Alright, everyone, I think it's time I post this. Since yesterday, I have been analyzing the Persona 5 trailer, and putting together possible theories. Here they are. Tell me what you think.
Theory 1: Official Website Update and Release Date
Shortly after the second teaser trailer was shown at SCEJA Press Conference 2014, the official website for Persona 5 (persona5.jp) was updated. The background visual was changed, showing the fifth chain broken. The image name is also "bg_visual02.jpg" which leads me to believe this is definitely not the final background visual we'll get. What am I saying, exactly? Well. I have a feeling that every month, we'll get a new teaser trailer, showing a character in the game, similar to the trailer we got at the SCEJA Press Conference. To further back this theory, take a look at the "MOVIE" button on the official site. The movie will be updated, as shown by "09.01 UP" and it having the title "btn_movie02_on.jpg" With each new trailer, a new chain will break, until each chain has broken, opening a non-teaser version of the site. It wouldn't make sense to label it "0X" (with X being where the number goes) if they weren't going to update these buttons. Also, most ATLUS trailers aren't called "MOVIE" and have updates, they're usually PVs. It seems likely that this theory may be correct. It wouldn't make sense for them to break just one chain, and not the others as we lead up to the release of Persona 5. I'm sure we'll see more cinematic teaser trailers, and the MOVIE button will probably have the date it was uploaded, with the text UP, just like this trailer. Again, this is still a theory, regardless of how likely or unlikely it may be.
Chain 5: September 1, 2014
Chain 4: October 1, 2014
Chain 3: November 1, 2014
Chain 2: December 1, 2014
Chain 1: January 1, 2015
(As of October 1, 2014, this part of the theory has been disproven, as no updates to the official website have been made. However, other parts of this theory are still correct.)
After that, I believe we'll get gameplay videos and a full PV for the game for the rest of the month leading up to the game. I believe the release date will be February 5, 2015 (Theory partially disproven. Instead of a release date, there will be an event), judging from this theory and how they may want to make the next teaser trailers for characters and plot themes in the game. February 5, 2015 also falls on a Thursday, and follows the "five" motif Persona 5 was announced with. Game director and producer Katsura Hashino himself, never said that the game won't be coming out in early 2015. He just said the game will be out in 2015.
Theory 2: Piecing Together the Trailer
First, let's start with the newspaper clippings. Here is what they say, from right to left:
"It happened again!? People are running away."
"Taxes are increasing again!? Could this be a controversy?"
"A popular personality has been suspected of tax evasion. Accused of hiding several million yen in income."
"An uproar broke out over an affair with the innocent schoolgirl idol. Officials involved in the matter are staying quite about the identity of her lover."
"Dark rumors are spreading about a major food chain's performance decreasing."
"There is a new M.O. for telephone fraud, this one of which targets the elderly."
"Threatening phone calls have been made to those who recently won the big lottery prize. Personal information has been distributed."
"A public prosecutor fights against falsified evidence!"
"Extensive bullying."
"Died in their room by an apparent strangling."
"A rapid succession of assaults has occurred."
"A dangerous car accident has recently been reported."
What I can get from this, is that with the spread of news via social media, and the Internet, people have been chained down; some scared, and some demotivated with no will to live due to all of the bad occurrences in the world recently. With news being just a touch away, it's easy to find out about the latest gossip, rumors, and news.
Next, let's examine the mobile focus in the game, and how it ties into the recent news shown in the train.
"ENGAGE! next P.A.D" This is an ad, which seems to have someone on the right of the tablet device. Not really surprising. This just shows what is most popular in this game's world. Mobile devices, and technology. Pretty similar to the real world we live in today.
Above the protagonist, lies a caution message. This is usual in most Japanese trains, as it is disrespectful to talk on the phone or leave your phone's sound on. The text says "Please switch your phone to silent mode. Refrain from talking on the phone." This could just be the animation team copying the aesthestics of a Japanese train, and it could also be a subtle way to showcase how people are focused so much on their phones that the respectful rules are ignored on this train. Rules may not be followed on this train, but these people are not "free." They are now held down by spread of information that is right at their fingertips. That's another thought I had when I saw this scene.
Next, let's take a look at how the game focuses on mobile devices, and people being attached to them.
[IMGhttp://puu.sh/dorek/46556759a2.jpg[/IMG]
As you can see in these three images, this world, like ours, is flooded with people who are attached to their mobile devices. From two young high school students talking, and one pointing to the others' phone, to a man on his phone while he waits to cross the railroad, and people sitting next to the protagonist with their phones--it's quite obvious what the message here is. Also notice that the protagonist is the only one that isn't focused on any device or media of some sort. One frame shows a student reading a book. One frame shows students with their eyes closed on the train, sitting down. Another frame shows some students with smartphones, and those two high school students talking about things, while the other holds a pink smartphone. Even the man in white waiting to cross the street is attached to his smartphone. This may be a subtle way to point out that the protagonist is currently "free" from what others around him are subconsciously held down by.
Next, let's take a look at the destination our protagonist reaches. It seems to be a city that looks oddly similar to Shibuya.
These ads seem to be showcasing a few things. On the left, there is what appears to be an idol, waving on one of the screens. Could this be the "innocent schoolgirl idol" we heard about in the newspaper? It also appears that the ad is asking a question, as there is a question mark on the far right of the ad.
Next, we see a red background with five people. The person on the farthest right looks a bit like our protagonist. Could this relate to the background visual on the official website? Could this be something only he could see? Another thing, a space-esque background appears on the farthest left screen, showing the text "Next P.A.D."
A blue vehicle appears a bit to the right, and later on, the text "TOUCH" appears below it, as seen in the following image. Below it, is another ad, that looks to be aquatic.
As you can see, the vehicle ad clearly says "TOUCH" showing that it may be an ad for a vehicle that can be controlled with your smartphone, or something similar. It's nothing too important.
In another zoomed-in shot from the trailer, the aqua blue ad seen in one of the screens appears to have Japanese text. The kanji 売 and 体 as well as the hiragana for の can clearly be seen, but not much else.
Next, let's take a closer look at our protagonist. There are two things I noticed that I'd like to point out. Also make sure to note the blue light shining near him. That will be explained below.
First, we can clearly see the protagonist take out his smartphone. He seems to abide by the rules while on the train. He doesn't use his smartphone, and follows what the sign says. That's probably just a coincidence, though. All we know, though, is that he's looking at his phone now. Maybe he's checking the current time, or a map. It does seem like he intended to be here. Another thing I noticed was his school crest, which says "SHUJIN HIGH SCHOOL" How do we know? Shuyin is not a possible Japanese word, and the letter is clearly a capital J from the way it is designed. So, what's so special about this name? Well. The word "shujin" can have two possible meanings, both of which tie in with this game from past interviews. The first kanji for shujin (しゅうじん
囚人 means "prisoner" which ties in with the main plot point of the game, and the tagline "You are a slave. Want emancipation?" The second kanji for shujin 衆人 means "The people" or "The public." which is part of the main plot point of the game, and the main focus in this teaser trailer. Most likely, this is a double entendre. Persona games also usually have a prophetic or meaningful school name, as well. A Japanese phrase also uses the kanji 衆人 (しゅうじん
It is "衆人環視" which means "In the presence of the public, with all eyes focused on one." Which brings me to this.
The shadowy blue figure. At first, it seems to be some sort of creature or electrical current, but I am beginning to believe that is not the case. I believe someone summoned their Persona here, which causes time to freeze. This also may explain why we get a semi-3D view before the logo for the game appears, to show everyone in the public area that seems to be chained down, etc. It may be that only specific people can see a Persona, and that certain Personae show those who are chained down, and must overcome their hurdles. Our protagonist then realizes he has this power, after glancing around a little bit, and looks forward. This shadowy blue figure could also be the negativity of others taking form, a la The World Ends With You. Also notice that the protagonist does not seem too alarmed by it appearing in front of him. It's almost as if he was waiting for it to appear, hence his reaction during the time-freeze perspective before the figure appears. Could this be a phantom of sorts?
From the reflection in his glasses, we can see that whatever that thing is, it is most certaintly not human. It appears to have wings, and a humanoid shape, but it is not human. Also notice that the same reflection is in both of his glasses. It isn't a continous reflection, but the same reflection and same angle in both glasses. Of course, this could just be the way the animation team did the scene, but it could be something else. His reaction also fits the Japanese phrase 衆人環視 that I mentioned above.
The image below also adds to my theory that he may be able to sense that presence. It may be unlikely, but I can't rule it out completely, due to his reaction in the image.
Now, where is our protagonist in the crowd? I think I have an idea. Take a look here.
Looking at the perspective of the map:
Protagonist in the crowd:
Notice the vehicles? Look at the gray truck in the image above. See it? Good. That truck pieces together something, which we're going to move on to next.
Before zoom in:
After zoom in:
Protagonist perspective during time freeze (Notice the same building as the two images above):
Protagonist perspective during time freeze (View of the station. Note the red and blue lights, which appear near the station in the images above. The protagonist also zooms in the opposite direction of the building.):
I believe this theory of the directions of the crossing can be taken at a near fact level, due to the zoomed perspective going from north to south and matching with the diagram image I made of what direction the station and building are in. Also notice that when he first walks out, there are blue lights shining near him. It seems this part of the theory is indeed correct, at least, from what I see.
This also confirms that when the protagonist spins around in the perspective of the building, that the blue current did not yet appear, as it is in the center of the building when it does appear. During the perspective, the protagonist zooms through the center of the building, and it is not there. This brings yet another theory to the table. Could the protagonist have the ability to sense discord, or a presence(s) that no one else can see?
Notice the green truck, as well. This points towards the building being south of the station in the crowd perspective of the trailer before the logo. From the perspective, the station is north and the building is south. The protagonist, and everyone else, sees it the opposite way. The perspective in the crowd before the logo appears is different.
This means that the top part of the crowd is the train station and where he walked out was really the beginning of the crosswalk. He then proceeded north after checking his phone, leading him towards the building with the ads.
Next, let's take a look at the final frame of the second teaser trailer.
As you can see, the flames in the text "persona5.jp" look very similar to the shadowy figure before it appears in the reflection of the protagonist's glasses. The red flames may be something else he sees, as well. The sound heard while this final frame appears sounds a lot like something appearing in front of someone. The reason I used this frame and not the text in the red background is because it proves my point a lot better.
