Persona 5 contains all the quirks of what players would expect from a semi high school life simulator mixed with tactical turn-based combat. Aside from its rather dark narrative, the game actually pays homage to everyone's favorite forest spirit from Studio Ghibli.
Studio Ghibli Reference From Morgana
Atlus has snuck in quite a lot of nods towards other forms of media in the game but one easter egg makes a special nod to everyone's favorite neighbor. At one point in the game, players will stumble across a cast labyrinth called Mementos, which is similar to that of Tartarus from the third game. One main difference between the two is that while Tartarus is a tower, Mementos is a subway station that leads the cast into its depths.
Upon discovery, Morgana announces that he can actually transform into a car which shocks the characters. The talking cat explains that he could only do this because the people in Japan find that "cats turning into buses" makes perfect sense. This is actually a reference to the anime My Neighbor Totoro as the film also has a similar cat bus that appears out of nowhere, as per Polygon.
In P5, players can traverse through Mementos by riding inside Morgana just like how protagonists Satsuki and Mei ride one in Totoro. Fans have noticed this and are spreading the news all over social media for its cute nod towards the famous studio.
Persona 5 Proves Daily Activities Matter
While the Persona series contains many supernatural aspects, the game truly shines during everyday life. Despite the ongoing power struggles in the game, players must still mind their other activities like having to pass their classes or water their plants, as per The Verge. This just goes to show that while the Phantom Thieves have such a grand vision, it proves that their day-to-day activities define who they are and how they live.
Persona 5 has stolen the hearts of both fans and critics alike for its stunning gameplay and gripping narrative. The game contains more easter eggs which are fun to hunt for aside from the Studio Ghibli reference.
