There's a thing about works that become successful in Japan. Whether manga, visual novel, or video game one can be guaranteed that success will come with an anime adaptation. For a classic video game like Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3, this adaptation has come seven years after it's highly successful release. In fact, the sequel, Persona 4, was released and already has three movies released as well. This should not be seen as a slight to Persona 3 however. It is a huge favorite among JRPG players and the fanbase is often split between whether Persona 3 or Persona 4 is better. Either way, I'm a huge fan of Persona 3 and have been playing the PSP version obsessively recently. Last night I finally decided to take the plunge and watch the movie; and I was not disappointed.
Anyone who has played the Persona series of games can tell you about how big of a timesink they really are. The plot is quite similar to Buffy the Vampire Slayer in that you play a cast of high school students who at nights fight demons because their school/town is a hotspot for demon activity. They fight the demons with the aid of beings called Personas and yes, before you ask, this is all under the guise of being a school club. Sound like Buffy yet? Time in the game is split between fighting demons at night and actually going to school during the day, taking tests and socializing with classmates. While that sounds rather boring its actually an entertaining glimpse into a colorful world and the closer you become to people, the stronger your Persona becomes. However, Spring of Birth doesn't want to bore you by making you go through every day. Instead, it trims away the fat so it can focus on the main plot. It takes you through the first few big events in the story such as: the main protagonist joining the team, meeting all the characters and the first three full moons. At the same time it also goes deeper into each scene and is able to bring out the depths of each character much better. Spring of Birth does a great job introducing each character and nailing down their personality. Each character feels more alive here, though I suppose that it to be expected considering they're fully animated here as opposed to the games.
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| Just your average group of demon hunters |
Like I said before, focusing solely on the major plot points of the game allows the movie to flow really well. Some movies struggle to adapt their source material well but Spring of Birth does it flawlessly. It helps that Persona 3 was pretty much an anime already but the attention to detail here is what really makes Spring of Birth so great. From the use of the moon calendar to the cameo appearances of some minor characters, this is really a treat for the fans. However, what is important to remember is that this is the first film in what is going to be a trilogy and it does a great job setting itself up for the sequels. You get a real feeling that this is just one part in something much bigger, which explains why it really drives home the characters. The only gripe that someone could really have with the film is that it may not really appeal to someone who hasn't played the game. It moves at a rather fast pace and some things may feel a little forced if one hasn't experienced Persona 3 themselves. However, I beg to differ. Spring of Birth does a great job covering its bases to the point where I think that even if someone hasn't played the game they can get a handle on everything that's going on quite easily. They may not notice some of the easter eggs that are clearly there for those who played the game, but in reality this film can be enjoyed by anyone who is looking for something entertaining.
Spring of Birth gives the main protagonist a name and a set personality here, though that personality is about as interesting as a loaf of bread. Of course, in the game, the protagonist's personality was more or less dictated by the options the player chose while talking with each character. That being said, it is understandable why he's a bland, run of the mill, emo protagonist here. However, his backstory is drawn out a bit more and there is at least some exposition given as to why he might be the way he is really. Still, he feels like he's just along for the ride, but I suppose that is the way it was in the game to an extent. He's also a bit Marty Stu-ish which is rather frustrating as often times the other characters are absolutely useless when up against the enemy whereas in the game they were lethally effective. It seems like a bit of an injustice to Yukari, my favorite character, when for most of the important action scenes she's pushed to the sidelines. However, this once again has to appeal to the games because they protagonist is established as being more powerful than everyone else. The other characters are just as fresh and appealing as they were in the games. Maybe it's because of the movie format but the characters feel more fleshed out and alive. You get a real understanding of each character's personality. Junpei is just as obnoxious as he is in the game, Akihiko is every bit as awesome, Mitsuru as cold and calculating as ever, and Yukari just as snarky as she was in the game. However, the most amazing part about the movie is that it actually made me like Fuuka Yamagishi, a character who in the games was rather annoying. Perhaps it's because the movie actually spends a lot of time developing her before she joins the team as opposed to the games where getting to know her was actually a rather annoying process. Characters who join the team later, Shinjiro, Ken, and Koromaru, all make sporadic appearances in this movie as well.
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| The whole movie looks fantastic |
Spring of Birth is an absolutely gorgeous spectacle to watch. It looks amazing the entire movie from the slower scenes at school, to the Dark Hour, to the fantastic action sequences. Not only does the movie nail the look and feel of the games, it just looks better than a lot of other anime that comes out nowadays. Like I said before, the animation really brings these characters to life. The music also goes without saying, it's the same soundtrack from the game and it works just as well here. Not to mention they addition of an amazing opening theme which just lets you know right off the bat how good this production is.
As a Persona 3 fanboy I suppose that I have a bit of a bias here. Spring of Birth by itself is a strong movie that accompanies a really strong game. While playing the game may help you understand some of the background events better, this is a movie that can really be enjoyed by anyone. It could also be a really good gateway to get someone into the series as well. Overall, Spring of Birth is an entertaining movie that does just about everything right. It is everything that one should expect from a great game series like Persona and I can't wait for the next addition to this film series.
My Score: 4.5/5
