Here we are again with another week with the Import Report! This week I’ll be talking about a certain series that happens to be quite a favorite for some people around here. Let us wander back into the Dark Hour and depths of Tartarus as we take a look at the theatrical anime adaptation of one of the greatest JRPGs of the century, Persona 3 The Movie: Spring of Birth! However, before that, we’d like to remind you that this is a bi-monthly column which will be looking into anything from Japan that deserves (or at least people wish) to be localized outside of Japan. At the end of the article, I’ll give the series a rank based on its chances of localization. The rankings will go from zero to three:

• 0: No chances
• 1: Slight chances
• 2: Moderate chances
• 3: Extremely likely

What is Persona 3 The Movie: Spring of Birth?

Before we answer that question, let us first go over “What is Persona 3?” I’m sure I don’t have to over such a question with some people around here, but let me give a quick course to those of you who are clueless.

Persona 3 is a Japanese role-playing game created by the video game studio ATLUS, and is the third in the Shin Megami Tensei Persona series. The game was first released in Japan in 2006, 2007 for North America, and 2008 for Europe. The game spawned two remakes, Persona 3 FES and Persona 3 Portable. Persona 3 FES came with an epilogue story, called the Answer, while Persona 3 Portable was released on the Playstation Portable with an option to play as a female main character.

Persona 3 follows the story of a team composed of young teenagers in possession of special ability called “Personas”. Their mission is to eradicate the Shadows that come out during a secret time unbeknownst to people called the Dark Hour. Makoto Yuki moves to Tatsumi Port Island during a period of the Dark Hour and finds himself caught in its dangers. During a time when he most needed it, Makoto Yuki summons his Persona for the first time, erasing the Shadow before him. With this, he joins the team of teenagers known as “SEES” (Specialized Extracurricular Execution Squad) and tries to find a way to end the Dark Hour and find the truth behind the tower that rises during that time known as “Tartarus”.

Localization Rank: 3

Reasoning:

The Persona franchise is a big hit, inside and outside of Japan. When additional games are created and released in Japan, localizations are hot on their tails and release in a matter of months. Persona 3 is one of ATLUS’ biggest successes. I know it, the fans know it, and certainly Aniplex must know it. Seeing how popular it is, I wouldn’t be surprised if the Japanese Blurays came with English subtitles.

The plot only goes up to the Fuuka arc, so I pity those of you who are Aigis fans. No news of a DVD/Bluray release has been announced yet, but a sequel has been announced that is called Chapter 2: Midsummer Knight’s Dream (so expect to see her there). I totally can’t wait to go through the entire Persona 3 story again, especially with all the hundreds of hours of grinding in Tartarus cut out.