Sentai Filmworks licenses Persona 4: The Animation

[WTK]

via PR...

HOUSTON, September 27, 2011— Sentai Filmworks proudlybrings the hit PERSONA game franchise to anime with the acquisition of the red-hot new series PERSONA 4 the Animation. Based on the megahit game-within-a-game from ATLUS, in which extraordinary humans take on even more extraordinary “Personas,” the 25 episode series is being helmed under the direction of Seiji Kishi (Angel Beats!, Magikano, Raagnorok the Animation,) with script supervision by Yuuko Kakihara (Special A, Stitch!, Heaven’s Lost Property,) while the signature original character designs by Shigenori Soejima are being adapted by Kazuaki Morita (Nyan Koi!, My Bride Is a Mermaid, Kamisama Dolls.)
When Yu Narukami’s family moves to the rural country town of Inaba, he’s expecting a lot more peace and quiet than he’s been used to in the big city. Instead, the peace has been shattered and the only quiet is the quiet of the grave, as a rash of mysterious murders and kidnappings sweep the countryside. With the police stymied, Yu finds himself joining with a group of eight other teenagers in a desperate bid to solve the mystery. A mystery that is somehow connected to both the local weather patterns and a strange video game world which Yu, his friends and the enigmatic killer can all enter. And where each must wield a unique weapon and learn to use amazing powers if they wish to survive. Journey beyond the Velvet Room as the hit PlayStation 2™ game becomes a spectacular anime in PERSONA 4 the Animation!

Digital distribution of PERSONA 4 the Animation will begin soon through many outlets, with a home video release on DVD & Blu-Ray in 2012.

About Sentai Filmworks:
Sentai Filmworks is one of the fastest-growing anime companies in North America, including hit series like Highschool of the Dead, Guin Saga, Needless, Canaan and Angel Beats. Sentai Filmworks programs can be found on home video distributed by Ingram Entertainment, Baker & Taylor, Section23Films, The Right Stuf and other good and fine distributors. Digital product offerings may be found at iTunes, Hulu, Netflix, Amazon, Zune Marketplace, Anime Network, Playstation Network and YouTube.

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[u_nick]

Never checked a Persona series out (I have that first NIS release, but have yet to watch). I hear good things, and LOVE a lot of the character designs. I'll definitely be checking this out.

[MelancholicMariya]

Blu-ray release means a potential dub, but I'm still buying the Japanese release. I'll get this when it comes out too as I'm a huge Persona 4 fan.

If they dub it they need to get most of the cast back. Seeing as Adachi in the English version has the same voice actor as the main character, who only grunts and shouts the persona name in the game, they'll have to change the main character from Johnny Yong Bosche to someone else. Adachi was great in the game.

I think they'd have to outsource it to Bang Zoom to get all of the cast now that I think about it.

[WTK]

Originally Posted by MelancholicMariya

Blu-ray release means a potential dub, but I'm still buying the Japanese release.

A refresher from Anime Boston. Unless their stance on this changed, I would expect the series to be dubbed sometime in 2012.

14:56:50 <bay|AB|Sentai> Q: Subtitle only blur-rays?
14:56:54 <bay|AB|Sentai> A: not at the moment
14:57:00 <bay|AB|Sentai> subtitle stuff only stuff won't support them with a dub
14:57:09 <bay|AB|Sentai> how many people in here would wan't a subtitle only bluray...not a lot
14:57:14 <bay|AB|Sentai> we feel those titles are niche..
14:57:30 <bay|AB|Sentai> bluray... those shows we think will be bigger and can support a dub

[Tratious]

cool, I'll be sure to watch this on A.N... and get it on Blu-Ray in 2012 probably if I like it enough.

[TheGreenMan]

Wow...undercut NISA huh?

Good that's it's a getting a dub and Blu-ray release. I wonder if they'll get the English cast from the game...probably not.

[Damius]

That's something I won't get. Great for the fans!

[Danved]

Oh boy, there's virtually no chance of this being good (and I say that as someone who really enjoyed P4), but let's license it before it even airs because Persona 4.

Did we ever find out if Tatami Galaxy was getting a disc release.

[Doom86]

Originally Posted by Danved

Oh boy, there's virtually no chance of this being good (and I say that as someone who really enjoyed P4), but let's license it before it even airs because Persona 4.

Uh, the trailers make it look pretty awesome, so I'm not sure what's with the assumed negativity.

Anyway, instant buy. I think it's likely Sentai will get some-all of the original dub cast back seeing as they sent the Rozen Maiden OVA to Bang Zoom (it's probably safe to say RM is a good deal more obscure than Persona 4). But either way, definite buy.

[superdry]

I am now on the fence picking up the Japanese BD release since Sentai now has the rights. Assuming 9 volume release with vol. 1 in November, the last home media volume in Japan will be released in July 2012. Assuming Japan still has reverse importation fears, and Sentai says the series will be released in 2012, I can see the US getting it around holiday season 2012.

Originally Posted by MelancholicMariya

If they dub it they need to get most of the cast back.

Even though I'm usually not a big fan of dubs, I would pick up the US release if Sentai is able to get the original cast back together. I think the English dub for the game is fantastic and captures the characters rather well.