Every day, we wear masks. We hide behind visages and personalities that we change for every situation. We call these reflections of the soul "personas". In the face of adversity, fear, and the unknown, we try to hide behind these masks, in hopes that nobody can reach the bitter, hurt person behind it. However, what happens when the burden becomes too much? What happens when the facade begins to consume, rather than protect?

Winter approaches the city of Kisaragi. Snow covers the landscape, and the scars of a disaster of ten years ago fade with the white. Two boys make their entry into the city to find their last family tie. A warm reunion between estranged brothers is shattered by a ten-year time gap. The shadows weep with fear as people shed their masks. Personas, the other selves, rise from the chosen. A mysterious group consumes them as their mysterious leader seeks to regain what he lost long ago.

The two boys push on. Friendships are formed. Uncomfortable truths arise. Losses grow large, and painful. The clock is ticking, as the disaster ten years prior looms once more.

The tale of the two boys, Shin and Jun, is one that is that is difficult to watch, yet worth the effort to do so. The tone is often muted and somber, with hints of a playful side that is quickly stifled. Tensions rise as the characters' demons are unearthed, both figuratively and literally. The trials of the cast are portrayed as dire, but not angst-ridden. Instead, their issues serve as an undertone, a conveyance for the larger, more urgent plot. The insight into the lives of the casts is somehow enthralling, even in the wake of certain disaster. The show's climax is far from a happy, cheerful ending that one would like to see following so much physical and emotional abuse, but it's fitting, and complete to an extent that no viewer should be disappointed.

To set the stage, composer Taku Iwasaki created a soundtrack that emphasizes the somber, urgent tones of the story. Slow, melodic strings and subdued piano provide much of the background ambience for the show. As tension builds in the series, so does the music, with powerful operatic chants and full orchestral pieces providing accompaniment. The opening themes of the show feel right at-home with the rest of the score, and seem akin to something that the cast would listen to on a radio or headphones. The ending songs are melancholy pieces that are simply sublime. Both Nana Kitade's Suicides Love Story and Yumi Kawamura's Found Me are subdued pieces that carry both the tone and mood of the series proper. Curiously, among the show's musical tracks, the only music that truly didn't fit was recycled from the source material. During certain segments of the show, bits of Burn My Dread, Persona 3's opening track, are scattered as background music. This piece is so unlike the rest of the score, so foreign to this world, that it stands out as a black mark on the series, and rips the viewer out of the world of its characters. While breaking the fourth wall is nice at times, it simply isn't appropriate to do in a serious character drama.

The presentation is rounded out by a strong, effective visual design. Amazing background pieces, from snow-covered forests to desolate beaches and crowded cityscapes provide a fantastic contrast to the cast. The characters are lovingly designed, and manage to stand out as unique, memorable figures, despite their ordinary appearances and often-muted wardrobes. The personas are more lovingly crafted, with distinct and appealing designs. The action is brought to life with when these titans clash, with gorgeous use of CG that blends well with the aesthetic of the show, and a lack of over-reliance on special effects.

Persona: Trinity Soul offers a glimpse into the world behind the masks that people wear. It is not a show for the faint of heart, but the experience is one worth enduring. The muted tone and intricate plot are among the best to grace a show this year. Those considering the show, be it fans of the Persona games or anime fans in general should absolutely give Trinity Soul a chance.