode titles were in pretty good English, the winning streak ended with Episode 18 with the awkward-sounding "Anniversary to Become a Family".
* SuspiciouslySpecificDenial: Kanji in Episode 8:
-->'''Kanji:''' I didn't sleep with anyone or anything!
* SweetOnPollyOliver: [[spoiler:Kanji's]] sweet on [[spoiler:Naoto.]]
* {{Synchronization}}: The characters feel the pain their Personas feel.
* TakeOurWordForIt: Yu's apparently so persuasive and eloquent that he manages to give a speech just over 30 minutes long about why the girls should participate in the beauty pageant. It actually convinces them to go ahead with it, too. [[FastForwardGag Too bad we don't get to hear any of it.]]
* TheTeaser: Every episode opens with a short meeting with Igor and/or Margaret in the Velvet Room, except for three episodes. In one episode, Velvet Room is empty with message from Igor apologizing they couldn't be present. In the second to last, [[spoiler:Teddie]] is in it. And the last one doesn't start with it at all.
* TechnologyMarchesOn: In the game, the cell phones used by the Investigation Team look rather dated by 2011 (incidentally, when the story is set) terms, so the anime gives them smart phones. It's only a matter of time before this takes effect again, however.
* ThemeMusicPowerUp: It is the dead of night. All hope seems lost. Yu is alone, beaten but not defeated. All his efforts have been in vain, and it seems nothing he can do will help him overcome. But then he stands, determination burning in his heart. He rallies his strength and summons the [[VideoGame/{{Persona 4}} original game]]'s battle ThemeTune, "Reach Out To The Truth," and he ''faces out'', he ''holds out'', he [[spoiler:[[FishingMinigame casts his fishing line]] and [[ThatOneSidequest finally catches]] [[TheCatfish the Guardian]]]].
* ThirdOptionAdaptation: Averted for the most part. Yu's Strength and Sun social links are Kou and Ayase respectively (with Daisuke being a supporting character and Yumi being DemotedToExtra) and a lot of Yu's talking parts are actual responses that the player can give in the game. Subverted in the King's game, where he settles on Chie sitting on his lap, but Yukiko and Rise join in later anyway.
* TitleTheAdaptation
* TookALevelInJerkass: The girls in episode 20.
* TranquilFury: Being TheStoic, Yu does this a lot. Episode 23 has a ''really'' scary case of this.
* UnmovingPlaid: School uniforms and, occasionally, Naoto's pants.
* UrbanFantasy
* UselessUsefulSpell
** Yu tries to use Mot to cast Mudoon on Shadow Naoto. It spectacularly fails to do anything of note. Bosses in the game are immune to Light and Dark attacks, since they're instant kills.
** He also tries it against [[spoiler:Margaret's Loki in episode 26.]] Again, it fails.
* VerbalTic: Kuma/Teddie's constant use of "Kuma" (his name) in his sentences. Like in the game, Teddie makes [[IncrediblyLamePun bear puns every chance he gets]] in the English dub.
* VideoGameInterfaceElements
** The game's calendar and personality stats.
** The second opening has the Enemy Advantage screen.
** When the viewer gets to see what Rise sees when she's under Himiko's visor, the screen is tinted and the same strength/weakness chart from the game is in one corner.
** We also see the characters suffer from various ailments, such as Enervation and Fear.
* VillainousBreakdown: [[spoiler:Adachi]] goes fucking ''nuts'' when the team delivers their ShutUpHannibal speeches.
* WhamEpisode: Episode 21.
* WhatTheHellHero: When Teddie [[TakingTheBullet covers the girls]] from Shadow Naoto's Galgalim Eyes, and his fur is subsequently aged rotten, the girls all squeal in disgust and abandon him to his fate, prompting this reaction from him.
* WholesomeCrossdresser: [[spoiler:Naoto]]
* WideEyesAndShrunkenIrises: It's subtle and briefly seen, but this is [[spoiler:Ameno-sagiri]]'s reaction to [[spoiler:Lucifer]]'s summoning.
* WrongGenreSavy: Dojima, like in the game, is clearly a competent police officer, but is under the mistaken impression that murder mystery is one that can solved with real world logic.
* YouAreBetterThanYouThinkYouAre: Either these or YouAreNotAlone tend to be delivered just as one of the heroes has met their shadow and is experiencing the [[HeroicBSOD disillusionment, denial and/or anger]] that comes with facing their true inner selves.
** In episode 2, when Yosuke faces his shadow, Yu reminds him that [[spoiler:even though part of the reason he's inside the television is because he's bored with his life,]] he still really did love Saki.
** Likewise, in episode 3 Yu snaps Chie to her senses by reminding her that even though her shadow is the embodiment of [[spoiler:her secret jealousy toward [[YamatoNadeshiko Yukiko]] and secret desire to keep her best friend dependent on her so that she can feel superior]], she is still Yukiko's friend.
** Yukiko's shadow is manifested from [[spoiler:the fear that she can't control her own destiny. She feels worthless because she always looks to others, specifically Chie, to rescue her.]] Episode 4 has Chie telling Yukiko that she can soar if she wants to.
* YouAreNotAlone
** Both Kanji and Naoto get these in their dungeons. Kanji, [[spoiler:when Yu lets him know that he likes cute things, too,]] and Naoto when [[spoiler:Kanji tells her she isn't the only one who has trouble making friends]].
** The title for the True End episode: "No One Is Alone".
** During Espiode 12, after [[spoiler:Yu is pulled from Shadow Mitsuo's fantasy]] wherein Yu is beset by loneliness, emptiness and despair, the entire Investigation Squad holds off [[spoiler:Shadow Mitsuo's]] defenses and rallies behind Yu:
-->'''Rise:''' Go on! Now's your chance, Yu!\\
'''Kanji:''' Yeah! Take him out!\\
'''Yukiko:''' Please, get that guy!\\
'''Chie:''' Yeah!! Hit 'im good and hard!\\
'''Teddie:''' You can do it, Sensei!\\
'''Yosuke:''' I'll let you take the final blow!\\
(''the camera zooms to Yu, standing on his own, but not alone'')\\
'''Yu:''' I am far... '''''from empty!'''''"
* ZettaiRyouiki: Look no further than Rise, who wears thigh highs with her uniform.
----

[[redirect:Anime/{{Persona4}}]]

[[quoteright:350:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/p4a_8559.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:350:The Sky's The Limit]]

->''"So I'm stuck here for a whole year?"''
-->--'''Yu Narukami'''

[[http://www.p4a.jp/ Announced]] on April 11, 2011 (incidentally, the beginning date of the story) for the [[Fall2011Anime Fall 2011 anime season]], '''''Persona 4: The Animation''''' follows OrdinaryHighSchoolStudent [[CanonName Yu Narukami]], who has moved from the big city to the tiny rural town of Inaba to live with his uncle and cousin for one year. Shortly after he arrives, a string of unusual murders begins, with the victims hung from high places. Together with his new friends, he must unravel the mystery of the murders and the UrbanLegend of the "Midnight Channel".

Both of the game's character designers (Kazuma Kaneko and Shigenori Soejima, [=Shadow/Persona=] designer and human designer, respectively), the game's soundtrack composer (Shoji Meguro), and the majority of the main Japanese voice cast (Creator/DaisukeNamikawa, ShowtaroMorikubo, Creator/YuiHorie, Creator/AmiKoshimizu, TomokazuSeki, Creator/RieKugimiya, KappeiYamaguchi, Creator/RomiPark, UnshoIshizuka, Creator/AkemiKanda, MitsuakiMadono) are on board. The first volume of the English dub, which also features virtually all of the original voice actors (Teddie and Chie gets their P4 Arena/Golden VA instead of their original ones), was released on Sept. 18th, 2012, while the second half was released on January 15th, 2013.

Please note ''Persona 4: The Animation'' is an [[AnimeOfTheGame animated adaptation]] of the EasternRPG ''VideoGame/{{Persona 4}}'' and follows roughly the same plot as the game, so beware of spoilers for the game on this page, and vice versa.

Now has a [[Recap/{{Persona 4}} recap page]].
----
!!In addition to those from [[VideoGame/{{Persona 4}} the video game]], ''Persona 4: The Animation'' provides examples of:

* AdaptationalBadass
** Izanagi. In the game Izanagi's just a cool-looking Persona with low-tier stat growth/elemental affinities/skills that most players will have gotten rid of by the second dungeon; but in the anime he comes off as the biggest badass of the entire bunch, regularly being the go to Persona when Yu needs to wipe out a particularly dangerous Shadow.
** Beelzebub is a good and late game persona but he's far from the best. When Yu fuses him in the fight against shadow Naoto, it uses Megidolaon and ''turns the entire dungeon into a smoking crater''. Then later in the anime, when [[spoiler:Namatame takes control of Yu,]] he summons various persona to fight [[spoiler:the rest of the gang]]. They don't mind much, until suddenly Beelzebub is summoned. Rise looked about ready to shit bricks after scanning him and realizing it was the same guy Yu used to beat Naoto.
** Several of Yu's other Personae count as well, during the True Ending episode. A prime example being Rakshasa (a level 16 Persona in the game) [[spoiler:going toe-to-toe with Yoshitsune (who is a whopping level 75) during Yu's battle against Margaret. ]]
** [[spoiler:Adachi]] certainly became one of these in episodes 24 and 25. He went from being a simple battle that's mostly warm up for the fight with [[spoiler: Ameno-Sagiri]] to being able to defy gravity, teleport and create clones of himself. Heck, he even has [[spoiler:the reaper]] on his side! Not to mention that he [[CurbStompBattle royally schools]] Yu in the first part of their MirrorMatch, even managing to bring him to his knees.
** Rise's Personas get a moment of badass in Episode 25. Note that in the game proper, Himiko and Kanzeon have no attacks and are glorified MissionControl. In the anime, Himiko and later Kanzeon join the other Personas in directly attacking [[spoiler:Ameno-Sagiri]].
* AdaptationExpansion
** By cutting out nearly all of the dungeon-crawling, the anime has more time to focus on the characters' backstories.
*** For example, the third episode shows [[CrowningMomentofHeartwarming the start of Chie and Yukiko's friendship]], something that was first shown in the manga adaptation but only mentioned briefly in the game.
*** Episode 9 shows Rise letting her manager knowing she's done being an idol and even lets us hear one of her songs (in lieu of an Opening).
*** Episode 10 expands the scenes right before the Shadow Rise fight, especially when she splits into seven and each clone drops rather brutal verbal bullying on the real one.
*** Also of note is episode 12, which gives considerable CharacterDevelopment to Yu/The Main Character, something he lacked in the game proper due to being pretty much a vessel for the player.
*** Episode 15 expands on the King's Game by having Yu get in on the crazy hijinks, whereas he usually responds to player choices in the game proper (See MundaneMadeAwesome below). The girls get in on it, too. After Chie is forced to sit on Yu's lap, Yukiko and then Rise decide to "show her how it's done." Yosuke demands that Yu stops hogging them all, to which Yu pushes up his glasses and responds [[LargeHam "It's because I'm... the king."]]
** Certain relationships are also made more important in the anime than in the game. [[spoiler:Naoto]] and Nanako, for example (see BigBrotherInstinct below). Kanji and Naoto also get a lot more ShipTease.
** Additionally, the killer is hinted at much more obviously in the anime. Take for example the fact that in the anime the cop [[spoiler:Naoto was fighting with was Adachi, rather than some random, unnamed officer]].
** [[spoiler:Naoto]] is also given an early RedHerring status (see RedHerring below).
** Shadow [[spoiler:Naoto]] loses the MadScientist act and instead talks coldly and bluntly while deconstructing its owner. It also goes half the way and binds its owner to a metal operating table while it has the chance, where in the game, the team starts the fight immediately after it goes berserk.
* AdultsAreUseless: Justified, no rational adult would believe there's an alternate dimension that can entered through a TV.
* AdrenalineMakeover: The protagonist after he gets his Persona. He [[FemaleGaze lets his uniform jacket hang open]] and even ''smiles.''
* TheAnimeOfTheGame
* AndTheAdventureContinues: Despite the series' supposed end with Episode 25 (The battle against [[spoiler:Adachi and Ameno-Sagiri]]), the REAL final episode, "No One is Alone", was released when Vol. 10 of the anime was released this past August in Japan. Naturally, the episode focuses on [[spoiler:the final battle against Izanami as well as a battle against Margaret, though not necessarily in the manner someone who has played the original game would expect...]]
* AscendedMeme
** What was once a throwaway line in the game about cabbage became Adachi's signature item thanks to the fandom. And that meme became immortalized in the animated adaptation.
** Also, the line [[spoiler:"Bitches and Whores"]], a line misattributed to Adachi courtesy of a fan edit to a Persona 4 {{Hentai}} doujinshi is now actually said by him in a plot centric piece of dialogue in Episode 24.
* ArmorPiercingQuestion: PlayedForLaughs in the HotSpringsEpisode.
-->'''Nanako:''' Teddie-chan, Onii-chan...[[CovertPervert are you perverts?]]\\
'''Teddie''' and '''Yu:''' [[HeroicBSOD AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA]]
* AsLongAsThereIsEvil: [[spoiler:Ameno-Sagiri comments that he is a manifestation of the collective unconscious of humanity.]] As long as there are people who want him, he will reappear again.
* AttractiveBentGender: [[spoiler:Naoto]], who has ''at least'' one male and ''at least'' one (albeit off screen) female character crushing on her. [[spoiler:Teddie]] is also an example, winning the cross dressing pageant by a landslide. It's commented offhand that [[spoiler:Naoto]] won the beauty pageant because there were both boys ''and'' girls voting.
* AwesomenessByAnalysis: [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IG_3jCkKBAU The dub does this for the Mega Beef Bowl Challenge]]. Yu is [[JohnnyYongBosch also using his]] [[Manga/{{Trigun}} Vash the Stampede]] interpretation of said bowl while ''using'' the in-game script!
-->''All of these skills are needed to finish off '''[[ChewingTheScenery THE MEGA BEEF BOWL]]'''.''
* TheBechdelTest: It passes, having featured numerous conversations between Yukiko and Chie.
* {{Bifauxnen}}: [[spoiler:Naoto]]
* BigBrotherInstinct: Most of the group has its moments, but there are two main examples.
** Yu is the bigger example. He may be irreverent and a little [[{{Cloudcuckoolander}} cuckoo]], but he really loves Nanako, taking up the mantle of her older brother with ease and frequently having her around when he's hanging out with friends. The depth of feeling between the two is especially evident in episode 22.
** Naoto is an [[GenderInvertedTrope inversion]], [[spoiler:because she is a girl]]. The first time we see Naoto's true colors is when Nanako is upset about her "case," dressed up in her Detective Loveline costume. Naoto picks up Nanako's abandoned magnifying glass, hands it back to her and encourages her not to give up by telling her that a detective should see the case through until it's over. When they visit the Amagi Inn and most of the others want to stay up in the baths, Naoto falls asleep with Nanako, and the two share a bed.
* BigDamnMovie: With ''[[http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=14342 Persona 4 The Animation - Factor of Hope]]'', a 90-minute movie including never-before seen footage and the events of the final episode. It was included as the "Bonus Disc" of the final volume of the anime in Japan.
* BlandNameProduct: Episode 5 has a blink-and-you'll-miss-it portion where Ai and Yu go to "Atzrbucks Coffee" (though it's only visible written that way in the background with an abstract logo, and the top portion only shows the end of "-RBUCKS COFFEE" so it could easily be mistaken for ProductPlacement).
* {{Bokukko}}: [[spoiler:Naoto]]
* BookEnds
** The first thing Yu kills is one of the shadows attacking the group in Episode 1 -- he does so by plunging Izanagi's sword through the shadow's head. In the [[spoiler:sort-of]] final (25th) episode -- in the fight against [[spoiler:Adachi and his Persona Magatsu Izanagi]]? Yu's Izanagi plunges his sword straight through [[spoiler:Magatsu Izanagi]]'s head. The scenes even look exactly the same.
** Yosuke's social link is the first non-automatic social link that gets initiated in the game. In the adaption, it's also the last one that gets resolved.
** When Narukami first arrives at Yasoinaba train station, he is alone and depressed by how boring his new home seems. When he departs in the end, he is surrounded by friends and his memories make him smile despite having to say goodbye.
* BreatherEpisode
** Episode 5 is ''definitely'' this; bringing the plot to a halt after the Shadow Yukiko battle to focus on the Strength and Moon Social Links.
** Episodes 13 and 14 focus on the summer break and Yu's Social Links ''right'' after Mitsuo's capture.
** Episode 19 is also a breather, focused entirely on the cultural festival and coming right after a comparably tense episode dealing with Nanako's feelings about her mother's death.
** Episode 20 as well, which focuses on the Investigation Team's night at the Amagi Inn. [[spoiler:Episode 21 is Nanako's kidnapping, and the first time we see the usually lighthearted Yu ''completely lose his shit.'']]
* BrickJoke
** Episode 6; The delivery scene.
** After seeing Shadow Yukiko on the Midnight Channel, Yu states that he wished he recorded it. By episode 10, this has turned into a running gag. This includes Yu rapidly hitting the record button while Rise is "showing her stuff", and then immediately trying to view it after the Midnight Channel ends. Unfortunately for Yu, it doesn't turn out as planned.
* BungledSuicide: Happens in episode 25 when Yu defeats [[spoiler:Adachi, who promptly turns his own gun on himself and tries to pull the trigger before Yu can stop him.]] He's found to be alive after [[spoiler:Ameno-Sagiri is defeated]] though.
* ButtMonkey: The guys for some episodes, with Yosuke taking the brunt of it.
* CallingTheOldManOut: Yu does this to Dojima in episode 18.
* TheCameo: [[spoiler:The ''VideoGame/{{Persona 3}}'' main character]] at the end of ''Factor of Hope''.
* CanonName: Although the protagonist [[HelloInsertNameHere has no official name in the game]], he is named Yu Narukami both in this anime and in [[VideoGame/Persona4Arena the fighting game sequel]].
* CantGetAwayWithNuthin: Yosuke shows Yu the two swords that he found in his backyard. Not moments latter a cop notice them and the two of them are arrested and sent to jail.
* CassandraTruth
** In Episode 14, Dojima and Adachi ask Yu what he's been doing late. His response: "[[ItMakesSenseInContext A fox told me to pick up a part-time job.]]" Predictably, Dojima and Adachi just laugh at him.
** Played for laughs in the 15th episode, when a drunk Yukiko and Rise tell Naoto all about the Personas, but the latter flatly refuses to believe it.
** Played seriously in episode 21 when [[spoiler:Yu is being interrogated at police station by his uncle. Again, he explains about Personas, but Dojima just doesn't believe him.]]
* CatFight: Ai and Chie get into one in episode 5.
* CensorSteam: Episode 20 makes liberal use of this in the Hot Springs scenes.
* ChekhovsGunman: Pretty much [[ChekhovsArmory every single person in episode 13 shows up in episode 14.]]
* ClarkKenting: Subverted; Rise puts on fake glasses to try and disguise herself, but people still recognize her immediately.
* {{Cloudcuckoolander}}: The fanbase cannot decide if Yu is this, or a DeadpanSnarker. And then there's Margaret.
* CombatSadomasochist: The two MachoCamp flunky Shadows alongside Kanji's Shadow ''really'' enjoy getting hit.
* ComicalOverreacting: While the characters normally summon their Personas when they're actually engaged in battle, they do so immediately the moment they meet [[CampGay Shadow Kanji]].
* ContinuityCavalcade
** When the Investigation teams visits Gekkoukan High in episode 15, all the background music changes to ''VideoGame/{{Persona 3}}'' tracks.
** The OP Song for the episode when the gang goes to [[VideoGame/{{Persona 3}} Tatsumi Port Island]] is none other than "Burn my Dread".
** The "King's Game" background music is none other than the battle theme from ''VideoGame/{{Persona 3}}'', "Mass Destruction".
* ContinuityNod: Although the anime is much abbreviated, attentive viewers can note specific bits from the games that are still present.
** Though he no longer draws attention to or explains it, Igor repeats the Tarot reading he did in the beginning of the game during the very first episode.
** VideoGameInterfaceElements are featured during transitions, fight scenes and the mid-episode {{Eye Catch}}es.
** Various Social Link characters are present in the background of scenes they have no involvement in.
** Yu has a habit of folding [[ThousandOrigamiCranes multiple origami cranes]] in his free time.
** Many scenes that were changed or added to the anime still borrow directly from other events featured or mentioned during the game.
*** A flashback detailing Chie and Yukiko's first meeting in episode 3.
*** Yukiko's pet bird in episode 4, hinted at during the opening cinematic of the game.
*** Adachi coming back from shopping at Junes with nothing but cabbage in episode 7.
*** Rise's decision to quit being an idol in episode 9.
** Personas and Shadows demonstrate abilities related to ones they have in the game.
*** Chie's shadow has her Persona Tomoe's weaknesses in episode 3.
*** Also, Nice Guy and Tough Guy causing Chie and Yukiko to get mad and making Yu and Yosuke collapse reference two abilities Shadow Kanji has in the game; Roar of Wrath (which inflicts Rage on female characters) and Forbidden Murmur (which inflicts Poison on male characters).
*** [[spoiler:Shadow Mitsuo]] inflicts Fear status on Yu using Evil Touch.
*** In the same episode, all the Personae that Yu uses in the battle against [[spoiler:Shadow Mitsuo]] reflect their abilities in the game -- Pyro Jack absorbs fire, Ara Mitama is strong against physical attacks, High Pixie uses Lightning, et cetera.
*** Shadow Kanji's flunkies have the same immunities as they did in the game in episode 7. Also, Yamata-no-Orochi is fused with the same Arcana combination that would be used in the game (Magician x Priestess = Moon).
*** During the battle with [[spoiler:Shadow Naoto]], when she turns Yosuke, Yu and Teddie into old people, she's actually using her Galgalim Eyes attack, which causes the Enervation status. The connection to the game is further established by having Kintoki-Douji use Energy Shower to reverse the effect - in the game, the skill Energy Shower cures the Enervation status effect.
*** [[spoiler:Shadow Naoto]] also fights like she does in the game, by exploiting weaknesses. Yu keeps having to change Personas because she keeps preparing to use attacks that his current Persona is weak to (though thanks to Rise, Yu is one step ahead).
*** During the [[spoiler:Shadow Naoto]] fight, Yu has Mot use Mudoon, which doesn't work. Naoto's Persona, Sukuna-Hikona, resists Dark attacks.
*** [[spoiler:Kuni-no-Sagiri, in possession of Namatame,]] takes control of Yu. When he breaks free, he takes control of the entire party.
*** Kohryu is the Ultimate Persona of the Hierophant Arcana, attained by maxing out the Ryotaro Dojima Social Link. In the series, [[spoiler:Dojima's spirit somehow assists Yu across worlds, allowing Yu to fuse Kohryu.]]
*** Sraosha using Mahamaon to [[spoiler:exorcise the shadows that possessed Namatame]], a Light-based OneHitKill that can instant kill regular enemies.
*** Chie finishes off the [[spoiler:Reaper (at least, the one she and Yukiko are fighting)]] by having Tomoe use God Hand on it.
*** [[spoiler:Ameno-Sagiri uses Nebula Oculus (complete with "[[SuckingInLines charging]]" mode)]] to flatten Yu and the landscape surrounding him. Then he tries to attack [[spoiler:Lucifer with a light-based beam attack... which Lucifer reflects right back at him. Lucifer learns Repel Light at level 96.]]
*** During the [[spoiler:True End episode, Margaret uses the Personas Helel, Yoshitsune, Cu Chulainn, and Loki in her battle to make Yu come to his senses; these are four of the Personas she uses during her actual boss battle in the original game. Also, all of her Persona cards are gold-colored, just like the Aeon Arcana card in Persona 3 FES and Persona 4 Golden]].
* ContinuityPorn: Just have a look at the ContinuityNod section above.
* {{Cosplay}}: When she's investigating Yu, Nanako cosplays as an in-universe fictional MagicalGirl detective named Loveline. Apparently the cosplay's so good, some kids actually think that she ''is'' Loveline.
* CreditsMontage: The ending for the first episode.
* CringeComedy
** The "Steamy Bathhouse" sequence in Episode 7, with Shadow Kanji and his flunkies' flamboyance cranked UpToEleven.
** Parts of Episode 8, as well. Bathed in Morooka's vomit much?
* CurtainsMatchTheWindow: Almost everyone, except Aika Nakamura, who has aqua teal hair and brown eyes, [[spoiler:Izanami with black hair and red eyes]], Kanji Tatsumi who's blond with beady black eyes, and Teddie's human form, with blond hair and blue eyes. Kanji is actually a double subversion, as he dyes his hair.
* CutawayGag: Twice in episode 11, both times when the team realizes they've left the head of Teddie's original body behind. Cue some kid crying at its white-eyed, soulless stare.
* ADayInTheLimelight: Episode 13 focuses on Nanako rather than Yu.
* DeathGlare
** Naturally, Kanji [[FaceOfAThug has one of these by default]].
** Yu in episode 23. See HeroicSafeMode below.
** ''The entire Investigation Team'', plus Dojima, in episode 24. (Yosuke, of all people, manages to pull this off quite well).
* DemotedToExtra
** Igor, due to his Japanese seiyuu having passed away. All of his lines in the animation are taken directly from his speaking parts in the game itself.
** Also amongst the S-Links, since the Sun S-Link are two separate stories, they chose Ayane's S-Link and as a result, the only time we see Yumi is when she's silently annoyed at Kou [[LargeHam hamming it up]] in the Culture Festival drama play.
* DumpStat: For the most part, Yu's Knowledge is lower than his other stats, with the exception of the short period where [[TheSlacker it's his Diligence that's trailing behind]].
* EleventhHourSuperpower: In the TV series semi-finale, [[spoiler:during the battle with Ameno-Sagiri, Yosuke finds the strength of heart to evolve his Persona from Jiraiya into his Ultimate Persona Susanoo, which he uses to save Yu's life. The rest of Yu's friends then express their belief in him by doing the same, evolving into Suzuka-Gongen, Amaterasu, Rokuten-Maoh, Kanzeon, Kamui, and Yamato-Takeru to drive Ameno-Sagiri back and give Yu the opening he needed to fuse the Persona of the Judgment Arcana, Lucifer.]] The same thing happens [[spoiler:with Yu in the True End OVA: after getting out of his self-induced HeroicBSOD GroundhogDayLoop, he awakens to the power of the World Arcana, and obtains his Ultimate Persona, Izanagi-no-Okami]].
* EnemyWithout: Of course, the main characters' shadows appear and have to be defeated before they can gain their respective personas. Special mention goes to [[spoiler:Yu's shadow in the final episode, which didn't appear in the game. He immediately accepts its faults as his own and thereby gains the strength to escape the LotusEaterMachine and defeat Izanami.]]
* EntitledBastard: [[spoiler: Adachi]]. He apparently has had a lot of things in his life not go his way, so he does a ton of crap because he feels the world owes him.
* EvenTheGirlsWantHer: [[spoiler:Naoto]] gets a love letter from a girl after she returns to school after her kidnapping. It's also implied that she wins the pageant in large part because of the female vote.
* EvenTheGuysWantHim: Yu. Yosuke apparently has confusing feelings for him during Episode 19's group date.
* EvolvingCredits: One of the ending credits (first appearing in episode 2) involves a lot of falling, rotating tarot cards. Their faces are left blank until Yu earns the appropriate Arcana, however.
* EyeCatch: Used to show Yu's character stat growth. It also changes at times to reflect events in the current episode: in Episode 12, [[spoiler:all of the stats are blank]], the first major clue that something is very, very wrong. In Episode 19, after Yu seamlessly plays the part of a girl in the group date cafe, his Understanding ranking is changed to "Effeminate".
* FacePalm: Yosuke does one when he's exasperated over Yu's drunk shenanigans.
* FakeBuzz: In the club of episode 15, half the characters start acting as if they're drunk, even after it's confirmed that there's no alcohol served there. Carries over to the next day, [[YourMindMakesItReal where the ones who acted drunk don't seem to remember much of the previous day.]]
* FastForwardGag: Yu has one of these in episode 19 when explaining the importance of entering the school's beauty pageant to the girls.
* TheFellowshipHasEnded: What Yu initially fears is that his band of friends he has gathered will fall apart just as quickly once they're no longer unified by their quest to find the killer.
* FemaleGaze
** There's several shots of Yosuke's backside in the first few episodes, [[EatingTheEyeCandy Yu's open uniform jacket after he summons Izanagi for the first time]] and the pure fanservice that was Yosuke LickingTheBlade in episode 3. Complete with [[DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything close-up and slurping sound.]]
** Taken further in Episode 15: [[MrFanservice Yu's]] [[http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_ly4jxqHoek1qh9on7.gif pretty ripped]].
** And after [[TheBigGuy Kanji]] shows up, he's often seen wearing a sleeveless shirt, which lets the animators focus quite a bit on his rather muscular arms.
* FinalExamFinale: Episode 12 / the mid-season finale, where the entire team needs to work together and Yu needs to unleash all the Arcana he's gathered except Star over the past 11 episodes to take down Shadow Mitsuo.
* {{Flanderization}}: Condensing the game down to a 26 episode series is bound to make this happen, though Yosuke and Chie get it especially bad.
** Chie [[AbuseIsOkayWhenItsFemaleOnMale kicks]] Yosuke over the smallest of annoyances (i.e. he says her handwriting is sloppy).
** Yosuke has his {{Jerkass}} tendencies exaggerated quite a bit. Additionally, he was the de facto MrExposition in the game (given the SilentProtagonist), and basically in many ways acted like the leader of the group. Now that Yu is SuddenlyVoiced, Yosuke has much less competence.
* FunnyBackgroundEvent
** Teddie's Persona holding off the Dice in episode 11 while the character discuss their strategy for dealing with the Shadow... Tediie's Persona just bouncing around in the background, occasionally casting a spell.
** In episode 13, keep an eye on Kanji, frantically eating his watermelon at top speed.
* GetAholdOfYourselfMan
** Yu pulls this trope on Yosuke during the fight with his Shadow. Yu [[DeadpanSnarker claims]] that it was an accident, but turns it into a straight example with the lines he delivers after the punch.
** [[spoiler:Margaret does this to Narukami after his HeroicBSOD in the True End episode.]]
* GettingCrapPastTheRadar: While Narukami is watching Rise's shadow on the Midnight Channel, we see his right arm [[ADateWithRosiePalms moving rhythmically]]. The next shot reveals it's his hand around the remote, continuously clicking the record button.
* TheGlassesComeOff: All members of the Investigation team (sans Teddie) do this at the end of the 3rd opening. And, of course, there's [[spoiler:Yu removing his damaged glasses before unleashing the full power of the World Arcana on Izanami]].
* GlassesPull
** Yu has enacted this trope at least twice now, seemingly for no other reason then to be a [[LargeHam ham]]. Namely, during his attempt to catch the guardian, and during the anime's version of the "King's Game" event.
** Not to mention [[UpToEleven every single party member besides Teddie]] in the second opening.
* AGlitchInTheMatrix
** When Yu [[spoiler:is dragged into Shadow Mitsuo's LotusEaterMachine]], he catches on that something is up when he tries to put his hand in the TV and it no longer works. With the deception revealed, Shadow Mitsuo reveals itself and starts giving him one hell of a HannibalLecture.
** [[spoiler:The True End episode seems to start off normally, but it immediately becomes apparent to Yu that something is wrong when the events of the day before he is set to leave Inaba keep repeating themselves. Turns out it was the result of a GroundhogDayLoop he created after suffering an absolutely ''epic'' HeroicBSOD watching Izanami kill all of his friends.]]
* GratuitousEnglish
** It continues the trend.
-->''Bonds of people is the true power.''
** Look no further than the opening and ending songs! The opening especially has caused a lot of {{mondegreen}}s.
** Though the preceding text before the 2nd Ending theme is decent, the first line of that text however comes of as if [[Franchise/StarWars Yoda]] was speaking it.
** One of Shadow Kanji's flunkies speaks nothing but Engrish.
* GroundhogDayLoop: The final episode. Narukami repeats his final day with his friends over and over out of fear of being alone.
* HannibalLecture
** Like in the game, the Shadows do this to their hosts, but Shadow Mitsuo gives a very bone-chilling one to Yu [[spoiler:inside the LotusEaterMachine]]:
-->'''Shadow Mitsuo:''' You have no bonds. Friendship is an illusion. You are empty.
** Yu gets another one from [[spoiler:Izanami after watching her drag all of his friends to their deaths. He does NOT take this one well at all.]]
** [[spoiler: Adachi]] attempts to give everybody one, but it results in the ShutUpHannibal below.
* HarmfulToMinors: How Yosuke tries to stop Teddie from removing his head, as it would scar the kids for the rest of their lives.
* HeartSymbol: When [[spoiler:Naoto]] tells the group she was scared, Kanji gets these floating around him.
* HeroicSafeMode: In episode 23 [[spoiler:Nanako's apparent death]] causes Yu to enter this state, and it's scary as hell, particularly his [[http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pBR80ez_Zts/T2O8wzJuIAI/AAAAAAAAAgU/HUcxPa3IHfs/s1600/ScreenHunter_59%2BMar.%2B16%2B18.17.jpg expression]] [[spoiler:when he nearly kills Namatame]]. He's able to regain control of himself long enough for the situation to calm down, but once everyone goes their separate ways (save for Youske), he snaps out of it and [[PostVictoryCollapse breaks into]] [[NotSoStoic tears]].
* HiddenDepths: A key part of the series is exploring various characters' hidden depths.
** Yosuke seems like he hasn't got a care in the world, [[spoiler:but he's really bored with everyone and everything in his life.]]
** Chie is a tomboy and tries to be an ideal best friend and protector for Yukiko, [[spoiler:but she's often jealous of Yukiko's looks and the attention Yukiko gets from boys.]]
** Yukiko plays the part of the perfect daughter and future innkeeper, [[spoiler:though she feels stifled by the fact that her path in life has already been decided for her.]]
** Ai is a stereotypical AlphaBitch on the surface, [[spoiler:but underneath it all, she's a bundle of insecurities.]]
** Kanji acts like a stereotypical punk/manly man, [[spoiler:but he also loves cute things, is kind to children, loves his mother and enjoys sewing and knitting.]]
** Rise, the ex-idol, [[spoiler:doesn't know who the real Rise is, and is struggling to find herself in the midst of the identities that have been manufactured for her.]]
** Teddie realizes the implications of the fact that despite his cuteness, [[spoiler:he is empty inside]].
** Naoto plays the part of a mature young man, [[spoiler:but is actually a young girl who is insecure about her age and gender because her chosen profession is one dominated by men.]]
** Dojima has spent so much time dedicated to his work, [[spoiler:he's never taken up the role of father the way he should have.]]
** Nanako is a sweet young girl [[spoiler:with abandonment issues brought on by the fact that her father never seems to have time for her.]]
** Even Yu gets in on the act. Outwardly, he comes across as both TheStoic and TheAce with a ''really'' strange sense of humor (the audience isn't sure whether he's a DeadpanSnarker or CloudCuckooLander; it's hard to tell). [[spoiler:In episode 12 we find out that even ''he'' [[IJustWantToHaveFriends just wants to have friends]], and is deeply afraid of being abandoned by the people he's close to]]. This is further explored and confirmed in [[spoiler:Episode 26, when Yu ends up facing ''his own'' Shadow during his battle with Margaret:]]
-->[[spoiler:'''Shadow Yu''']]: [[spoiler:I felt depressed when I was separated from everyone... losing your friends and advancing alone is terrifying... I don't want to be alone. It's too much to bear...]]
* HomoeroticSubtext
** Episode 12 seems to have a lot of this between Yu and Yosuke. Yosuke pulls Yu out of [[spoiler:Mitsuo's Shadow's illusion]], and they then look each other in the eye while in Jiraiya's arms. At the end of the episode, Yosuke calls Yu by his first name.
** Episode 15 and the Love Hotel, Chie, Yukiko, and Rise in the rotating bed having giggle fits. Something similar happens when Teddie, Yosuke, and Kanji end up in a bed together, except in that case the only one laughing is Teddie.
** Episode 19 has some tension between [[EvenTheGuysWantHim Yu]] and Yosuke during the group date. Yosuke says that he feels he was "about to cross a line that should never be crossed," and searches frantically for a drink.
** Episode 25 had something similar to Episode 12. [[spoiler:Yosuke shouts Yu's name while being the first to awaken to Susanoo-o and uses it to save Yu from Ameno-Sagiri.]]
* HorribleCampingTrip: Episode 8. Especially horrible for poor [[ButtMonkey Kanji]].
* HotSpringsEpisode: Episode 20, when the group spends the night at the Amagi Inn.
* IAlwaysWantedToSayThat
** In the opening of the 6th episode, Igor is not in the Velvet Room so Margaret says "Welcome to the Velvet Room" in his place then invokes this trope.
** Adachi, when he arrests Rise's stalker.
** Teddie, the first time he summons his Persona. ("Bear-sona!")
* IWishedYouWereDead: Saki's true feelings reveal that she wished Junes, her father's store, Shopping District, to be dead.
* IdiosyncraticEpisodeNaming: They're called Scents and are titled in English.
* IdolSinger: Risette
* InnocentSwearing
** In episode 20, Nanako happily announces to the group that [[spoiler:Margaret]], the fortune teller at the cultural festival, told her that Yu was a "gigolo".
** Subverted in the dub in which she says he's a "man-whore". Possibly a reference to the game where it was sometimes needed to juggle female social-links to get them all maxed.
* InsaneTrollLogic: Teddie's response to how the main villain rationalizes his actions.
* InVinoVeritas: Subverted. [[FakeBuzz No vino]], [[CassandraTruth plenty of veritas]].
* JapaneseDelinquents
** Kanji is designed as this. Dyed blond hair? Check. Frequently [[TrrrillingRrrs rolls r's]] to convey rage? Check. Scar on forehead? Check. Wears uniform inappropriately? Check. Foul-mouthed? Check.
** Izanagi is also modeled after a stereotypical Japanese gang leader.
* KarmaHoudini
** [[DoomedByCanon Let's face it]], ''the girls'' surely don't get their comeuppance for their mistreatment on the boys in episode 20. Somewhat mitigated in the dub, as the reason the girls don't forgive them is because whilst the girls are at fault for the mix-up with the hot springs, they accuse the guys of trying to perve on them, which Yosuke admits to.
** Yu himself is one in episode 15 as he doesn't get punished for taking a picture of Kanji, Teddie, and Yosuke together in their hotel room, much to the latter's dismay.
* LargeHam: A few of the characters get to indulge in some hamminess, but the crown goes to Yu. The cross-dressing pageant is just one example of Yu seriously hamming it up.
* LateArrivalSpoiler
** The anime assumes most of the viewers have already [[VideoGame/{{Persona 4}} played the game]], and because of this, certain scenes are played with much less fanfare ([[spoiler:Teddie revealing his human body was a big deal in the game, in the anime he just popped his head off and things continued from there]]). They also put less effort into hiding things ([[spoiler:Naoto was harder to figure out in the Japanese game than in the anime]]).
** Averted with the revelation of [[spoiler:Adachi]] being the killer. The episode before the revelation ended in a cliffhanger towards his identity. Then, episode 24 starts with multiple scenes that try to avoid revealing his, and when it's finally time to let the viewers know, it has tremendous buildup.
* LotusEaterMachine
** [[spoiler:Shadow Mitsuo pulls this on Yu in episode 12,]] [[ContinuityNod and we get to see first-hand what being hit with Evil Touch]] [[AdaptationExpansion and suffering from Fear status really means.]]
** [[spoiler:Most of episode 26 is this, caused in part by Izanami to keep Yu from seeing the truth, and in part by him crossing the DespairEventHorizon]].
* LoveDodecahedron
** In episode 5, we have Ai dating Yu to make Ichijou jealous, since he's actually in love with Chie, who Yosuke tries to hook up with Yu because he thinks she likes him, incorrectly. Though Chie's reactions in later episodes when Yu compliments her suggest Yosuke might not have been wrong.
** And of course, we also get the complications from Yu being a love interest for basically any readily present female Social Link.
* LoveHotel: In episode 15, complete with funky lights and a rotating bed that all of the room's residents have to share. HilarityEnsues.
* LoveHurts: Discussed by Margaret when discussing the Lovers Arcana.
-->'''Margaret:''' Romance in moderation can fertilize the heart. But if you go overboard... ''it will prick you.''
* LowerDeckEpisode: Episode 13 gets Nanako's perspective on Yu's summer vacation.
* MaleGaze
** Chie gets quite a few closeups of her thighs in Episode 2.
** Episode 8 has the camera pan up over Yukiko and Chie's bodies after they change into their bathing suits.
** In Episode 9 they ''literally'' switch into Yosuke's point of view while both he and Yu momentarily gaze at Chie's thighs (apparently Yu likes them, but Yosuke doesn't). Episode 15 also has a closeup of her backside as she's about to sit in Yu's lap.
** In episode 9, when Rise bends over to get some ganmodoki for the guys, Yosuke stares at her ass. ''That'' he does like. Oh, and he openly gapes at her chest.
* ManlyTears: Both Yosuke and Yu indulge in these in episode 23.
* MeaningfulBackgroundEvent: In the background of episode 6, Nanako leaves a television show playing while the conversation with Yu and Dojima is going on. The words are fully intelligible, and it's very obviously reminiscent of [[spoiler:Naoto's show on the Midnight Channel,]] much later on.
-->'''Mr. Experiment:''' Thanks for tuning in, all you curious kiddos! With the body of an adult and the heart of a child, lovely whiskers and gentlemanly ways, I'm Mr. Experiment! [...] In this corner let's try to solve mysteries found in your everyday lives!
* MoodWhiplash: Episode 22. It starts with [[spoiler:Nanako having to be rescued from the TV world before getting sent to hospital]] and just when things are looking up, [[spoiler:Yu gets called to the hospital, and the episode ends with Nanako flatlining.]]
* MundaneMadeAwesome
** Yu fishing in episode 14. [[spoiler:See ThemeMusicPowerUp below.]]
** Yu catching the King's Chopstick/throwing the dart in episode 15. The battle theme from ''{{Persona 3}}'' plays as the last button on his shirt falls open, and the a battle animation flashes across the screen when he reveals his command.
** Yu commanding the other boys to hold the line while the girls chuck washtubs at their heads in episode 20.
** Episode 23 has Yu finishing the Rainy Day Special, complete with dramatic music.
* MythologyGag
** Yu's ringtone for when [[ClingyJealousGirl Ai]] calls him is Zigeunerweisen, also known as the GameOver theme from ''VideoGame/{{Catherine}}'', and his inner monologue after she calls plays out exactly like one of Vincent's.
** In episode 25, [[spoiler:after Ameno-Sagiri proclaims he'll bring Order to the world by transforming everyone into Shadows, Yu summons everyone's favorite [[OrderVersusChaos champion of Chaos]] in the main ''Franchise/ShinMegamiTensei'' series: Lucifer, the Rebel King of Hell.]]
** The 13th and 14th episodes' plots are basically an extended one to the whole aspect of building up Social Links in the games, with the 13th episode focusing on Nanako's and the Investigation Team's reactions to Yu wandering around with so many strangers.
* NeverMyFault: The girls in episode 20 continue to insist that the guys are perverts [[AccidentalPervert because they walked in on them at the hotsprings.]] [[InsaneTrollLogic They conveniently choose to ignore that Yukiko was the one who caused the mix up in the first place.]] Even worse, when the boys try and go into the other of the two hot springs because the girls are in the first one, it turns out that the girls have switched. The boys get blamed ''again''. The mistake is pointed out to the girls by the boys and they ''still won't apologize''.
** [[spoiler: Adachi]] ended causing two people to get killed by their Shadows, which made even worse in here than in the game because before throwing them into the TV, it's clear he was attempting to sexually assualt them.
* NoHoldsBarredBeatdown: A fantastic one delivered by Yu to Shadow Mitsuo after he comes out of his HeroicBSOD. He summons Persona after Persona to pound the shield around Mitsuo into dust. Every single one of those Personas are powered by his Social Links: his bonds with his friends. [[AwesomeMoments WHO'S empty, Shadow Mitsuo?]]
* {{Nosebleed}}: Kanji gets one of these in episode 8, and again in episode 19 during the beauty pageant. Both times, it's girls who cause it, which really adds to the confusion of his sexuality.
* NotDrawnToScale: Teddie and Naoto get this the worst. Walking out of the Textile Shop in episode 6, Naoto is just taller than Yu's shoulder in one shot and barely shorter than his shoulder height in the next. When Naoto and Kanji are talking outside, in one shot the top of his head reaches just below Kanji's chest. In a few seconds, Naoto only seems to reach Kanji's ''waist''. Later on in the episode, he is shown as up to Kanji's shoulder. Episode 21 has Naoto looking slightly taller than, slightly shorter than and the same height as Adachi.
* NoThemeTune: Episodes 23 and 24 open with just the title cards, no theme song. Epsiode 25 also forgoes the theme tune, instead showing the title card just as [[spoiler:Adachi is presumed to have shot Yu in the head]].
* PragmaticAdaptation: In an effort to condense a 90+ hour game into 26 half-hour episodes, the anime seems to be showing no class time and cutting out the vast majority of the dungeon crawling--basically showing condensed versions of the dungeon plots and then skipping straight to the boss battles. It seems that they will also be showing the very sidestory-ish Social Link plots, however. Similarly, the team no longer uses weapons, since it's a whole lot harder to convince viewers that the investigation team has been sneaking swords and chairs into Junes under their clothes when everything is being fully animated.
* PrecisionFStrike
** The name of the third-last episode: "The World is Full of Shit"
** In the final confrontation with the killer, Yu kick's off the team's epic ShutUpHannibal with this.
-->'''Yu:''' I'm sick of your ''Bullshit!''
** In the English Dubbed version of Episode 20, Kanji says "Fuck off" in his sleep. This is the only instance of the F-word in the English translation.
* [[PromotedToLoveInterest Promoted to]] [[TheNotLoveInterest the Not Love Interest]]: Yosuke. In light of Yu not forming a romantic relationship with any of the females in the anime, Yosuke undoubtedly becomes the closest to him. He is always the one who jumps to Yu's aid when he is in serious trouble, is the one person who stays behind [[spoiler:for Yu to cry on when Nanako dies,]] and Yosuke is the first one [[spoiler:who evolves his Persona in order to rescue Yu.]]
* {{Pun}}
** In episode 9, Yukiko calls Chie's Persona a "Chie pet". As if that single pun wasn't enough for her, she then goes off on a short tangent about Tomoe -- Chie's persona is Tomoe, Chie is moe.
** Episode 15 has one that gets LostInTranslation. Teddie and Yukiko laugh at a pun on Kanji's name, "ii kanji," which means "good feeling/s". The subbers settle for using the pun that was used in the game, "Great Kanjecture". For bonus points, the latter isn't just lame -- it doesn't make a lot of sense.
* RealLifeWritesThePlot: Igor's role is severely reduced because his voice actor passed away and they're only using his archived dialogue from the game.
* RedOniBlueOni: Applies to Yu and [[spoiler:Adachi]], who are the Blue and Red Oni, respectively. [[spoiler:When they meet face to face in Magatsu Inaba, Adachi gradually has VillainousBreakdown while Yu [[TheStoic calmly]] tells him to ShutUpHannibal. Also, Adachi's Magatsu Izanagi is primarily [[ColorCodedForYourConvenience red]] in contrast to Yu's Izanagi and its [[ColorCodedForYourConvenience blue]] aura.]] It could also apply in the game, but it applies more here due to the fact that Yu has a personality here.
* RedHerring: Like in the game, the in-universe version is [[spoiler:Mitsuo]]. For the audience, we also get [[spoiler:Naoto]] as a bit of a RedHerring early on. When Yu first sees him eerie music plays and the shot fixates on his eyes during a tense sideways glance. That's not to mention that he spends time with [[spoiler:Kanji, right before Kanji disappears.]] The SpoilerOpening ruins the latter example, though.
* RunningGag
** Yu and his attempts to tape the Midnight Channel programs.
** Aika making deliveries/working in increasing unlikely places. Not only does she work at Aiya, make a delivery in the middle of a chase scene, and bring food to the protagonists on top of a mountain in the middle of the school camping trip, but she also has a job at a noodle shop at Tatsumi Port Island and at the Amagi Inn. They try to explain away the job at Tatsumi Port Island, but by the Amagi Inn episode, [[RuleOfFunny the writers stopped caring.]]
* SceneryCensor: In addition to CensorSteam, episode 20 uses this to hide the girls' lady bits from the audience. There are many, many conveniently positioned arms. At one point, a washtub held at a funny angle is used to hide [[spoiler:Naoto's]] entire upper half.
* SchoolFestival: Episode 19, complete with a cheesy play, beauty pageant, cross-dressing pageant and a "Group Date Cafe."
* ScoobyStack
** Once while Chie and Yosuke spy on Kanji and Naoto in episode 6.
** Again in episode 8 while the rest of the group watches Kanji and Hanako.
** In episode 9, Yosuke and Kanji while they're staking out the tofu shop.
* SequelHook: At the [[spoiler:supposed]] end of the TV series, [[spoiler:Igor presents Yu with the Orb of Sight, forged from the strength of his bonds and which can dispel falsehoods]]. The late introduction of this element hints that there's one plot line left dangling...
* ShipTease
** Episode 2 has Chie and Yosuke share a hug. She then knees him in the groin.
** Chie's acting disapproving of Ai and Yu's relationship cues [[ShipperOnDeck Yosuke]] to ship them in episode 5. Naturally, Yu/Chie fans like this one, too.
** Episode 8 has Yukiko and Narukami hiding in one sleeping bag together and Chie and Yosuke in another. When the time comes for actual sleep, they switch it up and Yosuke and Yu, and Yukiko and Chie sleep next to each other. When Yu says good night to Yukiko and turns around to go to sleep, he and Yosuke are ''spooning'' (though they apparently don't do this for the entire night).
** Pretty much most scenes with those 4 in it, or Naoto and Kanji are some form of shiptease. The studio sure knew the fanbase well.
** Episodes 9 and 10 have a lot of moments that would make Narukami/Rise fans {{Squee}} with joy, including a rather nice moment by the riverbank.
** Episode 15 features some between Yu and Chie; they share a personal moment on a alone on a park bench as the sun sets, with some blushing on Chie's part. Yu and all of the other girls get this, too ([[spoiler:except, of course, Naoto, still presumed to be a boy]]). King's Game, yo. The King's Game also gives us a rather (ahem) interesting Teddie/Kanji moment, [[YaoiFangirl if you're into that sort of thing]]. Kanji/Naoto gets teased as well. Kanji blushes when he looks at Naoto across the train station. He does the same again when they're all out "drinking" and Teddie is embarrassing him.
** Episode 17 gives a healthy boost to the Naoto/Kanji ship by showing that [[spoiler:[[SweetOnPollyOliver he's still attracted to her]]]]. He even gets some floating hearts when talking to the group at Junes. (See HeartSymbol above)
*** Episode 19 teases this one a lot. Kanji begs Naoto to 'make him a man.' He also gets a nosebleed at the thought of seeing Naoto in a bathing suit, even with Naoto's refusal to come out from behind the curtain [[SeriousBusiness (complete with Kanji getting so excited they show the animation usually reserved for summoning Personae)]]. Earlier in the episode, during the group date, he describes his ideal partner as mysterious, with a strong facade. Now who might that be?
*** Episode 20 also has Kanji blushing and acting awkward and Kanji-ish when Naoto mentions the pageant. Later when Kanji hops into bed with whom he assumes is Chie, Yosuke [[CantActPervertedTowardALoveInterest wonders out loud why he didn't seek Naoto out.]]
** Episode 22 has the first major tease of Yu/Naoto, a fan favorite. Naoto talks about being happy to be seen as valuable for something other than detective skills. Naoto then blushes, and rushes off and heads in the wrong direction, forgetting it's still the middle of the school day.
* ShoutOut
** When Yu commanded Chie to sit on his lap he was channeling [[Manga/KusoMisoTechnique a certain memetic manga.]]
** One episode has Yu and Nanko watching a news report about "[[Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion Pen Pen the Penguin]]".
** Chie tells Naoto that she's living the life of a detective like Kindaichi.
** Naoto's Midnight Channel area, like in the video game, shows a lot of references to tokusatsu series, including the 'Franchise/KamenRider'' series.
* ShipperOnDeck: Yosuke tries to be this for Yu/Chie.
* ShutUpHannibal
** Yu does an absolutely awesome ''nonverbal'' version to Shadow Mitsuo in episode 12.
** In the final confrontation with [[spoiler:Adachi]] in the game, the party delivers one to their foe as a group, and this person [[ShutUpKirk all but brushes it off]]. But in the final TV episode, [[spoiler:where they've been split up, every group of party members delivers its own rebuttal to Adachi separately, wearing him down. By the time we get back to Yu and he delivers his own ShutUpHannibal, Adachi ''completely loses it''.]]
* SimultaneousArcs: Episodes 13 & 14 are the same series of days, except they're told from the point of views of Nanako & Yu respectively.
* SkinshipGrope: In Episode 20, the rest of the girls grope [[spoiler:Naoto]] in the hot springs while admiring her soft hair and skin.
* SoundtrackDissonance: In episode 21, the first chords of the soft, mellow ending theme start playing while [[spoiler:Dojima is laying injured in the street, begging Yu to save his daughter, "his only reason for living." ''Even more'' jarring in that only moments ago we saw Yu, whose video game counterpart was a HeroicMime, have his first true (however brief) [[GetAholdOfYourselfMan emotional breakdown]] of the series.]] It is then averted for effect in Episode 22. The credits play with no animation or music after the end-of-episode scent, setting episode 23 up to look ''very, very'' bleak.
* SpoilerOpening: Just like in the game, the opening gives away [[spoiler:many of the]] kidnapping victims, as well as the identities of the full investigation team. If one hasn't played the game, the script and direction of the anime is clearly intended to make a RedHerring out of [[spoiler:Naoto]] (see above), but simply watching the credits pretty much tells you [[spoiler:she's a good guy all along.]]
* SpurnedIntoSuicide: Almost played straight ([[SuicideAsComedy and for lulz]]) by [[spoiler:Ai Ebihara]] in episode 5. [[spoiler:After she overhears that Kou doesn't care for her romantically and likes Chie better, Ai is so distraught that she runs off crying to the roof of the school and prepares to climb over the fence and jump over the edge. Luckily, Yu gives chase and manages to talk her out of it.]]
* StatOVision: How Rise's [[MissionControl support role]] is represented in the anime, via Himiko's "visor." It displays the traditional game interface, including enemy HP, skills, stats, and what they (or Yu's Personas) are planning to do next.
* StatusQuoIsGod: Yu's potential romances from the game never go beyond ShipTease.
* TheStinger
** They tend to show whatever Yu sees on the Midnight Channel.
** Also, [[spoiler:The TV run of the anime ended with Igor handing Yu an "Orb of Foresight," hinting that things aren't quite over yet...at which point a trailer for Volume 10, and the "True End" episode, immediately aired.]]
** The movie, ''Factor of Hope'', ends with a [[spoiler:flashback to 2010, where Minato Arisato (the FanNickname of Persona 3's protagonist) is preparing to shoot an Evoker at his head. This became the offical teaser trailer for the upcoming Persona 3 movie.]]
* SuperDickery: [[spoiler:Episode 26 begins with Margret slapping Yuu and preparing to kill him for no explained reason. It then flashes back and reveals that Margret was pulling a GetAholdOfYourselfMan]]
* SurprisinglyGoodEnglish: While at first, most of the episode titles were in pretty good English, the winning streak ended with Episode 18 with the awkward-sounding "Anniversary to Become a Family".
* SuspiciouslySpecificDenial: Kanji in Episode 8:
-->'''Kanji:''' I didn't sleep with anyone or anything!
* SweetOnPollyOliver: [[spoiler:Kanji's]] sweet on [[spoiler:Naoto.]]
* {{Synchronization}}: The characters feel the pain their Personas feel.
* TakeOurWordForIt: Yu's apparently so persuasive and eloquent that he manages to give a speech just over 30 minutes long about why the girls should participate in the beauty pageant. It actually convinces them to go ahead with it, too. [[FastForwardGag Too bad we don't get to hear any of it.]]
* TheTeaser: Every episode opens with a short meeting with Igor and/or Margaret in the Velvet Room, except for three episodes. In one episode, Velvet Room is empty with message from Igor apologizing they couldn't be present. In the second to last, [[spoiler:Teddie]] is in it. And the last one doesn't start with it at all.
* TechnologyMarchesOn: In the game, the cell phones used by the Investigation Team look rather dated by 2011 (incidentally, when the story is set) terms, so the anime gives them smart phones. It's only a matter of time before this takes effect again, however.
* ThemeMusicPowerUp: It is the dead of night. All hope seems lost. Yu is alone, beaten but not defeated. All his efforts have been in vain, and it seems nothing he can do will help him overcome. But then he stands, determination burning in his heart. He rallies his strength and summons the [[VideoGame/{{Persona 4}} original game]]'s battle ThemeTune, "Reach Out To The Truth," and he ''faces out'', he ''holds out'', he [[spoiler:[[FishingMinigame casts his fishing line]] and [[ThatOneSidequest finally catches]] [[TheCatfish the Guardian]]]].
* ThirdOptionAdaptation: Averted for the most part. Yu's Strength and Sun social links are Kou and Ayase respectively (with Daisuke being a supporting character and Yumi being DemotedToExtra) and a lot of Yu's talking parts are actual responses that the player can give in the game. Subverted in the King's game, where he settles on Chie sitting on his lap, but Yukiko and Rise join in later anyway.
* TitleTheAdaptation
* TookALevelInJerkass: The girls in episode 20.
* TranquilFury: Being TheStoic, Yu does this a lot. Episode 23 has a ''really'' scary case of this.
* UnmovingPlaid: School uniforms and, occasionally, Naoto's pants.
* UrbanFantasy
* UselessUsefulSpell
** Yu tries to use Mot to cast Mudoon on Shadow Naoto. It spectacularly fails to do anything of note. Bosses in the game are immune to Light and Dark attacks, since they're instant kills.
** He also tries it against [[spoiler:Margaret's Loki in episode 26.]] Again, it fails.
* VerbalTic: Kuma/Teddie's constant use of "Kuma" (his name) in his sentences. Like in the game, Teddie makes [[IncrediblyLamePun bear puns every chance he gets]] in the English dub.
* VideoGameInterfaceElements
** The game's calendar and personality stats.
** The second opening has the Enemy Advantage screen.
** When the viewer gets to see what Rise sees when she's under Himiko's visor, the screen is tinted and the same strength/weakness chart from the game is in one corner.
** We also see the characters suffer from various ailments, such as Enervation and Fear.
* VillainousBreakdown: [[spoiler:Adachi]] goes fucking ''nuts'' when the team delivers their ShutUpHannibal speeches.
* WhamEpisode: Episode 21.
* WhatTheHellHero: When Teddie [[TakingTheBullet covers the girls]] from Shadow Naoto's Galgalim Eyes, and his fur is subsequently aged rotten, the girls all squeal in disgust and abandon him to his fate, prompting this reaction from him.
* WholesomeCrossdresser: [[spoiler:Naoto]]
* WideEyesAndShrunkenIrises: It's subtle and briefly seen, but this is [[spoiler:Ameno-sagiri]]'s reaction to [[spoiler:Lucifer]]'s summoning.
* WrongGenreSavy: Dojima, like in the game, is clearly a competent police officer, but is under the mistaken impression that murder mystery is one that can solved with real world logic.
* YouAreBetterThanYouThinkYouAre: Either these or YouAreNotAlone tend to be delivered just as one of the heroes has met their shadow and is experiencing the [[HeroicBSOD disillusionment, denial and/or anger]] that comes with facing their true inner selves.
** In episode 2, when Yosuke faces his shadow, Yu reminds him that [[spoiler:even though part of the reason he's inside the television is because he's bored with his life,]] he still really did love Saki.
** Likewise, in episode 3 Yu snaps Chie to her senses by reminding her that even though her shadow is the embodiment of [[spoiler:her secret jealousy toward [[YamatoNadeshiko Yukiko]] and secret desire to keep her best friend dependent on her so that she can feel superior]], she is still Yukiko's friend.
** Yukiko's shadow is manifested from [[spoiler:the fear that she can't control her own destiny. She feels worthless because she always looks to others, specifically Chie, to rescue her.]] Episode 4 has Chie telling Yukiko that she can soar if she wants to.
* YouAreNotAlone
** Both Kanji and Naoto get these in their dungeons. Kanji, [[spoiler:when Yu lets him know that he likes cute things, too,]] and Naoto when [[spoiler:Kanji tells her she isn't the only one who has trouble making friends]].
** The title for the True End episode: "No One Is Alone".
** During Espiode 12, after [[spoiler:Yu is pulled from Shadow Mitsuo's fantasy]] wherein Yu is beset by loneliness, emptiness and despair, the entire Investigation Squad holds off [[spoiler:Shadow Mitsuo's]] defenses and rallies behind Yu:
-->'''Rise:''' Go on! Now's your chance, Yu!\\
'''Kanji:''' Yeah! Take him out!\\
'''Yukiko:''' Please, get that guy!\\
'''Chie:''' Yeah!! Hit 'im good and hard!\\
'''Teddie:''' You can do it, Sensei!\\
'''Yosuke:''' I'll let you take the final blow!\\
(''the camera zooms to Yu, standing on his own, but not alone'')\\
'''Yu:''' I am far... '''''from empty!'''''"
* ZettaiRyouiki: Look no further than Rise, who wears thigh highs with her uniform.
----

** [[spoiler:Adachi]] certainly became one of these in episodes 24 and 25. He went from being a simple battle to being able to defy gravity, teleport and create clones of himself. Heck, he even has [[spoiler:the reaper]] on his side! Not to mention that he [[CurbStompBattle royally schools]] Yu in the first part of their MirrorMatch, even managing to bring him to his knees.

* {{Cosplay}}: When she's invistigating Yu, Nanako cosplays as an in-universe fictional MagicalGirl detective named Loveline. Apparently the cosplay's so good, some kids actually think that she ''is'' Loveline.

* {{Nosebleed}}: Kanji gets one of these in episode 8, and again in episode 19 during the beauty pageant.

* EyeCatch: Used to show Yu's character stat growth.

* CantGetAwayWithNuthin: Yosuke shows Yu swords that he says that he found in his backyard. Not moments latter the cops notice and the both of them are arrested as sent to jail.

!!In addition to those from ''VideoGame/{{Persona 4}}'', ''Persona 4: The Animation'' provides examples of:

** Naoto is a subversion, [[spoiler:because she is a girl]]. The first time we see Naoto's true colors is when Nanako is upset about her "case," dressed up in her Detective Loveline costume. Naoto picks up Nanako's abandoned magnifying glass, hands it back to her and encourages her not to give up by telling her that a detective should see the case through until it's over. When they visit the Amagi Inn and most of the others want to stay up in the baths, Naoto falls asleep with Nanako, and the two share a bed.

* CanonName: Although the protagonist [[HelloInsertNameHere has no official name in the game]], he is named Yu Narukami both in this anime and in [[VideoGame/Persona4Arena the fighting game sequel]].

** Nanako is a sweet young lady [[spoiler:with abandonment issues brought on by the fact that her father never seems to have time for her.]]

*** Ara Mitama and Pyro Jack are strong against physical and fire attacks respectively in episode 4.
*** Shadow Kanji's flunkies have the same immunities as they did in the game in episode 7. Also, Yamata-no-Orochi is fused with the same Arcana combination that would be used in the game (Magician x Priestess = Moon).

[[redirect:Anime/{{Persona 4}}]]

''Persona 4 the Animation'' is an [[AnimeOfTheGame animated adaptation]] of the EasternRPG ''{{Persona 4}}''. It follows roughly the same plot as the game, so beware spoilers for the game on this page, and vice versa.

The anime follows OrdinaryHighSchoolStudent [[CanonName Yu Narukami]], who has moved from the big city to the tiny rural town of Inaba to live with his uncle and niece for one year. Shortly after he arrives, a string of unusual murders begins, with the victims hung from high places. Together with his new friends, he must unravel the mystery of the murders and the UrbanLegend of the "Midnight Channel."

The anime is currently available only in Japan, but [[http://www.animevice.com/news/persona-4-the-animation-english-dub-imminent-voice-cast-tbd/5603/ it was recently confirmed that there will be an English dub of the anime]], though it is not yet known if the original voice cast will be returning.

----
!!This anime provides examples of:

* AdaptationExpansion: By cutting out nearly all of the dungeon-crawling, the anime has more time to focus on the characters' backstories. For example, the third episode shows [[CrowningMomentofHeartwarming the start of Chie and Yukiko's friendship]], something that was only mentioned in passing in the game.
* AdrenalineMakeover: The protagonist after he gets his Persona. He [[FemaleGaze lets his uniform jacket hang open]] and even ''smiles.''
* TheAnimeOfTheGame
* TheBechdelTest: The anime passes, having featured numerous conversations between Yukiko and Chie, and Yukiko and her mother.
* BreatherEpisode: Episode 5 is ''definitely'' this; bringing the plot to a halt after the Shadow Yukiko battle, to focus on the Strength and Moon Social Links.
* BrickJoke: Episode 6; [[spoiler: The Delivery Scene.]]
** After seeing Shadow Yukiko on the Midnight Channel, Yu states that he wished he recorded it. [[spoiler: He doesn't forget when he sees Shadow Kanji, and even offers to lend Yosuke his recording.]]
*** By episode 10, this has turned into a running gag.
* CanonName: Although the protagonist [[HelloInsertNameHere has no official name in the game]], he is named Yu both in this anime and in [[Persona4TheUltimateInMayonakaArena the fighting game sequel]].
* CatFight: Ai and Chie get into one in episode 5.
* ClarkKenting: Subverted; Rise puts on fake glasses to try and disguise herself, but people still recognize her immediately.
* CombatSadomasochist: The two MachoCamp flunky Shadows alongside Kanji's Shadow ''really'' enjoy getting hit.
* ContinuityCavalcade: Although the anime is much abbreviated, attentive viewers can note specific bits from the games that are still present.
** For instance, though he no longer draws attention to or explains it, Igor repeats the Tarot reading he did in the beginning of the game during the very first scene.
** VideoGameInterfaceElements are featured during transitions, fight scenes and the mid-episode [[EyeCatch Eye Catches]].
** Various Social Link characters are present in the background of scenes they have no involvement in.
** Yu has a habit of folding [[ThousandOrigamiCranes multiple origami cranes]] in his free time.
** Many scenes that were changed or added to the anime still borrow directly from other events featured or mentioned during the game.
*** A flashback detailing Chie and Yukiko's first meeting in episode 3.
*** Yukiko's pet bird in episode 4, hinted at during the opening cinematic of the game.
*** Adachi coming back from shopping at Junes with nothing but cabbage in episode 7
*** Rise's decision to quit being an idol in episode 9.
** Personas and Shadows demonstrate abilities related to ones they have in the game.
*** Chie's shadow has her Persona Tomoe's weaknesses in episode 3.
*** Ara Mitama and Pyro Jack are strong against physical and fire attacks respectively in episode 4
*** Shadow Kanji's flunkies have the same immunities as the did in the game in episode 7. Also, Yamato-no-Orochi is fused with the same Arcana combination that would be used in the game. (Magician x Priestess = Moon)
* CringeComedy[=/=]CrossTheLineTwice: The "Steamy Bathhouse" sequence in the anime's Episode 7, with Shadow Kanji and his flunkies' flamboyance cranked UpToEleven.
* CurtainsMatchTheWindow: Almost everyone, except Aika Nakamura, who has aqua teal hair and brown eyes, and [[spoiler: Teddie's human form, with blond hair and blue eyes.]]
* CutawayGag: Twice in episode 11, both times when the team realizes they've left the head of Teddie's original body behind. Cue some kid crying at its white-eyed, soulless stare.
* DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything: When Yu gets Izanagi he starts breathing heavily, makes some... ''odd'' noises, and undoes his jacket. Hm...
** In Episode 7, Shadow Kanji makes the bathtubs in the sauna overflow onto the floor and turn into a transparent sort of goo . . . which makes the Investigation Team end up slipping and finding out that it's rather sticky.
* EvolvingCredits: The anime's ending credits involve a lot of falling, rotating tarot cards. Their faces are left blank until Yu earns the appropriate Arcana, however.
* EyeCatch: Used in the anime to show Yu's character stat growth.
* FemaleGaze: A bit in the anime. There's several shots of [[BabyGotBack Yosuke's backside]] in the first few episodes, [[EatingTheEyeCandy Yu's open uniform jacket after he summons Izanagi for the first time]] and the pure fanservice that was Yosuke LickingTheBlade in episode 3. Complete with [[DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything close-up and slurping sound.]]
** In short, the anime straight up [[UpToEleven LOVES]] FemaleGaze.
* FinalExamFinale: Episode 12/the mid season finale, where the entire team needs to work together and Yu needs to unleash all the Arcana he's gathered over the past 11 episodes to take down Shadow Mitsuo.
* GetAHoldOfYourselfMan: Yu pulls this trope on Yosuke during the fight with his Shadow. Yu [[DeadpanSnarker claims]] that it was an accident, but turns it into a straight example with the lines he delivers after the punch.
* AGlitchInTheMatrix: When Yu [[spoiler:is dragged into Shadow Mitsuo's LotusEaterMachine]], he catches on that something is up when he tries to put his hand in the TV and it no longer works. With the deception revealed, Shadow Mitsuo reveals itself and starts giving him one hell of a HannibalLecture.
** Astute viewers may realize something's off much earlier [[spoiler:when the stats in the EyeCatch are completely wiped or when the first omelette scene does not play out as in the game, with everyone declaring Yu's omelette to be "average".]]
* GratuitousEnglish: The anime continues the trend.
--->''Bonds of people is the true power.''
*** Look no further than the opening and ending songs! The opening especially has caused a lot of [[{{Mondegreen}} mondegreens]].
* HannibalLecture: Like in the game, the Shadows do this to their hosts, but Shadow Mitsuo does a very bone-chilling one to Yu [[spoiler: inside the LotusEaterMachine]]:
-->'''Shadow Mitsuo:''' You have no bonds. Friendship is an illusion. You are empty.
* IAlwaysWantedToSayThat: In the opening of the 6th episode, Igor is not in the Velvet Room so Margaret says "Welcome to the Velvet Room" in his place then invokes this trope.
* HoYay: Episode 12 seems to have a lot of this between Yu and Yosuke. [[spoiler: Yosuke pulls Yu out of Mitsuo's Shadow's illusion, and they then look each other in the eye while in Jiraiya's arms. At the end of the episode, Yosuke calls Yu by his first name.]]
* IdiosyncraticEpisodeNaming: They're called Scents and are titled in English.
* IncrediblyLamePun: In episode 9 of the anime, Yukiko calls Chie's a "Chie pet." As if that single pun wasn't enough for her, she then proceeds to go off an a ''whole tangent'' about Chie pets, all the while laughing her head off.
* LotusEaterMachine: [[spoiler: Shadow Mitsuo pulls this off to Yu.]] [[AdaptationExpansion He can't do this kind of thing in the game]].
* LoveDodecahedron: In episode 5 of the anime, we have Ai dating Yu to make Ichijou jealous, since he's actually in love with Chie, who Yosuke tries to hook up with Yu because he thinks she likes him, incorrectly.
* MusicalisInterruptus: Happens a few times in the anime.
* MythologyGag: Yu's ringtone for when [[ClingyJealousGirl Ai]] calls him is the GameOver theme from {{Catherine}}, and his inner monologue after she calls plays out exactly like one of Vincent's.
* NewPowersAsThePlotDemands: Yu tends to gain a new ability, such as Persona Change or Fusion, whenever a boss turns out to be too much to handle.
* PragmaticAdaptation: In an effort to condense a 90+ hour game into 26 half-hour episodes, the anime seems to be showing no class time and cutting out the vast majority of the dungeon crawling--basically showing condensed versions of the dungeon plots and then skipping straight to the boss battles. At the same time, it seems that they will also be showing the very sidestory-ish Social Link plots, however.
* RealLifeWritesThePlot: In the anime, Igor's role is severely reduced because his voice actor passed away and they're only using his archived dialogue from the game.
* RunningGag: Yosuke getting set on fire may become one of these.
** Not to mention Yu and his attempts to tape the Midnight Channel programs.
* ShipTease: Episodes 9 and 10 have a lot of moments that would make Narukami/Rise fans {{Squee}} with joy.
* ShipperOnDeck: Yosuke tries to be this for Yu/Chie.
* TheStinger: They tend to show whatever Yu sees on the Midnight Channel.
* SurprisinglyGoodEnglish: The anime's episode titles have all been in pretty good English, and don't even sound awkward. What makes this especially strange is the bit of GratuitousEnglish in the ending credits ("Bonds of people is the true power").
* SuspiciouslySpecificDenial: Kanji in Episode 8 of the anime:
-->"I didn't sleep with anyone or anything!"
* {{Synchronization}}: In the anime, the characters feel the pain their Personas feel.
* TheTeaser: Every episode of the anime opens with a short meeting with Igor in the Velvet Room.
* TechnologyMarchesOn: Small example; the cell phones used by the Investigation Team look rather dated by 2011 terms. The anime gives them smart phones.
* UnmovingPlaid: Present in the anime, but only with school uniforms as of yet.
* VideoGameInterfaceElements: The AnimeOfTheGame uses the game's calendar and personality stats, among others.

----