Ask John: Is There Anime Anime Similar to Persona?

Question:
A long while back, I got introduced to a lovely little RPG known to Americans as Persona 2: Eternal Sin. After only an hour, I was already impressed with the slick and stylish presentation of a world which represents both reality and the mythology of just about every culture. I’ve since discovered that the series is actually based off of one of the largest RPG series in Japan, Megami Tensei. So, my question is this: Would you have any suggestions as to which anime series would have the same sort of mystical, dark, post-apocalyptic, yet almost hopeful feel to them? I’ve heard suggestions of Boogiepop Phantom, but I’m just not sure only one will hold me over.

Answer:
For being one of Japan’s most popular and enduring RPG franchises, it’s surprising how little awareness there is of the Megami Tensei- which became “Shin” (New) Megami Tensei with the release of the third game- game and anime series in America. There are over 20 separate games in the series so far available on systems including the Famicom, Super Famicom, PC-Engine, Gameboy, Mega CD, Game Gear, PC-98, Saturn, PC and Playstation, and Shin Megami Tensei 9 announced for the Xbox- and over 40 different game issues, re-issues and versions.

You may be interested to know that there are actually numerous adaptations of the actual Shin Megami Tensei series available that you may want to look for. The earliest entry that I know of is a 1986 OAV titled Digital Devil Story: Megami Tensei. It was dubbed and subtitled by British company Kiseki Films and released in the UK and Australia in 1996 and on DVD in the UK early last year. This OAV has never been released in America. Manga Entertainment released the two episode Shin Megami Tensei OAV series from 1997 on subtitled and dubbed VHS in 1994 under the title Tokyo Revelation. The Tokyo Revelation DVD is scheduled for release this June. In 1997 Shin Megami Tensei Devil Summoner appeared on Japanese television as a little known live action TV drama. Then in October 2000 the Shin Megami Tensei Devil Children series of Gameboy games were adapted into the 50 episode Shin Megami Tensei Devchil anime TV series; however this Pokemon clone is probably not the “mystical, dark, post-apocalyptic, yet almost hopeful” type series you’re looking for.

Triangle Staff’s Boogiepop Phantom and Serial Experiments Lain should both be very near the top of your list of series to look for that having a dark, cyber/gothic atmosphere similar to the Megami Tensei series. Although much more action than drama oriented, Battle Royal High School also features an atmosphere of the supernatural and unknown and multi-dimensional and simply outré in common with the Megami Tensei series. And although not exactly “hopeful,” CLAMP’s X manga and anime series is very similar, in many respects, to the dark, foreboding and apocalyptic techno-futuristic atmosphere that you’re in search of.