Haru Okumura

Last updated
Haru Okumura
Persona character
P5 Haru Okumura.png
Haru Okumura, as she appears in Persona 5
First appearance Persona 5 (2016)
Designed by Shigenori Soejima
Voiced by EN: Xanthe Huynh
JA Haruka Tomatsu
Motion captureSmile Saki [a]
Portrayed by Riko Sugahara  [ ja ] (stage play)
In-universe information
Affiliation Phantom Thieves of Hearts
NationalityJapanese

Haru Okumura (奥村 春, Okumura Haru), also known by her Phantom Thief name Noir, is one of the main characters in the 2016 video game Persona 5 . She is a member of the vigilante group, the Phantom Thieves of Hearts, and one of the final members to join the group.

Contents

She was created by Shigenori Soejima, made to be a "sweet and shy" character raised in an affluent family aiming to change her father's ways, as well as to escape a marriage arrangement with her abusive fiancee. She has appeared in other titles, including Persona 5 Strikers, Persona 5 Royal, and Persona 5 Tactica .

She has received generally positive reception, though ranked low on popularity polls of the main cast, attributed to her relatively low exposure to players. Her appearance in Strikers was more well-received, with critics such as Luke Plunkett finding her significantly improved compared to Persona 5. Following her expanded appearance in Royal, she has been well-received than her appearance in the original game.

Concept and creation

Haru Okumura is a female teenager designed by Shigenori Soejima for the 2016 video game Persona 5 . She is a third-year high school student at Shujin Academy, and the heiress to her father's business and fortune. During her time at Shujin, she and other students awaken to their supernatural powers known as the Persona and become a group of vigilantes known as the Phantom Thieves of Hearts. This groups metaphysical locations called Palaces that exist within a place called the Metaverse, which is a manifestation of human desires. These Palaces belong to people with particularly strong distorted desires. Each member at one point went through an awakening to their Persona, a being that forms in response to the person's desire for rebellion, and they gain an outfit to represent this and assumes a thief name; in Haru's case, she chooses Noir. [1] [ citation needed ] Game artist Akanye Kabayashi identified Haru as one of her favorite characters to draw due to her bob hairstyle. [2] Haru is a "sweet and shy" character who was raised in an affluent family, and has been obedient to her father. [3] She is designed to be standoffish at first due to her seeming as though she is in a different world, but becomes friendlier as she gets closer to the rest of the cast. [4] The character Hifumi Togo was originally planned to be a playable character, but was replacd by Makoto and made a side character, with an aspect of her character, being controlled by adults, being incorporated into Haru's character. [5] Haru is the only primary female in the game to be canonically in love with Ren.

Haru has a Persona named Milady; this Persona eventually awakens and becomes Astarte. The designers wanted to emphasize how her Persona, like Haru, became organic after being artificial. They also reflected how Haru and her Persona bore similarities with Makoto and her Persona; they cited their similar grade and gender, as well as having controlling adults in their life and no father as a reason for why their Persona come from similar roots. [5]

Dancing Star Night

Haru's room in Persona 5: Dancing Star Night was difficult for art designer Azusa Shimada to design, stating that they deliberately avoided things that showed off her hobbies or personality, as they wanted to reflect her coming from a sheltered life controlled by her father. [6] Choreographer and scenario writer for Dancing Star Night Teppei Kobayashi felt that she would not fit well with a street style like most of the other characters. He gave her design a ballet corset, opting to go with a gothic style for her outfit, which he was happy with, considering it his favorite of the designs. [7]

In Dancing Star Night, Haru's dancing is performed by motion actor dancer Smile Saki. Kobayashi discovered her while she was doing a ballet dance, and she was asked to do it for this game, to which she accepted. She did not feel comfortable with her level of ballet skill at the time, so she took lessons and practiced her choreography, only to be informed that the emphasis on ballet was too strong. She was asked to do a kind of ballet that normal people would appreciate, and not worry too much about the rules of ballet. This was difficult for Saki, who had these rules ingrained in her due to her long history of doing ballet. Kobayashi noted that his reasoning was that too great a focus on dancing beautifully would take away from Haru's personality. [7]

Voice

Haru was voiced in Japanese by Haruka Tomatsu and in English by Xanthe Huynh. [8] When she was given the role, the latter was only told that she would be voicing a character in a video game without specifying who she was voicing or the game she'd be working on. Only after signing non-disclosure agreements did she find out she was working on Persona 5. This was atypical for her, as she did not audition for the role. She was then given a description of Haru and an image of her. [9] [10] When performing Haru, the only thing Huynh found tricky was "going beyond certain constraints," trying to balance this so that even if it goes out of character, it's still justified in her character. [3] The recording process was spread out over a year, and Huynh considered it very long, longer than most anime projects. [10] She considered it one of her most-known roles. [10] She reprised her role in the Persona 5 anime adaptation. [10]

Appearances

Haru first appeared in the 2016 Persona 5 as one of its main characters, joining the Phantom Thieves of Hearts, a group of people who have the power to change people's hearts by stealing their Treasures in a metaphysical place called the Metaverse. She is one of the final members to join the group. She later appeared in the new version of Persona 5, Persona 5 Royal , which added new content including Haru and other characters, as well as introducing her sooner in the story. After Morgana leaves the group after a dispute with Ryuji, he goes off on his own to attempt to steal a Treasure from the Palace of Kunizaku Okumura, Haru's father, ultimately accepting Haru's assistance after she winds up in her father's Palace, a manifestation of someone's distorted view of the world within the Metaverse. During this period, Haru awakens to her Persona, Milady, and assuming the moniker Noir. She ultimately succeeds in changing her father's heart, only for him to be killed, unbeknownst to her and the others. She aides the others in further missions, ultimately succeeding in defeating the true villain, Yaldabaoth.

She appears in other titles, including a new version of Persona 5 titled Persona 5 Royal, Persona 5: Dancing Star Night , Persona 5 Strikers , and Persona 5 Tactica .

Promotion and reception

Haru Okumura has received multiple pieces of merchandise since her appearance in Persona 5. The candle company Wick & Skull, in collaboration with Atlus and Sega, produced a candle based on Haru that has scents of freesia, lilac, and peach. [11]

Haru has been generally well-received; despite this, she was the lowest-ranked on a poll of playable Persona 5 characters, which Rock Paper Shotgun writer Kaan Serin attributed to the fact that she had little time for players to get to know her compared to the rest. [12] The A.V. Club writer Clayton Purdom, while criticizing how long Persona 5 is, felt Haru's story was "entirely disposable." [13] Kotaku writer Luke Plunkett similarly felt Haru was unnecessary, stating what while her story was tragic, it and her personality were not compelling to anyone besides people who are "really into knitwear." [14] Despite Plunkett's initial disinterest in Haru, he felt that being away from Persona 5's "latter-stages grind" improved her considerably in Persona 5 Strikers, making her one of his favorite characters. Part of the appeal for Plunkett was how Haru's experience caused her to dislike police. [15] The Gamer writer Stacey Henley noted that her line criticizing the police was her most memorable line in the series. [16] Fellow The Gamer writer Cian Maher similarly found himself enjoying her more thanks to Strikers, calling her "quick, witty, and genuinely funny" while still having a warm personality. He speculated that her shift away from pleasing others has led to her being more critical of the police. [17]

The Mary Sue writer Madeline Carpou criticized the execution of other girls in the game, such as Ann, stating that Ann did not develop much beyond the first act. She initially did not care about Haru since she seemed like a typical "soft sweet yet secretly murderous" girl, but grew to enjoy her more, considering her "surprisingly cool" and praising her character development while regretting pursuing romance with Ann instead of Haru. She felt frustrated that Persona 5 introduced Haru so late into the game. [18] IGN writer Izzatul Razali considered her one of the best female characters in the series, saying that she represents "independence and strength" and that her "kind-hearted and socially awkward" nature makes her "lovable." [19] GameSpot writer Jess Howard was initially not as interested in Haru in Persona 5, but grew to like her more in Persona 5 Tactica. [20]

Stacey Henley felt that she was an underrated romance option in the game, saying that Makoto and Ann are the positioned as the "obvious choices" due to being complementary designs, with Ann being "blond, beautiful, and feminine" and Makoto having an "aggressive take-charge attitude" with "boyish mousey hair." She felt that Haru missed out due to being introduced much later, at which point players likely already chose a romance route. She also felt that the location she was found in, the vegetable garden, was so out of the way, and thus players would only go there for the sake of finding her, unlike others, who are easily found. Henley, however, felt this fit her character, discussing how her outfit and body language suggested she was an "incredibly shy" character. She felt that this shyness made it more difficult to pursue her romance, finding that hers was rewarding. [16]

Writer Melissa Jane Lewis discussed the Snake archetype, which has its origins in a woman spurned by a dishonest man in a tale meant to warn "pious young men of the dangers of interacting with men." She discussed how Haru has similar themes to this archetype, citing how she is initially pressured into an arranged marriage by her father, only for the Phantom Thieves to save her, leading her to go from someone who is "obedient and meek" to someone who is "confident" and "somewhat sadistic." She noted that while the roles of Haru and the Snake are "slightly reversed," discussing how both are deceived by men, and are then "admonished for acting in a deviant manner" when their "grief and rage" cause them to transform, going against gender norms and embracing a more assertive, bold, and sexually free side of themselves. [21] Writer Martin Ivančić discussed Haru's language profile, talking about how her dialogue conveyed empathy as well as reflecting her upbringing and how she tends to compliment people who exhibit similarly kind natures, which he argued emphasized that she was a sincere person. He also discussed how her dialogue allows her personality to be understood through her enjoyment of nature and empathy. He also discussed the similarities between the linguistic profiles of Haru and Ann, namely due to Ann's empathy, but noted that Ann differed in some ways, such as how Haru's formality contrasts with Ann's more casual dialogue, suggesting that her personality was a mixture of Haru's and Ryuji's. [22] Vice writer Sloane Cee felt that Persona 5 became less about the cast being outsiders as the game went along. They noted that while characters like Haru may feel "out of place" and "rejected," their "fundamental privilege and secure positions" make it difficult for these characters to understand what it means to be isolated. [23]

Notes

Related Research Articles

<i>Persona 5</i> 2016 video game

Persona 5 is a 2016 role-playing video game developed by P-Studio and published by Atlus. The game is the sixth installment in the Persona series, itself a part of the larger Megami Tensei franchise. It was released for PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4 in Japan in September 2016 and worldwide in April 2017. It was published by Atlus in Japan and North America, and by Deep Silver in PAL territories. An enhanced version featuring new content, Persona 5 Royal, was released for PlayStation 4 in Japan in October 2019 and worldwide in March 2020. It was published by Atlus in Japan and worldwide by its parent company Sega. Persona 5 Royal was later released for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S in October 2022.

Haruka Sawamura is a fictional character in Sega's action-adventure game series Like a Dragon. She is introduced in the first Yakuza game as a young child searching for her missing mother, while being mysteriously pursued by multiple yakuza clans, including the Tojo Clan. Kazuma Kiryu, the main playable character throughout most of the series, protects and assists her during her search for her mother and Haruka is later adopted by him at the end of the first game. Over the course of the series, Haruka grows up alongside her adoptive father, debuting as a playable character in Yakuza 5 working as an idol and eventually starting a family of her own in Yakuza 6: The Song of Life. Haruka is voiced by Rie Kugimiya in Japanese, by Debi Derryberry in the English version of the first game, and by Xanthe Huynh in English releases from Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name onward.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chie Satonaka</span> Fictional character from the 2008 video game Persona 4

Chie Satonaka is a fictional character from the 2008 video game Persona 4. There, she appears as a high school student who starts investigating a dimension labeled as the TV World alongside her friends. The kidnapping of her best friend Yukiko Amagi leads Chie to join the Investigation Team in working in a murder case where the victims are sent to the TV World to be killed by creatures known as Shadows.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Xanthe Huynh</span> American voice actress

Xanthe Huynh is an American voice actress known for her voicework in English dubs of anime series. Her most well known roles include Haru Okumura in Persona 5, Ui Hirasawa in K-On!, Altina Orion in The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel II, Alluka Zoldyck in Hunter × Hunter, Yuna in Yuki Yuna is a Hero, Hanayo Koizumi in Love Live!, Marianne in Fire Emblem: Three Houses, Meiko "Menma" Honma in Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day, and Sachi in Sword Art Online.

Makoto Naegi is a fictional character introduced as the protagonist of the 2010 visual novel adventure game Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc by Spike Chunsoft. A fairly optimistic but otherwise average student who is selected in a raffle to enroll in Hope's Peak Academy as the "Ultimate Lucky Student", Makoto finds himself before a remote-controlled robotic stuffed bear named Monokuma upon entering the academy, who states that he and his fellow students will be imprisoned in the academy for the rest of their lives unless one of them becomes "the blackened" and murders another without being found out by the other students, prompting the character to solve crimes. Makoto returns in the game's sequels and in multiple adaptations featuring him in new story arcs, most notably in Lerche's 2016 anime series Danganronpa 3: The End of Hope's Peak High School, as a member of an organization known as the Future Foundation that seeks to take his life in a new killing game.

Characters of <i>Persona 5</i>

Persona 5, a 2016 role-playing video game by Atlus, is set in Tokyo beginning in April of the year "20XX". It centers on the Phantom Thieves of Hearts, a masked vigilante group of high-school students working to change people's hearts and have them confess their crimes. They do this by defeating a physical manifestation of their subconscious in a mysterious realm known as the Metaverse, accessed through a mobile app on their smartphones. The playable characters can be controlled in the game's many locations, such as "Palaces", which are created by people with great desires and a distorted perception of the world.

<i>Persona Q2: New Cinema Labyrinth</i> 2018 video game

Persona Q2: New Cinema Labyrinth is a 2018 dungeon crawler role-playing video game by Atlus for the Nintendo 3DS. It is a spin-off of the Persona series, itself part of the larger Megami Tensei franchise, and a sequel to Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth featuring the cast from Persona 3, Persona 4, and Persona 5. It was released in Japan in November 2018 and worldwide in June 2019.

Joker (<i>Persona</i>) Persona 5 character

Ren Amamiya,, also better known as Joker, is the main protagonist of Persona 5, a 2016 role-playing video game by Atlus. He is a second-year high school student who is expelled due to being falsely accused of assault by a corrupt politician. As a result, he leaves his hometown and moves in with a family friend in Tokyo to serve a one-year probation. Upon transferring to a new school, he and a group of other students awaken to a supernatural power known as the Persona.

<i>Persona 5 Strikers</i> 2020 video game

Persona 5 Strikers is an action role-playing game developed by Omega Force and P-Studio and published by Atlus. The game is a crossover between Koei Tecmo's Dynasty Warriors franchise and the Persona series developed by Atlus. The game's narrative is set half a year after the events of Persona 5, and follows Joker and the rest of the Phantom Thieves of Hearts as they investigate a series of mysterious events involving people across Japan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yusuke Kitagawa</span> Persona 5 character

Yusuke Kitagawa is one of the main characters and party members in the 2016 video game Persona 5. He is voiced by Tomokazu Sugita in Japanese and Matthew Mercer in English.

Ann Takamaki is one of the main characters in the 2016 video game Persona 5. She is a Japanese-American teenage girl and a second-year student at the fictional Shujin Academy. She is also one of the founding members of the Phantom Thieves of Hearts, a group formed with the intention of stopping wrongdoers from hurting others.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Makoto Niijima</span> Persona 5 character

Makoto Niijima, whose Phantom Thief code name is Queen, is a character in the Persona series, first appearing in the 2016 video game Persona 5 as one of its main characters.

Goro Akechi, who uses the code name Crow, is a fictional character in the Persona series, first appearing in Persona 5. A high school detective nicknamed "The Second Coming of the Detective Prince", Akechi opposes the Phantom Thieves' actions and becomes both a rival and foil to Joker, the group's leader. For Persona 5 Royal, his characterization was further explored in order to appeal more to players. Besides printed and animated versions of the series, he has also been featured in the spin-offs Persona 5: Dancing in Starlight and Persona Q2: New Cinema Labyrinth.

Erica Anderson (<i>Catherine</i>) Fictional character from the 2011 video game Catherine

Erica Anderson is a fictional character in the 2011 video game Catherine. She is a transgender woman, and her portrayal was considered controversial by Western audiences. She is a confidant to the protagonist, Vincent Brooks, working for the Stray Sheep bar, who, like her, suffers from potentially fatal nightmares. She is portrayed by Erin Fitzgerald in English and Junko Minagawa in Japanese.

Nanako Dojima is a character in the 2008 PlayStation 2 video game Persona 4 by Atlus. She is initially shy to player-character and cousin Yu Narukami, but eventually grows more comfortable. She struggles through the game with loneliness, the loss of her mother, and concern over her father Ryotaro Dojima, who is often absent due to his job as a detective. She appears as a playable character in Persona 4: Dancing All Night, where designers made a point to try to avoid her dancing style seem too adult. She has been well-received and is regarded as one of the best characters in Persona 4. Multiple critics held her as an example of a quality child character in video games.

Ryuji Sakamoto is one of the main characters in the 2016 video game Persona 5. He is one of the founding members of the Phantom Thieves of Hearts, after awakening to his Persona, Captain Kidd, adopting the Phantom Thief nickname Skull.

Futaba Sakura is one of its main characters in the 2016 video game Persona 5. She is a member of the Phantom Thieves of Hearts, as well as their navigator.

<i>Persona 5 Tactica</i> 2023 video game

Persona 5 Tactica is a 2023 tactical role-playing game developed and published by Atlus. The game is a title from the Persona series, itself a part of the larger Megami Tensei franchise, and was released for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S on November 17, 2023. An additional story chapter, "Repaint Your Heart", was released as downloadable content on the same day.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Suguru Kamoshida</span> Persona 5 villain

Suguru Kamoshida is a fictional character in the 2016 video game Persona 5. He is the first antagonist that the protagonist, Joker, faces, being a champion volleyball player and current high school coach, who is routinely protected from scrutiny. He regularly exerts violence against multiple characters, including Ryuji Sakamoto and Ann Takamaki, and preemptively discredits anyone he deems a threat, including Joker. He uses his position to abuse male students and sexually harass female students, including Ann's friend, Shiho Suzui, who attempts suicide as a result. He is one of several characters with a Palace, a manifestation of strong desires, where he is depicted as the king of a castle. The principal's failure to protect Shujin Academy's students from him leads to the formation of the Phantom Thieves of Hearts, kickstarting the events of the game.

Marianne von Edmund is a character in the 2019 video game Fire Emblem: Three Houses. She is a member of the Golden Deer house, led by Claude, and has self-worth issues influenced by a curse tied to her Crest. She has multiple relationships she can form in the game, including Hilda, Dimitri, and the protagonist, Byleth. She was designed by Chinatsu Kurahana. Marianne also appears in the side story Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes as well as the crossover mobile game Fire Emblem Heroes. She was voiced by Sawako Hata in Japanese, and Xanthe Huynh in English.

References

  1. ↑ Bondakji, Jouanna (November 18, 2022). "Persona 5: Royal - Every Phantom Thief's Concept Art Vs. Their Official Art". The Gamer. Archived from the original on June 19, 2023. Retrieved January 4, 2024.
  2. ↑ Shigenori Soejima P-STUDIO Art Unit ART WORKS 2010-2017.
  3. 1 2 "Persona 5 Official Xanthe Huynh Haru Interview". IGN . December 13, 2016. Archived from the original on January 3, 2024. Retrieved January 4, 2024.
  4. ↑ Sato (May 11, 2016). "Persona 5 Shares More Background Info On Makoto, Futaba, Haru, And Their Personas". Siliconera. Archived from the original on January 5, 2024. Retrieved January 4, 2024.
  5. 1 2 Persona 5 Maniacus.
  6. ↑ "Artwork". Persona official magazine #2018 dancing!. Kadokawa. 2018.
  7. 1 2 Persona 3 Dancing Moon Night / Persona 5 Dancing Star Night Official Visual Book.
  8. ↑ "Haru Okumura". Behind the Voice Actors. Archived from the original on January 5, 2024. Retrieved January 5, 2024.
  9. ↑ "Xanthe Huynh (Voice of Haru Okumura of Persona 5) Interview - Behind the Voice". ANIME Impulse アニメ インパルス. August 22, 2018. Archived from the original on January 5, 2024. Retrieved January 4, 2024.
  10. 1 2 3 4 "Voice of Haru Okumura - Xanthe Huynh Interview - Persona 5". sackchief. January 8, 2021. Archived from the original on January 5, 2024. Retrieved January 4, 2024.
  11. ↑ Makar, Connor (July 26, 2023). "You can now experience the aroma of Ryuji and Haru with new Persona 5 candles". VG247. Archived from the original on January 3, 2024. Retrieved January 4, 2024.
  12. ↑ Serin, Kaan (January 5, 2023). "Ryuji fans won't be pleased with this Persona 5 Royal character poll". Rock Paper Shotgun . Archived from the original on August 24, 2023. Retrieved January 4, 2024.
  13. ↑ Purdom, Clayton (May 23, 2017). "Persona 5 is too damn long". The A.V. Club . Archived from the original on January 3, 2024. Retrieved January 4, 2024.
  14. ↑ Plunkett, Luke (May 15, 2017). "Persona 5 Confidants, Ranked". Kotaku . Archived from the original on January 3, 2024. Retrieved January 4, 2024.
  15. ↑ Plunkett, Luke (March 14, 2021). ""We Just Despise The Police": Persona 5 Strikers Is OK". Kotaku . Archived from the original on January 3, 2024. Retrieved January 4, 2024.
  16. 1 2 Henley, Stacey (October 15, 2022). "Haru Is Persona 5 Royal's Most Underrated Romance". The Gamer. Archived from the original on June 3, 2023. Retrieved January 4, 2024.
  17. ↑ Maher, Cian (January 15, 2021). "Haru Said ACAB In Persona 5 Strikers". The Gamer. Archived from the original on June 3, 2023. Retrieved January 4, 2024.
  18. ↑ Carpou, Madeline (July 30, 2018). "'Persona 5,' I Love You But You're Bringing Me Down". The Mary Sue. Archived from the original on January 3, 2024. Retrieved January 4, 2024.
  19. ↑ Razali, Izzatul (June 30, 2023). "The Best Female Characters in The Persona Franchise". IGN . Archived from the original on August 12, 2023. Retrieved January 4, 2024.
  20. ↑ Howard, Jess (November 17, 2023). "Persona 5 Tactica Review - Vive La Persona". GameSpot . Archived from the original on January 3, 2024. Retrieved January 4, 2024.
  21. ↑ Jane Lewis, Melissa (March 2020). "Beneath The Mask: Schoolgirls, Identity, and Procedural Revolution in Persona 5". University of Cambridge. Archived (PDF) from the original on June 5, 2023. Retrieved January 4, 2024.
  22. ↑ Ivančić, Martin (2023). "A Multimodal Analysis of Immersion in Persona 5 Royal". University of Zagreb. Archived from the original on January 3, 2024. Retrieved January 4, 2024.
  23. ↑ Cee, Sloane (June 28, 2017). "'Persona 5' Can't Champion Marginalized Underdogs Without Queer Characters". Vice . Archived from the original on January 6, 2024. Retrieved January 6, 2024.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.