Highlights
- Persona 6 has an opportunity to take a new approach to the animal mascot concept, playing with expectations and experimenting with something new.
- The developers could create an intelligent animal mascot that is aware of its status, providing fodder for interesting Social Link or Confidant interactions.
- An intelligent animal mascot could explore deep questions and themes, adding to the franchise's overall themes of identity and free will, and making it the most introspective in the series.
For Persona 6's animal mascot, the developers' best move may be to do the opposite of what was done with Morgana. By this point in the series, animal mascots are becoming commonplace, and it would be a bigger surprise if Persona 6 didn't feature one. There are several directions that such a character could go, but it may be time to take a new approach to the concept. It would be a way to play with expectations while also experimenting with something new.
Shin Megami Tensei features some of the most iconic JRPG mascots, and the Persona subseries is no exception. Persona has built up a selection of animal mascots to date, including:
- Teddie, the costumed bear from Persona 4
- Morgana, the shapeshifting cat from Persona 5
- Ruferu, the owl-like being from Persona 5: The Phantom X
- Koromaru, a dog with a Persona that was one of the party members in Persona 3
These animal party members are always appreciated, since they add a distinctive presence to the team. Persona 6 has an opportunity to repeat the formula once more.
Persona 5 Royal's Confidants Face a Fork in the Road to Persona 6
Persona 5's Confidant system offers better benefits compared to Social Links, but it could be improved further for Persona 6.
Persona 6's Animal Mascot Doesn't Have to Follow in Morgana's Footsteps
Morgana Was a Snarky, Mysterious Mascot in Persona 5
As players get accustomed to playing Morgana in Persona 5, they get a handle on his character. Morgana takes the form of a cartoonish cat-like creature, although he can also turn into a regular cat. Despite this, he repeatedly insists that he is not a cat. As it turns out, Morgana is actually a collection of humanity's hopes given physical form, although he doesn't realize it until near the end. Despite this fact, Morgana is one of the more abrasive members, being quite snarky and prone to taking jabs at other characters, especially Ryuji. Even so, he's a vital member of the Phantom Thieves.
Persona 6's Animal Mascot Could Be a Real Animal
One of the ways that Persona 6 can develop its own identity is by shaking things up with its next animal mascot. The biggest way to do his would be for them to be an actual animal. Unlike Morgana, a supernatural being who insists he is not an animal, Persona 6 could have an intelligent animal who is fully aware of their status. They could be like a Koromaru that can talk to the protagonist, and possibly the rest of the party as well. This kind of dynamic could provide fodder for an interesting Social Link or Confidant in Persona 6.
Persona 6 Could Explore Deep Questions and Themes With an Intelligent Animal Mascot
An animal with the gifts of speech and elevated intelligence could play into one of the overall themes of the Persona series. Coming to terms with one's own identity and the importance of free will are common threads for the franchise. If an animal were to suddenly achieve heightened awareness, it would be interesting to see them grapple with their new knowledge. The ensuing discussions with the protagonist through their Social Link would likely prove enlightening, especially from such a unique perspective. Persona 6 can use this approach to make its animal mascot the most introspective in the franchise to date.
There's a good chance that Persona 6 will have an animal mascot, and the developers could make them into the series' best one yet. An uplifted animal could be a new kind of non-human Persona party member in the best way. The unfolding story of such a unique creature and its viewpoint could lead to some emotional highs for the story, especially with the questions it would bring up. It would be hard not to love an animal trying to understand its place in the world, and that may be Persona 6's best option for an animal mascot.
