Persona 3 Reload Actor Zeno Robinson Talks Bringing Junpei Iori To Life

by

In Persona 3 Reload, players initially meet Junpei Iori as a lighthearted and funny character who always has a joke ready. However, as the story unfolds, Junpei experiences significant growth, navigating love, loss, and the impending apocalypse with his friends in SEES. Zeno Robinson, a longtime fan of the Persona series, was excited to voice Junpei, a character he considers his favorite in the franchise, and give him a fresh interpretation.

In an interview with Game Rant, voice actor Robinson discussed how he first became a fan of the Persona series and what attracted him to the character of Junpei. He talked about his approach to portraying Junpei’s comedic side, the character’s growth throughout the story, and his relationships with the other members of SEES. Robinson shared his enthusiasm for playing Junpei and being part of the Persona 3 Reload cast, and expressed excitement for fans to experience the game, now available on the Nintendo Switch 2.

How Zeno Robinson Discovered Persona

Robinson first discovered the Persona series at Anime Expo in the late 2010s. He noticed people playing Persona 4 Arena Ultimax and was immediately hooked by its exciting, fast-paced fighting and the unique style of anime characters battling with swords, all presented with a retro CRT TV aesthetic.

Robinson is a dedicated gamer who likes to fully explore everything a game has to offer. He quickly became a fan of the Persona series, enjoying both Persona 4 and Persona 5. However, it was Persona 3 FES that he truly loved, as he explained.

I quickly became completely absorbed in the game. The music was amazing, and it featured voice actors I really admire! I also loved how the story took a surprisingly dark turn, offering a deeply moving and complex exploration of both death and the beauty of life.

When Atlus asked fans which Persona game they’d like to see remade, Robbie Robinson voted for Persona 3. He was thrilled when the remake was announced and immediately auditioned. Landing the role of Junpei was a complete surprise – he said he couldn’t quite believe it until his first day in the recording studio! Robinson feels incredibly lucky to be part of a game from a series he loves, and especially to play Junpei Iori, a character he’s admired since first experiencing Persona 3 FES.

It feels surreal to think back to when I was at Anime Expo, hoping to one day be part of a Persona game. To actually be in one—and my favorite, no less—and then return to Anime Expo as a panelist… it’s an incredibly emotional experience. I’m struggling to find the right words, but I’m truly blessed and so thankful to everyone at SEGA ATLUS, PCB, and my team for giving me the opportunity and helping me make that dream come true.

Zeno Robinson “Found Junpei’s Soul” And Let His Heart Guide Him

I first fell in love with Junpei when I played Persona 3 FES. He quickly became one of my all-time favorite characters in the Persona series, right up there with Yuko Nishiwaki – she was basically my ‘first gaming girlfriend’! When I got the chance to play Junpei in Persona 3 Reload, I really wanted to make the role my own, but also stay true to everything that made him great in the first place. I focused on how I would interpret him, while making sure I kept the core of who Junpei is at the center of everything I did.

He wondered how to honor what fans loved about Junpei while also putting his own spin on the character. He wanted to appeal to those who enjoyed Persona 3’s best friend without just recreating the original version. Robinson then explained the approach he eventually settled on.

Ultimately, I approached the role by following my instincts, much like the character Junpei does. He’s a really big-hearted, playful person – a bit of a class clown. I wanted to understand his core personality and build the performance from that place, blending his feelings with my own.

Zeno Robinson’s portrayal of Junpei Iori in Persona 3 Reload really focuses on the character’s emotional growth. Junpei starts as the protagonist’s funny and self-confident best friend, dreaming of becoming a hero. But as the story unfolds, he changes significantly – he falls in love with Chidori Yoshino, confronts the harsh reality of the world’s potential end, and ultimately becomes a much more mature person because of it.

Zeno Robinson really concentrated on showing how Junpei changes throughout the story, believing that this transformation and its impact are the most important parts of the character.

So, this game is all about death, right? And the way characters ‘die’ to summon their Personas is super symbolic. I always thought Junpei’s story arc was another take on that. It really felt like he had to kill off his old self – his ego – to become the person we see at the end. Like, the Junpei we know at the start has to die so the new, more mature Junpei can be born.

Beyond his humor and personal growth, Junpei’s relationships with his teammates in SEES are a core part of his character. Voice actor Robinson felt his real-life friendships with the rest of the Persona 3 Reload cast helped him bring those bonds to life. He explained that while recording, he drew on his own experiences and simply acted as he would when talking to his close friends, whom he deeply cares for and respects.

Robinson shouted out his fellow SEES members whom he worked alongside in Persona 3 Reload:

While you’re playing, it’s like I’m speaking directly to Alejandro, Suzie, Aleks, Allegra, Heather, Justice, and Justine… As the connections between them grew within the game, my bond with everyone on the cast deepened as well. I truly love working with all of you; it’s a privilege to be part of this incredible cast. I’m so happy we get to share this experience together, and I’m proud to stand with you as teammates, friends, and colleagues – as SEES.

What’s Next For Persona And Zeno Robinson?

Both Persona 3 Reload and its Episode Aigis expansion were well-received and sold over a million copies within the first week. In October 2025, a version of the game was also released for the new Nintendo Switch 2, following its announcement earlier that month. Building on the success of Reload, Atlus has confirmed they are remaking Persona 4, which will be titled Persona 4 Revival.

Zeno Robinson, well-known for voicing Junpei in Persona 3 Reload, is staying busy with several other roles. He’s currently voicing Jabber, a villain in the Crunchyroll anime Gachiakuta. You can also find him acting in the live-action web series The Comic Shop (created by Cheyenne Ewulu), the gaming talk show Checkpoint: The Show, and the audio drama Project Super Crush.

You can find The Comic Shop and Checkpoint: The Show on YouTube, and Project Super Crush is now available on Spotify. Creator Robinson plans to continue making more content, expressing gratitude and excitement about collaborating with Junpei on this story.

Read More

2025-11-25 19:06