Persona: Re-CognitionS will be a full length, original Persona story filled with its own new cast of characters, social links, personas, and velvet room crew. The first six episodes of the series are already written; and would be released weekly or bi-weekly until the first arc is concluded, with a small break taken to prepare for the second arc if the first is successfully produced. Scripts have not been timed, but are estimated with proper editing to result in episodes approximately 40-60 minutes long, although this will be split between a number of characters per episode. There will be additional characters to cast for further arcs; and those characters introduced in this one will raise in prominence and their general affect on the story and setting. This is a developed world; with arcs, characters, beats, and twists planned along the way. The entire story is mapped out, major beats planned, and a fair skeleton there of what will take the story from its beginning to its end. It will be distributed as a podcast, or via a dedicated tumblr when episodes are completed. The series will have narration, a full cast, and music, for the complete Persona experience. Art will likely be commissioned to market the series and fully represent the characters; but for the audition process and in general, I want the voices to inform everything about the characters.
Persona RS as we'll call it for simplicity, takes place in the small, sleepy coast-side city of Ishinomaki, a fishing town full of lost potential, tourist traps, and trapped youths. Ishinomaki is a town where you graduate high school and go right into the work force, be it on a fishing boat, working at the local resort, or stuck in a dead-end store selling products no one over the age of 25 would be interested in. Ishinomaki is a town where you don't want to be young, because there's little to do, little to see, and plenty of reasons to think why you'll never go anywhere.
The story follows high school students who quickly get thrust into water way above their heads; in some ways, literally. Strange doppergangers start appearing around town, reflecting what would happen if things went wrong, if someone lost faith; a shadow of the worst case scenario. A group of three students meet after a bizarre encounter they all remember of a blue room with a man with a long nose and a talking dog, and quickly find themselves with more allies in their midst. The story will follow themes of past regrets, understanding your true self, living the life you want to live, and making the best of what you have, among others.
Persona RS follows a structure based on the most recent three games of the main Persona franchise, 3, 4, and 5. Each arc with spotlight a particular character or key theme tied to a location or person, as the group meets the other students in town, gets something to eat, and goes in deep, diving for answers.
The three leads of the story are already casted; but this is a Persona project, which means there's many, many more important faces than just that. Toda and Makoto will become leads in the main group, and many of the side characters will have arcs of their own, or gain shadows who will begin to start significant problems. With these being original characters, you have complete freedom to audition for these characters how you'd like, outside of the few guidelines I've set out for each.
Your auditions will be judged on both sound quality and the voice itself; how you fit and inform the image of the character and help form it further. it's simply about how we get to that point. Depending on the number of lines connected to your role, arcs will be recorded either all at once or in a few chunks, giving you a break for a little while as the next arc is being written. As again, these are original characters, I would heavily prefer being able to organize directing over Discord, Skype or a similar app at least one time to help nail down the voice, and ideally regularly record with direction in order to save us both the hassle of communicating back and forth over mere written direction. However, this can be flexible depending on your audition; if a fit is a perfect fit and you simply can't do a call, then that can be discussed otherwise.
I welcome the process, and anticipate finding people to help share this story with many ears around; it is a tale close to my heart, that I know a lot of people will really enjoy.
Makoto Eiichiro represents the Hermit arcana, and is a first year.
Makoto is a transgirl, so I would only like transfeminine individuals to audition for this role. The actress will have input on the script in order to properly involve the voice the character represents.
Makoto is a strong-willed individual, who is dealing with an incredible burden young in her life with being a young Japanese teenager with an identity that isn't the one she was 'supposed' to have from birth. However, having to hide her assigned gender due to a lack of acceptance, she presents as cis at an awkward point in her life, adding an incredible amount of anxiety to her day to day life of a fear of anyone finding out, even harder when her heart tells her to she needs to still be the happy helpful person she knows she wants to be. This aspect would be reflected in her voice; somewhat high, perhaps androgynous, something that would leave someone at a glance unsure of her identity, or a sound that is generally transitioning or presenting with the feminine edge. Her goal is to present as cis, and this is up to your interpretation. Makoto is kind, friendly and empathetic to the problems of those around her, idolizing those older and wiser than her, aiming to find someone kind and strong who she can trust and open up to. Makoto has a close relationship to her brother, but lies about living with him out of a fear life would be harder for him if anyone knew someone of her situation was living with him.
Makoto is cheerful, friendly and helpful; pushing herself to be the person she would want to help her when things are tough. There's an underlying level of anxiety to it all, but she does her best to deal with it, and not let it change who she wants to be.
In this first arc, Makoto will face her shadow; a personified specter of her fear of typical gender roles as well as a 'reveal' itself, in the form of a handsome prince charming/magical girl combination styled after the barest ideas of Tuxedo Mask and Sailor Moon. Phoenix Masquerade is a bombastic, brash, confident, deep voiced individual, who wants to 'save' young girls from a life of suffering by allowing them to be his princesses, reflecting a dark side of what Makoto wants to be. Upon the climax of the first arc, Phoenix Masquerade switches to the other side of this dichotomy; Holy Miracle Girl Makoto, a typically bubbly, excited, hyper, and hyper-feminine magical girl, to further taunt Makoto with her own views of herself and what it has to be. The contrast between Makoto and Phoenix Masquerade is important for selling the character's first arc; but delivery is ultimately the most important aspect, and pitch can be distorted or hidden in a pinch. The voice is ultimately trying to disguise and differentiate itself from her.
*Explaining why she visited the shrine in the pouring rain.* That was the idea…! My...grandma, told me she used to come to the shrine, and I always heard about this nice boy who lived here...
*Upon accepting herself, and pushing back against her shadow's words.* They’re right; but I always knew that! I shouldn’t need you, my parents, my brother, or ANYONE to tell me who I am! We’re ME!
*As her masc shadow, taunting the group.* What’s a palace without a princess? Time is short, and talk is cheap! I’ll see you at the castle; and prepare yourselves; then I’ll give you the time of day! *laugh*
Toda Kane represents the Fortune arcana, and is a first year.
Toda is always on the edge of the conversation, with her eyes on something in the distance. Toda is very distracted, somewhat spacey, but with a mind moving a mile a minute. She's the type to be extremely suspicious of anyone new in her life, not trusting anything she hasn't seen before; and this can be as small a hairstyle that she's unfamiliar with, and she'll then gain a mild fixation until she's satisfied. Toda has a difficulty asking people if they want to spend time with her, as she really is just a lonely girl who wants people to call friends and do all the things that friends do on television, so she'll go out of her way to make excuses or wacky situations that put her with the ones she wants to be close with. There are many things she doesn't understand; social cues, personal spaces, or even the way that you make a friend, so she does everything her way with blissful ignorance to all else.
Toda is goofy and silly, with a sense of strange, unexplained paranoia underneath. Kate Micucci or Kristen Schaal are an incredibly references, but don't feel limited by the suggestion.
Her sound will come from a generally bratty tone, a cheerful, somewhat musical quality that could sound tomboyish, or just a bouncy softer fem voice, as Toda is more of the type to run around in trashed jeans than ever touch a skirt.
She's sort of the view into the world, and she helps define the sort of place Ishinomaki is, and what the people who come from there are going to turn out to be. She's a small fishing town girl who makes her own entertainment, giggling about immature things, and running away from her problems. She's a brat through and through, but she'll stick with her friends if she's lucky enough to make them, and never look back.
Toda will have a shadow in later arcs of the story.
*Questioning a stranger with bleached hair curiously, but somewhat aggressively.* What’s up with that? *Gesturing at someone's hair.* THAT! Your, that!! Your THAT, look!! How could I possibly be more clear?!
*Referring to a regular person who is clearly not this.* He’s a dark warlock, who casts spells from his books of evil magic! And then, he accuses people falsely of stealing.
*Accepting there's something she's not being told.* Grrrr. I feel like there are secrets, I should know. But, in that case! Toda’s gonna go her own way too, so I’ll see you nerds around!
Kirima Toshido represents the Devil arcana, and is a third year.
Kirima dropped out of his third year of high school when his grandfather passed away, so that he'd be able to run his bookstore in his stead. Kirima doesn't trust anyone else to do it, and has a hard time letting anyone into his life in general that can be trusted, having a dark attitude about it all. He's gruff, deep voiced, but with a bit of a morbid sense of humor, accepting that there are going to be people who are going to fail, and it might be his job to clean up the ashes. Chris Niosi is a vague voice reference, but don't feel limited by the suggestion. He doesn't mind talking to someone new but he's never going to sugarcoat his words, managing a way about himself that gives him an air of mystery while still being fairly direct. In the first arc, Kirima will be introduced in a fairly meaty scene, and will go on as a main supporting cast member in future arcs when the norm is more established.
Kirima is dark and brooding, but not anti-social. He's got a chip on his shoulder, but he's comfortable where he is.
In later arcs, Kirima will have a shadow, which will increase the character's and voice actor's role in the story to a full supporting level.
*Addressing an unfamiliar group with someone he is more familiar with, negatively.* Use a taste in better people. But I could use some help sorting through some heavy tomes I’ve got in the back, and I need to keep an eye on this one.
*Jovial, amused.* So, you’re new here, and you haven’t left yet?
*Somewhat amused, after someone successfully climes down a rickety book ladder.* Yeah, that’s it. Kind of expected you to fall. Didn’t want you to, I didn’t need that type of mess today.
Misaki Tatsumaki represents the Lovers arcana, and is a third year.
At first glance, Misaki is the most gratingly high-pitched, cutesy, non-self aware person imaginable; a maid at a cat cafe on an island already filled with cats, making obnoxious cat puns and practically shouting every word that comes out of her mouth at every opportunity. Misaki has a speech quirk that I'd like to hear in the audition lines, of choosing somewhat random words to draw out the syllables on for no apparent point whatsoever. She'll have a very high pitched voice, ideally, or at least one that properly hits the grating tones needed. The key is just doing as annoying of a voice as you can, and it's gonna be real difficult to go 'too far' on that aspect.
She will play a minor role in the first arc, but past that, we will discover that this is entirely a persona, no pun intended, that Misaki puts on to drive away people just looking to check her out or assume things about her from her looks, so she pushes them away first on purpose. The real Misaki, referred to as 'mode 2', is a chill, calm, slightly lowered voiced and motivated individual who'd prefer to hang out in an arcade or soothe tired ears as an intern at the radio station than stand in a cat cafe making terrible, terrible cat puns that don't make any sense.
Misaki is cheerful and incredibly in your face when she's faking it, going out of her way to be as obnoxious as she can be, and shifts into something more comfortable, natural, and possibly lower pitched.
Misaki will have a shadow in further arcs, and play a larger role in the story.
*Heavily encouraging customers at the cat cafe.* You’re nyaaaht allowed to nyaaaht enjoy yourself heeere!! Purreeease take a seat!
*She's being ignored, and she doesn't like being ignored.* Ohhhhh? Do you kneaaaaaaad something!? I said it with A 'K', like caaaaats kneeeeead!!!!!!
*In 'mode 2', encouraging someone..* You've just got to stand up straight, and look her in the eyes, and tell her that you're better than her! That shouldn't be that hard for a girl like you, you're feisty.
Kasumi Yanoru represents the Empress arcana, and is a second year.
Kasumi Yanoru is a teen idol, who has ended up back in her hometown due to a degenerative bone disease that became apparent after a particularly high number of falls on stand. Kasumi is very feminine, excitable, friendly and outgoing, but has a sense of self-doubt that makes her push herself away from the ones she really cares about. She's self-defeating, and will affirm her ability to help people in a somewhat aggressive, needy way at times. She's someone who wants affection, and being in a place where she gets so much from unwanted sources, she wants to connect back where she grew up with the 'little people'. Kasumi wants a rival, someone to help her better herself and push her to go beyond, but needs something stronger in her life to give her the motivation to persevere when times get tough and things are rough.
Kasumi wants to be friendly but can come off as coarse; pushing through her own anxieties to try and go out of her way to be the idol she views herself as, falling back into a gap of severe self doubt.
Kasumi is from the Kansai region, so I'd like her to have a degree of a southern accent; although how strong it is remains entirely up to the voice actress's digression. She'll have a minor role in the first arc, but will go on to be a main part of the supporting cast, with a particular bond involving one of the other leads. Kasumi will have a shadow, who will go on to play a larger role in the story.
*Addressing an old friend she wishes to be close with.* Don’t ask like that, that’s so rude! It’s Kasumi! Just ‘cause I’m living the idol life doesn’t mean we can’t talk, I care about you!
*When a strange dog appears in a cat cafe.* Oh my gosh, in a place like this?! Puppy!! Look at the thing, its lil' butt's barely being held up by those lil' legs!
*Trying to have the last word with someone who just wants to leave.* Don’t be a stranger! I’ll check in with you, see how you’re doing!
Yuuki Eichiro represents the Strength arcana, and is a second year.
Yuuki is Makoto's brother, and a tired individual. Him and Makoto live together and he supports the both of them, entirely out of his own decision to let Makoto focus on school, while he juggled work and school at the same time. He's a bit over-protective, a major worry wart, kind but strong willed, and defensive. His sister means the world to him even if he doesn't fully understand her situation, but he wants to give her the basic ease of life he thinks she should have. He's usually soft spoken, with a somewhat airy sound to his voice, but ultimately he's just someone who sounds like a guy. He doesn't consider himself special, he keeps close to the small number of friends he has, and focuses on his future. He worries about being able to keep the life Makoto and him have together as he gets older, but has to focus on where he is for the moment. Maybe standoffish at first, Yuuki is the type who'll come through for you in the end.
Yuuki is relatively typical; not outwardly friendly, but not rude. He's as polite as he needs to be until he can understand if someone can really be trusted.
Yuuki will later have a shadow who will feature briefly in the story.
*When someone mentions his sister, who he's aware is missing.* I’m worried. It’s not the first time she’s ran away like this, so she’s probably just fine, but..I’m really worried.
*When Makoto is finally brought back safe.* Hey. I don't know what happened. I'm not going to ask what happened. But thank you. Thank you, god.
*Casually letting a co-worker off.* You need to get off early, Kamiya? I can watch the store for the rest of the day.
Katsui Kanzeburo represents the Hierophant arcana, and is in his late 40's to early 50's.
Katsui is a gruff old-by-japanese-standards man in the stylings of Ryotaro Dojima or Sojiro Sakura vocally, a smooth voice accompanying a groundskeeper and general volunteer custodian at the high school. Katsui will have his role in episodes talking off to the sides, helping the team when they need guidance, and giving them the wisdom of age. He's an old man who worries, seeing the youth get up to crazier and crazier trends that he never seems able to predict, but just hopes that the sparks he sees of himself in the youth around the school won't burn out as fast as they did for him. He's the voice of reason, and the janitor who seems to have the answers to your problems.
Katsui is gruff but affable; approachable, and generally interested in helping out.
Katsui will have a shadow who will have a spotlight later in the story.
*Introducing himself, and giving a warning.* I don’t bother with discipline, that’s my daughter. She’s, uh. She’s a second year teacher, and you’ll know her when you see her.
*Slightly curious, affable.* Okay, you’re definitely new. Never seen a groundskeeper before, I guess?
*Tired of having to say this.* Please keep her out of the bird exhibits. I know I can't expect too much, but I've only got so many hairs left...
Matsui Kanzeburo represents the Tower arcana, and is in her mid to late twenties.
She'll have an adult, parental sound to her voice, anywhere generally around mid to late twenties. She sounds mature, and that's the gist of the tone; Matsui Kanzeburo is a stern, tough, debatedly cruel instructor. Previously a cop but quitting due to personal reasons, she treats her class like a group of suspects, giving them the same regiment and specific detail she would to a line-up at the precinct. She plays an antagonistic role as an instructor, but does ultimately want her students to pass. She'll play around with their expectations, faking a dramatic incident in order to see how the class would turn against itself, or poke someone roughly in the head who has been sleeping through her entire lesson. As long as there's school, there will be Matsui. There's a lighter edge to her that wants to relax, put on a pair of shades and just lay back at her desk, but this is rarely seen.
Matsui is tough, calculating and occasionally smug, holding her students to the same high standards she holds herself.
Matsui will have a shadow who will have a spotlight role in the future.
*Worryingly smug.* I’m glad I have your cooperation. I will call you in when it’s time. Prepare yourself.
*A calm frustration.* Two of my students have been witnessed, up close and personal, stealing test materials before this semester even began. This is an insult to what I stand for, and what everyone in this school stands for.
*Taciturn, to the point.* That will be enough, thank you. I don’t need you to recant an entire production.
Yori Amichi is in his, her or their mid 20's.
Yori will appear in a few episodes as a main to supporting focus early on, and will have spotlight appearances later on, with gaps in their appearances in between. Yori is open to male and female auditions, and has a medium to high pitched tone, the air of a young adult trying to sound like they have everything together. Yori will put themselves ahead of a problem to tackle it before it gets worse and worse, often suffering in the process. They're a social worker who helps anyone new to the area, going out of their way to get the assignment when it really wasn't a part of their job description. They're mature, a little full of themselves, but kind, helping, and warm. Warm is the easiest way to describe Yori, as someone who just wants to help. Yori's voice does not have to be androgynous, he or she is open to interpretation for what voice feels right.
Yori is slightly mysterious but friendly, slightly curious, with a sense of justice that they want to follow through. He or she presents themselves professionally.
Yori will have a shadow who will feature prominently in the story, in bursts.
*Distracted, somewhat rambling.*…my degree is technically in law, but you know that there aren’t a lot of opportunities when it comes to the defensive side of things. I care about people, and want to-.
*Proud, eager to help.* If you ever have any questions about the town or the school, don’t hesitate to ask for my assistance. I’m used to dealing with kids like yourself.
*When informed of the existence, or rather, someone's story of existence of 'shadows'.* Hm. And that version of...yourself. That’s who’d do it. That’s what you’re afraid of.
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