P-Studio Art Unit Interview About the Persona Series Character Design Process at Atlus

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Reggy
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Their Work Histories

Would the three of you in the Art Unit tell us which games you’ve worked on?

Oribe: I was working with Soejima-san as soon as I entered the company, and was tasked with the 2D art. My first job were the characters’ dialogue sprites for Persona 4. Then I did the lineart and coloring for the sprites and shops for Persona 3 Portable, while becoming an assistant to Soejima-san. After that, I was involved in games outside P-Studio, like Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor, Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey, and Trauma Team, and I did a little work for Catherine. Finally, I worked on Persona 5 (P5). I’ve had a long career, and a list of games I helped with.

You started with sprites, but what kind of work are you doing now?

Oribe: I’m in charge of the package art, the characters’ full-view art, the battle cut-ins for P5, and the materials that characters use in-game.

Soejima: Didn’t you work on Persona 4 Arena, Arena Ultimax (P4AU), and Persona 4: Dancing All Night (P4D) as well?

Oribe: Oh, I did! I worked on those games, too! Wow, I’ve been working hard… but if it got out that I forgot, I’d get scolded. (laughs)

We’ll make sure to write that down. (laughs) Kabayashi-san, if you would go next.

Kabayashi: I first worked on Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth, but since I entered the company as a 3D designer, I did the dungeons. I continued with 3D for two more years, despite wanting to take on 2D… specifically, the characters. I brought this up with my boss all the time. And when they finally said, “Why don’t you try it for a while?” I got to doing it.

Was it a smooth transition into the Art Unit?

Kabayashi: The timing was just never good, and I wasn’t able to transfer to the Art Unit until my fourth year. I worked on P4AU, P4D  and I’m currently tied to Persona 3: Dancing in Moonlight (P3D) and Persona 5: Dancing in Starlight (P5D).

So your request to draw was permitted.

Kabayashi: After asking over and over. (laughs)

And finally, Shimada-san.

Shimada: I joined in April 2016, so I guess I’m last. (laughs) I entered the company right after graduating, and I was assigned to the Art Unit. My first assignment was the lineart and coloring for the Confidants’ full-view illustrations.

Who was the first character that you drew?

Shimada: The teacher, Kawakami. The Art Unit held a bit of a contest to see how detailed we could design clothes, and I worked very hard on Kawakami-sensei’s denim skirt. (laughs) After P5, I designed the full-view art and packaging art for P3D and P5D.

Are you all going to be involved in Persona Q2?

Soejima: It’s related to the Persona series, so I don’t see why they shouldn’t be. And because Shimada-san mentioned the art contest, I’ll say that I was once told, “Soejima, these drawings are so detailed, they’re amazing!” I was dejected, because it wasn’t my art. (laughs)

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