So, you’ve probably seen those slick, high-quality character renders floating around YouTube or Bilibili lately. The ones featuring Wonder, Motoha, or even that owl-van hybrid Luferu doing a J-Pop dance cover. If you’re a Persona fan, you’ve likely stumbled into the world of Persona 5 The Phantom X MMD (MikuMikuDance) content. It’s everywhere.
But there is a massive amount of confusion about where these models actually come from and what you can legally do with them. Honestly, the P5X community is currently split between people who just want to make cool animations and a lot of technical red tape that nobody talks about.
The Origin of Those High-Res Models
Let's get the facts straight. Persona 5 The Phantom X (or P5X) is a gacha spin-off developed by Black Wings Game Studio, and it officially hit Western shores in June 2025. Because it’s built on the Unity engine, the assets are technically more "extractable" than the proprietary engine stuff from the original Persona 5 Royal.
That's the reason why the MMD scene for P5X exploded so much faster than it did for the PS4 games.
Most of the models you see in Persona 5 The Phantom X MMD videos aren't fan-made from scratch. They are often "rips" or conversions of the official 3D assets from the PC and mobile versions. Creators like Kadarkokam on DeviantArt have been central hubs for these spreadsheets and downloads, though the legality is, well, kinda murky.
Why Everyone Is Using Them Right Now
It’s simple: the designs are incredible. Shigenori Soejima’s influence is still all over this game, even if Black Wings did the heavy lifting. The characters in P5X have a "cleaner" look designed for modern mobile and PC hardware, which makes them a dream for MMD animators.
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You’ve got characters like:
- Wonder (Protagonist): His Jánošík-inspired outfit is a favorite for dramatic battle renders.
- Motoha Arai: Her "Closer" outfit has some of the best physics for dancing animations.
- Merope: The Velvet Room attendant. Her model is widely used for those "aesthetic" or moody urban edits.
The community isn't just making dance videos anymore. In 2026, we're seeing full-blown fan-made "story" episodes. For instance, an animator named Xu Toso recently released a polished episode using Unreal Engine 5 and MMD tools that basically looks like a lost DLC chapter. People are using these models to fix what they didn't like about the gacha story.
How to Get Started with Persona 5 The Phantom X MMD (Safely)
If you're thinking about jumping in, don't just go clicking every "Free P5X Model" link you see on a random forum. That’s a great way to get a virus. Most legitimate creators in this space host their files on DeviantArt or BowlRoll.
The Software Stack
You can't just open a .pmx file with your eyes. You basically need the "holy trinity" of hobbyist animation:
- MikuMikuDance (MMD): The base program. It’s ancient, but it works.
- MikuMikuMoving (MMM): A more modern alternative if you find the original MMD too clunky.
- PMX Editor: This is essential. Most P5X models come with bones that need a little tweaking to work with standard MMD motion data.
Kinda annoying? Yeah. But that’s the price of using high-fidelity game rips.
The "Rules" You Shouldn't Ignore
Technically, Sega and Atlus haven't gone on a massive DMCA spree yet, but they aren't exactly handing out licenses either. The unspoken rule in the Persona 5 The Phantom X MMD community is simple: Never, ever monetize these animations. If you start a Patreon and lock a P5X MMD video behind a paywall, you’re asking for a cease-and-desist. Also, always credit the original ripper and the developers (Black Wings/Atlus/Sega). It sounds like "common sense," but you'd be surprised how many people forget.
The Technical Headache Nobody Mentions
Here is the thing: P5X models are designed for Unity. MMD uses a very specific "Bone" and "Physics" structure that doesn't always play nice with modern game assets.
If you download a model and try to apply a standard "Gimme! Gimme!" motion, the arms might clip through the chest or the hair might fly off into space. This happens because the weight-painting in the original game assets is way more complex than what the 20-year-old MMD engine can handle easily.
You’ll likely need to spend a few hours in PMX Editor fixing the "Toon" shaders. Official P5X models look very flat and "anime" in-game, but in MMD, they can look like shiny plastic if you don't adjust the materials.
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Where is the Scene Heading in 2026?
With P5X recently being nominated for Mobile Game of the Year at the 2026 D.I.C.E. Awards, interest is at an all-time high. We’re seeing a shift from simple dancing videos to "Cross-Over" MMDs. Since the game features the original Phantom Thieves (Joker, Makoto, etc.), people are making high-res videos comparing the P5X versions of these characters to the original P5R models.
The verdict? The P5X models generally have higher polygon counts, which is wild for a mobile game.
Actionable Next Steps
If you want to actually make something with Persona 5 The Phantom X MMD assets, here is the move:
- Join the Discord: Look for the "P5X Modding" or "Persona MMD" communities. They have pinned guides that save you hours of trial and error.
- Check DeviantArt First: Search for "P5X Model DL." Look for creators with high engagement; they usually have the most stable rigs.
- Learn Basic PMX Editing: Don't just rely on the model working out of the box. Learning how to fix a "bone" will make your animations 10x smoother.
- Watch the Official Renders: Use the in-game "Highlight" animations as a reference. If you want your MMD to look "official," pay attention to how the camera moves in the game's actual gacha pull animations.
The community is growing fast, but it stays alive through respect for the original art. Stick to the unwritten rules, and you'll be fine.