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Danganronpa 3: Future Arc Episode 3

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Cruel Violence and Hollow Words
(I do not recommend reading further until you have watched the episode)

While I feel utterly cheated out of a dramatic death, I am happy to see one of my favorite characters survive. However, why did the attacker go so far as to create the elaborate set up? I’m slightly bothered that the characters never address it or try to figure out why the attacker would create the distraction from the real death.  It was completely brushed off.

I am sensing a theme, however. I want to see if it holds true for the next attack. Both bodies were found suspended in the air.  Do you think it has any meaning?

At this point in the series, characters are trying to deduce Monokuma’s motives.  It’s hinted that Monokuma does not want everyone to die. Munakata suggests that if their goal was to destroy the Future Foundation he should have been the next victim; Monokuma does not want to kill everyone.  Kirigiri furthers this hypothesis saying that Monokuma does not want to win; the less people there are, the easier it would be to figure out who the attacker is. There is definitely another atrocious despair inducing motive behind the final game!

More mysteries start to unfold.  What is the relationship between Ruruka/Izayoi and Seiko? Who is “that girl” Kizakura must find?

Here is also a list of everyone’s forbidden actions (that have been revealed so far):
Daisaku Bandai-Witnessing violence against a participant
Makoto Naegi– Run in the Hallway
Miaya Gekkogahara– Turn right
Aoi Asahina- Be hit with a punch of kick

While some have not been revealed, I believe that Izayoi’s involves consuming food or being fed, and Munakata’s has to do with opening doors.  Do you have any guesses on other forbidden actions? Do you have your own suspect? Any other last words about the episode? Let me know in the comments!

 

 

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Danganronpa 3: Despair Arc Episodes 1 and 2

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I did not have a chance to review episode 1 of Despair Arc. But here it is, one week later, along with episode 2.  Upupupupu! *Warning: this contains spoilers, in fact, it’s basically all spoiler.  You have been warned.*

Episode 1: Hello again, Hope’s Peak High
The Despair Arc feels like it’s going to be a lighthearted story compared to the Future Arc.  We meet Chisa Yukizome in her role as home room teacher for class 1-B. The episode focuses mostly on introducing us to each student’s personality at Hope’s Peak Academy and bringing the class together as a whole.

Two characters that stick out like a sore thumb for those who have played Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair are: Chiaki Nanami and Ryota Mitarai.

Ryota Mitarai appears as a fatter version to his counterpart in the Future Arc.  I suspect that he is actually the Ultimate Imposter who we meet in the game as the chubbier version of Byakuya Togami.  I’m not quite sure why they chose to have him impersonate Ryota Mitarai versus Byakuya Togami, but it’s a mystery I’m hoping clears by the end of the season. Perhaps as a way to connect Future Arc with the Despair Arc?

Chiaki Nanami has a lot of theories circling around her.  In Goodbye Despair she is not a student of the class, but an AI working alongside Usami and is thought to only exist inside the Neo World Program.  Seeing she actually exists within the class raises a lot of questions.  Is she a robot? Does she really exist? Are they in a program?

I think Future Arc and Despair Arc might be more connected than I initially thought. Chisa Yukizome and Kyosuke Munakata are working on creating a Hope’s Peak over seas,  but the conversation the characters hold is shrouded in a lot of mystery with a greater story behind it. Or so it seems.

Episode 2: My Impurest Heart for You
Personally, I loved every reference.  We are hit right at the beginning when Koichi Kizakura says he needs to go out scouting because “There’s a girl they say is undefeated in the underground gambling world.” (Celeste) Then, Teruteru also makes a reference to Seiko Kimura, saying “I worked on this with the Super High School-Level Pharmacist, our upperclassman” to explain how he has mixtures for doping, and later, lusting. Then of course there’s Chiaki’s Nantendo Game Girl Advance. Then there’s also Smash Bro’s, Mario Party, Mario Kart, Bomber Man, and Double Dragon! And more…

Despair Arc is going to have a decent amount of fan-service.  I mean, with Mikan in the main cast, it’s pretty much a given. But, prepare for some hysterically fun time.

Again, something is hinted as “You know what” regarding Hope’s Peak Academy.  Chisa and Kyosuke Munakata both remain vague. We do learn money  is coming from the reserve course students to help fund another project at Hope’s Peak Academy but the Chisa suspects the Board of Directors are hiding something. We also learn that Chisa is directly investigating the Reserve Course, a task considered to be “dangerous”.  More mysteries to unfold is who is Mahiru’s friend in the reserve course?

We are being fed a few bread crumbs to show what has led to The Tragedy. In Chisa’s “investigation” she asks Hajime why he joined the Reserve Course, he responds by saying he’s always aspired to attend Hope’s Peak Academy, but now he feels likes he lacks the resolve.  Chisa pries asking if he has a chance to join the main courses.  While he denies this, it seems Hajime assumes that it is a possibility.  In his conversation with Kazuo Tenga, the experiment Hajime will later undergo is briefly talked about, Kazuo advising against it.

I think Chiaki is more central to the Remnants of Despair than I initially thought.  While she is an AI in the game, it does not mean that she couldn’t have actually existed as their classmate as well.  My theory (please share yours in the comments as well!) is that Chiaki never fell into despair like her fellow classmates. It would explain why she’s an AI in the game, and why they would consider her a “traitor”. If she fell into despair, there’s no need for her to be in the Neo World Program; she could only appear as an AI.

Watch the episode past the credits.  It’s a must.  Because we meet a brand new character at the end; one who we know will certainly die.

Please share your thoughts in the comments! Please warn others if your comment will contain spoilers.

 

 

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Danganronpa 3: Future Arc Episode 2 – Hang the Witch

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Hang the Witch
*Please note, there are spoilers ahead*

A new game begins!  Here are the new rules:

Rule #1 – Time limit
When the timer runs out, everyone is injected with a sleeping drug.

Rule #2 – The attacker
While everyone is asleep one attacker will wake up.  The attacker will be given a time limit within to kill exactly one person.*There is a traitor
*If the timer runs out and no one is dead, the game is cleared!

Rule #3 – Forbidden actions
Everyone has a single action they cannot perform.  If the action is performed the bracelet administers a lethal dose of poison.

Just like season 1 the game is being recorded and broadcasted.

When I described Danganronpa to people I said it was like Battle Royale with a mix of Pheonix Wright.  Episode 2 of Future Arc further implants the Battle Royale concept with the bracelets and the elimination of the class trial system.

One thing that bugged me about the episode is (SPOILER) the scene of Bandai’s death.  The scene completely lacked background music so the events played out rather suddenly and awkwardly.  This didn’t hit my emotional buttons the way it should have, especially because Bandai seemed like the comic relief of the series so far and I was looking forward to it.

We are also reintroduced to Monomi, who once again becomes Usami. No need to fret over Bandai because the comic relief is back.  I’m not sure if Usami fits in with Future Arc, but her presence does reveal some clues: Monokuma has never seen Usami before.  This means that Makoto and Kirigiri cannot be the traitor since they’ve met her in the Neo World Program. The second clue she reveals is that the Future Foundation was hacked from the inside, which means other members from the original series (Toko, Byakuya, Hagakure) are also not traitors.

The end of the episode just goes to show how cruel the creators of this series are!

The death count so far is 3. Let’s see what episode 3 will bring us next!  Leave your thoughts, comments, theories, and whatever else you would like to add to the comments! Please warn others of any spoilers. We don’t want to ruin the series for those who haven’t watched it yet.

 

 

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Danganronpa 3: Future Arc Episode 1

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Upupupuuu!
I couldn’t be more excited to see Danganronpa finally return!  After playing all three games, I’m still revved up to know, “What happens next?!”

Danganronpa 3: Future Arc premiered yesterday, July 11th, on Funimation.  So far, the series is taking on a much darker tone compared to other seasons and games.  Danganronpa is known for its eye-catching, psycho-pop theme that contrasted the content of the story.  Future Arc, however, is very grim and muted. To further the theme Future Arc blood and violence is no longer toned down by bright pink blood – a staple of the Danganronpa series. This is only the first episode, however.

We are introduced to 12 new characters, all former Ultimates and leaders of the Future Foundation, on top of the four we know (Hagakure, Kirigiri, Asahina, Naegi).  It doesn’t seem like Hagakure will play a major role in this series, and Toko and Byakuya are visibly absent.

New Characters 
Kazuo Tengan – Former Director of Hope’s Peak High School – Future Foundation Chair Branch 1
Great Gozu – Former Super High School Level Wrestler – Branch 12 Officer
Kohichi Kizakura – Former Super High School Level Scout – Office 3 Director
Miaya Gekkogahara – Former Super High School Level Thrapist – Branch Office 7 Director
Juzo Sakakura – Former Super High School Level Boxer – Branch Office 6 Director
Seiko Kimura – Former Super High School Level Pharmacist – Branch Office 4 Director
Ruruka Andoh – Former Super High School Level Confectioner – Branch Office 8 Director
Daisaku Bandai – Former Super High School Level Farmer – Branch Office 11 Director
Sohnosuke Izayoi – Former Super High School Level Blacksmith – Branch Office 9 Director
Chisa Yukizome – Former Super High School Level Housekeeper – Branch Office 5 Director
Kyosuke Munakata – Fomer Super High School Level Student Council President – Vice Chairman Branch Office 2 Director
Ryota Mitarai – Former Super High School Level Animator – Branch office 10 Director

On top of the dark colors and new character introductions, we also get to see the characters from Goodbye Despair in their Ultimate Despair forms and just a small taste of them in action.  Goodbye Despair is my favorite of the series, so far, so I had a lot of feels during their screen time.

The biggest change is Monokuma’s voice.  While it might just be the original voice actor didn’t want to continue voice acting Monokuma (contracts or whatever **note: I don’t know why the change was made**)  I think a new voice actor taking on the role of Monokuma works well in that the original Monokuma (Junko Enoshima) died and someone else has taken her place. It gives a sense of a new monster and final battle.

I won’t let out any spoilers, but I think Future Arc (though changed and dismal) will make a compelling end to the series.

Are you a Danganronpa fan? What do you think of Future Arc so far? Did you notice anything? Let us know in the comments!