Persona 4 the Golden Animation

Episode 11

After a lackluster episode 10, episode 11 “Let it OUT! Let it Go!” is a complete reversal, delivering an action-packed, well-paced and genuinely hilarious half hour of anime. Gone are the verbose, boring monologues, replaced with smartly directed sequences that convey character development while at the same time showcasing the best Persona battles the series has ever done. This is the show that we've been waiting for.

The massive improvement in the action scenes is mainly due to this being the best-animated installment of Persona 4 the Golden Animation thus far, with all the characters and personas moving much more fluidly, and not going noticeably off model at any point in the process. The direction has never been bad, and it only enhances the improved animation, giving the drama of Yu's confrontation with Marie all the visual gravitas and energy that it should. My indifference to the story from last episode has been completely obliterated; indeed, this may be the most engaging episode yet.

This engagement is not only limited to the dramatic scenes of the episode, as fully half the runtime is dedicated to what has proven to be the shows best aspect: character-based humor. Naoto, Teddie, Yu, Chie, Kanji…every one of the main cast is involved in group comedy scenes, all of which rank as some of the funniest yet in the series. While all the scenarios involve multiple characters, each is allowed to shine in their own unique ways, exhibiting the hilarious personal quirks and foibles that have made them so distinct over the course of the show. Even Marie, a character that has generated relatively fewer laughs than the other cast members, is given a few choice gags, with her embarrassment and exaggerated fury played perfectly by Kana Hanazawa. As the central heroine of the show, Marie's drama has defined the plot, so it's good to allow her some levity once in a while.

Episode 11 is more than a return to form. It is the epitome of the series' best elements, mixing character-based humor, weird/beautiful imagery and great vocal performances and finally giving them the dramatic writing and quality animation that they deserve. By recognizing its strengths and improving the issues that have held it back in the past, Persona 4 the Golden Animation's creators have managed to deliver their best episode yet.

Rating: B-

Persona 4 the Golden Animation is currently streaming on Crunchyroll.

Miles Nelson has been watching anime since 1997, and writing about it since 2013. You can read some of his articles at My Geek Review