While Persona 6 is likely years away from its release, there's no shortage of potential routes it could go. From unassuming rural towns in the Japanese countryside to the hustle and bustle of modern day Tokyo, the franchise has crafted engaging stories in a plethora of locations. The next entry will likely be no different, with plenty of character interactions along the way to keep the game feeling populated. Confidants and Social Links in Persona 5 and 4 respectively make up much of the runtime, so it's vital to have personalities that are worth the lengthy dialogue.
There are some themes that carry through the series, with a high school-age protagonist, Igor's unsettling presence, and kooky, unexpected side characters fleshing out each game's story. Great characters are a requirement, and Persona 6 will have to uphold the lofty expectations that fans have built. Some are overbearing, yet lovable inclusions to the cast, and others are far more fleeting with their appearances. Not all the characters that can be interacted with are human. Animals play a huge part in Persona, and the sixth mainline game will likely include them, too.
Persona's History with Animal Characters
For all the storytelling that developer Atlus has refined over the years, it isn't fearful of leaning into more eccentric and weird ways of telling a great tale. Persona 3 is where many think the franchise hit its stride, with a handful of Persona 5's core systems and narrative structures being introduced in 2006, but this is also where Persona's frequent use of animals began. Koromaru, a small gray Shiba Inu, was a vital member of SEES after being introduced as a stray early on. He's inspired by Hachiko, the loyal dog who waited patiently for his master's return for eight years outside Shibuya Station, and Koromaru displays his best qualities throughout Persona 3.
Persona 4 is a little more experimental with its animal associates. The game follows the set path forged by introducing a friendly, loyal fox to the story. The protagonist meets him at a shrine in the shopping district and forms a friendship with him - should the player choose to keep returning. From there, he can be helpful to the Investigation Team by assisting in dungeons by boosting SP. The other main animal-like character is Teddie, a curious companion who is based off a stuffed animal rather than a real one. He quickly becomes more complex than initially meets the eye, which is one of Persona 4's strangest side stories.
Morgana's Presence in Persona 5
Morgana is the mascot of Persona 5, and players will immediately establish a love/hate relationship with the feline. The protagonist finds him locked away in Kamoshida's Palace, and after being freed Morgana comes across as arrogant, self-obsessed, and easily overconfident. His development throughout Persona 5 is one of the strongest plots to follow as he's humbled over time and accepts his fate. Morgana is a pivotal part of the Phantom Thieves.
Narratively, Morgana rests somewhere in between Teddie and the Fox from Persona 4. He's a character who is met in the cognitive world and can be used in battle like Teddie, but in the real world his cat-like aesthetics makes him feel more akin to the Fox or Koromaru in Persona 3. Morgana is the poster child for Persona 5 like Teddie is for the fourth game, and as the franchise looks to the future, Morgana's shoes will have to be filled. This has to be in a way that feels truly different, as Teddie and Morgana had too many similarities for the latter to ever be called innovative.
Persona 6' Potential Animal Influence
Little may be known about Persona 6, but a few elements are safe to assume. Persona's tried-and-tested battle system, its emphasis on side characters, and a Japan-centric setting are staples, and an animal sidekick has been commonplace since the third game. A new Persona game with a cast made up of entirely humans would feel like something is missing, so finding a new and inventive way to seamlessly bring an animal into the fold would be wise.
Teddie and Morgana are introduced similarly, and both have the narrative convenience amnesia foe events prior to the game's beginning. Persona 6 has to develop the formula using a different origin story, and with a species that fits with the game's tone. Having animals as a supplemental character in battle as well as the tale at hand presents huge benefits, making the game's already abstract storytelling feel all the more enjoyable as there's more diversity. Each party member in any Persona game is important to the atmosphere, but it's crucial that they are introduced the right way. Persona does so much different with each new release, and it has to bring animals into the story with more thought than Morgana's cookie-cutter introduction.
Animals have had a huge influence on the Persona series, and this should absolutely continue into the sixth mainline game. However, the upcoming title has to learn from how Persona 3, 4, and 5 implemented them, capitalizing on the strengths and refining the weaknesses to make any animal's inclusion feel more memorable.
Persona 6 is in development.