# Ann Takamaki (高巻杏)
**Ann Takamaki** (高巻杏) is a fictional character in the video game *Persona 5* and its spin-offs: a second-year high school student at Shujin Academy who joins the vigilante Phantom Thieves of Hearts under the codename Panther, wielding fire-based attacks and the Persona Carmen.[1](https://blog.playstation.com/2020/03/16/persona-5-royal-a-look-at-the-phantom-thieves/) • [2](https://p5ausa.com/character/)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Codename | Panther, member of the Phantom Thieves of Hearts[1](https://blog.playstation.com/2020/03/16/persona-5-royal-a-look-at-the-phantom-thieves/) |
| Initial Persona | Carmen, a red flamenco-dressed figure wielding a rose vine; awakened Persona in *Royal* is Celestine[3](https://persona5.jp/sp/character/anne.html) • [1](https://blog.playstation.com/2020/03/16/persona-5-royal-a-look-at-the-phantom-thieves/) |
| Combat style | Whip attacks with fire attribute; machine gun with large ammunition capacity in *Persona 5 Strikers*[4](https://p5s.jp/character/anne/) |
| Voice actors | Nana Mizuki (Japanese), Erika Harlacher (English)[2](https://p5ausa.com/character/) • [5](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YEpZcy9Ku3s) |
| Confidant | Represents the Lovers Arcana in *Persona 5 Royal*[6](https://personafans.com/characters/ann-takamaki-guide/) |
| *Persona 5: The Phantom X* | 5-star Fire-attribute sweeper rated S-tier, with AoE and damage-over-time burn attacks[7](https://www.pcgamer.com/games/rpg/persona-5-the-phantom-x-tier-list-best-characters/) |
## Character and story role
Ann is a quarter-American student at Shujin Academy whose striking looks lead classmates to treat her as an outsider, leaving her isolated until she befriends the protagonist, Joker.[2](https://p5ausa.com/character/) • [8](https://www.playstation.com/en-us/games/persona-5-royal/) In the game's first arc, she and [Ryuji Sakamoto](https://www.edgepedia.org/ryuji-sakamoto) awaken their Personas after a friend of Ann is driven to a suicide attempt by the volleyball coach [Suguru Kamoshida](https://www.edgepedia.org/suguru-kamoshida), and the group resolves to reform corrupt adults by stealing their hearts.[9](https://matheo.uliege.be/bitstream/2268.2/11268/5/Bourdouxhe-N%C3%A9lissen%20Arnaud%20Thesis%20on%20Intertextuality%20in%20the%20Video%20game%20Persona%205.pdf)
As a Phantom Thief she is described as kind-hearted and unable to leave people in trouble, while showing firm resolve against evil.[8](https://www.playstation.com/en-us/games/persona-5-royal/) • [4](https://p5s.jp/character/anne/) Her Confidant storyline, tied to the Lovers Arcana, follows her efforts to support her friend and find her own path, including her modeling work.[6](https://personafans.com/characters/ann-takamaki-guide/) • [3](https://persona5.jp/sp/character/anne.html)
## Personas
Ann's initial Persona is Carmen, depicted as a beautiful figure in a bright red flamenco-style dress who wields a rose vine, evoking the free-spirited, passionate heroine of the novella and opera *Carmen*.[3](https://persona5.jp/sp/character/anne.html) In *Persona 5 Royal* her awakened Persona is Celestine, named for Célestine Galli-Marié, the French mezzo-soprano famous for singing the title role of Bizet's opera *Carmen* in the 19th century.[1](https://blog.playstation.com/2020/03/16/persona-5-royal-a-look-at-the-phantom-thieves/) • [10](https://personafrance.fr/persona-5-personnages-ann-takamaki/)
## Gameplay
In *Persona 5* and *Persona 5 Royal*, Ann specializes in fire attacks and healing skills, making her a key offensive and support party member.[11](https://megamitensei.fandom.com/wiki/Party/Ann_Takamaki) In the action-oriented *Persona 5 Strikers*, she fights with a whip that sweeps wide ranges of enemies, can imbue it with fire, and uses a machine gun attack with a large ammunition count for sustained fire; her Persona Carmen uses fire skills and can weaken enemy attacks.[4](https://p5s.jp/character/anne/)
In the mobile gacha game *Persona 5: The Phantom X*, Ann appears as a five-star Fire-attribute character with the role of sweeper, built around area-of-effect and damage-over-time burn attacks, plus buffs to her own attack, debuffs to enemy attack, and a heal for the lowest-HP ally; tier-list coverage rates her S-tier and viable in endgame content.[7](https://www.pcgamer.com/games/rpg/persona-5-the-phantom-x-tier-list-best-characters/)
## Appearances
Ann appears in *Persona 5* (2016), *Persona 5 Royal* (2020), the fighting-adjacent spin-offs *Persona 5 Strikers* and *Persona 5 Tactica*, and *Persona 5: The Phantom X*.[8](https://www.playstation.com/en-us/games/persona-5-royal/) • [4](https://p5s.jp/character/anne/) • [12](https://persona.atlus.com/p5t/?gsc=1) • [7](https://www.pcgamer.com/games/rpg/persona-5-the-phantom-x-tier-list-best-characters/) In *Strikers*, her story arc centers on the idol Alice Hiiragi.[10](https://personafrance.fr/persona-5-personnages-ann-takamaki/)
## References
1. [Persona 5 Royal: A Look at the Phantom Thieves – PlayStation.Blog](https://blog.playstation.com/2020/03/16/persona-5-royal-a-look-at-the-phantom-thieves/)
2. [CHARACTER – PERSONA5 the Animation Official USA Website](https://p5ausa.com/character/)
3. [高巻杏 | ペルソナ5 公式サイト](https://persona5.jp/sp/character/anne.html)
4. [ペルソナ５ スクランブル ザ ファントム ストライカーズ 公式サイト：高巻杏](https://p5s.jp/character/anne/)
5. [Persona 5: Erika Harlacher Talks About Playing Ann Takamaki! – ATLUS West](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YEpZcy9Ku3s)
6. [Ann Takamaki Guide – Persona Fans](https://personafans.com/characters/ann-takamaki-guide/)
7. [Persona 5: The Phantom X tier list – PC Gamer](https://www.pcgamer.com/games/rpg/persona-5-the-phantom-x-tier-list-best-characters/)
8. [Persona 5 Royal – PlayStation (US)](https://www.playstation.com/en-us/games/persona-5-royal/)
9. [Intertextuality in the Video Game Persona 5 – University of Liège thesis](https://matheo.uliege.be/bitstream/2268.2/11268/5/Bourdouxhe-N%C3%A9lissen%20Arnaud%20Thesis%20on%20Intertextuality%20in%20the%20Video%20game%20Persona%205.pdf)
10. [Persona France – Persona 5 : Ann Takamaki](https://personafrance.fr/persona-5-personnages-ann-takamaki/)
11. [Party/Ann Takamaki – Megami Tensei Wiki](https://megamitensei.fandom.com/wiki/Party/Ann_Takamaki)
12. [Persona 5 Tactica – Atlus](https://persona.atlus.com/p5t/?gsc=1)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Video games and digital play › Games and gameplay › Individual game titles › In-game subjects: characters, levels, items, and locations within single games › Playable and protagonist characters › Role-playing game characters*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 19, 2026; Sep 30, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Sep 18, 2026; Sep 19, 2026; Sep 30, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Last review: Oct 21, 2026*
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License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license