Watch Persona 3 -The Movie- No.3: Falling Down

Persona 3 -The Movie- No.3: Falling Down is a Japanese animated movie directed by Keitaro Motonaga, released in Japan on April 4, 2015. The movie is based on the third entry in the popular Persona video game franchise developed by Atlus. The movie continues the story of the previous two movies and follows the protagonist, Makoto Yuki, along with his friends as they try to save the world from a looming threat.

The movie begins with a flashback, where the protagonist Makoto Yuki's parents are killed in an accident, leading him to detach himself from the world. The movie then transitions to the present where Makoto is a high school student and the head of the Specialized Extracurricular Execution Squad (SEES). Makoto and his friends continue to battle the Shadows, mythical creatures that feed on human emotions, in order to prevent the "Dark Hour", a hidden timeshift where Shadows appear and normal people become unconscious, from consuming the city of Iwatodai.

Makoto and his friends find themselves struggling to deal with the emotional trauma they have undergone during their previous battles with the Shadows. These emotional struggles weigh heavily on them as they continue to face larger threats. Adding to their worries, they are now being targeted by a mysterious group known as Strega, who have their own motives for wanting to get rid of SEES. The stakes are higher than ever before as Makoto and his friends face their biggest challenge yet.

The main character, Makoto Yuki, is voiced by Akira Ishida. He is a quiet and reserved individual who has a lot of emotional baggage due to the death of his parents. Megumi Toyoguchi voices the character of Yukari Takeba, a fellow SEES member who is struggling to deal with her own emotional problems. The talented cast of voice actors brings the characters to life and makes the audience become invested in their struggles.

The animation in Persona 3 -The Movie- No.3: Falling Down is impeccable. The action sequences are smooth and well-choreographed, making them exciting to watch. The character designs are faithful to the original game artwork and the backgrounds are detailed and atmospheric. The music also deserves special mention as it perfectly sets the tone for the movie, amplifying the emotional impact of several key scenes.

The themes of isolation, loss, and grief are explored in Persona 3 -The Movie- No.3: Falling Down. The characters are each dealing with their own traumas and are trying their best to move forward. The movie does an excellent job of making the audience empathize with the characters, particularly Makoto's struggles with his emotions. The movie also touches upon the nature of humanity, our inherent desires and how they can influence us in both good and bad ways.

In conclusion, Persona 3 -The Movie- No.3: Falling Down is a great addition to the Persona franchise. It continues the story from the previous movies while also ramping up the emotional stakes. The characters are engaging and the animation and music are top-notch. Fans of the original game and anime lovers in general would definitely enjoy this movie.