History Anime / Persona5TheAnimation

With the game's lead character designer, Shigenori Soejima, the original game's soundtrack as well as new tracks from series composer Shoji Meguro and vocalist Lyn, and all of the original Japanese voice cast on board, ''[=P5A=]'' creates an almost seamless transition from the in-game depictions of the characters to animated form.

** During the fight with Shadow Kaneshiro himself, the Phantom Thieves do a party-wide series of Baton Passes. Since the Baton Pass requires each person to down a target before passing the baton, and neither Shadow Kaneshiro nor Piggytron can be downed, this is impossible in the game.
** During the fight with [[spoiler:Shadow Shido]], Ren summons Yoshitsune. For those who don't know, one of the Personas required to fuse Yoshitsune is Futsunushi, the Ultimate Persona for the Magician Arcana. Since the player can only maximize Morgana's Confidant just before going to bed on December 23, just before the VeryDefinitelyFinalDungeon, it's impossible to obtain Yoshitsune at this point outside of a NewGamePlus. Ren also summons Alice and Beelzebub, the Ultimate Personas of the Death and Devil Arcanas, even though he doesn't seem to have completed Takemi and Ohya's Confidants.

** Game Agathion is a low-level piece of cannon fodder that falls off very quickly in strength; it's a Level 3 Persona, and you probably should be around Level 11 by the time you face Shadow Kamoshida. Anime Agathion single-handedly rips apart Shadow Kamoshida.
** Zigzagged for Arsene, as it isn't used throughout the show like Orpheus and Izanagi were, and Joker fuses it with a Pixie during his first Persona Fusion. [[spoiler:However, the trope comes to full effect in ''Dark Sun'' when Arsene is capable of defeating Loki, Akechi's strongest Persona, with ease]].

** Implied with Hifumi. Since the major twist of her Confidant- that her rise to fame was due to her mother sabotaging her opponents- was cut out, it's possible that in the anime, she became a shogi pro on her own merits.

** Shadow Okumura's Executive Director robot. In the game, you'll probably spend most of the battle fighting it, and it has some dangerous attacks. In the anime, the Executive Director's dealt with very quickly, with Morgana and Makoto attacking it in rapid succession, Ren using Hecatoncheires to ''throw'' the Executive Director onto Shadow Okumura and Haru finishing it off with Milady's guns.

** [[spoiler:In the game, Akechi is stated to be [[TheAce the strongest of the persona users]], with Makoto admitting that the Phantom Thieves were only able to beat him by [[ThePowerOfFriendship working together]]. In the Dark Sun special, Ren ends up taking on and defeating Akechi one-on-one, with Arsene shown to be explicitly superior to Loki]].

** [[spoiler:Shido is the DiscOneFinalBoss in the main game and each of his forms are rather hard to defeat. In ''Dark Sun'', his first form is easily defeated by the Phantom Thieves. His second form's only offense is punching Skull but when he faces Joker in one-on-one combat, he loses to a barrage of attacks from Yoshitsune, Alice, and Beelzebub]].

** From what we hear about Gun About in the game, it's implied to have a mode in which both players fight each other, similar to a fighting game, since Shinya faces off against Takakura in it. In the anime, only the cooperative mode is shown.

** Most dungeon crawling events have been cut, leaving more time to adapt the most prominent parts of each Palace- the party members awakening to their Personas, the final confrontations with the rulers, and a few other scenes.
** Episode 2 has Ren and Ryuji escape from Kamoshida's castle the first time offscreen without Morgana's help. Morgana joins them the next day instead and summons Zorro for the first time shortly after Ryuji summons Captain Kidd instead of having a separate summoning scene.

** The adaptation leaves out the subplot of the Phantoms tracking down a thief in a desert town to gain the map to Futaba's Palace.

** Episode 24 changes the way Sojiro's confidant works. [[spoiler:Rather than having Ren and Futaba go over to Mementos, Ren contacts Akechi, who also relates to Futaba's situation with his own bastard child status, so he decides to help and reveals to Futaba's uncle that he wouldn't even win in a family court case given [[TheGamblingAddict how deep in debt his gambling addiction has gotten him]](in the game, Futaba digs it up herself, only for Sojiro to tell her that not only is what she did illegal, he always knew about her uncle's debts). In the end, the uncle takes back his claims of guardianship of Futaba without any trips to the Mementos by the protagonists, although Sojiro does get a visit from social services.]]
** The fight with Leviathan removes the part where the Phantom Thieves have to play a game of roulette against her and expose her cheating.

** Two out of the five main targets inside Shido's palace- the former noble and the cleaner- are removed entirely. Of course, it's possible that they encountered the latter off-screen, since they're below-decks when [[spoiler:Akechi reveals himself]].

** In "Stars and Ours", [[spoiler:Caroline and Justine outright attacking Joker]] is cut. Plus, this OVA rearranges the scene where [[spoiler:Joker frees his teammates from the Velvet Room, with their jail bars disappearing upon his approaches before they have a group conversation.]]
** Also removed were the Phantom Thieves' battles against the [[spoiler:angel minibosses as well as the Holy Grail before his reveal]].

** As the main character is no longer a HelloInsertNameHere SilentProtagonist, but a fully fledged character in Ren Amamiya, we finally get to see his perspective and how he feels about his probation, including a flashback of him being declared guilty in court.
** Shiho is shown getting physically abused by Kamoshida, which was otherwise just alluded to in the game through the cognitions in Kamoshida's Palace and the bruises on Mishima and Shiho.

** Episode 14 is a recap episode, but it also [[spoiler:adds a new Mementos target for Makoto's Confidant: Tsukasa. He was never a Mementos target in the game.]]
** Episode 16 adds a few short scenes, from Sojiro trying to talk to Futaba in her room to Sae questioning Sojiro about cognitive psience outside Leblanc to Sojiro asking Ren if he's putting his nose where it doesn't belong.
** Episode 21 inserts Haru's childhood flashbacks with her grandfather. There are some new shots of the group having fun at Destinyland including a rollercoaster ride.

** Proof of Justice expands on Akechi's back story, [[spoiler:and reveals that when he was younger he owned a toy ray gun and used to play as an ally of justice, which was one of the only things that made his late mother smile.]]

** In Episode 14, Eiko's FreudianExcuse- that since her parents favor her talented younger brother over her, she's drawn to someone like Tsukasa- is removed, only mentioned in passing when Eiko tearfully says Tsukasa is all she has. Several other details about how Eiko is fine with her subpar grades but seemingly has a plan for her future, thereby establishing her as a {{Foil}} to Makoto, are removed. It's also not mentioned that Tsukasa has repeatedly tried to message Makoto, presumably in an attempt to rope her in as another mark, and which Makoto uses to turn the tables on him.

** Also from "Dark Sun," it's never mentioned why the cognitive versions of Shido's co-conspirators can turn into Shadows- they're hybrids of cognitive existences and Shadows, and proof that Shido has extensively made use of Wakaba's research. The OVA also doesn't mention that the principal was part of the conspiracy, or that the subway accident was caused by Ooe's request.

** Kawakami in game was very stern about her maid job, refusing to do anything potentially sexual until she was desperate enough that she considered working for her maid companies sister company late in her Confidant. When it came to Joker, she was treated things as a professionally as she could. The anime makes her TheTease to Joker at various points, which doesn't really line up with her character. This is likely because her backstory was not given focus in the anime.

** Eiko in Makoto's Confidant. In the game, she gets angry with Makoto after Makoto tries to convince her to break up with Tsukasa, mistakenly believing that Makoto wants to steal Tsukasa from her, and is cold toward Makoto the next time they meet. In the anime, she simply asks Makoto for money and repeats her request when Makoto finds her in Shinjuku. While in the game, Eiko's last heard from when Makoto mentions that they made up at the start of the Rank 10 event, [[spoiler:in the anime, she proceeds to post Tsukasa's misdeeds to the Phan-Site, turning Tsukasa into a Mementos target. Afterwards, she texts an apology to Makoto and invites her to come to her house and share her Buchimaru collection.]]

*** Shadow Kunikazu in particular is a much more sympathetic character. [[spoiler:In the game, he merely mourns his utopia with his dying words, but in the anime, he dies with tears in his eyes, lamenting that he'll never get to rekindle his relationship with Haru. Additionally, in flashbacks, Kunikazu was shown to be at least happy during his father's time as a kind cafe owner, and when the happy customers came to offer flowers for the shop's closing, he was crying TearsOfJoy from the compliments of the customer before he started going down a dark path. Most of these weren't heavily implied within the game. Finally, during the encounter, thanks to Morgana's angst problem being simplified, Shadow Kunikazu doesn't resort to the CrocodileTears and an ISurrenderSuckers strategy, so when he's apologizing, he's not faking at all.]] It also helps that the game omits most of the scenes with the Phantom Thieves observing the cognitive versions of Okumura's workers as robots, along with Haru confirming that she knows about the abuses of the workers happening in real life.
*** While [[spoiler:Shadow Sae]] still pulls her MovingTheGoalposts trick at the Bridge of Judgement, and forces Ren to fight three Rangdas in the first round of the Battle Arena[[note]]the first phase, with two Ganeshas, is apparently omitted[[/note]], the rest of her Palace isn't as blatantly rigged as it is in the game. Her boss battle is even fought fair and square, skipping the opening phase with the rigged roulette wheel. However, this does cause some of her speeches about how everything is rigged in her favor to ring somewhat hollow.

** Downplayed with Tsukasa. He's an antagonist during Makoto's Confidant, [[spoiler:but not a Mementos target. He becomes one here.]]

* BaitAndSwitch: Ryuji's segment in ''A Magical Valentine's Day'' begins with him in first person POV just like the rest of the dates...but as soon as he's done speaking, the camera turns around to show Amamiya, and even allows him to speak, confirming that their segment isn't going to follow the same structure.
** Once Akechi gets into the interrogation room in which Ren is imprisoned at, he quickly disarms the guard who accompanied him and points the gun at said guard while telling Ren that he's there to rescue him, before replying in a noticeably colder tone that's what Ren was hoping Akechi would say.
-->'''Goro''' Hello there, I'm here to rescue you. That's what you were hoping I would say, wasn't it?\\

** Episode 9 begins with the Phantom Thieves obtaining dirty laundry in Mementos and washing it in the laundromat near Leblanc. At the end, Ren asks Kawakami to do his lauundry.

** The first anime adaptation where the quickly-outclassed starting Persona of the protagonist ''isn't'' made into an AdaptationalBadass and used as the protagonist's trump card. Arsene gets fused away early on just like the game and Ren uses a variety of gradually-improving personas as the anime goes on. He only brings Arsene back for the fight against Black Mask very late in the series.

** In the English dub of ''Stars and Ours'', [[spoiler: after the real Igor is released, he welcomes Ren to ''his'' Velvet Room. Igor would NEVER refer to such a place as his own]]. In the game, it was an early hint that [[spoiler: the Igor you first met was an imposter]].

** A chibi Hifumi shows up in Episode 6 as a mascot on a shogi app. Hifumi is also at the TV station in Episode 10, and briefly appears in Episode 13 when Yusuke is asking Joker to pose for his painting, peering into the church and leaving before either sees her.
** Chihaya has been appearing sporadically since Episode 10, warning Ren and Ryuji about the arrival of the CampGay couple. She later makes another cameo in Episode 14, attempting to sell her product to Eiko and Tsukasa.

** Kawakami also almost falls asleep on the last day of midterm exams in May, hinting that she's running herself ragged at her side job.

* HeroicMime: Unlike ''Persona 4: The Animation'', this trope is not averted, but only zigzagged. While Ren is silent for the most part, often only saying things that anyone in the group could have said, there are scenes in which he holds conversations with others.

** In episode 25, Ren initially struggles in the Battle Arena in [[spoiler:Sae]]'s Palace, but recalling his interactions with his Confidants - and an energy drink Takemi gave him - gives him the strength to turn the tables with consummate ease.

** In a news report about Akechi in episode 1, ''VideoGame/Persona4'''s Naoto Shirogane is name-dropped when referring to Akechi as "the Second Coming of the Detective Prince."
** Rise Kujikawa from the same game is also shown in an ad during a pan of the city in the same episode.
** In episode 2 [[VideoGame/Persona4DancingAllNight Kanami Mashita]] of Kanamin Kitchen is shown in a video ad following Ren and Ryuji's second visit to Kamoshida's palace.

* NotSoAboveItAll: Up until episode 9, Ren keeps a rather reserved attitude in public. When discussing Operation Maidwatch, his facade cracks to show some enthusiasm for the suggestion.

* PurpleIsPowerful: Downplayed, but in this series Sae is noticeably wearing purple eyeshadow, which subtly but effectively adds on to her already intimidating appearance and demeanor.

** The dub of episode 22 has Shadow Mishima bitterly say "Nice speech" in reaction to an attempt to set him straight. ADR scriptwriter Martin Billany [[https://twitter.com/yugiohtas/status/1405382494698971138 revealed]] this was a reference to a similar response from Wrestling/JohnCena.

* TitleTheAdaptation: The series is titled ''VideoGame/Persona5: The Animation'', as it's [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin the animation of]] ''VideoGame/Persona5''.

* ValentinesDayEpisode: The plot of ''A Magical Valentines Day'' has Ren dating all the romanceable female Confidants and Ryuji, as well as a date with [[spoiler:Sae Niijima]] at an opera house.
[[/folder]]

* AnswerCut: After Ren asks Makoto where he can find the yakuza who are preying on students, a shot of Shibuya is shown before Makoto answers.

* LongTitle: Episode 8 is titled, "Put an end to all this and use your own artwork for once," a line from Yusuke to Shadow Madarame.

*** [[spoiler: Adding on to that, and crossing over with ProductPlacement of all things, Futaba is geeking out over it being the latest model, but every phantom thief has the Xperia [=XZ1=]. A hint that she's only faking it so she can put an app on Akechi's phone and that she knows that he is the traitor.]]

** Chihaya comes off as an unrepentant SnakeOilSalesman in the anime, in which she's shown trying to sell Holy Stones to Eiko and Tsukasa, and later to Ren, since her backstory and CharacterDevelopment are not included. By comparison, in the game, she did honestly believe that [[YouCantFightFate people couldn't change their fates without help]], it turned out the ADP's leader (who's done far worse things) was making her sell the stones, and after the protagonist helps change her beliefs, she pays him and her other customers back.

** Haru's somewhat more suspicious of the other Phantom Thieves after [[spoiler:her father's death]]. When the Phantom Thieves deny sending a calling card to the principal, Haru demands to know who did. By comparison, in the game, she seems to understand that they didn't send the calling card, and later apologizes for doubting the Phantom Thieves.

* KickTheSonOfABitch: Episode 24 shows Futaba's abusive uncle being beaten up by some loan sharks, who apparently are trying to collect on their debts. One would feel sorry for him, but not only is Youji a terrible person, but he's in the situation because he wasted all of the money Sojiro gave him. To a lesser extent, Ren [[AccompliceByInaction walking off and leaving Youji to the tender mercies of the loan sharks]] could count.

* OffModel:
** Episode 12 has a shot where [[https://i.redditmedia.com/TVQ0iPDecsac9zDgze_5kVUlF7zYGtU3v0hp90AU1M4.png?w=1024&s=4c86d430ef023e172605242032d2559b Ren's upper half floats in midair]], missing half his forearms and anything below the waist.
** During the scene on the roof in Episode 21, Haru wears her gym uniform for most of the scene while working in her garden, but a brief shot around the time that the group discusses where to go to celebrate their most recent success shows Haru in her school uniform.

With the aid of a mysterious smartphone app and the inner-power of "Persona", Ren, along with new allies Ryuji, [[TeamPet Morgana]], and [[TheChick Ann]] decided to use the Metaverse to strike back against the rotten society that has unfairly stigmatised them, forming [[PhantomThief The Phantom Thieves of Hearts]] dedicated to stealing Treasure and forcibly reforming the corrupt.

* DubInducedPlothole: In the English dub of ''Stars and Ours'', [[spoiler: after the real Igor is released, he welcomes Ren to ''his'' Velvet Room. Igor would NEVER refer to such a place as his own]]. In the game, it was an early hint that [[spoiler: the Igor you first met was an imposter]].